Charlie Parkers
700 North St, Springfield, IL, 62704
Charlie Parkers Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
700 North St
Springfield, IL, 62704 - Phone (217) 241-2104
- Website https://www.charlieparkersdiner.net
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Kris M.
Cheap good food locally owned with a little flare.. And we sat down ordered and had are food in minutes. Great place!!
(4)Sara B.
If you are looking for a great place to enjoy after a night of partying then this place is for you. It is exactly what it says it is. A place to get a greasy, tasty breakfast. Not my ideal place but would still return to try the pancakes.
(2)Andrew W.
Horseshoe = no problem. Wasn't the best in the world but decent. Decent is how I would describe the seating, the staff, the coffee, the parking lot, the location. If you only go out to breakfast for special occasions, like once a month or so, I'd find somewhere else, this is just your standard joint.
(3)Mike B.
We traveled here after hearing about it on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. Went here on a Saturday at about noon. Has a great atmosphere with very helpful staff and great service. When hearing about the Horseshoe I was immediately hungry. You should make sure to be hungry before going here because you get a lot of food for your dollar. I opted for the breakfast horseshoe and man was it good. It consisted of layers starting with two slices of toast, then eggs made to order, then bacon or sausage, then gravy (or cheese) and finally topped with hash browns (or American fries). I barely finished it, and didn't feel hungry for a long while afterward. The location is great because it is kind of off the beating path. You wouldn't notice this unless someone told you to go there. I would be that person. Go there.
(5)Josh L.
Where else can you eat in a WWII-style quanza hut?! Or eat a 16 inch pancake?! Only Charlie Parker's. Tucked away behind D'Arcy Pint, this is definitely one of Springfield's hidden gems. It was even featured on Food Network. Very unique vintage atmosphere. Staff is friendly and efficient. They knew nearly 80% of all patrons who came/went while I was there. Food was excellent and was ordered & brought to my table in less than 5 minutes! I had the hamburger pony shoe. And if you come to Springfield, IL and don't try a horse shoe/pony shoe, you should be ashamed of yourself! For those who don't know, a horse shoe consists of the following layers: bread, 2 hamburger patties, french fries, amazing cheese sauce! A pony shoe is 1/2 that size. And they will make a horse shoe out of almost anything: ham, turkey, fish, chicken, veggies, etc. Even have a colossal breakfast shoe! Menu has breakfast, lunch & dinner items. Breakfast is served all day too. My total cost today with tip for pony shoe & a Pepsi was just under $10. If you love the diner atmosphere, and like fast, friendly service, then Charlie Parker's is worth a visit next time you pass through town.
(4)Thomas L.
The shoe was awesome! The Chessy bacon tots were a hit with the kids!
(5)Michael H.
Pretty unique little spot for breakfast. They have huge 16 inch pancakes to sample, which were very, very good. You would think that a big pancake like that would be dry or in some other way compromised, but it was moist and delicious. The biscuits and gravy were decent, but overall pretty bland. American fries tastes like potatoes, so that is good. My main complaint is they have crammed so much seating inside there is nowhere to wait to get seated inside. We had to wait outside in the heat for 15-20 minutes while someone else finished their 16 inch pancake. Even given this, though, the experience was worth the wait.
(4)Mike E.
will definitely get breakfast here next time im in springfield. pulled into the lot with my gf and she asked "are we seriously eating here?" admittedly, the place doesnt look like much. and even inside, it's small and the decor is very campy 50s. but thats not why i was there. i got the breakfast shoe... i dont know who came up with the name, but theyre lucky they can cook. it was a great breakfast. the gf had some and told me she wished shed gotten that instead and if were back wed have to come here so she could.
(4)Glenn W.
Saw Charlie Parkers on Diners Drive Inns and Dives....Just a bit off in my book. It's clean, but I was expecting so much more....1950s theme and that's great but what we got for food was just OK....
(3)Melissa H.
Ohhh Charlie Parker's. After years of living in Springfield, and years of seeing you on TV, we finally meet. I must say that you are terribly underwhelming; you must wear a lot of makeup at your TV appearances. Toast not toasted. My pork tenderloin was a grisly, mealy mess. Omelets were so basic I could have made similar at home. The horseshoe cheese was bland. And please upkeep your place. I know you are famous for being a "dive," but I witnessed someone's shoe getting caught on detached metal on your front door. They took a breakfast spill in the parking lot.
(2)Mikey F.
This spot awesome, from the building to the service to the food, it's all awesome, if your hungry get a horseshoe and you'll take food home, definitely a spot to go if your in Springfield
(5)Craig C.
Great decor in old building. Food was as expected. Horseshoe a little disappointing. Ok and worth one visit.
(3)Fannie S.
Okay, all diners should be this good. Breakfast shoe = choice of starch (american fries,being tator tots; hash browns), choice of meat (bacon, sausage), choice of eggs, choice of sauce (gravy, cheese, or both), all on top of a slice of texas toast. Yummy but heavy! Country fried steak = delicious. The steak was crunchy and flavorful with juicy meat inside, delicious and addicting heavy gravy. Pecan pancake = yummy and can taste the egg in the batter. We couldn't finish it between the three of us, and we hadn't order their infamous 16" pancake!! Service = friendly, fast, efficient. Decor = diner. Totally. It's refreshing. Definitely coming back here!!!
(5)Mike N.
Awesom food!!! Fast and friendly service. Over just the best place to eat period!
(5)Theresa C.
I had the blueberry pancakes and they were good but I don't see anything too over the top about this place. It is neat that it's in an old wwII hangar... I was also a bit grossed out by the bathroom.
(3)Dan H.
I went to Charlie Parkers after seeing it on Diner's, Drive Ins and Dives and I ordered the Horseshoe. It was AWESOME. Smothered in their cheese sauce and crinkle cut fries. I thought the food was really good and the service was fast and friendly. I was extremely lucky to even get in because they close at 2pm. I made the journey from Champaign to here without knowing this. Make sure you check the hours before commuting.
(4)Mrs S.
Pancakes as big as your head only needed one for me and the kids. Seat yourself, and coming from the downtown it looks like you are off the beaten path..but follow all the rest of the cars- the area looks a bit industrial. Sit at the counter for the best home town experience--owner is a pleasure as well as the girls at the counter.
(5)Scott L.
Excellent. Fast friendly service. Great food for breakfast.
(5)Jon A.
Nothing special, not at all. Charlie Parkers is just your standrad breakfast dinner. Nothing orginal, nothing creative, nothing truly excellant. The staff is freindly but distracted.
(2)Kerstin B.
Funny that only 2 locals have reviewed Charlie Parker's. This is because the locals don't really eat here. The truckers and the fans of triple D do. No one even yelped CP's until triple D came to town. There are many great places to eat in Springfield don't get sucked into the TV Hype. I grew up in Springfield and hands down they do NOT have the best horseshoe. It is decent but not the best. Heck the locals hadn't heard of CP until Triple D came.
(2)Sue S.
This restaurant is definitely off the beaten path. We were traveling to St. Louis and it's about 10 minutes from the expressway. It was worth the trip. Be forewarned the restaurant doesn't look like much when you pull up, but it's decorated with a Route 66 theme inside that makes up for the outside appearance. We dined at lunchtime on a Friday and had a very large group. They happily accommodated us. Half the group had their famous pancakes and the other half did the burger thing. The burgers were great - all handmade. Fabulous onion rings. Would definitely stop by if we were in the area again.
(4)Brooke R.
Looks are definitely decieving when it comes to this place. My little family and I ate a great breakfast here a few weeks ago. Breakfast is my absolute favorite meal so they had to do me right. They so did. The food was great diner food. Of course, that makes me love it more. I am anxious to try some dinner here and see if their horseshoe rivals my favorite at Darcy's Pint.
