Peno Soul Food

My friend and I went to Peno's to celebrate a significant milestone birthday. Pepe (the Chef/Owner) made it a very special dinner for us. The whole experience did not disappoint and was so fantastic. Pepe came out and met us and sat down at our table and actually chatted with us for a while, telling us about his menu and sharing a bit of his background. Being our first time at his restaurant, we were intrigued with everything he was telling us and anxious to eat some of his food. He sent out a couple small plates of a wonderful olive and grape salad. (I could have had a large plate of this for my dinner, it was that delicious and tasted nothing like I ever had before.) For dinner we had the baked/pan seared rainbow trout w/ lemon sauce and capers, with a side fresh pasta with peas, and

We first visited Peno in 2020 and finally made it back tonight. It was even better than we remembered! We had the meatballs, smoked mozzarella appetizer, beef tenderloin special, and beef spiedini. Peno is the perfect date night spot or for dinner with friends/gamily. Truly a gem in St. Louis and one of our favorite spots. Service is always excellent and it’s such a cute spot. We will be back!

The best Italian food I've ever tasted. The flavor profiles had depth & were seasoned to perfection. The staff was attentive & the atmosphere was cozy.

This place is definitely a hidden gem. Very good quality Italian cuisine. The owner and staff are excellent. I love how the restaurant is upscale, but still maintains a home style feel. You're in a restaurant, but also feels like you're in mom's kitchen. Even little details about the restroom how there are personal wash clothes to wash and dry your hands is really unique. The chicken cacciatore was very good. I actually really loved that it there was skin on the chicken and it's personalized cuts. The red sauce was not too thick, homemade noodles, with fresh peppers. The bread that they bring out has a trail of olive oil inside and is easy to tear of pieces which is great for dipping. The spaghetti and clams were very good as well. A nice white sauce that complimented the homemade noodles.

I am going to start by saying that I only write 5 star reviews if everything is exceptional. This place was exceptional. From the host that sat us, to the chef and owner. Everything was perfect. The food rivaled what I had in Italy this September. Parking was difficult, and we almost decided not to come, but I'm so glad we persisted. I would recommend this restaurant for a perfect date night, as the staff is so attentive and kind, and every dish we had was phenomenal! The atmosphere is charming, cozy, and warm. We got an appetizer, a bottle of wine, an entrees and a dessert. I never get dessert when I am out, but after trying the food, I couldn't resist! I was NOT disappointed. Try the tiramisu! its huge, and I will be eating it for breakfast this morning!