Dalie's Smokehouse offers exceptional barbecue in Valley Park

Sauce 75: the essential St. Louis restaurants right now

We expect delicious pulled pork and ribs from the sister restaurant of both Pappy’s Smokehouse and Bogart’s Smokehouse, but there are plenty of exceptional surprises at Dalie’s Smokehouse in Valley Park.

Their Ultimate Reuben is one of our favorite sandwiches in town: Mild sauerkraut allows both house-smoked beef and pork belly pastrami to star, supported by Swiss and Thousand Island on a strong marbled rye stage. The 11-plus sides include seasonal specials alongside beloved evergreens like Pappy’s classic sweet potato fries, while the mac and cheese luxuriates in a creamy cheese sauce with just a touch of heat and a crunchy bacon-breadcrumb topping. What’s better than the Fire and Ice pickles? Deep-fried Fire and Ice pickles with perfectly crunchy exteriors and addictive sweet-sour insides.

2951 Dougherty Ferry Road, Valley Park, 636.529.1898, daliessmokehouse.com

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The Sauce 75 is a photomosaic of the best in St. Louis dining in 2024. This list is a celebration of the diverse skills, techniques and culinary traditions that meet across our region. In sum, it tells a story about where St. Louis has been, where it is now and where it’s going next. Many great and good St. Louis restaurants have not made the cut. (Seventy-five is a lot fewer than you think!) Restaurants are constantly growing and evolving and go through ups and downs. Newly opened restaurants can take time to find their feet: There are a few exciting new places we’re cheering for, but which we feel haven’t yet fully hit their stride. Read the entire list here.