(4)Craig R.
My fellow Yelper, Kathleen, turned me onto the beauty that is Waffle House. What does Waffle House have to do with this review... well, everything and nothing all at the same time. I was heading to Chicago just for a bit when I had the urge for Waffle House. Unbeknownst to me, there is no Waffle House passed Granite City in Illinois (look at this Maryland boy talking about a place he has no idea about like he does have an idea about). I was left trying to find some other diner option in a foreign place. Upon coming up to Springfield, I found Charlie Parker's. This place is absolutely awesome. This little shack (for lack of a better term) of a place was featured on Food Network's Diner's, Drive-Ins and Dives. I don't regularly watch that show, but it was cool to see this place get some recognition. Sure there was the "typical" diner motif on the walls. Tons of homages to Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and the bygone days of vinyl adorned the wall. The big difference is the cafeteria style seating. There are no booths so you feel like you're part of a larger dining experience. The food was great. Eggs were cooked perfectly and the french toast was fantastic. They really know what they're doing. It was a little hard to find the place so make sure you have a GPS or GPS-enabled phone so you can get there without any hassle. I know where I'm stopping from now on on my way up to the Windy City.
(5)Paul M.
Very good comfort food at low prices. Love this place!
(5)Janz P.
This place looks like it's in a tip over grain silo and I'm not sure if it was the "Welcome Mitt Romney" sign out front or the so-so food that left me feeling kind of meh. But I'm thinking it was the combo. The interior decor is fairly cute but the place is a little divey. I just had the grilled chicken sandwich which while not disgusting by any means was not special either.
(2)Monica R.
Great pancakes I ordered the giant pancake definitely too much to eat for one person maybe I'll share it with someone next time. The pancake is 16 inches about the size of a large pizza, although the large size it was still cooked all the way through and fluffy and delicious. I hope to try the horseshoe next time it looks delicious and is supposedly a famous Springfield dish. A place you have got to try if your ever in Springfield.
(4)Sean D.
One of the few happenin breakfast spots in Springfield. You'll never have a bad meal at Charlie Parkers. Solid staff as well.
(4)Scott S.
This is the best breakfast diner in Springfield, IL. Period.
(4)Christina R.
We were headed to Branson, MO from Chicago so I picked out a Triple D place to stop at on the way. It was actually a little out of the way, far from the interstate and off an industrial drive. The parking lot is sandy gravel and full of potholes so be sure to bring your four-wheeler and don't wear your pretty shoes. The food was fantastic! They close at 2pm and we walked in at 1:50, but they made us feel very welcome and encouraged us to stay and enjoy our meal as long as we wanted. It's 1950's diner chic, and very clean. We both chose the fried chicken special which was both delicious and a great deal: $6.95 for chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a slice of some pecan pie/cake thing which was phenomenal. Everyone was very friendly and it was well worth going a little out of the way for.
(5)Lonnie R.
I have eaten here a couple of times now for breakfast and really like it. I had the chicken fried steak and the homemade hash. My daughter had the giant pancake. Even though the pancake was so big it was very good. Excellent prices here also, very affordable. I will have breakfast here every time I visit Springfield.
(4)A W.
This is one of the worst diners I have ever been to for several reasons. Right from the start, we saw that it was crowded, and then when I went to use the bathroom I was disgusted at how dirty it was. Ew. The menu is very unimpressive. I was hoping that if they had chicken salad, they would serve tuna as well, but no such luck. I ended up with the smallest BLT ever. I think I burned off the caloric value of the sandwich just by chewing it. I asked for the vegetable of the day as a side, along with fries. The fries were soggy, and the vegetable was supposed to be green beans according to the waitress, but was actually mostly just bacon and bacon fat. Nastay. The most glaring problem with this restaurant is its inconsistent wall art. The name is Charlie Parker's, but they have a record pinned up by the Mamas and the Papas, some unknown album dating to 1973, and Lesley Gore? And you're in a bomb shelter? Just choose a time period, please, and be consistent with it.
(1)Jason B.
Have been here numerous times. Food was always good. However, went there today and the hostess was extremely rude to us. We decided to spend our money elsewhere and will not return.
(1)Edward B.
Wow, for down-home comfort food, this place rocks. I've been twice and had the pork tenderloin Horseshoe each time (someday I'll get the Chicken Fried Steak). It was spectacular, service is very good. Not the healthiest thing on the face of the Earth, but for what it is, it was awesome.
(5)Sherah B.
When you are looking for a greasy spoon, THIS is your place. Now, you must be warned that they offer a huge pancake here and if you eat the whole thing, you get it for FREE! Aaron tried to eat this, plus a side of bacon and orange juice and failed. Next time we go, he would like to try it again sans the bacon and oj, naturally. I had a ham and cheese omlette last time and it good. Good diner food. I do have some great memories of this place growing up. My parents would take each of my sisters and I out seperately for breakfast on Saturday mornings when we were growing up. I remember coming here with my dad and getting chocolate chip pancakes! Good memories, good food.
(5)Brad S.
Over the past three years and three 1,200 mile trips from Texas to Wisconsin, I've made efforts to stop at Charlie Parker's, only to arrive too late in the day and finding them closed. The third time was the charm, and on a snowy day in late December, I was able to make it on time. It's more of a diner than anything, but it certainly isn't shaped like one, in that quonset hut of theirs. The food is legitimately diner, though, with many breakfast and lunch staples, and plenty of unique twists. When they were featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, the way they profiled the horseshoe made it seem as if Charlie Parker's created it. Really, the thing is synonymous with Springfield, and other places, like D'arcy's Pub - located suspiciously close to Parker's - have been doing them longer. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about - throwing a bunch of food into a big pile on the plate and cover it with cheese will taste good, but nothing mind-blowing, so I wasn't here to get my daily caloric intake in this meal. No, I went for a simple reuben bagel, comprised of corned beef, egg, and Russian dressing between a bagel. It tasted good, exactly as how you would expect, though I was bummed that they didn't toast the bagel a bit or throw some sauerkraut on that puppy. The dressing was homemade, though, which earned some points. While I wasn't looking for an earth-shattering meal, Charlie Parker's gave me plenty of reasons to believe that they have what it takes to make a good meal. As I sat there eating my bagel, I noticed how many older folks were coming in, and chatting up the waitresses. This is a place for locals, and when the community embraces a restaurant, you know it's good.
(4)Carolyn W.
Great local breakfast place. At there for Father's Day breakfast so it was really packed! Excited to find a diner that had terrific breakfast food. My husband had the famous "Shoe" and loved it. If I get a chance to drive through Springfield again - I want to try the stuffed french toast - it looks amazing. The diner was clean, service good, reasonably easy to find off the highway.
(4)Jennifer L.
We decided to check this place out after seeing it on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. My husband is from the Midwest and grew up on Horseshoes (burger on top of toasted garlic bread, topped with French fries and smothered in a cheesy mustard sauce). We have made it for years at our house and varied it from pork loin over sweet potato fries to the traditional. Charlie Parkers was good but it's your standard frozen patty over frozen crinkle cut fries with a sauce that tastes like it came from a can. If you have never made it at home than you will be amazed but trying it for the first time, this is the place to do so. The atmosphere is very welcoming as there are people sitting everywhere chattering about and the décor is random and vibrant with no sense at all but then again...perfect sense. The staff are friendly and are probably tired of hearing how "they were seen on D, D & Dives but then again I am sure business is booming because of it. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.
(3)Courtney W.
