My group of seven traveled to Alva Country Diner for breakfast last week. We went because of a news article about this homey establishment possibly shutting down in a few months if a new owner couldn't be found. When we arrived we were told that they will not be shutting down. Great news. The breakfast menu is fairly small but everyone in the group found something to order. Service was great, coffee kept coming, staff is friendly. We are putting them on our schedule for our group breakfasts. read more

Alva Country Diner - Eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast. - Diners Near Me - Alva, Florida

A lunch stop in Alva, Florida this afternoon. This place has a rough aged exterior but once inside you are greeted and friendly staff are eager to help. Lots of locals with their families were seated around us. I ordered a cold meatloaf sandwich which came with cole slaw and a pickle spear. My sandwich was good and my wife enjoyed her chicken plate. No banana pudding, but they do offer several different pies. read more

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We had a good lunch here -- mine was better -- while traveling cross Florida on Route 80. The building has seen better days. And from the outside might even give some "city" folks pause as whether to enter or not. But it is as advertised -- a country diner. Emphasis on country. And popular with the locals. Inside, it's pretty rustic too. Tables and chairs in a main dining room. But the staff is friendly and down home. There's a menu plus blackboard specials. My husband got a meatloaf sandwich. He said it was good, but not remarkable. It came with lettuce, tomato, and onion. He left off the lettuce and added mayo. The sandwich came with pickles and coleslaw. My meal was very good. I got the quarter broasted chicken, white. The chicken was a separate wing and breast and perfectly cooked with a crispy coating. Not sure whether it was baked and then roasted or baked and fried, but I liked it. It came with two sides -- mashed potatoes and yellow gravy and the veg of the day, broccoli (meh. Southern vegetables are always too overcooked for me). The portion was large enough that I took half the chicken home (for dinner). I'd order this again. We did not have room for dessert. They had a number of pies listed on the black board-- I'm assuming house made -- that would have appealed. I'm glad we came to check them out. Now we know. read more

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Old world diner. Place looks like it hasn't been touched inside or out, in 50 years. Service was great, we were greeted and seated in a few minutes. Menu is tight and filled with classics. I had the Chicken fried steak with brown gravey and mashed potatoes (tasted boxed), $13.99. My wife had the broasted 1/4 chicken. Came to the table piping hot and she said it was good, not dried out, $13.99. Nice warm rolls started us off. Overall, what we expected from this old world diner. In the end it was good but there are lots of other options out there. read more

Alva Country Diner - Chicken Country Fried Steak - Diners Near Me - Alva, Florida

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although the food was incredible as always the service was absolutely awful. don't understand why these waitresses feel privilege and are entitled to a tip when the service is below horrible must be why the place has a big turnover of waitresses - they are lazy and dirty read more

The Alva diner is out in the middle of nowhere as you travel across the state on state road 80. We got there at about 11 o'clock and they quit serving breakfast at 11 so we ordered off the lunch menu. One of their specialties is broasted chicken. Several of her people ordered the broasted chicken all you can eat $14.99 and I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes with brown gravy. All of the food was good, and we did our best to clean up our plates, even though they have very large portions. It's a quaint kind of place and fairly old. A little bit rundown. We all enjoyed our lunch and of course you have to sip on sweet tea while you're there and our waitress was extremely helpful. read more

