Glenn's Cafe

I've never had anything but great food and service at Glenn's at any time of day, but I can't recommend their breakfast highly enough. Just delicious. Specifically the chicken-fried chicken, and the shrimp and grits. Have mercy. I was fortunate to grow up eating authentic southern cooking (not something I say lightly), and these dishes are easily as legit as anything you'll find this far north. Outside of breakfast, their gumbo is totally on point: big portions of seafood, including big fat oysters that you typically don't get in average gumbos. For lunch, I like to get their black bean fritter appetizer and dip the fritters in the gumbo. I could go on.

My fiancé and I had a wonderful brunch here. Food was great, Bloody Mary was the best I've ever had, and the staff was excellent. The manager, Tom, went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed to enjoy our dining experience. I highly recommend Glenn's Cafe to those who are seeking a pleasurable dining experience away from the "college scene" in downtown Columbia. Five stars!

Dr. Death Does Dinner. I have found Glenn’s, in its’ various incarnations, to be both interesting and tasty
since my first encounter in 1984.  For no
discernable reason, I have apparently been pointlessly delaying review of the
current version (29 S. 8th St.). The staff, and in particular the servers, are consistently both excellent and unobtrusive.
Glenn’s is one of very few places where the Doctor begins with a cocktail rather than
beer or wine.  This is because the house
specialty drinks are “both interesting and tasty.”  Recently I have favored the pear basil
martini; pear vodka garnished with a fresh basil leaf, and redolent of unexpected
peppery notes.  Have several!  Each of the drinks on the list is both
unusual and worth a try. Among the list of starters, the quinoa & black bean fritters are
outstanding!  Tasty enough to eat by themselves, they are nevertheless served with an excellent slightly spicy dipping
sauce.

  
While not quite reaching the touch-stone level of the legendary “house salad” at
Cunetto’s House of Pasta on the hill in STL, the salads at Glenn’s are
nevertheless both large and excellent.  I
have recently favored the Bleu Cheese Salad which is served with enough bleu
goat cheese, along with toasted pecans, and is dressed with a balsamic
reduction.  On this particular visit my
partner had the seasonal berry salad, which appeared to be the same mixed field
greens plus blueberries and red raspberries, and which was judged to be
“excellent.”


 

For the last several visits I have had the fried gulf oysters as an entrée, and they
are large, tasty, and not over-breaded. 
My partner had the daily special, which was blackened prime rib, and
which was rated as, “wonderful!”  The
list of entrée-accompanying side-dishes seems a bit limited (Why is there no
coleslaw?).  Both of us had the fresh
asparagus, which was very good, and I additionally had the shockingly toothsome
fried okra.


 

Despite being too full for dessert, we felt obligated to share the bread pudding with whiskey
sauce.  And, “Chantilly cream!”  Which is simply Creole/French for whipped
cream.  L  It was, as always, excellent despite being
much too heavy for a dessert.


Considering how unrealistically high the Doctor’s standards are, there must surely be
something besides the lack of coleslaw to complain about?  Well……there are almost always too many
diners, and considering the complete lack of anything sound-deadening it can
sometimes be a bit loud.  Perhaps the “new”
outdoor sidewalk-seating area is the answer to this “problem?”  


A
consistent Columbia fave; 4.8/5.

Superb place to have brunch in COMO! Great brunch choices, phenomenal drinks and superb service in a sharp, upscale setting. Curt took great care of us! I want to come back for oysters and wine. Highly recommended.

Food was great but the service can definitely improve. It was no busy at all and food took a while. Love the atmosphere and the decor. Love the nice touch of mailing an Original Glenn’s Cafe postcard for you to love ones. That really added to my experience. I order the soup of the day (beef/potato/ chimichuri) and the Shrimp and grits. I will visit again when in Columbia.

Was pleasantly surprised. Very good chicken. The food seems simple but it has a depth that most places lack. Felt like authentic southern in a nice setting. Will come back