Oklahoma
'Gravy over it?' Expect that question from the seen-it-all waitresses no matter what you order (ok, maybe not pies – maybe). The signature dish is a…
Must-see restaurants in The Great Plains
Oklahoma
You'll never be satisfied with a burger from a fast-food chain again after you wipe the juices from these beauties off your chin. Burgers come with an…
St Louis
A treat unique to St Louis is the butter cake, a buttery treat that reminds one of a heavenly cross between cake and fudge. This small chain of local…
Nebraska
Right in the amphitheater building on Lincoln's main square, Union Plaza, this creative cafe serves locally sourced breakfasts all day. Try the huevos…
Nebraska
The coffee beans are roasted in-house here by the Calico Coffee Co. The results are full-bodied and rich. Enjoy your drink in hip surrounds or out on the…
Oklahoma
Many Vietnamese refugees settled in Oklahoma after the Vietnam War in the mid-1970s and many opened restaurants. One of the very best is this otherwise…
Nebraska
In a big old firehouse in Old Market, the beer here is equally big on flavor. The Caesar salads have enough garlic to propel you over the Missouri to Iowa…
Kansas
This renowned bakery uses a huge wood-fired oven to bake loaves that bring devotees from as far away as Kansas City. It has a full breakfast menu and a…
Nebraska
Farm-fresh fare with a French accent is served in this artful restaurant. The bar is a real draw; after the last meal is served, people linger, enjoying…
Oklahoma
Enjoy the best breakfasts in town at this seemingly traditional diner. But take one bite of the fresh blueberry pancakes or the eggs Benedict and you'll…
St Louis
The south side branch of legendary Ted Drewes is open during the summer. Enjoy the super-creamy ice-cream-like frozen custard and try the mash-up of…
Iowa
What better way to spend a balmy evening than enjoying a handmade frozen treat at this old-style neighborhood malt shop? It's so good here that you'll…
Oklahoma
Clanton's dates back to 1927 and is the place for chicken fried steak and calf fries (a type of meat – don't ask).
Oklahoma
With fresh-baked cookies waiting for you at the table, pitchers of apricot iced tea and knickknacks aplenty, you may feel as though you've just arrived at…
Sioux City
Run by the Calligan family since 1955, this Sioux City institution is a true drive-in (the only interior seating is the seats in your car). There are two…
Kansas City
City Market is a haven for small local businesses selling an idiosyncratic range of foods and other items. Ethnic groceries exude enticing smells and…
Iowa
Generations of locals and students have feasted on the plate-covering pancakes at this no-frills diner downtown. The coffee is cheap and just keeps coming…
Kansas
The family-owned modern Brookville Hotel is modeled on their original restaurant in the namesake town of Brookvillel, which opened in 1870. Meals at the…
St Louis
Relax with a meal of comfort food (sandwiches, steaks etc) while you revel in the view of Post-Dispatch Lake in Forest Park. The setting could not be more…
Sioux City
The most popular name at this 1925 tavern is Charlie Boy. And it's a pretty special name as it's the name of the house specialty: an Iowa loosemeat…
Nebraska
This low-lit Valentine institution, which specializes in hand-cut Nebraska beef, is one of the state's most storied steakhouses. What it serves are thick,…
Iowa
'Keeping Iowans on top of the food chain since 1922!' is the slogan at this hole-in-the-wall store just south of downtown. Enjoy Iowa comfort food such as…
Iowa
Long-running Maude's is at the quiet west end of downtown. The menu features a lot of seasonal specials, but you can always count on an artfully prepared…
Iowa
Locals have gathered around the horseshoe-shaped counter at this Ottumwa staple since 1936 to gobble down 'canteens' (loose meat hamburgers wrapped in wax…
Missouri
'The first coffee shop west of the Mississippi' does not disappoint, with an assortment of coffees and teas, sandwiches for breakfast or lunch, and…
Nebraska
Part home-goods store (with products made by the owner) and part top-notch restaurant, this Scottsbluff establishment has an eclectic menu of fresh,…
Iowa
This swanky 2nd-floor gastropub boasts locally sourced meals and killer libations at the long cocktail bar. Classic movies play on Monday nights and there…
Black Hills
A quintessential Sturgis saloon with walls that are like a museum of town history. The space doubles as a concert hall, bull-riding stage and all-around…
South Dakota
Immigration from Mexico has been quietly transforming the culture of the Great Plains, and this busy, family-run tortilla factory is an example. Stop by…
Iowa
With a front that opens onto the street, this stylish cafe is a great place to relax with a glass of wine and watch the Valley Junction action. Or go for…
Nebraska
Locally sourced ingredients are combined in spectacular ways at this hip spot with a seasonal menu. The dining room is sleek and stylish, which, along…
Iowa
This cluttered old corner tavern with a magnificent wooden bar has a long list of beers on offer. But what really keeps people coming are two things: the…
Kansas City
One of Kansas City's most innovative restaurants is housed in what was once a humdrum 1915 vintage hotel in the Crossroads Arts District. Today it's been…
Oklahoma
Meers Store & Restaurant is a ramshackle burger-and-beer joint hunkered at the end of a twisty, country-road junction on the far side of Lake Lawtonka…
St Louis
Named one of the nation's best joints for barbecue, Pappy's serves luscious ribs, pulled pork, brisket and smoked turkey. With fame, however, comes…
Iowa
With a name any traveler can love, the Scenic Route Bakery offers up fabulous coffee drinks and an array of baked goods, from healthy muffins to gooey…
Iowa
The poetic menus at this stylish amber-lit restaurant in the Millwork District are organized like so: roots + soil, flour + water, farm + fish. The…
Missouri
Housed in an old factory, it's the American classics and creative home-brewed beers here that make this Hannibal's most popular spot. The chicken wings…
St Louis
This tres bon French-style brasserie has an alluring lineup of specialties including foie gras, steak frites, escargot and all the desserts and cheeses…
Iowa
This old-fashioned cafe on Courthouse Sq made a cameo appearance in the 1995 film version of The Bridges of Madison County. It serves up mac ‘n’ cheese…
