Grassi’s Ristorante & Deli, 1045 German Blvd, Frontenac, MO, is among the highest-rated restaurants in the St. Louis region.

FRONTENAC, MO (StLouisRestaurantReview) Grassi’s Ristorante & Deli (GRD) is a longtime St. Louis Italian restaurant serving classic Italian-American favorites at 10450 German Boulevard in Frontenac, Missouri. With roots dating to 1968, Grassi’s has developed a history that relatively few independently operated restaurants in the St. Louis region can claim.

Today, the restaurant combines old-school St. Louis Italian cooking with a casual, cafeteria-style service model designed to get customers through the line and to their tables quickly. It is particularly well known for its Italian salad, signature sandwiches, toasted ravioli, pasta and pizza.

A St. Louis Restaurant With Roots Dating to 1968

GRD’s history stretches back more than half a century.

According to the restaurant, the original Grassi’s Ristorante & Deli opened in 1968 near The Hill, at Kingshighway and Potomac in South St. Louis. A second restaurant opened in what was then considered West County in 1976, at Lindbergh and Conway. GRD later opened a third location in the Central West End.

The original South St. Louis restaurant and Central West End location eventually closed, leaving the West County restaurant to carry on the Grassi’s name.

In 1996, that restaurant relocated to its present home at 10450 German Boulevard in Frontenac, tucked away from the heavier traffic along Lindbergh Boulevard. Its somewhat hidden location has become part of the restaurant’s character. Grassi’s serves customers from Frontenac and surrounding communities including Ladue, Creve Coeur, Olivette, Huntleigh and Westwood.

The restaurant’s website currently describes Grassi’s as family-owned and operated and says the business is under new ownership. Its historical page, however, still identifies Frank Dyer as the owner beginning in 2012, so customers interested in the latest ownership details should consult the restaurant directly.

Grassi’s Keeps the Cafeteria-Style Tradition Alive

One of the most distinctive things about Grassi’s is how customers order.

Rather than operating like a traditional sit-down Italian restaurant, Grassi’s maintains an old-fashioned cafeteria-style system. Customers grab a tray, move through the line, and place their orders as they go.

This approach gives Grassi’s a distinct personality while allowing the restaurant to serve customers quickly, especially during the busy lunch period.

Sauce Magazine highlighted the unusual service model in a 2021 feature, noting that while cafeteria lines have become increasingly uncommon, the system remained central to the Grassi’s experience.

That makes Grassi’s especially well suited for a casual lunch or family meal rather than a formal dining experience.

The Famous Grassi’s Italian Salad

For many longtime customers, the meal begins with the Italian salad.

It has become one of the signature dishes associated with the Grassi’s name. The restaurant promotes the salad as having previously been named among the best in St. Louis by Sauce Magazine.

Its appeal comes from a relatively simple combination of greens, Parmesan, green olives, pepper, Italian dressing, and distinctive house-made croutons.

Sauce Magazine has highlighted the buttery croutons and balanced ingredients as reasons the salad has developed such a following.

Many sandwiches and entrées are served with a small Italian salad, making it an integral part of the Grassi’s dining experience rather than simply another side dish.

Sandwiches, Toasted Ravioli and St. Louis Favorites

The Grassi’s menu stays close to the Italian-American comfort food generations of St. Louis diners know well.

Signature sandwiches come on garlic cheese bread and are served with a small Italian salad.

Choices include the Terry, a veal parmigiana sandwich; Becky Debby, featuring chicken parmigiana; and Vito’s House, made with hot ham and beef. The restaurant also offers grilled chicken and Angus sirloin sandwiches.

The hot ham-and-beef sandwich has a particularly long association with Grassi’s. The restaurant’s history identifies its House Special, along with the Italian salad, among its most memorable and popular menu selections.

Naturally, a restaurant with such deep St. Louis roots also serves toasted ravioli. Customers can order cheese or meat toasted ravioli, and the menu also includes a combination featuring toasted ravioli, Italian salad, and bread and butter.

Pasta, Pizza and Neighborhood Favorites

Grassi’s offers plenty beyond sandwiches.

Its selection of “Neighborhood Favorites” includes lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, veal parmigiana, pasta con broccoli, boiled ravioli and pasta served with meatballs or salsiccia.

Customers can also keep things simple with pasta accompanied by Alfredo, meat sauce, tomato sauce, or butter and garlic.

Pizza is available in 9-inch and 16-inch sizes, with traditional toppings including sausage, pepperoni, hamburger, bacon, mushrooms, onions, peppers and olives.

Dessert continues the local theme with Fazio’s cheesecake and gooey butter cake.

Grassi’s says its connection to local suppliers extends further. Joe Fazio’s Bakery bakes its bread, Vitale’s Bakery supplies the pizza shells, and several core preparations—including dressings, sauces, meatballs, and roast beef—come from original family recipes.

A Casual Frontenac Restaurant With Staying Power

Grassi’s is not trying to reinvent Italian dining. Its appeal comes largely from doing the opposite.

The restaurant has maintained a menu and service style rooted in an earlier era of St. Louis dining while still attracting new generations of customers.

Current local search information shows Grassi’s with a 4.7-star Google rating based on more than 840 reviews. Recent customer comments frequently mention its Italian salad, sandwiches, friendly service and nostalgic cafeteria-style format, although experiences naturally vary among diners. Grassi’s Ristorante & Deli

After more than five decades, surviving multiple locations, ownership changes, and major shifts in the restaurant industry is an accomplishment in itself.

For diners looking for familiar St. Louis Italian food without the formality of a traditional full-service Italian restaurant, Grassi’s remains an interesting piece of local restaurant history—and one that customers can still experience today.

Online reviews and ratings as of August 18, 2026, are as follows:

• Google – 4.7 Stars with more than 840 online customer reviews
• Facebook – Not Rated, but 96% recommended
• Yelp – 4.0+ Stars
• TripAdvisor – 4.5 Bubbles with more than 97 online customer reviews
• STL.Directory – Not Yet Rated

NOTE: Reviews and ratings are subject to change without notice as consumers can publish reviews 24/7/365.

Business hours:

• Sunday – Closed
• Monday – 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Tuesday – 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Wednesday – 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Thursday – 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Friday – 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Saturday – 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

NOTE: The business hours are subject to change without notice. Please call the restaurant to verify critical information.

Name, address, and phone (NAP):

Grassi’s Ristorante & Deli
10450 German Blvd
Frontenac, Missouri 63131
Phone: 314-994-1111
Social Media: Facebook

Additional resources:

• STL.Directory Listing – pending
• STL.News Listing – pending