College Street Cafe in Springfield, Missouri was probably one of the friendliest road trip stops I’ve ever made. From the moment I walked in I was greeted with a warm welcome from both the staff and guests alike.
College Street Cafe opened in Springfield in the 1950s. Though it went through different names and several owners over the years it always was there to serve hearty meals to Route 66 travelers and locals alike.
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I entered through the screen door of the red and white checkered building into a small dining area, with a handful of tables, booths, and barstools (many original to the 1950s). The woman who greeted me at the door asked about book I was reading and I told her “Oh it’s just a road trip journal,” as if I wasn’t holding my own book (I’m pretty terrible at self promotion).
I sat at the counter and ordered a cup of coffee. The menu is as small as the dining room, but it has all the diner classics you’d expect: meatloaf, French toast, and a selection of hand-patted burgers with different combinations of toppings. I got there just early enough for one of the best deals on The Mother Road: the early bird special. From 6am to 9am you can get two eggs any way you want (I went sunny side up) with a choice of meat (bacon all the way) and either two silver dollar pancakes or hashbrowns and toast, all for only $6.99.
My eggs were perfectly runny, the hashbrowns and bacon were crispy, and my jelly-smothered buttered toast hit the spot. It was the perfect diner breakfast.
It was made even more perfect that a stranger paid for my meal. The waitress walked up, grabbed the check from in front of me, and told me it was taken care of. To whoever that was, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I hope I can pay it forward myself on the Mother Road one day.
Stop by College Street Cafe for breakfast or lunch on your Route 66 road trip in Springfield. And make room in your itinerary for some of the other nearby attractions in town, like the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park and the Hubcaps on Route 66 Sculpture. If you’re spending the night in Springfield, book a night at the classic Rockwood Motor Court or stay in the Elvis Suite at the Route 66 Rail Haven Motel.
