Restaurant Guide in St. Louis
Some restaurants in St. Louis are ones you simply have to try at least once. St. Louis is known for:
Imo’s Pizza (multiple locations, but unique to St. Louis)
VERY popular! Imo’s is unique because they use provel cheese and it has a very thin crust.
Pappy’s Smokehouse
Voted one of the 101Best Places To Chow Down In America by The Travel Channel, Pappy’s is fantastic. Known as “St. Louis-style” barbeque, this is a very casual place that is usually pretty crowded. They are most famous for their bbq ribs.
Located right by St. Louis University- 3106 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (multiple locations in south St. Louis city)
Ted Drewes has been selling frozen custard (basically the same as ice cream) and Christmas trees for decades, with an attention to quality that has made his trees and custard the finest in St. Louis. It’s a small ice cream stand but is part of the St. Louis culture to go there on hot summer nights and get a concrete—frozen custard blended with candy, nut, or fruit toppings.
Blueberry Hill
Everything about Blueberry Hill screams St. Louis. It is a landmark restaurant and also a music venue. Chuck Berry—St. Louis’ rock legend performs almost monthly in the “Duck Room”—the concert hall in the basement of Blueberry Hill. They have traditional American food and are most well known for their burgers.
Located in The Loop/University City- 6504 Delmar, St. Louis, MO 63130
Fitz’s
When thinking of St. Louis’ beverage choice, most people think of Budweiser. Fitz’s, however, is a different type of beer brewery—root beer. Fitz’s root beer has been around since 1947, and they make other traditional sodas as well—cream soda, orange, grape, and many diet varieties. They are known for their sodas and floats (mug of soda with ice cream on top), but have great local beers, burgers, and pork steaks.
Located in The Loop/University City- 6605 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, 63130
Schlafly Tap Room/Schlafly Bottleworks
Schlafly’s is probably the most popular “local” beer brand in St. Louis. There are two locations—Schlafly Tap Room is just a restaurant and bar, and Bottleworks is a restaurant, bar, and brewery. Bottleworks, in Maplewood, is the bigger location, and they offer free tours of the brewery, along with fresh beer samples. Each Schlafly location has a slightly different menu, and different feel. Bottleworks is bigger, and they host a farmer’s market in the summer. Tap Room, downtown, is smaller and features live music during many nights/weekends.
Hodak’s
Another South City gem! Voted “St. Louis’ best chicken” since 1991, trying the fried chicken at Hodak’s is a must. Hodak’s has also received national recognition through Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels on the Food Network.
Located in the Soulard/Benton Park area- 2100 Gravois Ave, St. Louis, 63104
Sweetie Pies at the Mangrove
Sweetie Pies was recently featured on the food network on “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives”. They are famous for “soul food”—meatloaf, fried chicken, mac and cheese, etc.
Located in south St. Louis- 4270 Manchester, St. Louis 63110
*In addition to these restaurants, the following dishes are also St. Louis staples:*
Gooey Butter Cake from Gooey Louie
Pretzel sticks from Gus’ Pretzels
Toasted Ravioli from anywhere, especially Charlie Gitto’s on the Hill