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Mama Campisi’s (also known as Mama’s on the Hill) in St. Louis, Missouri is a Restaurant Impossible success story with a fascinating backstory. This historic Italian restaurant on The Hill – St. Louis’s famous Little Italy – has been serving customers since 1939 and is credited with inventing toasted ravioli, one of the city’s signature dishes.
A St. Louis Institution
Mama Campisi’s has deep roots in St. Louis culinary history. Originally established as Oldani’s in 1939, the restaurant was renamed Mama Campisi’s in 1982. Located on The Hill – the city’s historic Italian-American neighborhood packed with dozens of Italian restaurants and delis – competition is fierce.
The restaurant claims credit for inventing toasted ravioli, a breaded and deep-fried ravioli that became a St. Louis staple found on menus across the city. That kind of culinary legacy comes with high expectations.
New Owners, New Problems
In 2004, Andrea and Lance Ervin purchased Mama Campisi’s, fulfilling Andrea’s lifetime dream of owning a restaurant on The Hill. After a brief closure in 2005, they reopened in 2006.
For seven years, they successfully ran the St. Louis landmark. Then employee theft blindsided them, destroying trust and creating financial chaos. By the time Restaurant Impossible arrived, they had:
- Paid $250,000 for the building and business
- Invested around $100,000 in improvements
- Accumulated $600,000 in debt
- Inaccurate financial records making it impossible to assess profitability
- Begun relying on frozen ingredients despite their reputation for authentic Italian cuisine
The restaurant had become a chore for Andrea. She was always exhausted, going through the motions – coming in for the day and going home to bed.
The Episode (Season 7, Episode 1)
Air Date: October 23, 2013
Filming: June 2013
Robert Irvine shut down Mama Campisi’s for two days in June 2013, completely revamping the décor and menu on his $10,000 budget.
The Transformation
The biggest change was returning to fresh, house-made food. After the makeover, the toasted ravioli – the dish they’re famous for creating – was made fresh in-house instead of using frozen.
Local resident Phil Christofanelli noticed immediately: “My understanding is it’s all freshly made now, in-house, and that’s different than what they had before… The new ones are much better.”
Two hundred people packed the restaurant on re-opening night. The most popular item? Rabbit – a traditional Italian dish that highlighted their return to authentic cooking.
A Unique Television History
Owner Andrea holds an unusual distinction in reality TV: she’s appeared on both major restaurant rescue shows. In addition to Restaurant Impossible with Mama Campisi’s (2013), she later appeared on Bar Rescue with O’Kelley’s Irish Pub (2016), which Jon Taffer renamed Pastimes on 4th.
Few people can claim experience with both Robert Irvine and Jon Taffer’s rescue methods.
Thriving on The Hill
Mama Campisi’s has survived and thrived in one of America’s most competitive Italian restaurant markets. Operating as “Mama’s on the Hill,” the restaurant maintains strong reviews and remains an established presence in the neighborhood.
The restaurant has earned over 1,000 reviews on Yelp alone, testament to its continued popularity more than a decade after Robert Irvine’s visit.
Visit Information
Address: 2132 Edwards St, St. Louis, MO 63110
Neighborhood: The Hill (St. Louis’s Little Italy)
Known For: Toasted Ravioli (the dish they invented), Traditional Italian
View Mama’s on the Hill on Google Maps →
For fans of both rescue shows, Mama Campisi’s represents a fascinating case study in how Restaurant Impossible’s focus on fresh ingredients and authentic cooking can transform a struggling restaurant into a lasting success.
Last verified: January 2026
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