The Smokehouse Market and Annie Gunn's

Once nestled in the middle of cornfields, the Smokehouse Market, an unpretentious structure has been reminiscent of its days as the market for the surrounding Chesterfield area since 1937. The store now houses one of St. Louis's most celebrated restaurants, Annie Gunn's. Within its walls, Chef Lou Rook III works his magic, creating irresistible cuisine with a sophisticated country life accent. In keeping with the concept of "foods and wines inspired by the richness of country life," Chef Rook uses the best ingredients and the traditions that are most appropriate to them and imbues them with his own talented creative spin within the rhythm of the seasons.

Annie Gunn's is known for its heartwarming, nurturing and robust dishes that encourage us through another gloomy St. Louis winter. April launches us into the opening rites of spring's tiny lettuces and vegetables from our local farmers. Summer celebrates the month of local produce exuberance with an abundance of tomatoes, corn and the produce that bespeaks "our" American Heartland. Autumn blesses us with bountiful fall contributions of fruits and vegetables that ready us for the upcoming holidays. December finds us as grateful hosts to numerous individual families, friends and office parties sharing Chef Rook’s enthusiasm for bringing exotic and familiar, delicate and homey, rich and refined favorites, discoveries and his inventions to our devoted and deserving clientele.

Our passion for wine is an integral part of the Annie Gunn's tradition. Toward that goal, our consummate proprietor Thom Sehnert has spent most of his life at the Smokehouse Market and his beloved Annie Gunn's, amassing over 800 selections for our wine list.

Every major wine-producing region is powerfully represented in the cellar with superstar producers of France, Italy and America, featuring the finest of our Missouri vintners.

With 40 years of experience and a national reputation for his passion and knowledge of wine, Glenn Bardgett is the perfect complement to the team of Chef Lou Rook, III and owner Thom Sehnert; all of whom have discovered the magic of food and wine and the joys of being at the table together. Glenn is also recognized both as a Certified Sommelier by the American Court of Master Sommeliers and a Certified Specialist of Wine by the Society of Wine Educators.

In addition to sharing advice and instruction to our genuine staff, Glenn is responsible for honing our personal styles and expanding our wine repertoire. We have had, and continue to have, great pleasure in building Annie Gunn's wine cellar and our wine program.

In 2014, for the twelfth consecutive year, the Wine Spectator has awarded our wine list its coveted "Best of Award of Excellence". We have the highest award, with only seven other restaurants in the state of Missouri and only one of two that are listed as “inexpensive.” There are only 849 in entire world to receive such an honor, of which, only 34 are also listed as “inexpensive.”

We sincerely hope that you find enjoyment and comfort savoring the fruits of our continuous passion and labor.