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Local Cuisine If country cooking wasn't invented in the surrounding Ozark Mountains, it was certainly perfected there. To really enjoy yourself while you're in Branson, then forget about the cholesterol count, bag the diet and dig in to some of the best country food around. The battle cry among most restaurants here is, "If it ain't fried, it ain't food."
Many local diners were steamrolled by the hundreds of new restaurants that seemed to open overnight during the rapid boom in Branson's tourist industry. But the Branson Cafe has been serving up hominy and grits since before Branson had theaters and stoplights—almost before there were motorcars, in fact. Open since 1910, this café in historic downtown Branson has a well-earned reputation as one of the most enduring businesses in town. Although the clientele has changed dramatically since the days when farmers and loggers came for country ribs and collard greens, the menu has pretty much remained the same.
As Branson has grown in popularity, more and more visitors have been pouring off the interstate in cars, motor homes and tour coaches each year. The demand to feed these hungry tourists and get them on their way quickly has resulted in a boom of buffet-style country restaurants. At Docker's, a land-locked, full-sized replica of a Mississippi riverboat, a cholesterol-lover's dreams come true via a 30-foot buffet that is filled to the gills with baked, fried and barbecued meats along with all the veggies you can imagine. To add to the great dining experience, Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass perform here on occasion during lunchtime.
Upscale Dining If you have the urge to splurge, Branson and its numerous fine-dining establishments are prepared to oblige. Dimitri's Gourmet Dining, with its floating dining room and open-air atmosphere, is located in historic Downtown Branson, right on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront. Dimitri's patrons can look out across the emerald waters as they enjoy gourmet Greek cuisine.
The luxurious Candlestick Inn is home to what is perhaps the best view in southwest Missouri. Serving fresh seafood and only the finest aged Black Angus beef, the restaurant has a patio that offers a look into the White River Canyon 250 feet below, where the waters of Lake Taneycomo reflect the Missouri sunsets. The sweeping vista includes the entire city of Branson—a sea of lights after sundown.
The Chateau Grill is a gourmet restaurant enclosed within the Chateau on the Lake overlooking Table Rock Lake. Probably the epitome of luxury dining in Branson, this restaurant drips opulence with its cherry-wood walls, massive granite and marble facades, and tuxedo-clad waiters. Meanwhile, the Atrium Lounge Bar offers an astounding view of the Lake, encouraging guests to take their drinks to the top of the 10-story hotel for a spectacular 360-degree view of the Ozarks.
Inside the carriage house at the Stone Hill Winery gourmet meals are served within this massive historic brick building. The chef there does incredible things with trout, quail, baby back ribs and that ever-popular gourmet fowl, duck.
Moving Experiences If looking out across the lakes and hills is not enough, there are several ways to enjoy a great meal as you ramble through the woods or slide across the waves. Railroad lines were once considered standard-bearers of luxury dining, and the Branson Scenic Railway takes guests back to that era every Sunday night. You will appreciate the soft light of the candles as your train passes in and out of tunnels, creating an exciting, yet romantic setting.
Several outfits offer excursions on the water, but two of them stand out, operating as they do from onboard historic stern-wheeled paddleboats. The Lake Queen stirs the smooth waters of Lake Taneycomo from April through December, offering diners a hearty buffet as they get treated to an entertaining 22-mile tour of the Taneycomo shoreline. On the top deck, you can dance to a live band that effectively drowns out the "chuff, chuff, chuff" of the paddles churning the water. Table Rock Lake's stern-wheeler, Showboat Branson Belle, offers a true dinner-theater experience, as its meals are served by singing waiters and waitresses and a complete show takes place during the cruise against the backdrop of a tree-carpeted shoreline. No alcohol is served onboard, however.
Stepping Out The majority of Branson's visitors are retirees and families in search of a friendly vacation destination. But the local population creates a demand for evening entertainment other than Andy Williams and the Baldknobbers. The dedicated pubs and neighborhood bars are sprinkled very lightly across the city, but they are there. At Beverly's Steakhouse, an open stage beckons musicians every night. Since a sizable portion of Branson's population consists of musicians (both aspiring and professional), the jam sessions here are awesome. The crowd mostly comprises college students who have come to dance and enjoy the incredible impromptu musical sets.
On the ground floor of B.T. Bones Branson Steakhouse, an elevated bar looks across the dining room, although the real action takes place upstairs. The house band has developed a cult following among locals, and they draw a crowded dance floor every night with their country and rock music. On Sunday, bar goers get a chance to take the stage and try their hands at karaoke.
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