We didn't know Carl's was cash-only before we went. Thank goodness we had cash! The whole store is pretty small, with around 20 seats total on two separate counters. It has a real old-timey lunch counter feel. The service was great! Our waitress was super sweet and attentive. The food was really good! I'd definitely come back if I was in STL. I'm a pretty picky eater and this satisfied me. The smashburger was great! Cooked well and not burnt at all. The fries weren't my favorite. They were okay but I think switching to a different brand or frying them in something else would be better and more flavorful; as it was, they were pretty bland and inoffensive. The coke was great too, with teeny tiny ice like all good diners have. The shake wasn't something I'd order again. We ordered chocolate and it tasted like milk with a little chocolate syrup thrown in. Onion rings were good too! A super fun stop! I'd come back! read more

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Just about as perfect as you could ask, for the diner feel, Smashburger. I went as plain Jane as you could with a double Smashburger with just some raw onions so I can get the full flavor of the burger, which had crispy edges just like it should. I got my first root beer in probably two decades because it was in a barrel. I think you're meant to have root beer at a place where they serve it out of a barrel. About as authentic as you could get and I really liked it check out the pics. read more

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Old school feel, prices are average...People are polite but very St Louis IFYKYK Burgers are smashed read more

If you haven't been to Carl's before, it doesn't have a lot of driveby appeal. It's got a small parking lot too. That's not why you go to Carls though. Carl's is what Carl's has always been. A great lunch counter to grab a burger and fries. Everything works like a well-oiled machine. The cooks, wait staff and customers all keep it pumping. It's a small place so you don't have fool around space. You see the cooks and the wait staff is always nearby. I love it! This visit I was right by the grill.... Watched those burgers get smashed, saw onion rings and decided to get those too. There is seating for just a dozen or so people. You sit on stools at a counter and pay cash cause they aren't dealing with the other stuff. You may have folks eyeing your seat too before you finish, don't rush, just don't dawdle either. read more

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Classic no-frills establishment with delicious made-to-order smash burgers and super friendly staff. The whole place has 18 (9 per side) so jam in and expect to eat quick unless you're taking to go. There are picnic tables outside if it is nice out, but it really is an experience to wait on a seat (don't come with more than 1 or 2 max dining companions). Fries are thin and crispy, burgers have that excellent smash burger lace and if you order onions, they smash them right into the burger. I'd guess the patties are about 2 oz each? Can order single, double, or triple. Nothing fancy, very reasonable prices, and can be a pretty quick stop. read more

Carl's Drive In - 2 double Cheeseburgers and French Fries - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri

Excellent smash burgers served in an old time belly up to the counter diner feeling establishment. The burgers are tasty and just the right size and priced very nicely at 6.50. I highly recommend the made fresh daily root beer. My lady Red, and I both enjoyed the onion rings. If you are hungry for a smash burger and in the Brentwood/rockhill area I would say stop in and enjoy. read more

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Yum! A tasty, well priced burger. The place was a bit hectic and crowded, but that's pretty much what we expected. Efficient service and good fast food. We ended up eating it in our car just because we wanted to have a bit of a chiller vibe, haha. But they do also have counter space for eating in, and I can definitely imagine doing that as well. ;) read more

If you have a hankering for a cheeseburger, fries and a root beer this is the place to go! Carl's has been around forever, so they have had time to prefect everything on the menu. First, know they only take cash. They do have a small ATM situation if you don't have cash. Second, there is only seating for 16 inside, split up on both sides. They have recently put out a couple picnic tables for extra seating. Third, no bathroom. Go before you go. Our family has enjoyed Carl's for generations. Walk in grab a barstool and take a load off. The menu is small but still hard to pick from because everything is delicious! Everything is cooked right in front of you fresh off the grill. I usually start off with a root beer in a cold frosty mug. They have been using the same recipe for years, It's so good! The kiddos love to enjoy a root beer float. Then order a cheeseburger with fries or onion rings. You have to wait a minute to eat when your food is served because it's that hot from the grill. The servers and cook work together like a well oiled machine to get orders out quickly. The small town 50s style diner vibe is such a nice change of scenery from big restaurants. I like to go during the.week after lunch time so it's not super busy. Just know it's worth the hype! read more

