A nice place for a home cooked style meal They also have great milkshakes Better get there for lunch or dinner early as they fill up fast, though they do have takeout read more

And absolute MUST for a delicious homestyle cooked meal! Big Time Diner is a quintessential classic, All-American diner, with booths and counter space, classic cafe music & ambiance, a friendly wait staff, and importantly it's a haven of homestyle cooked meals with blue-plate specials that will make you loosen your belt a notch! BTD has been a mainstay in the Cottagehill are of Mobile since 1996! When you order the Blue Plate Special (see my pics) that come with choice of meat, 3 side items and choice of roll or cornbread muffin you will understand why people come back again and again. I took my two teens here for dinner last night. My son and I both ordered the Fried Fish Blue Plate Special (see pic) with our own preferences for side items. The fish was served as one LARGE whole filet fried in a well seasoned thin beer "batter-like" batter. BTD doesn't serve alcohol so maybe they do a non-alcoholic version batter with club soda or mineral water or something. However they do it, it's good! Anyway, my daughter order the 4 Vegetables Plate (see pic) and loved every bite. The fried onions rings, southern greens and Mac&Cheese were the best sides to me. Also, the hoagies here are delicious! read more

See all

Cute little diner and the food was really good. We got the special with chicken tenders, slaw and mash potatoes with onion rings. Home made bbq sauce that they make in house was very well made. Filling! We will be back when we want good hardy American food. read more

See all

slow service decent southern food. waited 20 minutes for a waiter and food came out slow. good sides

I used to eat there a lot, years ago but had not been in a while so I was craving my favorite food from there. I ordered as takeout and it was TERRIBLE. Nothing like it used to taste or look. It was a mess. The grilled chicken was very undercooked and the cornbread dressing was unrecognizable. The turnips were ok but the rest had to be thrown away. I hope I don't get sick from tasting raw chicken. I will NEVER go again! read more

Big Time Diner was excellent! The menu had a lot of variety, and the prices are reasonable as well. My husband, mother in law, and I stopped in for dinner. I got an iced tea and a hamburger, which was delicious! My husband and mother in law got cheese burgers and a chocolate shake and said everything was great. My mother in law for French fries and said they were good. My husband and I split a house salad, which was my favorite bite. For being a "side" salad, it was very hearty and the house made ranch was fantastic. I look forward to our next visit! read more

The food is delicious like your momma used to make! Parking is tough; very tight spots but well worth the squeeze!

Haven't been here in over 20 years but wanted to stop while I was in town. Went during a weekday around 3. It was very busy but only waited about 10 mins for a table. Food was good and you get a good amount. Staff was pleasant even though they were very busy. read more

See all

Management apparently doesn't have the customer in mind since the decided to close an hour and half early on the Saturday before Labor Day even though they are already closed on Sunday and we're going to be closed for the Holliday. We drove over 45 miles from MS to be disappointed that they had closed only 15 minuets before we arrived but an hour and a half earlier than normal. The place was packed full of people but the note on the door said closeting early because of Labor Day so we turned around and left disappointed.. read more

Love to eat at Big Time Diner. Food is very good and service is great! Great place to meet a friend or to take the whole family. Very clean and no matter what you order - the food is great! They are almost always busy - so you know it's a local favorite..and their prices are reasonable! Atmosphere is super casual..so come as you are! Even though I love it, and recommend to you and your friends- I wouldn't go there for a special occasion or a date night.. read more

The food is good. I love the fried green tomatoes, the fried fish, and the grilled chicken salad. The hamburgers are always good too. read more

The best fried green tomatoes!!! I love their food! When you are in the mood for a home cooked style meal.... Go here! You won't be disappointed! read more

I fell in love with Big Time Diner 25 years ago when my mom and I would eat there after sports practice once a week. It was "our favorite restaurant in Mobile back in 1996-97 :) My go-to order is the Small Blue Plate Special w/Chicken Fingers & honey mustard** macaroni and cheese, fried okra and a roll. I could drink their Honey Mustard, it is so good!! *OH! And, for a sweet treat, you have got to order one of their hand-spun, ice cream milkshakes served up parlor style read more

It's all good! The service is amazing! We love the roast beef, onion rings, dressing (stuffing), burgers, chicken fingers, Coleslaw, fish... Seriously, order anything and you will love it! Don't forget to save room for a hot fudge sundae or a thick shake. read more

I love diners, especially when traveling. This one didn't disappoint. I ate so much I won't be hungry until tomorrow. Hot, creamy chicken soup, chocolate hand-dipped milkshake, cheeseburger and field peas, which were yummy smoky blacked-eyed peas with a few green beans thrown in. My husband had a shrimp Poboy that was fresh and crusty. Great menu with excellent, friendly service. Worth stopping when in Mobile Alabama. read more

See all

Perfect slop for the pigs out back! We won't get our slop from anywhere else in Mobile.

