The Cafe Smok N Pi Story
In the Fall of 2019, the owners of Cafe Telegraph in Lemay purchased the building that formerly housed the “Off the Hook” seafood restaurant on Highway 21 in De Soto, MO.
The building was an empty shell. There was no kitchen equipment or dining room tables. It had sat vacant for several years.
Throughout the winter of 2019-20 the building was remodeled into Café Smok N Pi, a barbeque and pizza restaurant.
A covered concrete deck was built off the back of the building for two smokers
Kitchen equipment was installed.
And the dining room was remodeled with partition walls and booths installed in the large open room
Cafe Smok N Pi opened on February 24, 2020 featuring the smoked meats and pizzas that Cafe Telegraph has become known.
However, unlike Cafe Telegraph, Cafe Smok N Pi did not have table service or a bar. Customers ordered and picked up their food at the counter.
In March of 2022, the owners of Cafe Smok N Pi decided to make some changes to create an atmosphere like Cafe Telegraph, a place where customers can get food and drinks while watching a game on TV.
A portion of the dining room was converted into a new, custom built bar and the restaurant was converted from a counter service restaurant into a full service restaurant.
During the summer of 2022, the new bar opened and table service began in the dining room.
Servers now take your order at your table and bring your food and drinks to your table.
A full selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks are available at the bar or at your table.
In addition to converting into a full service restaurant and adding the bar, the plans called for building a covered patio off the side of the building, behind the new bar.
Construction on the new patio started as soon as the new bar was completed.
The patio was completed in late September 2022.
In 2023, the patio was expanded to add additional seating.
An outdoor stage was added in 2025