$75 for a $150 Bottle: Wednesday at Roberto’s, Where the Regulars Own the Bar
Revised October 11, 2026
Where is Roberto's Trattoria and what does it serve?
Roberto’s Trattoria & Chophouse is a white-tablecloth Italian and steak room at 145 Concord Plaza in South St. Louis County (63128), owned by former regulars Matt and Jami Hines. It serves pasta, fresh seafood, prime steaks and veal chops, and a house limoncello. Dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 10 p.m.; lunch Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Wednesdays, bottles of $150 or less are half off. Book on OpenTable or call (314) 842-9998.
Keep reading ↓$75 for a $150 bottle. The white cloth is crisp under your wrists, a plate of toasted ravioli lands in the middle of the table, and the Italian reserve you’d have saved for an anniversary is suddenly a Wednesday wine, poured beside a 9-ounce prime filet in gorgonzola cream. On Wednesdays at Roberto’s Trattoria & Chophouse, in the Concord Plaza shopping center just south of Sunset Hills, every bottle on the list priced at $150 or less is half off.
Rest your forearms on the granite-topped bar and you’re where the owners sat. For about ten years, Matt and Jami Hines ate Wednesday dinner right there, and Matt had been eating founder Roberto Zanti’s cooking for more than twenty years. After long conversations with Zanti, who had built the place since opening Zanti’s on Gravois Road in Affton, the couple bought it to carry on what he started. Zanti once told St. Louis Magazine his goal was “to do the impossible to make people happy,” and the Hineses say they’ve kept their promise to him.
End the night the way they did, with a small glass of the house limoncello. It’s made in house from organic, hand-peeled lemons, pure cane sugar and grain alcohol: bright peel first, real sweetness, then warm all the way down. They’ll sell you a 500ml bottle to take home, too.
The short list before you book:
Dinner is Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 10 p.m.; lunch is Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.
Reservations are recommended. Use OpenTable or call (314) 842-9998; nine or more must call, with a $200 deposit. Cancel inside 48 hours and the deposit isn’t lost: it comes back as a gift certificate.
Corkage is $25, so on a Wednesday a $50 bottle off their list costs the same as opening your own.
The half-off skips 375ml half-bottles, and the site doesn’t say whether it covers Wednesday lunch. Ask.
No children’s menu, no high chairs or booster seats. Casual clothes are fine.
From Zanti’s in Affton to Concord Village
Zanti opened Zanti’s on Gravois Road, renamed it Roberto’s, then moved a few miles west to a bigger space in Concord Village and later added “Chophouse” to the name. For families in Mehlville, Oakville, Sunset Hills and Crestwood, it’s the white-tablecloth night out that doesn’t start with a parking garage downtown, and its lunch menu, dinner menu and wine list are online to read before you go. If you like comparing your options first, the directory’s local guide to the best Italian food in St. Louis is a good place to start.
Half trattoria, half chophouse
Pasta on one side of the menu, steak on the other
The kitchen keeps one foot in the trattoria and one in the chophouse, and the dinner menu tells you exactly what lands on the plate. Linguine alle vongole is little neck clams and chopped clams in garlic, olive oil, lemon and red pepper flakes. The lobster ravioli dinner is eight ravioli and shiitakes in a brandy cream sauce with tomato and basil. Veal piccata is three pieces of veal with shiitakes, capers, lemon, butter and white wine. Chicken spiedini comes lightly breaded and rolled around spinach, mushroom, onion, pancetta and cheese.
Cross to the chophouse side and it gets serious. The prime ribeye ($60) arrives under the house steak butter. The veal Chop Porcini is a thick-cut chop in a porcini juice and cognac sauce. The showpiece is the Filet Colossal, $75: a 9-ounce prime filet under a cake of lobster claw meat and crab, finished with scampi sauce. Steaks, chops and chicken come with one side, and the printed menu says it plainly: no substitutions. At the bottom, a note from Matt and Jami asks you to enjoy a glass of wine while you wait, because every dish is made to order. Prices are the restaurant’s own and can change, so check its site, or browse diner photos of the steak side at Roberto’s Trattoria & Chophouse on TripAdvisor.
