Elm Street, downtown Washington. Serving since 1930.

Cowan's Restaurant
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The brick front of Cowan's Restaurant on Elm Street, with its green and gold striped awning and hanging signA stack of pancakes with the word Cowan's written across the top one in batter, a scoop of butter and a jug of syrupCowan's dining room, with black chairs, pendant lights and a chalkboard wallFrench toast with cream and chocolate drizzle on a green rimmed plate

Washington, Missouri · Since 1930

Cowan’s Restaurant

Home of the mile high pie, and still the place to meet.

114 Elm St, Washington, MO 63090

Wed to Sat 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM · Sun 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM · Closed Mon and Tue

Call (636) 239-3213Find Us
4.5from 993 Google reviews

The oldest restaurant in town, in a building that has stood on Elm Street since 1860. Homemade food, daily specials, and pies with meringue piled so high they gave us the name we are known by.

A whole mile high meringue pie in a foil dish, topped with chocolate shavings
Home of the Mile High Pie

Fourteen pies go up on the board.

The board hangs on the dining room wall and it is written in chalk for a reason. What is baked changes, and a good one goes fast, so the honest answer is to ask what is out today. Whole pies can be ordered ahead.

  1. 01Apple
  2. 02Apple Crumb
  3. 03Peach
  4. 04Peach Crumb
  5. 05Cherry
  6. 06Blackberry
  7. 07Blackberry Crumb
  8. 08Blueberry
  9. 09Blueberry Crumb
  10. 10Strawberry Rhubarb
  11. 11Coconut
  12. 12Chocolate
  13. 13Lemon
  14. 14Choc P. Butter
Order Your Pie

Or just call and ask what is on the board.

Cowan's dining room seen from the front door, with the pie board and specials board on the far wall

“Oldest Restaurant in town and still... ‘The Place To Meet’”

Written on our own dining room wall
From the Kitchen

Homemade, more or less everything.

Breakfast from seven in the morning, then lunch and dinner through to eight. There are daily specials on the board, and a kids’ menu. Cards and cash both work, parking is free on the lot and on the street.

The Brunch Burger, with egg, hash browns, bacon and cheese, served with fries

The Brunch Burger

Egg, hash browns, bacon and cheese, on top grade American beef.

Biscuits under sausage gravy, with bacon, hash browns and fried eggs

Biscuits and Gravy

The one people drive in for at breakfast.

Country fried steak under gravy, with home fried potatoes, eggs and a biscuit

Country Fried Steak

Gravy, potatoes and a biscuit alongside.

Thick cut French toast with cream and chocolate drizzle, with a mug of coffee behind it

French Toast

Served with coffee, which is how most people take it.

A basket of breaded fried bites with marinara and ranch, and a basket of sweet potato fries

Something to Start

Fried, with marinara and ranch, and sweet potato fries.

A dessert under white and dark chocolate drizzle on a white plate

And Something After

If the pie board has not already decided it for you.

In This Room Since 1930

A hardware store, a candy kitchen, then us.

There has been a restaurant in this room since 1930, and the plaque by the front door goes back further than that. The name above the window has changed hands more than once. The room has not moved.

“The Place To Meet”

On the sign, on the wall, and on the window.

  1. 1860The building goes up, put up by the Kahmann family.
  2. 1869Henry J. Dickbrader opens a hardware store in it, and runs it until 1920.
  3. 1922The Olympia Candy Kitchen takes the room.
  4. 1930Pete and Claire Mealer buy the building and it becomes Mealer's Restaurant.
  5. 1972The Mealers sell to Ida Mae Schultz and it becomes Elm's Cafe.
  6. 1973John Cowan takes it on and it becomes Cowan's Cafe. The name has stuck ever since.
  7. 1977Oma and Jerry Gildehaus buy Cowan's.
  8. 2009Tom and Rachel Gildehaus buy Cowan's, and it is theirs to this day.
What People Say

“Three words. Mile high pie.”

Wayne Myers · August 2026

“We went to Washington to pick something up, had no idea where to eat, very happy we chose this place! The BEST patty melt we've ever had, seriously! Made fresh with the perfect balance of grilled onions, cheese, and the thick rye was perfect.”
wh whAugust 2026
“Stopped in on the way home from camping and it's our new favorite breakfast spot! Best biscuits and gravy I've ever and and the best french toast that my insanely hard to impress 13 year old son has ever had!”
Natalie LindbergAugust 2026
“Had the Best day with my friend, service was great and if you like the Old Time decor and you are in Washington, Mo stop by and get some good food.”
Lucinda CarterAugust 2026
“Our trip to Cowan's restaraunt was amazing and really hit the spot after last night at the Washington Town and Country Fair! Love this place as it reminds me of my childhood. I grew up in Washington MO and would always walk downtown Washington.”
Sarah ErdelenAugust 2026
“I had the Cowans Club & my wife had the BLT. Both were delicious. Service was excellent. Great family atmosphere.”
L.T. FitzpatrickAugust 2026
“Good home cooking in a clean friendly environment close to all the shops downtown. And the pies are to die for.”
Do WhatmakesyouhappyAugust 2026
Find Us

114 Elm Street, downtown.

In the middle of the shops on Elm, with the striped awning and the neon sign. Free lot and free street parking. The entrance, parking, restroom and seating are all wheelchair accessible.

Opening hours
MondayClosed
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Call (636) 239-3213Get Directions

Cowan’s Restaurant

114 Elm St, Washington, MO 63090

Wed to Sat 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sun 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

DirectionsCall
Work Here

We’re hiring.

We have been posting for staff, including an evening dishwasher, which suits somebody after school. The easiest thing is to call, or come in and ask.

Call About a Job
Order a Pie, or Ask Us Anything

Order your pie today.

Whole pies for a table, a holiday or a full house. Tell us what you are after and when you need it. If it is short notice, calling is quicker than typing.

(636) 239-3213

Wednesday to Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday.