Need Recs near Westport Plaza/Maryland Heights

[jl0328]

Heading to STL for work next week and looking for some non-chainlike restaurants to try in the Westport Plaze/Maryland Heights area. Open to all foods/prices.

[Doug]

Raj's Rasoi has the most flavorful Indian food I have ever eaten. It is good food served in a non-descript room in a non-descript strip mall in a non-descript area of Maryland Heights. Definitely worth finding. (NOTE: it is vegetarian). http://rajs-rasoi.com/

[FriendOfTheDevil]

Thai Kitchen at the corner of Dorsett and Bennington is pretty good. Balducci's further south up Bennington is also very good.
The deep dish at Balducci's is real good if you like Chicago style.

Both locally owned non chain type places.

FOTD

[ddfry3]

Thanks for the 411 on Balducci's...I see it's connected to the winery family. Is the Italian from the heavy cheese/sauce/cream school of Italian cooking so prevalent on the Hill (not my fave)?

[FriendOfTheDevil]

I honestly have never had Pasta there. It's strength to me is Pizza/Salad/Sandwiches. It is very casual.

If you want Pasta, travel up to Olive just east of 270 and go to Il Bellago.

That will knock your socks off.

FOTD

http://www.ilbellagosaintlouis.com/

[nosh]

re: Il Bellago --

Online menu with no prices -- bad. I'm sure they are more reasonable than this leads one to expect.

[lemons]

Ill Bel Lago is not inexpensive, but like most fine-dining Italian restos in St. Louis, the pasta is much less expensive than the meat/seafood entrees. I never have a qualm about calling somewhere and asking about the price range on their main courses. They'd much rather have that than someone walking out b/c of sticker shock.

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Priyaa Indian Cuisine
1910 McKelvey Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043

Thai Kitchen
2031 Dorsett Vlg, Maryland Heights, MO 63043

Il Bel
11631 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur, MO 63141

[ddfry3]

Hmmm, I must say I am NOT a fan of most of the Westport restaurants I have been to. On the other side of 270 off Dorsett is Priyaa, which is pretty good Indian cuisine. If you head one short exit south on 270 to Olive there are a slew of choices of many ethnicities, including the usual chain suspects.