Best Restaurants in Southeast Missouri

This is a weird time to be writing about eating out. There is no way to share the atmosphere of a place with you, because I am unable (or, as of now, unwilling) to experience said atmosphere in a restaurant. Good eateries have souls, given life by the people who create their passion and imagine new flavors to delight. ...

What's a woman to do when her adult children are both 16 hours away on Mother's Day weekend? If you're me, you celebrate by splurging on the fine dining experience you think they may have wanted you to have. 36 Restaurant & Bar: Table for one, please...

When I was a kid, my dad listened to a lot of classic rock, which means I listened to a lot of it as well. I loved it, soaked those guitar riffs and gritty voices into every pore. My favorite band was Creedence Clearwater Revival: CCR. Every time he played one of their songs, I'd recognize Fogerty's gruff growl. ...

Thanks to the great variety of options available at Aldi, I have continued to try new things from the comfort of my own home. In fact, I wondered if I should share some of my favorite finds with you, such as street corn chips, dill pickle popcorn and chocolate-covered espresso beans. I decided against it for selfish reasons: I don't want all of my favorite items to disappear from the store shelves...

I have been forced to search out new places for carry-out in the wake of current events. I haven't really wanted to leave my county, and that has limited me in ways that I really loathe. I will be so glad when I can roam afar again, but for this week, I did find a meaty gem that I have driven by many times. This time, I stopped, in the drive-thru at least, and I'm so glad that I did...

I miss you. Yes, I'm talking to YOU. The person sitting at the table with their morning coffee enjoying the feeling of the paper in their hand. The person on their cellphone in their cozy bed. The person staring at their computer screen before getting started at work. ...

I'm ready for something fun and light, so it's time for a Spicy Chicken Showdown. And boy oh boy, do we have a bunch of chicken places in town. I made a loop of Cape and picked up a sandwich from fast food joints that make one (and I'm so sorry if I missed someone! I didn't mean to.)...

Have you or your loved ones been craving salty or sugary snacks lately? I sure have. When I'm stressed, my vice is soft drinks. Soda. "Coke" if you're a Southerner. It's easy to blame it on boredom, but did you know we have a physiological response to emotional stress? It includes terms like "hypothalamus," "adrenal glands," "cortisol" and "insulin," and it causes cravings. ...

In this time of caution and uncertainty, the last thing on our minds is probably locating the hippest, freshest new or undiscovered places to eat. I'm saying this so that you know I am not tone deaf. I know things are stressful and scary. However, I am also a firm believer in finding joy in the little things, and with this in mind, I'm going to continue to order curbside service from restaurants, and let you know where you can, too...

It's been a surreal week so far, hasn't it? News stories have piqued my imagination. I've joked with friends about conspiracy theories and sci-fi scenarios you might find in a Dean Koontz novel. We've delved into deeper serious discussions about health care, the psychology of a pandemic, and spirituality...

Ah, spring! Its coming heralds budding trees, blooming bulbs and my interest in food trucks once again. Some food trucks serve their customers all year long. I just don't think of patronizing them when the weather is cold, but when that first warm gust of spring air caresses my face, I know it is time: Time to find the food trucks again...

Are you familiar with the saying "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans?" If you love God, you will be happy to know I am quite busy over here cracking him up with all of my big plans. One of my plans last week was to travel down south to visit a little hole in the wall restaurant and try their signature dish. I knew the trip would take up the majority of my day, so I mentally orchestrated my weekend around it...

Rally's Drive-In recently opened a restaurant in Jackson, and its claim of "Famous Seasoned Fries" is what really inspired my trip. Any time a place claims "famous" or "world's best," well, that just has to be proved to me and my taste buds. Rally's is on the corner of highways 34 and 25 where Rhodes 101 Stop convenience store used to be. ...

The "Dew Drop Inn" is a great name, isn't it? The moment I read it I immediately imagined the distinctive voice of Dateline's own murder mystery king, Keith Morrison, narrating my story. The scary part was, I had plans to meet there for a first date. ...

