Missouri Food and Drinks

It took me three years to get here. Mostly my fault. Procrastination. Missed signals. Still, in the interest of full disclosure, dinner at the Dancing Bear requires a commitment, and therein lies the charm.

It has happened to all of us: On the road, exploring new places, boldly going where we’ve never gone before, and we see something new. Something different. Something that makes our stomachs want to find out more.

The corner deli was many things. It was the neighborhood grocery where you’d take your weekly order and get it filled while you caught up on all the community gossip.

Undoubtedly, 1904 was a big year for the hot dog. Its most famous topping, French’s yellow mustard, and the hot dog itself were both exposed to the masses at the World’s Fair in St. Louis. New York can claim French’s as its own, but the biggest hot dog purveyor at the fair was a Missourian.

Owners Mark and Angie Smith of Smith’s Restaurant say their famous Giant Pork Tenderloin Sandwich tops the menu.

According to Ron Hopson, the key to a good pie is the crust. Ron should know. He and his wife, Mickey, have been baking them at A Slice of Pie for more than thirty years.

After surviving a devastating fire, AJ's Eat and Drink—The Steak House is newly remodeled, highly popular, magnificently flavored in Macon.

For more than 50 years, Alex’s Pizza Palace has been serving Rolla locals as well as Missouri S&T students. Founded in 1964 by Alex Kallas and his wife, Froso, Alex’s Pizza Palace is known for handmade pizza dough and fresh sauces.

Legends abound about the true origins of gooey butter cake, with one common denominator—like toasted ravioli, it is purported to be a mistake of glorious proportions.