Ernie's Cafe & Steak House

Ernie's Cafe & Steak House is a breakfast hotspot in Columbia, MO! This spot is so popular that you can expect a small wait on a weekend morning if you don't get there early enough! The service is friendly and quick, which makes the wait time for a table shorter than you would expect! This spot is known for their steaks, but you have to try the biscuits & gravy or the stacked French toast! Honestly, you can't go wrong ordering anything on the breakfast menu. If you are looking for a vintage vibe breakfast spot with spectacular entrees, visit Ernie's Cafe & Steak House!

Stopped in before leaving Columbia, started the day off great. Service was fantastic, everyone pleasant and polite and the food was great. Had the #8 ham steak and #12 the sampler, eggs were perfect and portions good, not too much but more than enough. We took a chance not wanting to eat in the hotel and this was perfect. Great food and at a good price. We will be back on our next trip to Columbia. I highly recommend you’ll love it.

Well this place is a gem iam on straight diet so could not get what most people would want but this is very good spot to come relax eat breakfast and enjoy a good vibe parking may be a little difficult and if it gets to busy may be a bit slower but other then that good place to eat at

Cute little cafe! Had a short line but the wait wasn't too long. The coffee was great. The eggs were cooked perfectly, but the Hamburger was a tad dry. The price was perfect. Will definitely be going back!

I over-ordered but glad I did. The food is good, eggs were nicely done, hashbrown was super crunchy, and the porkchop was not salty at all!!! The atmosphere is very homey and the staff is very attentive, refilling my coffee constantly. As you can see the price is ridiculously affordable.

We love this place! Best classic diner in Columbia. Everything is so good, and you have to try the French toast. #11 comes with all the breakfast goodies plus French toast. Or the #1 breakfast sandwich.

Best American diner I've ever tried! Everything is delicious and homemade. There's nothing negative about this place at all! Be careful since it can get pretty packed during busy hours. Also, it's worth mentioning that once I got eggs, which were cooked in a way that I didn't like, and I regretted it, but thanks to the kind waitress she got me new eggs cooked well with no additional charge. It really is American hospitality at its finest! 100% recommend! 😉🤗

We went to Ernie’s Café & Steakhouse for a weekday lunch. It felt more like a café than a steakhouse. They offer breakfast and lunch every day. It was the perfect place for American comfort food. We each ordered something different. Our food came quickly and it was hot, fresh, and tasty. Our server was very friendly and helpful. The service and the charming Art Deco design of the building created a wonderful, upbeat atmosphere. They have been in business since 1934, which shows their dedication to good food and service.

Ernie's Cafe is THE diner you absolutely must visit in Columbia! Stepping into Ernie's feels like stepping back in time. It's got that classic diner vibe, complete with a counter where you can watch the magic happen. It's warm, welcoming, and full of character--a true local gem. This cozy, classic spot has everything you want in a breakfast joint--amazing food, friendly service, and an authentic charm that keeps you coming back for more. The biscuits and gravy are out of this world! Perfectly fluffy biscuits smothered in rich, flavorful gravy that always hits the spot. The French toast is equally incredible--crispy on the outside, soft and custardy on the inside, and served with just the right amount of sweetness. Whether you're in the mood for hearty comfort food or something a little lighter, Ernie's has you covered. The staff is fantastic--friendly, attentive, and genuinely happy to see you. They make sure your coffee cup is never empty and your food is served hot and fresh. If you're in Columbia, do yourself a favor and stop by Ernie's Cafe.

Ernie's Cafe & Steak House, is a true classic diner. I was in town for a wedding and they gave a list of restaurant recommendations. Ernie's was not on the list, but once in town both the bride and groom verbally recommended it for breakfast. The wedding was Saturday, so before I left town on Sunday, I filled my tummy with a classic breakfast. It's a popular diner, so there was a line out the door. I will say, the manager/hostess kept it moving. A Karen, cut past several of waiting a went inside and went to take an open stool. She was quickly sent back outside and to the end of the line. The hostess, then came out and told another single diner and myself to come and take which stool we wanted at the counter. Ernie offers 12 different combos for breakfast, I picked one that I thought I wanted. When I ordered and said to hold the buttered toast and give me an half order of Biscuits and Gravy. My waitress was so sweet, she said, nope. She said she was going to save me money by ordering me the #11 and replacing the French Toast with the B&G. That's excellent customer service. My Combo #11 was delicious. Had my eggs scrambled and they were super fluffy and simply seasoned. The three slices of bacon were crispy and the Hash Browns had crispy edges. However, the true star of my breakfast was the Biscuit and Gravy. The biscuit wasn't as fluffy as I'd like, but the gravy was top notch. I love pepper and it was extremely peppery which made me happy. If anyone is going to Columbia, I'd tell them to stop by Ernie's for breakfast. When I come back to COMO, I'm going to stop by for lunch and enjoy a burger. Dick Tracy, thinks about them all the time.