This was the 3rd place in Springfield that I encountered the horseshoe but the only place where I had the breakfast one, so I don't know how it compares to other restaurants. The breakfast shoe was good. I had half cheese sauce/half gravy and thought the cheese sauce was somewhat bland but the gravy was nice. Bacon was nice and crispy. I just got it on regular white bread, but I tried some of the whole wheat that my partner got with his horseshoe and was jealous. Get the whole wheat toast! The place is smaller than I thought it would be. We came on a Friday and there was 1 table open at 10:45. Towards the end of our brunch more tables started opening up. Service was prompt and not a long wait for our food.
(4)Jimmie H.
This place has great atmosphere being in an old bunker. It's a little hard to find and only open for breakfast and lunch. They've been on the Food Network a few times and they're famous for their huge pancakes, but honestly they're not so great. Even their smaller pancakes aren't so great because they use so much oil that they end up tasting fried. There's plenty of other great things on the menu to choose from though and I'd suggest you try the pancakes anyway just to say that you've done it. Really the ambience is worth the trip.
(3)Lauren S.
Came here for breakfast and sat at the counter. It was neat to watch the kitchen activity and see everyone's food coming and going and the staff seemed friendly. The food though was incredibly plain. I ordered the peach waffle and did not like the jarred, super thick, overly sugary peach pie filling they used. The waffle batter itself was completely tasteless. The hash browns were bad too. If we come here again it will be for lunch food.
(2)Wendy K.
This place was great! Found it after my husband heard about it on the Food Network Channel (I think Guy went here). The place has a fun atmosphere - decked out like a 50's diner. We both ordered horseshoes - mine was a lunch one and his was a breakfast one. Good thing we were hungry! It was a ton of food! although the place was full, service was fast. The price was reasonable and the food great!! It was a little tricky to find (our navigation didn't quite lead us there), but worth the extra work to find!
(5)Wally S.
Having breakfast at Charlie Parkers Diner during our recent visit to Springfield for a Cheer leading competition , was a fun experience for the parents & kids. Great food , fast and with a feel from the past. I recommend when visiting Springfield, IL.
(4)Tim J.
Best place in Springfield for a fast, massive-portioned breakfast at a reasonable price in a great environment. It looks absolutely terrible from the outside, but once you get inside you'll know right away you are in the right place. The service is really efficient but still friendly. The owner (manager?) running the till asks everybody how the meal went and seems genuinely concerned. I recommend this place to anybody passing through or faced with the dearth of Springfield breakfast joints that are open on Sundays.
(5)Dawn M.
I loved this place from the moment I saw it! From the Quonset hut exterior to the tacky yet fun interior, I knew it would be an experience. Lured by the Food Network and tales of the pancake challenge, a friend and I had our Saturday morning breakfast here. I knew that I couldn't tackle the 4-pancake challenge, but I thought I could handle one 16" pancake. I went with the blueberry pancake with sausage patties on the side, an orange juice, and coffee. Was the food fancy or presented in a super-impressive way? No. Was it good? Yup! That's what mattered. The pancake was very light and fluffy, with lots of big blueberries. The sausage was standard fare, but tasty. Our waitress was super friendly, and when we went to check out, the owner actually took time to talk with us. It was obvious that he was proud of his establishment. Be prepared for a little bit of a wait to get in, but this place is worth it.
(5)Bethany S.
Great diner - especially for breakfast. Its charming atmosphere makes it the ideal local breakfast place. They were recently featured on the Food Networks' Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Be prepared & hungry; the pancakes (even the "normal" sized ones)are huge (plate-sized)! My favorite is the chocolate chip pancakes. And for the really hugry and daring, they offer breakfast horseshoes.
(5)Dustin H.
Good spot for breakfast. The chocolate pancake was terrific! The Pony Shoe was pretty good with gravy.
(3)Chris B.
Pulling up, I thought I was entering a nuclear fallout shelter. Turns out, I was about to have an absolutely great breakfast. The pancakes were some of the best I've ever had and the staff was extremely friendly.
(5)Jennifer G.
While driving down south, my husband and I stopped at Charlie Parker's - mostly because we had seen it on DDD. Since it was lunch time and neither of us were in the mood for breakfast items, I got the Buffalo Chicken/Fries pony and my husband got the bacon cheeseburger burrito. My pony was okay - I thought the buffalo chicken was a tad dry tasting, but I thought the fries/cheese was great. My husband really did like his burrito and couldn't get over how much it tasted like a bacon cheeseburger. We got there about 10:30 on a Sunday and only had to wait about 35 minutes. It's a rather small place with little to no room to wait inside so fortunately, it was a nice day to wait outside.
(3)Sarah M.
I lived in Springfield for over 20 years, and didn't even know about this well-hidden gem! Once it was featured on DDD, I knew I had to try it! Know there will be a wait. It's worth it. Waiting will only increase your appetite, and you will need it! Come hungry!! The servings are huge-normous. Superb comfort food. Horseshoes, a Springfield invention, are smothered in an excellent sauce. . with a great variety of meat (buffalo chicken, turkey, burger, bacon, etc.) and you can get them with tater tots instead of fries! My daughter had her first horseshoe here, and begs to go back whenever we visit! If you're in the mood for a sandwich, try the Charlie's Favorite Chicken Sandwich. The Boom Boom sauce is Yum Yum. A great little diner.
(4)grant s.
Went here last time I was back in the Patch. Great "shoes"!! These are a "down-south" tradition. I ate 'em when I was in school at Champaign, but this place is way better. A horseshoe or the smaller version ponyshoe is a slice of bread with meat on top (you can pick turkey, buffalo, chicken, ham, but I reccommend a hamburger) smothered with homade cheese sauce with crispy french fries on top. Wow these things are good!!! The fried chicken is really good too, but you can only get it to go. The pancake special is $8.50, but if you eat it all Charlie Parker picks up the tab! They don't make the pie on-site, but it is good too. I went with my parents who were well versed with this place. One of my Dad's friends ate every meal here for 5 years, when he lived in the area. The place is in an old WWII Quonsett hut, but the inside is decorated with Route 66 memorabilia, and has classic vinyl records/jackets on the walls. I'll be back, and you should go there too. I
(4)Joni P.
Yum yum yum! Get the chocolate chip pancakes!
(5)Brian R.
Guy Fieri knows what's up. Huge portions and delicious food. I was there for breakfast and had the 16 inch pancake...I ate about a fifth of it. The interior was full of pop culture kitsch and I expect all the food is delicious. Can't really think of a reason not to give it 5 stars, I'm sure it is the best greasy spoon in Springfield.
(5)Julia P.
There is nothing I dislike about Charlie Parker's. I always try to go for breakfast when I'm visiting my Dad in Springfield. The portions are large, the food is good, they have unique food, their service is pretty darn good for as busy as they are, and you feel like you timewarped back to the 1950s. Their wheat toast is phenomenal and they actually sell it by the loaf. The breakfast horseshoe and their giant pancakes are their specialties. They have rotating specials- last time I was there, they had blueberry casserole. I had the blueberry pancakes once and yeah, heaven. The blueberry stuffed french toast is great too- not too sweet or heavy. My dad has tried nearly everything here, and even my picky stepmom likes it. You must try Charlie Parker's!
(5)Megan I.
We were in town for a wedding, and like most kids from IL hadn't been to the Illinois state capitol city since 5th grade, when all school kids make the pilgrimage to learn of Abraham Lincoln. The adorb bride who married one of my hubbies high school buddies complied a list of do's in Springfield. Getting grub here was one of them. We woke up Sunday, packed up our belongings from our steal of room at The Statehouse Inn (nice place a tad dated but CLEAN! and cheap!) and headed over to CP. We needed this kind of food after the night we had had.... and the open bar! We bellied up the bar and ordered with a quickness. We knew what we would be having a Horseshoe! All the locals told us visitors to get one somewhere while we were in town. We decided to go the hamburger breakfast horseshoe with gravy and cheese sauce. Can't go eating that every day, or hell even every month, but it was sinfully divine and I don't regret it one bit! Horseshoes are lucky after all, and we were celebrating a wedding!
