Shay's Creole Smokehouse Features One of St. Louis' Great Pitmasters

By Jessica Rogen on Sat, Jan 13, 2024 at 8:03 am

One bit of Shay Landry's Reuben — stuffed full of succulent, smoke-laden meat — and you'll know that you're in the presence of one of St. Louis' great pitmasters. And it's not only the Reuben that stuns at Shay's Creole Smokehouse (912 South Main Street, St. Charles, 314-852-2803). Try the gumbo, and you'll be transported to Landry's Grandma Hazel's kitchen. Nibble on a rib and you'll marvel at how it has the perfect amount of tender chew. The burnt ends will leave you speechless.

The restaurant is so good that it even had RFT Dining Critic Cheryl Baehr favoring its Memphis-inspired brisket, despite being a longtime Texas-style-is-best person. "Peppery and with a thin layer of bark around the edges, the brisket is gently smoky and impossibly tender and moist — you wonder if it's been dunked in some sort of jus, but it's just naturally that juicy," she wrote.

For more on her take on Landry's, read Baehr's review "Shay’s Creole Smokehouse Offers Some of St. Louis' Best BBQ — in St. Charles" — after you whet your appetite with the following photos.

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Mabel Suen

Shay’s Creole Smokehouse features a blend of Cajun, Creole and barbecue specialties.

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Mabel Suen

Shay Landry is the chef-owner of Shay’s Creole Smokehouse.

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The pulled pork dinner is served with two sides.

Mabel Suen

The pulled pork dinner at Shay's Creole Smokehouse is served with two sides.

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Sliced pastrami sammich with classic brined, smoked corned beef.

Mabel Suen

The sliced pastrami sammich features classic brined, smoked corned beef.

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Landry’s shrimp and brisket étouffée, pictured here with fried okra.

Mabel Suen

Chef Shay Landry’s shrimp and brisket étouffée is pictured here with fried okra.

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Brisket Dip with grilled onions and Swiss on a buttery toasted baguette.

Mabel Suen

The Brisket Dip is topped with grilled onions and Swiss on a buttery toasted baguette.

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Shayquitos featuring a blend of smoked meats with shredded Colby Jack cheese and house barbecue sauce, flash fried in a flour tortilla and served with Creole queso dipping sauce.

Mabel Suen

Shayquitos feature a blend of smoked meats with shredded Colby Jack cheese and house barbecue sauce. They're flash fried in a flour tortilla and served with Creole queso dipping sauce.

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