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    Chili Mac's Diner

    4.3 (204 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Chili Mac's Diner Photos

    CHILI MAC'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    View from our table in the rear
    Diane W.

    Hidden gem/ throwback in downtown St. Louis. Not a chili fan, so didn't try a Slinger. Sat at a table in the back but next time will sit at the counter for pure nostalgia. I ordered two eggs over easy, perfectly cooked. The accompanying hash browns were crisp and delicious: "the bomb" according to my husband.. His Texas French Toast was excellent. The waitress was efficient and well practiced, and the place was busy for a Monday morning. Confirming as others here have written: the prices are unbelievable. 17 and change for 2 breakfasts, one milk and one coffee, before tip.

    Chili Mac Diner

    Exceptional service, food was hot and served quickly. Ambience was great. Family, friendly and not too loud. Handicap accessible bathroom. Cute diner and highly recommend. Would come back! Prices- very affordable!

    Slinger..amazingly good
    Daniel M.

    OMG!!! absolutely amazing. When i travel,I often search for the local favorites. So i came across this dish called a slinger. Man you can't go wrong with anything topped with chili. This turned out to be spot on. Thank god I ordered a jr slinger. The reason though was because I saw they had tamales. The taste of the slinger was amazing. You cant go wrong with potatoes,a egg a hamburger patty,all topped with chili cheese and onions.Now being a native Texan,ive had my share of tamales. These were just as good as any as ive ever had. Now i chose to get mine dry with no chili. Dont let that fool you it was still amazing. The inside definitely had that 50's diner feel to it. Seems like i recall hearing some 50's or 60's tunes. I sat at the counter and was quickly served by one of the sweet ladies behind the counter. If I ever come back to St Louis,im definitely coming back.

    Kris B.

    While the food and service was excellent the "ambiance" left a lot to be desired. This place is setup with the kitchen open to the dining area and a woman who I would discover later is the owner was disrespectfully dressing down a new employee manning the griddle on the proper way to do his job COMPLETE with a finger in his face infront of all to see and believe me everyone there was looking. She would later go on to loudly voice her political opinions for everyone to hear in a conversation with another customer. Our waitress who was also new and very nice didn't escape the owners degrading and condensing "critiques" either. If you think human beings should be treated with a certain minimum of respect then this is not the place you want to patronage.

    Sara G.

    Chili Mac's Diner in downtown St. Louis offers a classic diner experience down to the charm of the boomerang countertops. It's in such a prime time location across from The Met building. It's a popular spot for both locals and tourists looking for hearty diner food. The ambiance is nostalgic, cozy and unpretentious with a retro vibe that takes you back in time. The menu has a variety of diner staples. The portions are generous, ensuring you leave full and satisfied. I got the omelet with jalapeños, cheese and onions. They've done this a few times and it shows. Service at Chili Mac's is friendly and efficient with waitstaff who make you feel right at home. Prices are cheap, making it a great value for the quality and quantity of food you receive.

    Menu
    Sleazy T S.

    Fantastic old school dinner dates back to 1904. Absolutely a must for breakfast. The food and hospitality of the waitresses is the best.

    A bowl full of yum
    Stefan B.

    Can't say enough good about this place. Food is exactly as you expect, even just a little bit better than absolutely delicious. The staff is a trip too, all running around doing their thing in a perfect finer setting. A frequent stop for me when traveling to STL!

    Double Chili Mac
    Brian M.

    Fantastic place for breakfast and lunch. The chili spaghetti is phenomenal! The service is excellent! Great diner feel.

    scrambled eggs, bacon, french toast, toast and potatoes
    Jud D.

    Chilli Mac's is just what you expect in a local diner. The waitress acts like she's mad you are there but always provides quick service. We were there for breakfast and it was delicious. I highly recommend the French Toast, but be nice to the waitress and she'll be nice to you!!

    The Slinger w/over easy egg and toast
    Lincoln G.

