The Retreat at Bogey Creek: New Casual Restaurant with a View near Farmington with Old Friends
- Denelle Smugala
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Big, exciting news! A new restaurant has opened at Bogey Creek, just outside Farmington, and it already feels like a place you’ll want to linger. Bright and airy, with soft music drifting through the space, The Retreat features large windows that frame sweeping views of the golf course. The setting is picturesque and quietly upscale without ever feeling formal or pretentious—welcoming, comfortable, and easy to settle into. Outside, a generous patio offers plenty of seating under big overhead fans, the kind of spot that makes the name feel exactly right— The Retreat at Bogey Creek.
The Retreat at Bogey Creek is open to the public, and it's simply delicious, darling.
Bogey Creek Golf Club is an 18-hole public/semi-private course in Farmington, Missouri, about an hour south of St. Louis. Designed in 1993 by Gary Kern and set on 208 acres of rolling hills between a residential neighborhood and farmland. Featuring bentgrass greens, zoysia fairways, tree-lined holes, and water hazards, the course offers a solid mix of challenge and playability with multiple tee options. Amenities include a driving range, practice greens, a well-stocked Callaway pro shop, golf lessons, and now The Retreat at Bogey Creek restaurant.
Chris Spense is the man with the plan, and all the other goodies.
My name is Chris Spense. In 2004, Joe Scott’s Crown Valley, with its winery and brewery, was raising Angus beef & bison, where I was brought in as Crown’s Food & Beverage manager and led the program for 15 years, including Spokes in Farmington before it closed. In 2021, I reopened Spokes with Steve & Sherri Stroup. The response and warmth were overwhelming! We had so much fun, and that lasted almost four years. Then fate left us homeless again, and Spokes closed again.
Then, almost as if by destiny, new owners bought the Crown Pointe Golf Course—now Bogey Creek. We saw the perfect fit for a new restaurant. My wife Dena and I, with Dr Brian and Donna Gallagher, laid out plans for a new dining experience with a view. The Retreat at Bogey Creek was born.
This new place holds a lot of the old menu and personality from Spokes, but also has beautiful scenery, a huge patio deck and bar, and a great event space for weddings and corporate events. The restaurant and the golf course are open to the public.
We work hard to bring great food, great service, and a great experience—our awesome burgers, bison, and creative specials and desserts make for fun casual dining. We appreciate all the support through the wild ride that it’s been. And we plan to be here a long time! Come see us soon!
Blue Skies cocktail, a Mojito, and an Old Fashioned
The menu features a wide variety of cuisine. There are lighter options like salad and wraps as well as heartier options like a 12 oz Ribeye with two sides. So, if you want a more casual experience, you can have pizza & burgers, or if you want more fine dining, they offer salmon & steak. As partner Chris Spence said, “It’s the best of both worlds.”
Another area where they are aiming to please is the price points. If you want to splurge for a nice meal, then you can certainly enjoy one at the Retreat. However, folks should not assume such a nice restaurant is expensive, because it’s competitively priced—with very reasonable options on the menu.
Pina Colada Cheesecake topped with pineapple and a bright red cherry.
There are about a dozen appetizers on the menu. They have a full bar with happy hour specials. And to complete your meal, they have two special desserts every week. This week's specials are the Pina Colada Cheesecake topped with pineapple and a bright red cherry. The decadent Jumbo Brownie, which is nice & moist with a booze-filled center and topped with a little bit of Heath Crunch.
Nachos with creamy melted cheese, seasoned crumbled beef...
Nachos with creamy melted cheese, seasoned crumbled beef, refried beans, topped with tomatoes, black olives, and jalapeños. Guacamole, salsa, and sour cream on the side. The menu says it’s 9 layers—the perfect stack.
Western Burger smothered in melted cheddar and BBQ sauce, topped with a generous portion of bacon.
Western Burger smothered in melted cheddar and BBQ sauce, topped with a generous portion of bacon. Plated with a big fresh tomato, lettuce, red onion, and dill pickle slices. Our dish was served with whole potato slices that were crisp and crunchy but soft enough to enjoy all at the same time.
Honey-Ginger Salmon and Sweet Potato Fries.
Honey-Ginger Salmon. Perfectly cooked. Seared and moist & tender, with honey ginger sauce that is slightly sweet but not overpowering, served on top as a nice complement to the salmon and making it even more moist—with sweet potato fries.
Fried Pickles and Portabella Mushrooms.
Appetizer favorites include Portabella Mushrooms served with Chipotle Ranch and lightly sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, not to be outdone by the Fried Pickles served with the famous house ranch - a local favorite carried over from Spokes by Chris Spence and his team, who followed him. Both are hand-breaded and served with freshly made ranch sauces that are so delicious you almost want to eat them on everything.
Bison Meatloaf, mixed veggies, and a baked potato.
Bison Meatloaf served with a tangy special sauce comes with two sides. We were treated to roasted vegetables that were lightly sprinkled with parmesan cheese, and the texture was just perfect. Crisp & firm yet warm & soft. And a baked potato with cheese, bacon & butter. The perfect comfort food.
Premium burger steak with rich mushroom gravy.
Wagyu Salisbury, which is an 8 oz premium burger steak with rich mushroom gravy. It’s nice & tender and absolutely delicious—the creamiest, smooth mashed potatoes with the same gravy on top.
Jumbo Cupcake, nice & moist with a booze-filled center. Ahhh!
You don’t need to golf or join a club to enjoy this fun dining experience. Just "Get Out There!" and try it for yourself. You'll be happy you did, promise!
Eat Out There! Walk somewhere. Go golf. Watch the sunset. Do something. Do anything. Get out there, that sunken sofa won't miss you—time's a-wasting!
—Pics by T. Smugala.
Be sure to visit all of our awesome sponsors who make these stories possible!