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We have always loved Carl's! We had taken a break for a while and just visited again. I ate here a few times weekly when I was pregnant. All I craved was a root beer and burger. We brought my daughter and she loved sitting at the bar. A few things: It's cash only. There is an ATM machine inside that you can use. Bar space is limited. There's a bar with 7/8ish stools on either side of the grill area. It's an eat and run sort of spot. People are squeezing in between you to order and pay so don't go in a bad mood! read more

Carl's Drive In - Double cheeseburger and onion rings - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri

Carl's was the perfect spot to grab a burger and fries the morning after a night out. It came in clutch and satisfied my burger craving. We did takeout so my fries weren't as crispy as I'd like but the burger with the works was delicious. I can see why Carl's has been around so long! It tasted nostalgic, like the amazing burgers I'd get as a kid at our local burger joint in my small hometown. A+ read more

Carl's Drive In is a family staple of ours and has been for generations. My grandfather used to say "you'll never find a better burger". From the small quaint atmosphere, to the quick speed of the inside hustle, you can't go wrong when you need a classic smashed burger. It's cash only and the food is extremely reasonable. We always get the double cheeseburgers with everything (lettuce, onion, pickle, tomato, mustard and ketchup). You can get some additional toppings also if desired. We love the fries with cheese and the onion rings are delicious! The service is always quick and if you go enough, the same staff there to greet you and working their tails off to serve top notch burgers every single time! If you haven't been and live in St. Louis, it's a must!! Add it to your list, you won't be disappointed! read more

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This screams old school A&W!!! They brew rootbeer in the middle of the place. Food cooked and prepared directly in front of you. The place is very small and not much room fr at all another down side to it is they only take cash. The service is good, depending on who is there sadly. I personally think they should price things out as meals it would make it more price efficient then what it is read more

Rush you to order soon and you come in. I'm watching threw my car as they are giving dirty looks like they hate there job. Just attitude for no reason and food was 26$ for a double with bacon and a hot dog.. Money waisted honestly, food wasn't that great... read more

simply the best burger in St Louis. A hometown iconic diner. Never disappoints Thank you

Stopped in yesterday after a Cards game (win!). Counter service with the opportunity to sit near the grill if you like to see your food get made (I do). Root beer from a barrel and a tasty burger. Staff are not particularly talkative but if you're there for the food that's all you'll need. Cash only so don't forget to have some on you, though they do have an ATM if you forgot. read more

Forever delicious! I've been coming to Carl's my entire life, and it's just as amazing as I remember it. It's a small spot, so I definitely recommend going during non traditional meal hours to snag a spot. We went around 2pm for a late lunch and got a seat with no trouble. If you are craving carls during a lunch rush, they take phone orders for pick up. Their menu is simple which is part of the traditional appeal. Solid diner food that's made with love! I ordered a double cheeseburger with pickles and some fries. My dad ordered a chili cheese dog and onion rings with their famous root beer. The burger was amazing- smashed and made on the griddle which gave it the crispy edges. The fried were great (and probably some of the biggest/ longest fries I've ever had lol). My dad really enjoyed his chili cheese dog, and I loved how crispy the onion rings are. I had a sip of the root beer and it was fabulous, crispy, and cold. They serve it out of a big barrel in the middle of the restaurant which is fun. They do not take cards, but they have an atm located there to take care of that issue which is great- saves a trip to the bank in a pinch. Staff was kind and welcoming. read more

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Food was good, service was really nice and welcoming, and the vibes felt like a throwback.

Good burgers and sides plus tall ice cold root beer mugs. Good service, STL diner ambiance. Worth a visit!

