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Bootleggin Tavern

4.4 (55 reviews)

Bootleggin Tavern Photos

BOOTLEGGIN TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Good for kids
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Bootleggin Tavern

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Burnt end sandwich, beans and fries
Trey G.

I got the burnt end sandwich, bbq beans and fries...because I love burnt ends. Flavor on the meat was good and that's about all the good there was. Meat on sandwich was lukewarm warm like it had been sitting for a while. The beans were like bush's canned beans no extra BBQ flavor and no meat in them...don't call them BBQ if it's not in there. Lastly the fries were not done all the way.

J David H.

I've hit bootleggin up a few times for beer and wings and it has not disappointed. They are located on The Grove which is a cool hood. Parking is tight in their lot. However, there is nearby off street parking. Service has been strong and atmosphere perfect for relaxing at the bar with a brew and wings. Price seems fair enough. I will return.

Brisket
Steven P.

Stopped by this past weekend with a party of six; service was slow but not the employee's fault (only one person working on a Saturday is poor business management). For the most part all of the food was delicious (including the appetizers) and the portion sizes were larger than expected! Not a real comfortable place to sit and relax, a bit cramped, furniture was typical hard wood bar-style but not the end of the world. No one in our party is rushing back anytime soon but a carryout order of BBQ could be in the cards!

Penrose Disco Nachos
Haley M.

Beautiful evening out on their patio. Brew their own drinks along with a domestic beer collection. Started off with the Penrose Disco fries. Absolutely delicious! The pork belly had a sugar situation going on and the sauce with the cheese was to die for. Kent took good care of us. Absolutely will be back again!

Baked Beans
Jennifer C.

This just didn't work for me. While the service was nice and friendly, the food just didn't make the cut. Pepsi products sold here and went with Dr. Pepper because the Pepsi was out...and the Dr. Pepper ended up being flat, so water it is! Rio Grande sandwich, lacked seasoning, fries were overcooked and too crispy, baked beans... just a hard no. There's alot of competition in the StL area for BBQ, so yea...

Wrap
Jennifer H.

My family and I went here for dinner and we were super pleased. We were seated right away and our server was very friendly. The food was delicious. Everyone at everything--there was nothing left! It wasn't super busy, so we just relaxed, took our time eating, and watched the movie that was playing on the tv. The owner?/manager? Was sitting at the bar near us and engaged us--asking us where we were from and giving us some tips about things to see around town. Great vibe, yummy food, and friendly people!

Boneless wings
Ashley N.

Who knew you could go wrong with bar food? Just to put it plain and simple, the food just wasn't all that. You're better off finding another place to eat. My family and I are visiting for a concert. After being in the car for over 3 hours we decided to pick a place we could walk too. Which led us here. Not our first choice but since it was a Monday some of the other places were closed. The service was good, we walked in and were greeted right away, it's open seating and had many different spots to choose from including a section for family if you are not wanting the bar/high top seating. The atmosphere is your typical bar and grill. TVs all over the walls with different sport games going and random knickknacks on the walls. Sister 1 order boneless wings which she said lacked sauce and needed to be cooked a little longer to get that crunch. Sister 2 ordered the pulled pork and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was super watery and lacked in taste it just didn't cut it. She also didn't like the pulled pork, mind you she's only 10 years old, when we told the waiter she didn't like it, the waiter asked if we wanted anything else or to remove it off the bill? When the waiter left a few minutes later, another woman showed up. Which is who I assume to be the kitchen manager approached our table and asked what was wrong with the pulled pork. When my mom stated that she just didn't like it nor did she like the Mac cheese she stated they have really good pork and proceeded to tell us that it's a " personal preference" that she didn't like it and that there pork was good pork. But stated she would take it took it off our tab anyways. Not sure why she had the need to come over and tell us they had good pork and to top it off she was not very friendly during the whole interaction. It was unnecessary comment to be made and unprofessional. My mom and I ordered the Caesar salad wrap.. which I personally could have made a better one at home. As a Caesar salad enthusiast, this was the worst chicken Caesar wrap I have ever had. The fries were good and had lots of seasoning. The one good thing was our waters were filled and sauces were gave.

