The Restaurant at Hinkle’s Pharmacy

(A review by The Town Traveler)

Walk through the doors of Hinkle’s Pharmacy and in no time you will spot the restaurant and most likely find yourself feeling a bit nostalgic. This old-time coffee shop style gathering spot has been operating in downtown Columbia for many years. The history of the pharmacy dates back to when Samuel W. Hinkle and Luther W. Schroeder opened Schroeder & Hinkle in 1893.

When John F. Hinkle, Sr. joined the business in 1925 it officially became Hinkle’s Pharmacy. There are some great photographs on the Hinkle’s Pharmacy website that show the restaurant during the 1950’s. At that time there was a ten stool soda fountain with offerings of sodas, ice cream and sandwiches.

Today the restaurant has thirteen booths and thirty-six counter seats and offers a complete home style menu. The Town Traveler visited Hinkle’s Pharmacy Restaurant for dinner. The meal started with a piping hot cup of the soup of the day, a delicious serving of Chicken Corn Soup. Next up was the Grilled Boneless Pork Chops with a side of mashed potatoes. The pork chops were very tender and juicy and with the ample side of mashed potatoes this meal turned out to be a great example of home cooked cuisine.

The quality at Hinkle’s Pharmacy Restaurant is very good, and the service was speedy and welcoming with waitresses who freely call you “Honey.” The Town Traveler must return to Hinkle’s Pharmacy Restaurant to try the “Eye-Opener” breakfast, the legendary Shifter Sandwich – and then there are the fresh-baked pies.

With everything this restaurant has to offer it comes without surprise that there is crowd of “regulars” at Hinkle’s. I think these regulars will agree with the Town Traveler’s rating that Hinkle’s Pharmacy Restaurant gets a thumbs up.

Hinkle’s Pharmacy Restaurant is open seven days a week and is located at: Third and Locust Streets. http://hinklespharmacy.com/restaurant.htm

[NOTE:] This is a continuing periodic review of places to dine in and around Columbia. Our reviewer is “The Town Traveler,” and, hopefully, since Columbia news, views & reviews has no budget line item to buy meals for our reviewer, The Town Traveler will continue to forward reviews from time to time. But, dear readers, if you want to submit a restaurant review as you dine in local establishments, please send your review to us. Our email address is 17512@mail.com.