Rural Missouri - April 2022 - 34

Restaurant
Barbecue
1st: Sybill's, St. James; 573-265-4224, sybills.com
Those looking for an elegant dining experience don't need to
travel far off Interstate 44. Since 2006, Janet and Tom Scheffer
and their daughter, Sybill Light, have served upscale dishes in a
southern-style house. With a focus on fresh ingredients and handcut
steaks, regulars know Sybill's for its excellent, approachable
menu. For a dinner that will be sure to have you coming back,
order the Surf N Turf Pasta. Ravioli is stuffed with lobster, shrimp
and scallops and is covered with a white wine cream sauce. The
dish is topped with beef tenderloin tips, bacon, blue cheese and
green onion.
2nd: Fulton Cafe, Fulton; 573-642-8444,
fulton-cafe-llc.square.site
Fulton Cafe continues to be a favorite among Rural Missouri
readers. The cafe serves up plenty of authentic Cuban options
- a nod to owner Iris Atkison's roots - along with American
classics. The restaurant on Court Street is open for lunch daily and
features items such as their Cubano sandwich or the Elena Ruz,
featuring turkey, cream cheese and strawberry jam pressed on
Cuban bread. If you need a pick-me-up for your afternoon, don't
leave without a Cafe con Leche.
EC: Sweet Smoke BBQ, Jefferson City, Osage Beach;
573-761-0617, sweetsmokebbqmo.com
Since fi rst arriving on the scene in mid-Missouri, Sweet Smoke
BBQ has been drawing customers in by the droves. They've grown
from a food truck to a single downtown restaurant to a trio of
smoked meat destinations. Plenty of tasty offerings are available,
but if a sandwich is what you're after, go for the Notorious P.I.G.
with pulled pork, smoked sausage, Alabama white sauce, mustard,
onion and pickle. Also, don't leave Sweet Smoke without trying the
savory jalapeno cheddar grits.
34 RURAL MISSOURI | APRIL 2022
1st: Hercules Southern BBQ, Piedmont;
573-223-3654, herculessouthernbbq.com
The BBQ tradition of Alfea Crenshaw's stepfather, Hercules, is
alive and strong in Piedmont. Alfea and his wife, April, have been
feeding the folks in southeast Missouri since opening their barbecue
destination in 2013. Alfea uses a trio of smokers - including
Hercules' smoker he drove up from Texas - to prepare all the
smoked meats going out the door. A combination of oak and
charcoal fl avor make up Alfea's signature pork steaks, a customer
favorite. If you're more than hungry, opt for the pulled pork
nachos or ribs.
2nd: Missouri Hick, Cuba; 573-885-6791,
missourihick.com
Travelers along Route 66 have made a point to stop at Missouri
Hick for a unique, cherry wood-smoked meal. For a little bit of
everything, order the sampler platter featuring your choice of
two smoked meats - such as pulled pork and brisket - that is
topped with St. Louis-style ribs. For a taste of something different,
go with the Hick Bowl. The dish starts with mashed potatoes and
is topped with smoked brisket, gravy, cheese, green onions and
bacon bits.
EC: Duke's BBQ Shack, Wentzville;
636-856-9227, dukesbbqshack.com
The crew at Duke's BBQ takes their signature smoked creations
to the next level. In addition to smoked meat platters, they create
many elevated dishes. The fi rst order of business at Duke's is to
order an appetizer of Burnt End Rangoons, fried wontons stuffed
with a mixture of burnt ends and cream cheese. Their signature
sandwiches are the Dirty Mustache and Dirty Bird and feature
smoked brisket and chicken respectively, alongside sausage, beer
cheese sauce and housemade fried onion straws.
http://www.sybills.com http://www.herculessouthernbbq.com http://www.missourihick.com http://www.sweetsmokebbqmo.com http://www.dukesbbqshack.com
Rural Missouri - April 2022

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