Missouri Surprises - Where to Eat

Becs
Dec 17, 2021
5 min read

Updated: Jun 4

Looking for a place to eat in Missouri? Check out some of my recommendations below!

Mid-Missouri:

Lula's Tavern

Located: 112 W Carpenter St, Moberly, MO 65270

I've been to a lot of states and countries but NOTHING compares to Lula's shrimp. You can't go wrong by picking one of their spectacular sides: hand cut French fries or one of their massive baked potatoes! Their pork chops and steaks are mouthwatering, but make sure to go early because they might run out! Hands down Lula's is the best hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Missouri.

Link to Lula's Facebook Page

AJ's - The Pear Tree Kitchen & Bar

Located: 1407 N Missouri St, Macon, MO 63552

AJ's Pear Tree is a popular local restaurant that attracts many because of the tasty dishes. Their aged steaks are delicious & I highly recommend ordering their homemade onion rings as an appetizer. The entrees are served with a side and a salad during dinner! I had ordered the battered fish plate served on top or shoestring onions with a Caesar salad and a baked potato as the side. You can't go wrong ordering their classic cheeseburger plate.

Link to the Pear Tree Website

Don's Family Style Buffet

Located: 315 State Hwy JJ, Huntsville, MO 65259

This restaurant in "the middle of nowhere" may not look like much when you drive by, but I PROMISE you will be surprised. Don's serves THE BEST fried chicken I have ever had, and I've had fried chicken in about all 50 states. I grew up in the area and our family would go to Don's after church on Sunday and we would alllllll eat as much as we could. The mashed potatoes and gravy are spectacular and the stuffing is unbelievably delicious.

10/10 would recommend stopping at Don's if you ever get the chance!

Link to Don's Family Style Buffet Website

CC's City Broiler

Located: 1401 Forum Blvd, Columbia, MO 65203

CC's City Broiler is a fantastic spot to enjoy a meal for a celebration, date, or simply a nice night out. The environment is upscale and fancy yet inviting. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you are a seafood fan, you must order the stuffed salmon! The mouthwatering Gary Special was cooked to perfection. The service is always top-notch and very accommodating.

Link to CC's City Broiler

Prison Brews

Located: 305 Ash St, Jefferson City, MO 65101

Prison Brews is a perfect spot to visit before you go on your prison tour! The prison and jail vibes inside of the restaurant will put you in the perfect mood. The food was delicious and there was something on the menu for everyone. Top favorites at the table: supreme pizza, pulled pork sandwich, and the bratwurst. We also enjoyed the nachos and onion ring appetizers at our big table! Service was great! The entire place is decked out in prison decorations/themes. There is plenty of seating inside of the building as well as outside on the patio. They even have a couple fire pits and a bocce ball court! You must visit this restaurant if you are planning on going on the prison tour. Highly recommend order the Prison Brews draft...tasty!

Link to Prison Brews website

Tropical Liqueurs

Located:

The best adult slushies can be found at Tropical Liqueurs in Columbia, Missouri. This unique spot lets you pick & choose which spiked slushies you want to indulge in. Take it to go, or hang out inside of the building to play card games or pool. If you are passing through Columbia, make sure to try "Trops"!

Sapphire at the DoubleTree

Address: 422 Monroe Street - Penthouse Level, Jefferson City, MO 65101

I know it may sound crazy to go to a hotel to eat dinner...but the view of Jeff City is beautiful and the food is delicious!

Link to Sapphire at DoubleTree Hotel website

Central Dairy

Address: 610 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101

This ice cream spot is a staple! I always recommend visiting Central Dairy when in Jefferson City, Missouri because of the history behind it. The Ice Cream Factory is also another popular ice cream spot to try out!

Lake of the Ozarks Area:

Li'l Rizzo's

Looking for tasty Italian food near the Lake of the Ozarks? Li'l Rizzo's offers a great variety of options to order: salads, pastas, pizzas, phenomenal desserts, and other delicious entrees. The patio is inviting and has a decent view of the lake! We ordered a variety of items, but we absolutely loved the house salad and the creamy tortellini dish! We sat on the spacious patio, but there is plenty of table and bar top seating inside the restaurant. The service was incredible as well. Don't leave without trying the cheesecake dessert!

The Rusty Rooster

The Rusty Rooster is a fantastic brunch spot to check out near the Lake of the Ozarks. This breakfast restaurant features truly unique dishes and entrees. We ordered the pancake burrito: scrambled eggs with meat wrapped in a fluffy pancake instead of a tortilla. We also tried the cheesy grits and they were so good...we almost ordered a second one! The Rusty Rooster is a popular breakfast spot in the Lake of the Ozarks area and you might experience a wait on the weekend. Enjoy your breakfast at the Rusty Rooster!

Barn-B-Que Smokehouse

A wonderful barbecue restaurant that you need to check out near the Lake of the Ozarks is Barn-B-Que. We went to another restaurant next door for dinner and we knew we had to come back for Barn-B-Que the next day! We stopped in for brunch and really enjoyed the pulled pork breakfast sandwich. The pancakes are fluffy and taste delicious! Barn-B-Que has the cutest interior with a rustic and country vibe to it. Check out Barn-B-Que near the lake next time you are craving BBQ!

St. Louis Area:

Twisted Ranch

Address: 1731 S 7th St, St. Louis, MO 63104

I am an absolute RANCH fanatic! When I heard that there was a restaurant in STL that was centered all around different flavors of ranch.....I knew that I HAD to visit.

We tried the 12 ranch dip appetizer to get a taste of just about every flavor on the menu. Surprisingly, there were plenty that we didn't get to try! Everyone at the table had a different top choice...what will yours be?