There’s probably still some barbecue or pizza with Provel cheese around here somewhere—kidding, there’s a ton of it—but St. Louis in the last couple of years feels as if it has leapt rather decisively into the now, with a wave of innovation transforming the local dining landscape into something deliciously unrecognizable.

From nationally-renowned (and award-winning) fine dining to Filipino street food to a vibrant little Bosnian restaurant scene to new ideas on old fronts (yes, like barbecue), don’t just stop in St. Louis if you happen to be passing through—make a date with the city, come here, and eat the best of what it’s offering, right now. Here are just five places to get you started.

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