Cunetto's House of Pasta

The common folks will have to wait even if you get there before the opening. We were what appeared to be the 5th on the list, but still waited 3 hours. Not sure if there was a second "hidden" list. At least, we were told we were at the top of the list after asking 4 times. The restaurant was loud, smokey, and uninviting. The host and servers were rude and we were rushed once we were seated AFTER the 3 hour wait. I could not and would not eat because I was so upset about the BS line we were being feed during the 3 hour wait. Suggest going to a Fast Food restaurant. I had much the same experience without the 3 hour wait. I will never go back to Cunnetto's.

Pros: Nothing to Brag About

Cons: Atmosphere, Preferential Seating, Long Waits, Too Expensive

Posted 08/19/09

I took my son and daughter there as a going away meal before they returned to college. My son had Tortellni Bolognese and I had the Spaghetti....excellent, however, my daughter ordered the Tuto Mare and she did not like it at all because it is made with a broth base rather than a cream base as she has had before. She ate two bites and we informed the waitress that she did not think the dish was up to par and lacked flavor. The waitress offered no remedy and still charged us for the dish. I know it is a personal taste thing, but I believe that there could have been a little more effort put into pleasing customers. After this the waitress became very rude, basically slammed the bill on our table and said "thanks" in a very curt manner. We will go back but because the food is outstanding, hopefully we will not encounter the same waitress.

Pros: Superb Pasta

Cons: Rude Waitress

Posted 08/12/09

Charming, non-slick, old-timey atmosphere with great food. I ate there twice with a woman I was secretly in love with. Nothing ever came of it, but I still remember the linguine with clams!

Pros: Example: best croissants in town

Cons: What are the drawbacks?

Posted 03/15/09

This place is a tourist trap. You get a ton of food for a super cheap price but it is still probably the worst Italian food on the hill. Don't go before 9 or you will wait forever to be seated. The bar resembles an old amvets post or elks lodge. The food is average but the service is poor and the restaraunt needs to be remodeled.

Pros: Tons of pasta

Posted 11/22/08

I am from out of town and ended up going here twice. Large portions and VERY reasonable prices. They are cheaper than chain restaurants and the food is soooo much better. My pasta dish was only $8.25 and I had plenty for lunch the next day. We got there on weeknights at around 5pm and the restaurant was already filling up. It looked like the wait started at around 6pm, so I would try to get there a little earlier if you can.

Pros: Good food at excellent prices, great service

Cons: Parking can be an issue

Posted 06/04/08

I've been going to Cunetto House of Pasta for years and the place is great. If you want to impress an out-of-towner this is the place to take them to (and when they come back they'll always want to visit again).

Posted 03/11/08

GREAT FOOD AND TERRIFIC ATMOSHERE FOR A ROMANTIC DATE, THOUGH, THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE I TOOK MY PARENTS. THE BEST PLACE ON THE HILL AND THAT'S SAYING ALOT!

Pros: GREAT SERVICE & THEY MAKE EACH ORDER FRESH

Cons: ALLOW TIME, IT'S WORTH THE WAIT

Posted 12/28/07

We love the quality! especially the Alfredo sauce, hope you're not dieting when you go there, though. Butter and loving care go into this food. one big problem: wait is waaaaaaaaaaay to long. especially if you come during normal 6pm to 8pm dinner hours.

Pros: Wonderful Ambiance and Food. Come early for dinner!

Cons: at least 2hr wait for dinner

Posted 03/30/07

Worth the wait, grab a drink at the bar and you'll be happy once you get to your table. Try a Cunetto's salad and some calamari. Any entree is good and the side of pasta is a meal by itself.

Posted 01/20/07

I love canelloni but this... this is divine! Everything here is good but the wait. Often 30 to 45 mins.

Pros: great ambience and perfect food

Cons: don't expect to be trated like family

Posted 07/25/06

Originally being from Springfield, MO I made the trip to STL several times to eat at Cunetto's. After joining the military and being stationed in ND I never miss a chance to eat there. They have the best service and the greatest appetizers a man could ask for. I highly recommend this restaurant and would have to say it's the greates italian restaurant that I've ate at in my life.

