Nothing says “greasy spoon” quite like a railcar diner, and the King of all diners has to be Mickey’s Diner in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mickey’s is blessed with a combination of gritty yet historic ambiance and down home staple menu items. If you want a close personal relationship with your fry cook, who is within (spitting) distance to most tables, come to Mickey’s. Mickey’s is also a great place to people-watch. It’s a eclectic mix of regulars and curious tourists.
The original Mickey’s is located in the heart of downtown St. Paul, in a sharp Art Deco cream and red trimmed dining car, and has been a feature landscape in many movies, including The Mighty Ducks, Jingle All the Way and A Prairie Home Companion. Mickey’s has also garnered a feature on the Food Network. Before you think the restaurant has gone Hollywood, think again. Mickey’s has been serving up the same diner grub to patrons since 1939.
When I first moved to St. Paul back in the mid 1970s, the city was undergoing massive growth and talk was bandied about regarding moving the diner or demolishing it completely. This is because the original Mickey’s is located on some of the best prime real estate in Minnesota. Sensible heads prevailed and Mickey’s is now on the National Register of Historic Places, where it is forever safe from the wrecking ball. Today, modern skyscrapers tower over the small lot that contains Mickey’s Diner.
The menu is low-key, serving breakfast items, burgers and a killer bean soup made from a circa World War II recipe. The omelettes are phenomenally fluffy, almost defying gravity. The coffee is strong and flows freely. Mickey’s is 24/7/365, meaning it never closes (and I know this from spending a Christmas dinner there) which makes it a great after-bar diner. Their eggs served any way you like with a massive side of O’Brien potatoes is sure to take the edge off a night of partying. (And, yes, I’ve been there for that reason, too!) Note to the uninitiated: the after-bar scene can be boisterous.
Mickey’s is cheap, making it a favorite among college kids and those on a budget. If you don’t care to witness how your food is being prepared, there are a few booths available. I’ve learned that the boothside juke boxes no longer work; I can vividly remember when they did.
Mickey’s has come into the 21st Century and now accepts all major credit cards, but they don’t accept reservations. Mickey’s also has to be the last restaurant in Minnesota that allows smoking.
Mickey’s Diner (The Original)
36 West 7th Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
651-222-5633
There are also two other Mickey’s locations, in case you have a greasy spoon urge you need fixed and you’re not in the downtown area.
Mickey’s Diner
1950 West 7th Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116
651-698-8387
Mickey’s Diner
686 South Lexington Parkway
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116
651-698-0259