I have been going to Cart's for 43 years. I know this because I first went there when I had just moved to St. Louis. Through a few different owners, the food quality is consistent, the ambience unchanged and I've always been treated like a friend. My kids grew up on it and now the grandkids. When I go there, I get the question of did I visit Carl's East or West. You would have to go there to understand. Anyway, what more can I say! Get a burger, tamale, hot dog or anything else and you won't be disappointed! Always get a large root beer! Just enjoy this quaint little place! read more

Everything about this place is authentic, consistent and made to order. It runs like a well-oiled machine thanks to a team of women and occasional guy who work seamlessly,side-stepping each other,taking orders,prepping and delivering hot food, cold root beer and the best shakes you can get anywhere. I love this place and go as often as I can. It's been around forever and so have many of its patrons. Not to be missed. read more

There are consistently rude staff. There are too many other places to get a burger to deal with this place. The food is good, but not good enough to be treated poorly. read more

Fresh food, fast. Cash only. Clean and simple. Small area, barstools only. Service was good. We had double cheeseburgers and fries with cheese. Food comes on tiny paper plates and napkins, which I wasn't sure about, but nonetheless, will probably return. read more

Absolute GEM of a place in Brentwood! Driven past here probably over thousand times in my 40 years living in and around St louis. Just recently, I started to take notice of how busy this place is, which had honestly kept me from stopping until recently. It was a few weeks ago, but the memory serves me like it was yesterday. Walked in around lunch and both sides of the kitchen were standing room only. Placed my order and waited in the corner, watching the other first time patrons discover that it is CASH ONLY. After seeing every combo of everything on the small menu get sent to the patrons sitting at the counter, my mouth was indeed watering, anticipating my turn to rip the bag open in the parking lot. Finally it came and before i even got back into my vehicle i was sampling the fries... So what did i order? Double cheese burger plain, hot dog, and fries. The burger was PHENOMINAL for a burger of this type. You simply could not ask for a more perfect specimen of a crispy smashed burger. Carl's has been doing this right since day one and IMO no one does a smash burger better! Fries were good too, but lacking salt. I feel like i say this a lot in my reviews and maybe I'm just a person that likes more than the average, or maybe its because you can always add but not take away. Either way the fries were crisp, hot and delicious! Finally the Dog. This was a bit of a disappointment. Now of course i could have done my research but i was expecting it to be cooked on the flat top, not boiled. Because of this it was just too bland for my taste, not to mention the color was greyed so not very appealing to the eye either. Now i do see that they make a dog that is scored and cooked on the grill then served on a hamburger bun, I presume this is MUCH better than what i received, and if i decide to try one again it will be of this style. Lets be real here, you came to Carl's for the burger, fries and root beer, not a hot dog. Bottom line... Carl's is a fantastic place to get an authentic smashed burger in STL. For the full experience of sitting at the counter and watching your food get cooked, i would suggest beating the lunch rush or waiting till after 2:00. read more

I wanted to love it! I loved the atmosphere of the business. The service was meh, the customers were nice, everyone was welcoming the next person to take their seat or told them they could sit next to them. The burger was okay, the fries were good and the root beer was way too sweet for my liking. It was a cool experience, but it may be over hyped. I love the new parking though so it's a more organized chaos. read more

The burger was juicy and well-seasoned, with a fresh bun and crisp veggies. The melted cheese added a nice touch.

Classic Stl burger. Root beer chills with no frills! Don't miss the chili on a cold day

Heading on my way out of St.Louis, and someone at Greenlight Rock Hill told me I had to stop here before I left. I wish I knew it was cash only- because I didn't get to leave as big of a tip ad I wish I could've. Service was so fast. The cheeseburger and fries were delicious. The diner felt like a step back in time. read more

Carl's Drive In - Root beer on tap - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri

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Great and cheap place for a quick bite! Came in on a Friday night around 5:30 pm and placed a to go order inside. A burger, onion rings, and an ice cream sandwich came out to only $14! All the food came out super quick and the burger was actually DELICIOUS! Onion rings were good but were an extremely small portion (I'm talking like 4 or 5 in a bag small). Overall enjoyed my experience and would go back again. The waitresses were also pretty nice in the short interaction i had with them. They don't take card so i recommend getting cash beforehand. They have an "ATM" at the front but it's really just a machine that charges your card and gives you a receipt back for the charge so no way to get change back. read more

