Grassroots Garden Lounge

Grassroots Garden Lounge is an upscale cocktail bar and lounge in historic downtown Smithville, Missouri, opened in summer 2024 by Brian and Jacquie Hove (the owners of KoZak’s Laketown Grill). It redefines upscale dining and craft cocktails in the Northland with a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere in a beautifully restored historic setting.

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Description

Grassroots Garden Lounge occupies a prime spot in historic downtown Smithville. Opened by the same husband-and-wife team behind the popular KoZak’s Laketown Grill, it brings a sophisticated, “come-as-you-are” upscale cocktail and dining experience to the Northland. The space features a beautifully restored historic setting with an emphasis on craft cocktails, shareable plates, and a refined yet relaxed atmosphere that has quickly made it a destination for locals and visitors seeking something elevated in the area.

Ownership and history

Brian and Jacquie Hove (owners of KoZak’s Laketown Grill since 2013) expanded their family’s presence in Smithville with Grassroots Garden Lounge, which opened in summer 2024 at 116 N Bridge Street in the historic downtown. The concept was designed to “redefine upscale dining and craft cocktails in historic Smithville,” building on the success and local following of their original restaurant while offering a more sophisticated evening experience.

Menu

Last verified: 2026-06-17 · Source: Grassroots Garden Lounge official site; Scooter’s Bar Journal · URL(s): https://www.grassrootsloungesmithville.com/, http://www.scootersbars.com/2024/11/grassroots-garden-lounge/ · Confidence: Medium

A craft-cocktail-forward program (11+ rotating signature cocktails) anchoring an upscale lounge, paired with elevated small plates. The bar also carries 30+ whiskeys/scotches/bourbons and 25+ wine and craft-beer options. A seasonal cocktail menu rotates (e.g., an Autumn lineup), so specific signatures change through the year. Full per-item descriptions and prices are not published online; items below are sourced from the official site and local coverage.¹²

Cocktails (signature)

• Be My Fire — smoky mezcal hibiscus margarita; the house’s flagship “playful sophistication” cocktail¹
• Shots Fired — cocktail built around smoky depths¹
• S’mores Old Fashioned — seasonal (Autumn) old fashioned served with a flaming marshmallow²
• Zero-proof options — an innovative range of non-alcoholic / zero-proof cocktails¹

Note: cocktail lineup rotates seasonally; additional signatures (e.g., a “Burn Slow” cocktail and an “8:16 AM” martini) have been referenced in coverage but are not confirmed on the current menu.

Food / small plates

• Shrimp Cargot — rich, escargot-style shrimp small plate¹
• Highland Beef Sliders — locally sourced Highland beef sliders¹
• Additional upscale appetizers and shareable small plates rotate alongside the cocktail program²

Prices not published online.

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Sources

• Status verified active 2026-06-23 via Yelp — Grassroots Garden Lounge (Smithville) (accessed 2026-06-23). Updated June 2026, operating at 116 N Bridge St; corroborated by official site.

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Disputes

(None recorded.)

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Footnotes

1. Grassroots Garden Lounge — official site. https://www.grassrootsloungesmithville.com/ — asserts (menu, verified 2026-06-17): signature cocktails “Be My Fire” (smoky mezcal hibiscus margarita) and “Shots Fired”; zero-proof options; small plates Shrimp Cargot and locally sourced Highland Beef Sliders; 30+ whiskey/scotch/bourbon, 25+ wine/beer, 11+ cocktails. No prices published. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

2. Scooter’s Bar Journal — Grassroots Garden Lounge (Nov 2024). http://www.scootersbars.com/2024/11/grassroots-garden-lounge/ — asserts (verified 2026-06-17): upscale appetizers/small plates plus whisky menu and limited beer; seasonal Autumn cocktail menu including a S’mores Old Fashioned served with a flaming marshmallow. ↩ ↩² ↩³