Annie Gunn's   

You can only find fresher steaks on a farm. Annie Gunn's has a loud, casual atmosphere and attracts a lot of West County folk. It's attached to the Smokehouse Market, an independent store that's been smoking its own meats since Chesterfield was all farmland and gumbo. The market, owned by the same couple that owns Annie's, supplies the meats for some of the best steaks in St. Louis. In addition to steak, you can get chicken, pork and sandwiches. The sandwiches and lunch selections are much more affordable than the dinner entrees. The place can get very crowded, especially on weekends, and the wait can be as long as two hours. Reservations are only available for about half the tables and are taken weeks in advance. A few private dining rooms are available for more intimate conversation. Annie Gunn's was one of only two St. Louis restaurants to recieve a 2004 ''best of award of excellence'' from Wine Spectator Magazine, indicating the depth and quality of its wine selection. This award is usually reserved for restaurants offering more than 400 wine options. Construction in 2005 enclosed both outdoor dining patios for Annie Gunn's and Smokehouse Market; an additional 6,000 square feet was also added between the two. -- Jennifer Dockery