We came in for brunch on a weekday, and our party of 5 was seated right away. Ambiance is a typical casual breakfast diner. Menu is basic but lots of options. Service was good. - Omelet (4.5/5): I was impressed how tasty the omelet was! I got sausage, pepper jack, mushrooms, onion, peppers. Plus hash browns on the side, which were very crispy which I love. - Biscuits and sausage gravy (4/5): Good portion size. Biscuits were fluffy, lots of gravy and super flavorful.

Good food. Quick service. Unlimited coffee for sure. Girls are so attentive. A lot of people at all times.

Very good priced breakfast. The coffee was not charged for refills which was great, each item of my meal was fantastic. The decorations were very cool and retro. Everyone at the table was satisfied, I will return.

Charm all around! Staff, decor, & bar. I wanted an omelet, husband wanted lunch. Ernie's came through. Coffee was good, & refills kept coming. Will absolutely return when we're in town.

A MUST if you are in CoMo! Traditional style breakfast food from breakfast sandwiches to omelets to plates. The grilled cheese was also phenomenal. The servers and staff were extremely nice and had exceptional service. The inside is small but gives that old school feel.

Had the Breakfast Combos. Waffles were large and fluffy. Eggs and sausage were delicious and the hash brown crisp. The staff was nice and friendly making the whole experience enjoyable. Will definitely swing by again when I'm in town

The number 11 is my go to meal. You get a choice of ham, bacon or sausage, french toast or short stack(pancakes), eggs your way and hash brown. I always ask for extra crispy hash browns. I have never gone wrong with this choice. Service is fast as its like an in and out old time type diner.

I stopped here for lunch on a Tuesday at 12:30 pm and it was not that busy. This is an old diner that has a lot of character. I was greeted right away by a very friendly and upbeat server. He gave me my menu and took my drink order. The menu is not that large, but it is in the diner tradition, 1/3 is for breakfast and 2/3 is for lunch. I was very happy with the selections. My server brought me my coke and took my order. I ordered the #1 Bacon & Turkey "World Famous Pyramid Club" with American cheese on white bread along with the house chips. The meal was served within 5 mins, and it looked fantastic. It was two layers high like a traditional club, but it was only cut in half, which was nice, the sandwich doesn't fall apart when you eat it. This is an "upscale" classic club sandwich. The lettuce is not iceberg, it is a fancy type of lettuce. Normally I find these types to be bitter, but this was really good. The tomatoes were very fresh, and the meat was outstanding. This is the best club sandwich I have ever had... But wait, there's more... The house made potato chips are fantastic. Everything about this place was good. From the décor to the overall atmosphere to FANTASTIC service... You cannot go wrong trying this place, it is truly a special diner. I wish this was in my hometown.

Food was pretty good service was greT! Loved the building and talking to people. Very clean.

Rude waitress, bad food, and way overpriced! Stay away from this place! Not worth it!

Great food and the staff was super friendly and accommodating. Drinks were refilled before empty!

One of our favorite columbia hot spots. Can never go wrong with breakfast at Ernie's :) The staff is always so welcoming and friendly. Love this small diner and outside seating for a nice day.

Super quick perfectly cooked breakfast. Server was super sweet. This is a small quaint diner.

A hole in the wall diner downtown, but it's a hidden gem to those not from here. Excellent staff, when you go enough they remember you and everyone is so friendly! The owner (?) is almost ALWAYS there, I see him in the kitchen helping and at the front helping whenever needed. It is set up like an old school diner and it's like a trip back in time when you walk in the doors. I love that appeal! As for the food, everything is amazing! I've never had any complaints, I've never had to send anything back, they keep their prices low and offer decent portion sizes. There is outdoor seating for those perfect weather days and although there is not a lot of indoor seating, there is more than enough. There is a bit of a wait sometimes, but I've never waited more than 15 minutes and it's ALWAYS worth the wait! I have lived in Columbia 23 years and I've been going ever since. Definitely in my Top 3 of locally owned brunch places here in CoMo.

Best breakfast place in Columbia, MO! We are traveling from out of state, stopped at Ernie's for a quick breakfast. Great food, perfectly cooked, and I'm a bit picky: Fried eggs were over easy but not watery, bacon was perfectly crispy as I'd asked, French Toast hot & buttery with no powdered sugar (I loathe extra sugar!), hash browns also perfectly crisp. Served within 10 minutes! Our server, Craig, was amazing. Friendly and efficient, he helped made our breakfast at Ernie's a great meal. It's a simple old-fashioned diner; nothing fancy except for their great service and marvelous food!

