Peno-Southern Italian Soul Food in Clayton 10-4-25

 I would give this place a 4/5

This little area at the corner South Hanley and Wydown is the home to several very good restaurants (Akar, Wright's Tavern, Bistro La Floraison).   The problem is...there is NO parking for any of them.  Just around the corner on Westwood Drive is Peno.  It is in a little strip mall and doesn't look like much, but it is a nice, well-managed place.

Peppe is the owner/chef and he's hands on.  We saw him several times talking to regulars at other tables.  People come in and don't look at the menu, they just talk to Peppe.  

It was a lovely evening and we chose to sit outside.  There were probably a dozen tables outside under an awning.  Since we were on an off street the outside noise was low.  It was nice.  

We sat by a couple who had been coming here for 8 years.  They love Peppe and his food. 

The patrons seem to be a mix of local people from the Clayton area and others from farther away, like us. 

We started with cocktails.  Mike got his typical gin and tonic.  I tried the pepperoncini-martini from the menu.  I had had one at Napoli Sea a year and a half ago and it was really zingy.  This one wasn't near as good.  It didn't have the twang of the pepperoncini and there seemed to be something that was oily floating on the top layer of the drink.  I wouldn't recommend it. 

We ordered some toasted smoked mozz bites.  What came were some fried cheese squares.  There was a slight smokey taste to them.  They were fine but nothing awesome. 

We always struggle when a restaurant only has "Old World" wines, since we prefer California cabernets.  We did an ok job with this Nobile de Montepulciano.  It was good and went well with our food.  

I heard Peppe telling someone at another table that their octopus and eggplant were 2 of their specials.  I would like either, so I went with the eggplant.  It had been shaved thin on a mandolin and then almost layered like lasagna.  It was good and it had plenty of sauce.  It had a side of pasta with mushrooms on the side. 

Mike got pasta with sausage and meatball.  He said he liked the homemade sausage, it was good.  But he said we've had better meatballs at other places.  I really like the meatballs on Mamma's on the Hill.  

The food was good but not great.  I said that if I wanted eggplant, I would go to Napoli every time.  If we want meatballs, we'll got to Mamma's on the Hill.  

It was a lovely evening and nice sitting outside, but the food was not outstanding enough to make us return.