Restaurant in St Louis, United States
Get there early or miss out.
Pappy's Smokehouse on Olive Street is St. Louis's most credible barbecue stop at this price tier, backed by two consecutive Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats recognitions and a 4.7 rating across nearly 9,000 Google reviews. Walk-in only, counter-service format, and the kitchen sells out before closing on weekends. Arrive before noon on Saturdays to avoid the risk.
If you're in St. Louis and have a lunch window on a weekday, Pappy's Smokehouse is the answer. The sell-out timing is real: the kitchen closes when the meat runs out, which on busy Fridays and Saturdays can happen well before the posted 7 PM close. Come early or risk a wasted trip. Pappy's has held a spot on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list in both 2023 (Recommended) and 2024 (ranked #215), which puts it among the most credible barbecue stops in the country at its price tier. A 4.7 rating across nearly 9,000 Google reviews adds weight to that credential.
Pappy's Smokehouse has been operating on Olive Street in Midtown St. Louis long enough to have a loyal local following that spans office workers, out-of-towners, and barbecue obsessives who make the trip specifically for this address. The setup is counter-service: you order, you find a seat, and the focus is entirely on what's on the tray. There is nothing here designed to impress through atmosphere. The room is functional, the lines can be long, and the whole operation runs on a get-in, eat-well, get-out rhythm. That is precisely the point.
For a return visitor, the direction is simple: if you defaulted to ribs on your first visit, consider branching into whatever the daily specials are running, since Pappy's rotates through additional proteins and sides based on the day. Thursday through Saturday are the strongest sessions for both selection and hours, with the kitchen running until 6 or 7 PM rather than the 4 PM cut-off that applies Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Tuesday is closed entirely, so plan accordingly.
The group dynamic here deserves attention. Pappy's does not offer a private dining room in any formal sense, and that shapes how groups should think about it. For parties of four to six, the communal-style seating works in your favour: trays get passed, you sample more widely, and the informal setting actually encourages sharing in a way that a sit-down service format would not. Large groups planning a corporate lunch or a celebration dinner should look elsewhere — the room is not set up to hold or serve a party of twelve or more with any coherent flow. For a group of friends doing a St. Louis food tour, though, Pappy's is a natural anchor stop, particularly for a midday meal before moving on to Crown Candy Kitchen for dessert.
Solo dining works here without any awkwardness. Counter-service format means you're not occupying a table meant for two, and the quick turnover keeps the room moving. If you're alone and curious about the city's food scene, Pappy's sits within a broader St. Louis worth exploring: see our full St. Louis restaurants guide for context across categories, or check the St. Louis bars guide if you're building a longer day out.
Booking difficulty is low. Pappy's does not take reservations; it's walk-in only. The practical constraint is timing, not access: arrive before noon on a weekend to avoid the longest queues and the risk of running into a sold-out protein. On weekdays, mid-morning through early afternoon tends to move more smoothly.
On price, Pappy's sits firmly in the affordable range — the Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats designation is not honorary. This is not a venue where the bill surprises you. It is one of the more accessible quality barbecue stops in the Midwest by price, which makes it easier to recommend without caveats about value. For comparison, CorkScrew BBQ in Spring, Texas operates at a similar price and critical tier in the South, while Bogart's Smokehouse is the direct St. Louis competitor to benchmark against.
See the comparison section below for how Pappy's stacks up against Bogart's Smokehouse, Mai Lee, and other St. Louis staples.
Pappy's operates on a counter-service format rather than a traditional bar setup, so there is no bar seating in the conventional sense. You order at the counter, take your tray, and find a spot in the dining area. Solo diners and small groups navigate this easily , the format is built for quick, informal eating, not seated bar-side service.
Lunch is the stronger call, both for selection and reliability. The kitchen runs from 11am daily and the meat supply is freshest early. On Fridays and Saturdays, a late lunch between noon and 2pm hits the sweet spot before sell-outs become a risk. If you want the extended evening hours (Fri/Sat until 7pm), arrive no later than 5pm. Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday close at 4pm, which makes them lunch-only in practice.
Yes, without reservations. Counter-service means you're not occupying table space meant for a group, and the communal seating format removes any awkward solo-table dynamic. It's one of the more comfortable solo options in this price tier in St. Louis. Pair it with a visit to Crown Candy Kitchen afterward if you're building a longer solo food day.
Only if the occasion is casual by design. Pappy's has real critical credentials , two consecutive Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats recognitions and a 4.7 across nearly 9,000 reviews , but the format is counter-service with communal seating. There is no private dining, no tableside service, and no formal atmosphere. For a birthday lunch with friends who appreciate good barbecue over ceremony, it works. For an anniversary dinner or a client meal, look at Sado or Robin instead.
Barbecue is a meat-forward format by definition, and Pappy's menu is built around smoked proteins. Vegetarian and vegan diners will find limited options. The venue's contact details are not publicly listed in our database, so if dietary restrictions are a concern, visit in person or check for current side dish options before committing. For a St. Louis meal that handles dietary flexibility more comfortably, Mai Lee is a stronger fit.
For barbecue specifically, Bogart's Smokehouse is the direct comparison and worth trying on a separate visit to form your own opinion on the St. Louis style debate. If you're after a different genre at a similar price point, Crown Candy Kitchen covers the classic American luncheonette format, and Mai Lee is the go-to for Vietnamese in the city. For a fuller view of where Pappy's sits in the St. Louis food scene, see our complete St. Louis restaurants guide.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pappy’s Smokehouse | Barbecue | Easy | |
| Mai Lee | Vietnamese | Unknown | |
| Ted Drewes Frozen Custard | Ice Cream | Unknown | |
| Bogart’s Smokehouse | Barbecue | Unknown | |
| Crown Candy Kitchen | Luncheonette | Unknown | |
| Sado | Japanese (Sushi) | Unknown |
What to weigh when choosing between Pappy’s Smokehouse and alternatives.
Dietary accommodations can vary. Flag restrictions in advance via the venue's official channels.
Pappy's Smokehouse is a counter-service BBQ joint, not a bar-seating concept. You order at the counter, grab a tray, and find a seat. There's no bar in the traditional sense. The format is fast and communal, which suits the lunch-crowd pace the place runs at most days.
Lunch is the move, but go early. Pappy's closes when the meat runs out, which can happen well before posted closing time. Thursday through Saturday the kitchen stays open into the evening (until 6 or 7 pm), making those the only realistic 'dinner' options. If you're visiting Tuesday, note that Pappy's is closed.
Yes. Counter-service BBQ is one of the more solo-friendly formats around — no awkward table minimums, no waiting for a party to be seated. Order what you want, eat at your own pace. The Olive Street location draws a steady weekday lunch crowd, so you won't feel out of place eating alone.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
