With an eclectic dining scene cooking up everything from authentic Mexican and Thai cuisine to good-old American barbecue, foodies eating out in O’Fallon, Missouri certainly won’t be disappointed. Read on for The Culture Trip’s round-up of the city’s best local eats.
1. McGurk’s Public House
Pub, Pub Grub
A long-standing local pub, McGurk’s Public House brings a little bit of Ireland to the heart of O’Fallon. Lively, cozy surroundings welcome guests with typical American pub fare like juicy steaks and hearty sandwiches, while traditional Irish recipes like beef and Guinness stew or slow-roasted corned beef and cabbage served with buttered Irish potatoes and carrots are also served alongside some fancier menu additions like pan-roasted tilapia with sweet potatoes, green beans, andouille sausage and sweet and sour pineapple. Naturally, there’s plenty of beer to wash down McGurk’s tasty grub, including domestic and craft brew varieties.
2. Thai Gourmet
Restaurant, Thai
For something deliciously different when dining out in O’Fallon, diners with a taste for the exotic should look no further than Thai Gourmet. Staying true to the roots of Thai cuisine, there’s plenty of authentic fare featured on the restaurant’s menu from familiar classic dishes like pad Thai (rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, green onions and ground peanuts) and green curry (coconut milk with bamboo shoots, eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers and basil) available with a choice of chicken, pork, tofu, mixed vegetables, beef or shrimp. More adventurous diners can opt for house special dishes like garlic and pepper sautéed frog legs with green beans, carrots and cabbage.
3. Rendezvous Café and Wine Bar
Bar, Cafe, Wine Bar, American
Stop by Rendezvous Café and Wine Bar during the day and you’ll be treated to hearty breakfast fare, think biscuits with homemade sausage gravy, Belgian waffles or hash brown casserole; but visit in the evening and the cozy joint is transformed into a trendy wine bar with live music and a hip ambience. Wine connoisseurs will be spoiled with choices from Rendezvous’ 400 bottle strong wine list of varieties from across the globe, while gourmet-casual eats like hand-crafted pizzas and tapas dishes, savory Thai-style meatballs and cream cheese and sausage stuffed mushrooms, make the perfect accompaniment.
4. Don Emiliano’s
Restaurant, Mexican
Got a hankering for Mexican fare? Then head to Don Emiliano’s, a restaurant whose owners’ Mexican heritage ensures diners a mouth-wateringly authentic meal with each visit. Start with appetizers of choriquezo dip (homemade Mexican chorizo in a traditional cheese dip with onions and jalapeños) or guacamole tostadas before choosing from familiar main courses like burritos, chimichangas and fajitas or dishes like the Acapulco Gold (tilapia, shrimp, zucchini, tomatoes and onions steamed in parchment paper and served with sour cream and guacamole). Desserts and drinks are equally authentic with sweet treats like sopapilla and thirst-quenching Mexican cerveza on offer too.
5. The Brass Rail
Restaurant, Steakhouse
Named the city’s best steakhouse in the Best of O’Fallon Awards, The Brass Rail is the favorite local haunt of meat lovers. Classic American steakhouse fare abounds on the restaurant’s menu (think dry-aged, hand-cut prime sirloin and grilled ribeye steak) but guests will also find plenty of seafood dishes, pasta, sandwiches and house specialties like ‘steakloaf’ served over mashed potatoes and smothered in house-made mushroom gravy and crispy tabasco onion straws or Cajun sautéed fish tacos with homemade remoulade and pico de gallo. With treats like scratch-made apple bread pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream, diners with a sweet tooth will want to make sure they leave room for dessert.
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6. Vince’s Asian Bistro
Bistro, Chinese, Korean
Vince’s Asian Bistro has been serving its signature mix of authentic Chinese and Korean fare to local diners for a decade and its popularity doesn’t show signs of waning anytime soon. Start with appetizers like pot stickers and spring rolls or opt for a hearty bowl of egg drop soup (napa cabbage, wood ear mushroom, carrot, egg and bamboo shoots in a clear, savory broth) before mains of jajung noodles (a Chinese-Korean dish of minced pork, zucchini and onions in a sweet black soybean paste served on a bed of homemade noodles) or bibimbap (a classic Korean dish of seasoned beef, vegetables, eggs and rice flavored with, gochujang, a spicy red pepper paste).
7. Blue Sky Café and Bar
Bar, Restaurant, American
Traditional American eats are the order of the day at Blue Sky Café and Bar a popular local joint open for lunch and dinner teaming its delicious cuisine with an extensive martini list, alongside wines and local beers. Team tempting starters like St. Louis-style toasted ravioli with marinara dipping sauce or deep-fried chicken strips with a range of burgers, sandwiches and wraps or entrées like sirloin topped with bourbon sauce and grilled mushrooms or pork chops with a white wine-honey-mustard sauce.
8. Piggy’s BarBQ
Bar, Restaurant, American
Founded by husband and wife team Gary and Anita Hellyer in 2005, who were joined by legendary local pit master Mike Killian two years later, Piggy’s BarBQ is the place to head in O’Fallon for fans of good, old-fashioned barbecue eats. A simple menu of sandwiches, platters and combo meals featuring classic barbecued pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked bratwurst, rib tips and the like is served along with sides including corn on the cob, potato salad and coleslaw while kid-sized portions include the likes of hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and mini pulled pork sandwiches.
