What Saint James, MO lacks in quantity, it makes up for in style, and we’re not just talking about the basketball team. The restaurants in St. James range from recognizable fast food, like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut, to local haunts like Diana’s Diner and Northside Café, to the fine dining of Sybill’s. As in every aspect, St. James has it all.

With St. James’s I-44 frontage, it has been a prime candidate for fast food development over the past 10-15 years. The local McDonald’s features Meramec Springs-inspired murals as well as a large exotic fish tank, which both add a regional flair. Burger King offers McD’s some competition across the highway, with Sonic on the way. You can find your Jared-worthy healthy meal at Subway, and rounding out the nationally recognized chains, you can always curb your pizza appetite down the road at Pizza Hut or at the Casey’s General Store.

If you are more interested in local flavor, feel free to visit the traditional small-town cafes St. James boasts. Northside Café is located about a mile south of town across from the St. James Golf Course. Northside has been around for many years, and has a local following that keeps it hopping.

Right in the heart of downtown, Diana’s Diner has gone through a number of transformations. Originally the St. James Bakery, the location holds a special place in the heart of many a St. James native. Although the diner has changed hands in the past few years, the “malt shoppe” décor really adds to the appeal, which is to say nothing of the food! Nightly specials are affordable and extremely delicious (my favorite is Thursday night fried chicken – 2 pieces of chicken and 3 sides for $5.25). They also recently doubled their seating to accommodate larger groups and the high demand, featuring a separate non-smoking room.

Also, a couple of recent additions to St. James include China Buffet, located just north of town, and Simply Irresistible. Simply Irresistible features deli-style lunches with fabulous soups and salads. Located downtown, the shop features antiques to consider while your food is prepared as well as bags of gourmet popcorn to go.

Finally, the piece de resistance for St. James and the surrounding area, Sybill’s, St. James offers fine dining with an upscale atmosphere. Specializing in pasta, steaks, and prime rib, Sybill’s offers reservation-type seating as well as a bar area. Also, Sybill’s features a boutique-style shop, with merchandise from the shop available on display in the restaurant itself. Sybill’s draws their clientele from the surrounding area, with customers traveling from hours away to experience premier fine dining.

St. James Missouri boasts a variety of eating choices for a town its size. Whether you are looking for fast food, local flavor, or fine dining, St. James is the complete package.