    The ambiance is like an older family owned diner, very welcoming and comfortable. I sat down at the bar (probably the best place to sit, you can watch the lady behind the counter cook your food). Service was great, a small kitchen group with a guy in the back as a runner to refill ingredients on the line and ice for the soda machine while the lady behind the counter cooked the food, answered phones, greeted walk-in take out customers, collecting cash and still waiting on in-house guest. The other lady server was taking orders not even writing things down but remembering everything that they ordered and called out to the other lady cooking. No tickets, no asking what was it again? They worked together like a well oiled machine. I was impressed. Food-wise I ordered the slinger(seen a pic online and looked good to me) country potatoes, an egg done to your liking, 2 beef patties smothered with their chili and garnished with cheese and onions also comes with toast. It was sooo good. I couldn't finish it all, I tried my hardest with 3 cups of Pepsi but had to tap out. I will bring the wife tomorrow morning to enjoy some goodness. Come and support this awesome business.

    Real glass, nice
    Steven T.

    I fell in love with the breakfast slinger a few years back after visiting St. Louis which is the only place I have ever seen it. The diner decor is old school diner with lots of charm. The decor is like 60s diner which just makes the whole experience. My service was excellent because I got there early before everyone started to come in. A slinger is basically layers with potato's of some style topped with burger or sausage patties, eggs to your liking topped with Chile cheese and onions. The slinger was probably the best I have had so far and absolutely delicious. The style of potatoes were home frys and the meat was burger patties. OMG the burger pattern had a fresh delicious beef flavor so I bet the burgers are awesome here. The toast was generic but great for making toast sandwich's with the slinger. Overall this was a fantastic place to get a breakfast slinger I an old school diner setting.

    Two sausage patties

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    3 months ago

    Slinger was awesome. My kid said it was the best cheeseburger ever. Friendly service to boot.

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    9 months ago

    Best place in town for breakfast. It has an old time vibe, friendly staff, great coffee and of course and excellent breakfast menu.

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    4 months ago

    A hard YES. A throwback space with good service and the menu hasn't disappointed in any way. Comfort food. Go, now.

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Wonderful little diner downtown. Prices are a pleasant surprise in todays inflation driven world.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Super fast service to perfection. Chili is amazing and burger is even better. I was in and out in about 20 minutes. Great for lunch.

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    11 months ago

    Awsome old school diner, worth the walk to if you're in St Louis by tbe Arch. Skip the hotel breakfast and head over here!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Chili Mac's Diner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Chili Mac's Diner

    Do they serve chili cheese fries at all?

    Yes

    Do they accept credit cards?

    yes!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The Breakfast Corner

    The Breakfast Corner

    4.5
    (106 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    This place was superb! Typically I do a little research before visiting a city but since I had…read morealready visited St Louis, I lacked this trip. To be a last minute find a place... that was close by, easy to get into and DELICIOUS! This place checked all the boxes. We went in around noon. We bought parking close to The Arch but it didn't start until 2 PM so we were trying to time it just right. We were here just over 1 hour. It allowed us plenty of time to eat and drive time to Arch parking. It wasn't on purpose but we both ended up with chorizo. I had a chorizo bowl with sunny eggs. I did want some fruit so I ended up with a side of fruit and 2 biscuits. The biscuits are droolworthy; Not enough places make biscuits like that. My wife ordered the chorizo omelet. She loved it but had plenty to take for leftovers. They have a small parking lot but we parked on the nearby side street and didn't have an issue. I thought we'd have to wait for a table but we didn't have any wait. Maybe this is a hidden gem of St Louis. It certainly is to us because it was so tasty. This place deserves all the business. 269 percent worth checking out! What are you waiting for?

