This past year has been a tough year for restaurants in our state and the country in general. Rising food costs, supply chain issues, pandemic woes and difficulties in finding staff often created an unsustainable environment for restaurants. That said, the public in general is, has been and I believe will be very supportive of eating out and ordering food to be delivered from restaurants and dining establishments. For these reasons and for my appreciation of those who work in the field I have been motivated to seek out and write about the favorable experiences and wonderful food options offered by Missouri restaurants in the regional magazine “Missouri Life”.
When I contemplate which restaurants to choose in my column, I consider this 4-point matrix to determine which restaurants to focus on. They are as follows:
- Renown for excellent food and service
- Unique in its class
- Historical location or story
- Underrepresented world cuisine or style of food served
In 2022 I wrote about seven restaurants in my column in the magazine. Find Dining is the name of the column and once it goes through the editing and revision process it is cut down and resized from my original submission. Due to this fact, many images and points are not able to be published due to the size and layout planned for the magazine edition. Here is a rundown of this past year’s restaurants with some unpublished images and information. To access the published article please see my “Articles” page they can also be found on the magazine’s website https://missourilife.com/category/missouri-food-and-drinks.
In 2023 I will be writing more articles for the 50-year-old magazine and look forward to shining a spotlight on some of the best restaurants in the state. Hope you enjoy them and keep on dining!
Affäre is an innovative German restaurant that features seasonal, locally raised and grown foods and ingredients. It is centered in the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City and is co-owned by the native German couple Martin and Katrin Heuser. Check them out at- https://www.affarekc.com
Bulrush in Saint Louis is a locavore-centric restaurant that serves multi-course flights from the historical records of food from the Ozarks along with the eclectic composition of culinary techniques from Chef Owner Rob Connley. For the latest information go to- https://bulrushstl.com
No. 5 Bistro is housed in a re-purposed building in Sedalia with a long history and four-generation ownership dating back to the 1800s. Early in its history, it was J.A. Lamy Manufacturing, which was contracted by Levi Straus for the production of its blue jeans. To see their menu and latest information go to- https://www.lamymfg.com/play/no-5-bistro-bar
La Habana Vieja is housed in a renovated former bank building that operated midcentury in the 1800s on historic Commercial Street in Springfield. Its menu focuses on traditional Cuban cuisine. Check out the latest at their website- https://www.la-habana-vieja.com
Glenn’s Café in Columbia has operated since 1939 and has been a favorite dining destination in Central Missouri. Currently located in the newly renovated boutique hotel the Tiger on 8th street, it features traditional and re-imagined Creole and Cajun-style specialties. For the latest information about Glenn’s see their site- https://www.glennscafe.com
801 Fish is a first-class luxurious seafood restaurant in Clayton, a suburb of St Louis. The restaurant was recently recognized by 24/7 Wall Street Magazine as the best seafood restaurant in Missouri. Check them out at- https://www.801fish.com
Salvatore’s restaurant in Ozark Missouri features homemade pasta and is currently owned and operated by Chef Daniel Oawster. This restaurant has been a true family-run restaurant since its inception in 2012. For their latest offerings and menu options go to- https://freshsalvatores.com
chefpliska 
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