I'm so happy to have this little gem! Sometimes there is nothing that hits the spot like a good ole diner! This place has a little bit of everything and something for everyone. From hotdogs and hamburgers to crave-worthy sides.....For those of you that love some good dressing and gravy- this one is worth a trip and will keep you wanting more. It's a cornbread savory dressing with a slight sweetness. The gravy is rich and wonderful. I'm the type of girl that wants holiday sides more than once a year so this was a terrific find! Now my husband loves the roast beef but I can't get past that fish almandine! Can we just take a moment of silence for some fried fish and cornbread dressing!???? That light crispy batter on white flaky fish..... ohhh! My kiddo is a chili cheese hotdog kind of guy. This place keeps the whole fam happy and there are no arguments! Oh and the lunch service- a well oiled machine! Order over the phone and you'll have food ready for pick up. read more

This has a lot of great diner choices. Sandwiches, meat and 2, or 3, plates, steaks, chicken, etc... We started off with crab claws and they were super. Great breading and cooked just right. The our son and his friend both got the kids chicken tenders with fries and they both enjoyed them. Our daughter got a grilled shrimp salad with the house vinaigrette. The salad was huge with tons of items and the dressing was special. I had the club with onion rings. I asked if the onion rings were made from scratch and I was assured everything is made from scratch everyday, even the French fries. My order was really good. My wife ordered the tuna melt. This was admittedly stepping out on a limb for her. Two large pieces of toast covered thickly in tuna salad then with cheese. It was, well, ... not good. The more she ate it, somehow the better it became. Still she would not order it again. She said it needed less tuna and was better with crackers Our kids had two tea spills and our servers were great with everything. Lindsey's service was top notch. read more

On my recent trip to Coden to see my mom, I was looking for some down home Southern food. In searching, I came across Big Time Diner in Mobile and man, am I glad I did! The food was exactly what I was looking for and the customer service was top notch! I got the grilled fish with three sides. I got delicious turnip greens, spectacular green beans, and some golden, crispy fries. Yum yum! If you're looking for some tasty comfort food, Big Time Diner is the place to eat! read more

I've been here twice now and unfortunately, their chicken tenders are just not for me... They are not dry but they have almost no seasoning.... Their sides are sooo delicious though. I love their dressing. It's almost as good as my mommas. They have a blue plate special and veggie plate. I normally get the blue plate but I think I'll stick to the veggie plate in the future since they have the best sides. I'm going to try one of their famous milkshakes soon but I have not yet. The inside is cute but is small. Every time I've gone, it's been busy! Great local restaurant! read more

See all

This place has some of the best gumbo in Mobile! It's a go to staple for chicken tenders,and some of the best veggies and sides you can find in our area. The staff is always phenomenal. read more

My Gordon Ramsey review: This is a cool little dive food was good , prices were awesome and decor was iconic . They were hopping with Togo and sit it . Mac and cheese was ok but other then that food was amazing and service was 5'star. I did feel bad for the hostess she looked stressed I hope she is ok . But we will be back next time we are town read more

Do you ever think back to a time and place when you were really happy? Not to discount present happinesses...but a certain nostalgia takes over when you see something, or smell a certain food, perhaps hear a certain song? Big Time Diner does that for me. When I was a teenager, my folks would take us kids to the Dollar Movie theatre in the Festival Center and then we'd come here for supper and Chocolate Malts. It was tradition. One that I LOVED. There was old 50's music playing, the food was the greasy spoon sort of stuff our childhood was made of, and there was happiness, because we were getting spoiled rotten that day. These days we take our kids, there is no dollar theater, but there's a theater. These days, there's no 50's music for some reason. Why the heck not? These days, we split the Blue plate special with our kids and they LOVE it. I'm so glad this place is still around to share with my kids because it is pretty much still the greatest. The onion rings are so perfect, they're like what you remember from childhood. I also judge a restaurant by how freely the Ranch flows. Here, you can have as much as you want. The tartar sauce is Heavenly and oniony but not with huge chunks or anything. It's just perfect, trust me. The fried fish is always phenomenal. And HUGE. The Mac and cheese is not a traditional baked Mac and cheese nor is it Kraft. It's just yum. And don't...whatever you do...don't forget to get a Chocolate Malt. And they make their's with Chocolate Blue Bell ice cream, not vanilla with chocolate syrup. Although, if that floats your boat (ewww!) they'll do that for ya too. read more

See all

A great family place to eat! The menu is good and the service was wonderful! We will come back no doubt!

