Olivette Diner Takeaway. My favorite blue-collar diner in St. Louis. 7 / 10 Standard Breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and toast. 7 / 10 pancakes. 5 / 10 coffee with free refills and free-to-go cups. Bacon is above average. My kids love the kids' combo. Breakfast sausage is among the best I've ever had. And even the pies rock.
Growing up in New Jersey, diners hold a special place in my heart. The Olivette Diner has a personal touch and booths that bring me back to being a kid. Friendly, fast service from everyone. It's the best, cheapest diner food you'll find in St. Louis.
The first restaurant I went to after I moved into my house. Told them at 7 am that day, I'd be a regular. Now, I'm on a first-name basis with Melinda, the owner.
My biggest complaint? They aren't open for dinner. Pro tip: It's cash only. Bring cash, or you'll need to hit up the ATM in the back.
Olivette Diner Experience Summary
Growing up in New Jersey, diners are a way of life. Some of my best memories from high school involve diner pancakes and chicken soup at midnight with friends.
When we moved to St. Louis, we immediately searched for diners nearby. It just so happened that we were a five-minute walk from the Olivette Diner.
On my first morning in the new house, I ran to the diner. After being there for five minutes, I told them I'd be a regular.
I judge diners on the same meal everywhere on quality and price. Two eggs over medium, potatoes, and toast with a cup of coffee. The Olivette Diner scores a very solid 7 / 10 on taste. Add in a price of $10 all-in, and it's one of the better deals in St. Louis.
The diner has that New Jersey diner vibe. It used to be a bit more charming before the pandemic, but they renovated it in 2020, and now it has a cleaner, more modern vibe. It's still a mom-and-pop small business, but not as many personal decorations.
It's also an excellent place for regulars. Melinda, the owner, will learn your name and order in two visits.
It's great.
The Food At Olivette Diner
I've had almost everything on the menu. From pancakes to slingers, I've tasted it all.
I'll focus the meat of the review on the family staples of my Standard Breakfast and my kids' pancake combo. I also want to mention that the breakfast sausage patties are among the best I've ever had. Crispy on the outside, with a bit of spice, I only ever had sausage over bacon at the Olivette Diner.
Ok, on to the Standard Breakfast. Let's break it down:
Two eggs over medium. Perfectly runny yolk with completely cooked egg whites. Not too buttery, but flavorful.
Potatoes. Basic shredded potatos hit the spot. The potatoes soak up the egg yoke and ketchup without additional peppers or onions while adding crispiness.
Toast. The white and wheat are both airy and crunchy sourdoughs. They don't add a crazy amount of butter by default like Ihop would, so you can control the density.
The portion size isn't huge, but that all comes together for $6.99. That's still a good deal, but it originally cost an insanely cheap $4.99 when we moved here in 2019. It's the exact breakfast I'd expect to get from a New Jersey diner, but right in my backyard in Olivette.
Awesome.
Their coffee isn't my favorite. I'd rate it a 5 / 10. Totally drinkable, but not any better than my Keurig at home. They offer free refills the whole time you're there and will give you a to-go cup full of coffee when you settle up. It's $2.89.
My kids always get the kids' combo of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon. The portion size is exactly right for kids, and most importantly, there's always some pancake left over for me.
They both eat the crispy, relatively thin bacon first. The bacon flavor comes through in every bite without being oily or chewy. They each get two pieces of solid, crispy bacon.
The pancakes at the diner are a 7 / 10. They are a bit sweeter and thinner than a standard pancake. But because they are cooked on the same grill as the breakfast meat, they have a delicious little crunch on the outside.
For a St. Louis special, try a slinger. A hamburger patty on top of shredded potatoes and drenched in chili is a ton of meal. Make sure you don't have to go for a run after eating it.
And a quick take on other dishes:
The french toast is excellent, but the portion size is small.
The pies are excellent. You get a big ole piece of pie.
Oatmeak is a little heavy on sugar and butter, so you might ask them to lighten it up.
Waffles are a bit dense for me, but it's the same-ish pancake batter, so they taste excellent.
Burgers and fries are solid but not spectacular. It wouldn't be why I'd come, but get them if you're in the mood.
Olivette Diner Atmosphere And Miscellaneous
The Diner has a mom-and-pop feel. Lined with booths, a bar surrounding the grill, and tables wherever there's space left over, you won't get more of a small-town feel than that. Everyone at the bar knows the chef, who is also the owner.
I am on a first-name basis with the other owner, Melinda. I've been going in with my kids at least once a month for years. One son made a card for Melinda that she hung on the window for six months. She had everyone's order down after two visits.
The wait staff is extremely friendly. They'll help you get whatever you want. They're also super fast, even on busy days. I've been there when every seat is full, and you'll still get your food in ten to fifteen minutes. You gotta love a great diner.
They are a cash-only business, so bring cash or a checkbook. If you forget, they have an ATM in the back by the bathrooms. My credit card fees get waived based on my plan, so I use it to get some cash once a month or so.
Parking At Olivette Diner
No problems parking at the Diner. It's part of a large strip mall with infinite parking. However, you can get an early warning it's going to be super packed because you can see a ton of cars around it in the parking lot.
Olivette Diner Receipt