On a quiet country road lies a cool old brick building reminiscent of the proud brick storefronts found in old downtowns everywhere. This building houses Gordonville Grill, a restaurant serving up good steakhouse eats with a sprinkle of Cajun cuisine since 2007...

A former colleague's face registered disbelief before exclaiming, "I can't believe you've never been to Wib's." He described Wib's using adjectives, moans and facial expressions. When he finished, I was craving Wib's, too. I was starving, and my grumbling stomach tracked the minutes until my lunch introduction to Wib's barbecue. That was three years ago...

We traveled to Benton this week to eat at a farm/hardware/anything-you-can-think-of store. M Kay Supply, located very close to the off-ramp of I-55, truly and honestly surprised me. One of you gave us a tip to go try out their deli sandwiches, and wow, are they tasty and huge...

"I'm so glad you're here." How does it feel to hear those words? How does it feel to say those words? You may say them when a loved one returns after a long absence. You may utter them after returning home from a particularly trying day at work. Some people exhale them along with a sigh of relief when roadside assistance or a police officer responds to their call for help. I know I have...

Drive down Broadway in Cape Girardeau often enough and you will find yourself looking forward to the clever and pun-riddled sign that stands outside an unassuming restaurant named Burrito-Ville. Nineteen years ago, that is exactly what drew me inside to try the food. I wanted to know what kind of flavors would come from the minds of people with such finely honed senses of humor. Burrito-Ville's sense of taste is just as good as its sense of humor...

I had quite a serene New Year's Eve. No partying. No cocktail dress. No romantic midnight kiss to officially bring an end to Hallmark movie watching season. Just me, my faithful companion and a desire to reflect on years past while setting goals for the future. ...

It was two days after Christmas and I was looking for something to eat that wasn't leftovers. Not that my leftovers aren't fantastic, but one can only have so many rich casseroles and slabs of candied ham before one stops appreciating it as much as one did two days ago. I pulled out my trusty list of places to try and picked one out that sounded like it was full of simple home cooking and friendly people...

We have some beautiful fine dining establishments in Cape Girardeau, such as Celebrations restaurant which has been in operation for 22 years. I've been invited to dine at Celebrations several times but have always ended up elsewhere. Many think luxury and elegance when they hear "fine dining." I immediately think stuffy, pretentious, expensive and boring. ...

As I'm deep into the spirit of the Christmas season, I thought it fitting that I share my favorite places to eat around the area and what I best like to eat there, giving the gift of great food ideas, if you will. Most of these places I have mentioned before, but that is a very good thing. They all have true staying power and are genuine keepers...

Do you remember the 1989 classic movie "When Harry Met Sally..."? One of the most iconic scenes took place in the historic Katz's Deli in New York City. That was the vibe I was feeling as I visited Sandy's Place Restaurant, inside Cape Regional Airport at 860 Limbaugh Drive in Cape Girardeau, with a friend over the weekend...

Downtown Cape Girardeau has become the go-to place for fine dining for those of us south of St. Louis. I have watched with pleasure as new restaurants have opened, filling Cape's destination crown with glittering culinary temptations. 36 Restaurant & Bar is a very large gem in that crown...

In the interest of full disclosure, I was excited my turn to submit an article would fall during the coveted Thanksgiving holiday week of the Southeast Missourian. What an honor! I was intent on not writing anything Thanksgiving related because I figured we would all be tired of turkey and would be looking for alternatives. ...

Sometimes, food and fun are married into such a perfect union under one roof you wonder why someone didn't think of it before. In Dogwood Social House's case, someone has thought of it before, but never in Cape Girardeau, and never on such a grand scale...

I had great history teachers in school but I had no interest in memorizing what I considered to be tidbits of trivia from the past. I wasn't a regular viewer of the TV gameshow "Jeopardy," yet when I came across it on TV, I paused to answer a few questions before moving on. I admit, I do well on social/cultural type questions. Today's restaurant gave me some tidbits of trivia and a glimpse of history...

