A Historic Route 66 Restaurant Continues to Win Over Burger Lovers With Its Classic Smash Burgers, Homemade Root Beer and Old-Fashioned Dining Experience

BRENTWOOD, MO – October 24, 2026 (StLouisRestaurantReview) In an increasingly competitive restaurant industry where elaborate menus, trendy dining rooms, and expensive marketing campaigns often dominate the conversation, one small Brentwood burger joint proves that great food and a memorable dining experience don’t require complicated concepts.

Carl’s Drive-In, located at 9033 Manchester Road in Brentwood, Missouri, has been serving customers since 1959. Its reputation rests on a straightforward combination of crispy-edged hamburgers, homemade root beer, traditional American comfort food, and an atmosphere that recalls an earlier generation of roadside dining.

With a reported 4.6-star Google rating, Carl’s represents the kind of neighborhood restaurant that many communities wish they still had. That figure, provided for this review, differs from ratings on other platforms, but the restaurant’s longevity and continued recognition speak to its established place in St. Louis dining culture.

For customers seeking a traditional burger experience rather than another modern fast-casual concept, Carl’s offers something increasingly uncommon: a restaurant that has preserved much of its original identity.

A Burger That Defines the Restaurant

Carl’s Drive-In’s centerpiece is unquestionably its hamburger.

Rather than relying on oversized patties, elaborate toppings, or unconventional combinations, Carl’s specializes in thin, griddle-smashed burgers with crisp edges.

The cooking style creates a distinctive texture. When a thin beef patty hits a hot griddle, its exterior develops the browned crust that makes traditional smash burgers so appealing.

Carl’s serves single, double, and triple hamburgers and cheeseburgers, letting customers choose their preferred portion without navigating an unnecessarily complicated menu.

The double cheeseburger is an especially compelling choice for customers looking to experience the restaurant’s signature style.

In an April 2026 review, The Infatuation highlighted Carl’s thin burgers and recommended ordering at least a double because the patties are relatively small.

The appeal lies in the simplicity. Carl’s isn’t trying to reinvent the hamburger. It focuses on a familiar preparation that has remained popular for generations.

For many burger enthusiasts, that traditional approach is precisely what makes the restaurant worth visiting.

Understanding Carl’s Drive-In’s Customer Ratings

Online restaurant ratings have become one of the most influential factors in determining where customers eat.

A rating approaching five stars can be particularly impressive for a restaurant operating in a competitive category such as hamburgers, where customers often have strong preferences about preparation, portion size, service, and value.

Carl’s has a 4.6-star rating, though ratings vary across platforms. Tripadvisor currently displays a 4.4 out of 5 rating based on 100 reviews.

Available customer feedback highlights several recurring strengths.

Customers frequently praise the traditional burgers, homemade root beer, nostalgic atmosphere, and the restaurant’s distinctive character.

Some describe the burgers as what a proper smash burger should be, especially because of their thin patties and crispy edges.

Others appreciate that Carl’s has maintained its identity instead of becoming a more conventional restaurant.

Not every review is universally positive. Customers cite limited seating, tight parking, occasional waits, and smaller portions as criticisms.

These observations are worth considering, particularly for first-time visitors.

Nevertheless, Carl’s longstanding reputation illustrates the importance of consistency, familiarity, and a recognizable dining experience.

Homemade Root Beer Is Part of the Attraction

Although hamburgers receive much of the attention, Carl’s homemade root beer is another defining feature.

Served in frosted mugs, the beverage reinforces the restaurant’s traditional American drive-in identity.

According to the restaurant’s published history, Carl’s obtained the formula for its now-famous root beer in 1975.

More than five decades later, it remains one of the establishment’s signature offerings.

A freshly prepared cheeseburger, French fries, and cold root beer capture the simplicity of American roadside dining.

For visitors unfamiliar with Carl’s, ordering the homemade root beer is key to experiencing what sets the restaurant apart from ordinary hamburger chains.

Root beer floats are also available, offering another traditional dessert-style beverage.

More Than Hamburgers

While burgers are the principal attraction, Carl’s offers a menu that extends beyond its signature sandwiches.

Customers can choose from foot-long hot dogs, chili dogs, Curly-Q hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken fillet sandwiches, and fish fillet sandwiches.

The restaurant also serves chili, Frito pie, tamales with chili or barbecue sauce, and other classic American comfort foods.

These selections help preserve the identity of a traditional drive-in rather than a restaurant devoted exclusively to hamburgers.

French fries and onion rings complement the main dishes, while milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, and Ted Drewes concretes provide additional dessert options.

The menu’s relatively limited scope benefits customers who prefer restaurants that focus on familiar dishes.

Instead of trying to serve every possible cuisine, Carl’s has built its reputation around a recognizable selection of American favorites.

A Restaurant With More Than 65 Years of History

One of Carl’s Drive-In’s most compelling aspects is its history.

The property was originally home to a service station in 1918. By 1943, the building had been converted into a seasonal hot dog stand known as the Foot Long Hot Dog Company.

In 1959, Carl Meyer and his wife, Pat, purchased the business and established Carl’s Drive-In.

