Ian Froeb’s STL 100: From Acero to Whisk, the best restaurants of 2022 |

Beast Craft BBQ Co., Beast Butcher & Block, Beast Southern Kitchen & BBQ • Barbecue, Modern day, Southern

Beast proprietor and pitmaster David Sandusky has hustled through the pandemic. He launched a ghost kitchen area that showcased some of the ideal rooster wings I’ve eaten. For a time, he pivoted his Grove place from its regular barbecue menu to sandwiches, together with a phenomenal choose on Baltimore-design and style pit beef. He appeared on Foods Network’s “BBQ Brawl” competitiveness and, following a stumbling commencing, built it to the finale. That similar spirit has animated Beast because Sandusky and his wife, Meggan, opened the initial Belleville spot in 2014, and it has introduced their signature pork steak, beef brisket, and other prime-notch meats and sides to the head of St. Louis’ barbecue course, wherever it stays. Prior to the pandemic, they launched an formidable dwell-fire cooking software at the Grove Beast — glance for its return from pandemic hiatus quickly — and in late 2020, they debuted a third Beast in Columbia, Illinois, in which you can purchase boudin balls, outstanding fried rooster and additional Southern fare along with your barbecue.

📍 Where by Beast Craft BBQ Co., 20 South Belt West, Belleville • Extra info 618-257-9000 beastcraftbbq.com • Several hours Lunch and meal daily • Pricing $-$$

📍 The place Beast Butcher & Block, 4156 Manchester Avenue • Extra data 314-944-6003 beastbbqstl.com • Hours Lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday (shut Monday) • Pricing $-$$

📍 Exactly where Beast Southern Kitchen area & BBQ, 1280 Columbia Middle, Columbia, Illinois • Extra data 618-719-2384 beastsouthern.com • Several hours Lunch and supper day by day • Pricing $-$$