Some Places Are Worth Saving
How We Got Here
The 1930s – Before it was Uncle Bill’s
This building has been feeding people longer than most St. Louis institutions have been standing. It started as Medart's Log Cabin — a bar on the corner of S. Kingshighway and Potomac — before becoming DiFranco Restaurant and later The Fireplace. Different names, same corner, same idea: feed the neighborhood and keep the lights on.
1961 – Bill Ernst Names It
When Bill Ernst bought the property in 1961, he brought the pancake house concept with him and put his name on it. Uncle Bill's Pancake and Dinner House was born. The corner found its identity, and South St. Louis found its breakfast spot.
The 1987 – Bill Choi Takes the Keys
Bill Choi bought Uncle Bill's from Ernst in 1987 and ran it for 37 years. Under Choi, the restaurant became a genuine institution: 24-hour service, a menu of beloved signatures, and a dining room that expanded to seat 250. The stained-glass porch. The thick-cut bacon. The Slingshot. The 2X2X2X2. Choi didn't just run a restaurant. He built a landmark.
October 2024 — The Line Around the Block
When Bill Choi announced his retirement after 37 years, South St. Louis showed up. Hundreds lined the sidewalk on the final day, October 8, 2024. The kitchen ran out of food. The doors closed early. The neighborhood grieved the way you grieve something that was always supposed to be there.
2025 – The Garcias Open the Door
Ivan and Berto Garcia did much more than buy a restaurant. They became ambassadors. The family behind The Golden Hoosier and Bud's Pizza & Beer saw what this corner meant to the community and made a commitment: turn the lights back on, and do it right. Expanded cypress wall paneling. A Germanic cuckoo clock above the register. The menu items that made this place what it is. And enough respect for what came before to not mess with what worked.
The People Behind the Griddle
Ivan and Berto Garcia are St. Louis real estate professionals with deep roots in South City neighborhoods. As the team behind The Golden Hoosier and Bud's Pizza & Beer, they've built a reputation for preserving what makes a place worth keeping.
FAQ
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We currently don’t take reservations, but, if you’ve got a bit group, give us a call ahead and we’ll do our best to accommodate. Either way, come on in and we'll get you sorted.
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To be clear, we do NOT have a nut-free or gluten free kitchen and there is always a chance for cross contamination. That said, our menu covers a range of options and our kitchen team is happy to work with you on specific needs.
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We have our own parking. And, should that fill up, street parking is available along S. Kingshighway and the surrounding side streets.
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We are a first-come, first-served restaurant, but if you're planning somethign special, please reach out with a date, party size, and any details that help us understand what you need. We'll take it from there.
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We're always open to meeting good people. Check our current openings or send us a note through the jobs page, we'd love to hear from you.