I was excited to go to the Everglades Gator Grill on the way to the actual Everglades. It’s been a minute since I’ve reviewed a diner (something I say a lot now, living on the west coast… there are so many fewer diners). Anyway, I found the Everglades Gator Grill since it was right on the way to the Everglades. Not just that, but the Everglades Gator Grill serves actual alligator. I didn’t know you could eat alligator until then, so naturally, we had to go.
Is it actually a diner? That is subjective, but it’s a small roadside stop with plenty of fun options. There are no hard and fast rules about what is and isn’t a diner and this counts.
Everglades Gator Grill Atmosphere: A
The Everglades Gator Grill is located on the side of the road. It’s a small building with 5X as much outdoor seating as inside. Most of the outdoor seating consists of picnic tables. Inside, you order your food, then go sit down. There are a few places to sit, but not many. The music was loud outdoors the way we came, and it was hard to hear over it. Other than that, it’s a cute roadside stop. There are fun alligator decorations everywhere.
Unlike many diners, the Everglades Gator Grill opens at 11 am. So, no breakfast, although I don’t know how an alligator omelet would taste. In all, the atmosphere reminds me of a beachy area, because it essentially is. Bright fun colors, plenty of outdoor seating, and a small inside area.
Coffee: X
No coffee for me, maybe I should take this category out because I drink a lot less coffee than I did a few years ago.
Everglades Gator Grill Food: A
Since the Everglades Gator Grill is known for serving alligator, that’s what I had to get, right? A few of the Everglades Gator Grill menu items that caught my eye:
- Gator basket: grilled gator with fries and coleslaw
- Gator tacos: with coleslaw and cilantro cream sauce
- Gator stir fry: with steamed rice and plantains
You can see the full Everglades Gator Grill menu here.
The Everglades Gator Grill also serves many non-alligator things if that is your vibe. They have fried clam strips, frog legs, but also some more normal things like burgers, chicken tenders, and salads. So, if you want to try this roadside stop and don’t necessarily want alligator, you do have plenty of options. Plus, it’s not far from Homestead if you’re around there for whatever reason.
I decided to go with the gator basket. I had no idea how alligator would taste! It is fairly tough meat, maybe the toughest I’ve had. It tastes like a tough chicken. Since I have nothing to compare the gator basket to, I will say it tasted good, and I would order it again. The french fries were well seasoned, and all in all, I enjoyed my meal. One of the most unique diner meals I’ve ever had! I would love to try alligator cooked a different way to see how tough the meat really is.
Cost:
For my Gator Basket, it was just $15, which seems like a steal at this point. I rarely have diner meals on the west coast that are under $20. Sometimes I miss East Coast diners and their pricing.
Everglades Gator Grill Service: A
Our food came out quickly, and the staff was super friendly. I have no complaints.
Everglades Gator Grill Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back?
I really enjoyed the Everglades Gator Grill, and it’s a great stop if you’re in Homestead or going to the Everglades. I would definitely go back and try more gator items. If you’ve never tried alligator, it’s tough, but the gator at the Everglades Gator Grill tasted good, and I would order there again.
If you’re looking for more fun around the Everglades, consider going to the fruit stand: Robert is Here. They have fruit and fun for the whole family. It’s not “just a fruit stand” but a whole establishment with barn animal encounters. There is a lot to do in Homestead even if you aren’t planning to go to the Everglades or are driving through to Key West (which is what we did). 
Atmosphere: A
Coffee: X
Food: A
Cost: $10-15
Service: A
Overall: A
You can see over 400 diner reviews here.
Questions for you:
Have you tried alligator?
What is the most unique food you’ve tried?