With so many Italian restaurants in St. Louis, how do you choose the right one? What makes one better than another?

With almost all of them serving the same menu items, could the taste of spaghetti and meatballs be that much different?

If you think about it there might not be that much difference in the taste, but there is a solution to this dilemma.

The solution lies in a little neighborhood restaurant that serves rustic Italian food, called Trattoria Marcella.

Owners Jamie and Steve Komorek have made quite a name for themselves in the five years that Trattoria Marcella has been in business. Serving original, distinctive foods that sizzle the taste buds makes up for the fact that most items on the menu will be new to you.

In a city that is famous for toasted ravioli and serving mostaccolli at every catered event, it is nice to experience true Italian food. The dinners might be a little fancier than grandma’s house, but the time, effort and taste are evident.

The way to get any meal started at Trattoria Marcella is with an antipasto or appetizer.

On certain nights the appetizer special is stuffed artichokes; I highly recommend trying one if they are available. They are easily the best in St. Louis.

If the artichokes are not available, then try one of the Roman-style crust pizzas. The pizzas are great as small meals or as appetizers to share among friends.

My favorite is the Pancetta and Spinach, which has Italian bacon, spinach, roasted garlic, and fontina cheese ($7.50).

Depending on what you are in the mood for, picking a dinner can be a tricky decision.

With so many great items on the menu choosing could take a while. If you are in more of a pasta mood, I suggest trying the Homemade Chicken and Spinach Cannelloni, which comes in a roasted garlic cream sauce ($12.99).

The dish takes cannelloni to a new level leaving Pasta House’s version far behind. Another true Italian favorite is the Risotto.

For those of you who have never tried this Italian favorite, risotto is an Italian rice, which Trattoria then serves with cheese, chicken, asparagus, and sun dried tomatoes ($12.99). If one of the night’s specials is Lobster Risotto, I highly recommend trying it.

If meat or seafood sounds better, you surely will not be disappointed. I tend to lean toward the Grilled Beef Tenderloin ($13.99), which is served over some of the best hand-whipped potatoes that I have had at a restaurant.

The Grilled Lamb Loin Chop ($14.99), which is tastefully served over eggplant risotto, is also excellent. The Frutti di Mare ($13.99) is a true Italian must for those who have never tried it.

Clams, mussels, calamari, and shrimp steamed in a spicy tomato broth makes the taste buds quiver with anticipation.

All of the dinners at Trattoria Marcella are served a la carte, so all entrees are served by themselves. Trattoria offers a wide variety of salads including a nice house salad. All of the salads come in a larger dinner size also.

The only thing left to top a wonderful dinner at Trattoria is the dessert. The dessert menu changes, but there is always something wonderful and sweet waiting for you.

Both a full bar and a large wine menu enhance the dining at Trattoria Marcella.

A few of the wines that stand out are the Campanile Periot Grigio, which is great with appetizers or seafood, and Le Caselle Chianti, which may accompany red sauces and lamb chops.

The service has been excellent on every visit, and I even have a favorite waiter. Dress is semi-casual to fancy. Reservations are recommended because the tables do go fast. It seems the only problem with Trattoria Marcella is trying to get a seat.

If you are in the mood for truly authentic and excellent food, stop by Trattoria Marcella and let chef Steve Komorek prepare something special just for you. Located in the heart of south St. Louis at 3600 Watson Road at the corner of Pernod, a great dinning experience is not far away for hungry Saint Louis University students. A-