Iowa Buffet is a must visit when in St. Louis. Total gem, friendly vibe, great food, cheap drinks.
No Thanks
Not a buffet false advertising
Doris H.
We were heading to Casa Loma tonight I wanted to eat in the city. Have been hearing a lot about the Iowa Buffet and their barbecue. When we got there the lady behind the bar was extremely rude to us and pretty much yelled at us wanting our drink order before we even sat down. She finally brought us menus over and stated that her and her mother were getting ready to exchange shifts so her mom would be cooking and she would see what they had left of the barbecue menu which was not much. So she said well next time you'll need to come in earlier if you want barbecue. It was just around 5:00 they shouldn't have been out of everything. So we had our drinks but nobody ever came to get our food order when my friend said something to her she said well my mom's outside she'll be in and she'll get it then we still waited for a little while. A gentleman came into place to go order and she said well I can write it down but it'll be a little bit before she gets it up she ain't even offered to do that with us and we were there for 20 minutes paid for drinks got up and left usually I will give a place another chance I will never go in there again the way we were treated. I got the impression that we weren't regular so we didn't matter.
Angeletta M.
Iowa Buffet is a historic Saint Louis landmark! The food is delicious on a consistent basic. Don't come in the bar looking for smoked salmon or dom perignon. Grab a seat where you fit in.
Andrew Brennecke
This place has been so wonderful, and such a hidden gem! You feel like family when you walk in, and their bbq is absolutely fire! Hands down one of my go to spots!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Double Bacon Cheeseburger
Michael Chambers
Tiny place in a bad neighborhood, but wow, the food was great and the service was very friendly. I'd be happy to go there again!??Parking: Strictly street parking and not much of that, but make sure you lock your vehicle up tight, and make sure no valuables are visible.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mark H.
The food is great. Service is warm, friendly and very helpful l. This place is frozen in time 1957'ish. It will blow your mind for sure. We have been here plenty for lunch. They say it is a hoot at night with the locals.
Curt Balding
I should have known that when I walked In ju8and mentioned that I was hungry and the bartender asked me "Wadda have?", And I replied,"Well a menu might help".. My friend and I both had the Mushroom and Swiss burgers. He had the cheese fries and I had the onion rings. My onion rings were over-done and it seemed as if they had been fried in over-used cooking oil. She seemed more interested in socialising than to check on our meals or cocern herself with any drink refills without having to regain her attention again. I still CAN'T understand how they can use the word "Buffet" in their name.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Kevin Childers
First it's not a buffet. Second many of the menu items were not available. More of s Bar & Grill with a real gas grill. I haven't seen one of those in years.I'd say this is a locals sort of place. Could use some work to be more than it is currently.Vegetarian options: Nothing vegetarian on the menu but a salad that they were out of.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Matthew Fritz
Extremely small space which make it cozy. Drinks were well priced and burgers are really good.
By far the best burgers this hidden gem been around since 1952 and still in the same family. Amazing place to eat and very nice and friendly atmosphere.. customer for life... If you go there once you will be a regular for life. The cast iron grill they use from the early 1900s gives the burgers a flavor of their own..... Did I mention they had homemade fries and desserts, such as cheese, pies. Homemade bbg... The grandmother, mother, and daughter are all a pleasure, very excellent customer ?.. oh wait one more thing and their prices are outstanding and they are known for the amazing.... A must have everyone when you get a chance go check these burgers out and their food..... You'll thank me later...Kid-friendliness: Very laid-back for a bar that's been around.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Onion Rings, House Made Fries, Double Bacon Cheeseburger, The Original Hankburger
Samira Ak0k0
small spot w cheap drafts, domestic bottles and the coolest grill that made one "hank" of a
Food: 4
Cedric Bunche
Quaint lil neighborhood spot. Good food and beer, I'll be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Jason Dossett
Good quick service ,cute
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William Fasick
Great burgers cheap
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ribs, Chili Cheese Fries, Onion Rings, Chili, Dinner Salad, Chef Salad, blt Sandwich, Tommy
Iowa Buffet is a must visit when in St. Louis. Total gem, friendly vibe, great food, cheap drinks.