    This is a spacious, modernized diner. There's a separate room in the back of the restaurant that…read morecan be used to host larger parties of about 20 which is a plus! Pros: Had a lovely waitress, food was delicious and the restaurant is clean (including bathrooms). Cons: It took 35 minutes for my food to come to the table! I was there at 12pm on a Friday afternoon. There were no more than 10 tables sat so that's concerning. The parking lot is TINY but street parking is scarce so prepare to scout for a spot.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Side of potatoes
    Side of potatoes
    Coffee cups

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    Coffee cups
    The Crow's Nest

    The Crow's Nest

    3.9
    (385 reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$

    Upon being seated at the Crow's Nest yesterday, we were informed that the deep fryer wasn't working…read moreand that, because we were a group of more than eight, we would not be allowed to split our checks and would be charged an automatic gratuity. Not only were we not granted an exception on the checks as consolation for not being able to order french fries, there was no indication that this had even occurred to our server. This is precisely the level of temerity we need to inculcate in young women in our society, and I'd encourage her to apply for a job at the women's-only sports bar a few doors down if and when it ever opens. It'd be tragic if she wasn't there if and when I return, but I'd appreciate the fact that she has a greater mission. Hopefully, the deep fryer is working. It being out of commission naturally limited the number of things on the menu we could order. We were only told that we couldn't order anything that required a deep fryer, not given a modified menu or anything. I started going through each item and imagining how it might be prepared, but I couldn't muster the psychological bandwidth to continue. Hit my Cash App if you appreciate the amount of unpaid emotional labor I was compelled to contribute. It occurred to me that I might just get a burger and a side salad, but then I saw that they carry a club sandwich. I love a good club sandwich, and I figured it might make for a light, refreshing alternative, given the weather. There's an option to get a cup of soup for $1.50 extra as a side with your sandwich (no, they didn't offer to eat the charge), and I figured that might go well with my sandwich. I was kicking myself when they brought out someone else's order with the side salad. It looked really good. The Frisco Burger, or whatever they're calling it, looked good too. Meanwhile, the BBQ Beef & Cheddar Soup--the soup du jour (that's French), according to Flo--looked gross, like something your dog might cough up. But damn it was good! It was more beef than anything else. A large bowl of it might actually be too much food. (I'd still eat it, natch.) The overall flavor profile was along the lines of a good french onion soup. It was a reminder that I need to be ordering soup in restaurants more often. I wish the club sandwich was cut into little triangles and fanned out on the plate in some elaborate configuration, like at a place where rich old ladies have lunch, but I guess that wouldn't have been in keeping with the theme. Instead, it was served on the world's thickest Texas toast, with the world's dullest steak knife protruding from its center. This sounds like hyperbole, but I may have honestly been served the equivalent of half a loaf of bread. It was much more bread than I required, but at least it was fresh and delicious, as were all the other ingredients. Turkey used for sandwiches is almost never remarkable, but this was surprisingly great, as good as anything you'd get served as an entree unto itself. Nothing about this place suggests that it would have such good food, but it just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover. The decor, the overall vibe and the lack of hospitality might not be for everyone, but don't let that deter you.

    What a great place! Popped in and found seating right away. The had a lot of great food and drink…read moreoptions, including vegetarian and vegan. We got cheese curds for the table and I got the hot honey mac and cheese. The food was delicious. They had a retro movie playing and lots of cute decor. It was super fun to sit there and enjoy the ambiance. The service was also quick and good. Will be coming back.

    Photos
    Heated patio
    Heated patio
    Brunch Burger Beef patty(veggie option available), cheddar, bacon, fried egg, garlic pepper Mayo on muffin
    Brunch Burger Beef patty(veggie option available), cheddar, bacon, fried egg, garlic pepper Mayo on muffin
    The Crow's Nest

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    Hatch'd

    Hatch'd

    4.7
    (800 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    While visiting St. Louis, decided to check out Hatch'd based on all the great Yelp reviews. Despite…read morebeing very busy on a weekday, we were instantly seated at their only open table. I ordered the Hatch'd By You which consisted of two eggs, meat, hash browns and and English muffin. I thought everything was great. The eggs were spot on and the hash browns were super crispy - exactly how I like them! Hatch'd is a true example of how a restaurant should be run. The owner, Josh, worked alongside his staff, and also stopped by at every table to introduce himself and check on their dining experience. Our waiter was also incredibly polite and suggested some great, personalized customization to our dishes. The place has a very welcoming atmosphere.

