Lady Di's Diner — Restaurant in Saint Charles

This review is based solely on my experience and my personal opinion.

this was my first time at the "Lady Di's Diner" (8/22/21).

FOOD: I ordered Blueberry smothered Pancakes and an orange juice. usually all I eat for breakfast is Pancakes, so I know what a good pancake should taste like. Pancakes where stodgy and thin.... the opposite of fluffy. they were dense and chewy. They blueberry sauce they pour on them has a nice flavor and helps with the lack of flavor of the pancakes. Yeah, good handmade pancakes (not from a mix or box) taste like fresh eggs and milk.... not the case here. The orange juice was store bought orange juice, NOT freshly squeezed (they should put a note on the Menu).

STAFF: the old man is very nice and friendly, old school welcoming. the rest of the servers are middle age women, nice and friendly. my Server got me the order within 5 minutes. They knew all the other customers that probably were locals or acquaintances and they were very amicable with them.

CLEALINESS: when I got there the place had crumbs on pretty much all the chairs and most of the tables, and I kept changing spot till I found a clean one. the floor was not clean either and the crumbs/sweet juices attracted birds and bugs. if you keep it clean that does not happen. even if it is outside. my Menu had ketchup stains on it.

SMOKE ISSUE: I did not know that in the outside patio Smoking was allowed so I sat next to a couple and before I knew they both started smoking cigarettes'. I had puffs of smoke coming my way and I had to eat with the constant smell of smoke under my nose. Horrible.

PLACE: when I got there I decided to sit at the outside patio/porch.... so I do not know what it looks like in the inside. The outside porch's furniture is 70's style.... chairs, benches and tables are chipped, worn, stained and uncomfortable if you wanna sit for more than 10 minutes. And the overall look is pretty messy.

RESTROOMS: did not use.

PRICE: $10.90 for a a stack of pancakes and a big glass of orange juice is a good price.

PRICE ISSUE: before leaving I asked the server to bring me the check and so she did. my check was $10.90 and I gave her $20. She never got me the change back. Since I did not have any proof that I gave her $20I left the place without asking as I do not like confrontations or arguments.

CONCLUSIONS: I would not go back there. I was NOT impressed at all with the food, the place and...

The food looks good and the people looked friendly. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to try anything or talk to anyone. The place was busy and my girlfriend and I were more than happy to wait around until we were helped by someone when they had time. We waited and another couple came in behind us and also began to wait patiently. Then a man and his two children came in to use the restroom. He was standing closest to the door and obviously the last to enter. During this period of time we were passed up repeatedly by servers going about their buisness not making eye contact and just hurrying around (as you need to when your so busy). The reason for this review being so low and the reason I felt it was still necessary to leave it is because the person who came up to talk about how there was a 20 to 30 minute wait did so by turning their back to us and the other couple and lowered their voice to speak to him as if he was the only person there waiting. He let them know that he only came in to let his boys use the restroom. The server then proceeded to walk away and continue about their buisness never even glancing at us. We decided to leave. The only thing that's really getting to me is that we and the other couple are both interracial and the one lone male was white as well as every single other customer I could see (pretty small quaint place absolutely no way you could not see us). I don't know what this was, I don't know if it was a racial thing, but it felt really messed up and I just don't think I'll be...

Hear me out: the food was not incredible. The pancake was fairly flavorless and the French toast was mushy. The sausage may have been yesterday's. But! The service was absolutely awesome, the French toast had great flavor, just wasn't cooked well. And did I mention the service? I'll go back for the waitress alone. Maybe the cook was having an off-day, or someone didn't turn up. There was a mistake on the bill (they charged us for something they never delivered), but there was zero hassle when we pointed it out. And the coffee was amazing! Best coffee in St Louis so far. The hash browns were fresh. You know how some places, they taste like the oil is old or the grill isn't clean? Not at all here, I loved the hash browns. The place could use some acoustic tiles, but I was so happy here, that has to count for a lot. The booth was the most comfortable I've sat in for a while. I will definitely go back for another try. The awesome waitress and the lovely woman at the register are worth more than any basic bacon. You go to a diner for the experience, not the haute cuisine. This place has that magic. It's been several hours, and I feel like I ate at a very clean place, and that I was welcome and wanted there. I went in with a smile, I left with a smile, and I'm still smiling several hours later. That's really all that...