St. Louis Restaurants That Have Been Featured on Reality TV

Yeah, yeah, so these days our food scene is getting raves from the national press. But we've long gotten raves from a megaphone that, if anything, is even bigger: The shows on the Food Network.

Everyone from Guy Fieri to Andrew Zimmern loves what we're cooking, and we've got the highlight reel to prove it. Use this list to follow in their footsteps as you eat your way around town — or just find a new restaurant or two. Some of these spots have closed their doors, so use the list to remember those spots fondly. We've added some clips of the shows to the list, so read and watch St. Louis shine.

Scroll down to view images

Highway 61 Roadhouse

34 S Old Orchard Avenue; 314-968-0061

Featured on: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
Guy Fieri called Hwy 61 Roadhouse "a really cool place; it's the kind of place he'd hang out in if he lived here in town. It just went really well," owner Bill Kunz says. "I think he ended up showing me the love in our episode, because traditionally they do three restaurants on an episode...Our episode was only two restaurants, and I got about twenty minutes of airtime, which is priceless."
-Liz Miller

Read more here.

Photo: Highway 61 Roadhouse Facebook Page

Smoki O's Bar-B-Que & Catering

1545 N Broadway; 314-621-8180

Featured on: Bizarre Foods America
On the north side, at the corner of Mullanphy Street and Broadway, trails of smoke can be seen billowing out behind Smoki O's known as one of the best barbecue joints in the city. A family operation, Smoki O's has been pulling pork and slicing brisket since 1997, receiving many accolades along the way (including from the Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern) and devoted fans along the way.
-Zach Garrison

Read more here.

Photo: Blake Eastwood

Crafted.

3200 Shenandoah Avenue, 314-865-3345

Featured on: Bar Rescue
"Pressed” drinks are the centerpiece of the menu. They come in coffee presses, alongside a chilled glass. The idea is to “press” the ingredients at the bottom with the liquor several times to infuse the flavor into your drink and then pour it into your glass. We've drank at bars across St. Louis, yet it's safe to say these are some of the best cocktails we've had.
-Matt and Angie Stockel

Read more here.

Photo: Crafted Staff

Crown Candy Kitchen

1401 Saint Louis Avenue; 314-621-9650

Featured on: Best Sandwich in America and Man vs. Food
Crown Candy Kitchen is an institution in Old North. Its "Heart Stopping BLT" contains, by a conservative estimate, an entire pig's worth of bacon. Possibly two pigs. There are a few tomato slices and some lettuce, but, really, this is a bacon lover's dream, crisp slice after crisp slice tucked between plain white toast.
-Ian Froeb

Read more here.

Photo: Ian Froeb

The Famous Bar

5213 Chippewa Street; 314-832-2211

Featured on: Drinking Made Easy
There's no denying that the minute you grab a pool cue, a certain feeling of utter coolness comes over you. You are slick and smooth, your moves are calculated and your face serious, with a snarled lip and one keen, squinting eye to intimidate your opponents. Why not play on a table that matches? The Famous Bar offers just that — the dark, wooden arches and elegant bar give the room a Rat Pack feel, making you want to order a high ball and adopt an old-timey accent.
-RFT

Read more here.

Photo: Eric Frazier

Anthonino's Taverna

2225 Macklind Avenue; 314-773-4455

Featured on: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
"On the Hill we couldn't be just Italian," says Anthony Scarato of Anthonino's Taverna, where he and brother Rosario combine their parents' Greek and Italian family traditions to do something different. In creating the menu for Anthonino's, which opened in 2003, the Scaratos drew from the heritages of both their mother, who was born in Greece, and their father, whose parents immigrated from Italy. Many of the recipes are for dishes they grew up eating.
-Katie Moulton

Read more here.

Photo: Katie Moulton

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