Photo by Christian Gooden (Post-Dispatch)
Pappy's Smokehouse
At this point, I should just put a photograph of the Pappy’s Smokehouse ribs in this space and save the 100 words for the next restaurant on the list. Alas, I fear there might be some souls out there who haven’t experienced the magic of the dry-rubbed ribs smoked over apple and cherry wood, ribs that in 11 years of visits have never been anything but the perfect texture. So go, don’t worry about the line (if there is one, it moves quickly), order the ribs and — why not — the burnt ends, too, and change your life already.
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (or until sold out) Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (or until sold out) Sunday
Last year's ranking: No. 24
Opened: 2008