I live in Festus and work in Pevely. There are three places I would recommend.
Not in any order. (1) Blue Owl in Kimmswick, great home cooking and atmosphere.
(2) Frankie G's in Imperial, wide selection of just good food, (3) Bobby Tom's in Pevely for BBQ Pulled Pork, Pork Steaks and Ribs are good. Enjoy!

Not far from Parkville is Riverside. The Corner Cafe in Riverside is great for breakfast,
lunch or dinner. Good home cooking. Also not far a far drive from Parkville is Strouds, also a can't miss dinner place for good old home cooking. Have fun!

Last year I went down to Cape for two concerts and prior to both concerts we ate at Broussards downtown. Not too impressive to look at and the service was not great but the food was good. Each time we had servers who were new. It has cajun and american food. We had crab legs. steaks and jambalaya and enjoyed them all.

If anybody would know it would be Ekert's, 314-729-7631.

Beside Oklahoma Joe's for BBQ, a nice place is Lidia's neat atmosphere, great service and even better food. Also Stroud's is a can't miss known for fried chicken but the pork chops and fried shrimp are great too! Have fun.

I have three recommendations listed from North to South. First is Frankie G's it is at exit 186 off of I-55. Turn right at the end of the ramp. It is on the end of the shopping plaza on the right hand side of the road. Great Salads, Burgers, Pasta they have a large menu and
it is all done pretty well. Next is the Blue Owl in Kimmswick. Same exit take a left then turn right on 61/67 and then a left on K and follow the signs. I have never eaten here
but it gets great reviews and has been on Paula Dean's (i think) food network show.
Finally, Bobby Tom's BBQ at the Pevely exit (180) turn left it will be on the right.
Great Pulled Pork, Pork Steaks, Chicken and Ribs as well as, baked beans, slaw and potato salad.

Have a great trip.

On the thought of places no longer around. I often think of Tony's on the Boulevard. What a great place for a date. Prime Rib, Lasagna, Peel and eat shrimp in the dump trucks and the sangria and the rose! Harry Starkers -- another great date place.
The Haberdashery in the Old Mulhbach Hotel.

My dad went to college in Kansas City in the 50's and talks about The Wishbone and The Blue Parrot? Anybody remember these?

A couple of suggestions--Gates BBQ at 103rd and State Line. Exit off State Line turn right it will be on your left get the Beef on Bun with Fries and a Strawberry Soda.
Also (I know you said no fast food but...) Go-Chicken-Go at 10000 S. Harrison St., this is
off of I-35 at the Old Hwy 56 Exit. Google go chicken go for the map. Best Gizzards and Livers I've had.

By the way, the sign says St. Louis so the people going to St. Louis can avoid going downtown KC to hit I-70.

Have a safe trip.

Need some suggestions for dinner before a concert at Verizon Amp. in St. Louis. I am driving from the south up I-55 to 270 to 70 so any place along the way and even past it.
Not too fancy but maybe someplace I can get a reservation just so we don't have to wait.
I was hoping for crab legs, crawfish but we are pretty open and will eat about anything.
Sorry to be so vague. Thanks for the help.

I enjoy the ribs at Bobby Tom's in Pevely. It is just east of I-55 on Z Highway. They also have great pulled pork and pork steaks as well as
chicken. The sides of cole slaw, baked beans and potato salad are good as well. It's not as far as you think from south county!

Over Thanksgiving weekend my visiting family and I made the trip from St. Louis to Meremac Caverns. We were driving west on 44 at lunch time and saw a billboard for Lewis Cafe in St. Clair, MO. We took a chance and we were glad we did. Everything we had from the salads and soups, sausage sandwich, breaded pork tenderloin and pies were all good. The menu had so many things it was hard to choose. Have fun!

if you really have 3-4 hours. If not for the expensive cab ride AB's (original) or Gates on Brooklyn can be easily done in that time frame.

I have always enjoyed the pork tenderloins at Hi-Boy. I also had a great one at the Hardware Cafe one the square in Liberty. That was many years ago though.
I live in St. Louis now and am always on the hunt for a good pork tenderloin sandwich.

Thank you Doug and bobzemuda! We went to Harvest and it was outstanding! It was my first time there and I will go back.

Hello all. I have family coming to St. Louis for Thanksgiving. I am looking for a proven place for Thanksgiving meal. Traditional or Non-Traditional we are an adventurous group. I have done a search on this site and don't really want to wait for the RFT or STL Post before making a decision if I can help it. Thanks for the help.

Try Ixtapa Mexican Cuisine, 7103 Nw Barry Road, KCMO. It is in the Plaza just to the west of I-29.

St. Louis Bread has pretty good onion soup flavor wise but
not the real deal like you are looking for. I am going home to Western New York State for the holidays, that is something I always have to have.

I look forward to a favorable response to your inquiry too.