OK Missouri…What is a St. Louis Slinger?

I grew up in the St. Louis metro area and experienced many of the city’s unique treats. St. Louis style pizza, toasted ravioli, St. Paul sandwiches, pork steaks and later gooey butter cake. But I never had (nor heard of) a “St. Louis Slinger”.

Turns out it’s born out of the culinary tradition of “What do you have laying around, because it’s late and I’m hungry..”

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After a night of partying it has been customary (regardless of locale) to get something to eat before going home. Many times this has sparked specific traditions and dishes to certain restaurants, or in the case of the “Slinger”, a whole city.

The traditional “Slinger” includes two eggs (usually over easy), hash browned potatoes, sausage patties, or ground beef, American cheese (not Provel, St. Louis?) chopped onions and chili ladled over the top. Toast is then served on the side.

There are variations on the “Slinger”. Some places substitute gravy for the chili, some split the dish – half gravy, half chili. Others upgrade to andouille sausage. Still other local places top it all off with a tamale. One of the most mentioned places for an elite "Slinger" is the Riverside Diner a few blocks from the river in the south city Patch neighborhood.

Somehow, I never experienced this St. Louis treat that spread to Columbia via students at Mizzou who would stay up partying and needed to be clear minded for class in a few hours. The “St. Louis Slinger” apparently has magical properties that will soak up your night of going hard and simultaneously wake you to elevated focus.

Yes, you can get a “Slinger” during the daytime too, and at the right places you can get a junior slinger. Seek out a local diner in the St. Louis or in St. Louis county as opposed to a chain establishment.