Courtesy Diner

03/03/10

Surprising value, typical diner

by jonfellis at Citysearch

I found this place on City Search and decided to give it a try during a late night excursion reacquainting myself with St. Louis.

At 2am, it was only moderately bizzy. The waiters were also the cooks, so you have to sort of find things yourself. I didn't notice the small menu behind the napkin dispenser for a while. But I was fumbling the first few minutes with the laptop seeing if there was Wifi. Not.

I swear my $1.75 burger and $1.65 hashbrowns were on the table within 4 or so minutes after ordering. The coffee was bottomless and, despite the place packing up suddenly at just before 3am, they were quick to refill me, often.

The Burger came with practically a small salad for toppings, and the hashbrowns filled half the plate. Not unlike Waffle House, they had hot sauce ready to fire off.

The only caveat. The men's bathroom is like a truckstop/gas station bathroom. I used it when I came in and before I left (3.5 cups of strong coffee!).

The music ranged from The Doors to Led Zepplin, wasn't too loud, just right.

All in all, I'll be back! See pix I posted. - DJ

P.S. - they only take CASH. Bring your cash, or use the ATM inside at a $1.95 fee.

• Pros: Typical diner food, good portions, 24 hrs, brkfst/lunch menu
• Cons: Truckstop bathroom, no wifi

02/26/10

UNBELIEVABLE

by lakeisha217 at Citysearch

Me and my husband went to this diner on Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010.....when we walked in no one greeted us so we sat at the counter.....2 of the waitress were standing behind the counter chatting and didnt acknowledge that we were even there....a gentlemen with money in his hand was headed to the back of the diner and he didnt acknowledge we were there either.......we sat there for 15 minutes and no one said anything to us or offered to help so as my husband saw i began to get angry we decided to leave.....its 2010 and never would i have imagined that i would say this but I KNOW IT WAS RACIST......we were the only blacks in there and the other people got help and we eating and NO ONE helped us....I WILL NEVER GO HERE AGAIN NOR WILL I RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE

• Pros: nonw
• Cons: RACIST

03/11/09

Best Diner in St. Louis

by jmbillie at Citysearch

I love the Courtesy Diner! Now, let me specify, nothing compares to the ORIGINAL Courtesy (on Kingshighway). On the outside it looks possibly creepy and slightly dirty, but it has so much original charm. I've had both, and the food is better here. The best thing to get (of course) is a slinger. A true St. Louis food invention that is both delicious and heart-attack causing at the same time. You never know who you'll see inside, and that just adds to the quirkiness of this place. Admittedly, it is much more interesting and tasty when you are drunk and finishing off your night. : )

• Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Crazy Drunks
• Cons: Smoke; Creepy Basement Bathroom

01/15/07

great diner

by louithefish at Citysearch

good food, good service, good location, good value. this place has it all. plus, you can smoke! great little place by forest park in the middle of everything.

09/05/06

Outstanding St. Louis style Chili

by tomerac at Citysearch

Not sure where some of these restaurants get their chili recipe, but this is one of those handful of St. Louis area diners that has that chili in the O.T. Hodges style that just can't be beat. The rest of the menu is not bad, but chili is a must here.

• Pros: 24 hour Chili
• Cons: noisy diner

06/12/04

cheap eats

by summersj at Citysearch

Good burgers and anything covered with chili. You never know who you will be sitting by but everybody is there for the food and fun. The person next to you might have pearls in their ears or a safety pin through their cheek. You might be listening to Patsy Cline or the Supremes or the B-52s on the juke box. An interesting experience everytime you go.

• Pros: inexpensive
• Cons: , crowded

02/28/04

If you're not in college...

by hgielrehtaeh at Citysearch

If you aren't in college, you might not want to go here. However, if you are in college, it's the perfect place to go for a late night meal or snack. It is like a Steak and Shake but smaller, cheaper, and it's been around since 1935!

08/18/03

The bright, shiny diner on Hampton may look new-fangled, but the menu serves the classics.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene

On a gleaming chrome stool at the counter sits a coarse, leathery old man wearing a rumpled plaid shirt, wide blue suspenders, stained gray trousers and--a pager? Like its customers, the Courtesy on Hampton offers up a curious blend of old and new.

The Food

At this spiffy new location (the older Courtesy's on Kingshighway), the checkered floors are cleaner and the pie case newer, but you'll find the same menu of bacon-and-egg breakfasts, burgers and sides that's standard over on Kingshighway. Some of the lunch and dinner items are rather disappointing, with crinkle fries made from frozen potatoes, coleslaw that swims in thin mayonnaise dressing and soggy chili mac that doesn't hold a candle to Steak 'n' Shake's. You're better off dropping by any time of day for fresh, springy pancakes, nicely browned french toast, or hot, satisfying biscuits and gravy--and don't forget to bring your cell phone.

03/31/03

Courtesy Diner is the best

by swiftja at Citysearch

Our fraternity goes to Courtesy Diner on the weekends and for celebrations. Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. Courtesy diner is insatiably amazing!

Jim Swift

Saint Louis University,

Saint Louis, MO

• Pros: Good food, Good atmosphere, Good price
• Cons: Crazy drunks, Thrifty people