There is a time warp in the city of St. Louis where stars of the 50s and 60s come to dine, the place is South City Diner.
Since the 1930s, a diner has been located at 3141 South Grand. Eight years ago Peter Spoto took over the spot, and South City Diner was born. Since that time Spoto has turned the little diner into a palace of nostalgia.
Posters, pictures and records of stars long gone decorate the diner walls. Marilyn Monroe hangs on the left side, while Elvis hangs above the classic juke box. All around the room are records of Frankie Avalon, Dean Martin, Buddy Holly and many more. The songs of these stars play in the background. Many of the menu items are Spoto family original recipies. These are recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.
The way to start off any meal at South City Diner is Pete’s passion chili ($2.25). The chili is somewhat spicy but also carries a sweeter taste then most chilis. The chili is loaded with red beans and lean ground beef. It was nice to see the chili not full of grease. Face it, you can’t go wrong with Pete’s passion chili.
If there was one item that could be considered the specialty of the diner it would be the meatloaf. The meatloaf dinner ($6.50) contains two thick slices of meatloaf covered in a scrumptious gravy. The meatloaf contained the right variety of spices, which gave it a full flavor. The dinner comes with the choice of potato and vegetable. The homemade mashed potatoes are a great choice for the potato side. There is nothing worse then ordering mashed potatoes and being served something from a box.
Some other hunger-satisfying decisions are the patty melt ($4.95) and the pancakes ($3.50). The patty melt is cooked to your liking, adding a little South City Diner zing. Whether it’s medium rare or well done, it’s guaranteed to be prepared just right for you. Contrary to your standard diner patty melt platter, South City Diner’s is not presented swimming is a pool of grease.
Breakfast is served all day long, giving all patrons a chance to enjoy great pancakes. The pancakes are huge, possibly the biggest in St. Louis. They were recently voted the best pancakes in St. Louis by The Riverfront Times. They are light and fluffy, and when covered in real Vermont maple syrup, a true masterpiece of epic portions.
The dessert menu at South City Diner is full of sweet and delicious choices. They carry a regular supply of Hank’s cheesecakes and fresh fruit pies. The milk shakes are a fine finish to any diner meal. The shakes are made with real ice cream, resulting in a finished product so thick that you just might need a spoon.
The servers dress in outfits from the era. Their courteous service will cause patrons to question if waitresses were that friendly back in the poodle skirt era.
South City Diner is open seven days a week and all night on Friday and Saturday. All major credit cards are accepted.
Located just down Grand, South City Diner is a great place to hang out with friends or eat a hearty meal. The prices are low, the service is friendly; and your dinner companions, Elvis and Marilyn, are always entertaining.