    Amazing restaurant, with amazing staff…read more I went here with my kids for an early fathers day breakfast. We made a reservation to this place. It said we were ninth in line. We thought we had to wait for a long time, but it actually went quick (like 5 minutes) when we got there. We did not realize this place had an upstairs, until our waiter guided us. This place looks very large on the inside compared to what it looks like on the outside. The restaurant also had an rustic atmosphere. With exposed pipes, rusted decor, and 80's memorabilia on the shelf. We ordered coffee here, and one of them came in a Christmas cup. Even though it was six months away. My wife chuckled on how they served her coffee in a Christmas cup. Mine came in a plain white cup. But I still excessively chuckled on how funny the menu is and the staff are. The staff are very attentive to how your food tastes and make plenty of funny jokes with you. They also are very descriptive on what the specials on pancakes and omelettes are. As well as being very honest. I ordered the Benny's Got Beef Or Belly with Brisket. I know, long name. I watched the weather while my food was being prepared, and occasionally looking at the PBS TV nearby. My wife was drawing with my 11 year old daughter (and writing "secret messages") as their food was being prepped and prepared. When my food finally came out, I immediately took a bite. The brisket was very juicy and tender. And the eggs were delicious on the side. I tried this place several years ago. Was still the same good taste that I remember when I took my wife to this place. Very amazing place. Will come again.

    Photos
    Atmosphere at the bar seats
    Atmosphere at the bar seats
    Cocoa batteries pancake
    Cocoa batteries pancake
    Pastramolette w/mustard

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    Pastramolette w/mustard
    Songbird

    Songbird

    4.7
    (620 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    And this bird can sing! I'm late to the intro, but happy to finally check in at the Tower Grove…read morelocation. Songbird makes great use of its space and should be near the top of your STL brunch list. A reasonably-sized (not-overwhelming) menu, great coffee, delicious cocktails, quick, attentive service, and undeniably delicous food. I took off on a redeye this morning (coffee courtesy of Blueprint), and landed on the Farm Sampler: two scrambled eggs, applewood smoked bacon, sourdough toast, sliced avocado and sauteed shiitake mushrooms. Phenomenal flavors and textures. Toast is typically an afterthought for me, but the buttery crunch of the sourdough has to be spotlighted. The Bee's Knees cocktail was also a wonderfully refreshing prelude to the approaching STL summer. The time has come, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say: wake up, reserve, enjoy.

    I think that Songbird suffers from a problem that many businesses have when they scale up: the…read morepersonal connection is lost, and the food no longer tastes like it is made with love. I was very excited to try them but left knowing I would not return. I waited 40 minutes on a weekday morning for a bar seat for one, standing because all the waiting area seats were taken. The hostess/waitress was very nice when she got to me, but you could tell that the amount of customers was simply too much to handle. Now, this was okay - I should have made a reservation, and it's not the staff's fault they were overwhelmed. However, the service once I sat down was patchy, delayed and distracted. I had to remind different servers of my presence, multiple times. I was willing to overlook this if the food had been fantastic, but unfortunately, their most popular item, the combo breakfast sandwich, was so incredibly heavy. The first bite was crispy, oily and fatty deliciousness, but by the third bite it was simply too rich. The sweet overtone of the honey was lovely but did not cut through the grease. By the time I finished half, I understood why several diners had left the other half uneaten. My personal preference is for a fresh, umami yet balanced sandwich that does not make me feel queasy after finishing it. This was not the sandwich for me. There was a long delay after I finished eating for them to bring me the check. My whole meal took around 2.5 hours. I had arrived starving and, I like to think, with an open mind. These are my honest, unfiltered observations. It is wonderful that so many people want to try their food and that their new space is bigger. Their decor, glassware and menu were cute and tasteful. I also love that they grew from a farmers market food stall and that they source their ingredients locally. With their level of popularity, I think they should focus on preserving the quality of their service and food.