The surprise is on the lunch page. Next to the regular lunch menu sits a second card, marked Tuesday through Thursday, with 8-by-10 Detroit-style pizzas, and two of them carry the owners’ names. Matt’s Favorite is sausage, pepperoni, garlic, pickled red onions, Italian cherry peppers and Mike’s Hot Honey. Jami’s Favorite is mushrooms, pancetta and onion on an alfredo base with a touch of lemon and a truffle-oil drizzle. Both are $22. The same card has a half-pound Wagyu burger done St. Louis style, with provel, bacon jam and sautéed onions. The card doesn’t say whether it runs at dinner, so ask when you call.
From everyday pours to Italian reserves
A wine list that runs from everyday pours to premium Italian reserves
The list, top to bottom
Hand the server two things: what you’re eating and what you want to spend. Say “filet, under a hundred” on a Wednesday and you’re really spending under fifty. The list climbs from American and European everyday bottles to the Italian reserves at the top, and midweek is when the top of it stops being a fantasy. Let the first sip sit next to the first bite of steak before you decide anything. If Italian isn’t the plan tonight, the directory’s guide to the best restaurants in South County covers the wider neighborhood.
Wine Wednesday, the house limoncello, and who runs it now
The best-value night at Roberto’s is Wednesday. Every bottle on the list priced at $150 or less is half off (375ml half-bottles excluded), which turns one of the Italian reserves next to a prime ribeye from a splurge into a reasonable idea. Deals like this change, so check the restaurant’s site before you build a night around it.
Save room for the limoncello. It’s made in house from organic, hand-peeled lemons, pure cane sugar and grain alcohol: bright peel, real sweetness, a warm finish. You can take a 500ml bottle home, too. That’s the kind of small, homemade touch a chain can’t fake.
Behind the swinging door, Alfredo Lopez runs the kitchen as executive chef. If you’re mapping out the rest of the neighborhood’s independents, our South County restaurant guide picks up from here.
A Long-Standing Reputation
For years, Roberto’s Trattoria has been a fixture in the South County dining scene, building a reputation for consistent quality and a dedication to authentic Italian flavors. The draw is the whole experience, not the plate alone, and that shows up in every part of a visit.
Years of Dedicated Service
Roberto’s has served the South and West St. Louis County area for many years, a good stretch of that at its Concord Village location. That longevity says something about the kitchen’s ability to adapt and satisfy diners over time. For another long-running local Italian kitchen worth knowing, see the directory’s look at the Osteria Forto menu.
Expertly Prepared Dishes
The kitchen takes pride in classic Italian dishes, fresh seafood, and steaks and chops - each plate prepared with care for a balance of flavor and presentation. Expect a menu that honors traditional recipes while leaning on quality ingredients.
A Refined, Adult Atmosphere
Roberto’s is geared toward diners who appreciate a more refined setting. The focus is a grown-up night out, which is why you won’t find children’s menus or high chairs here - the room is built for conversation and a meal that takes center stage.
Saturday free after a Friday dinner here? Marine Villa, down by the river, is worth the afternoon.
White tablecloths, no dress code
A white-tablecloth setting that still keeps things comfortable
White-Tablecloth Setting
Walk in and you’ll notice the classic white-tablecloth setting - the kind of place that feels special without being stuffy. It’s comfortable elegance that makes you want to linger over a meal, and it sets the stage for a nice evening out.
Casual Dress Welcome
Don’t let the tablecloths fool you: the atmosphere is refined, but guests are welcome to come as they are. Ditch the suit and tie if that’s not your style. It’s a nice balance - an upscale feel with no pressure to dress up.
Full Bar Service
No Italian meal is complete without a drink, and Roberto’s has a full bar - a classic cocktail, a glass of wine, or whatever suits the evening. Hours can shift with the season, so it’s worth a quick call before a special trip.
Reservations and Private Events
Walk-Ins Welcome
Planning a spontaneous dinner? Roberto’s welcomes walk-ins, so it’s fine to stop by when the craving for authentic Italian hits. The staff do their best to seat guests promptly, even without a reservation.
How to Reserve a Table
If you’d rather plan ahead, a smart move for weekend evenings, you can book online through the OpenTable link on the restaurant’s reservations page or by phone at (314) 842-9998. Parties of nine or more have to call, and a $200 deposit holds the table; cancel within 48 hours and the deposit comes back as a gift certificate.
