KoZak's Laketown Grill

KoZak’s Laketown Grill is a made-from-scratch American restaurant in Smithville, Missouri, opened in 2013 by Brian and Jacquie Hove. Named after their sons Kobe and Zach, the restaurant emphasizes fresh, local ingredients and uniquely presented dishes in a comfortable setting near Smithville Lake. The Hoves later expanded with Grassroots Garden Lounge in downtown Smithville.

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Description

KoZak’s Laketown Grill operates as a welcoming, made-from-scratch American restaurant in Smithville. Chef Brian Hove (with no formal culinary school background but extensive hotel kitchen experience) and his wife Jacquie focus on fresh ingredients, many from local vendors, presented in creative ways. The restaurant draws its name from the couple’s sons, Kobe and Zach, reflecting its family-first origins. It has become a beloved local spot known for quality, consistency, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Ownership and history

Brian and Jacquie Hove opened KoZak’s Laketown Grill in the fall of 2013 after Brian left a long career in hotel kitchens (including Marriott properties). The idea began in December 2012 as a way to improve their family’s quality of life. They chose Smithville for its community feel after previously living in Kentucky. The restaurant quickly gained a loyal following for its scratch-made dishes. In 2024, the Hoves expanded with a second concept, Grassroots Garden Lounge, in downtown Smithville.

Menu

Last verified: 2026-06-17 · Source: KoZak’s Laketown Grill official site + Yelp menu listing · URL(s): https://www.kozakslaketowngrill.com/, https://www.kozakslaketowngrill.com/burgers, https://www.kozakslaketowngrill.com/fromthegrill, https://www.yelp.com/menu/kozaks-laketown-grill-smithville/all-day-menu · Confidence: High (items; official site confirms current categories and grill/burger lineups). Prices sourced from third-party (Yelp) listing and may lag the restaurant’s current pricing — treat as approximate “.

Made-from-scratch American bar-and-grill menu using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients (burgers ground from Paradise Meats Angus chuck). Open lunch and dinner; full bar with craft cocktails, wine, and a deep tap list.¹²³⁴

Signatures

• Asian BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos — award-winning starter with Napa coleslaw, wasabi cream, crispy wontons, Sriracha (~$10.99 “)⁴
• Butcher’s Blend Burger — beef, pork, and bacon blend with bourbon-bacon jam and smoked gouda on a brioche bun (~$14.99 “)⁴
• Bourbon Blue Burger — 8 oz Angus chuck, blue cheese crumbles, crispy fried onions, bourbon sauce, Kaiser bun²
• Smoked Maple Cured Pork Porterhouse — from-the-grill entrée with bourbon marmalade glaze and choice of side³

Appetizers / Starters

• Fried Green Tomatoes — with rock shrimp and Tabasco pimento sauce (~$9.99 “)⁴

• Buffalo Wings — Traditional Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Sweet Thai Chili, or Garlic Parmesan (~$12.99 “)⁴

• Spinach Artichoke, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Southwest Chicken Eggrolls, House-Made Sweet Fried Pickles, Fried Green Beans⁴

Burgers

All burgers are 8 oz fresh-ground Angus chuck (Paradise Meats), grilled to order, with house-made chips or fries.²

• KoZak Burger — cheddar, bacon, Kaiser bun (~$12.50 “)²⁴

• BBQ Burger — cheddar, bacon, crispy fried onions, BBQ sauce²

• Mushroom Swiss Burger — mushrooms, Swiss, Dijonnaise, brioche⁴

Sandwiches & Platters

• Smoked BBQ Brisket Grilled Cheese — sliced brisket, Muenster, onion strings, jalapeño cornbread (~$12.99 “)⁴
• Grilled Reuben — corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island, Swiss, marble rye⁴
• Salmon BLT — grilled salmon, bacon, raspberry-habanero mayo, multigrain⁴
• Catfish Po’Boy, Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, Fish & Chips (beer-battered cod)⁴

From the Grill (Entrées)

• KoZak Sirloin — 10 oz sirloin, choice of side (~$21.99 “)³⁴
• KC Strip — 12 oz strip, choice of side³
• Grilled Salmon — 7 oz, sun-dried tomato risotto and asparagus (~$19.99 “)³⁴
• Grilled Chicken Breast — balsamic-port BBQ, zucchini³

Salads

• California Cobb, Mediterranean Salmon Salad, Grilled Steak Salad, Chicken Caesar, Buffalo Chicken Salad, Taco Salad⁴

Bar Program

Full bar with signature crafted cocktails, wine, and a deep beer list (reported ~23 taps), heavy on local craft. A house exclusive — Yankee Smith Ale — was brewed for KoZak’s by Levi Garrison & Sons (Hamilton, MO).¹

Desserts

• Gooey Butter Cake (local favorite), Apple Crumble Pie (à la mode available), ice cream⁴

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Sources

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Disputes

(None recorded.)

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Footnotes

1. KoZak’s Laketown Grill — official site (home). https://www.kozakslaketowngrill.com/ — asserts: open lunch and dinner; chef-crafted, made-from-scratch, locally-sourced menu; full bar with craft cocktails, wine, local craft beer; house-exclusive Yankee Smith Ale brewed by Levi Garrison & Sons; ~23 taps. Verified 2026-06-17. ↩ ↩²

2. KoZak’s Laketown Grill — Burgers page. https://www.kozakslaketowngrill.com/burgers — asserts: 8 oz fresh-ground Angus chuck (Paradise Meats); burger lineup (KoZak, BBQ, Tex-Mex, Bourbon Blue, California Turkey, Vegetarian Black Bean). No prices listed on official page. Verified 2026-06-17. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

3. KoZak’s Laketown Grill — “From the Grill” page. https://www.kozakslaketowngrill.com/fromthegrill — asserts: grill entrées — Smoked Maple Cured Pork Porterhouse, Grilled Salmon (7 oz), Grilled Chicken Breast, KoZak Sirloin (10 oz), KC Strip (12 oz); sides list. No prices listed on official page. Verified 2026-06-17. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

4. Yelp — KoZak’s Laketown Grill menu (Smithville). https://www.yelp.com/menu/kozaks-laketown-grill-smithville/all-day-menu — asserts: full menu with item descriptions and prices across appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, salads, grill entrées, desserts. Third-party listing; prices may lag current restaurant pricing and are flagged. Verified 2026-06-17. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