First photo by Christian Gooden (Post-Dispatch); add'l photos sponsored by restaurant
The Stellar Hog
Alex Cupp has taken a circuitous route to the upper ranks of St. Louis barbecue. He was burned out on cooking after working in a country-club kitchen, but a “real” job didn’t suit him. So he went to work at his neighborhood barbecue restaurant, Adam’s Smokehouse, and fell in love with smoking meats. His passion is apparent in the Stellar Hog’s focused menu, highlighted by four cuts: pulled pork, pork ribs, beef brisket and corned beef brisket. Each is worthy of a visit, but the two briskets set the Stellar Hog apart. The standard brisket is among the best in town, dry-rubbed and smoked over fruitwood, while the corned brisket’s weeklong brine gives the smoky meat the mineral edge of a fine medium-rare steak.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday (bar only open Monday, closed Tuesday)
Last year's ranking: New this year
Opened: 2016