First Look: Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Peters

A longtime Midtown barbecue joint has expanded out west. A second location of Pappy’s Smokehouse officially opened to the public Oct. 28 at 5246 N. Service Road in St. Peters.

After the pandemic hit St. Louis, the fast-casual Midtown Pappy’s, which opened in 2008, saw a drastic drop in revenue and has since been operating at about a third of what it had been prior. Although that location will remain open, management began looking for a new spot where guidelines were less strict, leading them to St. Charles County, according to John Matthews, managing partner.

The barbecue-centric menu mirrors the original almost exactly; however, there are no fried items like sweet potato fries at the new spot. House-made pork skins and cornbread are available instead. “If we can get to a point where we can invest in a hood system, we would add fried items, but right now we just want to get through to the spring,” Matthews said. 

The 2,800-square-foot space is just over half the size of the original location, and it will soon be decked out in eclectic “rednecky” memorabilia and other décor a la the Midtown Pappy’s.

“People love us for the quality of food and service, but it’s also just a fun place,” Matthews said. “As you’re standing in line, a manager or myself is out giving samples and telling stories. It’s a fun, interactive experience.” 

Check out the slideshow below for a peek at the new Pappy’s, which is open for dine-in service, as well as carryout and curbside pickup.