FOR BIG STEAKS On The Farm

GOBBLER’S ROOST

24327 E. Old Town Road, Nevada, 417-448-4853, gobblersroostrest.com

When we heard that a farm (which is also an event venue, a rentable cabin and a restaurant) offered a reservation-only five-course dinner that is popular enough with the locals to regularly sell out, we knew we had to check it out.

The spot is called Gobbler’s Roost, and if you’re a steak person—or anyone who likes comforting food in a homey atmosphere—you might want to check it out too. Recently 417 designer Grace Chipley and photographer Leah Stiefermann visited, and they both came home stuffed and happy.

The menu here leans heavily on steaks made from cattle raised on the farm—in fact, you can spy the cattle as you drive up on the dusty dirt road and gravel drive that lead to Gobbler’s Roost. But there are seasonal perks too. If you visit in the spring, you can see the restaurant surrounded by blooming flowers. And when morel mushroom season is in full swing, they serve a morel soup that regulars race in to get a taste of.

The menu when Grace and Leah visited featured an appetizer of alfalfa sprout, pickled carrot and candied bacon; broccoli-cheddar soup a simple tossed salad; an entree protein of your choice with green beans and a twice-baked potato; tiramisu for dessert; and freshly baked bread. The soup was Leah’s favorite. It managed to be super-creamy without feeling heavy. She was a big fan of the candied bacon from the appetizer course as well. Not a steak-eater, she opted for the salmon entree. It was tasty, but you can tell steak is the owners’ passion. In fact, Grace raved about the KC strip steak, which came as an over-the-top huge portion (hello, leftovers!) but featured a delicious charred crust and a perfectly medium-rare preparation. It was the star of the meal for sure.

Leah and Grace agreed the homemade tiramisu was to-die-for, with an incredible flavor but not too much sweetness. They said it was the perfect ending to a big meal.

Inside, the dining room has a cabin vibe with decor that leans more homey than stylish. The space features little quirks like drinks menus presented on the sides of wine bottles (that include a decent wine selection plus cocktails and moonshine lemonade). And more than any other spot on our list, a meal at Gobbler’s Roost feels like dinner at an old friend’s house. Leah adored owners Kent and Kathy Abele and their super-sweet personalities that made her feel at home. And the farm setting made Grace feel like she was an old-timey ranch hand coming in from a long day’s work to a big home-cooked meal.—Katie Pollock Estes, Grace Chipley and Leah Stiefermann

Snack Stop Creator Delights

1303 E. Broadway St., Bolivar, 417-326-8337, creatordelights.com

If you head to Gobbler’s Roost via Bolivar, make a stop for homemade sweet and fizzy sodas, Italian cream sodas, coffee drinks and more at this sweet little candy and drink shop. It’s the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth, and you know the kids will love it too.

Side Trip

LAKEVIEW TRAIL at Stockton Lake State Park, 19100 S. Highway 215, Dadeville

Walk off those sweet sips and work up an appetite for your huge steak dinner by taking a stroll around beautiful Stockton Lake. The Lakeview Trail offers peaceful and scenic views of the sprawling waterway. You might even spy a sailboat out on the water.

Side Trip

DUNNEGAN MEMORIAL PARK

601 W. Forest, Bolivar

After you order your treat from Creator Delights, drive over to Dunnegan Memorial Park for a peaceful place to sip and enjoy it. The park is known for its small, scenic lake that lends lovely views. Dunnegan Memorial Park is also home to wildlife like geese, swans and even brightly colored peacocks.