Tucked away on Broadway in Cape Girardeau is an honest-to-goodness chocolate factory. Chocolate Works has an adorable storefront window where you can see long glass cases filled with all manner of tiny, intricately crafted fresh chocolates and fudges...

If you've been reading regularly, by now you have probably noticed my tendency to become fixated on items at certain restaurants. If I find someone who prepares one of my favorite dishes exactly the way I like it, it is all I want to eat from that establishment. I have heard amazing things about so many other options on their menu, but this week, Jackson Deli's Fried Chicken Salad at 437 W. Main St. in Jackson is my obsession...

Whenever I make the trip to Marble Hill, it is inevitable I will end up at Jay's Bar-B-Que. The restaurant is a well-known staple of the town, a true family restaurant, adapting with the times while managing to maintain home cookin' quality of the food. ...

Cool temperatures? Check. Bright sunshine? Check. A craving for a sweet treat and a warm drink? Check. This week, I blissfully enjoyed the benefits of the change in weather. I no longer need to walk my dog before the crack of dawn or an hour after sunset to avoid the hot concrete on his tender paws. ...

As a rule, I don't like to write about chain restaurants. I don't have anything against them; it's simply these are the places people are more likely to visit, the places everyone already knows about. With that in mind, this week I am writing about a chain restaurant. Straight outta Chicago, I give you Rosati's Pizza...

Relationships are built on trust. This week, my foodie adventure challenged me to throw caution to the wind, trust, and have faith. That is a pretty tall order. It was a stressful week, I was feeling a little blue, and I wondered whether I might be coming down with something. ...

Sometimes when I walk into an eatery new to me, I have the thought, "Why have I never been here before?" or "Why haven't I heard more about this place?" That was my immediate reaction upon stepping foot in the RiverHouse. Located just outside of Scott City right on the Mighty Mississippi, RiverHouse has been hiding from me since 2014. The proprietors bill it as "a wine place," and that is certainly the case, but don't believe that's all there is...

Have you ever taken a loved one for granted? I have been on the giving and receiving end of that one. I think we all have. We get so used to our roles, life begins to work like a well-oiled machine and the details blur into the background. Then, you hear the recipient of your loyalty speaking admiringly about someone else. Heck, they aren't just speaking, they are gushing like a broken fire hydrant. It's an "If you like it so much why don't you marry it" kind of moment...

Every once in a great while, a restaurant will come along that is so unlike any other place around that it makes me happy to be alive. Mariscos El Barco at 1001 Broadway in Cape Girardeau is one such restaurant. It is indeed a Mexican restaurant, but before you shut down on me, give me a chance! This place, whose name translates to "The Seafood Boat," pays homage to the oft-ignored cuisine of the coastal regions of Mexico in a way no other local Mexican restaurant does. ...

I have been hearing a lot of buzz about a new restaurant in town, Trio -- Plant Based Fare at 1027 Broadway Street in Cape Girardeau. If the name doesn't give it away, their website clearly describes the cuisine as "100% plantbased. ... Comfort food with a modern flair." Plant-based food? Plant based food is not usually at the top of my list. However, after viewing photograph after photograph of their beautiful culinary creations, I was determined to expand my food horizons...

Whether a person has a philosophical distaste for eating things that were once alive, or they just want to eat something with an advertised smaller carbon footprint, meatless "meat" has long been the holy grail of new food development. I remember trying my first meatless patty made by Morningstar 20 years ago, out of sheer curiosity rather than any sort of deep statement about food. I thought the taste was bland and though the patty looked like meat, it really tasted nothing like it...

We have a unique new addition to the food scene here in Cape Girardeau: My Marie Restaurant. My Marie is serving up fresh Caribbean creole soul food at a location at West Park Mall. I tried it out the week it opened and have already made a repeat visit. I wasn't sure what to order on my first trip but, after receiving a little guidance from my server, I settled on the coconut veggie shrimp for dinner. It was the dish I never knew I needed...

I took a short trip a little off of my beaten path last week and ended up in Carbondale, Illinois. It's been a bit since I've been able to go there, and now that the bridge and connected highways are thankfully open, we were on our way. Of course, I took the opportunity to try somewhere new and hopefully exciting. ...

