Photo by Hillary Levin (Post-Dispatch)
Annie Gunn's
Walk into Chesterfield institution Annie Gunn's after the past 10 tumultuous years in St. Louis dining, and you still had better have a reservation or be prepared to circle the bar, seeking that elusive empty seat (or, if the fates are smiling upon you, seats). Some appetites simply don't wane, not when chef Lou Rook III is serving up chops, USDA prime steaks and two of the best burgers in town: the Classic (with slab bacon and mustard-grain aioli) and the even more luxe Chef Lou's Burger (the restaurant's signature ground-beef blend boosted with heritage pork). Glenn Bardgett's expansive, nationally recognized wine list completes the dining experience, and the adjacent Smokehouse Market lets you take the Annie Gunn's magic home.
Hours: Lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)
Last year's ranking: No. 18
Opened: 1990