Mama's On The Hill

One of the staples of The Hill is Mama Campisi's, perhaps one of the most famous and historic restaurants in Saint Louis. Home of the toasted ravioli, Mama's has become a landmark of The Hill and its Italian neighborhoods. In the early 1940s, a chef by the name of Fritz accidently dropped an order of ravioli into hot oil instead of hot water. Quickly realizing his mistake, the raviolis were removed but not discarded. Mickey Garagiola, older brother of Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Joe Garagiola, was actually at the bar during the mishap and was the first to taste the accidental treat. With some seasoning, everyone agreed that toasted ravioli was a hit and there to stay. Word quickly spread and soon other restaurants in the area started making their own versions. Toasted ravioli exploded in popularity and was soon served nationwide, although its home is on The Hill.