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After driving by the Alva Diner for a couple years, seeing that cute coffee cup sign out front and hearing about how iconic the place is for Alva, we finally stopped for lunch. The parking lot for this place is almost always full. We went in expecting a small, simple, rural diner and that's exactly what it is. It seems to be a magnet for the older generation. My guess would b average age is 75-80yrs old. The outside of the building is in some disrepair and could use attention. Inside is fine - it's a no frills, homey diner. Most tables were full, but it didn't feel congested. Parking is fine - enter through the side door, which could use some cleaning & a coat of paint. Hostess and waitress were awesome! So friendly, patient, welcoming. Seriously - Alva Diner, u have some great employees and it creates a welcoming environment. R waitress' knowledge of the menu was impressive & her goal to please is obvious, even asking if we wanted the bread regular vs toasted, etc. Menu is pretty expansive with a lot of homestyle options. It seems their broasted chicken (fried chicken) is a house favorite. It comes with a potato option (fries or mashed), a roll and the veggie of the day. We did the 1/2 white meat broasted chicken w/mashed potatoes & carrots. It's a lot of food!!! Seriously - 2 huge breasts & 2 wings plus the sides mentioned above. And it was only like $11. I can c why the older people come - it's comfort food that won't break the bank, served by lovely people who don't rush them and they probably even have leftovers for dinner. Also ordered the meatloaf sandwich (came on bread that reminded us of Wonder bread w/a lot of mayo), coleslaw and onion rings. Most sandwiches r only around $8 so thought that was really cheap! Given the many positives and the 5/5 star staff, how come 2 stars? The food just isn't very good. Yes - it's cheap, there's lots of it & it looks fine, but flavor and freshness is lacking. One of the great things about a rural diner is often the homemade aspect to the meal - homemade rolls, pies, mashed potatoes, etc, like Grandma cooking in the kitchen. That's not the case here. Here the mashed potatoes r instant potatoes, the carrots tasted like they came either frozen or from a can and the food in general lacked seasoning/flavor. It truly reminded me of school lunch. To b fair, the fried chicken did look freshly fried. It just needed some salt and seasoning. The best part of the meal was the coleslaw (thank u for not putting pineapple in it) and the iced tea. Unfortunately I think this will be our last time at the Alva Diner and would not recommend to others if flavor and freshness r important to you. However, there r lots of people who simply want a good amount of food for a cheap price & if that's u, give it a try. read more

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The positive were the biscuit, grits and coffee-all good. The negative was what they call creamed chipped beef. It was a gloopy mess and if there was beef in it I couldn't find it. Shame. read more

Although this place is sort out of the way and off the beaten path, it is excellent for fried chicken and we would definitely recommend it. Nothing fancy inside but food was excellent. read more

The food is great. Everyone that works there is so nice. I love the little country feel inside the diner.

Alva Country Diner 11-19-24 We stopped into the Alva diner on Wednesday around 12:30pm. This place is old school Florida, its very basic but clean and neat. They do not take credit cards so make sure you have cash. We got a seat immediately as they were not that busy. Our waitress Tara took our drink orders and came back fast for our food order. The menu looks small but is larger than what you think. I believe there is something for everyone in there including Broasted Chicken Dinners or pieces to go. I ordered the Open-faced Turkey with Mashed Potatoes, gravy, and coleslaw. My wife ordered the Scallops, Carrots, Mashed Potatoes and Salad. Our Friend ordered a Hamburger with Fries and Cole Slaw. Tara brough us some rolls and my wife's salad to hold us over until our main food order came out. Our main food order came out fast and it looked great. My Open-Faced Turkey and Mashed filled my plate. It was very tasty, but I do wish it would have been a little hotter and my bread did not have much gravy on it under the Turkey. My wife's Scallops were hot and very good as was everything else she had. Our friends Hamburger and fries filled his plate, and everything was hot and very good. This is a small diner with a large menu, large portions plus prices are not that bad. Make sure you visit this place you will not be sorry. I give this place 4 out of 5 stars. Follow Me On FB For More Reviews. Gulf Coast Terry read more

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LOVE THE Broasted fried chicken my favorite fried chicken. Love the service always friendly. Recommend this little restaurant love it!!!! Food is always so GOOD!!! read more

Yes, this is out in the country. It's amazing but we're only a dozen miles from the interstate. I don't believe this was purpose built. Perhaps a former garage or a home? Either way, it's comfortable inside and despite every table being filled, not crowded. A warm waitress took our orders. I chose the corned beef with eggs over medium. My brother got an omelet It didn't take long and we were digging in to this large meal. Potatoes and toast on the side, too. Great inexpensive breakfast and I'm sure we'll be back. [Review 20263 overall - 1766 in Florida - 1240 of 2023.] read more

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Alright I've driven by this place just about every day for the past 2 years and have been hesitant to stop which i now want to kick myself for! Everything about this place screams the small southern town we moved to. We loved the old dinner warm feeling we got from visiting this establishment. The service from the staff was very welcoming. I ordered the country fried steak with gravy, mash and corn. The steak was perfectly cooked the gravy topping was just right. My wife had the triple stack club sandwich which was huge! Loved the place and the food. Next time we will Make it before 11am to get some breakfast. Fyi credit cards not accepted. Cash is preferred but i saw they also accept cashapp and zelle for payments. read more

Alva Country Diner - Country Fried Steak - Diners Near Me - Alva, Florida

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Good old fashioned comfort food!!! Love the family neighborhood charm, reminds of my childhood and the hometown cafes!!! The catfish is excellent has a light crisp batter not too much breading the perfect balance. The coleslaw is delicious as well!!! My favorite is the fried chicken,yummy, tender and delicious!!! So good you won't use a fork only your fingers!!! Quaint little restaurant nestled between oak trees! Country charm, pleasant! No frills very welcoming!! read more

