Spare Rib Inn — Restaurant in Steelville

Don't go for the flashy burger place across the street. I haven't been there but I was about to when Pamela and I noticed the unassuming little place hiding on the opposite corner of the square. Upon closer inspection we discovered it was called The Spare Rib and we were sold. We walked in and the place was full of locals which, to me, is always a good sign. Our server called out "Just seat yourselves" from the back counter and came up to us in her Star Wars t-shirt to promptly get our drinks ordered. The menu was the same type of no frills, down home, selection offered by mom and pop restaurants and cafes that have been continuously operating for 50 plus years in small towns across the nation: country fried steak, grilled pork chops, liver and onions, homemade pie. These are solid, proven classics. I just love that comfort food! Pam got the special which was a monstrous ham steak smothered in BBQ sauce and I had a ten ounce, cut-unspecified, medium steak. The food showed up quickly and was expertly cooked. Even the most extravagantly presented fine dining plate is pointless garbage if it's not cooked well right? Something as simple as a chicken breast can be one of the best things you ever ate if the person who makes it knows what they're doing and the lady behind that little kitchen window was a professional, I know good cooking because I worked every kind of kitchen job from fast food to made from scratch to fine dining for 16 years of my life and I learned a few things lol. I digress, just take my advice and eat in at The Spare Rib if you're in Steelville Mo and you're hungry. You'll get what the menu says you'll get and it'll be well prepared then brought to you while it's still hot by a friendly person who's actually happy you're there. Our bill was somewhere south of fifteen bucks for a meal that was delicious, accompanied by a really friendly, comfortable experience. I wish I could remember our server's name because I would include a big thank you from my wife and I. We were there on Saturday the 29th and you gave us tips on a few swimming holes to go check out so whoever you are, thank you very much! I hope you get a raise and I hope your regulars start tipping you double what they normally do! Compliments to the Cook...

If I could give this place 0 stars I would giving it 1 star is giving the place too much credit. There is barely any parking to start. We walked in and the place is dirty. The floors look like they haven't been cleaned in months. The food is less to be desired. Do not order a tenderloin because it is misleading. You expect a real pork tenderloin hand breaded but all you get is a piece of frozen processed meat in the shape of a pork chop. We had to wait forever for our food and people that came after us were served first. I would not recommend this place to anyone. The only thing that was missing was cockroaches but I'm sure they were...

Dined in; ordered the biscuits and gravy with no sausage, (I don't eat meat) from a waitress that is not my usual server. Got my food, and Sausage gravy covered my biscuits. When done, I picked the sausage out and put to the side, the waitress took my plate and said nothing. Didn't even offer a refill on my tea. Went to pay, never asked how my food was or anything; just kept talking to her coworkers about tequila and other alcoholic drinks. Got out to the truck and saw she gave me a Senior discount; I am 49 years of age. Lol. Normally I love this place, but this was not the best...