Pros: Price, Quantity

Cons: The wait.....but believe me....it's worth it

Posted 07/11/06

I am italian, and have been a chef for too many years. I learned Italian cooking from 2 old country Italian grandmothers. And I have to tell you I was sceptical when my friend suggested we go to the 4th best Italian restaurant in the U.S.! I was blown away! Forget the morons that complain about the food and service. Creative, delicious, excellant classic service. The olive oil for bread, (baked fresh) fantastic, well spiced. A wonderful suprise! And the meal just got better from there. I would stand in line for the experiance every chance I get. Anyone who say's otherwise is........ how you say? Stunado!!!!

Pros: Food, Service, Decor

Cons: Had to wait in line.

Posted 05/12/06

Everything was great. The service (Erin) was friendly, helpful, and prompt. The food was excellent. If you like calimari, you will not find better anywhere. While in town, Cunetto's is a must stop.

Pros: Service (Erin), Food (Calimari), Price

Cons: None

Posted 05/10/06

I think that everyone wants to believe that this is GREAT Italian food so they can have an excuse to eat a mountain-like pile of pasta and not feel guilty about it. The food is by far some of the worst Italian food my husband and I have ever had (we both come from strong Italian backgrounds). Great portions does not equal good quality food. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone who was looking for authentic and properly made Italian food.

Posted 04/03/06

It's true, the wait is long....but so worth it! Get there early to avoid the rush. We knew we were in for a treat with the first taste of the calamari's marinara sauce. The house salad is not to be missed and almost a meal in itself. My boyfriend ordered a round steak dish in sauce that came with a side of pasta. He chose white sauce for the pasta and it was spectacular - rich, creamy and flavorful. The portions are obscenely big, perfect for passing around. The service was fast and efficient. Be prepared for a vibrant, noisy crowd in a nice setting. We were so impressed with the food that we almost went both nights of our weekend stay!

Pros: Fabulous food, Fast Service, Comfortable Environ

Cons: Long wait

Posted 11/20/05

This is the only place I know where everyone from every walk of life can go and enjoy great food and atmosphere. This is not a place for an eliteist attitude. There are plenty restaurants in this town and others that offer snobbery. This is about hometown people that like to observe the other famililes celebrate birthdays,gratuations, anniversaries,etc.. There is a reason for the long lines, It's called Italian hospitalityand Frank does it best.

Pros: Unmatched Tuto Mare, Consistent Quality, Something for everyon

Cons: My Glass Is Half Full

Posted 08/29/05

I took my girlfriend from out of town on a date to Cunetto's because there is always so much rave about how great it is. This is supposed to be one of "the best" representative restaurants of St. Louis Italian food. I was definitely disappointed. I ordered the tortellini w/ cream sauce, peas, etc., and it was lukewarm. The waiter was unapologetic when I asked that it be taken back to be warmed-up. For a place w/ such a great reputation, I was really let down. I have since eaten at many other better Italian restaurants on The Hill & elsewhere in St. Louis.

Pros: Can say you ate there

Cons: Wasn't so good

Posted 07/27/05

Go to Cunetto's if you want massive portions of mediocre pasta. The wait can be long, so go with the intention of waiting or get there when they open for dinner. Definitely an overrated restaurant on the Hill.

Pros: large portions

Cons: no reservations

Posted 06/27/05

I cannot believe that this place does not accept resesrvations. My husband and I had to wait 2 hours for a table! There was standing room only for the wait. Then had to wait again for a waiter to take our order. The food was terrible. Pasta sauce was bland. I will never go back.

Pros: price

Cons: long wait, terrible food, crowded

Posted 05/25/05

Bring an appetite; the portions are large and tasty. It is usually packed so be prepared to wait. The hill has awesome food.

Pros: food, price, quality

Posted 07/13/04

I highly recommend Cunetto's. I found my favorite resturant the first time I went to Cunetto's in the early 1980s for Secretary's Day with my office. I have introduced almost my whole family to Cunetto's including my husband's parents who live out of town. I will never forget when we took my uncle when he was in his 90s. He was so impressed that he said he will talk to Ravanelli's located in Granite City (GC), Illinois, about the best seafood pasta he ever had and ask Ravanelli's to get the recipe. My Uncle was well known in Granite City and owned a tremondous amount of propety in GC. We quite often go with neighbors of ours who rave about the Cunetto's best steak in town. I can go on and on how wonderful Cunetto's is.