Decent food, service and prices. No complaints. Parking is EZ, bathrooms clean but worn down. No credit cards, which I respect. Every year we stop there to meet family who live in the Palm Beach area, while we stay on the Gulf shore. read more

This little local diner is everything a diner should be in terms of low key, friendly, basic food. Pros: Cute place Friendly waitstaff Quick Cheap Rueben dressing is delicious Rueben was decent overall They give you the little coke slaw cup which is nostalgic for me. One of few restaurants in the area. Lots of parking Cons: My hot roast beef looked to be deli meat The mashed potatoes are instant The gravy is from a can Cash only (which is hard for me I never carry cash) read more

This place has such potential to be the cute country diner it appears to be from the outside. We haven't been for a few years. After going for breakfast today I remember why. Nothing is homemade. Everything comes from a can or freezer. It's also not good. The place is covered in thick sticky looking dust. They need to revamp their menu and start making homemade food like you expect in a diner and give the place a really good scrub down. read more

Food is always fresh and tasty. Service is great and with a smile Cooking from scratch is hard to find. Always tasty soup too. read more

We drive over an hour to have breakfast at this olde FL restaurant & it's totally worth it. The staff are so friendly, the food is plentiful, & this place is just iconic. Nothing fancy here folks, & I've never seen 2 coffee cups that look alike. But it's a family style place that's constantly bustling. I had corned beef hash & eggs with english muffin & ahhmazing little potatoes my first visit & ate 90% of it! Last weekend I had ONE pancake with oh-so-delicious ham & those little potatoes again. Pancake was so large that it barely fit on the plate. Portions are HUGE. Don't just drive by on SR80. Stop in & enjoy! Oh, cash only!! (Zelle & maybe Cash-app as well) read more

The food portions were plentiful and the braised chicken was delicious! Wait staff was friendly and efficient. Our meals came out quickly. Country diner style ambiance. Good prices. read more

This is a modest place with all around good food. If you don't think it might be good, come on a Sunday afternoon or evening and wait for a seat for 15 to 30 mins. Get Tara for your waitress and see what a terrific job one can do. I once dined at a diner just outside NYC and experienced a waiter who could have replaced ten others back in CT. Tara might not have exactly the same qualification but she is damn good. Some of the food, like the rolls and a few of the pies, come in frozen and then are baked there and are better than expected. The homemade chili (especially with onions) is the best I've ever had anywhere. Remember to bring cash. Oh, and the modesty does not apply to the magnificent southern oak trees outside. I can hardly wait for my fifth visit. read more

Alva Country Diner - alva country diner - Diners Near Me - Alva, Florida

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This is our go too din er spot. It's laid back and the food is great. The service is always good too. Husband like there prime rib, I usually have scallops, shrimp or clam strips. It's all good. Roasted chicken is good too! We can get an eight piece with mashed potatoes and Cole slaw for under $20. read more

The pot roast was the best I have ever eaten in a restaurant and they give you plenty of it!! Onion rings crispy and fresh. Great food and great service!! We will definitely going back to try breakfast next time. read more

Fresh meals, Calm atmosphere, great service. Very attentive waiters This is now my family's Go- To Diner I highly suggest you check it out if your ever NEAR TOWN. read more

Small place! Fantastic service! Mouth watering food! Cash only and worth every penny! Enjoy! read more

If you're out in the country and need a place to stop. It's an stop. The place is really old and grimy. Lots of trash and cigarette butts out front. Lingering smell of cigarettes as well. The server was really nice. The food was okay. Biscuits and Gravy really peppery and home fries and toast was really well done. They only take cash too. read more

Food was good but they didn't have what I wanted. They ran out. Server were nice. Food overall was tasty. Need a bit better space to wait...The bench is in front of the bathrooms and kept having to move. read more

This time no wait for the table, but a wait for the waitress. Got the broasted chicken and it was delicious. French fries were perfect. Salad was pretty basic and the mixed vegetables were my least favorite, peas and carrots. Altogether a pretty tasty lunch for $10. I'll definitely go again. read more

