Saint Louis to Arkansas in July

Ill be flying in to ST. Louis in July, staying one noght then driving to Arkansas...On the return trip Ill be departing STL, and taking in a Cards game...any ideas first off on places to stay, and of course awesome food on my route...all help is appreciated!

Can't beat the venerable Eat-Rite Diner on old Rt 66 in St Louis. I love the place.

For a nice drive in the hills south of the city, you can't beat "the home of the throwed rolls" Lamberts Cafe in Sikeston.

http://www.throwedrolls.com/

Arkansas is a big place. Whereabouts you headed, stranger?

Lots of StL suggestions in the below topics.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=780

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6344

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4553

Are you looking for fine dining or Roadfood-Worthy places in St. Louis?

I personally would recommend Iron Barley as a R-W place. Also, a trip to The Hill would be good.

I don't know where you'll be going in Arkansas, but should you find yourself anywhere near the tiny burg of Ash Flat in the northeastern part of the state, be sure to check out B.J.'s, a.k.a. Meacham's Restaurant. It's on Highway 62, about 1/4 mile west of the junction with Highway 167 (just checked Mapquest). Actually it was featured in a long ago edition of the Roadfood book, and I don't know why it's not still included. The owners' family had a meat mearket in the area for years, and they know their meats -- they serve wonderful thick juicy pork chops, veal chops, etc. They have enormous delicious biscuits for breakfast, but these sell out quickly so you have to get there early. I always make sure to get a side of sauteed fresh mushrooms no matter what else I order, and my 96 year old mother drives there weekly from Batesville, about 40 miles away, for the mushroom soup on Saturdays. I believe they make other soups on other days. There are always specials.

Other than that, you'll find catfish, catfish, and catfish in Arkansas. Every time I go to visit, I can be assured of going out for at least one catfish meal. My mother's favorite venue for this is a place called Fred's Catfish House just east of Batesville, in a former church. She especially likes this restaurant because anybody who is 90 or older gets free food! But the catfish is fresh and tender, the hush puppies are good, and I love the green tomato pickles.