    Photos
    Songbird
    Huevos rancheros with chorizo and avocado
    Huevos rancheros with chorizo and avocado
    Songbird latte

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    Songbird latte
    Brasserie by Niche

    Brasserie by Niche

    4.4
    (987 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$

    The food was really good, the service was excellent, and it was a very, very relaxed ambience. I…read moreenjoyed eating here, and you can definitely tell that there are a ton of locals that go there every single day. I was a little bummed we couldn't get a table, but we were able to sit at the bar. So if you don't make reservations, they will get you in. The biscuits and gravy are either for you or they're not. I like them, but it's not something I would order every day. The charcuterie board was very good, but almost came off as a little basic for the price. The eggs Benedict was excellent, and the potatoes were the star of the show. The most simple food, but it was by far one of the biggest surprises at how tasty they were. I 100% recommend.

    I don't know why I don't get to Brasserie more often, if I lived in the Central West End I may be…read morethere multiple times a week! The atmosphere, food and service are all always top notch! And the happy hour is crazy good! On a nice day there is nowhere nicer than the patio and tonight the happy hour was GLORIOUS. I do like sitting inside as well but with this weather you couldn't make me go inside. I have had brunch here quite a few times, dinner too, but as I said today was happy hour. That means the burger. It is absolutely one of the best I have had. I take it as offered but love that they always ask if I want modifications. Look at that burger! And the shoestring potatoes are marvelous too! We had the chips & cheese and olive appetizers to snack on as burgers were getting made and we each had a cocktail. Love that the service is attentive and friendly (Brian was great tonight). But also love that I never feel rushed to turn the table over. And the happy hour from 5-6 means that burger is close in price to tha burgers at Shake Shack and I guarantee you will enjoy this far more. I have had great dishes of all sorts here but I sometimes have to give in to the burger... it never lets me down!

    Photos
    Glow
    Glow
    Bistro Steak, Sauce Bearnaise, Frites
    Bistro Steak, Sauce Bearnaise, Frites
    $20 corkage. Too bad they don't publish their wine list online. Anyways, I brought the good stuff.

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    $20 corkage. Too bad they don't publish their wine list online. Anyways, I brought the good stuff.
    Bowood by Niche

    Bowood by Niche

    4.5
    (400 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    This place is amazing! The decor and vibe of the building are unmatched in comfort! The place and…read morepeople are relaxed and welcoming. I chose to sit on the patio and was waited on by the loveliest server named Harper! she was sweet and helpful, her service was amazing! If she's there, definitely ask to sit in her section. You won't be disappointed. the food was also incredible, tasted so fresh! 10 out of 10 would go back again!

    My experience was just cocktails at the bar. I was impressed, so I will be back for brunch or…read morelunch. My day drinking BFF and I needed to kill time before the restaurant we were set to have lunch opened. So we thought cocktails at Bowood would be nice. We got two stools at the bar and settled in. Once we glanced over the cocktail menu, we knew what we wanted. We're both Espresso Martini fans, we each got one. Seeing an espresso machine behind the bar, I glad to see they use "real" espresso in their martini. I got real excited when he grabbed my favorite vodka, Tito's as the base. Watching his masterful skills as he prepared our cocktails was pure entertainment. We were both impressed with the presentation of our martinis. They are served in vintage styled glasses. It was the best Espresso Martini I have had since, Harvey's in midtown closed. The martinis were so good, we thought we'd have a light nosh. We both like pistachios so we ordered a, Pistachio Brown Butter Tea Cake and shared it. The bartender also recommended it. His description was spot on. With an excellent martini and a pistachio tea cake, I may have told the bartender that I loved him. We finished our drinks and I settled up our tab in celebration of my BFF's B-Day. Walking out, both of us said, we're definitely coming back.

    Photos
    Nursery area
    Nursery area
    Vermont cheddar waffle
    Vermont cheddar waffle
    Plants for purchase.

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    Plants for purchase.

    Chili Mac's Diner - diners - Updated July 2026

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