Al's is just a little old diver bar, the kind where the bartender grills your burger. But what a wonderful burger it is, complete with heavily griddled and caramelized onions.
The Drive-In is a five-decade-old carhop with homemade root beer, malts, dogs and burgers.
The only fine-dining emporium in the area, with a standard but thoughtful lineup of rich players: carpaccio, crab cakes, lobster, filet mignon and more.
Border Bar and Grill is not the kind of place I'd ordinarily recommend; they've got $2 "mystery shots" and cherry bombs (maraschino cherries soaked in Everclear) for a quarter.
Look for the giant mouse statue and roaming buffalo, an on-the-go shack of lemon-pepper buffalo jerky and six-year aged gouda, and enjoy them while wandering through Franconia Sculpture Park.
Make sure you hit Deutschland Meats, where German-born butcher Martin Ziegler twists up traditional handmade bratwursts, blood sausage and even chorizo.
Where the Scandinavian donuts, heavy-crisp on the outside and tender brioche within, are the real deal. A half dozen will run you under a five-spot.
Lawry's crusts don't disappoint, offering a superior, buttery and flaky crust, with a substantive filling containing bigger chunks of sirloin than any other pasties we tried.
Located right on the lakefront in downtown Marquette, people just can't get enough Thill's whitefish. Read more.
You have to try the whitefish chowder, full of fish from Thrill's down the street. The Vierling is also famous for its smoked whitefish plate, served with dill toast, cream cheese and sliced apples. Read more.
We discovered jams made from native berries that we have never heard of, try the Thistleberry and Bilberry jams from the Wood'n Spoon.
Combining deep flavors from all over the world and infusing it with the woody north woods mentality, redefine midwestern cuisine. Read more.
Got $5 burning a hole in you pocket? Blow it on a round (yes, a round) of drinks at the Town Tavern. A word to the wise: Beware of Carl, the elderly, polka dancing regular. Read more.
Swap hot dish recipes with locals (seriously, this happens) or plug some quarters in the jukebox while enjoying cheap drinks. Read more.
Pair a gourmet burger with a pitcher of MGD and experience the best of both worlds. Read more.
Duck in here for a strong cup of joe and a foodie take on St. Louis' Slinger - a hangover-busting pile of home fries, topped with eggs, sausage, chili, cheddar cheese and onions.
Try the Green, Eggs and Ham - poached eggs, prosciutto and arugula stacked on whole-wheat crostini (just don't forget to order a side of what will likely be the best bison sausage you'll ever eat). Read more.
Farmhaus offers a rotating blue-plate special of Southern-influenced lunches, including fried chicken with mac and cheese, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf in barbecue reduction. Also try this hushpuppies!
Chef Craft's ode to traditional French comfort foods. The melt-in-you-maw boeuf bourguignon is served atop a bed of silken potato puree, and the bouillabaisse is loaded with pollock, mussels and more! Read more.
A dimly lit dungeon of a cocktail bar, and another of Chef Craft's clever concoctions, go here after dinner to wash down your meal with well crafted cocktails.
Try Chef Robert Colosimo's fontina fonduta (traditional Italian fondue with truffle oil) and oak oven-roasted mussels in garlic and cilantro pesto both make for moan-inducing starters. Read more.
Nominated in 2012 for Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. Try the seared scallop atop cracked-mustard sauce and the duck confit rillettes, which arrives on a pig-shaped cutting board. Read more.
At 99 years young, Crown Candy Kitchen has been supplying St. Louis with milkshakes and sundaes for generations. Read more.
Head to one of the stands on a hot summer night for a signature "concrete" - which your server will turn upside-down to demonstrate its density - and see how long you can wait in line. Read more.
Head to The Cup and marvel at a vast selection of cupcakes like the Graceland (peanut butter buttercream-adorned banana cake crowned with a chocolate-dipped banana chip). Read more.
Sample up to 15 brews while noshing on artisan meats and cheeses in the brewery's handsomely spartan taproom. Read more.
Visit the Schlafly Tap Room for a sampling of exclusive brews, live music and a surprisingly bold food menu. "Nibblers" range from poutine to pâté to crispy frog legs. Read more.
Schlafly Bottleworks offers a completely different experience: Take a tour of the brewery and sample its goods along with yet another killer bill of fare. Try the smoked trout! Read more.
Hickory Park's calling card is its delectable smoked meats, and with good reason. But equally attractive is its expansive desert menu. Filled with no fewer than 50 items. Read more.
Why settle for one desert, when you can get two in the same cup? That's the philosophy behind the vaunted Hamburg Inn's collection of sugar-rich pie shakes. Read more.
This warm-August-day-on-a-stick is a rather simple combination of vanilla ice cream, hard chocolate coating and crushed peanuts, you have to have one. Read more.
Larita Myer began making cookies using her mother's recipe more than 30 years ago. That's enough for you feel obligated to try everything. Read more.