This place will not let you down at all. The food is all high quality, yet incredibly cheap. The servers all seem like they love their job and know the ins and out of everything on the menu so it's a super enjoyable experience. It is also set in an old time diner so it's a wonderful dining area to go with wonderful food. You can see your food prepared and see everything going on. Great place to get breakfast. There is usually a little wait so plan ahead for about a 20 to 30 minute wait but the food is easily worth it

What a cute spot!! Came here on a whim and man I'm glad we did! We stopped by for breakfast and were greeted by super friendly staff and seated right away. The prices here are SO NICE! Coming from Minneapolis (where breakfast is always at least $25), I was shocked to see entrees available for less than $5. Gotta love that "small" town charm! The food was awesome, I ordered a waffle and hash browns. I love hash browns, and these ones were PERFECT! Just the right amount of crispy. Our waitress, however, was the star of the show. She was the sweetest waitress I have ever had in my life (no joke). She was incredibly kind, efficient, and made us all feel so so welcome. Every time she stopped by, my friends and I would be shocked by her kindness. I absolutely loved her, I wish I got her name and regret not asking! But just know that your service here will likely be top notch, if not phenomenal, especially if you have the waitress that we had! I'd definitely recommend this spot for an easy and classic American breakfast.

Food was wonderful! Service was even better! Make sure your entire party is present in order to be seated. Totally for the wait!

Ernie's is my favorite breakfast place in town. Not only because the food is amazing, but the staff are the kind of people that make your morning better. The place could be packed and have a line out the door and the food will still comes out so fast. Best omelette and the #11 has everything you could want. Very affordable too.

This no frills diner is cute and quaint. It's the perfect place to start your weekend morning. They kindly ask that you wait outside with your group until your table is ready because it is a very small space. You probably won't have to wait very long for a table because Ernie's has a smooth operation going. The food comes out quick and it is super tasty! Come hungry because they give you big portions. All of the staff is friendly. We only have good things to say about this place!

If you want 50's American Diner experience, I'd give them a Diner excellence award Food pretty basic diner fare. No fancy here, just great quality food, atmosphere, and the service is pretty good . I'd bring my family here and they cater to the little ones so overall, Five yea!

Typical diner fare, affordable in the same respects. There wasn't anything insanely, crazy good about our experience, but there weren't any complaints at all. The food is really good. Given, we only got breakfast food, and it's hard to go wrong. Side note: I was blown away that they store the syrup in a coffee pot on a warmer. Genius?!?!?!!!!

Down at Mizzou a few weeks ago with my son and my daughter we were encouraged to try Ernie's. I guess this place was there when I was at college in the 70s but I don't remember it. Anyway it's fantastic. Small old fashion diner with great service, and great food! We will return.

I had breakfast and the food was good with great prices, however the waitress was phenomenal and that what makes me give it a 5 star rating. She was super sweet and attentive and made me feel like she really loves her job and her customers. The place was small so be prepared to wait if you don't get a seat.

OMG! I'm so mad about not finding out about this place sooner! I got a number 11, which comes with your side of bacon, sausage, or veggie sausage, or ham, pancakes or French toast and eggs. I got the French toast and it was d-freaking-licious! The customer service was awesome and the weather was nice so Patrick and I enjoyed brunch outside!. They even offer mimosas and bloody Mary's.

Food was delicious. Great service and atmosphere. Food was way cheaper than any other breakfast diner in the area.

Food is great - typical diner options as you would expect . Honestly, the staff makes this place special. It feels like a true local at a diner, something you don't get everyday - I loved it. Tip: Get the cinnamon toast for a delicious throwback to childhood!

Amazing place to get breakfast. I highly recommend the biscuits and gravy. The Philly cheese steak is good if you're there around lunch.

Great breakfast reasonable prices fast service fantastic biscuits and gravy it's dinner food

We went early on a Saturday for breakfast. You get a lot of food for your money here. My husband tried the ham breakfast, which was great country ham/like meat, but with a sweet-ish taste to it, too (at least to me). And I ordered the mini hamburger patties, amazing flavor. The staff were very friendly and we were served quickly. And there seemed to be a good amount of "regulars" dining with us. Great experience overall, would definitely recommend.

We stopped here while driving through and will definitely stop by again. Service was quick and there were lots of choices on the menu. You can create your own breakfast/omelet which I really liked. I had a veggie omelet with cheese and it was cooked perfectly. The jalapeños tasted like they were out if a can and not sure the mushrooms were fresh, but it was delicious. My husband had a platter with ham, eggs, hash browns and toast. Everything was good for a fair price. I had decaf coffee which was just okay but I love that you get real cream in a little pitcher instead of the Covid individual ones. Service was fast, food was hot, and there is a great nostalgic vibe here.

