It's a Saturday morning breakfast joint and we love it! Fast service and lovely people

What a great way to start our weekend trip from Indy to Branson! We spent the night nearby and then searched on Yelp for a good breakfast and lunch spot along our route. We were detoured​ due to flooding on I-44. The reviews for Lewis Cafe were right on the money. This was a cute spot in a cute town. Some local places have placemats covered with ads for local businesses. But here they take it a step further, and the entire table top was permanently laminated over local ads. I had the grilled chicken sandwich (added bacon and cheese). Nothing special, but well executed. Juicy chicken breast with fresh vegetables on top. My wife loved her omelette (ham, onion, tomato, mushroom and cheese). We both liked the cinnamon toast too. The biscuits and gravy were ok, but missing some flavor. Maybe a stronger sausage or something​. Salt and pepper helped, but still not great. We finished off with some of the homemade pies. Cherry crumb, and Coconut Cream. Both were very good. I try to evaluate dessert with the question: is it worth the calories? Both of these were worth the effort it will take to work them off! The seating divided into two rooms. One is all booths (tight for large person) and counter stools. The other side is all tables and chairs, and lots of them. The whole place was very clean (including the restroom), and very inviting. The staff was great. Friendly with everyone, but especially with the locals who they often welcomed by name. Thank you Yelpers for the great reviews. I hope my review will convince others to make the short side trip off of I-44 for a great meal, at a good price in a cute town. read more

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We were not able to go there actually because they close at 2:00, even though here on Yelp it says they're open until 8pm M-Sat. We arrived at 2:05, so, if we had known they closed at 2, we could've made it a little sooner. Should fix the times, please! (sorry for the 3 stars, but Yelp wouldn't let me comment before choosing a rating.) read more

Breakfast. All. Day. The omelet had huge chunks of ham and vegetables and was over flowing with a sticky American cheese....which is extra classy. The pancake I ordered for dessert was huge and probably should have been shared, but I ate it all anyway. I'll be back to try more! read more

Lewis Cafe - Omelet, hash browns & toast - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

The old dinner feeling ,super friendly employee . Tasty juicy burgers are just the start of this st. Clair Cafe .There are so many options in the menu it's hard to pick out a favorite item and you can't skip on the pie just a good place to try . read more

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I love this place! I used to go here all the time when I was young! They raise their own beef which definitely is home-town cool. They're also famous for their pies. A bit of folklore: My mom told me that Cardinal's ballplayers used to travel here just to eat. Myth? Truth? P.S. They serve breakfast all day long! read more

Lewis Cafe - Yummm. - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

We have made the drive to St. Clair many times just to have lunch here. Home grown beef - home made pies !! All of the food is excellent and the portions are generous. Highly recommend Lewis Cafe !! read more

Went to Lewis Cafe for a birthday breakfast and it did not disappoint! Creamiest sausage gravy ever, crispy hash browns, and a free piece of pie for first timers to the restaurant will bring me back here for sure! read more

Lewis Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

First a note - I'm new to the St. Clair Community so I'm trying out the local places and trying to support local businesses I grew up in Union - just up the road. TODAY at the Lewis Cafe was my third visit and I tried the breakfast. I was happy with my experience with two exceptions (1) the bacon was too greasy - it needed a blotting before serving. It was cooked perfectly - just floating in grease. (2) My hash browns weren't very brown on the outside. I've seen so many pretty pictures on YELP of their hash browns and they look so yummy! Mine tasted OK, but I missed that crisp outside "brown." My waitress was excellent. She was attentive and gracious. She refilled my coffee and checked on me several times. She brought the check at a good time - not too early or making me wait for it. Place is clean, people are nice, I'll be back to try again. This is home cooking in an era when it's rare to find. read more

Lewis Cafe - My not very brown hash browns of Nov. 22, 2020 - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

I had a Reuben with half an order of fries while hubby had a hamburger with Swiss and onion rings. We had forgotten to ask for the lettuce and tomato so be sure you don't forget but thankfully we had that realization before it was too late. My Reuben was served with the Russian dressing on the side but before I had it I tasted it and it was meh but the dressing made it so much better. The corn beef was a slab of beef, not slices so that's how fresh it was. Hubby's hamburger was also fresh but the onion rings were bland. No flavor at all. We ended up dipping them into the Russian dressing to make them palatable and that helped a lot. If we didn't have to order our lettuce, tomatoes, etc. which added to our list of first meal of the day and if only the onion rings had flavor then I would have given this place 5 stars but when we were not yet awake it was taxing to be asked if I wanted Russian Dressing because Yes, definitely get the Russian Dressing after I made an ugly face biting into it. Oh and yeah we forgot. . .You get the picture. read more

