Zlatno Zito Bakery and Deli — Restaurant in St. Louis

For good, hearty cheap eats in St. Louis it’s hard to beat Zlatno Žito (Golden Grain) on 4573 Gravois Ave. Food cooked by three Bosnian grandmothers.

As usual my eyes were bigger than my stomach and I ordered two items: the bean soup ($7) and the meat-pastry ($5). After nearly finishing the huge bowl of soup, I saved the pastry for consumption later: perhaps breakfast tomorrow.

The soup was a mix of whole and puréed white beans in a flavorful stock topped with two meat patties (Pljeskavica) with lots of onion flavor and nicely spiced. Served with half a loaf of Bosnian bread (an okay white bread, but perfect for sopping up sauces, soups and gravies). On a late winter afternoon with the temperature barely hitting 10°F (wind chill at -6) it was the perfect meal.

Zlatno Žito calls itself a bakery-deli. There are a bunch of differently-shaped breads available in the bakery-deli side (the kitchen and dinner room are adjacent) but I suspect they are all the same. What I tasted with my soup was similar to a very light Italian bread.

The rest of the retail side was mostly devoted to packaged goods from the Balkans, with some sweets in a refrigerated case that looked like they were made off-premises.

The refrigerated case was mostly devoted to deli items: sausages, cold cuts, etc. Because most Bosnians follow Halal, no pork products. The classic sausages, cured or fresh, usually involve beef and sometimes lamb.

Speaking of lamb, in the restaurant side of the establishment the heated case contained two or three gorgeous looking hunks of roasted lamb (looked like shoulder) each looking to weigh about 2-3 pounds. Alas, they only sell the whole pieces to take home. Next time!

The restaurant side itself is plain and simple with no decor. Just four tables seating 16 plus a counter with three or four stools. Service by the grandmas is casual, but they aim to please, just as...

If you know, you know. Zlatno Zito is one of those hidden gems that’s part bakery, part deli, part European market—and 100% worth a visit.

I came for the gyro sandwich and stayed for everything else. Their hot case is stocked with giant, golden, flaky pies—cheese, spinach, meat—and they’re absolutely the real deal. I grabbed a gyro sandwich with house-made bread, piled high with tender meat, tzatziki, and fresh veggies. The fries were crispy perfection, and the little dessert bites (hello, chocolate-coconut truffles) were the perfect finish.

The grocery shelves are filled with Balkan and Mediterranean goods—think pickled veggies, jams, wafer cookies, pudding mixes, and lots of items you won’t find in a big-box store. The fresh bread wall? Swoon. So many shapes and styles, all baked fresh.

Pro tip: The deli menu is taped over with handwritten prices, which just adds to the charm—like you stumbled into a neighborhood spot that’s been thriving on word of mouth. Grab a cart. You’ll leave with more than you planned (and zero regrets).

🛒 Don’t skip: • The gyro • Fresh bread • Chocolate coconut truffles • Imported pantry staples

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About a month ago while out of state on a trip I had cevapi for the first time and it was amazing. Upon returning home I searched for similar restaurants and was skeptical that I'd find something as good. I guess I got lucky though because this place has amazing cevapi and the bread it's served with is perfect. Expect to wait a bit while it cooks because it's very obviously fresh. I don't know about you, but I personally prefer to wait to be assured of hot and fresh food rather than reheated precooked stuff. I don't want to dock a star over this, but just a heads up that they only had imported drinks when I went with a friend. They were quite good, but if you want something like a coke or other typical american sodas I'm not sure if they even stock them since they didn't have any yesterday. I may update my review if they have any the next time I am...