The New List of St. Louis’ Late-Night Eats

Two years ago, it seemed as if St. Louis needed more late-night restaurants to meet the demand for post-bar-close food. The Grove and Grand South neighborhoods were upping their food game, answering the prayers of those in the process of being answered. The additions to the beloved dining options in the St. Louis landscape, such as fish and chicken windows and thoughtful sandwiches, appeared to be a welcome addition for us, beyond the usual greasy spoons after-hours.

Once the pandemic ended, it seemed like the party would never be ready to gather together again, especially at 1 a.M. In crowded restaurants. However, if you wanted to keep the party going, these places used to serve as perfect spots to soak up some booze and continue the late-night dining scene. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit and turned the whole dining scene upside down, killing any momentum for a real late-night dining experience.

The restaurant industry is resilient, even though a few places have dropped out of the late-night game. For a snack in the middle of the night, we have various excellent options to choose from. However, we hope that more places will join their ranks as the terrible virus loosens its hold. There are several others who are dedicated to helping us fulfill our late-night cravings in a more dignified manner than simply going through a drive-through at Jack in the Box at 2 a.M.

Mission Taco Joint.

When their dining rooms closed,Mission Taco Joint.(multiple locations including 6235 Delmar Boulevard, 314-932-5430) spent the early part of the pandemic making sure we could get to-go cocktails with our takeout food (thanks, Tilford brothers!). Now that the restaurants have reopened, Mission is again helping us eat, drink and be merry, thanks to their late-night happy hour. The Friday and Saturday night event, which was paused the past year, is back, serving $2.50 tacos, $2.50 cans of Tecate, and Tecates with a bourbon or a tequila shot for $5 from 10 p.m. to midnight. Is there a better way to celebrate a return to a semblance of normalcy?

Gramophone.

A pioneer of late-night eats in the Grove,Gramophone.(4243 Manchester Avenue, 314-531-5700) offers its full sandwich menu until midnight every night of the week except Mondays. And these are no ordinary sandwiches. The music-venue-turned-sandwich-pub is the gold standard of meals served between bread, offering creatively named delights like the Phil and Ched’s Excellent Adventure riff on the Philly cheesesteak, the pastrami-stuffed Smokey the Beer, and the Manchester Melt, which is a take on the St. Louis classic Gerber sandwich. They’re so good it doesn’t matter what time of day you eat them, but the fact that you can get such sandwich dignity around bar close is a special kind of wonderful.

Courtesy Diner.

You can get yourCourtesy Diner.(3153 South Kingshighway Boulevard, 314-776-9059) fix at three different locations around town, but there is something extra special about sitting at the counter in the original Kingshighway spot at 3 a.m. with a cup of diner coffee and some hash browns. A 24-hour gathering spot, the place may feel a little less packed and frantic in the middle of the night than it did pre-pandemic, but it still retains the gritty edge that makes it a well-worn St. Louis institution.

Biggie’s.

A longtime south St. Louis institution,Biggie’s.(3332 Watson Road, 314-781-0060) offers its full menu of good ol’ bar and grill food until 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, including its famous steak sandwich, which pairs a thick, grilled-to-order slab of meat with gooey cheese garlic bread. If you were worried about having trouble falling to sleep, this one will get you to slumberland in no time.

The Fortunate Collaborator.

This trendy spot on Jefferson Avenue, Lucky Accomplice, offers a late-night menu with small plates and cocktails, making it a popular choice for those looking to keep the conversation going into the evening on Fridays and Saturdays. While it has a more relaxed vibe compared to its sister restaurant, the concept is still intriguing and the food is creatively crafted by the extremely talented and innovative chef. Open until midnight from Saturday to Thursday, Lucky Accomplice is the perfect neighborhood restaurant for food lovers who want to experience Logan Shift’s tasting-menu-focused success in a laid-back setting.

Uncle Bill’s.

When craving the Half Chicken Spring Young at 3 a.M., There is only one place to go: Bill’s Uncle Pancake House (3427 South Kingshighway Boulevard, 314-832-1973), the mainstay 24-hour south-city that has been soaking up late-night shenanigans since 1961. This bastion of goodness remains unchanged and ready to serve as a source of comfort, between the fact that this breakfast of champions has made fewer boozy nights in the past year.

Michael’s Pub & Eatery.

A beloved Greek taverna just east of Maplewood’s main drag,Michael’s Pub & Eatery.(7101 Manchester Avenue, 314-644-2250) has it all: gyros, rack of lamb, burgers, pastitsio, wings, saganaki — basically anything your heart could possibly desire. That you can get all of this until 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday puts this cozy restaurant on a must-visit list for those who like to eat their dinners on the late side.

Brasswell.

Located inside Brasswell’s Beer Rockwell (1320, Avenue Vandeventer South, 314-256-1657), this food window was ultimately transformed into a French-inspired eatery by the acclaimed chef Gerard Craft. Open on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight, this late-night spot in West Central End serves wildly popular burgers that are contenders for the best in town, regardless of the time of day.

Ranoush.

Located in the heart of the Central West End,Ranoush.(386 North Euclid Avenue, 314-833-4400) keeps its kitchen open until midnight every day except Monday, giving late-night eaters an opportunity to nosh on its delectable Syrian cuisine before turning into a pumpkin. Owned by veteran restaurateur Aboud Alhamid, this delightful restaurant marries the warmth of old family recipes with a stylish atmosphere that is tailor-made for its stylish neighborhood.

Blackthorn.

It helps pass the time much quicker; make sure to grab a game of shuffleboard and a beer while your pizza cooks. The kitchen hours are currently fluid, depending on business, but they typically stay open until around 11 pm on Saturdays and Fridays. This is the best, thick lasagna-like pie you can get on this side of Wrigley, and it’s well worth its lengthy cooking time. This pub pizza may be located in the middle of St. Louis, south of Chicago’s heart, but Blackthorn’s is still the place to be.

The Buttery.

In the same year, both a pandemic and a fire have made it possible for us, as a community, to find hope in this place. Despite facing disaster, this restaurant, with its gritty and worn vibe that has attracted loyal customers for decades, has somehow managed to keep going and rebuild. Now, a few months later, the 24-hour spot stands as a symbol of resilience. However, the iconic diner, The Buttery, located at 3659 South Grand Boulevard (phone number: 4443-771-314), suffered extensive damage from the Christmas fire, raising questions about its ability to recover.