(4)Michelle K.
I visited this place twice in one week! The first time was for lunch. I had the chicken fried steak, which was quite good. The gravy was thick and heart-clogging, just the way it should be. I love the little hut atmosphere. Very cozy with lots of character. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. The second time I visited, I tried the breakfast shoe....it was amazing. It was toast, eggs, and hash browns swimming in gravy and cheese sauce. We arrived too late to order the giant pancake, but the regular sized pancake was MORE than enough for the both of us. The pancake was not my favorite, because it was flat, not fluffy. If you're out and about looking for breakfast, lunch, or brunch before 2 pm, you should totally check this unique place out :)
(4)Aaron S.
The food is excellent. Charlie Parker's is all about breakfast, specifically the pancakes. However, they have good lunch too. The two staples are the giant pancakes and the breakfast shoes (a morning twist on a Springfield classic). The last time I went, me and a buddy met for breakfast. We both tried to tackle the challenge. Basically, they bring out four 16 inch pancakes. If you can eat them all (no time limit) it's free. Even if you don't (neither of us got more than one pancake) it still costs less than $20 for the entire meal. My only complaint is that they aren't open for dinner.
(4)Mike A.
Best breakfast in town! Reasonable and great toast! The waitresses are the greatest.
(4)B.G. G.
Great balls of fire! This place is great! Everything I have ever had here is superb, be it breakfast or lunch! The Blueberry Casserole-French toast dish is to die for! Very rich and decadent! Everything else is wonderful, too! They have great potatoes in any form and the Reuben is perfecto! Horseshoes, too! For coffee drinkers...this is the best cup of regular coffee you will find anywhere in town. I don't know they can make regular coffee taste SO yummy, but they do! Pancakes are hugenormous. My hubby can barely eat two! Your kids will also love sharing a large pizza sized pancake, too! So much fun to be had! You will really enjoy the environment...50's diner sitting inside an old airplane hangar! So much fun. The service is superb and even if you have to wait for a table, you won't wait long because they are lightning fast at serving you and waiting on you! If you and fam. can make a stop here, do it! You will love it and your kids will love it, too!
(5)David M.
Charlie Parker's is nothing special. It is a diner, it is cheap, and the food is unspectacular. We waited 20+ minutes for a table for 2. I got coffee, eggs, sausage, and a pancake. Everything tasted ok, but bland. I love a cheap greasy breakfast, but the food here tasted cheap. If you really need to eat a pizza sized giant pancake that tastes like a big pancake you should come here. I won't be back as there are many better breakfast places in Springfield.
(2)Richard R.
This was a fun place to go. I try to visit DDD places when I travel, and Charlie Parker's was a destination for me. I didn't have to wait when I went in about 1:00 in the afternoon on a Friday. I was a bit concerned about having to wait an hour like some of the other reviews, but I think that the place was less than half full. The service was great, the vibe was great just as I expected. I tried the ham version of the horseshoe with tater tots- it was pretty good- and there was a lot of it. I am a big eater and I couldn't come close to finishing it. I would definitely go here again. The kid at the table next to me order a pancake- just one. It was about 18 inches across. I couldn't believe that they actually had a menu item with 4 pancakes in one serving! It was a "finish it and you don't pay" challenge, but still fun to think that someone would try.
(4)Kelly S.
Cute diner! Definitely get the old school diner vibe here. Get here before 9:00 on weekends to beat the wait. We arrived around 9:15 and there was a wait already but we opted to sit at the counter where there were a few stools available. LOVED LOVED LOVED the pecan pancake that I chose for my bread option with my breakfast combo. It was big (covered a dinner plate) but the side pancake order is not the HUGE pancake that they are infamous for. That one is served on a pizza pan and supposedly takes 24oz of batter to make. We had a straight on view into the kitchen and the activity going on in there was a well oiled machine. Service was great too.
(4)Josue O.
Outstanding old-school diner with stick-to-your-ribs food! There is a reason their "horseshoe" was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Friendly staff and great coffee!
(5)Tony K.
On road trip from Arkansas back to Wisconsin we stopped in for lunch - upon reading the many positive reviews. Bustling 50s era diner. All tables were full... I believed we were just arriving after Saturday morning breakfast rush. They told us 15 minute wait - and it was exactly that. None of us ordered the famous horseshoes - but our food came out as excpected. Fresh, hot, and tasty! Our server was really busy - and still was able to meet our needs with refills, etc. If I'm ever making my way through Springfield again, I will definitely stop in - and definitely give the horeshoes a try!
(4)Angela M.
Our family stopped here on the way through Springfield. I had the breakfast shoe with hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, cheese sauce and ham. I was a little worried that the cheese sauce would be the nacho cheese from a can but it tasted like real cheese. It was good. My daughter and husband helped me eat the large portion. My husband had a burger on a pretzel bun. The kids had Mickey Mouse pancakes and chicken tenders. Overall it was good. Fun to try something new and support local business.
(4)Alien T.
Alien tried Giant Pancake. It was seriously huge! and yum. The famous horse shoes was also yum (Alien ordered pony though). The owner was very nice and friendly. It was a great stop during Alien's road trip.
(5)Cameron H.
A perfect restaurant to go to if your traveling. The restaurant was busy! (You know why. It was on Diners Drive-ins & Drives!) apparently they said they would SMS us when our tables are ready. They were having difficulty with the SMS. But the restaurant was cool! It was like a time machine in here! I looked at the menu. Wow! So many choices! But,I had the Ultimate Grilled Cheese! It was the cheesiest grilled cheese I have ever had. The Texas toast was good! But when it came out from the kitchen it was smelly like old cheese (that doesn't smell too good!) The performance was good! But the SMS thing. Nope! "This place is a good restaurant but what! A issue with the SMS! No! I'm going I tell this to my cell phone company."
(4)Jeff W.
I don't get the whole raving on Food Network. The kitsch of the old Route 66 stuff and neon and records on the wall were cool the first couple times, but after it hasn't been cleaned in years, it is a little off putting. Decent food but I have had much better breakfasts in Spfld. 6am-2pm
(2)Doug M.
Old school diner where the food was excellent, the portions were large, and the service was amazing. We got the pancakes that were as large as an old school record. Our server was nice and funny taking our picture with the food since we were not locals. I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for great diner food.
(5)Caitlin M.
My boyfriend and I visited here the other day because we had heard good things. It definitely has a great diner vibe on the inside. I went ahead and got a horseshoe. The cheese sauce wasn't as good as Darcy's Pint, but I liked the burger better. The place is really open and it looked like all the food people ordered around us looked good. This is a great diner restaurant so if you like that kind of food, you'll love this place. Be warned that their hours are strange.
(4)Eric B.
Overrated Go to Darcys Pint for the best horseshoe you'll ever have!
(3)Greg C.
Fun diner for the whole family. We came here after hearing about it from friends. The food is good old fashioned diner food. It's all filling and inexpensive. One cool feature is that the will text you when your table is ready (instead of those vibrating things most places use). If you're in Springfield, check it out. Also, they have a giant pancake served on a pizza tray. Fun (but I think the normal pancakes taste better)
(5)Micah W.
They serve bad food here. I don't know why people like it. It frustrates me that every time some food critic from Chicago writes a piece on places to eat in IL, this place always makes the list but places like American Harvest, Augie's, Maldaner's or one of the other actual good restaurants in Springfield doesn't. Stop championing mediocrity.
(1)Peter T.
