With all these restaurants shutting down in 2025, it’s got us thinking back to when the food scene in St. Louis really had some soul to it.
Back in the 2010s, our city was eating good. Not just full plates we had flavor, we had love, we had authenticity. Nowadays, it feels like everything’s bulk-ordered from Sysco. Same textures, same taste, different logos. It’s rare to find something that hits like it used to.
But back then? We had Goody Goody, where breakfast always hit the spot. Talayna’s, holding it down with real Italian dishes. Cicero’s in the Loop brought music, vibes, and pasta under one roof. And Caleco’s downtown? That was the late-night go-to good food, good people, good memories.
Those weren’t just restaurants they were moments. They fed our bodies and our spirits. You could walk in and feel the culture in every bite.
This post? Just a reminder that St. Louis used to taste different because we were different. Homegrown, soulful, one of one.
What restaurants do you miss the most? Also don’t forget to support your local restaurant.
