We had a great experience at Cowan's for my son's birthday! We rode the Amtrak from STL, got off and walked 2 blocks up to Cowan's. We had a party of 8 and were easily seated on a Saturday morning. Service was very friendly! The menu was big and some of us chose breakfast, while others chose lunch. Food was good. My son loved running around in the game room. The best part was the blueberry crumble pie. YUM! It was HUGE and delicious. Best part of the meal. We left happy, full and vowing to ride the train out again and eat here! read more

Cowan's Restaurant - Blueberry crumble - American Near Me - Washington, Missouri

I was disappointed with my sandwich, but the pie made up for it. It was a bit further off the expressway than we were expecting, but it was a beautiful day for a drive. read more

The staff members, are always nice and the food is priced well. The restaurant needs to be updated. I would say it could use a deep cleaning as well. Bathroom seems to not be on the schedule of things to be cleaned. read more

Delicious all American cuisine (including breakfast) served in a down home atmosphere.

Came in Sunday morning with the lady. Ordered breakfast and a slice of pie. Pie was epic. Blueberry filling was very good with a home style crust that took me back to Mom's kitchen. On the pie alone I'd give this place 5 starts. Breakfast however things fell apart. First off the wait was about 45 minutes after ordering. Lots of apologies coming out of the kitchen so I'm hoping this was a one off. Meats ok, buiscuts good but the gravy was just bland. What really hurt my feelings was the has browns. Almost as if they were from dried and not soaked properly. Was a real letdown. I'd have sent them back but was afraid of a longer wait. The Good The pie. Get it! The friendly staff. The Bad I think they were having a bad day getting things out of the kitchen. The Ugly Those hash browns. read more

The best food and pie in town.... Downfall----- closed on different days... some Monday's and then Monday's and Tuesday's..... read more

You couldn't ask for a better mom and pop spot. Cowan's has been a part of Washington's food culture for like a million years- they have a timeline on the wall! They have good specials- I recommend the vanilla bean French toast. They also have excellent old fashioned biscuits for $0.99. I always get two when I go. I haven't tried their pies but they are known for them in the area. Lots of regular customers. Friendly and fast. read more

The chicken was well worth the 25 minute wait time! I ordered the 5 piece meal with 2 sides...out came three large thighs and 2 drumsticks. They were hot, juicy, and plump with the delicious crust on them. My sides were mashed pots with chicken gravy which was outstanding and green beans that were ok. The sweet tea was delicious but a little pricey at $2.50 they offered free refills and on a hot day like today worth the $. My man had a burger and fries which he said was good but his lemon meringue pie stole the show. A definite "book mark" to visit again & again!! read more

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Loved this quaint restaurant. Best homemade breakfast ever. Homemade biscuits and gravy, perfect eggs and great sausage and bacon. Worth the drive! read more

We had been meaning to come here for a while now and finally made it! I love burgers so I ordered the Cowan's Burger. This things was delightful. Half pound of heaven! I also got the Mac and Cheese that was pretty creamy, I love when you get mac and you have that flavor punch in the mouth from the cheese... this did just that! We did not enjoy the pie but will return to try! Only thing I holding me back from the last star was the timing. It was about 1:00 and not busy. Food took about 25 minutes to get so I felt that was a bit lengthy. We will come back though! read more

Has good milkshakes. If you order one ask for Madelyn to make it. It is creamy, thicccc, and delicious

My wife and I had dinner tonight. She had the pork steak with green beans, salad and a biscuit. I had bacon and eggs with hashbrowns and toast. Meagan was our server and she was very friendly and attentive. Both meals were delicious. The hash hashbrowns were prepared crispy. The biscuit was obviously homemade. We very much enjoyed our dinner! read more

We sat down and service was fantastic. Two waitresses and both very nice. Food came very quickly. We ordered the roast beef special. It was so delicious we almost licked the plate!!! Kidding, but they ha e fresh pies, which look great, but I'm dairy free, so we had to pass. We'll be back. read more

We were down in Washington for their Fall Festival this past weekend and after wandering around down town we were a bit hungry and stopped in for a bite to eat. I opted for the french dip and while waiting for our entrees we tried the fried pickle spears and they had a cheesy fried cauliflower. The pickle spears were pretty typical for fried pickles, I prefer flied pickle slices than spears, but that is me. The fried cauliflower was very good though, I think the cheese was in the batter, but perhaps the cauliflower was dipped in cheese before dipped in the batter then fried. Regardless, both appetizers quickly disappeared and we sat there waiting for our entrees. My french dip came out and smelled great. The bun it was served on was still a bit warm and very good. The au jus was tasty and even though I was not too hungry my sandwich pulled a Houdini and disappeared. I was pretty full at this point and had not made plans to order a dessert, but Cowan's seems to be known for theirs so my fiance and I ordered the cream cheese pumpkin pie. OMFG, that thing was A-MAZING. Quite possibly the best rendering of a pumpkin pie I've ever tasted in my life, and pumpkin pie is hands down my favorite dessert. The cream cheese part was essentially like a thin layer of cheese cake on top of a pumpkin pie. I should have ordered a piece to go, and I was truly sad when there was none left. We make it down that way from time to time, and now I have a reason to venture into Washington and it comes in the form of a wonderful pumpkin pie. read more

