Blueberry Hill is one of the seminal attractions of the Delmar Loop district in St. Louis, and the restaurant has become strongly intertwined with all things pop culture in America.
A holographic image of Blueberry Hill’s owner Joe Edwards, with “Welcome” written across it, is a strong hint as to how the restaurant will feel – that is, like a welcoming stroll across America. The walls are lined with portraits or pictures of famous musicians and actors, not to be outdone by the entirely random, but overwhelming, assortment of giant fish plaques, dinosaur statuettes and trophy heads that take up every bare surface they legally can cover.
“The Simpsons,” “Star Wars” and figures of the St. Louis native Chuck Berry are just a few of the centerpieces available. The cases are full of memorabilia. “The Simpsons” shrine, for instance, has a full cast of characters in the form of action figures, with the back of the case lined with comic books and an other thing relating to the brand of the iconic television show.
The menu offers a strong variety of choices, from burgers to Trout Almondine. One of the dishes offered in the specialties section is the Chili Mac, a plate of macaroni topped with a heap of chili and then covered in cheddar cheese. The burgers are a staple of the restaurant (“Voted No. 1 Burgers,” the menu boasts), and come thick and juicy. Toasted ravioli, a beloved St. Louis appetizer, is offered, and for some, is eaten as an entrée. Root beer floats are also available, made with the local favorite Fitz’s Root Beer. The food is well-priced and well-presented, and the staff is friendly and fun, not to mention fashionable. For those of the drinking age, the bar has an impressive array of liquor selections and a rotating guest beer every week.
Breakfast options are also available and served all day. Food is served until midnight every day except Sunday. After 9 p.m. the restaurant becomes a bar and allows only drinking age adults inside. Aside from a delicious menu and plenty of memorabilia, the restaurant offers a variety of entertainment, from games to live music. A full-scale dart room is located on the east side of the half-block long building, along with a few other games. Large pictures of past dart champions are placed high on a wall.
Anyone making a trip to use the restroom will come across a hallway completely lined with snapshots of Edwards and various celebrities that have visited the Blueberry Hill. Here, the restaurant shares with the patrons all the fame that has touched Blueberry’s floors. The star power ranges from worldwide to cult status, and moves across years of influence. Everyone, from Bo Diddley and Keith Richards to The Strokes and Harry Caray, has taken a photo with Edwards.
The display shows that America is as in love with Blueberry Hill as Edwards is in love with America.A very strong draw of Blueberry Hill is its connection to Chuck Berry, a St. Louis native. The national rock and roll legend, who has shaped the future sound of countless rock bands since 1955, plays a monthly show at in The Duck Room, a venue located in the restaurant that has become a standard name in the St. Louis area.
Berry’s star on the Walk of Fame, located on the sidewalks of The Loop, is fittingly placed directly outside the entrance, and his shows sell out almost immediately after being announced. The Duck Room is host to many other local acts and can hold up to 300 people. Along with The Elvis Room, a 200-person venue, Blueberry Hill does its part to provide authentic local music. Private parties are welcome to buy a room out for a night.
Nearly all shows are for ages 21-and-older, but the experience comes highly recommended.
