15 St. Louis Restaurants to Give Visitors a Taste of the City

By Riverfront Times Staff on Tue, Nov 8, 2016 at 12:47 am

The St. Louis restaurant scene is truly a force to be reckon with -- Thrillist even says we're the Midwest's must-visit dining destination. So when you have only a few days to spend here or to show a visitor around, how do you truly capture its greatness? We've rounded up eighteen spots that every out-of-towner must try. From our iconic toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake to the best of our beer and barbecue, here are some of the places that help to capture the essence of St. Louis in every bite.

The St. Louis restaurant scene is truly a force to be reckon with -- Thrillist even says we're the Midwest's must-visit dining destination. So when you have only a few days to spend here or to show a visitor around, how do you truly capture its greatness? We've rounded up fifteen spots that every out-of-towner must try. From our iconic toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake to the best of our beer and barbecue, here are some of the places that help to capture the essence of St. Louis in every bite.

11/08/2016

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Frozen Custard: Ted Drewes
Locations at 6726 Chippewa and 4224 South Grand Blvd.

Yes, frozen custard is different from ice cream -- and if you want to try it in St. Louis, you need to go to Ted Drewes. Ted Drewes is an icon of St. Louis, up there with the Arch and t-ravs. It even won first in a world ice cream contest. We'll forgive the inaccurate ice cream label, just this once. Photo courtesy of Flickr / WordOfMouth.

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Pork Steak: Beast Craft BBQ
20 S Belt W.
Belleville, IL 62220
(618) 257-9000

If you want to try this backyard barbecue staple, go to Beast Craft BBQ for the very best. The magic of this char-coated pork shoulder is completely worth the drive. Also be sure to get a side of brussel sprouts -- even vegetable haters will be transformed. And now you don't have to go all the way to Belleville to get a taste of the Beast, you can just visit th enew location in The Grove at 4356 Manchester Avenue. Photo by Mabel Suen.

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Barbecue: Pappy's Smokehouse and Salt + Smoke

We have two options here, depending on the amount of time you have (and your level of patience). If you're willing to wait in a line, go to Pappy's Smokehouse (3106 Olive St., 314-535-4340). The barbecue here is extraordinary, which is evident by the fact that Pappy's closes when it sells out each day (so call ahead if you're going late). Not one to wait in line? Go to Salt + Smoke (6525 Delmar Blvd., 314-727-0200). You can smell its deliciousness blocks away on the Loop -- and don't forget to order a side of the white cheddar cracker mac. Salt + Smoke photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

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Ice Cream: The Fountain on Locust
3037 Locust St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 535-7800

The ice cream cone is said to have origins in St. Louis, so it's only right to indulge in one while you're here. We recommend the Fountains on Locust, which is home to ice cream martinis and Instagram-worthy art deco decor (it stands as the most photographed restaurant in the city). Photo by Lauren Milford.

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Pizza: BJ's or Melo's

Again, we like to give you options. If you absolutely, positively must try St. Louis-style pizza, skip the typical Imo's and go for a much better example at BJ's Bar and Restaurant (184 W. Washington St. Florissant). For the sensible, however, forget St. Louis style and opt for the authentic Neapolitan pizza at Melo's Pizzeria (2438 McNair Rear, 314-833-4489). Grab a seat in the courtyard, and get whisked away to Italy. Photo by Mabel Suen.

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Candy: Crown Candy Kitchen
1401 St Louis Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63106
(314) 621-9650

Crown Candy is a St. Louis institution, serving up food, ice cream and of course, a wide selection of candy. The retro soda fountain even makes its own chocolate -- how can you refuse that? RFT photo.

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Toasted Ravioli: Lombardo's Trattoria
Drury Inn St. Louis At Union Station, 201 S 20th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 621-0666

St. Louis is the birthplace of toasted ravioli, and if you want the best, go to Lombardo's. These oversized t-ravs are the real deal. Photo courtesy of Instagram / forkside.

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Slinger: Courtesy Diner
Locations at 1121 Hampton Ave. and 3153 S. Kingshighway Blvd.

This eggs/hash browns/meat/chili/cheese combo may sound like a heart attack waiting to happen, but the fact of the matter is that it's a Midwestern diner staple. Try your first one at Courtesy Diner, which calls itself the "home of the St. Louis slinger." RFT photo.

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Beer: Side Project Cellar
7373 Marietta Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63143
(314) 224 - 5211

Yes, St. Louis is a beer city -- but don't rely on the Anheuser-Busch Brewery to sum up the entire St. Louis beer scene. True craft beer connoisseurs should prioritize a trip to Side Project Cellar, a James Beard-nominated, Belgian-inspired beer bar. Side Project pays attention to every detail of beer drinking and the brewing process, including temperature, barware and proper serving for each individual -- and you'll notice when you visit. Photo by Richard Haegele.

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Wine: Sasha's on Shaw
4069 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 771-7274

Wine aficionados will quickly fall in love with Sasha's, where the wine list is so expansive that it requires an iPad as a menu. You'll be able to linger over your glass or bottle without servers trying to hustle you along, and the ambiance is top-notch. RFT photo.

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Doughnuts: World's Fair Doughnuts
1904 S. Vandeventer Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 776-9975

St. Louis has many great, hole-in-the-wall doughnut shops, but be sure you check out World's Fair Doughnuts in particular. Appropriately located at 1904 S. Vandeventer (the year St. Louis hosted the World's Fair, just FYI), World's Fair has been serving your favorite guilty pleasure for more than thirty years. Come prepared with cash or a check; no credit cards are accepted here. Photo by Brittani Schlager.

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St. Paul Sandwich: The Rice House
Three locations, including 2725 N. Highway 67
Florissant, MO 63033
(314) 921-0711?

This sandwich can be found on Chinese-American restaurant menus in St. Louis and some other Missouri cities, and it typically consists of an egg foo young patty, dill pickle slices, white onion, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and white bread. If you dare to try it, go to The Rice House, which serves a more upscale version known as the "Angry Bird St. Paul." It consists of chicken, jalapenos, cajun spices and munster cheese -- and it's served on texas toast instead of that boring white bread. Photo courtesy of Instagram / balisongbrown.

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Bakery: Pint Size Bakery
3133 Watson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63139

You haven't truly lived until you've tried the salted caramel croissant at Pint Size Bakery. Stand in line for one of these on a Saturday, and you'll understand why it's as hyped here as the cronut is in New York City. You can thank us later. Photo by Cheryl Baehr.

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Hot Dogs: Steve's Hot Dogs
2131 Marconi Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 762-9899

Who knew there were so many ways to serve a hot dog? Steve's Hot Dogs takes the typical cookout staple and makes it fun with different topping combos and St. Louis twists. Menu items include the Macho Nacho Dog, Dogtown Pizza Hot Wing Dog, St. Louis Style HYAAAH! Dog and more. Photo by Mabel Suen.

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Gooey Butter Cake: Gooey Louie
6483 Chippewa St.
St. Louis, MO 63109

You can't visit St. Louis without trying our claim to dessert fame. Get a taste of it yourself at Gooey Louie, where you can try 13 different flavors of the stuff -- with all-natural ingredients to boot. Photo courtesy of Flickr / Annie.

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