Three things Springfield, Illinois is known for, not in order of any particular importance: possibly the birthplace of the corn dog; home of the locally famous horseshoe sandwich; and some dead president with a big hat. My reason for stopping was to grab a breakfast horseshoe, Texas toast on a plate, with your choice of breakfast meat, eggs, gravy or cheese sauce or both, and topped with taters. Lunch versions add different protein choices, like a burger, fish, or fried chicken, with an option of swapping out tots for hash browns or American fries. Housed in a vintage WW2 quonset hut, Charlie Parker's is one of several choices you have for popping your horseshoe cherry, and a choice I'm glad I made. Once again, better than my expectations for a "local legend", my only disappointment was not with the food service of ambiance, but rather my own lack of capacity, wishing I could try more than one version at a setting. The regular 'shoe" comes with two pieces of toast and double meat servings; a lesser size, for us mere mortals, is called a "pony shoe" and is more of a single serving. May well be the best breakfast potatoes I have had anywhere, bar none. Service was cheery and helpful, despite a jammed room and long wait. Charlie Parker's may well be a must stop for every visitor to the dead president city or traversing America's most famous highway, Route 66
(5)Iffat B.
I got some breakfast for take out and it was delicious! The scrambled eggs with cheese were really good but what really stood out was the pumpkin bread french toast. It was crispy with the right amount of sweetness. I had it with a little bit of syrup, but it can be eaten by itself. I also tried a pancake, which is huge! Overall, a great place to eat with friendly people. Highly recommended if youre making a trip to Springfield!
(5)Joe B.
A solid experience from start to finish. It's kind of odd to find such a good diner inside a WWII surplus metal hut, and yet, here one is. The place was hopping on a Friday mid-morning, but my cousin and I got a table with no problem. There's plenty of interesting stuff on the walls to look at while you wait for your food, but you won't be waiting long. Service was prompt, despite the busy rush. The menu is huge, and the price is right. I'll be back.
(3)Terrell A.
This place was great! Small establishment, the food was wonderful, and you get allot. Our Waitress Kourtney was very courteous and friendly. This place is highly recommended. It was also on Diners Drive Ins, and Dives
(5)Pam M.
It was good. Fun atmosphere. No place to wait if they are full and they usually are. Waitress handle top of coffee cup. Kinda grossed me out. Next time i were ill get a cold drink and use a straw
(4)Taylor K.
We headed her for breakfast after my dad saw Charlie Parker's on triple D. We knew we had to order the horseshoe, no brainer, and a pancake as well. Even on Saturday we came in and were seated quickly. Our waitress was nice and quickly took our order. The food was good. Nothing super memorable but a good, greasy breakfast. We'll probably be back to take some family who love checking out DDD restaurants.
(3)Mary B.
This is just a good old diner. It's fun, quick, and delicious. My nephews could not wait to share their pizza pan sized pancake! I was surprised at how tasty it was because sometimes bigger is not better but this pancake was good! I had the breakfast shoe and just loved it! I enjoy this place so much.
(5)Yejun B.
Servers are so kind! When we can't decide which size is good for two girls, one crew shows example of horseshoe in the other table. We really enjoy very traditional sandwiches, horseshoe~!!
(5)Joanne E.
Fair warning, I drafted this review two years ago but neglected to post it. So I can't attest to whether this review is an accurate assessment of this restaurant's current state. Was in Springfield for a wedding (congrats Meg and Alex!) and was looking for a lunch place with some friends from Georgia. It's always my job to Yelp and this place came up (thanks fellow yelpers!). The problem was the time. This place closes at two and we knew it was going to be close. I instructed the driver to "drive like you mean it" and follow my directions since I could tell by the Yelp reviews that it was a little tricky to locate. Well, he complied with my first instruction, but didn't turn when I told him to - he couldn't believe I really wanted him to turn into what looked like an industrial driveway. Bottom line, it was 1:56 when we pulled into the parking lot and sent a scout in to see if we could still get in. Well, the folks who work there could not have been any nicer. We got seated, the waitress answered all our questions - like, what the heck is a horseshoe??? Between the four of us we had two horseshoes - a breakfast one and a lunch one - and two grilled chicken sandwiches with boom boom sauce. There was PLENTY of food. We could have gotten away with the ponies! It was all quite yummy. I'm glad this place isn't in my town - it would be hard to resist all that deliciously bad for you but omg it tastes so good food. As well, the staff were awesome. It was the first time (but it won't be the last) that the four of us had gone to a Triple D dining experience so we were full of questions about when Guy was there, what it was like, etc etc. they answered all our questions and made us feel right at home. They even told us not to rush - they seemed genuinely pleased to have us there even at that late hour. We were all sorry after the waitress told us about the next morning's stuffed blueberry French toast casserole that we wouldn't be in town to try it. Bottom line, great place to check out! Lots of fun, good food, great prices. And a reminder to all those drivers out there, if a Yelper is holding a smart phone and directing you, for goodness' sake, turn when they tell you to turn!
(5)Dulcie N.
Fun place to check out! Although get there early on a weekend morning as it fills up fast and they do not have an area to wait (other than outside). They are really good at getting people through their meal without making you feel rushed though. Food was also good breakfast food! Would go again even though its a little off the beaten path.
(4)Anthony M.
OMG. This place was so awesome. Came here on the recommendation of a local and found out later that it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and I can see why. You can't beat the prices and I loved the ambiance inside a quonset hut. When in Springfield, you have to get a horseshoe and this is the place to get it. If you're coming with several people, order different types of full horseshoes and share it to try them all out! The full is just about $1 more than the half shoe. We ordered a full breakfast shoe and a full horseshoe split among three and it was more than enough food. This place made my entire trip to Springfield.
(5)Chris B.
Charlie Parkers rocks. We usually have Liz, who is a fantastic server. It is fast and good. The prices are midwest value! I come here with my gaggle of small daughters and we always leave satisfied. Under 4 eat free with adult purchase -gotta love that!
(5)Danyle W.
This is the best place in Springfield for breakfast. If you have tried a dinner shoe then you definitely want to get the breakfast shoe here. It is so yummy. Not to mention they were on the food network with Guy. Definitely a good place to visit.
(5)Ashley C.
I saw an old episode on Food Network with Charlie Parkers. Maybe I didn't order the right thing, but I was a little disappointed. I ordered a pony shoe with sausage links and cheese. Customer service was good, food was average. Lacked anything to make it really stand out (spices/seasoning/salt). If you're really hungry a pony shoe won't cut it, go for the horse shoe. The portions are normal sized. The building is uniquely decorated and seemed enjoyable for any age. Priced right and would be back with out of town guests.
(3)Jynelle M.
Really awesome breakfast all day! Horseshoes are pretty good as well. Very cool, vintage feeling diner.
(5)Steff J.
Neat little place off the beaten path. We went here for breakfast. Hubby had country fried steak that was very good and too much for him to eat. I had the breakfast horseshoe. If you've had d'arcy's cheese sauce, skip it here, as you will be disappointed. I scraped mine off and enjoyed the gravy on the other half of the shoe. It made for a very tasty and filling meal which will probably hold me off the rest of the day. Our son had a pancake. It was huge and pretty good. All in all a very good breakfast for not too much money. Huge portions. We will come again.
(4)Tom T.
Best breakfast in town! Breakfast horseshoe, omelette, pancakes, eggs, toast, biscuits & gravy are all exceptional. Great atmosphere and prompt service too!! A weekend must!!!
(5)Lotus F.
Mmmmmm. Just a few miles off the highway. Wanted to get home but decided to go off the path. So happy we did! Service was friendly, attentive and fast. Food was phenomenal! I had the breakfast shoe with both cheese and gravy with scrambled eggs. Gravy was delicious and eggs were perfect! Had the American potatoes (they throw Lawrys on them!!!). Everything was delicious. My boyfriend doubled up with western omelet and peach stuffed French toast! Will be back as soon as we're passing through town!
(5)Beth P.
This place was on Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins and I can see why! It does not look like the type of place you'd want to stop at from the outside, but they have great food. The horseshoe is AMAZING (although, it is an insane amount of food too)!!! You have Texas toast with your choice of eggs, your choice of meat, american fries or hash browns and topped off with your choice of gravy, cheese or both. We stopped back here both days while we were on vacation (only I was smart and just got the pony the second time (1/2 portion)).
(5)Doug M.
Okay it's outstanding, it's busy, it has energy, this place knows how to bring it. I feel better just walking in LOL! Service is awesome, breakfast was tasty. Stop in here if you're visiting the Capital city. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Lawrence D.
Oh yes, this is the place! It's a really not off the beaten path location. Look for a steel Quansett hut with a gravel parking lot. It's a real throwback place with kitschy 50's decor and just plain good food. Friendly servers with a sense of humor. Huge portions of fresh food prepared in an old-fashioned diner style. You'll love this place.It's been doing what it does for a lot of years stubbornly not needing to change! A classic.
(4)Natasha R.
I was in Springfield this past weekend and I was looking for a place to have breakfast/lunch. Usually Yelp comes to my rescue, but I ended up finding Charlie Parkers through Foursquare's explore option. I noticed that it was featured on the Food Network, so that intrigued me and we ended up going to check it out. As some other reviews have said, it DEF does not look like anything from the outside and if anything, it was almost scary and looked like some old school bomb shelter. But once you walk in, it's like entering the 1960s. It has so much history inside, so many cool signs and pictures, and I believe a lot of it has to do with the history of Route 66. Very cool because I have never been to a real diner before (Johnny Rockets doesn't count). We ended up going with their pancakes which is why it was featured on the Food Network. We shared a one plate sized chocolate chip pancake, but I know they have an option for even bigger pancakes. We also had coffee and a side of Mac and cheese. Everything was good... the one huge pancake was DELICIOUS and way more than enough for two people. I can almost say it's one of the best I've tried... Service was great, which is expected, because everyone is so friendly. I don't know when I'll be back to Springfield, but when I do, I will come back to Charlie Parkers for sure!
(4)Cornelis T.
This is probably as good as breakfast gets, it's off the beaten path but worth to search for. We both had a really good breakfast in a really nice atmosphere. America's blessed to have places like this. When we got back home i saw this on DDD, that's pretty cool!
(4)Kelsey K.
Best breakfast in Springfield!! Yummy food with quick and friendly service! Meals are very cheap for the amount of food you get! I love the biscuits and gravy!
(5)Michal H.
Great breakfast restaurant! Got there about 10 am on a Tuesday and it was packed. We got a table right as we walked in and our waitress was super prompt - immediately brought us water and menus, and then quickly returned to take our order. We waited maybe 10 minutes for our food and when it arrived it was hot, fresh and great. I got the breakfast horseshoe and was not disappointed - very large portion and I actually left some of it on the plate. My wife got the bacon waffle and was equally happy with her meal. We enjoyed to nice, diner atmosphere, friendly staff, and quick service.
(4)George H.
This place is amazing - we stopped here on our way through the area on Thursday and had lunch - I had the country fried steak lunch platter which was some of the best I have had and my wife had the pot roast daily special which she loved. We liked our lunch so much that we abandoned our lunch plans for our return trip home today to come back to Charlie Parker's for another round. I had the breaded pork sandwich and my wife had the reuben - we loved both of them - this place is definitely somewhere I will return to!
(5)Josh T.
Servers were nice and it was a very different location. Food was ok. Biscuits and gravy were not good. Blueberry pancake was. Toys and bacon cooked crisp.
(3)Kati W.
We went here not knowing this restaurant was featured on TV. The exterior is a little off-putting and the doors were actually sticky on the way in, but once inside every table was filled and the place was bustling. We were immediately seated at the bar and given coffees. A helpful employee explained the Boom-Boom sauce to us and we both ordered Boom-Boom breakfast sandwiches. OMG! They were delicious. A bagel, fired egg, hash browns, bacon, and Boom-Boom (sort of chipotle flavored) sauce. And it was cheap! Two sandwiches and two coffees for $14. Can't beat that. A very solid diner experience.
(3)Christopher P.
Food was not bad. Have had better but have had worse. Ordered the biscuits and gravy. Not too bad. Ordered a couple sausage patties for the side. I took one bite and couldn't have anymore sausage. tasted very undercooked. Was not impressed. Interior was cool, but felt kind of cramped. Im not sure if I would try this place for lunch if I am back in town.
(3)Kenyon J.
When I saw this location on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on the Food Network, I just had to check it out. I'm familiar with the horseshoe game, and I knew that they are a staple in Springfield. Plus this restaurant's horseshoes were featured on the show, so I had to have one. Unfortunately, it did not live up to all the hype. Yes their prices were fairly low, yet I don't believe their shoes lived up to the reputation that Triple D was giving them. The burger seemed under seasoned and the cheese was fairly bland. Now I'm a big fan of horseshoes and it's not hard to please me with one. This unfortunately was a bad horseshoe experience.
(2)Danny N.
absolutely love this place. great food for a great price. The quantity and taste for the price is tough to beat.
(5)Katherine P.
Ordered the breakfast horseshoe and was so glad I did!!! Even went back for lunch that same day, ate the special which was a chicken pot pie. Food is delicious, service was great and a cool atmosphere.
(4)Ryan A.
We, like most tourists to the area that come here (I'm guessing), came here due to something that was heard somewhere, probably because of Food Network. I wasn't disappointed. I mean, I would have been disappointed had I been expecting something different, but it was exactly what it should have been. Great bad diner food served in a quirky place by a friendly waitress. We did what you're supposed to do (right?). We ordered the horseshoe. I got all cheese and it was fantastic. I don't know how to simultaneously say it is the worst thing in the world and the best thing in the world. You figure that out for yourself in your mind and you'll know what it's like. Or, you know, just go try it.
(4)Michelle F.
I can definitely see why Triple D visited this spot! It was a hidden gem of pure awesome! I had watched the clip and reviewed the menu before arriving, so I thought I knew what I was in for. it turns out that it was even better than I had originally anticipated. It's a shed-type structure surrounded by a gravel lot, and it doesn't look like a whole lot from the outside. I actually went in first to scope out whether or not we were in the right place/if it was a good place to bring the kids into (i.e. highchairs). turns out, it was everything I had hoped! They DID have high chairs (but no changing station in the bathroom, so be aware!!) and we sat down in the middle of the restaurant. It was 11 on a Friday--no wait whatsoever. Our waitress came over right away to take our drink orders and to give her recommendations when we asked! I got the chili cheeseburger pony (smaller version of the horseshoe) and my friend got the breakfast pony with both cheese sauce and the gravy--that comes served over breakfast potatoes. I also got a side salad (that unfortunately did not come before the meal because she didn't put in the order, so my food got cold while I ate my salad. Boo). My chili cheeseburger pony was TO.DIE.FOR. Seriously, look at the pictures. You will understand what I mean. The chili was delicious and fresh, and the crinkle cut fries they were over were salty, crisp, and flavorful. It was just one of those things that I could eat over and over again, and I am sad that Springfield is 4 hours away! My friend's breakfast shoe was amazing as well--you wouldn't think gravy and cheese sauce would go well together, but you would be wrong--the flavors melded so well. It was a delight to steal her food! Also, the kids got grilled cheese and macaroni and cheese as the kids meal--they were FREE!! One free kids meal with each paying adult. WAY impressive. And their food was GOOD. Yes, I stole my son's mac n cheese. And no, I'm not even sorry! It was that awesome! So if I lived near Springfield, I would weigh about 500 lbs because I would eat here all the time. Friendly service, great prices (my whole meal for my son and I was $8!!) and the food was amazing!!
