‘Doors wide open’: EMI Ristorante moves to full-service walk-in restaurant on Frederick Avenue
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Much like the move from appetizer to main course, one local Italian restaurant is catering to popular demand by expanding from limited reservations to a walk-in restaurant in the former Frederick Avenue fire station.
Primed with a new-look menu and hours of operation, customers can now enjoy EMI Ristorante's three-course Italian menu from 5 to 9-10 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday, a new era for the restaurant that spent much of the previous year as a two-day reservation-only spot.
For owner and head chef Erik Borger, a founder of popular restaurants like Il Lazzarone and Pizza Tascio in St. Joseph, the reason for the move is simple.
"We want to better serve our community with this beautiful firehouse. So the best way for us to do that was to quadruple the hours and let the doors wide open," he said.
The restaurant is as deeply connected with Italian cuisine and culture as any in St. Joseph, from its many ingredients shipped directly from Italy to a 9,500-pound brick oven from Naples firing up fresh and handcrafted dishes like wood-fired lasagna or pasta carbonara.
EMI Ristorante's new and improved menu includes 10 variations of pizza -- an early fan favorite -- with either white or red sauce. The pizza is inspired by a new Neapolitan creation that emphasizes heavily-rising crusts.
"We make pasta fresh every day. We make pizza fresh every day. Both those flours are made in Italy. We import them all the meats besides the sausage," said Borger, who strives to follow some of the world's top chefs. "I want to be connected to the best producers, the people that are most passionate about food and products. I've never had better flavors."
It's a focus and point of pride for Borger, who opened the restaurant in 2024 after years of work transforming the historic former St. Joseph Fire Station at 2217 Frederick Ave.
Despite the expansion to walk-in service, Borger highly recommends calling in a reservation due to significant foot traffic since the move was announced in recent weeks, including many nights at capacity. EMI Ristorante seats up to 54 people.
"I don't think we could fit any more people in here on Friday, Saturday night," he said with a smile. "The support from the community has meant everything."
With its signature low-light interior, the restaurant offers an intimate and private atmosphere unique from other restaurants in St. Joseph, something he hears consistently from customers.
"When you come in here, you can be transported to anywhere in the world. People say I feel like I'm in New York or I feel like I'm in Rome. That's what we want to create."
Borger said one of the biggest improvements with full-time service is the ability to offer a consistent menu with greater offerings that appeal to more customers.
With additional staff now on hand, including his family, he feels the restaurant is well-equipped to meet the increased demand that comes with a full-time schedule.
“I did a unique menu almost every week for 52 weeks and that is not an easy task. You can't talk everybody into eggplant. You can't talk everybody into mushrooms. Now, there's something for everybody," he said.
Wine connoisseurs will also find a menu that features more than 30 different types of wine to complement any meal.