My family took the Amtrak from Kirkwood to Washington and Cowan's is conveniently located a block and a half from the train station. Despite having a large group of nine people, we were seated immediately. Their entire menu (breakfast and lunch) is available during the hours they are open. I ordered a combo and chose the vegetable beef soup and the Southern salad. Both the soup and salad were large portions and a great value for the price of only $8.99. The soup was served hot and the salad had a very generous portion of dressing on the side. The salad had iceberg lettuce which isn't my favorite, but the rest of the ingredients made the salad quite tasty. The other people in my group were all very satisfied with their meals as well. I was very full from the soup and salad but could not pass up the pie that I have heard is amazing. I got a slice of blackberry crumb pie to go and it was as good as its reputation. Our server, Ladonna, was excellent. She was extremely polite and prompt and very accommodating of our large group. read more

My family has ate here since I was too young to remember every time we went up to visit. It's been around about twice as long as I have and It's always bee a favorite of mine. Last time I was there I had a bowl of Veggie-Beef soup and a Grilled Cheese, simple right? It was amazing! You have to check this place out if you ever find your self in Washington MO and need to fill you belly with out killing your wallet. Oh ya, and if you like meringue pie, this is THE pace to go, the're about 10 inches tall on average read more

Local institution, great place to people watch, friendly hometown service, and heart and tummy warming food! Grew up with Cowan's and putting the great high school half day lunches aside, this is a cute to boot place to go. If you are visiting Washington, nothing shows off its small town charm more than Cowan's. My suggestion is the chicken friend steak. For under $9 you get the steak, mashed potatoes, terrific country gravy, biscuit, and TWO sides. My side picks would be the green beans and fried okra to split. Complete the gluttonous meal with a terrific cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate and peanut butter pie. Great breakfast menu served all day. But much like a small town itself, the staff moves at a leisurely pace. Don't expect a speedy lunch or quick bite. read more

Stopped here on my way to Maine for a delivery. Breakfast was three things: -Fast -Cheap -Good! The eggs were nice and runny. The biscuits were light and billowy. Super good and super cheap. I just might stop back by on my way home! read more

PIE!!! It so good! We only really eat here once a year during the Washington Fall Festival, but I do look forward to it. This year I had the special blue cheese chicken sandwich and fried okra. Yum! Finished that off with chocolate pecan pie and went home as happy a camper as I could be. read more

Cowan's is a local institution, and I remember loving it when I was little. I think my mistake was revisiting for the purpose of anything but their famous pies. Their breakfast was okay, though nothing special. I do love how cheaply one can eat out this way, and how no one bats an eye when you order something supergreasy with absolutely no nutritional value. Mmmmmmmm saturated fats! Come to mama! I also felt weird because everyone else here looked at least 55 (even though some probably weren't much older than myself) and I felt like I was some kid who was having dinner without their parents for the first time. But maybe that's what you get for early eatin' out this way! read more

Service gets five stars. Pies get five stars. Limited vegetarian options, and although that's to be expected in a small town joint, that's what knocked a star off the total experience. Be sure you choose your pie quickly - we saw the pie board change twice within the time we were present! And in case it isn't blatantly obvious from this review and others, GET. SOME. PIE!!! read more

Tradition runs deep!! This amazing little eatery has served customers in the Washington area for many years!! My parents and grandparents came here as kids, and so did I! Food is pretty spectacular. There is absolutely nothing better than a slice of cowans pie. It's to die for!! Grilled cheese is also a fan (and kid approved) favorite. I only give four stars due to the menu. It could use a few more options. Washington is beautiful, and a lot of the newer restaurants are located in newer parts of town. This cute little spot maintains charm in good ole' washmo!! Overall, a place you can't miss on your trip to Washington!! read more

We decided to try this place based on the reviews, but was disappointed in the food. Most of the food is frozen, not fresh, including the chili. The cheese curds are not. They are cheese balls, big diffrence. When asked which toppings we would like, they were not able to properly bring them. Swiss cheese which was supposed to come on the Cowan burger was incorrect and was American. They were out of German potato salad. I would not recommend this place based on the food itself, however the pies may be worth it, however we did not order any. read more

The best part about this place is breakfast and it's just....ok.... I'd rather have Bob Evans. The dinner entrees are awful. Everything tastes like it was frozen and just heated up. I've had better food in a school cafeteria. Also very pricey for the poor quality of food. (I believe the majority of the entrees were $10.99) I love downtown Washington and I love to support local businesses, but save your money and try a different local restaurant. read more

We used to really love Cowan's but not so much any more. In the past year or so the food quality has suffered. Pie is about the best thing on the menu now. read more