If you are a frequent visitor to the downtown Cape Girardeau area, you probably breathed a sigh of relief mixed with excitement when you heard the Mississippi River levels had finally dropped and the floodgates were re-opened. Hallelujah. A recent source of despair for many, hopefully that rushing water is ready to return to serving as a visual reminder of tranquility, possibilities, and hope. ...

My daughter and I drove to McBride, Missouri, this weekend, just a few miles past Perryville. We had never been there before, and I didn't get much to see of the small town. We saw a huge factory and a truck stop. We took a hard right turn down a county road, drove over the railroad tracks twice and made it to Al's Place...

The Beatles began recording one of their beloved hits, "All You Need is Love" in London on June 14, 1964. I bet they never imagined 55 years later I would be using their iconic song as an ode to an egg roll ... yet here I am. At the corner of Independence and Hanover streets in Cape Girardeau sits a little beige building. ...

You may have noticed my focus on food has shifted a bit since I started writing this column last year: more salads, more color, less fried and sugary things. The truth is I simply can't eat whatever I want anymore. Being recently diagnosed as diabetic, I've been scared straight, and the best way I know how to control this disease is through low-carb eating...

I'm pretty excited about today's spotlight because I have loved the Marquette Building at 338 Broadway from the first time I entered the lobby back in 2014. I was there for a business meeting, but I could not resist pulling out my camera and taking some photos...

Mary Jane has expanded beyond its Perryville burger empire to create a smokehouse kingdom in Cape Girardeau. In a move that confused me at first, Mary Jane announced that the new restaurant would not be a copy of the restaurant in Perryville. Indeed, they would be more of a BBQ joint, with a completely different menu. ...

Cape Girardeau is just booming with new restaurants. The new fare is what foodie adventures are made of and from the looks of it, business is good. While I am anxious to try the new spots, I think I will wait until the crowds dissipate a bit. So I wait. I recently got a hankering for a nice steak and remembered a former colleague speaking highly of Grecian Steak House at 2013 Independence St., near Walmart ... or as the locals lovingly refer to it, "little Walmart" or "Smallmart."...

Don Carlos Authentic Mexican Restaurant & Taqueria is nestled just inside the front entrance of West Park Mall. I will admit, I have walked by it many times, but I was never curious enough to stop and eat. Recently, when I read Don Carlos was opening a restaurant in Jackson at the old site of a barbecuse joint in front of the Riverside Regional Library, which is just a little closer to home to me than Cape, well, you can color me curious. ...

This week I was in a foodie funk. Seriously. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the busy work schedule. Maybe it was a case of summer fever. Maybe it was my re-commitment to health and financial goals. Whatever the reason, I just could not get up the motivation to go on a foodie adventure. ...

The river was up and raging, and we found ourselves in downtown Cape Girardeau looking for a new place to eat. After finding an amazing 110-year-old children's book in one of the antique stores, my daughter and I were ready for a meal. We walked by Socials Cafe and Catering at 31 Main St. ...

I'm at my computer writing this on a beautiful sunny Memorial Day. I am proud to be an American, and I can't even bring myself to type a single word about food without first expressing my deepest gratitude and respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country and our freedom. We are forever in their debt...

This week, I finally visited the Pacific Rim Market at 1537 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau. The Pacific Rim Market is truly a grocery store, but I walked in expecting to find a store full of mostly Chinese and Japanese dried goods. They do have these things, such as all the noodles you could ever imagine, but they also have a wide variety of fresh and frozen fares as well. Let me tell you about some of my favorites I found there...

I'm feeling very grateful to you for reading this column and for those who have stopped to say a quick "hello" or share their own foodie favorites when they see me in the community. You are my people (insert fist-bump). I like to think I walk around quite anonymously and under the radar so I must look like a deer in the headlights each time it happens. ...