(4)R H.
We came here because it was on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, expecting great diner food. The food was mediocre. The horseshoes were ok--the hash browns on them were good but the fries were just regular fries, and the cheese sauce was watery. The pancakes were nothing special. But what made me very angry was the way the waitress and one other staff member acted after they accidentally put ham in my horseshoe. I don't eat ham, and I ordered it with turkey. When they served it, I thought the ham was a smoked turkey so I ate part of it, then realized that the color of it was different from the color of the turkey on my sister's horseshoe. So we called the server over and she confirmed that it was ham, and simply took the plate away and said she'd be back with another. A different woman came out with a new plate and said "does this look better?" That was it. No apologies from either person for getting it wrong. No offer to take it off the bill. Nothing. Nobody mentioned it again. And when we were waiting for our check at the end, the waitress was sitting with her back turned to the dining area, eating at a table with another waitress while we were sitting there waiting. That is so rude and I know I will not be coming back to this place.
(1)Lindsay B.
I loved the feel of this old school diner, and the location was so cute. When I think of a diner, this is the kind of place that comes to mind. Our service was great- though we were the youngest people in the place by about 30 years I would guess- and I could definitely tell that there were numerous regulars. I loved that the waitresses were friendly to everyone- and also loved that they knew many of their customers by name. If I lived in the Springfield area, I would probably be a regular myself. We enjoyed all of our food- biscuts & gravy, country fried steak, etc- definitely nothing too healthy. For a once in awhile treat- or for some delicious home cooking- this is a must :)
(4)Rich L.
Great food, great menu, great service, great price, great place!!
(5)Mike B.
I hate and love the experience of going to Charlie Parkers. While the food is damn good....the long waits to get in are frustrating. While I like the old timeyness and history on the walls...the place is pretty tightly packed and the wait staff is always just decent or in such a rush to get you out there they always miss something. I always leave Charlie Parkers full and happy so they are doing something right. I recommend it, just make sure you allot yourself some time.
(3)Thad K.
Great local fair, always have breakfast, place always packed full of locals. Love coming here when I'm home. As good as any food on the road and WAY cheaper!
(5)Tami G.
Much to our surprise, we were happy to learn the Springfield was only a 30 minute ride down 72 from Jville and when we learned about that, I immediately said "we need to go to charlie parkers' Luckily, we were able to hit it up between games on Sunday and I still remember it as it was a few years ago when we would stop in on our way to Kenosha for some college football. We were a party of 7, so we knew it would be a little bit of a wait, but it wasn't that long of one. My sister, her husband, and two kids were with us and they had never been and were impressed as well. Four of them ordered the horseshoe, pony style, and polished off the entire plate, some in record time. My 2 yo niece had the mac and cheese and the portion was generous. It was served in a soup bowl and filled to the top. Needless to say, she finished that as well. My nephew had a cheeseburger and enjoyed it, and I had the breakfast burrito and was impressed. There isn't really a bad item in the joint. Yes, you might have to wait a hot minute, but there is nothing wrong with that. Make the trip. so worth it!
(4)Juan G.
Good food. But nothing amazing here. Cool music history hanging on the walls and the building itself is an old small military hanger. I didn't try the horse shoe or the pancakes but the corn beef hash, hash browns, and the club sandwich were good. I would come again!
(4)Fred K.
I had the HUGE 16" pancake and it was delicious! It was nice and light and fluffy. My wife had the Shoe and that thing was very tasty. When I go back I definitely want the Shoe but I had to try the giant pancake at least once. :)
(4)Justin W.
My wife and I have been coming here rather frequently over the last 4 years since moving to the area. Food is fantastic and fast! Love coming here and eating till I can't eat another bite. Will continue to come as long as I enjoy food!
(5)Raymond L.
If you don't care about the difference between butter and margarine, don't mind imitation maple syrup for your pancakes, don't have any preference for how your eggs are cooked or undercooked this place might be acceptable. The service is good, but the sub-par ingredients and randomly over or under cooked eggs make the experience unpleasant. While I prefer locally owned options to big chains, a consistently mediocre Denny's breakfast would be far preferable.
(1)Rhonda G.
Average breakfast fare,not bad but not amazing. The "plate sized pancake" was huge and a surprise since I think I was expecting a pancake the size of a much smaller plate for only $1.95. I also enjoyed typical items like hash browns, eggs and coffee, no complaints. The place is kitschy on the inside with walls full of various memorabilia . I was told that the actual structure is a Quonset hut (you learn something new everyday). We waited about 20 minutes for a table for our big group and I'm not sure I would ever choose to wait to dine here again. As mentioned the food is average so i'm sure I could get the same thing at most other places in town. And since I wasn't overly impressed by anything inside the diner (decor or staff) I think I would probably be ok never going back.
(3)John B.
I've lived in the Springfield area for over 2 years and today we finally made it with the kids to Charlie Parker's for the first time. I can now say that I had the Breakfast (pony) shoe. It was a good portion, delicious and reasonable priced. The kids eyes lit up at the size of the pancakes, and they put a good dent in them. Service was great especially given that it was crowded. The fifth star would be reserved for just a little better coffee, just sayin'.
(4)Don F.
French Dip looks good. Great to eat at an old style dinner. I liked the sandwiches Horseshoe style. The French dip had a lot of meat.
(4)Bobby O.
This is one of those crazy places that makes it on a food show or challenge. Either you love it or hate it. I would go here again and give it a second chance. The bathrooms were yucky and I think thats a shame!
(4)Kirstin E.
I was in town visiting a friend and wanted a decent breakfast place after a full day and night of boozing. She explained it being on a road that didn't look like it lead to anything. ... I was questioning the place until I saw the parking lot and walked inside. Although the parking lot was full of cars, we went in and only had a 10-15 minute wait (not bad considering). The hostess took a phone number and texted us when the table was ready. So many good food choices and the prices were cheap. I ordered an omelet and a half order of the french toast. I was very impressed with the omelet - it had a perfect ingredient to egg ratio... you know, sometimes it doesn't have enough of the ingredients and way too much egg. The french toast was delicious as well! All of the wait staff was incredibly nice and friendly; added perk! I will absolutely be coming back to this place when I'm back in Springfield!!!!!
(4)Brandon B.
Great food. Excellent service. Locally owned diner with good food and generous portion sizes. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting a great breakfast or lunch. I will definitely return.
(5)Perrey L.
I went here only because my children have turned me into a Travel Channel addict, and Guy Fieri's silly ass had this on his Springfield show. I call Guy Fieri a silly ass because Adam Richman, one of my personal heroes, suggested Darcy's Pint as THE place to get a horseshoe in Springfield, and, by God, he was right. In any case, Charlie Parker's is a fun, upbeat, homey, and comfortable place to get a killer, oversized breakfast. You can pick and choose what ingredients you want on your horseshoe. The first time I went, I opted for the buffalo chicken with french fries. Freakin delicious. The second time I had the turkey with french fries (and a very generous pouring of tabasco). Also freakin delicious. The coffee is good, the service is friendly and fast, and the wait is worth it. For an out of towner wanting to try Springfield's famous horseshoe, though, go to Darcy's first.
(3)Michael C.
Oh man.....lots of hype here. I was thoroughly not impressed. Coffee was decent, but the food was room temperature - specifically the sausage patties and gravy. Those are foods that are intended to be served hot, at least as far as I know. I've only been here once, so this could have just been an anomaly. BUT, serving hot food is such a basic requirement that I'm not giving them a free pass. Also, the waitress told us before we ordered that she likes Hardees' biscuits and gravy better.......really? That doesn't sound like a 'Food Network'-level elite restaurant experience.
