I really really wanted to like this place, but I just can't. I'm not going to blaspheme against soul food by calling that stuff they were serving anything close to soul food. I also hadn't realized it was a buffet style restaurant (when I bought a certificate for the place on restaurant.com, they had a whole menu to order from. Imagine my surprise when we got there to this lunch lady cafeteria looking place. They need to update their info on restaurant.com so people will know what to expect. The food was COLD, had no flavor, what they called dressing was stove top stuffing, the macaroni was dry as hell with burned cheese on top. There was a tray that had what looked like tiny cubes of potato floating in some greenish water. The lady told me it was steamed broccoli. No ma'am, that's the part of the broccoli we usually throw away, where's the part that looks like a tree? Honest to goodness, that was THE worst spaghetti I've ever eaten. Not only did it taste TERRIBLE, it had the mouth feel of applesauce, super mushy. You could tell it was not only really cheap pasta, but they obviously boiled it for an hour and 45 minutes. The jiffy'ish corn muffin was so dry it just crumbled. And the sweet potato...notice I didn't say candied...was just a chunk of boiled sweet potato, no seasoning, no syrupy sauce, no butter. Our plates were still almost just as full when we left as they were when they served it to us. There was a sign stating only one dessert per customer. The guy that served us our food at the buffet kept hovering around us until my friend said she couldn't take it anymore. So we asked if we could just have our dessert to go, they told us there would be an upcharge for takeout. I will admit, the fried fish was EXACTLY the way I like it, not still soft and/or wet, but not cooked to death, a nice light hard fry. And the weird murky colored tea was flavorful, again, a real southern soul food cook would NEVER serve powdered tea mix, but it was pleasant tasting. But $5 for a glass of tea? The fact that the place was totally empty on a Friday night at 7pm should have alerted us that folks ain't busting down doors to eat here. The decor was pretty nice, the people were very sweet, but that cooking...smh. I've never gone to dinner with a friend and been in and out of a restaurant so fast. I think we spent a total of 20 minutes there. My friend paid, but later told me the bill was $60. That was $52 more than what it was worth. read more

The Choice Something Special By Lillian - the ONLY thing edible was the piece of fish. - American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I love LOVE this place ... yet I've never done a review of it. Real food for the SOUL! And Miss Lillian will come out and be motherly toward you and your group. Pre-Covid Jazz and special events with sparkling wine or you can bring in your special bottle (corkage fee). Atmosphere (4-areas) Outdoor Patio Private Event room Dining room/Bar Takeout/Cafeteria area Ms Lillian is there to please and feed you well. Fully stocked bar. Cafeteria style takeout hot bar loaded with all the southern comfort foods and desserts with a (Pre-Covid) sit down area. Dining room with silver or gold utensils, clothed linens, phenomenal menu with more add ons. It's like going to your grandma's on a Sunday. Just go you will not regret this treat!!! read more

For two days the choice has had a loud dj screaming that i can hear 6 blocks away! I called to complain and the girl there didn't apologize she justified by saying that it the way they advertise! Don't eat there they are rude and inconsiderate people! read more

We were there for dinner yesterday and I had a great experience. I've placed The Choice several times but never knew it was a soul food spot. The customer service was amazing which is very important but rare in many places. The atmosphere was super warm and the food was just as good..We will surely go back read more

See all

Let's start off by saying, I've been looking got a soulfood restaurant all afternoon. Unknowingly most of them are closed for the holidays.. Not this one I called they welcome me right in.. Great customer service Awesome Food selection and open when you need them thank you kel and Victoria awesome experience and food is really tasty and make sure you try there tea ! read more

The Choice Something Special By Lillian - Great eats - American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Absolutely Amazing food and super amazing service. I can't put into words how delicious the food is and cooked to perfection. I love soul food and this place deserves a trophy for the absolute best soul food in the nation. The ambiance is so unique and welcoming. It's like eating at home with your family. I am going to make sure each and every single time I visit St.Louis i will be certain to eat here. read more

See all

Good food, friendly service in a family-run, Black-owned restaurant. We will be back. read more

I don't know where to start, there were so many things wrong with this place. There was a convention in town and they seized the opportunity to get in the "black" clearly "Black Friday" came early. This was a cafeteria style restaurant, but you wouldn't know it by the prices they charged. You were ask to pay before getting in line, they charged a 18% gratuity regardless of party size (1-20) or without informing you before charging your credit card. The biggest offense is you had to get your own food, so where was the service? The food was mediocre and they were stingy with the portions. Now maybe the food is better when the convention is not in town, but this was about price gouging and not service. For this reason I cannot recommend this place. read more

