St. Louis Grove Neighborhood Gets New Pasta-Centric Italian Restaurant This May

At 4199 Manchester Ave, the corner space that housed a tiki bar is about to become something the Grove has been missing: a restaurant built first and foremost around handmade pasta. Jordan Goodman, the operator behind Good Company and Aperi, is opening Baia in mid-May, extending his cluster of Manchester Avenue concepts with one that puts fresh pasta production visibly at its center.

Executive chef Jon Priestley will run the kitchen, launching with approximately eight pasta dishes spanning long noodles and stuffed pastas, with plans to grow to around 10 as the operation finds its footing. The open kitchen is designed around a counter where guests can watch pasta being formed in real time, making the production process part of the dining experience rather than a back-of-house detail.

Bar manager Maddy Knutson leads a beverage program built on Italian wines, amari-forward cocktails, and martini variations, with an aperitivo sensibility running through the whole list. The approach keeps Baia's Italian orientation consistent from plate to glass without overreaching the neighborhood scale Goodman has cultivated across his other projects.

The footprint extends well beyond the dining room. An Italian-style wine garden, a covered bar, and bocce courts position Baia as a year-round social destination, designed to keep guests around longer and give 4199 Manchester an identity that works equally for casual weeknight dinners and weekend gatherings.

Studio DVLP handled the architecture and interiors; Clover & Kith Creative led the branding; and Goodman commissioned an original artist for both the dining room and patio. Those choices signal the same deliberate curation that has defined his earlier Grove concepts.

Baia will begin with friends-and-family and industry nights before the full public launch, with the dining room expected to open ahead of the patio. Exact dates and reservation details will follow on Baia's own channels as the May timeline firms up.