My wife loves broasted chicken and we hop on the car and drive over to Alva Country Diner located between Fort Myers and LaBelle on Palm Beach Blvd. You cannot miss this Red diner with a large road sign in the shape of coffee cup. There are plenty of parking space around the restaurant. As the name implied, this is a country diner. The tables are covered with vinyl tablecloths. Quotes and memorabilia adored the wall. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in a down-to-earth, comfy country setting. This is not an upscale place but if you over 50, this will bring back memory; friendly servers, quick serve and reasonable price. Speaking of price, make sure you bring cash. They don't do credit card! We came for early dinner. Naturally, my wife ordered her broasted chicken and prime rib for myself. The broasted chicken is their signature dish in Alva. They are hot, tender and moist inside with crunchy coating! Mashed potatoes were awesome. The broccoli was simply boiled but need a little seasoning this time. The prime ribs were done as I expected, medium Rare. Fish fry is another favorite in our family. Our server is attentive and refilled our glasses at least three times. We never had a bad meal at Alva Country Diner! read more

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Food, service and ambiance excellent. First time there and hoping to have the opportunity to go back when in the area.

The best part of the lunch experience was the waitresses. They really hustled. The food was the worse I'd ever eaten. They only take cash, or Venmo. read more

Excellent food and friendly staff. Generous portions. Highly recommend for breakfast.

This place is out in Alva. If you live in Lehigh or Fort Meyers, it's well worth the trip to come out here. There's just a couple of things to remember if you do come out here number one bring cash with you because they don't take any cards and number 2, bring an appetite because they feed you! Just looking at the outside makes you think country coming inside makes you think country too. They only got about 14 tables inside, but there is some seating outside if you want it. The menu seems diverse enough for anybody like I said, when you order something what you get, it's gonna be beyond what you expect because they do like to feed your here. We both had just basic breakfasts but it was more than I could finish. The staff are just normal every day people friendly, courteous. read more

Homey atmosphere. Heard raves about the chicken so had to try it. The breading was completely unseasoned. Both mine and my wife's. This is what they were raving about? Guess I am not understanding something. Even Col. Sander's uses 11 different herbs and spices. read more

Broasted Chicken ??? It's freaking delicious. There is nothing to not love about this true Central Florida Experience. Motorcycles , locals etc. The food was killer. Home cooking at its best, had the blueberry pie and pumpkin pie as well. The sides of corn and delicious mash potatoes and gravy make it all come together. Makes this a stop read more

Alva Country Diner - Diners Near Me - Alva, Florida

Place is always busy so I've tried it a few times. Food is average at best. I got chili twice, first time it was cold/ luke warm, so the second time I asked the waitress to have it heated extra, it was the same temp. I would pass and find another place to eat. read more

We stop in on the way to Cape Coral on Thanksgiving week for lunch. The diner was crowded but we were seated right away. The staff were friendly and the food was delicious. read more

There are few places where your cash goes as far as it does at the Alva Diner. We regularly go there for their burgers. They are meaty, loaded with flavor, and cooked to order. I like my burgers rare despite the risk, and when you order a hamburger there you get a massive pile of beef, with a solid piece of tomato, onion, lettuce and mayo, cooked the way you ordered it. I felt like I was transported back in time. Every day they have different all you can eat specials. Catfish, chicken, pollock, there is a special of the day. The AYCE specials are generally under $15, and you can get a single order of the fish that is AYCE for $8 or so. Reorders are no hassle, if you even want one... the initial order is pretty large. "How many pieces do you want?" smiled the waitress, and when I told her that many again she brought me another huge pile. My point is that the place is inexpensive, but what you get on your plate is not cheap. They cook like they want you to enjoy your food, and charge a price that never makes you feel overcharged. Today we had two burgers, fried okra, two Mic Ultras in the bottle, and a diet coke. The total, with a 20% tip, was close enough to $40 that the change went into the tip jar. If you like liver and onions, they cook it right. This is not a multi-star Michelin place. This is a place that serves food you can recognize and that you want to eat. They put it out of the door at amazing prices. You can sit down to a burger that is delicious, absolutely a treat, for less than you would pay Five Guys, and less than you would pay Burger King for a sandwich with the same amount of beef, and unlike "Have it your way", the burger is cooked to order. Oh, you can't use your credit or debit cards there. You might be able to use cash app or Venmo, check before you order. Beer and wine, Coca-cola products, and the house wine of the south, sweet tea are available. You can get it unsweetened if you insist. :-) read more

Good down home food. Cozy place to go to. Servers are very friendly. Love the fried chicken. And the portions are enough to have 2 meals.