Great time. Bought the groupon and came over to enjoy some Soul Food. Since the obvious comparison is Sweetie Pie's, I'll start off by talking about how they're different. First off, we were treated to live ragtime music by a really sweet pianist who came over and greeted us and handed out his CD. Absolutely beautiful. Second off, they have a bar with mixed drinks and wine, happy hour, etc. Third, this is a fancy joint, and they bring you your food up to your table, and there is table service. The food is similar in that it is cafeteria style. You do pay a premium for the special service, but the food is good soul food. The service was a little off in that we had to remind our server twice to bring stuff we asked about, and had to get up to get refills. I'm guessing their ironing out stuff. They also handed me a flyer about their Thanksgiving buffet for $20-something/person (I think). read more

Not the best soul food place. Cabbage over cooked, cornbread muffins burnt... atmosphere too casual. I felt like i was at someone's house for the holiday (kids running around, servers sitting around chatting, etc). Music was great, but food presentation was that of a hospital cafeteria. I won't return. #notworththemoney #betterfoodathome read more

Oh where to begin. This is an interesting place. Food: I didn't expect it to be a buffet. That's the only option we were given but realized after the fact there is a menu. That wasn't offered to us. Instead our only choice was $15.50 for the buffet of which we didn't have a chance to view before deciding (and it was my first time there). My theory is we were only offered the buffet because the food was getting cold, there was a lot of it, and it was already 7pm. The choices and taste were worth a 3/5 stars. I had the macaroni and cheese, catfish, garlic potatoes, and sweet potatoes. I'm not into buffets so had I known, I would've found an alternative. No one went back for seconds because no one expected it to be a buffet. (A buffet that didn't include the drink or dessert, mind you.) Ambiance: There was a bar but I didn't take note as to whether the alcohol choices were plentiful. Non - alcoholic mixed drinks were offered as we sat down but I'm not sure of the cost (no drink menu was offered). I do understand they're trying to channel grandma's dining room from your youth but it was a very overwhelming decor (as shown in the photos). Mix-match chairs and tables, Christmas angels and ornaments, portraits on every wall, along with very loud music deterred our group's conversation at times. We all have different taste so this is just my assessment of the environment. read more

A Really Bad Choice! Four of us came in after volunteering for the neighborhood at a local event. We were all wearing our neighborhood shirts the entire time. We were greeted well when we came in, over 3/4 their staff we're at the bar talking and drinking. Damn, I thought, this is a sweet gig. Now to the menu, we ordered and when three of the four of us wanted ribs they said they were out. If we are paying upwards of $30 per meal, how about you tell us what you're out of. This went on for several entrees, and sides. By the way, the cornbread stuffing is a la carte but apparently is only available on Sunday. Two of us got the Ribeye, which wasn't even that but merely a big chunk of sirloin instead.The boys never used so much steak sauce in their lives, and compared it to Ponderosa. I had the chicken Alfredo that was bland, like hospital food. There wasn't even salt or pepper at the table to help myself out a bit. The chicken was fatty and like rubber, I ended up getting a to-go box and giving it to my dog...sadly even he has good taste and didn't eat it. Mac n' cheese was dry, bland, and gross as were the mixed greens in a literal pool of butter. As for the music, it was loud, and somewhat classy version of Karaoke.We couldn't even have a conversation, and we were one of three tables filled in the whole place. I was so excited to try this place, it's local, new, and has a nice cozy vibe. Too bad the people, food and service SUCK. I feel like this should be called the MANAGER'S CHOICE, because it's on the verge of going bad. I honestly have nothing good to say about the Choice, except I got out of there! Bad bad bad choice. I've definitely learned from this mistake. Don't waste a penny of your money, even easy mac from the microwave is better. WOOF! Someone please take this place over and make something out of a corner in the neighborhood. read more

I ventured into St. Louis for a business trip. The Uber driver suggested this hidden gem to me. And I'm glad he did. The staff is warm and welcoming. Very accommodating. The smell of the food hits you literally from outside of the door. I walked up to the buffet and i couldn't decide where to start. So i had a little bit of everything. Reminded Me of my moms cooking on thanksgiving. Everything was amazing. The decor is like sitting at home at your own dinning room at dinner time. There's no wrong choices here. Moderately priced. Great spot to eat great atmosphere. Great people. read more

