Castello’s Restorante in southeast Missouri combines authentic Italian cuisine
with American favorites.
By Patsy Bell Hobson

You will swear you are in The Hill neighborhood in St. Louis when you eat at Castello’s Restorante in Poplar Bluff, Mo. It’s that good and that Italian.

Above: The entrance to Castello’s restaurant includes a prominent portrait of owner Bobbi Tinsley’s mother. Below: Pasta Corciofi is one of Castello’s signature pasta dishes. Patsy Bell Hobson photos

We don’t often think about southeast Missouri when looking for authentic Italian food, such as made from scratch lasagna, homemade salad dressings and desserts. Indeed, the lunch crowd here tends to swing toward the American side of Castello’s menu.

In fact, about half of the menu is American food. I had the chicken and dumplings, as good as my grandmother, with perfect dumplings and generous portions. Castello’s is billed as an American and Italian restaurant. I asked owner Bobbi Tinsley why the American fare is on the menu when everything else is so elegant and Italian.

“We are in southeast Missouri. You cook what people want,” she said.

Castello’s is named for Tinsley’s mother whose portrait greets you as you walk in the front door of the restaurant. Tinsley, by the way, won’t let anyone else make the lasagna. She insists on making it herself.

Start your Italian feast with a leafy, fresh green salad served with your choice of homemade dressings. The house Italian dressing is from the St. Louis restaurant, Zia’s on The Hill. Entrée salads include Ginnis Fitness salad and a wonderful spinach salad topped with strawberries, pecans and blue cheese crumbles. Any full-sized entrée salad can be ordered as a half portion for $5.

The menu is large and filled with favorite Italian dishes plus steaks, chicken and fish. You may have to ask for the wine list or, ask your waitress for a recommendation.

Simple spaghetti with marinara ($8.99) or meat sauce ($9.99) will highlight the richness and authenticity of the food. We had Pasta Carciofi ($15.99)–which is charbroiled chicken, artichoke, broccoli, peppers and mushrooms–and the Italian Sausages ($15.99) served with marinara and fettuccini pasta. On a later visit, we had the lasagna ($12.99) and Chicken Parmesan ($13).

Desserts are special here. Savvy locals put a pie order in early for the holidays if they want one of baker Sue Bennett’s specialties. Bennett also makes Italian wedding cake and authentic cannoli. Her son, Ben, bakes real key lime pie just like the Florida postcard recipe.

Castello’s has a beautifully decorated private dining room and a large meeting room. For an intimate, romantic dining experience, call ahead and reserve the Anniversary Room.

Italian food doesn’t get any better than this.

Castello’s is at 2720 Oak Grove Road in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Lunch service is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 4–10 p.m. The restaurant is only open for lunch on Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. For more information, call (573) 776-1701. Facilities here are handicap accessible.

Patsy Bell Hobson is a contributor from Cape Girardeau, Mo.