A roast beef sandwich soaked in au jus, piled on garlic-basted muffaletta bread, and capped with melted Provel cheese. That sandwich alone would be enough reason to make the trip.
The twist is what waits behind the dining room. A full Italian market fills the back, with deli meats, cheeses, sauces, spices, and cannoli calling your name.
I like how lunch here can quietly turn into a grocery run.
This Missouri spot also traded its old counter-service setup for a full-service restaurant with servers and an expanded menu. An executive chef now runs a kitchen turning out pastas, steak medallions, and Sunday brunch.
So which temptation wins, the sandwich or the shelves? I can’t imagine leaving with only one of them.
A Deli Counter That Grew Up Into A Full Restaurant
Viviano’s Festa Italiano started life in Fenton as a casual counter-service stop. You’d order, grab your food, and find a seat.
That model is gone now. The restaurant switched to full service, so servers bring your meal straight to the table.
The change came with a remodel that added a much bigger dining room. Booths and low-top tables give you options, whether you want a cozy corner or room to spread out.
Somehow the place still feels like a neighborhood Italian cafe. It just has better chairs and someone checking on your order now.
Google describes it as an Italian market and deli with an eat-in seating area. That simple description undersells the setup quite a bit, honestly.
The best part is how the café and the market share one roof. You can finish a plate of pasta and wander toward the shelves without ever stepping outside.
The restaurant also carries the Viviano name, which St. Louis area shoppers have long tied to Italian groceries. Seeing that name over a full dining room tells you the family recipe for comfort expanded.
It’s a smart blend of old habit and new ambition. Lunch here simply feels more relaxed than it used to.
Save Room In Your Cart For The Italian Market Out Back
Here’s where the title earns its promise. The market section turns a meal into a small shopping adventure.
Shelves hold authentic Italian products, from spices and sauces to sweets. It’s the kind of place where you look for one thing and leave with five.
A deli case offers meats and cheeses for building your own spread at home. Think of it as taking the restaurant’s best ingredients with you.
Home cooks will appreciate the hard-to-find items. That jar or spice you couldn’t track down at a big-box store might be sitting right here.
The layout makes browsing easy after you eat. Many people stroll back once their plates are cleared, with full stomachs and dangerously open minds.
A tip worth following is to shop after your meal, not before. Hungry shopping in an Italian market can get expensive fast.
Cannoli are among the treats you can grab for the road. They make a sweet souvenir that probably won’t survive the drive home.
The market also keeps the restaurant honest. When the kitchen sits beside a grocery full of Italian staples, you can feel the focus on real ingredients.
It’s equal parts pantry and treasure hunt.
The Festa Italiano Sandwich Deserves Its Name
Hot roast beef in au jus. Muffaletta bread basted with garlic sauce.
Provel cheese melted right over the top.
That’s the Festa Italiano sandwich, and it shares a name with the restaurant for good reason. It captures the whole place in a few messy bites.
Provel is a very St. Louis touch. This soft, processed blend of cheeses melts smoothly and shows up all over local Italian menus.
The Viv Special is another popular pick. It’s an Italian-style sandwich built with a mix of savory fillings.
The lineup keeps going from there. You’ll also find a Meatball Sandwich, a Muffaletta, Hot Salami, Chicken Bacon Ranch, and a Turkey Pan Bagna.
Roast beef sandwiches come up often when people talk about this spot. The Muffaletta draws fans too, usually paired with fries or tortellini salad.
Gluten-free buns are available for sandwiches. That’s a thoughtful option many delis skip.
Bring napkins, or better yet, grab extras. Au jus and garlic sauce don’t care about your clean shirt.
The sandwich counter may be only half the temptation. Still, it’s a very convincing half.
A Chef Took The Menu Far Past Cold Cuts
Bringing in an executive chef changed the game. Ivan Turrubiates leads the kitchen alongside a sous-chef, building out a much bigger menu.
Classics stayed, but new dishes joined them. Parmesan-crusted steak medallions and chicken modiga now share space with deli favorites.
Chicken modiga is another St. Louis specialty. It’s a breaded chicken dish that local Italian kitchens love to call their own.
The kitchen also prepares fried calamari and salmon. Seafood at a deli?
It works better than you’d expect.
Gluten-free diners get some care here too. The calamari can be made with rice flour, which is a smart swap.
The menu now reaches into soups as well. Mushroom brie soup gets mentioned often, and it sounds like pure comfort in a bowl.
Shrimp risotto and chicken piccata round out the heartier side. These dishes push the place firmly into dinner territory.
The kitchen works as a scratch operation. That matters when you’re choosing between a quick sandwich and a sit-down entree.
So the question becomes how hungry you are. Your answer decides whether you stay with a sandwich or upgrade to steak.
Tortellini Fans, Your Table Is Ready
Tortellini might be the quiet superstar of this menu. It comes in a creamy sauce with prosciutto, peas, and mushrooms.