Not a buffet false advertising
We were heading to Casa Loma tonight I wanted to eat in the city. Have been hearing a lot about the Iowa Buffet and their barbecue. When we got there the lady behind the bar was extremely rude to us and pretty much yelled at us wanting our drink order before we even sat down. She finally brought us menus over and stated that her and her mother were getting ready to exchange shifts so her mom would be cooking and she would see what they had left of the barbecue menu which was not much. So she said well next time you'll need to come in earlier if you want barbecue. It was just around 5:00 they shouldn't have been out of everything. So we had our drinks but nobody ever came to get our food order when my friend said something to her she said well my mom's outside she'll be in and she'll get it then we still waited for a little while. A gentleman came into place to go order and she said well I can write it down but it'll be a little bit before she gets it up she ain't even offered to do that with us and we were there for 20 minutes paid for drinks got up and left usually I will give a place another chance I will never go in there again the way we were treated. I got the impression that we weren't regular so we didn't matter.
Iowa Buffet is a historic Saint Louis landmark! The food is delicious on a consistent basic. Don't come in the bar looking for smoked salmon or dom perignon. Grab a seat where you fit in.
This place has been so wonderful, and such a hidden gem! You feel like family when you walk in, and their bbq is absolutely fire! Hands down one of my go to spots!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Double Bacon Cheeseburger
Tiny place in a bad neighborhood, but wow, the food was great and the service was very friendly. I'd be happy to go there again!??Parking: Strictly street parking and not much of that, but make sure you lock your vehicle up tight, and make sure no valuables are visible.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is great. Service is warm, friendly and very helpful l. This place is frozen in time 1957'ish. It will blow your mind for sure. We have been here plenty for lunch. They say it is a hoot at night with the locals.
I should have known that when I walked In ju8and mentioned that I was hungry and the bartender asked me "Wadda have?", And I replied,"Well a menu might help".. My friend and I both had the Mushroom and Swiss burgers. He had the cheese fries and I had the onion rings. My onion rings were over-done and it seemed as if they had been fried in over-used cooking oil. She seemed more interested in socialising than to check on our meals or cocern herself with any drink refills without having to regain her attention again. I still CAN'T understand how they can use the word "Buffet" in their name.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
First it's not a buffet. Second many of the menu items were not available. More of s Bar & Grill with a real gas grill. I haven't seen one of those in years.I'd say this is a locals sort of place. Could use some work to be more than it is currently.Vegetarian options: Nothing vegetarian on the menu but a salad that they were out of.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Extremely small space which make it cozy. Drinks were well priced and burgers are really good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Original Hankburger
Restaurantji Recommends
By far the best burgers this hidden gem been around since 1952 and still in the same family. Amazing place to eat and very nice and friendly atmosphere.. customer for life... If you go there once you will be a regular for life. The cast iron grill they use from the early 1900s gives the burgers a flavor of their own..... Did I mention they had homemade fries and desserts, such as cheese, pies. Homemade bbg... The grandmother, mother, and daughter are all a pleasure, very excellent customer ?.. oh wait one more thing and their prices are outstanding and they are known for the amazing.... A must have everyone when you get a chance go check these burgers out and their food..... You'll thank me later...Kid-friendliness: Very laid-back for a bar that's been around.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Onion Rings, House Made Fries, Double Bacon Cheeseburger, The Original Hankburger
small spot w cheap drafts, domestic bottles and the coolest grill that made one "hank" of a
Food: 4
Quaint lil neighborhood spot. Good food and beer, I'll be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Good quick service ,cute
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great burgers cheap
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ribs, Chili Cheese Fries, Onion Rings, Chili, Dinner Salad, Chef Salad, blt Sandwich, Tommy