EMI Ristorante: A Taste of Italy inSt. Joseph

by Cassie Bond
Located in a lovingly-restored fire station in St. Joseph, Mo, diners at EMI Ristorante will discover a three-course menu filled with authentic Italian cuisine. The name, EMI, is a nod to Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region—an agricultural center celebrated for its noodles and cheeses—and the owners’ daughter, Emy. Their son maintains it stands for Emy and Magnus Incorporated. All are probably true!

After initially offering a three-course family-style menu, EMI is now a full-service restaurant, proudly sharing Italy’s bold flavors. The menu features fresh, daily-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and delicious appetizers and desserts.

Inspired by travels through Italy’s markets and vineyards, the restaurant brings more than a decade of experience and multiple concepts together in a menu focused on authentic ingredients and traditional techniques. Italian-imported meats like pancetta, porchetta, and prosciutto are paired with fresh, hand-stretched mozzarella and burrata made daily, along with aged parmesan and grana padano. House-made pasta crafted with imported semolina delivers a classic al dente bite, while contemporary Neapolitan-style pizzas feature a light, crisp crust. An all-Italian wine list, curated from the owners’ travels, rounds out the experience with selections meant to evoke the flavors of regions from Chianti to Sicily. Even the restaurant’s white, wood-fired oven, a centerpiece of the otherwise intentionally dark space, was imported from Naples.

While the food itself is special, the unique location offers even more incentive to visit. EMI Ristorante is located in a familiar landmark along Frederick Avenue, the former fire station at 2217 Frederick Ave. The building stands as a reminder of the days when St. Joseph’s east side was just beginning to grow. Built around 1900 as City Hose Company No. 9, the two-story brick station was designed by prominent local architect Edmond J. Eckel, whose work helped shape much of St. Joseph’s historic character. The station once housed horse-drawn firefighting equipment and the crews who protected neighborhoods all the way to what was then the edge of town. As the city modernized, the station transitioned to motorized equipment and continued serving residents for more than a century. Recognized for its architectural character and historic role, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, preserving its place in local history. Though a new Station 9 opened elsewhere in 2018, the Frederick Avenue firehouse remains a proud piece of St. Joseph’s firefighting heritage even as it finds new life as a fine Italian restaurant.

Walk-ins are welcome if space permits, but advance reservations are recommended. Dinner is served from 5–9 pm Wednesday through Thursday, and 5–10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays at 2217 Frederick Avenue in St. Joseph. Reservations for up to 10 guests can be made at: exploretock.com/emi-ristorante-st-joseph.