Burnt end sandwich with fries
Zack C.

Food was spot on, got the burnt end sammich, was cooked to perfection. Service was great everyone was nice even had the owner come over and introduce himself and asked if anything could be improved on etc. Nice atmosphere with plenty of TV's will be back.

Brian G.

I work on the Wash U medical campus and am always on the lookout for new lunch spots. I often walk down to the Grove when I want to get away from work for a while and stretch my legs. I'd seen this restaurant going in a few blocks south of work right on Chouteau. I'm a pretty big BBQ fan so I decided to stop in. The new location looks pretty nice. I actually stopped in before the official grand opening. The staff was very nice when I came in. You order and pay by scanning a QR code at your table. They have a nice mixture of food and alcohol options. I got a pulled pork sandwich and fries. The menu also has nachos, brisket, wings, and a number of other traditional BBQ fare. The sandwich was good and had enough sauce on it to bring out the flavor but not so much that it was soggy. The side of fries were a tad on the expensive side ($5) but it was a very large order. I could have easily split it with another person or maybe even too. They are thicker cut fries which I like, and they were on the crispier side which I also prefer. Overall I had a positive experience and likely will be back again in the future.

Burnt Ends
Tabatha W.

So good! Ordering an old fashioned is hit or miss. Best old fashioned I've ever had! Burnt ends, fries, wedge salad. All 5

Heer S.

cute place for a little post work drink and snack. i got a yummy blueberry lavender cider per recommendation from someone in my group. the fries were delicious with a little cheese dip. pro tip- ask for the fries in one of their signature rubs! they were putting halloween decor up which was fun to watch. lots of tvs for sports watching

Awesome BBQ, Wings and Burger joint with great local craft beers on tap!

Amazing food and great for watching sports! Service was excellent, just speak up for yourself and ask for recommendations.

Brisket, burnt ends and fries

Bootleggin is pretty good. We ordered two combo meals. One with brisket and pulled pork with a side of potato salad. The other with brisket and burnt ends with a side of fries. The brisket had good flavor but it wasn't fall apart moist and delicious. The pulled pork was good but dry. I enjoyed the burnt ends, moist and full of flavor. We both thought the potato salad was great. The staff was friendly and the service was prompt.

Storefront

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2 years ago

The pulled pork was fabulous and the staff could not have been more accommodating. Food is amazing !!!

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1 year ago

This is a great place! Friendly staff, great atmosphere and delicious burgers! Highly recommend.

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Awesome food! The meat is tender and flavorful, and the fries are always very crunchy. You will not be disappointed!

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Ask the Community - Bootleggin Tavern

I really miss the toasted ravioli pizza they used to serve at Bootleggin' Third Gear inside 2nd Shift Brewing. Will Bootleggin' Tavern ever bring it to their menu at this location? It was so good!!!

Do they have private event space?

We do have a room that seats 20-25 people that can be reserved. We also have an option for renting the entire space out for a private event.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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The Stellar Hog

The Stellar Hog

4.5
(353 reviews)
4.0 mi
$$

I love out of the way places that you wouldn't ordinarily go to, but somehow find. The kind of…read moreplace where they serve great food at fair prices. The kind of place where they welcome you and are truly appreciative of your patronage. The Stellar Hog is one of those places. Located in an older neighborhood all by itself, we were greeted by the owner who took us to our table. The first thing you notice is the smell. It's a wonderful BBQing meat smell that makes you can't wait to eat. The place is bigger on the inside than it looks and very clean. There's an outdoor eating area as well. We ordered at the bar, both my friend and I ordering the OG Brisket Sandwiches, mine with Coleslaw and my friend's with fries. No sooner did we sit down did our food come, and WOW, the sandwiches were huge with a pile of perfectly cooked melt in your mouth Brisket. I'm hard pressed to remember any better. The coleslaw was, well, different and hard to explain, but had a tangy mustard kind of taste. The fries on my buddy's plate were fantastic as well. The owner checked on us several times, and obviously valued us as customers. BBQ is huge in St. Louis and the big places and chains get all the attention. But if you want some seriously good BBQ in an authentic down home place, head to The Stellar Hog. Let me know by liking my review.

