Diner's Delight — Restaurant in St. Louis

It is extremely disheartening to encounter such a lack of professionalism not once, but twice in a single afternoon. After leaving another restaurant only a few miles away due to unacceptable service, I arrived here hopeful for a better experience. Unfortunately, the disappointment continued!! Here we go!!!

Hours of operation stated 12pm on the door. At precisely 12:13 p.m., the doors were unlocked by a young woman with red braids in a bun while more than a dozen patrons, myself included, waited outside. Rather than opening the door fully or offering a greeting or apology for the delay, she simply unlocked it and walked away. The gentleman behind the counter was equally indifferent, no acknowledgment, no explanation, no courtesy extended. Other customers informed me that this is typical, that the restaurant frequently opens late, and that one is expected to simply tolerate it because “the food is worth it.” If an establishment can’t consistently adhere to its posted hours, the honest solution is to adjust them, not to leave paying customers standing outside!

The challenges continued once inside. I asked about yams, only to be told they would not be ready for another hour, after we had already waited nearly fifteen minutes in line. Having traveled from Georgia with my brother to support this establishment, we reluctantly agreed to wait. What followed only reinforced my disappointment.

The ordering process was disorganized and unwelcoming. There were no menus in sight, and when I asked a basic question about the number of sides included, it should have been apparent that I was unfamiliar with the system. Instead of assistance, I was met with dismissiveness. My brother inquired about collard greens, to which the employee, identified as Edmond, replied with a casual shake of the head and, “Nope, no collards.” When I selected the fried chicken, Edmond made an inappropriate comment about not “calling the Nation” on me, presumably because I bypassed the pork chops. This was an unprofessional and unnecessary remark that only underscored the lack of respect shown throughout our visit.

As for the food itself, the black-eyed peas and yams were acceptable, but the fried chicken was dry. For two meals totaling $38, the quality of food did not begin to justify the discourtesy and inefficiency we endured.

I say this not as someone expecting perfection, but as someone who values professionalism, consistency, and respect in any business, regardless of who owns it. It is time we hold establishments accountable for more than just their food. A restaurant should not be excused for chronic lateness, indifference, and inappropriate behavior simply because “the food is good.” True hospitality is about the entire experience.

Until this establishment prioritizes professionalism and customer respect as much as it does its recipes, I can’t in good conscience...

I have to be honest this food was just a heck NO. I went on 7/31/24, I ordered to dinners to go the turkey wing and dressing w/Mac and cheese and candy yams and also the pork steak, with mashed potatoes and corn. So the pork steak was OK just too salty( I don't have High blood pressure I am fit. I was a gymnast in high school and very fit for me to say something as salty. It says a lot because I like my food seasoned but there's a difference between seasoned food and just salty food.This food was just salty) The mashed potatoes were Ok and the corn was good. The Turkey wing and macaroni and cheese and the dressing was so salty. I didn't understand why macaroni and cheese was so salty. The noodles were completely overcooked could have smashe them with a toothpick that's how overcooked it was . It was like eating mush. The only thing that was decent were the candy yams(tastes like they use margarine not butter and Domino sugar or some other sweetener) they weren't good but better than everything else, to me they were overcooked. Candy yams should have some bite to them; they shouldn't fall apart, but they shouldn't be hard either. They were just falling apart again mush. The dressing was very gritty. I just don't understand I'm starting to think that Laury's is the only seasoning that these black soul food restaurants know how to use. The macaroni and cheese was just horrible. I cannot stress enough how horrible it was. It was so mushy and soupy. I don't know $42 down the drain. Like I said, the corn was good mashed potatoes ok. I will definitely not be back.I wish I had the picture.I still have the turkey wing and dressing dinner because I just could not bring myself to eat it. I actually called them and said, this is the saltiest none flavored food I've ever had; you ever have food that's just salty, it's not really flavorful. It's just salty...

This is the most unfriendly and unprofessional establishment I have ever visited. It seemed to be an inconvenience for them to answer simple questions about their menu. Since there isn't a visible menu with prices, you would think they would be open and pleasant about what they offer. When I asked about prices, I was told in a perfunctory manner, it depends on what you want. What type of response is that? The particular day I went, I bought along someone who had a taste for soul food and since the diner is a block from my home, I thought I would try it. Big mistake. My friend seemed to question why I would invite her to buy food from people who seemed not at all welcoming. I spent most of my time apologizing to my friend about the choice. I will never patronize them again. Not only was the older black woman rude, and grimacing me with stares, one of the twin brothers, seemed angry that I changed my order at the last moment to add a to go order of peach cobbler. He even went as far as to "sigh" when I added the extra menu item. News flash, I can spend my money elsewhere, where they appreciate when you order extra's. He acted is if he was doing me a favor of having me spend my money there. With such a variety of delicious food choices in St. Louis, and with staff that are friendly, the people at Diner's Delight need to get a clue. They seem to have a very loyal base of customers who don't care about their rudeness. I know this from the constant stream of cars clogging up the street when they are open. I on the other hand would rather spend my dollars with people who understand the value of customer service and how it goes hand in hand with the experience of eating out. I will make sure that I tell people that visit St. Louis to dine elsewhere and I will be sure to...