(2)Carm B.
Dirty, Dirty, soooo Dirty!! The inside is as nasty as it looks on the outside. The bathrooms in the dump are the most disgusting bathrooms I've ever had the horrible experience of having to use. I don't care how good the food was, if the restaurant is filthy, so is the kitchen. I can't believe they filmed any kind of TV show in this place. I would not recommend, honestly.
(1)Ben K.
This was the second place I went for a horseshoe in Springfield. Had one of the breakfast shoes (pony shoe so I wouldn't die). Hash eggs and cheese sauce usually can't go wrong. It was good. Service was a bit slow and the coffee leaves much to be desired. I'll def come back, but it doesn't live up to ddd hype..... Update. I went back more recently and had a chicken pony shoe, it tasted better than the breakfast shoe, but I ordered the buffalo chicken but got fried chicken, which tasted good,but not what I ordered.
(3)Colleen S.
I received a gift card to here for Christmas after I moved to Springfield and my boyfriend and I finally used it. The wait looked really long since the place is tiny but we snagged two seats at the bar. We decided to split a breakfast horseshoe. The food came out really quick and it was tasty. The only thing that has kept us from going back is the impending doom of a long wait. Prices were really reasonable though.
(4)Les D.
Met a friend for breakfast/brunch on a frigid and drizzling April Sat. Long, crowded line. Expect a 15-20 minute wait. There is not much of a lobby, so it might pay to post someone in the restaurant and stay in the car. Had the plate sized pancakes. These are heavy and not particularly good, but they are big, and sometimes bigger is better. It certainly was a well prepared pancake given its size, just heavy and chewy. I prefer a fluffy, buttery pancake. They do have small, multi-grain pancakes. They might be a better option. Eggs looked delicious and the bacon was excellent. I'm a fan because of the price. Hardly a single item over $3. Just remarkable. This is a cozy and delightful place for a visit to Springfield.
(4)Era J.
I went to Charlie Parker's because it's been on "Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins," and my neighbors recommended it, so it was worth a try. . .right? Not necessarily so!!! It was crowded, and I had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated. It was around noon, so I ordered a hamburger and fries. . .let me tell you, they were nothing to shout about at all. Charlie Parker's may have great breakfast, but if you want something besides breakfast food, I'd suggest you try somewhere else.
(2)Ruperto R.
This was featured on tv's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Definitely a must if you love horseshoe sandwich's.
(4)rick a.
Charlie Parker's is how all diners should be and so few are. After watching Diners, Drive-ins & Dives I had to visit when I was in Springfield and was not disappointed at all. Two people can visit here and potentially bust-a-gut for $25. The breakfast shoe is delicious and filling and can be had in a dozen or different sausage,ham, bacon combos. Well worth visiting if you are in the area.
(4)Tanya M.
this place has good food at good prices. it is a great dining experience. as far as the horseshoes go i do like darcy's pint better. friendly staff. sometimes the wait can be a bit long. and they are only open till 2pm.
(4)Coco P.
Meh, i don't get it. I'm all for divey-out-of-the-way joints, but this really disappointed. We had 12 people on a Sunday morning. Someone suggested IHOP but there is NO WAY I was going to eat there so we decided to try "Springfield's Best Breakfast" joint. They don't take reservations so we waited. That's fine, given the hype we were more than willing to wait the 15 minutes they quoted. Some 45 minutes later we were seated. There were 4 menus on the table and within a couple of minutes the waitress came for our order. We told her we didn't have time to read the menus and she rushed back with more menus. So the place is chaotic and harried (and loud) but the staff did hustle. As I always say, it's not about the problems it's what they do about it. And the waitress did apologize and ran around like a maniac trying to help everyone. Always had a full cop o' coffee. Kudos to our waitress. I can forgive chaos but I cannot forgive mediocre food. As soon as we walked in I scanned the plates, as I always do. I immediately turned to my husband and said "Don't order the hash browns...they're those frozen shredded things". Come on, really? Pale, frozen, mealy potatoes? I ordered the western omelet. Processed cheese, frozen veggies. The side of fruit was fresh and tasty though. One in our party ordered a side of corned beef hash and I must say, Charlie Parker brought a new low to hash. Maybe people in central Illinois don't know what corned beef or hash is all about, but this was shocking. The dish consisted of a pile of pale, undercooked, frozen hash browns. Then they took a few slices of deli corned beef sandwich meat, chopped it up, and sprinkled it on top. Wasn't even mixed in. No kidding. I felt like I was in another universe. I'm no snob but good food is universal. This was just embarrassing. Everything else was just as mediocre. A table of 12 and not one person had much to say about the food. Other than the potatoes and hash it wasn't horrible....but not very good either. Just...meh. I never thought I'd say it but we probably would have been better off at IHOP...at least we wouldn't have had to wait in the rain in the gravel parking lot.
(2)M H.
On a recent road trip on Historic Route 66 with my dad, we plotted out some of the more famous spots to eat. Charlie Parker's was on that list. I've heard about the pancake challenge and the old 50's memorabilia on the walls and so using yelp and google maps it was quite easy to find actually on the iPhone. We stopped here at about 6:30am and the place was packed with locals. I had to ask if we ordered at the table or counter since no one even acknowledged us having walked in. When the food came, scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, toast...it was really quite average. The pancakes, while huge, are not soft and fluffy...their quite bland and tasteless. THe bacon was rock hard and the eggs where OK. The place gets high marks for looking cool and having a one-of-a-kind type of feel to it for sure, but we were left thinking it should have been better food for sure. A cool place to see...but don't think of this as the best breakfast you're going to eat.
(3)Louis C.
Came in for a horseshoe after seeing this place on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." As Guy says, this place is a located in an old hangar. It's kind of tough to find as its tucked behind a main road on a frontage road so be patient. We ordered a pork tenderloin horseshoe, chicken fried steak, cheeseburger and chicken strips. The horseshoe was ok (you should know that I found a better horsehoe across town at a place called Darcy's Pint...sorry Guy!). The cheese sauce is a bit bland and thick but the pork tenderloin was huge and perfectly fried. The bland, thick cheese sauce solidified about half way through the meal and was kind of like glue. No matter, as the wife's chicken fried steak was tasty and had a gravy that was to die for. The cheeseburger was good and the chicken strips were done well. We also had the yummy cherry shake. Our waitress was friendly and informative. The only criticism I have about the place is the cleanliness. Look, I'm no germophobe or anything like that and I've had plenty of good meals in greasy spoons across the state, but this place was really on the dingy side. The booths were not clean and there was food jammed between the benches and the wall that seemed rather old. I'd come back again thought I'd like to see them hit this place with a little more Spic-n-Span before the next visit.
(3)Joey B.
Tasty homemade food for breakfast or lunch. Generous portions. Daily special (pulled pork lunch) was good. While Springfield is noted for its "horseshoe" (a slice of toast with a hamburger patty, covered with french fries or tatter tots, and smothered in cheese sauce), I would try something more adventurous from the menu next time.
(4)tom m.
way over rated,,, the best thing is the building from the OUTSIDE,, is an old metal building, i have been there 3 times,, everytime, sent back hashbrowns because they were not cripsy like i ordered,, not even cooked all the way thru the 2nd time. is very cold in the metal building during the winter,, and you are like a monkey in an oven in the summer. VERY noisy, tables are close together.. you can not have a conversation with out the person next to you hearing.. food is overpriced, was there a busboy was drinking coke at his station asked him for some catsup, got a dirty look,, never did get it, i had to go up to the counter to get it myself.. stay away not worth the trip!
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