I had some crazy high expectations... best bbq in the galaxy? Im still on that hunt. But stellar…read morehog is still damn good. They chop that brisket thick! I mean thick! The depth of flavor was astonishing. I mean the rub is superb, and a few flaky ends tasted like beef jerky in the best way possible. Because of the thickness you get a multitude of textures, intensities. Every bite is roller coaster ride. Some send you straight out the milky way--incredible! The sides were good, but both missed the mark on elite for me. I would love to experiment with some others! Oh, and their house bbq sauce is splendid. Like that is legit stuff. Smoky, tangy, a hint of heat serves a reminder it's at the party, but not the reason you came. As far as bbq in stl goes, this is rightfully pitted as some of the most illustrious!

Photos
Bar area
Bar area
Pulled Pork
Pulled Pork
1/2lb. Beef Brisket, Potato Salad and Baked Beans

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1/2lb. Beef Brisket, Potato Salad and Baked Beans
Sugarfire Smoke House

Sugarfire Smoke House

4.3
(2.1k reviews)
6.5 mi
$$

This is easily a five-star review, and it's coming from someone who isn't a true BBQ lover. This…read moreplace was suggested by a local, and I am so glad that I went because it was the best BBQ that I have ever had. I wasn't sure what to order, but the friendly staff recommended that I have the brisket, and I'm so glad I heeded their advice. The brisket sandwich was the most tender meat that I have ever had. I had never had brisket before having that sandwich, now my mouth waters any time I talk about this restaurant! The cole slaw that I had as a side provided the perfect crunch and balance. My mate had the pulled pork sandwich, which was also very tender. I also loved having a variety of barbecue sauces on the table and was able to try each one. Everyone has a preference, I'm sure, but after trying each one, I am completely sold on the Carolina gold. Also, I do not typically have a fountain soda, but the cola that was on tap was some of the best that I'd ever tasted. 10 out of 10 for Sugarfire, and I will definitely be returning the next time I'm in St. Louis!

Father's Day! We stopped by later in the evening, but it is a popular spot most days and…read moreespecially on Father's Day! Join the line when you walk in, when you get to the front of the line, you tell the counter person your order, the guys behind the counter were upbeat and friendly. You move on down the line and pick your sides, proceeding to the register. Paying and getting drink cups. Go pick your table with your food if its ready or just yourself if your food isn't ready yet and they will come out and call your name. Raise your hand and they will bring it over, friendly as can be. At the location in Valley Park my standing order is brisket and tater tots , so good! But I didn't see tater tots on the menu so I switched it up and got smoked salmon with fries, and an order of hushpuppies. I got the salmon and fried up first and both were great. Salmon was smoky and flaky, the fries the hand cut style with skin on. Both tasted great with my favorite coffee BBQ sauce. The hushpuppies came out piping hot with a sweet sauce on the side. The hushpuppies were so good! I will be craving them, thinking about them now, mmm. Line moves quickly, friendly staff, good food, fantastic hushpuppies :)

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The restaurants ambience
The restaurants ambience
Half rack of ribs, beans and green beans
Half rack of ribs, beans and green beans
The SAUCE

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The SAUCE
Sugarfire Smoke House

Sugarfire Smoke House

4.2
(1.7k reviews)
3.9 mi
$$

I took my three daughters here on Memorial Day weekend. They all had cheeseburgers, I had a plate…read morewith ribs, brisket and pulled pork. They got fries and Mac and cheese. The pulled pork is some of the best I have ever eaten and the Mac and cheese was delicious. The burgers are exactly what you should expect from a good BBQ joint. The line to order was different than my kids were used to and we could have done a better job. Luckily it wasn't crowded and the customer service was extremely friendly.

