On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Ono Ikanone, the chef and owner behind Levels, an authentic Nigerian restaurant in the heart of downtown St. Louis on Washington Ave. Ono Ikanone moved from Nigeria to St. Louis at 14, the youngest in a family that already had deep roots in the city. He figured out American life on his own, from traffic tickets to property taxes. He also learned to cook by calling his mom back home and following her recipes. What started as cooking for friends, with pregame hangouts at his place and parties that pulled together Nigerian friends, SLU students, and everyone in between, turned into a restaurant that opened in July 2023. He tells the story of buying the building, how his parents’ hopes for a doctor, lawyer, or engineer gave way to pride, and what it takes to own real estate in a tough industry, where one broken roof or HVAC unit can wipe out a month. He walks through the evolution of the Levels menu, from the pepper soup with goat meat to spice levels that every guest can choose for themselves, plus Sunday brunch, catering, festival appearances, and pop-ups. He shares the story of a campus pop-up where a summer class left early and the college professor who said it was all his fault. He also talks about a trip back to Nigeria to reset and take in its hospitality scene, and about his dream of becoming a chef who cooks special dishes, comes out to tell the story behind them, and hosts dinner series. He also shares some of his favorite spots around St. Louis, including Mama’s on the Hill and Me Hungry. It’s a conversation about culture, hospitality, and building something bigger than a restaurant, one plate at a time. They discuss: Moving from Nigeria to St. Louis at 14 and learning to cook by calling momBuying a building on Wash Ave and winning over skeptical parentsTurning friend gatherings into Levels, which opened in July 2023Pepper soup, adjustable spice levels, Sunday brunch, catering, and pop-upsThe realities of owning a building in the restaurant industryA trip back to Nigeria, dinner series dreams, and his favorite St. Louis restaurants Support the show 🎙 New episodes drop every Wednesday. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEK 🔔 🎧 LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts ▶ https://apple.co/36ycuuO Spotify ▶ https://spoti.fi/3svGoqS 🔗 CONNECT WITH STL BUCKET LIST: Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/stlbucketlist Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ show@stlbucketlist.com Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO
