METRO EAST
Bakers & Hale
Chef Kelsi Baker Walden, a veteran of 360, Basso and Boundary, opened this spot with her former boss and mentor, acclaimed chef Rex Hale. He's since shifted to a consulting role, but his touch lives on in the "American comfort food" menu at this farm-to-table spot. Reasonably priced options at Bakers & Hale (7120 Montclaire Avenue, Godfrey, Illinois; 618-433-9748) include tacos, pizzas and sandwiches, as well as creative small plates for sharing. An expert cocktail list and solid choices for both local beer on tap and wine by the glass add to the fun. $$. Opens at 11 a.m. daily. Closed Tuesday. Patio.
BEAST Craft BBQ
Is the best barbecue in St. Louis actually in Belleville? When the RFT's critic raised that question in 2015, it may have felt like heresy, but in the years since, as St. Louis food lovers have steadily made pilgrimages east to see for themselves, the theory has gained numerous converts. At BEAST (20 South Belt W, Belleville, Illinois; 618-257-9000), David Sandusky is running a casual, counter-service smokehouse with exacting standards and only the finest products — Compart Farms' Duroc pork, Wagyu beef from Snake River Farms. The result: a pork steak that's become the standard upon which all other pork steaks are judged, transcendent pork belly and brisket so good you simply can't stop eating it. "I want to be the best in the nation," Sandusky says. It's not out of the question. Beer and wine only. $$. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cleveland-Heath
Founders Jennifer Cleveland and Ed Heath are no longer at their namesake restaurant, but the food remains stellar, from the best cheddar biscuits you've ever had to a succulent pork chop as juicy and flavorful as a dry-aged steak. Oh, and the steak (served with cheddar mashed potatoes and glistening with marrow butter) is pretty sweet, too. Don't let the unpretentious vibe fool you: Like the food, the service and attention to detail at Cleveland-Heath (106 North Main Street, Edwardsville, Illinois; 618-307-4830) are top-notch. No reservations; prepare to wait. $$$. Opens at 11 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Fast Eddie's Bon Air
Fast Eddie's (1530 East Fourth Street, Alton, Illinois; 618-462-5532) may or may not be, as one of its brochures boasts, the "No. 1 volume bar in the world." Nonetheless, this 80-year-old, 400-seat institution is almost always packed. Here you can get filling if not elaborate meals for just a couple of bucks as long as you're willing to buy a drink while you're there and retrieve your own meal from the counter. The menu has a total of seven items, the most expensive being a beef-tenderloin kebab called a Big Elwood on a Stick, topping out at a whopping $5.99. The half-pound Fat Eddie hamburger is a steal at $3.99. Individual jumbo shrimp are 10 for $5.99. Live music keeps things noisy. 21 and older. $. Opens at 11 a.m. daily and stays open late. Huge patio.