First of all, I want to give a little shout out to our local restaurant/food community for their commitment to giving back. I few weeks ago I participated in the Theatre and Dance Society's restaurant hop. Restaurants included were: Primo Vino, Minglewood Brewery, Marco's Pizza, Baristas Coffee Bar, Ebb and Flow Fermentations, Pho 8, Bistro Saffron, Imo's Pizza, Sugar Chic Creamery, Andy's Frozen Custard, and Jimmy John's. Even Mississippi Mutt's found a way to get involved...

It was Easter Sunday evening, and my family and I found ourselves in that awkward spot all Americans face at some point: we were all holiday-ed out, tired and lazy, and we didn't want leftovers. We wanted someone else to feed us, and on a holiday, the only places you can be guaranteed are open (at least in this neck of the woods) are Chinese buffets. We are so, so thankful for this, and thank you to all those people keeping them open for those of us who need some cookin' on a holiday!...

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing brunch at a little-known restaurant a bit off the beaten path. When Gathering's Catering is not planning and executing a special event, the staff is busy offering a Sunday brunch. Reservations are recommended, and after perusing the menu my first thought was Gathering's might be geared towards a more refined or pretentious crowd. ...

When a new restaurant opens its doors, I like to give it a month or two before I visit -- let them get their feet under them and figure things out. Waiting also helps me to avoid those crazy rushes of people eager to try something new. Sugarfire Smoke House opened in Cape Girardeau in September, and now, after finally visiting, I'm not sure why I waited so long to try it...

Cape Girardeau residents must really enjoy their Mexican cuisine because I can think of six to seven different Mexican restaurants off the top of my head, and all of them seem to stay pretty busy. Did someone say taco Tuesday? I've mentioned some of our family favorites in previous columns, but not too long ago a respected foodie friend recommended the street tacos at Don Carlos Authentic Mexican Restaurant and Taqueria located in the West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. ...

I love the sheer romance of Italian food. Shaped by hand, crafted with skill and soaked in flavor, you would be hard-pressed to find a cuisine more comforting. Ciao is an Italian word rife with meaning, and can informally mean both "hello" and "goodbye." Two years ago, the Italian restaurant Ciao Ristorante + Enoteca in Cape Girardeau was taken over by new owners. ...

My most recent foodie adventure took me to the hospital. I woke up on a recent Wednesday morning feeling like I was at death's doorstep. One look at me, and my doctor suspected (and later confirmed): Type A Flu. Have you ever felt so horrible you started bargaining with God?...

Egypt Mills is a small community tucked back in the rolling river hills of Southeast Missouri. Just a short drive from either Jackson or Cape Girardeau, to get there you must drive on some of the most winding and drop-off-skirting roads in the county. ...

One of my favorite memories involves a last-minute family road trip. In 2007, we loaded up our car and headed to Texas Stadium to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the New York Jets on Thanksgiving. We drove straight to the stadium from Cape Girardeau and arrived just in time for the game. ...

Opened in 1996, Bistro Saffron in Cape Girardeau is a well-established name in date-night restaurants. While I tend to go in for lunch, the atmosphere and sophisticated decor lend themselves well to a romantic night out. But romance is not why I go to Saffron. I go to Saffron for the pad thai...

Some people have left their New Year's resolutions behind, and some are killing it. Lunch can be a challenge to plan when one person has pizza on the brain and the other has gone full-on Keto diet mode. That is the conundrum my friend and I faced over lunch one day. ...

As their Facebook page says, ABSeafood is "owned and operated by fisherman from the Gulf Coast." What this means for you and me is that approximately every six weeks, we can taste the bounty of the Gulf and not have to go any farther away than Cape Girardeau or Sikeston...

First of all, I want to second last week's foodie pick -- Berghoff's Cafe. My friend has been urging me to go for at least a year. I finally made the drive over to Scott City last weekend for the French toast. Good food and the prices make getting your grub on feel like a steal...

In Scott City just over the tracks is a squat little building with an "OPEN" sign hanging on the door. No outside signage, nothing in the windows, just that simple "OPEN" sign. This is Berghoff's Cafe, and if you can see white lattice through the windows, you're in the right place...

