First photo by Robert Cohen (Post-Dispatch); add'l photos sponsored by restaurant
Lona's Lil Eats
On the menu page of the Lona’s Lil Eats website is a brief statement I didn’t notice until recently. “Lona’s Lil Eats is dedicated to inclusion,” it begins. “Sounds like a strange concept but it comes down to diet and flavor.” It lists the diets Lona’s can accommodate (vegetarian, vegan, paleo, diabetic, gluten-free) and the flavor profiles of the restaurant’s sauces and then concludes, “These options help every person find their place.” I was struggling to find a way to express how impressive and important Lona Luo and Pierce Powers’ restaurant is — and why it keeps rising on this list — without repeating my usual praise for Luo’s vibrantly flavored fare, which is drawn from her native “hill tribe” area in China’s southern Yunnan province. The statement clarified my thinking. Lona’s isn’t a great restaurant simply because the food is great. Lona’s is an open-hearted restaurant: casual, affordable, family-friendly. You can order one of Luo’s signature wrap combinations or her Hill Tribe Soup, or you can fashion your own meal how you like it. You will find your place, as Lona’s has among St. Louis’ very best restaurants.
Hours: Lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday-Monday)
Last year's ranking: No. 21
Opened: 2014