Sooooo….The Peacock!
it is so rare for me to get to go review a NEW Diner in St. Louis. Our breakfast scene is at best...sleepy and at worst...boring and unchanging. Even when new places open like the new Courtesy on Laclede Station, it is just expansion of a proven formula. So when I read about the Peacock I was elated. Although when I initially posted this review (and in my head) I kept calling the place the Flamingo (dementia) I believe I have it straight now.
Opened by the inimitable Joe Edwards in The Loop! It is on first floor of a new building that I think is Wash U Student housing. It is brand spanking new and it is open 24 hours a day which is pretty unusual, especially in that neighborhood. I very admire Edwards. I might look askance at his trolley but his unflinching efforts to make U-City a destination have really played out awesomely and along with the Pageant he is a civic treasure for the work he has done and he tends to do it all in a first class way.
Last week I could not sleep due to some issues related to my work and got up at 5:30 and headed over to the Loop. I always like going there, just to drive up and down and with Mission Tacos and Salt n Smoke on the scene there are now more reasons than just hitting Vintage Vinyl to cruise Delmar. The Peacock is toward the east end of the strip on the north side of the street. There is...surprisingly...a large neon Peacock on the outside of it which makes it hard to miss. Street parking is ample at 6:00 A.M. and I don't think you need to worry about U City meters until 8 but check before you rely on me.
The place is...retro. As you walk in they have a full bar which seems decidedly un-dinery but I would guess that in the business plan it will make up a nice little chunk of the revenue. There is an internet jukebox but on this particular morning I did not check it out. it is all stark white and seafoam green. There is about 40 stools which run along a snake like river of counter as well as ample booth and table seating. the decor is a little hard on the eyes for the early riser and full of kitsch from Edwards ample nostalgia collection. I think it will make for a great place to take people from out of town but the space is a little too big and cold and a little too “retro” and intentionally “cool”. The counters break up into three different areas of different height for counter and stool...gently rising as they move to the rear of the establishment. A light bar that occasionally and randomly changes color runs along the counter.
The wait staff was certainly more of that same theme. My server was very pleasant and helpful and he was… pierced all over the place. Just the visible piercings were in the teens and while not off putting it is once again, a lot for breakfast. I saw two other servers who also both appeared to be typecast for hipster/waiter/waitress positions. Still, the service was attentive, my iced tea glass was kept full and I have no complaints other than I started to get the feeling that this place was out hipping the pretentiously faux him City Diner which I have slandered in earlier posts. When i read paragraphs like this I am always amazed that I am such an asshole but...well, there it is.
The clientele were much more racially diverse than my typical haunts. Lots of different folks and it skewed younger. Perhaps some of the hipsters and college students don’t sleep when I sleep. There was a couple sitting at the bar having cocktails which at 6:00 A.M. is impressive.
The Menu is… interesting. But mainly because it lists a lot of options with V (vegan) or GF for gluten free. This would be first 24 hour diner in the city to provide such information. Among other options they present their version of the slinger “The Loop Sling”. Although an abomination of a real slinger it is 2 eggs, meat, Waffle, potatoes with chili and cheese. They also offer a waffle sandwich , chicken fried steak and biscuits and gravy, none of which are gluten free. Other than that it is a pretty standard breakfast menu along with a full dinner menu heavy on soups and salads. The back page gives you an “About Peacock Diner”
Which tells you everything you need to know.
The Food was really good. I just had bacon and eggs with breakfast potatoes. The potatoes were pretty average and offered in an O'brien variety as well. I am a favor of the hash brown and eschew the “breakfast potato” but these were fine. The eggs were I am sure free range and from well loved chicken but they tasted fine. The lighting in the place is a little off for breakfast food but as I said...fine. On my initial visit I also ordered the sausage which was good and nothing special. But...it was breakfast. On my second trip with my frequent breakfast companion we both ordered the "Sunrise" with bacon and it was excellent and came with a little roasted tomato slice that mixed nicely with my eggs. On the second trip on a Saturday morning at 8:30 they started slow but got pretty crowded by the time we bailed at 9:30. Once again a lot of diversity of clientele, and a VERY high hipster quality to the serving staff.... almost over whelming. 
They also served gluten free toast. For those of you which have not had the pleasure gluten free toast is...not much. On the other hand you almost never see it. It is bland but like I said, a treat...of sorts. It was not toasted enough but it came with good butter so I liked it.The bathrooms...although I only visited the mens room it was very clean and family friendly with a changing station and a single handicapped stall that was slightly larger than my first home. No hand towels and a hand drier. As an old man I appreciate the clean bathroom.
The Prices are pricey. Bowl of Cheerios or Raisin Bran $3.50. An egg is $2.00. Potatoes $3.00. The complete breakfasts $8.50. So breakfast with a tip for the hipster is 11 to 12 bucks with an iced tea. All in all this was an interesting trip. I can see taking out of towers here for a late breakfast and a walk around the loop. On my initial trip I was worried about viability but on my second trip i have concluded that Edwards has another winner.
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