Sometimes, going off the beaten path when looking for a restaurant in Missouri yields the best, most delicious results.

Let me paint you a picture. You wake up one morning looking for a culinary adventure, having no real agenda or plan. You're just looking to try something new, something tasty, something different. At the start of your adventure, you're dreaming of white tablecloths and fine dining or maybe even a new-to-you waterfront spot with fresh seafood and cold brews.

You probably wouldn't expect to be eating the most flavorful food of your life in a building that used to be a gas station... would you?

And yet, this is precisely what Bixby Country Store is. This adorable, off-the-beaten-path restaurant in Missouri is located in Bixby, about a two-hour drive from St. Louis. This gas station-turned-restaurant is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Anyone who's eaten here will tell you that it is 100% worth the drive.

Now, the locals don't only visit Bixby Country Store to eat incredible food. This hidden gem in Missouri still operates as a general store! So you're just as likely to encounter a local picking up some supplies as you are another diner! Or getting gas outside, since this cute spot also has two working gas pumps.

If eating food so good it tastes homemade amid the hustle and bustle of a shop doesn't sound like the relaxing meal you had in mind, don't worry. The owners of Bixby Country Store have also turned the caboose next door into a dining room. Simple benches and tables line the log walls of this small dining room. I recommend snagging one of the tables near a window so you can watch the world go by.

If you're looking for down-home cooking, Bixby Country Store is the place for you. Comfort food reigns, with creative daily specials and staples that the regulars can't stop raving about. Word on the street is that the club sandwich at Bixby Country Store is second to none.

The regular menu of cold sandwiches at this adorable Missouri eatery also keeps the locals coming back. There's something comforting about having someone else make you a sandwich that makes it taste just a little bit better, you know?

This is also an excellent stop for breakfast, where biscuits and gravy are the first thing on the menu. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have to look any further before I chose my morning meal: I love biscuits and gravy, y'all.

No matter what meal you decide to visit Bixy Country Store, I recommend stopping at the dessert case before you head back home. Everything looks delicious. However, if home-baked desserts are not your thing, you're in luck. One of the benefits of being a general store/restaurant is a wonderful selection of road snacks... including candy!

If you fall in love with Bixby and want to make a longer trip next time to explore the wonders of the Mark Twain National Forest, we found a stunning cabin rental nearby.