Vangel’s Restaurant & Bar will open in Warson Woods this spring

This spring, in late April or early May, American-Italian spot Vangel’s Restaurant & Bar will open in Warson Woods at 10017 Manchester Road. Vangel’s is a new concept from owner Louie Vangel, the grandson of beloved St. Louis restaurateur Charlie Gitto. “We’re going to bring some of those classic elements that we did at Charlie Gitto’s Downtown, some of those classic Italian staples,” Vangel said. “We’ll bring in some modern [dishes] – we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel of food or cooking, but we want to do some modern takes on classic food.” He added that the kitchen team will comprise chefs from the downtown location; Vangel worked for 15 years at Charlie Gitto’s Downtown alongside his grandfather, Charlie Gitto Sr., his father, Jim Vangel, and his mother, Karen Vangel.

Like many newer spots, Vangel’s was the product of latitude given by the pandemic, especially after Charlie Gitto’s Downtown closed. “Covid kind of made us realize that expanding was the natural thing to do. Obviously, the restaurant downtown is closed at the moment, and I had a group of friends that said, ‘Warson Woods is a great area, and it needs a spot like yours,’” Vangel recalled. “I’d looked at probably seven other spaces. When I walked in, I thought, ‘This is the one.’” The space previously housed J Greene’s Irish Pub. 

Vangel said there will be a 10-tap custom draft system alongside a wide array of cocktails. “You’ll be able to come, get a good cocktail and good food in the Warson Woods neighborhood,” he said.

The space will seat around 115 inside, and will eventually have a patio and a private room. Vangel said he aims to be open from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and a bit later on the weekends. “For me, it’s just kind of been a grind the past two years, figuring out how to get back to what I love and do best: making sure that people’s experience and time will be great,” he said. “I’m looking forward to reopening all those relationships.”

Editor's note: At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, we removed reporting saying that Vangel's is from the team behind Charlie Gitto's, and added that Louie Vangel worked exclusively at Charlie Gitto's Downtown for 15 years.