My friend Libby and I were driving down Jefferson in our pursuit for something different for breakfast. We noticed the tall sign outside that said breakfast was $7. Sold! As soon as we opened the door the fantastic smell had us. There was so much to take in...the beautiful decor made you think you stepped into a stately mansion in New Orleans and the smell made you think of Grandma's house on Sunday. We realized that it was 11:30 so instead of breakfast we went for the lunch buffet. Between the two of us we had fried chicken, grits, macaroni and cheese, cabbage, smothered steak, smothered chicken, green beans and fried fish. We both got tea. I would have liked to have been told that it was sweet peach tea before I got it but it really was good. The food was exceptional. With it being a buffet we could try everything. I personally liked it better than Sweetie Pies. Tamika was a great waitress. I wish we had been told what to do with our dirty plates but when our glasses were starting to get empty she was there. Two funny guys were sitting next to us. It was their first time too. They had the breakfast. They seemed to wait a long time for their food. There was also some kind of misunderstanding about their order. Their breakfast came with grits but one of the guys wanted rice. Rice was on the buffet and Libby wanted grits so we took care of it. It seemed like every bite we took was better than the last. So why 4 stars? Well, the fish came out last and I barely had room to try it. While everything was spectacular that fish was even better. Not knowing what to do with the plates and partly for the mix up with the guys breakfast. I sort of feel that they should have been offered rice from the get go since out was on the buffet, not like out had to be made. She eventually offered it but was already switched by Libby. I've attached pictures. This place really is beautiful. We will be going back. As a matter of fact, Libby planned to go back the next day but her breakfast buddy couldn't go. read more

See all

The choice gets five stars because of the class of the place!!! We had a wonderful young server who recommended my drink which was off the chain!!!!! 1st time here and I was truly impressed thought I was in DC because of the atmosphere when you walk through the door.......wow wow wow! read more

See all

Sunday buffet was really really good and new owners are great! Catfish, collards, Mac n cheese and cornbread were all on point!

Looked at menu on The Choice website; was flummoxed by the item, under Drinks: ST LOUIS WATER - $1.25 Called to see what the heck that was and was told, "that's not on our menu" and then confirmed the addy on the website I was looking at and she agreed, but didn't know what was on the website. She then admitted that ST LOUIS WATER was in fact St. Louis city TAP water that has been filtered, and the "customers just love it!" I said so you're selling tap water? She stated adamantly "NO!" I told her, you just told me you filtered the tap water...then, tired of such nonsense said, "thank you but I will NEVER come to such an establishment, as you appear to be a liar AND cheat...GOOD DAY! read more

The food is amazing. Come during the week Sundays can be packed with larger parties. The downside is the staff. Though they are very kind, were under trained in restaurant service etiquette and there were minimum hands on deck. Perhaps the management along with the employees, can participate in professional restaurant training courses. However, overall the experience was great and the food was some of the BEST in this vicinity. read more

Food is nasty she sticks her fingers in the food to taste itmes before she serves them out she has mold and rats running around the place I don't even see how she still open such a nasty place of business read more

Beautiful place ! Outside looks a little diner-ish but the inside is Wow !!! We dropped in for lunch while Pokémon hunting and I felt underdressed but the staff were very welcoming and helpful ! We'll be back in skirt and tie for date night :) read more

The Choice Something Special By Lillian - a dining room with a table and chairs - American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Good live Jazz. Great first visit, food was good, read more

The Choice Something Special By Lillian - Tall table for 2! - American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

See all

When I visited the hostess was nice & patient. The food choices were many. I ordered breakfast and loved every bite. The potatoes were a bit greasy but still well seasoned. read more

Stopped in and had the smothered Pork chop with Mac and cheese, yam in a pineapple sauce and string bean and black eye peas on a bed of white rice, the food was delicious and The staff were very attentive and the decor was very nice and clean, will come back and recommend visiting, and they also have take out. read more

Invited here for a going away dinner a few weeks ago. This was my second time coming to this establishment. It will definitely be my last time for sure! It was a weeknight and our group was the only people there. The service was horrendous. Our food was cold and extremely dry. They made a punch drink that was more sugar than anyone should be consuming in a cup! The waiter was either, high, drunk or something because he couldn't comprehend what we needed when we asked for assistance. I asked if I could take my one plate home so I could reheat it and eat it later and I was told no by the owner. After spending over $25 for a meal, I was very upset that I wouldn't be able to try and salvage it later. My daughter and I had to get food on the way home after wasting over $50. read more