Pasta lovers have plenty more to sort through. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Pasta Con Broccoli, Chicken Fettuccine, and Pasta Carbonara all make an appearance.
Mushroom Ravioli earns attention for being rich and filling. Fettuccine Alfredo also gets plenty of love from fans.
Portions run large, so leftovers are a real possibility. Tomorrow’s lunch might be decided before you even pay.
Pizza holds its own corner of the menu. The hand-tossed crust is known for its soft texture and good rise.
Classic Pepperoni and Margherita cover the basics nicely. The Sicilian is the heavyweight, loaded with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, and banana peppers.
Banana peppers on a meat-packed pie are a fun twist. They add a tangy kick to all that richness.
Ordering for a group? Splitting a pizza and a pasta dish lets everyone sample both sides of the kitchen.
Just pace yourself. This menu loves carbs, and it isn’t shy about it at all.
Start With Toasted Ravioli And End With Cannoli
Toasted ravioli is basically a St. Louis handshake. Breaded, fried, and served with marinara, it’s the appetizer locals expect to see.
Viviano’s Festa Italiano keeps it front and center. It’s a natural first order, especially for visitors trying the regional classic.
Cheese Garlic Bread is another strong opener. Crusty bread, plenty of garlic sauce, and melted Provel make a tough combo to resist.
Bruschetta and artichoke dip also show up on the starter list. Sharing a couple keeps the table happy while entrees cook.
Then comes dessert, which deserves its own plan. Cannoli with ricotta filling are a classic pick here.
Tiramisu offers soft layers for anyone who prefers creamy over crunchy. Limoncello cake also makes an appearance for a bright, citrusy finish.
Many diners admit they ran out of room for dessert. Learn from them and save space early.
Remember that the market sells sweet treats too. If you’re too full now, grab cannoli for later.
Bookending a meal with toasted ravioli and cannoli feels very right. It’s a little St. Louis, a little Italy, and all comfort.
Plenty Of Charm Lives In This Strip Mall
Strip malls rarely get credit for charm. This one quietly hides a cozy Italian dining room and market behind an ordinary storefront.
You’ll find it at 55 Fenton Plaza, Fenton, MO 63026. Fenton sits in St. Louis County, southwest of the city.
Inside, the mood leans warm and rustic. Booths and casual tables make it easy to linger without feeling rushed.
Staff friendliness comes up again and again. Even the owner has been known to stop by tables and check on meals.
That family-business feel sets the tone. It’s casual enough for a weekday lunch and nice enough for a celebration.
The kitchen will sometimes work with special requests. One diner even got a custom flatbread that wasn’t on the menu.
Route 66 travelers have found their way here too. It’s a handy stop when exploring the St. Louis area by car.
Parking out front keeps the visit simple. No downtown circling, no meters to feed.
This Missouri spot proves location isn’t everything. A plain plaza can still hold a memorable meal, as long as the food and people deliver.
Bring The Whole Crew For A Party
Birthdays, reunions, and family gatherings have a home here. Spacious banquet rooms make larger celebrations easy to plan.
Two catering rooms give you flexible sizes. One seats about 25 guests, while the other holds up to 80.
That range covers a lot of ground. A small family dinner and a full class reunion can both fit comfortably.
Groups have used the space for birthday parties with attentive service. Big tables of hungry people seem right at home.
A practical tip for larger groups is to call ahead. Popular specials can run out, and planning helps the kitchen prepare.
Catering also brings the food to you. Company lunches are one way people first discover this menu.
Italian food naturally suits a crowd. Trays of pasta, sandwiches, and toasted ravioli make sharing simple.
Some evenings have even featured karaoke, which adds a playful twist. Singing between pasta courses is a bold but fun choice.
Hosting here also means guests can shop afterward. Party favors from an Italian market beat paper hats any day.
Few delis can handle an 80-person event. This one clearly outgrew its counter long ago.
Timing Your Visit Makes A Big Difference
Doors open at 10 a.m. most days, which makes an early lunch very doable. Hours run until 9 p.m.
Wednesday through Saturday.
Monday and Tuesday close a bit earlier at 8 p.m. Sunday hours have shifted over time, so check before planning a weekend trip.
The restaurant has offered Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the past. Confirm the current schedule before setting your alarm.
Lines can form at busy times. Arriving near opening is a smart way to grab a table quickly.
Meals here lean leisurely rather than rushed. Plan a relaxed visit instead of squeezing it into a tight break.
Delivery and online ordering are also options. That helps when cravings hit and leaving the couch sounds impossible.
The best strategy covers both halves of the temptation. Eat first, then shop the market with a clear head.
Viviano’s Festa Italiano rewards people who take their time. Rushing past those shelves would be a real missed chance.
Missouri has plenty of Italian spots, but few combine a full kitchen and market so neatly. That combo is worth planning around.
