Diner Review: The 11 Mile House

Sooooo...The Eleven Mile House! I used to live in Warson Woods, right down the street from theplace. I enjoyed going there for years mainly to see old people drink Manhattans. I ate theKirkwood Burger and the Kirkwood Klucker. They are a burger or a piece of chicken with baconand rarebit sauce. It was easily chewed and tasty. I was there a week or so ago with aluncheon companion when I noticed that they were open for... wait for it....BREAKFAST!

From The Website:

OUR HISTORYTHE ELEVEN MILE HOUSE WAS ORIGINALLY ONE OF MANY "MILE" HOUSES AS ONE TRAVELEDWEST FROM DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS. FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS A FREE STANDING BUILDING ATTHE CORNER OF MANCHESTER ROAD AND WOODLAWN; IN 1946, THE "ELEVEN MILE HOUSE"OPENED AS A RESAURANT IN THE BUILDING, COMPLETE WITH A POPULAR BEER GARDEN.THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS RAISED WHEN GREENTREE CENTER WAS DEVELOPED AND NOWOCCUPIES PART OF THE SHOPPING CENTER'S STOREFRONT. THE DECOR OF THE CURRENTRESTAURANT IS REMINISCENT OF THE CORNER BAR & GRILLS OF YESTERYEAR.MANY GENERATIONS HAVE SINCE PASSED THROUGH THE ELEVEN MILE HOUSE, WHILE OTHERSCONTINUE TO FREQUENT THE ESTABLISHMENT, AND CONSIDER IT TO BE A SECOND HOME. ASTIME CONTINUES TO CHANGE, SO DO WE. OUR GOAL IS TO SEE ANOTHER 62YEARS AND MOREFAMILY GENERATIONS. WE, THE FAMILY OF THE ELEVEN MILE HOUSE, WANT TO THANK YOUFOR YOUR CONTINUED LOVE AND SUPPORT.

So I am pretty excited about the place. It is dark. It opens at 7 which although no good for aweek day but it is a perfect time for Saturday breakfast. Fortunately they are only open forSaturday Sunday breakfast. Did I mention it was dark? Dark is good in the morning and I havebeen looking for a place to perhaps start a regular Saturday breakfast with my retardedacquaintances. Just a 7-8 thing. I think it might be perfect. Tables, booths and did I mention it isdark? They also have drinks! In the MORNING! Anyway, I went. it was not life changing. For the first half hour I was the only one there. The waitress was chatting up the guy who was mopping the floor, doing the dishes and carrying thebread in. She might have been a little too chatty but the iced tea was good, made fresh thatmorning and not dragged out of the walk in from last night. The TV was on but the volume wasoff and it looked like “Head of the Class” or some other excellent show was on.

Taking a seat farenough away from the door but facing the door to watch all the action unfold. It was no unlike thedive bars that serve breakfast in south city and south county. The fact that they serve booze atbreakfast hours is a prominent factor on the menu with them encoujraging you to that morningBloody Mary or Mimosa.I opted for an alcohol free breakfast this morning (patting myself on the back). As a service tomy readers, here is the breakfast menu which is at best basic. Basic is good.

BREAKFASTThe Eleven Mile House Two eggs, two bacon strips, sausage patties, two buttermilk pancakes and toast7.95
Steak & Eggs Six ounce charbroiled strip steak, two farm fresh eggs, golden hash browned potatoes andtoast. 10.95
Bases Loaded Ham, sausage, bacon, two country fresh eggs, golden hash browned potatoes and toast.7.75
Pancake Breakfast Your choice of three regular or blueberry pancakes, served with bacon or sauasagepatties. 7.75
Country Ham & Eggs Served with golden hash browned potatoes and toast. 8.25
Eleven Mile High Breakfast Two farm fresh eggs, golden hash browned potatoes and authentic southernstyle biscuits andgravy. 6.95
Three Egg Omelet your choice of any three: bacon, ham, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green pepper,tomatoes, swiss, jack,american or pepper cheese, with golden hash browned potatoes and toast. 8.95
Egg Sandwich Fried egg, cheese, and bacon or sausage on Your choice of white or whole wheat bread.4.95
Bagel Egg Sandwich Scrambled egg, cheese and bacon or sausage on a bagel. 5.85Two Egg Breakfast Your choice of eggs any style served with golden hash browned potatoes, and yourchoice of a biscuitor toast and jelly. 5.65
One Egg Breakfast Your choice of eggs any style served with golden hash browned potatoes and yourchoice of a biscuit ortoast and jelly. 4.95
HOT OFF THE GRIDDLEServed with your choice of bacon, sausage or hamRegular and Light Syrups AvailableBlueberry Pancakes. 6.15
Hot Griddle Cakes. 5.65
Short Stack. 4.95
French Toast. 6.25
ALA CARTEBacon or Sausage. 3.75
Hash Browns. 2.75
Country Ham. 4.25
Biscuits & Gravy. 4.35
Hot Oatmeal. 3.95
Bagel with Cream Cheese 2.65
English Muffin 2.05
Toast white or wheat with butter & jelly. 2.05
BEVERAGESFresh coffee. 1.95
Hot Tea. 1.95
Milk 2% or skim sm 1.65 lg 1.95
Hot Chocolate. 1.95
Fresh Chilled Juice
white or wheat with butter & jelly. 2.05
BEVERAGESFresh coffee. 1.95Hot Tea. 1.95Milk 2% or skim sm 1.65 lg 1.95Hot Chocolate. 1.95Fresh Chilled JuiceOrange, grapefruit, apple, tomato,and cranberry small 2.50 large 3.50Iced Tea. 1.95Green Tea. 1.95
ADULT BEVERAGESBloody Marysmall 2.50 large 3.50Iced Tea. 1.95Green Tea. 1.95
ADULT BEVERAGESBloody MaryTomato juice, vodka, and celeryBloody BullTomato juice, beef broth, vodka, and celeryMimosaChampagne and orange juiceBaileys and Coffee.ScrewdriverOrange juice and vodka.

Biscuits and gravy were fresh and hot with a nice textured biscuit and a very acceptable whitesausage gravy. The sausage patties were of the thinner variety but tasty and not requiring anyconcern about done-ness (no one likes pink pork). The hash browns were shredded as Godhimself intended and were perfect.I have been looking lately for a place to gather the faithful on Saturday mornings. Many friendsstill have small children (never a welcome addition to breakfast revelry) but there is certainly agroup of people who I could gather with on Saturday, read my paper and verbally abuse thatwould make Saturday morning more palatable before work. Consider yourself invited. I willtrying it out for each upcoming Saturday in February.I have high hopes for the 11 Mile House.Not too far out of the way. Dark. They also have a jukebox and I will look forward to crank thatup some Saturday morning, nursing a hangover and order a bottle of Busch and see what theday has to offer. What could go wrong?