Bean's Bites - Noto

Date Night took us to St. Peter's this week to a place I've been wanting to try for months. Noto Italian Restaurant -- not an easy reservation to get (had to make our res 2-3 weeks in advance), but well-worth the wait. This was highly-anticipated as friends and family have told us how great it was, and we were excited to see for ourselves. Known for their Neapolitan-style pizza and great ambiance - it did not disappoint in the slightest.

Location:

5105 Westwood Dr b, St Peters, MO 63304

notopizza.com

Since it was our first trip, I can't do what I usually do for food reviews where I go over all the different entrees and drinks we've tried. But what we did try on this trip was terrific, and I have zero doubts that the rest of the menu is just as delicious.

The Drinks:

Now Noto is definitely known for their wine, and it seemed to be a popular choice from the tables we saw. But we opted for a cocktail instead -- an Aperol Spritz, and I went with "The Godfather" -- mostly because it sounded cool, but also because it was similar to an old-fashioned and had Amaretto in it. Both were great, specific glasses for the Spritz and a jumbo ice cube with the Noto 'N' imprinted on top.

The Food:

As we were deciding what to order, there was a couple who were clearly Noto-Vets sitting next to us. When they heard a, "I'm fine with whatever," they jumped into action and asked if we had been before. We were torn on starters, pasta, and whether to get one pizza or two. They highly-recommended 2 pizzas and a starter or pasta to share -- and we took their advice after seeing how good their pasta and za looked.

Starters/Salad:

We considered the Arancini and Apple Crostini (ricotta, apple mostarda, bottarga, parsley, olive oil, focaccia) heavily, but opted out on starters. The Shrimp Toast also sounded amazing. The Noto House salad was our table neighbors' suggestion if we went that route, and at only $10 probably would've been a smart choice, but we didn't think we needed it.

Pasta:

It sounds like the menu changes often and they mix in different pastas throughout the year - but there isn't a single one on the menu that didn't sound great. We went with the Maltagliati (that was fun for me to try and pronounce to the waiter) which had brussels and broccoli and truffled chicken jus. It was a freshness bomb -- you're hit with the lemon and truffle right away, the noodles were cooked perfect, and it was a perfect portion to share.

Mains:

The 3 mains on their menu last night were: Swordfish, Pork Shank, and Duck Confit. I'm not the most adventurous eater, so I didn't even really consider these at $40 a pop -- but I must admit the guy on the other side of us got the Pork and it looked pretty damn good. Maybe next time (but probably not because I'm obsessed with the pizza).

Pizza:

Star of the show without question. Simple - four ingredients to make their dough. Enormous wood-fire oven cranked up to 1000 degrees to cook them. The restaurant is also kind of laid out around the oven which I thought was cool. I was a little worried they were gonna bring it out uncut - which they say is the best way to eat it - but they offered to cut it (It would've looked like a murder scene if I tried to fork and knife it). The crust was unreal - it puffs up beautifully in the oven, crispy around the edges but airy in the middle - and the wood-fire gives it a great char.

We got 2 pizzas - the GIARDINIERA and the SOPHIA. The Giard -- their homemade San Marzano Tomato sauce base, smoked provolone and fresh mozz, pickled veggies, oregano, and nduja (spicy pork sausage from Calabria). Not overloaded with toppings, perfect balance. If you like spicy and sweet, this is gonna be up your alley. The Sofia -- fig jam base, blue cheese, onion, arugula, balsamic glaze, and the star of the show is the prosciutto (24-month aged, for whatever that's worth). This was my #1, and I'm the one that picked out the sausage and peppers za. Sweet, tangy, loaded with prosciutto, glaze was great, arugula was very flavorful (which I didn't expect), and the fig jam was awesome. On my list for next time to try: SALSICCIA, NDUJA, BURRATA

I'm very confident saying this is the best pizza in St. Charles/St. Louis/surrounding areas by a mile. It's a different style than you can get anywhere around here, but it was the best crust and tomato sauce I've had on a pizza. The Drinks were great, the pasta was awesome and I'd be excited to try another one next visit, all the starters and salads looked incredible, as did the mains -- but this place is known for their pizza for a reason. Legit.

Pizza Rating:

9.8/10 (haven't been to NYC or New Haven, but I don't see pizza getting much better than this - especially for Neapolitan style)

Restaurant Rating

9.4/10 (need to go again and try some other menu items, but 1st trip, easy 9.4)

May start a new series looking for the best Pizza in St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Peters, O'Fallon, etc. Comment your favorite pizza place below if you wanna see more.