Dog Prairie Tavern in St. Paul, MO 10-7-2022

 I had read online that there was some good bar food at some of the small town taverns around O'Fallon in places like Old Monroe, St. Paul, etc.  Last Friday we didn't want to spend a lot of time going somewhere and waiting for a place to sit, so we drove north of O'Fallon on Hoff Road straight up to St. Paul and went to Dog Prairie Tavern.

It is a very typical small town dive bar.  When we arrived at about 6 p.m. there were probably a dozen guys (mostly between 55-75) drinking bottled beer and talking baseball.  The Cardinal game had just ended and we had blown a lead and everyone was angry.

We didn't even know where to sit or what to do.  We kind of walked in and stood in the middle of the room.  A kindly waitress came over and had menus.  We went to a long row of metal tables and sat at the end.  The menu showed a variety of typical bar food.  I ordered a fish sandwich and onion rings.  Mike ordered a burger and tater tots (loaded).  It was just after 6 p.m. so happy hour was over, but Mike ordered a draft beer any way.  It came in a smallish plastic cup.  He ended up having a few beers (I stuck with Sprite).  Even though we left at 7 p.m., they gave him his beers at "happy hour" cost the whole time ($3 a beer...which is cheap).

The food is served on paper plates.  The food was good but not great.  I liked the onion rings, but the fish was just "typical,"  there was nothing special about it.  

Mike said his burger was fine, but again...nothing special.  He had them load his tots with beer cheese, jalepenos, sour cream, etc.  He said the cheese must have run off right away, because it was difficult to find. 

The people were nice, the place didn't smell (like some dive bars do).  There was a large outdoor seating area (which I think is a BIG draw on nice days).  They also have sand volleyball in the back and I think they have tournaments.  

The food was just fine.  Now I know.