Pros: inexpensive, superior service, superior italian food

Cons: , too long of wait, sometimes too loud

Posted 05/03/04

Cunnetto's is a restaurant that everyone should experience at least once. The service is exceptional, the food is wonderful with large proportions, the price is extremely reasonable, and the atmosphere is romantic.

Pros: Reasonably priced, Great food, Good service

Posted 02/26/04

A friend recommended Cunetto's when she found out we were going to St. Louis--we were so glad we listened! We went soon after they opened for the night and had a little bit of a wait, but we simply ran across the street to the Italian Market. The fried ravioli was superb and our pasta dishes were exceptional--so freshly made that it was simply too hot to eat at first! No cooking the pasta earlier, then reheating when ordered as most restaurants do. We still talk about it here in Ohio and want to go back to St. Louis just to go to Cunetto's! I think we have become so used to "fast food" in this country, that we have forgotten that a meal is supposed to be an experience.

Pros: Excellent Food

Posted 01/19/04

I grew up on the hill in St. Louis and I have been eating at Cunetto's for 23 years. Its not simply about the food. Its about something bigger. The "St. Louis Experience" if you will. The ambiance at Cunetto's is pure St. Louis, for better or for worse. I think its worth experiencing. Yes, the wait can be long at times but the fried eggplant, the house salad and the veal in crab sauce are worth the wait every time. There are other good restuarants on the Hill too. Cunetto's is one of the best in my opinion, but certainly try them all!!!

Pros: Good Value, Delicious Food, St. Louis Ambiance

Cons: Long Wait, No Reservations, Parking can be Hard

Posted 07/02/03

Good sinple salad with crumbles bacon and chunky cheese. Lots of garlic in the pasta! Freshly made food Great steaks.

Pros: Good flavor, Great Service

Cons: crowded, Little expensive

Posted 06/30/03

There's nothing like bad service, and there's no place to get bad service like Cunetto's. On Saturday, our waiter forgot our appetizer and brought the wrong wine. Once we finally got our food, it was even more disappointing. My pasta was way over-cooked and the sauce was so thick it congealed in front of my eyes. We were extremely disappointed, and this was the second time we tried Cunetto's, with the same result.

Pros: Cheap

Cons: Loud, Croweded, Bad Food

Posted 04/04/03

I went there for my college graduation with about 8 of us. We didn't get seated immediately, but we didn't have reservations. We were taken upstairs where we had appetizers and drinks. They were very accomodating in that respect. Our dinner was terrific and service was acceptable. One of the best things about Cunetto is the value. It is probably the best place for pasta for the price, and the portions are huge!

Pros: Value, Pasta

Posted 02/17/03

Cunetto's food is worth the trip and the wait. Their house salad is a must. Mi Piace!

Pros: great food, good service

Cons: parking, crowded

Posted 02/06/03

I was taken to Cunetto"s for the first time recently and fell in love with the whole experiance. The food was GREAT! The service was very good and the value was exceptional. I would highly recommend it to anyone. I have traveled all the way across the state to eat at Cunetto"s and will do so again!(from Kansas City). Those of you in St. Louis are lucky!

Posted 02/02/03

Can't use less than 150 words here. So I'm just gonna use a few. Hands down the best overall dining experience in St Louis. Well worth my two hour drive and wait to be seated

Pros: Food, Ambience, Service

Cons: Long Wait, No Reservations

Posted 01/28/03

This place was recommended by many people and iwas very disappointed. Decor is fine and atmosphere not bad, but menu selection not great - no other side dish alternative other than pasta and the 'free' glass of wine with my steak was foul to say the least.

Prices were good and the service was fine although the dessert menu selection was woeful.

Pros: Service, Price, Atmosphere

Cons: Food, Desserts, 'Free' Wine

Posted 01/25/03

We have dined here many times and each experience has been great. The waits are long but worth it

Posted 01/18/03

Courteous knowledgable staff is what sets Cunetto's apart from other fine Italian restaurants.