Carl's Drive In - Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri

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I've been eating here since Carl what is the owner, Frank and as it continues... The food is always fresh and good, but to read a review of an owner, making fun of a bad review makes me not want to come back! It just shows the immaturity of the latest owner ... Until he decides to change that review, although I know nothing of that person, I will not be returning. Someone who's been a retail for a long long time, you never criticize a customer for stating a bad review... Someone should've told you that a long time ago . I feel like I'm having to teach you... Apologize and move forward !!! read more

I stopped in today randomly and to my surprise it was empty. Not often you find this place with room to breathe. It's everything you've heard from other reviewers-- good as hell, yet simple as hell. The staff are accommodating and always moving. The location is intimate so you're able to see everything that's happening. Same crew every time I'm here and they get the job done. Never a complaint and always willing to go above and beyond. I've had pretty much everything on the menu but the burgers reign supreme. My total was $18 for 2 burgers, an onion ring and a Large root beer. Can't beat it. Want to take the kids out for a quick burger? Skip McDonald and Wendy's and all the other places. Quality over speed. They'll love you forever! read more

Carl's Drive In - Single cheeseburger with everything besides onion. Had an onion ring and Large root beer to go with it. - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri

I've been there a number of times over the years . Great double cheeseburgers with onion rings have to have a beer

This burger joint off Manchester is so good and fresh and and consistent. I love having lunch at Carl's Drive in. The interior is small and gives you a such a personal dining service experience while being able to speak to the staff while they cook prepare you burgers read more

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Carl's is an absolute classic! The smashed burgers here are cooked perfectly. Just the right amount of crispy edges while still keeping an amazing beef flavor. The fries are great, the homemade root beer is the only soda I ever order, and my kids love the hot dog. read more

It's obviously better than a chain, but the burger and fries reminded me of a rural Steak n Shake I went to with my grandpa as a kid when he wanted to show me his favorite smash burgers. Had takeout and will definitely be back to eat in. It's small, cozy, and very tidy with nice and quick staff. Not to mention it's hard to find a place to eat with this quality food for the prices. read more

You've got to go to Carl's! My double cheeseburger with bacon was really delicious - I loved the crispy edges and it tasted great (and I don't love American cheese, so that's saying something!). For the most part, I could not tell there was bacon on it, except for a few bites, because the bacon is really thin. Or maybe it was because I also had mustard and pickles on my burger. Whatever!! Overall it was quite enjoyable. The onion rings? Eh, I've had better. Their root beer, though, is another story, they make their own and it is fantastic! Great service. When you pull in the lot, call in your order, and they will tell you when to pick it up at their window. Wear your mask! I ordered mustard and pickles on my burger, and it was the perfect amount of each. Even if this isn't really your kind of food, if you are driving through the St Louis area, treat yourself to Carl's, so you can at least say you were there! read more

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Once again very nice place and they also have very good food and drinks and great service. Merry Christmas read more

Carl's Drive In - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri

as you might expect, the service is pretty mid, but the burgers really hit the spot! we got the triple cheeseburger and polished the whole thing off pretty fast. the best burger i've had in some time. read more

Carl's Drive In - triple Cheeseburgers - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri

Take a step back in time in this classic diner with counter service seating. Crispy edge flattop burgers, golden fries / onion rings, and root beer in a frosty mug. Cash only. An American icon on Route 66 for a reason. Stop in the mid afternoon to avoid the rush and enjoy every bite! read more

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Where do I start!! this place right here is fucking horrible. They are very racist. No, Customer Service not friendly. The food is not that good no seasoning on the burger. The French flies was OK. The grilled cheese is OK if they will fix their attitudes. It wouldn't be a bad place to go to Black people exist. You can't get rid of that. read more

Got the Double Cheeseburger loaded up. Loved the ketchup, which I was told it's 33% ketchup. Now I'm on the hunt. Beef was great as well as the toppings. Looks like it hasn't changed in 50 years. Definitely a burger spot! read more

Carl's Drive In - Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Brentwood, Missouri