SpeedEats - Matthew Dillner

SpeedEats Special Guest

"Kappy"

JAYSON KAPLAN

r a c e e a t r e p e a t

Kappy In "The Lou" by Jayson Kaplan

Gateway International Raceway

(Editor's Note: Jayson Kaplan has worked within the Motorsports industry for NASCAR's former Goody's Dash Series and Gateway International Raceway. He has also worked in Marketing for several different companies throughout the industry. Kaplan, a Long Island New York native, now lives with family in St, Louis, Missouri. He stays connected with the racing industry and is a certified foodie!)

Pappy’s Smoke House

Pappy’s is a taste of Memphis BBQ right here in St.Louis. One of my favorite places to eat here in "The Lou." One of the reasons why it is one of my favorite places to eat is their homemade southern BBQ. The meat is slow cooked over apple and cherry wood to give the meat a unique flavor. When you drive up to Pappy’s Smoke House the aroma of the meat slow cooking is just wonderful. They finish off the cooking process with Pappy’s Smoke House Award winning sauce. They also have great sides like grilled corn as well as some of my favorites... sweet potato fries and the best green beans I have ever had. Hey, and I have had some great green beans in my day!

Pappy’s BBQ Sauces are amazing. They include Pappy's Original, Sweet Baby Jane (in honor of Mike’s granddaughter Jane) and Holly's Hot Sauce. Holly's Hot sauce is a texas style hot sauce that is, well, muy caliente!

Another reason why I like this place so much is the atmosphere. When you walk in to Pappy’s there are pictures on the walls from famous blues musicians, St.Louis Cardinals baseball players, celebrities, racing pictures and more.

Pappy's is a must for race fans traveling to St. Louis.

3106 Olive Street

St Louis, MO

(314) 535-4340

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Park Grill

Located in Granite City, IL just 20 minutes from Gateway International Raceway, Park Grill is true home cooking.

When you go make sure you bring a big appetite because the portions are large and the burgers are huge. They feature a three-pound hamburger. Yes, you heard me, three pounds! If you can finish the Park Grill's famous three-pound burger you are in a class of your own. It is truly entertaining watch someone tackle this meat-monster.

They have daily specials and they serve a great breakfast. Mike, the owner, is the fourth generation of his family to run the Park Grill. It was started by his great grandmother in 1956. If you are lucky enough, Mike's Grandma may show up. You better eat everything on your plate or you will have to answer to her!

At Park Grill you feel like part of family when you step in. The walls are surrounded with all sorts of pictures from Cardinals players, entertainers, racers and a who's who in St. Louis heroes.

Make sure you make your check out Park Grill for a little something to eat. Go find Mike the owner and tell em' that Kappy sent you.

2800 East 23rd Street

Granite City, IL

(618) 876-0800

Gus' Pretzels

A pretzel place on the list? Yeah, Gus' Pretzels is not JUST a pretzel joint, it's a St. Louis tradition. Not far from the Anheiser Busch Brewery, Gus' Pretzels is family owned and operated for three generations since it originally opened in 1920. Locals have eaten Gus’ pretzels at their weddings, when a new baby is born, and on trips downtown to the stadium to catch a Cards game.

As a New York native, I love a good pretzel. Gus' is pretty much as good as it gets. Even MD (Matthew Dillner) makes sure when he is in town to head over to Gus’s to get bag of pretzels. MD's favorite is the hot dog and Bratwurst pretzel. Gus’s is also favorite of Motorsports writers Lee & Reid Spencer. Lee loves the Salsiccia pretzel.

Whether you are here for the races or just visiting, make your make your way down to Gus Pretzels take the tour and get yourself a big bag full of those wonderful pretzels.

1820 Arsenal Street

St Louis, MO 63118-2529

(314) 664-4010

Top of the Riverfront

If you have time and you want to go to a truly unique restaurant, Top of the Riverfront is like no other restaurant in St.louis. The food is spectacular but really, it's all about the view. Twenty-eight stories above the cityscape, you eat in a 360 degree revolving room atop the Millennium Hotel. It gives you arguably the best view of the St.Louis skyline and surrounding areas. Seeing the arch from this perspective is just amazing.

I will say it takes a little while to get used to the room moving 360 degrees but it is very cool. With a great menu of American cuisine from steak, fish, and poultry you cannot go wrong. The desserts are not too shabby as well. It's a little more upscale than our other pics, but don't let that deter you! The staff is great and they treat you right at the Top of the Riverfront. It is one of those places you have to experience while you here in St.Louis for the races.

I went there last year with Matthew Dillner and the NASCAR on ESPN crew. MD liked it so much he went there twice, the other time with ESPN producer Kate Jackson and Blu Moon's Judy Deithelm (speedeats foodie).

200 South 4th Street

St. Louis\, MO

(314) 241-9500

Dining Hours

DINNER

Tuesday - Thursday: 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Friday & Saturday: 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

BRUNCH

Sunday: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Please call (314) 241-3191 for reservations. Seating is limited. Reservations are recommended.

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