Romantic Dining in Historic St. Joseph, Missouri

In a small city rich with history, romantic dining spots abound. St. Joseph, Missouri on the banks of the Missouri River offers many intimate and unique dining experiences for couples seeking a romantic night out.

One of the most romantic spots in the city is Barbosa's Castillo, a Mexican restaurant housed in a former mansion that later served as the headquarters for the local Knights of Columbus before being converted in a restaurant decades ago. The red Romanesque Gothic structure resembles a castle and towers above downtown at 906 Sylvanie. Service is perfect with attentive wait persons and a menu bursting with delicious and authentic Mexican dishes that include chicken mole, burritos, tostados, tamales, and more. The main dining area is beautifully decorated and upstairs, a rooftop garden offers a more intimate option. Walls are decorated with local history memorabilia and much more. Diners feel as if they've stepped back in time in this lovely old home that now serves as one of the city's leading restaurants. It is also family owned and operated.

At the D & G Restaurant located at 1918 Frederick Avenue, one of St. Joseph's major thoroughfares, diners may feel as if they've stepped back into an old time saloon. Dating to before Prohibition, this local restaurant has an old fashioned wooden bar in the main dining room but other dining rooms are also available. Walls here are literally covered with St. Joseph history, everything from photographs of a renowned Madam of a house of prostitution to old advertising signs and much more. The menu offers up a variety of options from steaks to scrappy roast beef and chicken fried steak. There is literally something for every taste and it's all delicious. Dim lighting adds to the romance in this unique and vintage restaurant.

The 36th Street Restaurant doesn't need a fancy name to bring patrons to the door. This upscale restaurant at 501 North Belt Highway has delicious food including steaks and more in a quiet, appealing atmosphere. Share the home made cheesecake for an intimate dessert -its sweet stuff!

Prime Rib tops the menu at the Frederick Inn Steakhouse at 1627 Frederick Avenue but they also offer seafood, wonderful salads, and more. Service is friendly but not intrusive at this popular local spot for dining.

Pan-fried chicken is the favorite menu choice at Galvin's Dinner House at 6802 SE State Route 371 Galvin's is a St. Joseph tradition and they've been serving up their moist, tender, and crispy chicken for generations. Its well worth the wait in the pleasant dining room to enjoy Galvin's chicken with that special significant other. With more than fifty five years in business, it's easy to see why this restaurant remains a favorite.

The Jerre Ann Cafeteria and Bakery is St. Joseph's oldest restaurant at 2640 Mitchell Avenue. Their home style cooking has delighted local residents for decades and the home made bakery goods are the best in town.

Enjoy a romantic German dinner at The Cabbage Roll, an intimate restaurant located at 2641 Lafayette Street in one of the city's oldest districts. Fine German traditional dishes are found here.

The city's stockyard history is next door to the Hoof and Horn Steakhouse located at 429 Illinois in the old stockyards district. The building and restaurant date back to the stockyard's heyday and still serves up the best local steaks. Its old fashioned Western style ambiance is ideal for couples.

Enjoy a taste of Louisiana at Boudreaux Louisiana Seafood House in historic downtown St. Joseph. Located at 224 North 4th downtown, Boudreaux's offers true Cajun cuisine that will warm your insides and delight your taste buds. It's a quiet spot for two to share a delicious meal.

The First Ward House at 2102 St. Joseph Avenue (at the corner of Grand Avenue and St. Joseph Avenue) is billed as the oldest saloon west of the Mississippi River. Originally a bar for hard working men, the First Ward House today is famous for their steaks and barbeque sandwiches. It's a dim lit, quaint atmosphere sure to get romance off to a great start.

An intimate lunch spot - they don't serve dinner - is found at the Albrecht Kemper Art Museum at 2818 Frederick. Housed in another of the city's fabulous old mansions, the café serves up delightful selections in a beautiful area of this fine old former home. Admission to the art gallery is free to diners as well.

The Barnard House 1877 Restaurant located at 1716 Francis is housed in one of St. Joseph's finest old homes. Located in the historic homes district, The Barnard House offers lunches and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings by reservations only. On those nights, the home becomes an Italian trattoria with Chef John DiGiovanni, a Brooklyn New York native with over 35 years experience as a chef. Dinner selections range from chicken piccata to pork Marsala and much, much more. It's an ideal spot for that special romantic dinner.

Out of town visitors and locals alike enjoy Houlihan's located inside the Riverfront Holiday Inn at 102 South Third Street between the Missouri River and downtown. Houhlian's offers quiet, affordable fine dining in a beautifully appointed dining room inside the hotel. King Cut Prime Rib is just one of their specialties of the house.

Feeling lucky as well as romantic? Then it might be time to try the expansive, amazing buffet at Bougainvillea's Buffet at Terrible's Frontier Casino at 777 Winner's Circle in St. Joseph. Located along the very banks of the mighty Missouri River, this buffet is the city's largest with a wide variety of selections and gaming on site!

St. Joseph is a city filled with history and romance, something that the large number of romantic restaurants proves to lovers of all ages!