Missouri’s known for its delicious food, and we can all thank our beloved state for some absolutely amazing food inventions – the ice cream cone, toasted ravioli, and Provel cheese, to name just a few. It’s also home to the one-of-a-kind St. Louis-style pizza, invented right here in, well, St. Louis.
Perhaps ironically, St. Louis-style pizza is the invention of an Italian immigrant who first moved to Chicago, Amedeo Fiore, where he had a successful career as an opera singer. Upon moving to St. Louis in 1945, he opened his own Italian restaurant.
Facebook/Monte Bello Pizzeria
At the time, pizza hadn’t yet become a cultural phenomenon in the United States, which gave Fiore the opportunity to introduce both classic Italian pizza and his own St. Louis-style pizza.
Facebook/Monte Bello Pizzeria
With the St. Louis-style pizza, Fiore also changed things up a bit. Provel cheese replaced provolone, and the crust was thin like a cracker.
Wikipedia/Public Domain
Once out of the oven, Fiore cut the pizza into squares, which he then dished up on a napkin for the perfect quick meal at the Melrose Café and Pizzeria.
Flickr/Bill Walsh
While Fiore’s pizzeria is long gone, pizza lovers can still order a famous St. Louis-style pizza in Missouri at countless pizzerias, including the oldest pizza joint in St. Louis.
Google/Psycho_Cypher
That’s Monte Bello Pizzeria, and it’s been a city staple since 1950. However, before you dig into a piping hot pizza pie, indulge in another Missouri original – homemade toasted ravioli.
Facebook/Monte Bello Pizzeria
Monte Bello’s pizza features homemade sauce, and you can order everything from the classic to the SOB (homemade Italian sausage, onions, and bacon).
Facebook/Monte Bello Pizzeria
Take a peek at the rest of the menu, too, that features an assortment of salads and sides, including garlic bread and hand-cut French fries.
Facebook/Monte Bello Pizzeria
Check out the days, hours, and a menu on the Monte Bello Pizzeria website. Or, go to its Facebook page.
Facebook/Monte Bello Pizzeria
Where’s your favorite place to get St. Louis-style pizza in Missouri? Let us know in the comments! Next time you’re up for an adventure, how about hitting the highway on this dinosaur-themed road trip through Missouri?
Facebook/Monte Bello Pizzeria
Wikipedia/Public Domain
Flickr/Bill Walsh
Google/Psycho_Cypher
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Address: Monte Bello Pizzeria, 3662 Weber Rd, St. Louis, MO 63125, USA
