Joseph Pawlak | December 12, 2022
“We are the ugly diner near Canal Road and Tacky Jacks. We are NOT the shiny silver diner near the beach and The Hangout. The only thing promised here is a great meal and adequate service.” And so, The Ugly Diner differentiates itself from the other diner in Gulf Shores. The Ugly Diner is off the main drag a bit, and it’s where the locals go.
This is one of those restaurants where you go for the food and not the ambience or view. Comforting, with classic recipes, and nothing fancy, this is diner food at its best. The interior is plain, simple, and sort of comforting too. Nothing upscale, edgy or formal here, in the décor or in the menu. Sometimes you just need plain, simple, good food, and The Ugly Diner Gulf Shores delivers on that perfectly!
Generous portions of good comfort food, that’s what it’s about. Classic diner menu selections are served daily from 7am to 7pm. Customer favorites are the shrimp & grits, any burger on the menu, and the strawberry bread pudding. The menu starts out with soups, salads, and the usual sides. Gouda grits is about as wild as it gets.
The single burger is big and the double (Steve’s Famous Burger) is huge. Forget about getting it in your mouth whole! A tuna melt, fried pork chops, hamburger steak, and an open-faced hot beef sandwich are among other menu choices. And there’s pasta and seafood as well (because we’re on the coast). Shrimp or chicken alfredo, spaghetti, crab legs, blackened mahi-mahi, and fried shrimp or fish are just a few more choices at The Ugly Diner Gulf Shores.
There’s a kids’ section to the menu, and of course it wouldn’t be a diner without a breakfast menu. Breakfast plates include the usual selections of biscuits & gravy, pork chop plate, country fried steak & eggs plate, shrimp & grits plate, pancakes, French toast, and several omelet choices.
The Ugly Diner is located at 2420 East 2nd Street in Gulf Shores, across the street from Tacky Jack’s (you can’t miss Tacky Jack’s). The diner has free off-street parking to make things easy. And they offer delivery and take out; if you want ambience, you take your meal back to your beachfront cottage. Call for daily specials (251-500-1581) and to verify their seasonal hours.
For other dining suggestions, casual and simple or upscale and fancy, our staff can help. Give us a call today!
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