Top 5 Steaks in St. Louis, Chosen by Our Critic

Tucker's Place

There's something to be said for the sort of steakhouse where you can roll up in jeans and a T-shirt, tuck into a foil-wrapped baked potato and rolls, and be guaranteed to get a juicy, perfectly cooked steak every damn time. Tucker's Place (multiple locations including 2117 South 12th Street, tuckersplace.com) may not be the fanciest steakhouse in town, but what it lacks in pretentiousness it makes up for in taste — and what a taste that house steak sauce is.

Wright's Tavern

Leave it to esteemed restaurant veterans Matt McGuire and Cary McDowell to show us what it means to do a steakhouse in the most perfect, quintessential way. The pair have nailed the notion of a neighborhood steak spot with Wright's Tavern (7624 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton, wrightswydown.com), which is anchored by four delectable cuts — sirloin, strip, ribeye and filet — that are always cooked flawlessly and served in one of the most hospitality-focused dining rooms around.

Twisted Tree

Once upon a time, there was a hunting lodge restaurant known for its fried lobster tails, delectable onion rings and fantastic dry-aged steaks. After burning to the ground several years ago, the old Pear Tree Inn was reincarnated as Twisted Tree (10701 Watson Road, Sunset Hills; twistedtreesteakhouse.com), an all-around outstanding restaurant known for its wonderful sides, mouthwatering salad dressing, wedding cake and, of course, its steaks. The dry-aged strip might be one of the best bites of meat you'll have the pleasure of eating in your lifetime.

Citizen Kane's

A beloved jewel of the Kirkwood community for 30 years, Citizen Kane's (133 West Clinton Place, Kirkwood; citizenkanes.com) is known for its quaint, old-school vibe and some of the best prime steaks you'll find in the metro area. You won't go wrong with any of the cuts, but the standout is the Delmonico ribeye, a bone-in, beautifully marbled masterpiece, cooked so that it's perfectly charred around the edges, as God intended.

Annie Gunn's

The house that chef Lou Rook built has been the gold standard of steaks and fine dining in the area for decades — for good reason. These flawless steaks, cooked precisely to your requested temperature every time and served with those legendary whipped Yukon gold potatoes, are so good you understand why Annie Gunn's (16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield; anniegunns.com) is one of the area's most difficult reservations to secure.