The restaurant initially offered curb service and a walk-up window, reflecting the period’s automobile-oriented dining culture.

A 1962 remodeling project enclosed the building and added air conditioning and indoor seating for 16 customers.

Curb service ended in 1969, but the restaurant continued operating as a neighborhood dining destination.

Ownership changed over the decades, including Frank Cunetto and his wife’s purchase in 1987 and longtime customer Mike Franklin’s purchase in 2015.

In 2021, regular customer David Kraemer bought the restaurant, planning to preserve its traditions while making selective improvements.

That continuity helps explain why Carl’s remains recognizable to customers who have visited over many years.

The Dining Experience: Small, Simple and Nostalgic

Carl’s Drive-In is not a spacious restaurant with large dining rooms, private booths, or an extensive seating area.

Its interior features just 16 counter stools.

That small footprint is part of the establishment’s identity.

Customers sit close to the cooking area, creating a traditional diner atmosphere that larger restaurant concepts find hard to replicate.

The experience is intentionally straightforward. Customers arrive, order, and enjoy a meal in a setting that emphasizes the restaurant’s history over modern interior design.

There are trade-offs.

Seating is limited, and the restaurant can become crowded during popular dining periods. Parking is also limited, something the business acknowledges on its website.

Service is frequently described as efficient and fast-paced, although some reviewers find the approach more direct than they prefer.

Visitors expecting an extended, leisurely restaurant experience may find the compact environment less comfortable than a conventional dining room.

For customers seeking an authentic old-fashioned burger counter, however, those same characteristics can be part of the attraction.

Recognition Beyond the Neighborhood

Local and national food publications have covered Carl’s Drive-In.

Its official website highlights recognition from The Kansas City Star for best cheeseburger in Missouri in 2022 and from Eat This, Not That! for best chili in Missouri that same year.

The restaurant also lists recognition from St. Louis Magazine for its French fries and previous coverage celebrating its burgers and diner atmosphere.

Such recognition is significant for a small, independently operated establishment competing with regional restaurant groups and national chains.

Carl’s lacks the expansive footprint and marketing resources of major hamburger brands.

Its competitive advantage is its established reputation, distinctive food preparation, and recognizable history.

The restaurant’s location along the historic Route 66 corridor also appeals to visitors interested in American roadside culture.

Is Carl’s Drive-In Worth the Visit?

For customers who appreciate traditional smash burgers, the answer is a strong yes based on the restaurant’s documented specialties, longevity, and favorable customer feedback.

Carl’s offers a combination that’s increasingly hard to find: a historically significant restaurant, a focused menu, a distinctive cooking style, and a dining environment closely tied to its origins.

Its homemade root beer adds another reason to visit, especially for customers who want the full drive-in experience.

There are reasonable limitations to consider. The restaurant has little indoor seating, parking can be difficult during busy periods, and customers seeking large portions or extensive menu customization may prefer other establishments.

But those considerations do not erase what makes Carl’s special.

The restaurant’s appeal comes from its commitment to a specific dining experience: traditional hamburgers and familiar American comfort food.

For St. Louis residents, Carl’s represents a connection to the region’s restaurant history.

For travelers, it offers a chance to experience a genuine roadside dining institution rather than a modern interpretation.

And for hamburger enthusiasts, it remains a noteworthy destination in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Final Review: A St. Louis Classic That Deserves Attention

The most impressive thing about Carl’s Drive-In may not be any single menu item.

It is the restaurant’s ability to stay relevant while preserving the qualities that made it successful in the first place.

Since 1959, the restaurant has undergone multiple ownership changes, shifting consumer preferences, and major changes in the American restaurant industry.

Yet its central identity remains intact.

Carl’s continues to offer the traditional combination of smash burgers, homemade root beer, familiar side dishes, and a compact counter-service atmosphere.

That consistency helps explain why the restaurant remains an important part of the local dining conversation.

For diners who measure restaurant quality by character, tradition, and execution rather than elaborate presentation, Carl’s Drive-In deserves serious consideration.

St. Louis Restaurant Review’s assessment: Carl’s Drive-In stands out as a historic burger destination with a distinctive menu, strong regional recognition, and a nostalgic atmosphere. Its strengths make it worth recommending, while its limited seating and mixed service feedback deserve acknowledgment.

Whether you stop in for a double cheeseburger, a frosted mug of homemade root beer, or simply to experience a surviving Route 66-era restaurant, Carl’s offers a memorable piece of St. Louis dining history.

Restaurant Information

Restaurant: Carl’s Drive-In
Address: 9033 Manchester Road, Brentwood, MO 63144
Telephone: (314) 961-9652
Website: https://www.carlsdrivein.com/
Cuisine: American, hamburgers, hot dogs, and traditional comfort food
Dining: Counter seating, takeout and call-ahead curbside orders
Reported rating: 4.7 stars (platform not independently verified)
Established: 1959

Hours listed by the restaurant:

Monday–Saturday: 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Credit cards are accepted. Seating and parking are limited.

Editorial disclosure: This review-style feature is based on the restaurant’s published history and menu, independent restaurant coverage, and publicly available customer feedback. It does not represent an unannounced firsthand dining visit. Ratings, prices, and hours may change.