Lambert-St. Louis International (STL) is getting a restaurant makeover.

The $16M plan will offer more upscale and local food choices, more seats and better services, and is part of a seven-year, 11-month contract extension with HMSHost Corp. It awaits final approval by the city of St. Louis, Mo.

About two dozen food and beverage locations at the airport will be built or renovated, mostly by 2011. HMSHost will bring in eight new food concepts emphasizing local food brands such as Mosaic, Fitz’s and Imo’s Pizza, as well as Missouri Vineyards, focusing on local wines and food.

The deal with HMSHost would bring their concession agreement to 2020; it would be required to spend $13M by 2011, and another $3M on refurbishing existing restaurants by 2015. It also eliminates an exclusivity clause held by HMSHost with its current contract, meaning Lambert will be able to recruit other food and beverage concessionaires once the agreement is finished.

Lambert would also have flexibility to coordinate new construction and renovation of the food and beverage locations with the Airport Experience Program.

 “Through our Lambert Advantage program, we have been focusing on giving our passengers and visitors more choices, amenities and services,” said Dick Hrabko, director of STL. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring more upscale and unique dining choices for local travelers and our visitors from outside the region.”