Old Spaghetti Factory in St Louis: A Review

We recently visited the St Louis Arch and wanted to eat nearby. Since parking in such big-city locations can be confusing as well as pricey, we preferred to have dinner at a spot within walking distance. The Old Spaghetti Factory fit the bill!

The Old Spaghetti Factory is located at 727 N. First St. in an area known as Laclede's Landing, just a block or two north of the arch and along the riverfront. It's an easy walk (maybe 10 minutes) from the Arch.

We did experience a bit of confusion when we located the Old Spaghetti Factory, because it appeared to be empty. However, on entering we discovered that the ground floor of the restaurant is mainly for "show" (although the bar is located there) and you need to go downstairs to get to the dining area.

So fancy, in fact, was the ground floor, with large paintings, dim lighting and an Italian flair, that my husband asked if I was sure we could afford the place. No worries, I told him, and we walked down the staircase.

We were seated quickly and drank in the lovely ambience: brick walls, Old World-look artwork, Tiffany lamps, and even a trolley where some diners were eating.

The service was friendly, and the food was delicious standard-fare Italian, various types of pasta being the specialties. Prices were reasonable, in the $10 range for entrees. Meals included a salad, unlimited fresh bread, and ice cream.

Kids are welcome here. Kids' meals were $5, and included both drink and dessert, which greatly pleased my kids and me as a parent. On the night we dined, there was a "balloon artist" roaming the restaurant and creating balloon animals for any children who were interested.

Our meals were served quickly. There were no problems, other than my receiving regular lasagna instead of the vegetarian version I ordered (ah well, it tasted so good that I didn't complain).

As we exited the restaurant, we saw that the street outside was a stopping point for several horse-drawn carriages. We had a conversation with the friendly drivers as our kids enjoyed petting the patient horses. One driver pointed out an unexpected view of the Arch, which appeared to fit perfectly between the walls of a nearby alley ("it's the best view there is!" she excitedly told us).

The restaurant has been here for years, since 1969, and I had fond memories of dining there on a 4-H trip when I was a teen. I was pleased to see that it was just as charming as I had remembered.