4 Chef-Recommended Restaurants to Visit in St. Joseph, MO
A former Las Vegas chef dishes on some of his favorite eateries in St. Joseph.
St. Joseph, MO, is an inviting city along the Missouri River that’s roughly an hour’s drive from Kansas City, aka the “Barbecue Capital of the World.” Barbecue, however, is not what St. Joseph is known for. With its history in the stockyards industry, it’s no surprise that the meat and potatoes of St. Joseph’s food fixtures are, well, meat and potatoes. But open the doors to Felix Street Gourmet, a two-story historic building downtown, and you’ll find foods from all over the world.
For Jaylon Sybert – the chef and new owner of Felix Street Gourmet and private club Room 108 – his vision for the restaurant is largely driven by his travels and extensive culinary experience, including his time at the world-renowned Bellagio Las Vegas.
Felix Street Gourmet exudes a very European style.
“It’s a place you can come with friends and get a breadbasket and a bottle of wine and just hang out; a casual vibe, where you’re more than welcome to spend some time,” Sybert says.
As a local chef, Sybert has a pulse on St. Joseph’s food scene, so we queried him about some of the best places to eat in the community. Here are four chef-recommended restaurants to visit in St. Joseph.
In This Article
1. RC’s Lunch Car in St. Joseph, MO
For a fun time and classic American fare served up with a twist, Sybert says to look no further than RC’s Lunch Car. The interior looks and feels just like a 1950s diner, right down to the Formica tabletops decorated with retro boomerang patterns. And you’ll find all your favorites there, like cheeseburgers, fries and handspun milkshakes – just with surprising new flavors.
Everything is made from scratch, including the pastrami and bologna that often appear between slices of fresh bread that’s grilled to golden perfection. And if you want a side with that, there’s an ever-changing menu of seasonal appetizers, small plates and soups – think lemon and pesto mussels, sweet and spicy wings, and cream of broccoli and bleu soup.
For those craving south-of-the-border flavors, RC’s Lunch Car serves authentic tacos topped with homemade salsas. And they have a kick to them, so you’ll want to ask for a Mexican cola to wash it all down.
2. Il Lazzarone Neapolitan Pizzeria in St. Joseph, MO
If you closed your eyes and took a bite out of a slice at Il Lazzarone, you might think you were in Italy – yes, it’s that authentic. That’s because the family-owned pizzeria prides itself on using only high-quality ingredients to produce its pizzas, strictly following the law of traditional Neapolitan wood-fired pizza. In fact, the restaurant is one of less than 100 pizzerias nationwide to hold an official certification from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, a nonprofit whose mission is to promote and protect the true Neapolitan pizza in Italy and worldwide.
Once a pizza is placed in the almost 900-degree Fahrenheit oven, it only takes about 60 to 90 seconds for the dough to puff up – achieving the signature slightly crunchy and blistered texture – and for the cheese to melt, which means it will be at your table surprisingly fast, but you’ll definitely want to take it slow from there and savor every bite.
While Sybert didn’t name a favorite pie, he says he loves the idea of introducing new flavors by way of a food that most find very familiar, in addition to appreciating the rustic ambiance with a clear view of where the magic happens – the kitchen. Still, a few items on the menu that stand out include the Margherita pizza made with San Marzano tomatoes, the Crepa pizza topped with applewood smoked bacon and a balsamic glaze, and appetizers like freshly made bruschetta.
Il Lazzarone has an impressive beverage menu, as well, but if you want to stay true to Italian tradition, try a cold Peroni beer, a glass of Chianti Classico or the house Negroni.
3. Fredrick Inn Steakhouse in St. Joseph, MO
Sybert describes Fredrick Inn Steakhouse as an “old-school steakhouse,” and says it’s the place to go in St. Joseph for a great steak and potatoes meal in an intimate, lowlight atmosphere with exceptional service.
The restaurant has been around since 1980, and it is famous for its spinach salad and bread pudding, with other favorites being its prime rib, hot beef and fresh baked pies with unexpected flavors like butterscotch.
The menu is quite extensive, as there is something to please everyone (even kids), so it’s the perfect place to take the whole family or meet a group of friends. Or you can stop by midday and take advantage of the lunch menu. There are new specials every day. The restaurant’s full-service bar, which serves all your favorite cocktails, beer and wine, adds to the venue’s casual vibe. But don’t let that casual vibe fool you, the Fredrick Inn is one of the only places in St. Joseph where you regularly need a reservation during busy times.
4. Hi-Ho Bar & Grill in St. Joseph, MO
The façade of Hi-Ho Bar & Grill might be unassuming, but come sundown, you can’t miss the sign that invites you in with its neon green glow. Once inside, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the cozy Irish pub ambiance that makes it one of Sybert’s favorite places in town to grab a burger and drink. With plenty of screens mounted on the walls, you can catch a game while you’re here, too.
Like Frederick Inn Steakhouse, the Hi-Ho Bar & Grill has a large menu that offers everything from sandwiches and burgers to salads and a wide selection of pizzas. Customers’ go-to menu items include the Three Pigs sandwich, which comes with tenderloin, bacon and barbecued pulled pork, a chicken and goat cheese salad, and the Corned Beef & Cream Cheese sandwich, which the establishment calls strange, yet delicious.
Because it’s rare to find homemade potato chips, you’ll want to place an order for the hand-sliced, deep-fried potatoes that come with your choice of garlic parmesan, barbecue or Cajun seasoning – or just a little bit of salt, if that’s more your thing.
Beers include domestic and even hyper-local brews, including KC Boulevard, River Bluff Brewing (St. Joseph’s own) and, of course, must-have Irish “gargles,” like the rich and chocolate-like Guinness dry stout.
This article was sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.