For 12 years, four things have made Kettelhut’s Smokehouse in Crystal City successful: good food, good service, good atmosphere and delicious desserts.
The family-owned restaurant, located at 1267 N. Truman Blvd., was recently voted The Best Barbecue Restaurant in Jefferson County for the second year in a row.
While the restaurant serves fresh barbecue daily, owner Jeff Kettelhut says that isn’t the only thing that draws in customers.
Kettelhut contributes the restaurant’s success to “good food, good service, good atmosphere… and don’t forget our pies.”
Kettelhut’s mother-in-law, Bobbi Harris, oversees desserts at the establishment and makes a variety of homemade pies.
“We’ve become really well known for our desserts, but all the food here is good,” Kettelhut said.
Kettelhut also said their affordable catering options have become increasingly popular as well.
“Our catering services have really grown in the last five or six years,” Kettelhut said.
Since the food is made in house, Kettelhut said Kettelhut’s Smokehouse can offer catering services cheaper than many other companies.
“I can typically cater for 10-15 bucks a plate,” Kettelhut said.
While Kettelhut has successfully run a barbecue restaurant for 12 years, it wasn’t always that simple.
“I worked in a barbecue restaurant in college, and I did love it just as something to do,” Kettelhut said.
When Bandana’s Bar-B-Q burned down in 2013, he saw an opportunity.
“Bandana’s burned down a few years back, and I told my wife that this place is due for a new barbecue restaurant. Eventually this building opened, and I went for it,” Kettelhut said.
For more information, visit www.kettelhutbbq.com or call 636-543-3296.