Podcasts / Arch Eats / ‘Arch Eats’ Podcast: Best BBQ in St. Louis

‘Arch Eats’ Podcast: Best BBQ in St. Louis

In the spirit of grilling season, George and Cheryl perform a draft for their barbecue dream team, choosing the best spots in St. Louis for brisket, ribs, pulled pork, wings, chicken, turkey, side dishes, and more.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts20240306_CherylBaehr_GeorgeMahe_0531.webp

It’s grilling season in St. Louis! In this episode, hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr dive into the world of St. Louis barbecue. Instead of simply naming the best spots, they conduct a draft to assemble their ultimate barbecue dream teams, selecting their top choices for ribs, brisket, side dishes, and more. Along the way, learn about the history of St. Louis-style barbecue and how the scene has evolved over time. Tune in to discover which smokehouses make it to their dream team lineup. Listen and follow Arch Eats on Apple PodcastsSpotify, YouTube, or wherever podcasts are available.

Cheryl: You were standing in line, but it feels like a party.

George: It was a party. Everybody was making friends. There was a guy, I remember one time, the line was 45 minutes long and he ordered an Imo’s pizza while he was standing in line. The Imo’s pizza arrived, and he opened it up and shared it with his linemates.


This episode is sponsored by South Grand Cultural Alliance and supported by Westport Plaza.

The South Grand Dine Around Restaurant Crawl takes place on Thursday, June 20. Get your taste buds ready to eat around the world within five blocks, as you sample foods from 20 of South Grand’s restaurants and bars. For more details, visit southgrand.org.


Have an idea for a future Arch Eats episode? Send your thoughts or feedback to [email protected].

Hungry for more? Subscribe to our Dining newsletters for the freshest coverage on the local restaurant and culinary scene. And follow George (@georgemahe) and SLM on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

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About The Hosts

George Mahe

George Mahe

George Mahe has spent most of his life immersed in the restaurant industry, owning and operating establishments before delving into food journalism. He began reviewing restaurants for St. Louis Magazine 35 years ago under the pseudonym “Arnie Boye” (a tribute to his dog) and became the magazine’s first dining editor in 1992. His fair and balanced approach spawned a local restaurant consulting company, and further ventures in ownership. In 2006, he returned to SLM. George spearheads the magazine’s dining coverage, curates the weekly Dining Out newsletter, and co-hosts the Arch Eats podcast. George lives in University City with his wife, Suzi. Send your dining questions to [email protected].

Headshot of Cheryl Baehr

Cheryl Baehr

Cheryl Baehr has been telling the story of the St. Louis dining scene since 2013, drawing upon her decades-plus experience in the industry and her passion for food and the people who make our city so delicious. A graduate of the University of Missouri St. Louis and the University of Denver, Cheryl left a career in government in Washington, DC to return to her hometown to write about food, first as longtime dining critic for the Riverfront Times and now as a staff writer, co-host of the Arch Eats podcast, and editor of the Dining In newsletter at St. Louis Magazine. When she’s not celebrating the St. Louis food scene, you can find this proud Florissantonian and recent University City expat sipping on coffee at her home in Wildwood with her daughter, Coretta, her partner, Nick, her step-dog, Van, and her beloved Great Pyrenees, Chloe.