St. Louis Food Guide

When you think about the midwest, St. Louis probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind as a food haven, but you’d be wrong. Smack dab in the middle of the country, sitting on the edge of the Mississippi River, St. Louis is a midwestern city with a lot of southern flare and downright delicious food.

Mostly known for it’s baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals and Sweetie Pies—a soul food restaurant that’s so delicious Oprah gave the restaurant a hit TV show on her network for five seasons—STL is slowly climbing its way into the hearts of foodies across the country. So, if you find yourself traveling east to west, or if you just want a change of pace, give St. Louis a try, you won’t regret it.

Brunch

Kingside Diner, 4651 Maryland Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63108

Price: $$

Kingside isn’t your stereotypical diner. Inside it’s sleek, modern and there are flat screen TVs everywhere you turn. It’s part bar, part brunch spot located in the trendy Central West End neighborhood. If you’re dining here, venture out a bit and get something different like their Kingside Slinger—pulled pork, chorizo and hash browns, ’nuff said.

Russell’s on Macklind, 5400 Murdoch Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109

Price: $$

Don’t let the weekend wait time deter you from giving this place a try (they use the nowait app, get in line before you get there). Russell’s on Macklind is not just a coffee and pastry shop, but they’ve got delicious, made-to-order dishes that are sure to leave you feeling satisfied. And grab a pastry to go (St. Louis is known for it’s Gooey Butter Cake) you won’t regret it!

Lunch

Culpeppers, 300 N Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Price: $$

Great for wing lovers, Culpeppers is a must try while visiting. Each plate of wings at Culpeppers comes out pipping hot and the hot sauce has a perfect kick to it. This no frills wing joint is located in Central West End as well so you can go shopping after.

Misson Taco Joint, 398 N Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Price: $$

Three words: Carne Asada Fries. Mission Taco Joint is a hip restaurant serving Mexican fare with a twist. Duck, Brisket and Portabello gourmet tacos are all included on the menu as well as more traditional taco options.

Dinner

Sugarfire, 605 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63101

Price: $$

Technically, the BBQ capital of the state is three hours away in Kansas City, but Sugarfire has some good barbecue and damn good alcoholic milkshakes, which landed them a spot on this round up. Best of all, this St. Louis-born chain has grown opening smokehouses in Indianapolis, Indiana and Westminster, Colorado.

IMO’s, 1000 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139

Price: $$

I’ll admit, I am not a fan of St. Louis style pizza, but not putting the originators on this list felt wrong. IMO’s is a pizza chain across Missouri that began in 1964. They’re known for their cracker style crust (think Saltine cracker) which is special to the city. Grab a pizza to go (don’t forget the toasted ravioli!) and have a picnic in Forest Park, a 1,293 acre park plopped in the middle of the city.

Dessert

Bailey’s Chocolate Bar, 1915 Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104

Price: $$

Bailey’s Chocolate Bar is the perfect way to end a date night or start a girls night out. By the name, you may have guessed that everything is infused with chocolate and you’d be right. Cocktails, brownies, ice cream and so much more all come with an extra dose of decadent chocolate. My go to is the brownie, which is served with a hefty scoop of Bailey’s flavored ice cream.

Drinks

Narwahls, 3906 Laclede Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Price: $

Named after the beloved whale, Narwhals is a bar that serves up frozen treats for adults. Each drink includes a good amount of alcohol and even more flavor. With flavors like Blueberry Moscow Mule, Chocolate Mudslide and Strawberry Basil Lemonade, you’re sure to find something you love. Cheers!

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