Diner Review X: The Eat Rite St. Louis

Diner Review
The Eat Rite
Downtown at 7th and Choateau
622 Chouteau Ave, St Louis - (314) 621-9621

There is something ultimately intimidating about the Eat Rite...even for the experienced and adventurous diner. I have been working downtown now for three years and in that time I have visited the Eat Rite only twice. I now pass it every morning and never stop. Whether it is because the over all impression of filth, the unfriendliness (and apparent uncleanliness) of the staff or the unwelcoming parking lot... it intimidates. The parking lot is sometimes used as a cheap option for Cardinal games. It always has cans, bottles and broken bottles.... nice. It is free standing which is a nice touch but standing their on the corner it looks like a beat up old stripper.

Still, a job is a job and the Eat Rite (or don’t eat at all) downtown is a monument. The net tells me it was established in the 1940’s and is one of the few historic surviving Route 66 Roadside Attractions. The plaque commemorating same says diners stopped by for great burgers and a friendly atmosphere. I cannot as of yet comment on the burgers but the “friendly atmosphere” seems to have expired shortly after the troops came home from WWII. These were without a doubt the meanest, hardest looking two women I have ever seen behind a counter. I would back either one in a knife fight because they both looked like they had made it through several.


Entering the place it is a “classic”. A shotgun diner with one long counter which curves at the end of the door for a nice J with stainless steel front and stools all around. No booths. Two vintage pinball machines and a jukebox crowd the wall. The major dominating item in the place is the menu which is up over the grill and it is impressive but once again belies the friendliness with it’s “absolutely no refills” caveat. The pricing is not bad and the grill area seems pretty clean but food is kept in a home kitchen type refrigerator and you can see to the back storage area and out to the parking lot and you wonder who they know at the health inspectors office and OSHA. The counter is covered with at least 1/2 dozen ashtrays... all full... overflowing. It makes you wonder how they do it...keep them just... brimming with ashes at all hours of the day and night. Miraculous.

Food...yes they have food and it is a good menu up on that wall. It includes a slinger and chicken fried steak and even steak though i have not tried it yet. Looks like they do their eggs well. Sausage was unremarkable and the bacon though not tasted seemed like it would be pretty good if it was as good as it looks. The potatoes were of the “breakfast” potatoe variety, not shredded but chopped up pretty food and were more then passable. The place is typified when one asks for iced tea. Clearly not a normal request for the down on their luck and drunken clientele. The friendly waitress said she didn’t know if they made any or not, when her running mate announced the affirmative and they opened the kitchen refrigerator to get a pitcher of it. Though not old... it was less then fresh.

Check out the RFT Review: http://www.riverfronttimes.com/search/restaurants.php?oid=32203

Over all I have to say again that it probably wins all awards as far as authenticity. The problems are that the food is only passable, the service is bad and borders on unfriendly and the place looks dirty as shit. Other then that it is perfect. 6 Slingers on the 10 scale.