Best Diner Dives - St. Louis, MO. - St. Louis, MO Review

In the Central West End, South St. Louis and downtown, there are really only three places to go for that "It's 3 AM...I'll eat anything" meal.  The first two are basically the same because it's the same company...Courtesy Diner.  The one located at 1121 Hampton Ave. is just south of Forest Park and the zoo.  That's the newer location.  The original is at 3155 S Kingshighway Blvd. one block south of Tower Grove Park.  Don't get an attitude with the waitresses...they'll give it right back to you.  All three are open 24/7.  Courtesy Diner on Hampton only closes for a few hours each week on late Mon. - early Tues.

Topping the list of "Diner Dives" has to be the "Eat-Rite" diner at 622 Chouteau Ave. (The corner of 7th & Chouteau, just south of Busch Stadium.) Believe it or not, the coffee at all three of these places beats coffee I've had in more expensive restaurants.  All three offer the usual array of hamburgers, fries & cokes.  Eat-Rite offers 6...count 'em, SIX burgers for $4.50.  Or how-about 3 pc. Chicken, fries, slaw, all for $5.50? 

What makes all three ridiculous is a pure St. Louis specialty..."The Slinger".  Is your stomach ready?  Start off with a bed of hash-browns, top that with either a hamburger patty or two sausage patties, top that off with 2 eggs any way you want them, and finally, top it all off with chili, onions & cheese.  Mmmmm...Good.  Even White Castle can't top that.