“Live” from our Bread basket tour!!

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by Travis Miller

For great food and huge servings, you need to try Lotawata Creek at exit 12 on I-64 in Fairview Heights IL. You will not believe how huge the servings are until they set your meal in front of you.

I was going to recommend that place since I've had the same experience as you. But the two brothers who owned the place got convicted of tax evasion a year or so ago - seems like there was jail time involved also. So I was hesitant due to not knowing how their absence may have affected the place.


There aren't too many great places anywhere near. The city of St Louis is imploding with crime, though there are a few blocks here and there which have good places and are reasonably safe. The current trend has the junkies focusing on vans (they love a band's van parked outside the venue), RVs, and out of state license plates at touristy spots. Smash and grab at any time of the day or night.


The Hill is excellent for good Italian as long as you stay away from Cunetto's and other tourist spots. There are some nationally rated BBQ places also. Google Pappy's, Bogart's, and Sugarfire Smokehouse.


The Soulard area just south of downtown near the AB brewery has some good places, but it's a very old section of town and parking can be a pain. Check out almost anything there; Tuckers' has very good steaks and chops much cheaper than a steakhouse. Not sure how they do it, but nope, no tenderizer or marinades - just good beef properly cooked.


For any of these places, you're probably looking at 20-30 minutes from the track depending on time of day.