Sink your teeth into the best eats around the state.
Whether you’re wanting to dine lakeside with food fresh off the grill, swing into vibrant downtown Kansas City for fall-off-the-bone ribs, or spoil yourself for a special event with a mouthwatering, locally sourced buffet, Missouri has you covered. Try not to get hungry while flipping through these top picks—we dare you!
Best Lake Bar
Rock Island Grill and Tiki Bar
611 Rock Lane, Branson
• Rock Island Grill
ROCK ISLAND GRILL AND TIKI BAR stands as the gem of Table Rock Lake, earning its reputation as the region’s best lake bar through an unparalleled combination of panoramic lake views, exceptional dining, and the summer’s hottest entertainment. “Rock Island Grill and Tiki Bar features the only swim-up pool bar on Table Rock Lake with the best views anywhere,” says Lucas Case, chief of staff at Danner Enterprises. This season, the bar and grill opened a new infinity pool right outside of its restaurant. “We made the decision to open our new pool to the general public with no entry fee so guests, visitors, and locals could come and enjoy our amenities seven days a week,” Lucas says.
The full-service marina at Rock Lane Resort, which includes Rock Island Grill and Tiki Bar, makes it an ideal destination for lake lovers. Boaters can cruise up and dock at the courtesy slip, and visitors can take advantage of the resort’s close proximity to Silver Dollar City, just one mile away. The all-inclusive resort also hosts the Rock Lane Live Summer Concert Series at its Rock Island Tiki Bar Corona Grand Stage, with live music every weekend throughout the season. Overnight guests can choose from comfortable lodging options, including one- and two-bedroom condominiums or motel suites.
Live entertainment is central to the Rock Island Grill and Tiki Bar experience. “We strive to feature the top bands in the region each weekend of Rock Lane Live from Members Only and The Mixtapes to Machine Gun Symphony and Eastern Heights,” Lucas “We are proud of our entertainment lineup, and we will be extending our Rock Lane Live Series in 2026 plus adding additional programming all the way through the end of October in 2026, with festivals lined up and being planned this very minute.”
The lake life vibes continue with the mouthwatering cuisine from the Rock Island Tiki Bar, known for its burgers, loaded nachos, barbecue pork sandwiches, and tacos. Upstairs at the Rock Island Grill, guests enjoy favorites like fish and chips, wings, and the ever-popular Bang Bang Shrimp. And of course, it wouldn’t be an award-winning bar without a vast selection of draft beers, buckets of beer that are perfect for sharing, and a large variety of specialty drinks.
Lucas is enthusiastic about what makes Rock Island Grill and Tiki Bar so memorable: “We offer the coolest vacation vibes with the best views of Table Rock Lake. When you add in live music, it makes for the perfect atmosphere for anyone—here you’re always on tiki-time!”
Runner-Up: H. Toads Bar & Grill
2325 Bittersweet Road, Lake Ozark
Horny Toad’s Entertainment Complex has earned its reputation as the ultimate Lake of the Ozarks destination, known for its nightlife and live music. Guests love the chef-curated menu that keeps the fun going all season. “The restaurant has been newly renovated and is open year-round, making it the perfect spot for great food and good times in every season,” says Denise Pence-Bogena, the director of marketing.
No matter the time of year, visitors can come and enjoy the entertainment complex’s party atmosphere, memorable music from DJs that host special events, and fresh menu.
Best Barbecue Joint
Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque
1727 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City
KANSAS CITY IS RENOWNED for its barbecue, especially the city’s signature burnt ends and ribs. The legacy of these iconic dishes can be traced to Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque.
It all began in 1908, when brothers Arthur and Charlie Bryant started smoking meat with Kansas City’s father of barbecue, Henry Perry. After Perry died in 1940, Charlie took over his shop. Six years later, Arthur assumed control and moved the restaurant to its current location in 1949. This landmark location is the very place where Arthur invented burnt ends.
Burnt ends, the city’s signature barbecue dish, are tender, juicy cubes of smoked brisket. Honoring Arthur’s historic legacy, the restaurant continues to use the same recipes and methods. Each dish is served with Arthur’s signature thick vinegar-based sauce, ensuring the robust flavor customers love.
“I hope our customers feel special, full, and ready for a nap when they leave our restaurant. It is not every day you get to step back into time and witness what makes the origin of Kansas City barbecue so great,” says Taylor Tobin, general manager.
For generations, Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque has been more than just a restaurant—it’s a living museum of Kansas City’s barbecue legacy and a destination for barbecue lovers everywhere The authentic experience, from the no-frills atmosphere to the smoked meats and savory sides, Arthur Bryant’s draws in first-timers and longtime regulars alike.
Runner-Up: Pappy’s Smokehouse
3106 Olive Street, St. Louis
The cofounders of Pappy’s Smokehouse, John Matthews and Mike Emerson, turned their award-winning success into a restaurant named for Mike’s brother, Jim “Pappy” Emerson, whose door was always open for great food and good times.
Its accolades from the Food Network, the Huffington Post, and Man v. Food Nation on the Travel Channel have put Pappy’s on the map as one of the best places to eat in the state.
Best Resturant Experience
The Keeter Center
1 Opportunity Avenue, Point Lookout
THE KEETER CENTER AT THE COLLEGE of the Ozarks has earned recognition as Missouri’s best restaurant experience for both its Mother’s Day Dinner and Father’s Day Brunch. These signature events showcase the exceptional hospitality defining this unique dining destination in the Ozark Mountains. Featuring farm-to-table cuisine with locally sourced ingredients grown or prepared at the college, The Keeter Center is a favorite dining destination in the Branson area.
The restaurant’s origin is deeply rooted in the college’s commitment to hands-on learning, where students are committed to working their way through school debt free while mastering the art of hospitality.
The Mother’s Day Dinner (the Saturday before Mother’s Day) and Father’s Day Brunch (the Saturday before Father’s Day) showcase The Keeter Center’s excellence. The annual Mother’s Day Dinner celebration features favorite dishes, including made- to-order omelets, Belgian waffles, artisanal cheeses, freshly baked pastries, carved meats, and seafood specialties.
The Father’s Day Brunch pairs culinary excellence with classic automotive nostalgia. Guests enjoy specially crafted dishes while attending the annual classic and vintage automobile show. Like all the events, these brunches require advance reservations.
The Keeter Center menu changes seasonally and can include hydroponic lettuces from the on-campus gardens, student-made products like pepper-jelly cheese spread and apple butter, and homemade cornmeal rolls with cornmeal ground at Edwards Mill on campus.
Executive director Kathryn Williams says that each person working at The Keeter Center has a “commitment to the mission of providing a Christ-like experience for our guests.” Kathryn says that the staff often hear from guests that they “feel the presence of the Lord when entering The Keeter Center. They sense a warm feeling of home when they interact with our students and staff and enjoy genuine Ozarks hospitality. Our guests become like family as they return year after year.”
Beyond serving award-winning delicacies and homegrown goods, The Keeter Center hopes to instill in its students the importance of warmth and hospitality. “We want students to have the ability to take care of others in an intentional and caring way,” says Mollie Crawford, director of sales and marketing.
This article was orginally published in the January 2026 issue of Missouri Life.