The dish I had ordered, Tutto Mare, came a little different than what I was expecting after having read the menu. The entrée was, without a word, taken back. A short time later I had exactly what I wanted, and it was spectacular.

The price was simply shocking; the price I paid for my dinner was no more than if I had gone to 'The Pasta House'. The quality of food is so far beyond such a chain-restaurant, its not even worth comparing.

The only downside to my dinner was that while my waitress was perfect, there were many other young, inexperienced, and somewhat unprofessional staff working there.

Overall this dining experience was one of the best I've ever had, and hope to repeat often. Highly Recommended.

Pros: Service, Quality, Inexpensive

Cons: Service

Posted 11/08/02

We have always been most pleased with everything about Cunetto's. We have been coming to St. Louis for years and always try to work the visit in. Sometimesd we have traveled 130 miles just to eat at Cunett's. The house sald is to die for and I always order linguini with calms. Sometimes it hasn't been on the menu and the chef will cook it the way I like. Others with us have tried other entrees and they have also been most pleased. We have introduced friends to Cunetto's and they have become fans, too. I can't believe some tof the comments that I read. Are we talking about the same place. My only regret is that they stopped making casata cake.

Pros: wonderful service, good parking, good value

Cons: none

Posted 11/06/02

Okay, let's face it. This place is terrible, even for Saint Louis standards. It is dark and dingy. The silverware bends in your hands. The wine list is puny. It's excessively loud. The waiters don't know a thing about the menu. And the food: oh dear me, the food. It is so bad. They use cheap ingredients (I think my bologna was Oscar Meyer), and they use way too much cream and fat. No Italian would be proud of having this food called Italian.

Pros: Cheap

Cons: Food

Posted 10/29/02

Portions are small and quality is not what it used to be.

Posted 10/26/02

This is a terrible restaurant. In no way does it reflect any restauranteur-professionality, cooking knowledge, or ingenuity. The owners need to go back to restaurant school. The food is awful by any measure... greasy, low quality, and un-italian (my carbonara turned to glue after 5 minutes on my plate). The service is obviously the cheapest one could find (my 16 year old waiter couldn't recommend a bottle of wine). The atmosphere is downright obnoxious (reminds me of a frat party). NOT RECOMMENDED.

Pros: None

Cons: Food, Service, Loud

Posted 10/26/02

Food is average. For this quality I won't wait 1 to 2 hours for a table.

Posted 10/25/02

If u go to cunnetos you will not regret it, they have the best pasta u have ever tasted. get anything in pesto sauce it is excellent.

Pros: good food, good bread

Cons: none

Posted 10/01/02

Fabulous selection of pasta and sauces. Generous portions with reasonable prices. The side of pasta that comes with the entrees is a meal in itself. Who cares if the napkins are paper and the place is old. Cunetto's is about eating great food and a load of it. The downside is it makes it popular and the wait can be extreme, especially if your party is larger than four. Plus you get bumped when the "celebrities" come in. But you either accept it or you don't. Like the food, the bartenders take good care of you also. The prices are very reasonable and the stiff drinks make you forget the wait. This place is worth it.

Pros: Pasta, Portions, Drinks

Cons: Long waits, No Reservations

Posted 09/11/02

The best pasta in St. Louis and possibly in North America. I've been eating there for years and I have always been pleased.

Pros: Service, Quality

Cons: Parking

Posted 08/27/02

I am trying to figure out why this place is rated so high..then again, Olive Garden is in the "top ten" best Italian...how can anyone take this poll seriously???

the food is ok, the place is old. Anyone will see for themselves that its not "top" its more in the middle...

Posted 08/12/02

Not only should they be known for their Italian food - Cunetto's has great steaks. Try their awesome Veal Oscar or Steak Mudega. It may take some time to get seated but it's well worth it. Reasonable prices, good service.

Pros: Great Value

Cons: Crowded

Posted 08/08/02

CUNETTOS PASTA DISHES ARE A DELECTABLE FEAST IN ITSELF. THE DISHES ARE HUGH AND AND THE PRICES ARE REASONABLE.

Pros: INEXPENSIVE

Cons: PARKING

Posted 08/07/02