Tubby’s Pub & Grub

Great little place for food and drink. Double bonus if you also want to bowl before or after eating! New York strip was pretty good and well cooked, but the sides are canned veggies or lack seasoning. A step up from bar food, which is more than I expected from a restaurant inside of a bowling alley.

What a hidden gem! As others have said the steaks are fantastic. Seasoned and cooked to perfection! Would recommend the ribeye.

A few years ago the steaks here were sizzling and very good. We’ve been back twice since and both times a disappointing experience. August 2015 the baked potato was ok and steak just ok. Don’t come here unless you want your food smoked in nicotine as smokers flock here. No longer a steak place to recommend.

Now one would not think that a GREAT STEAK would be found at a bar/​bowling alley; but being new to the area at the time; my wife and I were told over and over again to try the place.
Thankfully they have a little side area just for dining that is no smoking (I think) and completely separate from the bar and bowling alley (other side of the kitchen I think… perfect!), though if the TV isnt on then one can clearly hear the pins dropping nearby. No big deal, really. Do not expect any sort of fancy tables, chairs, walls, etc… which I LOVE about this place… wolf…err, cow in sheep’s clothing… lol. It looks pretty, well… old, and not really in a good way, but the chairs are at least comfortable… and there is plenty of room, unlike other places that cram as many seats as possible into a given space. I’ll take comfort and good food over «ambiance» any day of the week.
My wife went with the sirloin I think; I as ALWAYS, go with the ribeye. BOTH were absolutely FANTASTIC, served on the platters they are seared in still sizzling. Now I know to let the meat rest at least a few minutes, so no big deal there either really. It left me time to get the obligatory baked potato opened up and seasoned and buttered to my liking. Health food this is NOT, but it is worth the extra «work out time».
Until *I* had «found» Tubby’s (lol), I NEVER ate steaks out, too many lessons learned the hard, tough and chewy way; too many cuts of meat that were «not as advertised», too many arguments with management about the difference between ribeye and FLANK… yeah, dont even get me started on the «chain» Steakhouses… err Stake houses…
Honestly never tried anything else but the «Steak Special» at Tubby’s. Standard soup or salad… appetizer. I always got the soup… hit and miss there, but knowing that wonderful steak is coming… who cares right??? I have lost count of how many times we have gone there, but it was easily twice a month or more for a while… not too kind to waist line though.
My only real complaint is that prices went up considerably… as they have everywhere, I know. But we used to be able to leave there for under $ 50, including a very healthy tip… now its more like $ 60 to $ 65. Yes, I have finally found a place to eat steak out, but if it gets any more expensive, I will definitely go back to my stay at home policy. After all, I know how to cook a steak how I like it… its just nice to not have to sweat doing so… lol.
All and all, I am sure we will be back… fantastic servers and bussers too, hence the ALWAYS «healthy» tip, regardless of price hikes. The «Special» is only Tues through Thursday if I remember correctly though. Last trip I think it was $ 19.95 for sirloin or ribeye… first trip it was like $ 16.95…an absolute steal… great while it lasted, now… its still a good steak, just not as great a deal. I still recommend to friends and family…

Great steaks and burgers. Family owned and operated. It can get smokey here, but it’s St. Chuck and smoking is allowed all over this area.
Probably some of the best bowling lanes in the area.
Free Wi-​Fi too.

This review is just for the steak. They are the best in St. Louis area. Not even joking around. Just to let you know, you are eating in a smoke filled bowling alley bar.

Went on a Monday night, me and my friends go there once a week. Bartender wouldn’t serve us because «she didn’t know us» and threw a huge fit. Never going back.

Small restaurant. Somewhat plainly decorated. Delicious food. Great service as well. We sat in the non smoking section and were a little concerned because you could smell smoke in the hallway but could not detect smoke from were we sat. I’ve heard they get packed but they were slow that night due to Fish Friday. Reasonable pricing (these days anyway). Steaks cooked perfectly and we both agreed they were one of the best flavored we’ve ever had. Not one thing I could nit pick about. Looking forward to their prime rib this weekend. A great little unknown gem of St. Charles.

Best steak in St Louis!

Yum Yum Yum! If you want a steak, go on Thursday nights for their Sirloin special. One of the best-​tasting steaks I’ve ever had. Love the mushroom /​onion side, although it’s an additional cost. Staff is super friendly and willing to answer any question.
I have tried other items (fried chicken, sausage nachos, and pork tenderloin sandwich). They’re all just okay. I don’t think I’ll stray again from the wonderful steaks.
Another high five for serving Diet Dr. Pepper.

