Destination Restaurants and Breweries Worth the Drive From St. Louis [PHOTOS]

By Riverfront Times Staff on Sat, Aug 21, 2021 at 10:42 am

Hungry and looking for a little adventure? These delicious restaurants and tasty breweries are worth the drive from St. Louis.

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Lambert’s Cafe

(2305 East Malone Avenue; Sikeston, MO; 573-471-4261)

Everybody has to go to Lambert's at least once and stuff their face with the famous "throwed rolls."

Photo credit: Johnny Fugitt

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The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery

(6116 2nd Street; Kimmswick, MO; 636-464-3128)

Everybody wants homestyle food, but nobody wants to take the time to cook it. But you can let the Blue Owl take care of that for you and while you're there, don't skip their Levee High Apple Pie. It's famous for a reason.

Photo credit: RFT File Photo

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Iron Barley - High Hog Ridge

(3367 High Ridge Boulevard; High Ridge, MO; 636-671-9911)

St. Louisans who miss Iron Barley's former location in the city should take a drive out to High Ridge where the food is just as good as ever and there's plenty of space to park.

Photo credit: RFT File Photo

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The Old Bakery Beer Company

(400 Landmarks Boulevard; Alton, IL; 618-463-1470)

This beautiful brewery in Alton serves all-organic beers made from hops and malt organically grown in the United States. The sustainable brewery also offers a rotating seasonal menu of food, which always includes a selection of vegan and vegetarian options.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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Pizza Tree

(909 Cherry Street; Columbia, MO; 573-874-9925)

Shakespeare's Pizza used to dominate the Columbia, MO pie scene, but Pizza Tree is the current king of 'za. This punk rock pizza joint serves fresh, gourmet pizza fast with creative toppings and lots of options.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Cleveland-Heath

(206 North Main Street; Edwardsville, IL; 618-307-4830)

Gourmet comfort food is exactly what we're all needing right now and this Edwardsville spot serves some of the best in the business. (They offer outdoor dining, too.)

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

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Stone Soup Cottage

(5809 Highway N; Cottleville, MO; 636-244-2233)

For fancy, multicourse French dinners, you can either take a drive out to the Stone Soup Cottage, or you can arrange to have their food and a bottle of wine brought right to your door.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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Beast Craft BBQ Co.

(20 South Belt West; Belleville, IL; 618-257-9000)

Everyone knows that some of the best barbeque in the region can be found at BEAST, and if you're headed to Belleville you can grab some meaty goodness from their original location.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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Public House Brewing Company: St. James

(551 State Route B; St. James, MO; 573-261-3333)

With a restaurant serving a full menu, tours to take, beers to taste and gardens to roam, you could easily spend a full day just enjoying the sights and the suds at Public House Brewing Company in St. James.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Pagliai’s Pizza & Pasta

(1129 Broadway Street; Cape Girardeau, MO; 573-335-0366)

This is the pizza to try in Cape Girardeau. Locals are obsessed with it, though, so the place is always full. Do yourself a favor and order yours to go in advance or you might get hangry while waiting.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Ott’s Tavern

(20 East Washington Street, Millstadt, IL, 618-476-3531)

Fans of seafood should make a point to visit Ott's Tavern in Millstadt where the fish dishes are legendary.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Bistro Saffron

(1610 North Kingshighway Street #101; Cape Girardeau, MO; 573-651-1398)

Chef Su Hill has recently opened Chiang Mai in Webster Groves, but her original spot in Cape Girardeau is a true Missouri Classic. If you've never had their pineapple fried rice, you haven't lived.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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4204 Main Street Brewing Co.

(4204 West Main Street; Belleville, IL; 618-416-7261)

Belleville's favorite brewery offers more than just brews. It also has a beer garden and the facility includes a twin 30-barrel brew house — one of only two in the whole country.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Millpond Brewing and Incubator

(308 East Washington Street; Millstadt, IL; 618-476-9933)

For truly original craft beer, take a drive to Millpond where flavors include things like Gose with lemonade and habanero or a German Weissbier with blueberry or raspberry infusions. They offer curbside pickup, too.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Happy Bakery

(102 West 6th Street; O’Fallon, IL; 618-726-7349)

For some of the best vegan food in all of Illinois, stop into the Happy Bakery where they'll serve you outrageously good meals and beautiful cruelty-free baked goods.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Brown Jerry’s Blues, Brews and Barbeque

(147 West St. Louis Street; Pacific, MO; 636-393-0553)

You can find some of the best BBQ in the state just west of Six Flags on Highway 44. Grab some grub from Brown Jerry’s Blues, Brews and Barbeque as a reward for surviving the Screamin' Eagle.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Kain Tayo Filipino Cuisine

(2 West Broadway; Trenton, IL; 618-224-6102)

The flavorful dishes at Kain Tayo Filipino Cuisine have been earning high praise and from the looks of the new menu, this restaurant just keeps getting better.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Thai House

(109 South Main Street; Columbia, IL; 618-281-2777)

Everyone in Columbia, Illinois knows that Thai House is the place to be for outstanding Thai food. Once you visit, you'll know, too.

Photo credit: RFT File Photo

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Burritoville

(913 Broadway Street; Cape Girardeau, MO; 573-334-4068)

Just because it's fast-casual doesn't meant that it's not delicious. You'll definitely have leftovers, too, because there's just not enough stomach space for their burritos and their specialty fries.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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514 Chop House

(514 West Front Street; Washington, MO; 636-900-9311)

In addition to offering fancy steaks and seafood flown in fresh, 514 Chop House also has a second story outdoor patio with a beautiful view of the river.

Photo credit: chimera creative works/a>

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