Lewis Cafe - Hamburger and onion rings; Reuben and French Fries - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

We were in the area for a dog event for the week. After two mornings of bad hotel breakfast, we found this place and ate there every morning until we left town. It was so good!!! Only complaint was on our last day we had a friend join us. In a hurry to leave, my husband paid the bill while I was in the restroom. It wasn't until we were at our event that I looked at the credit card receipt. We had the same thing as the day before and our friend has 5 eggs and toast (no meat) and a cup of coffee. The bill was $45!!! The day before it was $21. Pretty sure that something got screwed up because a cup of coffee and 5 eggs with toast shouldn't cost MORE that my husband and my breakfast, especially since my husband also has 5 eggs and toast, too! We left town from our event so we didn't bother to address it. But word to the wise--check your bill before you leave!!! read more

Met my friend Joanne for lunch here. We both opted for breakfast instead. I had the biscuits and gravy with eggs and sausage. She had a pancake, sausage, hash browns and an egg. The service was great but...the sausage was absolutely the best we've ever had at a restaurant. The portions are quite generous we left full and happy. Before we left we spied the selection of homemade pies and each took a piece of the coconut cream home. The prices are very reasonable, service is great and the food is delicious. read more

We stopped in this café on our way to big Cedar Lodge. The beef noodle soup was delicious. The waitress was awesome. We highly recommend coming here. It has a nice small town feel to it. It's been here since 1938. Inexpensive, too! read more

Everything is great! Especially their biscuits & gravy! Look forward to my next visit!!

Hit this place at 1:50 10 min before they close and they were very accommodating! Great service and was very clean! Food was delivered quickly and was delicious! A good stop off old Route 66.0 read more

Amazing farm fresh breakfast! I almost hate to tell you about this place cause it could cause larger lines Very nice staff and prompt! The sausage is the best I have ever had and the toast is buttered beautifully. Although the real reason I come in is for the hash browns omg! Order pie at the end of the meal and sip your coffee slowly in this country diner and remember days gone by when life was simple and delicious. Only critique I have is on the sausage gravy - it could be a bit more sausagey? Maybe add the pan drippings to it? If you don't I will still love you regardless read more

Great comfort food--we popped in at lunch and chose the roast pork and the roast beef platters with salad, mashed potatoes and brown gravy--. It came out fast and tasted so home good! On the road, it makes for a fine main meal of the day. Place clean and simple. Pies looked homemade good but we were stuffed! read more

Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Excellent cafe with menu many options. Our server was extremely attentive. Food was homemade and very tasty. You can tell that Lewis Cafe cares about their customers and their employees read more

The best breakfast to be had when heading southwest on 44 out of St. Louis and into the Ozarks. They going their own sausage, they make beautiful hash browns and cook eggs perfectly to order. Great service and local conversation. read more

Lewis Cafe - Great menu! - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

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Their signature breakfast sandwich, piled high with bacon, eggs, crispy hashbrowns and special sauce made my week. Fluffy homemade meringue pies topped it off. The kids loved it too. Very friendly service. read more

Horrible!!! I hate to leave a bad review for this place because they used to be pretty good, but my last experience was awful. I've been talking this place up to my fiance ever since she moved out here last summer, and we finally got a chance to go. Went in early evening Saturday Feb 8, the place was fully staffed but we beat the evening rush and practically had the place to ourselves. Still took quite a while to bring us our order, and then this: - the appetizers arrived with the meal - my side dish arrived later (they forgot to cook it) - the main course was COLD when they brought it to us - quality was so far off from what it used to be, fiance asked me "are these instant potatoes?" And then I had to find someone to bring me the bill so we could get out of there. Can't believe they managed to tank this hard... tried to tell my fiance they used to be good, but she has ZERO interest in ever going back and having just paid 40 bucks for that crap, I'm upset enough that I don't see myself wanting to go back either. read more

I was passing by, I came in waited 5 min to be seated but after I asked it turns out you seat yourself. I got biscuits and gravy and two eggs orange juice and cup of joe. Everything was brought very quickly. I paid $11 which was well worth it. Good portions and bottomless coffee. If you ask you can get cup to go. Will come again. read more

This place scared me. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a big sign, front and center, that said, "We refuse the right to refuse service to anyone," with a bunch of crosses around it. My mom and I stopped here during our Route 66 road trip. She got a BLT which she described as "humble" and my western omelette was bad in multiple ways, the most concerning being the tons of orange American American cheese in it. Tasted like kraft singles :( read more

