When SmashEms’ Burger Bar unexpectedly closed late last year, two of the owners of neighboring Cuatro Tacos revived the space and the concept under the name Good Neighbor Smash Burger Bar (3169 Morganford). After hosting a couple of soft opening trial runs (including this weekend), Good Neighbor launches regular hours with the full menu on January 21. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Menu
When Good Neighbor owners Ian Nava and Tom Shrout took to social media to ask customers about their favorites from SmashEms’ menu, fans lobbied for the au cheval (a sunny-side-up egg with candied bacon and tomato aioli), the BBQ burger (with the same sauce used for the Korean fried BBQ wings), and the garlic burger (American cheese, fried garlic, and roasted garlic aioli on a garlic-buttered bun). The mushroom and Swiss, vegetarian, and turkey burgers also ranked high in customer support.
The smashburgers were the creation of chef Kevin Haskins, who opened the restaurant in July 2024. Nava says Good Neighbor will bring back the majority of SmashEms’ beloved items. He and Shrout will also put their own stamp on the menu, offering sides such as loaded fries and onion rings, rotating in new smashburgers and offering sides over time. “A chiliburger would be amazing,” Nava muses.
Nava says crossover dishes with Cuatro Tacos’ kitchen are also in the works. One early burger brainstorm is a patty topped with birria and a special sauce. The Cuatro Tacos culinary team has been instrumental in getting the Good Neighbor kitchen up and running. It helps that they all know their way around a grill, having perfected tacos, quesadillas, and burritos using multi-generational family recipes from the Michoacán region of Mexico.
The bar menu is also a work in progress. The goal, Nava says, is to offer a wide enough menu that customers are satisfied whether they want with a local beer on tap, a PBR, an espresso martini, or a CBD beverage. He’s also adding new cocktails, including a banana pepper vodka martini. “It has a beautiful taste with a burger or wings,” he says.
The Team
Nava, Shrout, and a third partner, Dorian Avila, opened Cuatro Tacos in October 2025 to fill a gap in Mexican options along Morganford. They had already gained a following through pop-ups at venues such as the soccer-centric Amsterdam Tavern.
The three are restaurant industry veterans with roots extending from South City to Mexico. “We know bars, we know food, and we know people,” says Nava, who has also opened bars in Kansas City and worked in The Grove for nearly a decade.
All three place a deep value on human interaction as an integral part of the hospitality experience. “We’re trying to build customers for life,” Nava explains.
From conversations with residents and businesses around Morganford, they knew that SmashEms would be sorely missed when it closed. “Tom and I jumped, because we wanted to listen to the neighborhood and keep our bond with them,” Nava says.
The Atmosphere
With the whirlwind timeline for reopening, changes to the décor are minimal so far, but Nava says they will gradually add Good Neighbor branding while keeping the vibe of a relaxing hangout.
The biggest changes will be to the patio, which is slated to open this spring with greenery to give it a tropical ambiance.
To expedite ordering, the restaurant will implement an online system for pickup and delivery orders, which will allow the staff to focus on seated customers, Nava says. On game days when they anticipate a large volume, Good Neighbor will ask the outdoor tables to use QR codes for ordering. Customers will be notified when they pick up their food.
The goal is to ease pressure during the busiest times while keeping customers satisfied with the staff’s responsiveness.
“My whole family has been in this industry for a long time, and I learned from them that hard work pays off,” Nava says. “I also learned to treat people how I would want to be treated.”
Good Neighbor Smash Burger Bar
📍 3169 Morganford, Tower Grove South
⏰ 3 p.m.–1 a.m. Mon, Wed, Thu, and Fri; noon–1 a.m. Sat and Sun
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