In January, GoHorseShow.com suggested restaurants in Scottsdale during the Sun Circuit and the article was hugely successful and our readers were seen at many of the restaurants listed. You have since asked for restaurant recommendations in the Lake St. Louis area for the March To The Arch horse show and we are more than happy to oblige.

These recommendations vary from inexpensive to pricey, super casual to a little dressy, and really close to worth the drive. We have listed mileage to each restaurant from the National Equestrian Center (6880 Lake Saint Louis Blvd, Lake Saint Louis, MO). If you are traveling from your hotel, please plan accordingly.

Donatelli’s Bistro
1 minute / .02 miles
8653 Highway N
Lake St. Louis
636-561-6966

Donatelli’s Bistro serves good traditional Italian food in a pleasant atmosphere. They have a fairly large lunch and dinner menu which features pizza, pasta, chicken, seafood and steak. The best thing Donatelli’s has going for it is LOCATION! They are literally across the street from the horse show – so close that you could walk. There’s a nice bar you can sit at if you have to wait. This Friday and Saturday night they will have live music. Opens at 11am and serves until 10pm during the week and 11pm on Friday and Saturday.

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant
3 minutes / 1.5 miles
6125 Ronald Reagan Drive
Lake St Louis, MO 63367-2678
636-561-7222

This is a local chain that serves traditional Mexican fare and beverages. Although we haven’t been to this exact location, the food at El Maguey is typically excellent and inexpensive. The service is known to be quick.

Starbucks
3 minutes / 1.5 miles
6319 Ronald Reagan Drive
Lake St Louis
636-625-0712
Big horse shows mean early morning caffeine fixes. Fortunately, the closest Starbucks is just a few minutes away. Located near the Wal-Mart (SR-N and Hawk Ridge). Opens at 5:30 am during the show except for Sunday which is 6am.

BC's Kitchen
4 minutes / 2 miles
11 Meadows Circle Drive
Lake St. Louis
636-542-9090

Opened last year, BC’s Kitchen is one of the new, hot restaurants in the area and it couldn’t be much closer to the horse show! BC is Bill Cardwell whose Cardwell’s At The Plaza has been a staple for years in the upscale Plaza Frontenac area of St. Louis. Diners now rave about BC’s Kitchen and the reviews are glowing. It’s an attractive, neighborhood restaurant which serves fresh and creative beef and seafood. They have an extensive carry-out menu as well. Open for Lunch and Dinner, Monday through Thursday 11:15am to 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday 11:15am to 10:30pm and Sunday 11:15am to 8:00pm. Happy Hour Sunday through Friday 4:00pm to 6:30pm.

Bristol Seafood Grill
7 minutes / 4 miles
2314 Technology Dr
O'Fallon
636-625-6350

The Bristol Seafood Grill is located in the same parking lot as the Hilton Garden Inn and is one of the nicer restaurants in the area where you are certain to run into horse show people. They serve the freshest seafood and prime steaks in a comfortable and upscale setting. Jeans and boots are fine here although you might want to knock the dust off a little. There’s a nice bar that serves food as well and has happy hour specials during the week from 4pm to 7pm. Lunch served 11pm to 2pm and dinner until 10pm except for Sunday which is until 9pm.

Seamus McDaniels West
10 minutes / 5 miles
7434 Village Center Drive
O’Fallon
636-561-8089

Seamus McDaniels West is an Irish Pub in the nearby Winghaven community whose sister restaurant has been a St. Louis fixture since 1985. The menu has lots of variety but they are known for their burgers, chicken wings, reuben sandwich and prime rib. Open from 11am to 9pm.

Stefanina's Pizzeria & Restaurant
14 minutes / 11 miles
8645 Veterans Memorial Pkwy
O’Fallon
636-272-3499

Stefanina’s is a family style and family run restaurant known for the best pizza in the area. Fans rave about the old St. Louis style pizza which has a thin crust. They also have pastas, chicken, seafood and steaks but go for the square cut pizza. Open from 11am to 10pm.

Piggys Bar BQ
15 minutes / 11 miles
101 West Pitman Street
O’Fallon
636-272-7444

Piggy’s serves the style of bbq that has made Kansas City famous. No worries that KC is three hours west, owner Gary Hellyer is from Kansas City and brought his famous rub and sauce with him. Piggys was recently voted by patrons to be the Best BarBQ in Northeast Missouri for the second straight year. Piggy's meat is cooked slowly in a smoker on low heat over a period of hours. Three sauces - hot, sweet and smoky - are available and served on the side, not on the sandwich itself. Friday night is full slab Friday – a full slab of K.C. style spare ribs for $14.99. 11am to 9pm. Monday-Saturday, 11am to 8pm Sunday.

Annie Gunn's Restaurant
19 minutes / 15 miles
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road
Chesterfield
636-532-3314

Annie Gunn’s is considered one of the very best restaurants in the County and is well worth the drive. More expensive than most restaurants in the area, the quality and service are outstanding. The diverse menu places its emphasis on meat offering a variety of steaks including Fillet, Ribeye, Bone in Chop, Tenderloin and New York Strip. In addition they offer Lamb Chops, Duck, Naturally Raised Chicken, Lobster and Fish. With over 700 wines to choose from, Wine Spectator magazine awarded its coveted "Award of Excellence" on Annie Gunn's, one of only five restaurants in the entire state of Missouri to receive such an honor. Note: smoking is allowed in the dining room. Tuesday thru Thursday 11am to 10:30pm, Friday thru Saturday 11am to 11:30pm, Sunday 11am to 9pm.