Dining
Local Faves and Familiar Names: We’re Not Messing Around
From the vinyl booth to the white tablecloth, we’ve got all your dining options covered. St. Joseph’s restaurant scene is diverse and surprising, with local talent set alongside comfy stand-bys. Downtown, check out Cajun cuisine in a warehouse building at Boudreaux’s or a burger at Ground Round. Try a fresh crepe or macaron from Seventh St. Cafe or head east…or chill out in a cozy booth at Geneo’s for homemade calzones. Long-standing names like the D & G Pub, Betty’s Cafe, Barbosa’s, and Fredrick Inn offer local faves in a classic St. Joe setting. Craving a steak? Head to the Hoof & Horn near the St. Joseph Stockyards. This historic gem serves up great steak and some history. If you have a craving for an old favorite, check out our nationally-known options like Cheddar’s, 54th Street and others at the Shoppes at North Village.
LOCAL FAVES
When it comes to local eateries, St. Joseph isn’t messing around. For donuts, check out Gold ‘N Glaze, a nostalgic but hip shop celebrating 50 years and offering gourmet coffee. For barbecue, the First Ward House, opened in 1878, smokes their own meats and has a spacious outdoor deck. Opened in 1918 as a Jewish Kosher deli, the red vinyl booths at Magoon’s Famous Delicatessen offer lunch by day and great music by night — with an eclectic collection of antiques and oddities. (They’re known for homemade ham salad, cheesecake and Reubens.) The Fredrick Inn is a long-time name for steaks and prime rib, and Il Lazzarone brings wood-fired pizzas in an oven shipped here from Italy. Biscuits and gravy? It’s got to be Betty’s Cafe. And we could go on and on … Come to St. Joseph and find your own new favorite.
UPSCALE BUT NOT UPPITY
When you want to celebrate, check out our unique fine dining options. For gourmet private dining in a stunning mansion, call ahead to the J.C. Wyatt House, where the chef-owners bring restaurant experience from Times Square. If your celebration calls for brunch or lunch, try out Seventh St. Cafe, offering homemade, authentic crepes, towering gourmet sandwiches and baked goods. (Unless they’re sold out for the day. Fresh means fresh.) Art fans can have lunch with a view at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art cafe, serving homemade plates in a lovely setting.
COFFEE ANYONE?
Coffee is a big deal in St. Joseph, and that’s how coffee lovers like it. Check out Hazel’s, a local roaster with a cozy, vintage atmosphere and extensive espresso favorites. You’re likely to find plenty of local conversation along with the caffeine. In downtown, Mokaska is reinventing a coffee roasting name from the late 1800s, with a cozy setting and wooden floors in a space that was formerly a downtown grocery store. A coffee shop that couldn’t have a better name in our city, Cup of Joe, is located in the Shoppes at North Village. K.C. Roasterie coffee is a favorite at Gold ‘N Glaze, complete with St. Joe memorabilia. Familiar names like Caribou Coffee, Dunkin Donuts, Human Bean and Starbucks mean you’re never far from your next cup. We’ll drink to that.