Celebrations and Group Dinners
Looking for a spot for a business luncheon, birthday, or anniversary? The restaurant has two dining rooms and a bar, and groups of nine or more book by phone with a deposit. Call to talk through the space and the menu before you send the invitations. You can also reach the reservations page on their website for current information.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There and Parking
Roberto’s sits in Concord Plaza at 145 Concord Plaza, an easy reach for most of South and West County and a short hop off the main Lindbergh and I-55 corridors. The draw for a lot of regulars is simple: you get a genuine sit-down Italian dinner without the downtown parking hunt or garage fees. Pull into the plaza lot, park for free, and walk in - that convenience is a big part of why the place has held its neighborhood following for so long.
Hours and Good Times to Go
Bringing a whole group instead of a table for two? Here is what St. Louis restaurants with private rooms charge and what to ask.
Roberto’s serves lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30 to 10 p.m.; it’s closed Sunday and Monday. Hours can shift around holidays, so call ahead at (314) 842-9998 before you make a special trip. Weekend evenings are the busiest stretch, so if you have your heart set on a specific time, phone ahead and reserve. A weeknight dinner or a weekday lunch is usually the calmer, easier window if you’d rather not wait.
Hungry for more local favorites? Browse the St Louis Near Me Directory to compare restaurants across the metro, from South County classics to the small family rooms the big apps skip.
If you’re the owner of a white-tablecloth room like this one, this part is for you. Roberto’s owners started as Wednesday regulars at the bar, and the Gold plan puts your specials, hours and photos in front of more customers who could turn into yours.
Make it a Wednesday
So if you’re after a taste of real Italy without hopping on a plane, you know where to go. Roberto’s Trattoria is ready to welcome you - grab a seat and settle in for a meal worth remembering. A good night out is well within reach, right here in South County. Whether it’s a quiet weeknight dinner, a special anniversary, or a group dinner in one of its two dining rooms, the recipe is the same: honest Italian cooking, a comfortable table, and a staff that has been doing this long enough to make it look easy.
Can I make a reservation or host an event at Roberto’s Trattoria?
Yes. Book online through the OpenTable link on the restaurant’s reservations page or call (314) 842-9998, and walk-ins are welcome. Parties of nine or more must call, and a $200 deposit holds the table; cancel within 48 hours and you get a gift certificate for the amount. With two dining rooms, ask about seating a group together.
Does Roberto’s Trattoria have a good wine selection?
Yes. The list runs from affordable American and European bottles to premium Italian reserves, and the staff will suggest a pairing. Wednesday is the night to go: bottles priced at $150 or less are half off, excluding 375ml half-bottles. Finish with the house limoncello, made in-house from organic, hand-peeled lemons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of food does Roberto’s Trattoria serve?
Classic Italian pasta, veal, chicken, seafood and prime steaks, all made to order under executive chef Alfredo Lopez. The dinner menu runs from linguine with little neck clams and lobster ravioli in brandy cream to veal saltimbocca, Chilean sea bass and 9-ounce prime filets. Prices are posted on the restaurant’s own site and can change, so check before you go.
What makes a restaurant a trattoria?
In Italy, a trattoria is a casual, family-run restaurant a step below a formal ristorante: regional home cooking, a short menu, house wine and fair prices. Roberto’s uses the word loosely. It’s dressier, with white tablecloths and a chophouse side, but it keeps the trattoria idea of familiar food cooked carefully by people who know the regulars.
What is the best Italian restaurant in the St. Louis area?
There’s no single answer. The Hill has the old-guard icons and the city has the modern destinations, but if you live in South County, Roberto’s is the white-tablecloth pick that saves you the drive and the parking garage. Our guide to the best Italian food in St. Louis covers the rest of the metro.
What is considered south County in St. Louis?
There’s no official line, but locals mean the southern part of St. Louis County below the city limits, from Affton and Lemay out through Mehlville, Oakville, Sappington, Concord, Crestwood and Sunset Hills. Roberto’s sits in Concord Plaza, close to the Lindbergh and I-55 corridors, which makes it an easy dinner for most of that stretch.
Where do locals eat in St. Louis?
Away from the tourist strips, in neighborhood rooms where the staff knows the regulars. That means family places on The Hill, the international row on South Grand, and suburban independents like Roberto’s in Concord Plaza, where the current owners were Wednesday-night regulars at the bar for about ten years before they bought the place.
Written by a dedicated team of St. Louis locals who live, work, and play right here in the St. Louis metro. Founder Lane Forman and team are committed to building the region’s most trusted directory by verifying listings and connecting local businesses with loyal customers across Missouri and Illinois.