Every time I go, the food is absolutely awesome and the ambiance is as well. The owner is very gracious and personable. I would definitely recommend the meatloaf...but the macaroni and cheese...not so much. The desserts are good as well. The only reason I am not giving them 5 stars is for the customer service at the bar area...which was bad and them appearing to be short staffed. Other than that...I would recommend this place over Sweetie Pies and Yummies ( other soul food restaurants in St. Louis) read more

This place is simply like eating in Your Grandmother's dining room. The food has nothing but soul and the staff is awesome. The Choice is a great place to take out of towners and family as a whole. Great food, Beautiful Atmosphere, and Perfect Drinks after a long day/week. read more

Loved the southern, soul food! Nice staff. Not sure why there wasn't more ppl at this place. The food was amazing and I'm a great cook myself so I'm very particular abt gvg out five stars. Their baked sweet potatoes... Oh my good God! read more

I enjoy this place because it is definitely a staple in black history. The ambience and the fine dining is a necessary for anyone coming into town. I enjoyed the food selection of the buffet and the greatcustomer service. read more

I found a coupon for this place on Groupon so I decided to take my son to lunch for his birthday and I'm so glad that I did! The food was excellent! I had 2 drumsticks (I'm lying, 3 drumsticks! LOL), one neckbone, black eyed peas, collard greens, dressing, corn and a cornbread muffin. Everything that I tried was very tasty. The fried chicken was fried to perfection and seasoned perfectly. Hats off to the cook! I drooled over the two cakes that I saw, but I didn't get a chance to get a piece. I'll definitely have to go back for that! The restaurant is buffet style, but they serve you. The waitress was friendly and very accommodating. I will be returning with my husband. Great food! read more

This was a really awesome place to visit me and my cousin were here for the weekend , the food was really good they had karaoke & A wonderful jazz player I guess every Friday night they do this. We were able to sing songs we were dancing jamming to the dusties. Stacy which was the manager was our waitress she was hands-down amazing . Very personable very attentive all-around a very nice experience I'm so glad that we decided to go to this restaurant it felt like we were @ home & for a perfect stranger in a unfamiliar city is the best feeling in the world . So I know why now it's called The Choice the best choice that is keep up the good job Stacy & team your Chicago friends... read more

My mom went in there they did not accept your Groupon drove all the way from north city will not be back !

GOOD PONTS - Food is REALLY GOOD! Excellent catfish, fried chicken is very good, everything is really good. Fun family style atmosphere, like at grandma's house. COULD USE SOME ATTENTION - The service is a bit slow. We did the buffet and we were early around 5:00 PM on a Friday Night. (We were the only customers in the place). It took them about 20 minutes to be ready for us to go to the buffet. You don't just serve yourself at this buffet. They serve for you and you tell them what you want. The cornbread was crumbly and dry - I'm not a fan of that kind of corn bread. I wish they had more than just chicken wings on the buffet. They are large wings but still would have liked a variety of pieces. I understand there is a cost of doing business, but it seems that the ketchup, tartar sauce, etc was only available by requesting it, and then it arrived in a single individual sized tiny cup. One of these for a table of 4 who all had requested tartar sauce. They do have a live musician who played a few songs on sax, and he also doubles as a Karaoke DJ. Again - we were the only people there and when he cranked the music it was a bit difficult to hear our dinner conversation. However one only need request that they have the music lowered and they are happy to oblige. The decor is a bit garish. A blend of old timey New Orleans with modern LED TVs playing CNN. It did appear to be extremely clean! The people there are sweet and service minded. They made for a unique and fun experience in St. Louis. read more

Beautiful gorgeous space! Super friendly staff! I'm vegan so I can't eat much here but the greens are BANGIN. You don't find many soul food restaurants with meatless greens and I truly appreciate the fact that they try to have at least a couple meatless items. As good as the greens are I'm really giving five stars for their five star bartender Jerry. He is an absolute jem and I will be back frequently just for his smile and and his Bloody Mary's read more

My husband and I wandered into this restaurant for lunch today. We were warmly greeted and given instructions on different ways of ordering, either from the buffet or a la carte. We chose a mixed plate from the buffet that included two meats, three sides and a cornbread muffin. We got smothered chicken (thigh), lightly breaded tilapia, collard greens, sweet potatoes and cornbread stuffing. All terrifically yummy! and plenty of food for both of us. I wandered into the evening dining sections, and discovered a treasure trove of tasteful art, furnishings and music stages and a very classy bar. We hope to get back for the dining experience very soon. Thank you Miss Lillian for bringing this haven of sophistication to Benton Park West! read more

