Foley Coffee Shop - Foley, AL

Posted By Michael Stern on February 21, 2008 6:14 PM

A big storefront clattering with noise from the grill and stove in the open kitchen behind the counter, Foley Coffee Shop is the locals’ favorite. Men and women gather over copious breakfasts every workday and chatter table to table as a radio blasts news, sports and weather. Pictures of town high school teams adorn the wall, and the menu is well-fixed with advertisements from nearby businesses, the automotive sector especially well-represented: glass repairers, alignment specialists, insurance agents, truck supply shops, and pawn dealers eager to trade cash for titles.

The breakfast choices are nice southern ones, including broad biscuits topped with sausage gravy and tasty grits on the side of eggs. But we like lunch even better, for that is always built around an appetizing array of downhome vegetables. Pick one meat – a hamburger steak or pork cutlet for example – and side it with three such amenable companions as buttered cabbage, blackeyed peas, rice and gravy, squash, okra, or whatever the markets have that week. Meals are served on unbreakable partitioned plates that keep the various vegetable juices from mixing inappropriately.

Overall Rating

Pork Chop

Fried Eggs

Hash Browns

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Posted By Dave Reasons on January 16, 2010 10:59 PM

Located on Highway 59 in the heart of Foley across from the park, the Foley Coffee Shop has been one of the local folks' favorite breakfast diners since 1965. When you walk in the door you feel that you've stepped back in time. We were promptly greeted by one of the friendly waitresses, and all the local folks looked up from their papers and plates to see if they recognized us. From the time we set foot inside we were greeted several times by the friendly folks and felt right at home.

There was a constant clinking and clanking from the grill area as the short-order cook worked her magic on the big flattop griddle while keeping the grits and gravy stirred. Other staff were busy baking rolls for the lunch crowd and washing dishes. It was fun just to sit and observe all the work going into making folks happy with good food.

Debra (my wife) ordered ham, eggs, hash browns, and a biscuit, and I ordered eggs, hash browns, grilled pork chop, and toast. The food arrived promptly and was hot off the grill. Our eggs were cooked exactly as ordered, with the yolks intact. The hash browns were crispy brown and my pork chop was grilled to perfection. Debra was a little disappointed that the ham was not country ham but, since the menu didn't say either way, she didn't complain too much. Presentation of the breakfast was what you would expect of a local diner. The waitress never let our beverages get low.

We both enjoyed our breakfasts. Service was above average for a small mom-and-pop diner and we'll do breakfast there again on our next trip through Foley.

Overall Rating

Pork Chop

Fried Eggs

Hash Browns

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Posted By Cliff Strutz on February 20, 2008 11:11 AM

This place has a real Roadfood look and is truly where the locals come to eat. And it gets high marks for the lovely murals on the outside wall. But other than the waitress, the locals were decidely frosty to this outsider. No matter, I would gladly go back just for that pork chop.

Overall Rating

Pork Chop

Mushroom & Swiss Omelet

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