Defiance Roadhouse is a restaurant and bar in Defiance, Missouri; you’ll find it at 2999 Highway 94 South. It offers delicious food and live music on weekends. It’s hard to beat tasty eats and live music, but this restaurant offers something else entertaining...
The building once housed Dave and Jacquie’s, but underwent a major renovation when new owners purchased the building in 2012. Patrons were excited to see the new restaurant and bar...but they had one question: "Are the squirrels still there?"
The taxidermy squirrels, anthropomorphized in various funny poses, have been a popular attraction for years. The new owners embraced the squirrels, using them in social media advertising and even giving them a special photo page on their website.
You might call hot dogs the king of cheap eats... and you wouldn't be wrong. In a world of rising prices, you can still get a frank and a side for a few bucks. And if you're wondering if there's a spot like that in Missouri, I'm happy to report that there are a few, one of which might even hold a world record!
advertisement
Classic Red Hots in O'Fallon is a perfect example of a classic Missouri hot dog joint.
Even when a hot dog is simple with nothing more than a bun and a frank, there's still something deeply satisfying about eating one, particularly if you haven't had one in a while. It brings me back to childhood -- my dad at the grill, my mom sunbathing, and my belly ready to receive some hot dogs!
If the name of Classic Red Hots in O'Fallon, Missouri, is any indication, the type of hot dog served there should not surprise you. If you order a simple and straightforward hot dog, you will be served a classic red hot.
What is a classic red hot? Well, it's an all-beef hot dog, typically served on a poppyseed bun. And yes, they live up to their name - these weenies are bright red!
For the more adventurous eater, I suggest exploring the menu at this O'Fallon, Missouri, hot dog stand. Their Chicago-style dog sounds (and looks!) nearly perfect.
Ordering a Chicago Dog at Classic Red Hots Catering in Missouri will get you an all-beef hot dog served on either a plain or poppyseed bun. It's topped with tangy yellow mustard, green relish, tomatoes, onions, a juicy pickle spear, and celery salt.
A pickle on a hot dog?! Yes, and it's surprisingly delicious.
All of the red hot offerings from this Missouri hot dog joint sound delicious, even the "out there" ones, like a gyro dog topped with shaved meat and barbecue sauce. It's an intriguing combo, to say the least.
Even if you don't feel like chowing down on a hot dog during your visit to this cute Missouri cafe, you'll still get fed! Classic Red Hots Catering also offers an impressive menu of burgers, chicken, sandwiches, gyros, and more.
advertisement
Plus, they have a robust selection of side dishes, including chips, tots, nachos, and chili. Yum!
There are even some menu items for our non-meat eaters, including a plant-based hot dog and a burger. No matter your diet, everyone can find something to eat at Classic Red Hots in O'Fallon, Missouri.
Sometimes, going off the beaten path when looking for a restaurant in Missouri yields the best, most delicious results.
advertisement
Let me paint you a picture. You wake up one morning looking for a culinary adventure, having no real agenda or plan. You're just looking to try something new, something tasty, something different. At the start of your adventure, you're dreaming of white tablecloths and fine dining or maybe even a new-to-you waterfront spot with fresh seafood and cold brews.
You probably wouldn't expect to be eating the most flavorful food of your life in a building that used to be a gas station... would you?
And yet, this is precisely what Bixby Country Store is. This adorable, off-the-beaten-path restaurant in Missouri is located in Bixby, about a two-hour drive from St. Louis. This gas station-turned-restaurant is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Anyone who's eaten here will tell you that it is 100% worth the drive.
Now, the locals don't only visit Bixby Country Store to eat incredible food. This hidden gem in Missouri still operates as a general store! So you're just as likely to encounter a local picking up some supplies as you are another diner! Or getting gas outside, since this cute spot also has two working gas pumps.
If eating food so good it tastes homemade amid the hustle and bustle of a shop doesn't sound like the relaxing meal you had in mind, don't worry. The owners of Bixby Country Store have also turned the caboose next door into a dining room. Simple benches and tables line the log walls of this small dining room. I recommend snagging one of the tables near a window so you can watch the world go by.
If you're looking for down-home cooking, Bixby Country Store is the place for you. Comfort food reigns, with creative daily specials and staples that the regulars can't stop raving about. Word on the street is that the club sandwich at Bixby Country Store is second to none.
The regular menu of cold sandwiches at this adorable Missouri eatery also keeps the locals coming back. There's something comforting about having someone else make you a sandwich that makes it taste just a little bit better, you know?
This is also an excellent stop for breakfast, where biscuits and gravy are the first thing on the menu. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have to look any further before I chose my morning meal: I love biscuits and gravy, y'all.
No matter what meal you decide to visit Bixy Country Store, I recommend stopping at the dessert case before you head back home. Everything looks delicious. However, if home-baked desserts are not your thing, you're in luck. One of the benefits of being a general store/restaurant is a wonderful selection of road snacks... including candy!