I would give The Choice a 3.5 if that was an option as it lands smack between 3 and 4 for me at this point. It could change with more visits under my belt, but I wanted to get a review in on this place. There isn't much out there yet, and I think it is a solid entry into the Benton Park area. What's a three? The food, the table service, and the buffet/lunch area. The Choice serves up southern style comfort food, the results are good but not great. The standouts do far are fried chicken and the greens- both savory and delicious. The chicken was spiced just right with the skin crispy while the meat stayed tender and juicy. The greens are vegetarian, but you would not miss the flavor that bacon or other meat adds. The many other sides we tried- red beans & rice, stuffing, corn bread, steamed veggies, and mac 'n cheese, were just okay. Some were overcooked and mushy, some lacking flavor. I don't like to add salt to meals at all, and when it's southern style comfort food, something is amiss. BF tried the pasta alfredo with blackened chicken, which we thought could be a tactical error not being a typical southern dish, and we were unfortunately correct. The sauce was bland and the chicken was just cooked through by baking or saute- not a trace of grilling or char to be found. Our table server was a young, shy girl who spoke so quietly we could hardly hear her. She did move us from the sterile, cafeteria like buffet area into the nice bar area, so that was a big help. She didn't have a wine list or know what wines they served, so had to get the bartender's help. Turns out they just have one house brand with a handful of varietals and one house special, so that should be easy to remember! So what was a four for us? The bar ambiance, bartender, and neighborhood location. The difference between the lunch and buffet area is like night and day. The bar is upscale yet comfortable, spacious yet cozy. It's beautifully decorated with soft, comfy seats, a gorgeous bar, and great lighting. There are several flat panel TVs strategically placed for good viewing but minimal distraction. This would be a great place to watch a game. The bartender is apparently a local legend that knocked our socks off. He is funny, professional, and serves up cocktails with flourish and flair. While we were still at our bar table, he stopped by to top us off consistently but not intrusively. Once we bellied up to the bar after dinner, he rolled out the charm and chatted us up. We had a lot of laughs, but he was always on top of his game for us and other patrons. A real gem. It's nice that this is walkable from home as well, especially since the bar is such a highlight! They do have a bar menu that looks good, so our next visit will be drinks and apps at the bar. read more

While the server was really nice and explained the menu well, the food was cold and just ok. We ate there for lunch at 11:30 and all the food was cold. The sides had good flavor but the fried chicken was greasy. Over priced for what we got. We read about the restaurant in STL magazine and normally when we go to a place they suggest we are really happy, but this was disappointing, $40 for 2 choices of meat and 6 side to choose from. And you have to pay extra for all you can eat. read more

Let me say this. I like The Choice for the ambiance and the customer service. The food is the typical soul food, nothing really special, and can be a bit salty. However, I come for the atmosphere. But I experienced something the last time I was there that has caused me not to return. I ordered a to-go-plate. I noticed that there was an item that was wrong. So I told the server at the steam table that the wrong food was put in my plate and I wanted to replace it with the right item. She graciously took my order and said "No problem, that can be fixed." What she did next was appalling. She scooped the item that was wrong right back into the food The was on the steam table and put the item I wanted on my plate. Closed up and handed to me. WHAT! That is such a food service violation 101. I was trained in food service and that was totally against regulations. Instead of her taking my plate and replacing all of my food (which she should have done) she took the food a put it back on the steam table....like it was normal? That is it! I won't return, I will not recommend anyone and I'm even thinking about reporting them to the food service authorities. That place is off my top 5 St. Louis Soul Food Restaurant list for good! read more

Given the very small number of reviews on Yelp, we went against our better judgement to give this place a chance for dinner on a Friday night. Nice decor, but food quality and service was terrible. Date and I waited awkwardly for several minutes before we were seated despite servers just standing around, and once we were seated our server took several more minutes before giving us water or the menu. Food was way overpriced for something that seemed frozen and reheated/fried and it took forever (~hour) just to get one appetizer and a pasta dish with 2 sides. Salad was subpar and drenched in dressing that rendered it unedible. Highly doubt this place will survive. read more

Delicious food, great service, great ambience, warm pepole... from the first bite to last... awesome...i will be back.. I recommend this establishment. Just like home during the holidays... come visit your new fam... read more

Service is TERRIBLE. Food is subpar and overpriced. Would never go back. Would have given it 0 stars if possible, and would have walked out without paying if that weren't such a hideous offense. read more