I really like the layout of this restaurant. You get in line, order your food, get a tray, pay, get…read moreyour drink and utensils, and then park yourself at a table. Anything that tastes a little bit more time to prepare they will bring out to you on the floor. Keeps things flowing very well. I got the four bones (baby backs), broccoli salad (premium side, one dollar up charge), and coleslaw. I also grabbed a piece of sweet cornbread with honey butter, and fried green tomatoes with a lemon aïoli. The bones were not rendered as much as I would've liked, the fat layers were still too thick. But the flavor was good. And every table has six different sauces and you can have as much sauce as you want. I tried them all, and my personal favorites were the Carolina mustard, and the Texas hot sauce. The white barbecue was also very interesting. But they're all good. Fried green tomatoes were terrific! Broccoli salad and the coleslaw were pretty tasteless. As was the cornbread. Really wouldn't describe that as sweet cornbread. It seemed a mostly just wheat flour cornbread. The honey butter on its own was really the best side. I'm not unhappy that I came here, but would I seek it out again or try something else in the area? I would try something else in the area. And for that reason I am leaning toward 3 starts. Although the staff is terrific and really hustles here, and that is why I have to bump this up to four stars.

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Interior
Interior
2 Meat Combo: pulled pork and turkey, with potato salad and baked beans
2 Meat Combo: pulled pork and turkey, with potato salad and baked beans
Sugarfire Smoke House

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Salt + Smoke

Salt + Smoke

4.3
(2.5k reviews)
3.0 mi
$$

Hubby and I arrived into St. Louis on a pleasant Saturday afternoon and decided we wanted us some…read morebarbecue! We heard about the DelMar Loop and also heard about this place so decided to drop on by! One of the best parts was free parking! OK, we saw they had a patio and that was perfect for us because our puppy needed a place too. They seated us quickly, brought us some menus, and took our drink order. We both had 0% beer because, you know, it was just 12 noon - a little early for the hard stuff! We both ordered some barbecue! I ordered the brisket and pulled pork, along with the potato salad and chili! OK before the food review I got it put in a great word for the waitress. She was very friendly, and gave us some good pointers on things to check out while in town - very cool. Oddly enough, we were the only one sitting on the patio, even though it was a very pleasant day, indeed. When the food came? I thought the brisket was a little odd because it wasn't chopped. It was cut into little cubes but paired with one of the sauces? Very nice! And pulled pork was great. The potato salad? Yup! The chili? Yup! The fried bread roll? Well, it was a little unexpected, but it was very nice as well. As we had heard that St. Louis barbecue was uniquely different from any other barbecue, we had to have it! I'm not gonna say it was spectacularly different, but it was good! We ordered a lemon gooey bar for dessert and shared it! Apparently it's a St. Louis thing? Yes! Would we come again? Oh yes, indeed! And you should try it too if you like good barbecue.!

Wow, I was looking for some good barbecue in St. Louis. I knew that shouldn't be hard to find here!…read moreWell, I found a great place on my first try. Came late afternoon, so it wasn't very busy. I sat at the bar, and had phenomenal service from the bartender. But the food is where things really shined. I started the mail with the bacon deviled eggs. They were filled to the brim and super tasty. I got the two meat combo. With ribs, bologna, slaw, and cream corn. Everything was absolutely amazing. The baloney, with a fresh chowchow and Stone Ground mustard, was one of the best barbecue items I've had anywhere. The slaw some vinegar based and it's very tangy. It was very good. This was a really good barbecue restaurant in St. Louis area. I need to try somewhere else, but it's gonna be hard not just to come back here!

