Travelers passing through Missouri can satisfy their love of Italian food at restaurants throughout the state. Major cities like Kansas City and St. Louis have diverse culinary scenes that appeal to varied tastes. Smaller communities like Jefferson City and Columbia feature restaurants that replicate dishes from around the world. The common thread among all of these cities is the presence of Italian restaurants serving authentic dishes.
LoRusso's Cucina in St. Louis serves lunch on Wednesday and Friday and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The lunch menu at LoRusso's Cucina includes specials like Italian beef sandwiches and veal Parmesan. Dinner patrons choose from entrees like butternut ravioli and chicken soto. The restaurant hosts live piano music Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights within its main dining room. Guests can order half-price drinks and appetizers during happy hours Tuesday through Friday. This Italian restaurant also invites diners to submit their own pasta creations as part of the annual Pasta Bowl competition.
LoRusso's Cucina
3121 Watson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63139
314-647-6222
lorussos.com
Domenico's Italian Restaurant & Lounge in Jefferson City offers dinner entrees Monday through Saturday. The walls of the main dining room are lined with portraits and mementos from the Domenico family. Guests can start their dinners with potato skins and toasted ravioli from the appetizers list. Main courses at Domenico's range from pasta con broccoli to almond roughy. The dessert menu features dishes like crème brûlée and turtle cheesecake that conclude meals with sweet flavors. This Italian eatery presents a kids menu with breaded shrimp, chicken fingers and fettuccine for young diners.
Domenico's Italian Restaurant & Lounge
3702 W. Truman Blvd.
Jefferson City, MO
573-893-5454
domenicosjeffcity.com
Bambino's Italian Cafe in Columbia creates lunch and dinner dishes seven days a week. House specialties include salsiccia subs and the pasta al Poppa. The dessert list mixes standard fare like cheesecake with Italian specialties like spumoni. This casual restaurant seats guests in a cozy dining room or a seasonal outdoor patio. Diners can also reserve space for reunions, birthday parties and company events in the Palomino. Bambino's Italian Cafe attracts customers with daily happy-hour specials, all-you-can eat sides on Monday and family specials on Sunday.
Bambino's Italian Cafe
203 Hitt St.
Columbia, MO 65201
573-443-4473
bambinositaliancafe.com
Cascone's Italian Restaurant in Kansas City sets the mood for diners with soft lighting and Italian music. Lunch guests at Cascone's choose from house specialties like grilled Italian sausage and sautéed whitefish. The dinner menu lists dishes such as rainbow trout and chicken limonata served in large portions. Cascone's Italian Restaurant donates 10 percent of proceeds from multi-course orders to local charities. Patrons can re-create the flavors of this Italian restaurant at home with sauces, pastas and other ingredients from Cascone's Italian Market.
Cascone's Italian Restaurant
3733 N. Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64116
816-454-7977
cascones.com