This charming little main street cafe is a great place to stop if you happen to be passing through the area. Dishes are typical cafe comfort food but the coolest thing about this place is that that meat they use come from their own farm. I had a burger (because how could I not?!) and a large order of onion rings an they were both great. The burger was nice and juicy and flavorful and the thin cut, hand-battered, onion rings were crispy and well made (though a little bit bland). My wife had the fish sandwich and also loved it. We shared a homemade apple pie a la mode for desert and it was divine. Prices are a bit more than most local places I've found as things like the Burgers don't come with sides and you have to order them a la carte but since they are a family owned place it doesn't hurt to pay a little extra and support a truly local business. This place is out of the way and if you are a local, you probably already know all about it. If you find yourself out here for any reason and haven't checked it out, definitely stop by. Try the beef and pie and then treat yourself to a walk down the charming little main street and check out the very random selection of goodies in the "furniture" shop down the street. read more

Stopped here on a tip from the hotel. Excellent service, and good food. The waitress suggested the homemade sausage, and I was glad I asked. The eggs in the omelet were wrapped around crispy bits of sausage and cheese. The biscuits were nothing spectacular, but they rounded out my breakfast nicely. read more

Food is good but pricey Chef salad is not very good . Not worth the money they used to have excellent salads No smoking section even though town does not have a smoking ban. They have lost a lot of customers due to that reason. read more

Decent chili and a very good Rueben sandwich. Adorable little place from the 30s. The young man serving me was quite unfriendly though - I have no idea why. Took away from our experience a bit but I'll give him a pass (hes a teenager) and give it 4 stars for the food and the atmosphere. read more

Awesome place! Great home cookin' meals, and they have excellent service. My motorcycle club usually has a Sunday ride to eat here each summer. Great homemade desserts also. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone. read more

Had breakfast there this morning for the first time and it was amazing. Very friendly staff. The biscuits and Gravy were awesome. And this is the first restaurant that can actually get my hash browns the way I like them. read more

I only had the pie, but I'm giving them five stars just for that! They said the pie lady comes in at 2am every day. Taste like love and perfection. read more

Lewis Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

Very good food and service. I had the homemade onion rings which were delicious and the chocolate cream pie which was also very good. I will be sure to try their breakfast next time. read more

Lewis Cafe - Chocolate cream pie - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

This is a favorite in a small town that will be here long after we're all gone. Great prices, great service, and great taste that delivers every time. The breakfast is to die for. Generous portions that are cooked to perfection every time. If you like mommas home cooking but don't have her available to come over, try this place. It really is an excellent place to eat at. Excellent dinner specials and normal fan favorites that will leave you happy. Must try the desserts! read more

Passing through the area and wanted a good home cooked style breakfast. I usually don't order eggs over easy at restaurants because the white is always runny but I slipped up and ordered over easy eggs and they came out perfect! Just the way I like them! Staff was friendly and the place was busy. read more

Always good food.... and friendly folks... no smoking.... a little pricey for what u get

We stopped in for lunch on our way back home to Springfield from St. Louis. Such great food, and great service. It's a little off of I44 but I love finding those off the beaten path places. And this place was worth the detour. We will be going back! read more

Lewis Cafe - Can you say onion rings!? - Cafes Near Me - Saint Clair, Missouri

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Love this place so much! We drive an hour just to eat here from North St. Louis. Their pie is to die for and they're burgers are so fresh! Service is always great and I love the old diner feeling. Such a cool restaurant. read more

It's a great mom & pop type of diner right off of the highway - perfect for quick pit stop for road trip. Staff was friendly . Breakfast and coffee was good. read more

We stopped in for breakfast on our way to Illinois. It was a great little place with a fun retro /vintage vibe. Very clean, wait staff was very friendly & attentive! I had the biscuits & homemade sausage gravy and my husband had scrambled eggs, homemade sausage patty (it was huge) and toast. It was all delicious! Will definitely stop here again on our travels. Looking forward to trying their lunch offerings & PIE. read more

Why is it so hard to find a decent breakfast anywhere around St. Louis? Cracker Barrel? Meh. IHOP or Denny's? If you're desperate, I suppose? Chris'? Hit and miss at best. But if you take a 30-mile trip SW of St. Louis to St. Clair, you will be amply rewarded. This place serves BREAKFAST (well, they do other stuff, too). But breakfast is king here. From omelettes to biscuits and gravy to sausage that is made on premises from their own pigs, the food is awesome. Nothing complicated or mind-altering, just normal, old fashioned breakfast food well done. And their pies...oh...the rhubarb...we generally eat breakfast, then get two pieces of pie to go. HIGHLY recommended!! read more

As we live in Springfield MO and my wife's family is in STL area, we frequently drive thru St Clair but didn't know about this wonderful cafe until just recently. Comparing to previous reviews, there was NO smoking (at least in 2nd dining room), the restaurant was very clean and we found the prices to be very good ($8.00 for chicken dinner, dressing, potatoes, corn, salad and bread). read more