If there’s one thing Missouri is known for, it’s barbecue – melt-in-your-mouth meat with flavorful sauces and dry rubs.

Barbecue is definitely one of Cape Girardeau’s favorite foods, with a variety of restaurants throughout town serving their signature flavors. And two more barbecue places have just entered the scene: Bandana’s BBQ and Mary Jane bourbon + smokehouse. Get the scoop on them both.

 

Bandana’s BBQ

Status: Now open

Location: 156 Vantage Drive

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm, Friday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm

Bandana’s is a staple throughout the Midwest – mainly in Missouri, but also in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky. The menu boasts a rustic flair, offering the most popular types of barbecue – pork, beef, chicken, ribs, turkey and sausage. With sides like baked beans, fried corn and okra, plus desserts like apple pie and root beer floats, a Bandana’s meal is classic Americana at its best.

Try this

For great barbecue flavor, we suggest the classic smoked pork platter. Bandana’s chefs have been perfecting their barbecue technique since 1996, and it’s now a near science. Meat is hand-rubbed with more than a dozen spices, then smoked for 11 to 14 hours. You can’t go wrong.

 

Mary Jane bourbon + smokehouse 

Status: Now open

Location: 1107 Broadway

Hours: Sunday 10:30 am-midnight, Monday-Saturday 10:30 am-1:30 am

A spin-off of Mary Jane burgers & brew in Perryville, this restaurant’s menu includes plenty of barbecue but also expands to add other types of dishes: burgers, fish, salads. The cuisine leans a bit toward the experimental. With items like the Southern Gentleman (grilled bologna, barbecue and slaw on Texas toast), Mary Jane is the place to visit if you’re looking to sample something new.

Try this

Visitors have been raving about the tender and juicy St. Louis ribs. Brussel sprouts and poblano corn bread with maple honey butter provide an ideal complement to the dish. And no matter what entrée you choose, a signature cocktail pairs perfectly with it.

 

Ready to sample what Cape has to offer? Find a complete list of local eateries.