This morning I witnessed a beautiful pink dawn with Venus hanging low in the Eastern horizon. My mind frequently works in opposites and because the sunrise was in the Northeast, I thought Southwest. This triggered my memory of the new diner which opened last month near my home. I picked up my friend, Mickey, and we went for breakfast to "".
Dawn, our server, wearing a pink "Southwest Diner" tee shirt, greeted us as we sat at the bar. She poured us steaming cups of bottomless coffee in china mugs as we pondered the menu.
The decor was definitely Southwestern with pictures, paintings, and memorabilia of New Mexico. Brown tiles lined the walls, the fifties aluminum tables and chairs were topped in purple, and the whole vibe was true to its namesake.
The "Chico" was $5.00 and included toast, two eggs cooked to order, and fried potatoes with red onion.This was my order. For $1.00 more, Mickey ordered the "Medio" with a choice of bacon or sausage. For $8.00, the "Grande" included all of the above and a short stack of pancakes.
Other breakfast items include Huevos Rancheros, Southwest Slinger, New Mexico Breakfast Burrito, and "Build Your Own Omelet". A bottle of hot sauce graces each table.
Lunch items include salads ("The Wedge" and a house salad), hamburgers, Reuben Sandwich, BLT, Grilled Cheese. New Mexico Platters include Tostadas, Green or Red Chile Enchiladas, "Build Your Own Burrito". Platters are served with pinto beans and rice.
J. Jones and A. Seidel operated a taco cart and Holy Crepe Food Truck at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market. They wanted a bricks and mortar restaurant, so when 6803 Southwest (a former AA coffee shop) came up for sale, they grabbed it. Back of the bar are old school bookcases which the pair retrofitted to accommodate plates, glasses, coffee maker, and milk dispensers. Ms Seidel acquired six dental x-ray screens and stenciled diner words in red retro lettering.
Hours are 6:00a.m.-3:00p.m. with weekends being the busiest times. The owners are applying for a liquor license and once that is in hand, we can expect longer hours. In the meantime, get there early for an authentic taste and feel for the cuisine and decor of the Southwest.
The eggs were perfectly cooked to order, the fried potatoes with red onion were delicious and put me over my "carb limit" for the day, and the "sopapilla" (Mexican flatbread donut) smeared with honey was very sweet and tasty. The coffee was great! I suspect that when they get their liquor license they will be open longer, like for dinner---I will try to monitor this situation for you and report back! regards, Mark Cockson
And Mark, that food sounds great... I'll keep my eyes open for the update. Thanks for the article!