Long before any of us were born, a group of immigrants from Italy made their way to St. Louis. They stayed together and formed a community that’s still strong today, called The Hill, which today combines a collection of restaurants, shops, bakeries, homes and more.

One of these restaurants is Bartolino’s, located at 2524 Hampton, at the corner of Columbia. Bartolino’s serves not only Italians but also those who wish they were.

Bartolino’s opened in 1969 as a place where hungry people could find a wonderful experience for a relatively low price. Today that idea still stands tall, as Bartolino’s continues to offer exquisite cuisine at prices anyone can afford.

The menu at Bartolino’s consist of a variety of fine meals. Some of the subcategories include pastas, steaks, fish, salads, pizza and other specialties of the house. The antipasto or appetizer menu lists several favorites including the toasted ravioli ($6.25) and the grilled calamari ($6.25). For those who have never tried calamari the version at Bartolino’s will make a great start. It has a wonderful, non-fishy flavor and proves that the dish does not have to be greasy.

Pasta, the main attraction at Bartolino’s, comes prepared in over 25 different ways. Listed on the menu are several favorites, including Fettuccine ($8.75), Linguine with clam sauce ($11.50) and Tortellini ($9.25). The tortellini is available in red or white sauce. The white-sauce version satisfied every taste bud and is definitely worth ordering again. Completely stuffed, the tortellini looked like they were ready to split, but miraculously they did not.

If pasta does not appeal on a particular night, Bartolino’s selection of steaks and fish might. The list of steaks includes the classic T-bone ($16.95) and the lean-cut fillet. The fillet is available in two sizes, the 8oz. ($17.95) and 12oz. ($20.25). Salad and baked potato or French fries accompany your choice of steak.

Compared to other restaurants, a variety of fish makes Bartolino’s a true Italian restaurant. Italy is a peninsula, and because of this the people rely heavily on seafood as part of the daily diet. A few dishes to check out include Bart’s favorite, the charbroiled stuffed shrimp ($16.95) and the sole with artichokes ($10.50).

The specialties of the house include many personal favorites that will soon become some of your own. Minestrone, Italian salad and choice of ice cream accompany all the dinners ($16.95). The chicken artichoke dinner, which offers a succulent chicken breast covered in white wine, butter and artichokes, proves to be a winner every time. Another wise choice would be the veal spedini, which is a lean, rolled veal stuffed with tomato, Italian breadcrumbs and garlic.

The service at Bartolino’s combines professionalism with attention. The servers were professional in their manner, while still giving enough attention to the table to make everyone feel comfortable. The servers helped to make the night an enjoyable event.

The dessert menu changes, so make sure you ask about the specialty desserts for the night. A full service bar is available at Bartolino’s, which also takes care of all to-go orders. Bartolino’s accepts all major credit cards.

An evening of fine dining and excellent food is waiting for Saint Louis University students at Bartolino’s. At the end of the night you will know why Bartolino’s ranks up at the top of list for Italian restaurants in St. Louis. Take a chance and try Bartolino’s, it will not disappoint. A