Recommendations sought for east-central Missouri, SW of StL

Long shot here. Later this week we'll be spending some time in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest, about an hour south-southwest of Saint Louis. Looking at the map, towns in the general vicinity include Potosi, Park Hills, Farmington, De Soto and Sullivan. I think we'd even go as far as Rolla.

Any tips for breakfast, lunch or dinner anywhere in that area?

If you have a Saint Louis recommendation or two, I'd love to hear about that as well.

Thanks, LTH.

Harry, Tony's in St. Louis is one of my very favorite restaurants anywhere. The good folks of St. Louis seem to consider it singularly expensive and fancy, making it a special-occasion only sort of place. However, by Chicago standards, IMO, it's a real bargain. (Spring/160 Blue/MK prices rather than Trio/Tru/Trotter prices.)

It's known as a steak place, and the meat is quite good. However, it is a very fine Italian restaurant as well. (In contrast to Chicago "Italian Steakhouses," Tony's has Italian-Italian food, not Italian-American food.) The kitchen has a deft hand with pastas, including interesting stuffed options like panserotti. Top-notch versions of classics like veal milanesa and osso buco are often the specials. Very pleasant room. Service can be a little overwrought, as it is in the "continental" style, with lots of rolling carts, tableside finishing, etc., like what you still get at Cafe La Cave here.

Nice deep wine list, esp. Italians.

In my experience, there isn't another place in St. Louis that even tries to come close.

Jackets required. Amazingly easy to get tables during the week, owing to its lofty reputation, I guess.

Thanks very much, Jeff. I can taste the osso buco already.

Of course, I've got to survive several days in the wilds of Missouri to earn that dinner in Saint Louis.

Lamberts Cafe
The home of the THROWED rolls

This place serves American southern food that is not barbecue. They have a set of "pass arounds" that are free with everything: fried okra; okra, corn and tomatoes; macaroni salad. People come around periodically with a big bowl of the stuff and ask you if you want some (or some more).

Then there are the throwed rolls. "Hot Rolls!" comes the shout of the refugee from the minor leagues who has just rolled a cart of rolls onto the restaurant floor. You will see hands going up around you, and the roll throwing begins. The rolls are buttery and a little bit flaky, and as good as the person throwing them. I haven't been there in five years, but it's the sort of place I wouldn't expect to change.

The original is in Sikeston, Missouri, which is in the southeast corner of the state. But there is another in Ozark, Missouri.
Check out the website: www.throwedrolls.com

Keep eating,
J. Ro

Probably too late, but. . . . .Warehouse BBQ in Farmington has the best ribs and pulled pork I have ever tasted. Just off 67, at the south end of Farmington.

Bailey Jo's BBQ in Ironton is great, too. Ironton is a good place for a day or two--a great civil war battle site with museum, Elephant Rocks, Taum Sauk Mountain and Johnson Shut-ins State Parks, and lots of antiques places.

(I live just outside Ironton--it is the prettiest part of MO.)

Thanks, Sparrowgrass. As it happens, we passed right through Farmington on our way to what turned out to be a pitiful lunch at the Hotel Ste. Genevieve, in the quaint old town of that name. Had we but known!

Sadly too, I was not able to persuade my party to try Tony's as the climax a week of rustication. Instead we dined in Alton, of all places, reconfirming that the only reason to visit that town is to view its splendid bridge across the Mississippi.

Harry V. wrote: Instead we dined in Alton, of all places, reconfirming that the only reason to visit that town is to view its splendid bridge across the Mississippi.

Actually, there is a place in Alton beloved by St. Louisians over 21, Fast Eddie's Bon Air. This self-proclaimed "Best Bar in the World" is home to some really cheap bar food, including a 1/2 lb. burger for 99 cents. The Big Elwood on a Stick (tenderloin with peppers) seems to be their specialty, but I have it on good authority that the pork kebab is the thing to order.

Actually, there is a place in Alton beloved by St. Louisians over 21, Fast Eddie's Bon Air. This self-proclaimed "Best Bar in the World" is home to some really cheap bar food ....

Fast Eddie's is where dreams go to die. Anyone who likes LTH Forum would spend their time in Fast Eddie's calculating to which circle of Hell Dante would assign it.