Food was hot and fresh and taste was immaculate. I would definitely visit again. Warm and cozy inside

Ernies is one of my favorite spots in Columbia since moving here. I've had the same waitress every time and she is so friendly, timely, and amazing. She is definitely worth a $20 tip every single time. The mimosas are delicious (I recommend the orange juice/champagne combo). It's wallet, people, and stomach friendly. I've never had a bad experience here. Try the garden sausage!

Absolutely love, the only place to eat breakfast in Columbia. They always have great consistent service and food. Only breakfast spot I would recommend in Columbia.

One of the best breakfast joints this side of the Mississippi. The staff is pleasant and goes the extra mile. The food is bliss-inducing and the prices aren't bad either. Easily one of, if not the, best cafes in Columbia!!

For starters, this place is so cute. I love the menu, the "classic diner" type vibe, all the little trinkets and decor, just all of it. Every time I've gone I am greeted by the most welcoming and warming people. The type of people that aspire you to have a good day. I went today after ordering pick up, and first the order only took 5-10 minutes so great if you need something quick. Upon arrival I was met with 2 male servers both who were so welcoming and just radiated happiness - my type of people. Like I said, the type of people who make you want to have a good day. The best people. The order was ready, the person checking me out was so sweet, and right before I left one of the guys dropped a little piece of dubble bubble in front of me - just so so cute. Little things like that, small encounters like that, just make my entire day. Thanks so much for being amazing Ernie's, so glad I live just down the street. Oh and the food.. so good, and so affordable. 10/10. Thank you!

I love the old fashion feel of Ernie's and how simple the menu is, you can't really fuck up it here. the drink choices are always great tasting. Recommend going during the week to avoid the long waits as it is seat yourself, and they don't have estimates on wait time, which is fine. The staff is always friendly and chatty (if you sit at the bar).

I went back to Ernie's today for the first time in 45 years. It's still great!! Sadly, I no longer have a bottomless pit of an appetite, so I had a tiny breakfast compared to the steak and eggs I gobbled as a student. It was excellent, however, with perfect hash browns, not the dreaded hash white nor hash blacks of some cafes. Ernie's is still small and cozy. Except for a little redecorating, it might still look exactly as it all those years ago. However, the menu's a bit bigger now and the tea's better. The service is too-drawer, friendly and attentive. It's void to see an institution not only continuing, but looking so good!

Place is tucked away but has an awesome dinner feel. Prices were great we had two kids so no kids menu but still the prices are totally adequate. My wife and I had the fillet and eggs. It was our first time eating here but it won't be our last, food was good and quick! Great atmosphere! Long line Ernie's!

Honestly, I was not very impressed by the food. My friend talked about how she got an omelet there one time before and she didn't think it was good. Anyway I was like, whatever, let's go anyway and I'll just get something different. Well I got the egg, sausage, and cheese sandwich but like I was not a big fan of the sausage. Not like it was spoiled or anything just had a weird taste to me. I also got biscuits and gravy and I wasn't too impressed by those either. On another note, the staff is so friendly! My server's name was Amy and she was a sweetheart. The vibe in the restaurant is good. Just wasn't a big fan of the food.

My sisters bring me here everytime I visit. We LOVE the French toast and cheesy eggs. The garden sausage SO GOOD!!!

Cute little breakfast place! There was a little wait but it was totally worth it. I got the egg sandwich with sausage and it was so good, my friends got the pancakes and loved them. And a side of hash browns are a must, so crispy

Service was great and prices were on point, but the food was mediocre at best. The waffle had no flavor whatsoever. My friend had the pancakes, I assume the same batter, and echoed the same. Eggs and bacon were fine, nothing to brag about. Has to be popular due to service and price only. Frozen Eggo waffles taste better than what they served.

Outstanding customer service. We received our food freaky fast!!!! My favorite diner whenever I visit Columbia MO. :)

The racist owner called my friends terrorists, threw one of their phones in the dumpster, and called the cops on them because my friends had the nerve to request an exchange for their food that was subpar.

I love the breakfast in this throwback gem. I eat here every time I am in town, and always enjoy it. The omlets and French toast are both good. They also have a large picture drawn by the guy who did Dick Tracy comics...pretty cool.

Clean, friendly and of course delicious food. We had a party of 4 adults &2 children. Highly recommend Breakfast #9 filet mignon & eggs, & the Belgian waffle. Everything was great and cooked perfectly.