Missouri Division of Tourism - Food 

It’s a bad dietary practice to seek solace in food … but it’s oh so comforting.
That’s why it’s called comfort food, and in Missouri, it’s found in abundance.
For me, barbecue is the ultimate comforter. Slow-cooked meats coupled with rich sauces combining just the right amount of sweetness and heat make my mouth water and my taste buds sing.
That said, I’m also a big fan of pizza. And cheeseburgers. And ice cream.
Okay, it turns out there are a lot of foods in which I’ll seek comfort. Here are a few.

Barbecue
The ribs at Pappy’s in St. Louis are incredible and the first time I tried the brisket at Salt+Smoke (also in St. Louis), it literally made my knees buckle.
For first-rate pulled-pork sandwiches, try Plowboys in Blue Springs (Kansas City), Wabash Barbecue in Chillicothe and Danna’s Bar-B-Que in Branson.
MoJo’s BBQ & Grill is a new barbecue joint in Fulton, the city where Sir Winston Churchill gave his famous “Iron Curtain” speech. The house-made chips (crisps) there are an excellent complement to any main dish.

Pizza
When it comes to pizza, for me, all conversations begin and end with Shakespeare’s in Columbia, home to the University of Missouri.
Sure, there are other pizza joints out there with equally delightful pies, but Shakespeare’s is and always will be my go-to. Their sausage and green pepper pizza is unbeatable, in my opinion.
Traveling in St. Louis? Visit Pi Pizzeria, it’s a regional favorite. In Springfield – the birthplace of America’s Route 66 – Vito’s Kitchen is an excellent option, while Missouri’s capital, Jefferson City, is well known for the Greek-style choices at Arris’ Pizza.

Ch eeseburgers
When pigging out is on the menu, cheeseburgers are ideal. Some of the biggest and best come from Lambert’s Café in Sikeston. Huge and flavorful, they’ll leave you full for hours. As an aside, note that Lambert’s dishes up generous portions of what many people consider more traditional comfort foods, including things like chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls.
For a fun burger joint with 1950s decor, visit Billy Bob’s Dairyland in Branson. Enjoy a fresh, juicy burger at the lunch counter while listening to tunes from a vintage jukebox. Don’t pass up the opportunity to have one of their shakes, too!
For a great burger in an unexpected location, you’ll need to travel across Missouri on Interstate 70, the highway that runs from St. Louis to Kansas City.
On the eastern half of the interstate, you’ll see a sign for a town called Williamsburg at Exit 161. Take the exit and go north for just a minute to Crane’s Country Store.
Along with being one of most interesting places you’ll ever stop – they are regionally famous for, of all things, bologna sandwiches – they serve up great hamburgers, including one named for the community, The Williamsburger.
Take few minutes after you eat to stroll through Crane’s Museum, where you find an assortment of interesting items, ranging from a 1927 Chevrolet to vintage signs and home décor pieces.

Comforting sweets
The streets of St. Charles (west of downtown St. Louis) are full of history, thanks to the brick-lined streets, stately buildings and the city’s ties to American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
I have no doubt that, if Grandma’s Cookie’s had been in business when Lewis and Clark set out to explore the American West, the trek would have been a colossal failure.
The explorers likely would have camped in St. Charles forever.
The small brick building on Historic Main Street cranks out fresh cookies every day, tempting passersby with sweet smells that remind you of your grandma’s kitchen (assuming your grandma was an excellent baker).
If you time it right to catch a batch coming right out of the oven, it’s your lucky day.
About 30 minutes east of Grandma’s, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Route 66 in St. Louis is perhaps Missouri’s best-known place to find sweets.
The frozen custard treat known as a concrete is so thick, you can turn it upside down and it won’t spill out. In September 2016, Ted Drewes was recognized as the top ice-cream shop in the world!

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