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Salt + Smoke
Deviled Eggs
Deviled Eggs
Salt + Smoke

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Salt + Smoke

Salt + Smoke

4.1
(663 reviews)
3.8 mi
$$

Salt and Smoke is soooo good!…read more I got a side dish and an appetizer and they both delivered! My favorite thing at a BBQ restaurant is trying their BBQ sauces with french fries. So I ordered a side of french fries which were beef fat fries giving it a unique flavor. The titles for the BBQ sauces had me googling them to ensure they weren't too spicey, even with the titles the spice levels weren't too high. I tried them all and settled on Hotangy. I also got the toasted Ravioli which is a must have! It's so unique with the flavors and best fresh! Service: Excellent! My waitress was very attentive and kept my water filled. Reservations Needed: It seems like walk in only. Happy Hour: Available on weekdays from 3pm to 6pm (I came outside this window). Outdoor Seating: There's a patio outside with some seating Parking: Downtown garage and street parking

I hate to give it three stars because my husband and I used to be big fans…read more We lived in University City for a couple years when we first moved here, so we were avid Delmar people. And therefore, Salt & Smoke was a regular treat for us. Who doesn't love those giant popovers? But back then, there was only the one location. Eating here was an experience. You sat down and KNEW it was going to take an hour and a half because everything was made fresh. It's not like that anymore. And to be completely honest, we were in somewhat of a rush so I did appreciate that everything came our quick, but.... The meats had obviously been sitting around for awhile and not fresh. The mac n cheese had that great flavor I remember, but again, I could tell it wasn't fresh. And the biggest dissapoinment, which is what I was looking forward to, was the popover. It was cold. And had obviously been sitting around all day. We sat at the bar and service was great. The bartender was fantastic, and took really good care of us. Food was super quick. But it seems they've given up quality for quantity and time.

Photos
Dining room
Dining room
Falafel Burger Vegetarian Fries Side
Falafel Burger Vegetarian Fries Side
Berry Sour Beer and Uncle's Cocktail

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Berry Sour Beer and Uncle's Cocktail
Little Lucy

Little Lucy

4.2
(41 reviews)
0.5 mi
$$

Very, very cutesy, quaint restaurant. When my friend and I arrived, it was open seating at the…read moretime, so we just grabbed some bar seats in front of the kitchen area bc all the tables were sewed up. The space is pretty tiny. There are only about 12 to 13 seating options, with only about 5 or 6 of them being non-bar height options. Nikki was our server; she was awesome, helpful & attentive! Everything is a la carte. Boooooooo! Lol. I'm not a huge fan of restaurants that serve a la carte. But whatevs. I started with the Charleston drink. It was good and strong; came out in a fancy box w a lil smoke. It was semi dramatic, lol. We decided to order the collards and spinach artichoke dip to start with. It was good. It gave spinach and artichoke dip for the most part. The seasoned saltine crackers that accompanied that were not my favorite, but not the worst, & we had to ask for more to finish the dip (we were unexpectedly charged for them -_____-). I wish it was pita bread or pita chips instead, but I guess the crackers are Lucy's special touch. We finally decide on food; she got the catfish po boy, I got the brisket sandwich. She said her sandwich was FIRE but I didn't try it so I can't speak to that unfortunately. My brisket sandwich was ok; it had queso on it and it was kinda cold which was wack. The sandwich was a decent size for sure, I just could have went for a different bread personally. The ciabatta bread overpowered the actual meat. I asked for bbq sauce to dip and eat pieces of the brisket. I want to come back and try the Brussels and catfish po boy myself.

We kicked off the evening at Little Lucy, the diner-meets-cocktail-bar brainchild of a…read moretwo-restaurant concept in the Grove, and naturally, we had to try both. Because who just eats at one place when you can aggressively commit to 2 places? At Little Lucy, I ordered The Charleston, which is their smoked old-fashioned, and yes, it comes with a whole dramatic tableside smoke show. It's like dinner theater but with bourbon. It tasted like a campfire if that campfire also happened to major in mixology. Alongside it, we got the collard greens and artichoke dip, which was creamy and earthy. Loved it?! Apps/drinks at Little Lucy. Dinner at Lucy Quinn. Be strategic!

Photos
The perfect size and weight glass to me
The perfect size and weight glass to me
Little Lucy
Little Lucy

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Bootleggin Tavern - bars - Updated July 2026

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