St. Louis BBQ in the evening with some atmosphere?

[keranne21]

First time in St. Louis and I am looking for a recommendation. I have read over and over again how great Pappy's is but I don't think we can make it there during the day and I'm afraid they will be all out of pulled pork, my favorite, by dinner time. Has anyone been to 17st bbq in O'Fallon? We are staying at Harrah's casino. We have a car so we could drive anywhere. I would appreciate any help! Thanks!

[keranne21]

Thanks everyone for the help! I think if we can make it during the day we will go for Pappy's or Bogart's and if it is at night we will try The Shaved Duck. Now I need to decide between an Italian or Mexican night? Thanks again!

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Shaved Duck
2900 Virginia Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63118

[nosh]

In St. Louis, definitely Italian over Mexican. Get some St. Louis pizza -- even if you don't love it, at least you'd experience it. With some toasted ravioli.

(St. Louis pizza is ultrathin crust, provel cheese, cut into squares. Toasted ravioli are breaded and fried, with sauce alongside to dip.)

[keranne21]

Maybe we could try it for lunch one of the days but I'm not sure I want to take a chance on it for one of only three dinners. I'm from Wisconsin and we take our cheese pretty seriously. :) The toasted ravioli sounds good though. Is there anywhere "great" that we could try the pizza but order some other Italian entrees too?

[wekick]

My favorite pizza is Fratelli's a few exits west in a strip mall(Dierbergs) off Zuhmbehl Rd. They are open during the week for lunch. They make their own crust, sauce and sausage. You can get mozzarella if you don't like provel.

http://www.fratellisristorante.com/

sking a favorite pizza is throwing down the gauntlet. I actually like quite a few people will list, but this would be close to you. I also like Nick and Elena's. They have a relative that has Serra's.

On the other hand, there are some good taquerias down Page and on Woodson. Durangos is good. But if you don't mind driving a little further I would go here%3

http://www.milagromodernmexican.com/

Best source for cheese in St. Louis is the Wine Merchant. There are some cheesemakers at some of the farmer's markets as well.

[ddfry3]

Absolutely agree about Milagro. Other than Cherokee St., the only place I know of to get more nuanced Mexican without the Tex-Mex trappings. Not Frontera in Chicago, but really quite good, and has a happy hour until at least 6 during the week with half price appetizers, and one can make a meal easily off that. Plus, downtown "old" Webster is very nice and one of the nicest suburban destinations in the metroplex.

It's not St. Louis-style (a good thing in my book), but PW's pizza, on the ground floor of the building that contains the French-American bistro Vin de Set, on Chouteau, near downtown, has some of the best pizza I have had in St. Louis. Wonderful, fresh ingredients (sausage made in house, among other things), honey-wheat crust choices that is excellent, have a look:
http://pwpizza.com/

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Vin de Set
2017 Chouteau Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103

[hill food]

I dunno (re nosh' comment), Mexican is starting to make a really strong presence in STL and some are pretty darn good (granted in odd places that I doubt I'd send a newcomer on their own)

[CDollarsign]

Pappy's and Bogarts are generic crowd pleaser BBQ. Not saying it isn't good but it lacks originality. I have also on numerous occasions been asked rudely to get up from a table because other people are waiting minutes after finishing my food. I perosnally love The Shaved Duck. While its not down and dirty BBQ, it is extremely good with great atmosphere and beer menu.

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Shaved Duck
2900 Virginia Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63118

[wekick]

"it lacks originality"
hmmmm, I wouldn't have thought of that. It is a place you wouldn't be able to linger very long after you finish due to high demand for the tables.

[ddfry3]

Have been to Pappy's and Bogart's many tmes, and NEVER had this problem. Have been to the Shaved Duck, and hardly anyone there, so that's never a problem. I do think their bbq very good, but find the location less convenient and the vibe less convivial, especially where tourists are involved. Just my $.02 worth.

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Shaved Duck
2900 Virginia Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63118

[FriendOfTheDevil]

I am pretty sure Bogarts closes at 4:30 unless they have extended which they said they were going to do when it got warm.

17th street, not at ALL worth the drive.

FOTD

[lemons]

I'd go to Pappy's anyway, frankly. Plan on early dinner, and if they're out of the pulled pork, you'll be happy with a number of other things. Your odds are probably better earlier in the week. There are plenty of good things at Pap's, and you could make a meal out of the sides, even.

[nosh]

+1

Not only is their food superior, but the friendliness and hospitality of the staff just make Pappy's such a positive experience.

[ddfry3]

Skip 17th St, too far a drive. PM BBQ is quite good, and Chesterfield is not super far from Harrah's, though a good 20-25 minute drive depending on time of day. There's a place in St. Peters called Stumpy's that is really quite good...not in Pappy's territory though. I would take my chance with Pappy's, or go to Bogart's in Soulard, which I like even better than Pappy's, as I mentioned on Tripadvisor.

[lemons]

Bogart's closes awfully early, I believe.

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Pappy's Smokehouse
3106 Olive St, St Louis, MO

[wekick]

I agree with this. I would take my chances. The ribs are killer.

[wekick]

The Shaved Duck is pretty good.
http://www.theshavedduck.com/home

The 17th Street is better at the original location Murphysboro in my opinion.

This list just came out in a local food magazine.
http://www.saucemagazine.com/section/1

Bogart's would be good but only open during the day.

I've heard PM BBQ is good as well as Flavors but haven't been.

Lil' Micky's is good but mostly carry out

We tried Olive St. Smokehouse but were not impressed.

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Shaved Duck
2900 Virginia Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63118