Tried breakfast here, so I can't speak on their pie. The place is very new and clean looking inside, but doesn't have much of that "diner charm" some people seek. While that wasn't an issue for me personally, I was slightly off put by the huge crowd of codgers talking so loudly every person in the place could hear about their political leanings. Coffee here is two bucks a cup and wasn't great. My biscuits and gravy were mediocre at best, with very little sausage to be found. My boyfriend had toast with his non-remarkable veggie omelet. Perhaps if I'm back in Washington someday I'll give the pie a try. Otherwise we probably will not return. read more

Cowan's Restaurant - noisy breakfast diners - American Near Me - Washington, Missouri

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Searched Washington via Yelp and decided on Cowan's. Very helpful and friendly service staff. The food was delish and reasonable. Gotta try the pie even if you need to get it to go. BTW at this point in time -check in- with Yelp and you get a coupon. read more

No one answered the phone, despite the app saying it is opened. There was no way to make reservations on line either -- and there was no voice mail option on the phone. I called five times at 11:30 am on Sunday. read more

Cowan's is a pretty standard place (I went for breakfast). But they get extra stars for having Burger's country ham on the menu. Ridiculously salty cured hamsteaks...oh so good...and oh so hard to find. Everything our party had was good, not spectacular. My omelet was good sized and tasty - their sausage is also pretty good. The Cowan's scramble is basically biscuits and gravy, but with scrambled eggs - I heard the comment that the sausage in the gravy could have been spicier, and even someone who never adds black pepper said it needed black pepper. They also have very precise cuts of meat - two different menu items advertised "5.3oz" cuts of ham or pork. I expect they probably start at about 5.5oz, and then carefully slice off wafers until it gets down to the proper size. I didn't see any statement of error, so maybe they'll accept between like, 5.2oz or 5.4oz - I didn't check. So - don't expect the world, but do order the country ham. It's good for your blood pressure. read more

Always wonderful. Great food and service. We had carry out. Food ready on time. Nice and hot. Friendly employees. Always have to get some pie!! read more

I ave family that grew up in Washington and I got here with them several times a year. I always enjoy our stop at Cowans. The decor is some what old school and a nice change from many other places. The prices are fair and food is good with nice portions. The staff is always friendly, the only issue I have is it is a bit crowded for me in some of the dinning areas. Other wise it is always a great experience fo me. read more

Sorry folks but I was very disappointed In the taste of the food my husband and I ordered. When you order homemade turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes, you except the meal to taste that way. The turkey was fine, however, everything else must have been from a box. The potatoes were instant and I am sure the gravy was poured out of a can. I am glad the portions were small due to the fact I left most on mine on my plate. We ordered the coconut pie, which had a great presentation, but was average in taste. On a positive note, the service was great! read more

There service and staff are always awesome. The food is always good. Sometimes they take a little while to get the food out but they are always busy. Their seating area is also pretty unique. read more

Have loved this place for years. I love the fried pickles and the pie. It's changed ownership over the years, but never seems to change the quality of its offerings. The menu has expanded, and there definitely some great new items, but seriously, the pickles and pie (they're famous for their mile-high-cream-pie, but frankly they're all great) are enough to get me to keep coming back whenever I'm in town. read more

Not terrible. Great location if you're having a good time at the river. The food wasn't bad. I'd remember if it was. It wasn't blow-me-away great, though, either. I'd definitely remember that, too. As it stands, everything we had was just very average. The toasted ravioli were exceedingly safe. Same goes for the chili. The burger was decent. Not the best I've had but definitely not bad. Service was very friendly but a little on the slow side, especially considering we were there in the middle of the afternoon. Didn't have any desserts but they all looked very legit. read more

Used to be the best place to eat in town. Now the staff is impolite, the food is cold and you wait forever for it. It doesn't even seem very clean anymore. You get better service and food at a fast food joint. read more

I ordered through Grub Hub, I ordered country fried steak, it was tasteless, got the bland bake beans, no okra or pinto beans. The Reuben was mushy, very little corn beef. The omelette was okay. The best thing was the corn nuggets. The order was late showing up. read more

The restaurant is located in downtown Washington, parking was easy to find even on Sunday. It is a "seat yourself" sort of place but everyone was very friendly. Our server was great, even with being obviously slammed. There was no wait, she always kept our drinks filled, and our food was out quickly as well. My boyfriend and I both got the country fried steak and eggs, over easy, with hash browns and a side of biscuits and gravy. Everything was honestly great. The steak was well cooked and the breading was amazing. The biscuits were fresh and soft and the gravy was delicious. We will definitely be back! read more

Great service and great fresh food! Highly recommend the mac n cheese as a side and the apple crumb pie!

We went for breakfast and a piece of pie last weekend - and all I can say, is YUM! The hashbrowns, omelet, and cherry pie were just delicious. Stick with pie and breakfast, and you won't go wrong. We arrived at 1 p.m. and were seated immediately, then our food arrived quickly, as well. We walked along the river afterwards, full and happy from a delightful meal at Cowan's. read more