Top 3 restaurants in Missouri for business dining

Ramp processes billions of dollars in business expenses across thousands of companies every month. Our unique position in the payments ecosystem provides visibility into actual spending patterns, including restaurant and dining expenditures across diverse industries and business sizes.

Understanding Missouri's restaurant landscape requires examining where businesses actually spend their dining dollars. By analyzing corporate expense data and spending patterns, we can identify the establishments that consistently deliver professional environments, quality service, and the amenities that make business meetings successful. This data-driven approach cuts through marketing claims to reveal where Missouri's professionals actually conduct their business over meals.

Understanding Missouri restaurant industry

Missouri's restaurant sector represents a $15.4 billion market with 6,177 establishments operating statewide as of 2025. The industry employs 285,200 workers, comprising 10% of the state's workforce. This ecosystem benefits from Missouri's 33 million annual visitors who contribute $7.9 billion to the economy. Regional barbecue traditions dominate the culinary landscape, with Kansas City's sweet tomato-based sauces competing against St. Louis's vinegar-based preparations, while German and Italian influences appear in signature dishes like toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake.

Top 3 restaurants for business meals and client dining

Based on corporate expense data from thousands of Missouri businesses, these three establishments consistently rank highest for business dining. The rankings reflect actual spending patterns from companies using these venues for client meetings, team dinners, and professional entertaining—not individual dining preferences or consumer reviews.

Level 2 Steakhouse

Level 2 Steakhouse has served as Branson's premier business dining destination since 2007, operating from the second floor of the Hilton Convention Center Hotel. The restaurant combines sophisticated ambiance with consistent execution, featuring white tablecloth service, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown, and a carefully curated wine program that appeals to corporate diners seeking to impress clients or celebrate deals.

Notable facts: The steakhouse gained national attention after surviving a 2012 tornado that destroyed the hotel, emerging from a $20 million reconstruction with enhanced facilities. Their signature "Cut Club" loyalty program rewards frequent business diners with personalized engraved steak knives displayed in-house—over 3,000 members including celebrities have earned this distinction. The kitchen's proprietary 1600-degree infrared oven technology sears steaks in seconds while maintaining interior tenderness, applied to 28-day aged corn-fed Midwest beef.

Signature dishes:

• Infrared-grilled filet mignon (6oz/$52, 9oz/$64)
• 20oz Angus bone-in ribeye ($72)
• L2 signature meatloaf (ribeye/filet mignon/pork/truffle - $38)
• Pan-roasted king salmon ($58)
• Missouri butter cake (bourbon caramel, raspberries, ice cream)

Best for: Executive-level client dinners, closing celebrations, and formal business entertaining where privacy and prestige matter. The second-floor location provides separation from hotel traffic, while the AAA Four Diamond rating since 2012 ensures consistent service standards that reduce risk when hosting important guests. Private dining options accommodate groups, and the extensive wine list supports both conservative and adventurous selections.

Puttery

Puttery at Chateau on the Lake Resort opened in 2023, revolutionizing Missouri's business entertainment options by combining avant-garde mini-golf with sophisticated dining in a 12,000-square-foot complex. This unique venue offers professionals an alternative to traditional business dinners, creating memorable experiences that facilitate relationship building through interactive entertainment paired with executive chef-driven cuisine.

Notable facts: Designed by award-winning Rockwell Group, the space features interactive projection mapping on dining tables and a central champagne bar with liquid nitrogen ice cream preparation. Executive Chef Marcus Ware's menu emphasizes Missouri-sourced ingredients, while the beverage program showcases local distilleries. The venue's "Chef's Table" experience inside a replica 19th-century whiskey barrel offers seven-course tasting menus with rare Missouri vintages. Food & Wine Magazine recognized Puttery among 2024's "Most Innovative Dining Concepts."

Signature dishes:

• Cast iron bison meatloaf (Missouri bison, hickory glaze - $28)
• Ozark forest mushroom flatbread (morels, chèvre, truffle oil - $18)
• Show-Me State bouillabaisse (Table Rock Lake fish, saffron broth - $34)
• Blackberry bourbon glazed quail (goat cheese polenta - $31)
• Lavender honey crème brûlée (Missouri honeycomb garnish - $12)

Best for: Team building events, creative agency pitches, and informal business meetings where breaking traditional boundaries helps forge connections. The combination of competitive mini-golf and craft cocktails creates natural conversation starters, while multiple themed lounges accommodate groups from 10 to 300. Weekly jazz performances add sophistication, making this ideal for entertaining out-of-town clients seeking authentic Missouri experiences beyond conventional steakhouses.

McAlister's Deli

McAlister's Deli operates 34 Missouri locations, with the Kansas City Plaza flagship serving as a reliable business lunch destination since 2005. This 5,000-square-foot venue balances quick service with quality, offering a 200-seat patio with fire pits and the efficiency corporate diners need when time matters more than formality.

Notable facts: The Plaza location pioneered the "Deli-to-Go" kiosk system enabling app-based ordering with curbside locker pickup—critical for busy professionals. Their "Sweet Tea Diplomacy" campaign reflects serious beverage commitment, serving over 1 million gallons annually in Missouri. The "Farm to Fork" program sources 78% of produce within 200 miles, appealing to sustainability-conscious corporate clients. Food Network featured the restaurant on "Sandwich Kings" in 2021, while Kansas City Business Journal awarded "Best Family Dining" seven consecutive years.

Signature dishes:

• McAlister's Club (turkey/ham/bacon/cheddar/Swiss - 820 cal)
• Kansas City BBQ spud (burnt ends, smoked gouda - 710 cal)
• Missouri River catfish sandwich (cornmeal crust, remoulade - $11)
• Ozark apple salad (candied walnuts, goat cheese - 590 cal)
• Sweet tea (fresh-brewed, gallon size - $7)

Best for: Working lunches, casual team meetings, and last-minute client meals where consistency matters more than ambiance. The Plaza location's patio provides options for weather-permitting outdoor meetings, while Thursday live music creates a relaxed atmosphere for after-work gatherings. Fast service and diverse menu options accommodate dietary restrictions easily, making group ordering straightforward when hosting varied stakeholders.

Tips for business dining in Missouri's restaurant scene

Missouri's business dining culture reflects Midwest sensibilities—relationships matter more than flash. Book Level 2 Steakhouse at least three days ahead for prime 7-8pm slots, especially during Branson's peak season (May through October). For Kansas City meetings, avoid Plaza district restaurants during First Fridays when art crowds create two-hour waits.

Leverage regional pride when hosting out-of-state clients. Order Missouri wines (Norton grape varieties excel), highlight local barbecue traditions, and consider venues showcasing Ozark ingredients. Business breakfast remains underutilized—Missouri professionals often prefer 7:30am meetings over coffee and pastries rather than dinner commitments.

Weather impacts dining logistics significantly. Summer humidity makes patio dining uncomfortable after 11am, while winter ice storms can strand guests at restaurants. Always provide parking validation or rideshare codes, as Missouri's car-dependent culture means most business guests drive themselves. For international visitors, explain that Missouri's 15-20% tipping standard applies even for business meals covered by corporate cards.