Tubby’s Pub & Grub is the best kept steak secret in the Greater St. Louis Metro Area! Hidden inside of Plaza Lanes Bowling Alley, Tubby’s serves up amazing steaks at awesome prices! Be forewarned, the bowling alley and the main pub are smoking but there’s a separate non-​smoking dining room. You may just get a little exposure on your way in. Deal with it. The steaks more than make up for a little post-​meal cigarette smell clinging to your hair and the ventilation in the non-​smoking room is excellent. If they ever go smoke-​free, I’ll change my 4 Stars to 5. Food is a 5 but considering the dive atmosphere of the pub side and the bowling alley, I just can’t go all the way.
Service is attentive and friendly and you will not wait for your drink to be refilled. The NS dining room is not huge but adequate, probably 10 – 12 four tops although don’t complain if there is a larger table or two. I’m so distracted by my meal that I don’t count tables closely. All I know is that there is enough room between tables that I don’t feel crowded. Kids are welcome but please, people, it’s a small dining room so teach your children to stay in their seats or risk my Stare of Death! MY KID is the one being quiet, polite and attending to the table conversation.
There is usually a menu listing the specials of the day. I have ordered from it before, when they had crappie listed, and I was quite pleased but what I really go here for is steak. An aside: for appetizers, you really can’t miss with Tubby’s Famous Sausage Nachos. It’s tortilla chips, provel, breakfast sausage, and green chili peppers. This is totally gringo Mexican but you will LICK THE PLATE! Don’t order them if you aren’t ravenous, though, it’s a huge, must-​share portion and you don’t want to fill up before the star of the show, the steak. I’ve also had their fried mushrooms, which were quite tasty but not unlike any other really good fried mushroom in any other bar/​pub/​restaurant in the area.
I’ve had the NY strip and the Delmonico Ribeye and tasted the filet. (They also have a Porterhouse but I haven’t tried that one yet.) While I love all three cuts, my husband prefers the strip while I like the well-​marbled ribeye. I always order my steaks rare and they never fail to bring them to me just that way, which at Tubby’s is a warm but very red center and brown seared exterior. Yes, I love it when the juices run red! The steaks literally melt in your mouth. They are served with a butter sauce and seasoned with salt and pepper. There will be a butter puddle all over the cast iron serving platter! This is extra wonderful if one of your «steak and two sides» included a baked potato. There is plenty of butter and steak juice to dredge the potato in, making more butter and sour cream simply, well, delightful. (You thought I was going to say unnecessary, didn’t you?!)
Sides: soup of the day, dinner salad, baked potato, sauteed onions, french fries and sauteed mushrooms. You get two. I’ve had soups, salads, fries, baked potato and the mushrooms. Sauteed onions just aren’t my thing so I simply can’t comment on those. The soups I’ve had have been pleasing and didn’t taste canned (I didn’t inquire to find out if they are homemade), salad is good with an iceberg/​spring mix and the usual veggie suspects. Baked potato is always a pleasure and the mushrooms were delightful, nicely cooked, retaining a bit of moisture and sucking up the butter pool.
Prices: The steaks range from $ 17.99 to $ 19.99 although a small NY strip is available for $ 13.99. I love steak too much to get a small so don’t ask how big small really is. The most awesome thing, far eclipsing the fact that these are already great steak prices that include two ample side dishes, is that Tubby’s has steak specials Tuesday-​Thursdays nights (and possibly lunch as well but don’t quote me on lunch)! Tuesday night is the ribeye, Wednesday is the filet and Thursday is the large strip, all with two sides and costing you only $ 12.99. I have died and gone to steak heaven!
PS: I’ve heard their pizza is great. No way am I going to order that with these steaks! Someone else can post about the pizza.

Stopped by for lunch today and the place was completely empty (around 1pm). A middle-​aged couple and older gentleman were seated about 15 minutes afterward.
I ordered the steak sandwich (layers of sliced beef, grilled onions and peppers, topped with white cheese), which came with fries.
The menu is typical bar fare, open face ham and cheese and club sandwiches, burgers, pork tenderloin, soup, etc.
The hostess informed me that they were out of the hoagie rolls typically used for this type of sandwich. They substituted a kaiser roll, which hopefully held the same amount of steak and cheese goodness. The fries were your standard crinkle cut and pretty disappointing (both in size and quantity).
The bartender who took my order was extremely nice and courteous.
The restaurant is directly attached to a bowling alley, so if you’re looking to put in a few frames, you’re in luck.

I ate here with a buddy a few years ago and will say the food is much better than I expected, especially since it is in a bowling alley!
He swears it is the best cheap steak money can I buy. I don’t disagree. The service was good as well.