Ebb and Flow Fermentations. That is a mouthful to say, isn't it? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the idiom "ebb and flow" as follows: used to describe something that changes in a regular and repeated way. If you are familiar with the location of this new endeavor by head chef and owner of Celebrations restaurant, DeWayne Schaaf, you will probably agree it is the perfect description...

It will probably come as a surprise to nobody the internet has made food trends very popular and accessible. Trending now is taking common fast food items and adding them to others. Sometimes the combinations are disgusting, and sometimes they are magical. I have no interest in trying food already vetted as disgusting, but the ones people rave about interested me. I tried them and if you're curious, you can, too. Here are my takes on some supposedly delicious fast food mashups:...

A few days ago I was thinking about how nice it would be to enjoy a bowl of menudo for breakfast. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find menudo locally and there is absolutely no chance of me making it. I am not picky about much, but menudo is one of those things I believe has to be made just right or... it is all wrong...

I've got the post-holiday doldrums in the worst way and I'm blaming it all on casseroles -- heavy, creamy, cheesy casseroles that I only get to eat twice a year. They are amazingly rich, gut-bustingly filling and my favorite thing about holiday meals. ...

Maybe it's just me, but I believe most of us have been there -- the infamous grub & go? Years ago it was the occasional necessity to balancing work, home and the soccer mom life while maintaining my sanity. Quick options included burgers, tacos, or some type of sandwich and chips. That's what I had in mind recently when I faced a time crunch and decided to use my lunch break to run some errands...

Cape Girardeau is lucky to have a restaurant such as Gabriel's Food + Wine gracing its downtown. Personal and cozy, classy and chic, Gabriel's lends a much-needed boost to upscale dining in the River City. Reservations are recommended, but Gabriel's definitely didn't give off that intimidating "reservation restaurant" feel. ...

Winter is the ultimate time for a comfort-foodie fest. Holiday celebrations and festivities are a welcome excuse for at least two months of guilt- free indulging (or overindulging). There are treats everywhere you look: baked goods at the office, foodie gifts from friends, classroom parties and family dinners. ...

Opened in 1999, Reis Meat Processing in Pocahontas has perfected tasty meats and taken them to the next level. Family owned and operated by the Reisenbichler family, Reis Meat (pronounced RICE) has earned its reputation of creating wonderful brats, sausages and snack sticks...

Every year after Thanksgiving, West End Tavern and Grocery in Frohna, Missouri, partners with Whitetails Unlimited to honor hunters and the animals they hunt. Keith LeGrand of West End Tavern gave me the details. Hunters can buy raffle tickets for a Deer Contest in which 14 firearms are awarded to: 1) those with the biggest buck, 2) drawings for youth who successfully hunted a deer, 3) drawings for adults who successfully hunted a deer, 4) and even those who didn't get a deer are given a chance to win. ...

My curiosity was piqued when I received an invitation to a "Roving Dinner Party" last week. According to the invitation, we would be enjoying a five course meal with each course at a different restaurant. I love trying new things and that sounded fantastic -- I was in!...

In Perryville, a food renaissance is quietly taking over, and Jackson Street BrewCo is a major player on this scene. Boasting a three-barrel nano brewery and a stone wood oven, the brews and pizzas are honest and delicious. Our JStreet tasting journey started with the brews. When asking about the different kinds of beer, we requested something light and pale. The bartender poured us a sample, and we settled on Blonde Ale, light and nutty, with the tiniest hint of sweetness...

Do you ever think about how much our senses play a part in our richest memories? My daughter is away at college living the dorm life. She called me this weekend and told me about a recent shopping trip. Her friends teased her about walking around the store sniffing a pumpkin scented candle. ...

On a corner of Broadway in Cape Girardeau sits an unassuming green and white building with a clock on the front. Inside of Zoi's Gyro Corner, foodie magic has been happening since 1994. Zoi has always greeted me at the drive-thru window with a smile without fail. I feel like I have walked into my favorite aunt's house, and she only wants to sit me down and feed me. I have to believe that Zoi makes everyone feel this special and welcome...