Food doesn't have a lick of seasoning , but the water was excellent and good customer service

There food is good not all the time though, last time I went the food was soggy and there was leftover food on the table and on the seats. The employees are pretty nice though! Also when I ordered a grilled cheese I asked for no pickles (because I absolutely hate pickles) but they put pickles on the side anyway and on the bottom of my grilled cheese so I couldn't see them until I ate the sandwich, and when we told them about it they were rude and acted like they didn't care! There cookies and cream milkshake is really good though but don't get it before your meal because you won't wanna eat you meal because the milkshake really fills you up. read more

This place was good. However the food was a bit to salty. The chopped sirloin wasn't good but everything else was pretty yummy. The cornbread was not sift and hard however it was a little sweet and I really liked it. The fried okra was crispy just how I enjoy it and prefer. The mashed potato average. Cornbread dressing was good. As for the shrimp Poboy good but a bit salty for my liking. The bread was perfect not hard and crunchy where it scrapes the rooftop of your mouth and that made me happy! read more

Big Time Diner - Shrimp Poboy & Blue plate special- chopped sirloin, mashed potatoes, fried okra, cornbread dressing with a cornbread muffin. - American Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

See all

I love big time diner! My family has eaten here for years, the fried green tomatoes with homemade ranch are heavenly, and you can't go wrong with the blue plate special to get a little bit of everything! Mac n cheese here is some of the best I've ever had! Only thing I would change about this place is the carpet in the dining room. Makes the whole place smell like a gym and appear dirty, but it's not. read more

Excellent service. Small salad was huge, fresh, and very refreshing. Fried Oysters were fried to perfection, crispy yet moist. Field peas were very good. Overall this will become a routine stopping place for my family. read more

Amazing!!! Customer service was exceptional and so was the food. Highly recommend the milkshake!!! More food than you can fathom to eat. Went during lunch on a Monday and it was packed, but we were seated quickly and taken care of. My daughter had several conversations with different staff members while there and they were all extremely friendly. read more

Big Time Diner - Chocolate milkshake was fabulous and you get extra also! - American Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

See all

We've passed by many times and have seen the parking lot packed each time. We've had recommendations from several friends and coworkers. I love diner food. But I don't get what this place has that draws such rave reviews and loyalty. The place was loud, dirty and just uncomfortable from the moment we walked in. We were greeted quickly. But the loud sound of dishes being cleared from the table and lack of complete cleanliness was just too much. True, diners can be that way, but this was just bad. The menu was not what I would define as diner food though with a few exceptions. I had the Blue Plate Special with a tasteless chopped sirloin, parboiled rice with something like 3 tablespoons of a brown water that was supposed to be gravy, field peas with several woody stems in them, and greens that were ok. I was hungry so I ate. My wife ordered a salad that had cheese that looked like it has been run over with a car before being placed in the salad. She didn't eat it, and the waitress seemed not to notice. I know that not everyone is going to be pleased with every experience. I know I can be picky at times. But, I won't ever be back. I don't get it why this place is so popular. I'd pass on a free meal here too. read more

Not much to look at but the food is good. The fried crab claws were hot and big. I just got a cheeseburger but it was good. My husband got fried fish, dressing, Mac and cheese, green beans and cornbread. All of his food was good. He really liked the fish and dressing the best. The staff was prompt and friendly. We will definitely come back. read more

Big Time Diner has the best milkshakes! It's a family diner with an old Timey feel. We love the cheeseburgers, fries and veggie plates. read more

Big Time Diner - American Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

Food is consistently good here. Service is speedy and upbeat. The only negative is that there is pretty much always a wait. But that's usually an indication that it's a good place to eat, right? Blue plate lunch was solid. Field peas and turnip greens were good. Recommend. read more

Our favorite stop in Mobile! Highly recommend the grilled fish and Banana Split for dessert!!

Fabulous food! Plenty of down home cooking options. Everything is fresh and served quickly. Employees are kind, courteous, and helpful.

Best turnip greens in the world! We love their blue plate specials and vegetable plates. Always busy!

1This diner is ALWAYS crowded. Expect to wait for a seat if you come during prime time lunch hours. There are always a few people waiting in the small waiting area. Though, once you are seated, Service is prompt and extra friendly (after all, we are in the deep south. However, what northerners refer to as "extra friendly" should be the norm in human interaction.) But I digress. The food is "good ol' down home Southern" cooking and well worth returning for. Throughout my multi-day visit to the Port City, I had to prevent my friend from eating every meal here (thats just how tasty and delicious the food is). The atmosphere is a typical diner one. There is the constant clanking of plates and silverware and the constant chatter of satisfied customers. I ordered the 4-vegetable plate and my Beau ordered the "Blue Plate Special" (BPS). We specifically ordered different sides so that we could sample as many as possible. His BPS consisted of grilled chicken breast, mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy and a cornbread muffin. After taking a few bites of the chicken, he exclaimed that it was the best chicken from a restaurant that he'd ever tasted. My vegetables were fried okra, field peas, turnip greens and mac and cheese. OMG! Words cannot describe (but I'll try) the scrumptious, mouth-watering, delectable and delightfully satisfying nature of these typical "Southern comfort" foods. Makes me wish there was a Big Time diner (that uses the same recipes) near my hometown. Atmosphere, service and food are all outstanding. read more

See all

Good food, quick service. It's your typical diner with throwback or vintage look. Building could use some updating or maintenance but the service was good, food delicious, no complaints other than just building little under kept. read more

Big Time Diner - Fish poboy - American Near Me - Mobile, Alabama

Stinks like feet & $hit in there. A good carpet clean is a must. Food used to be great but you can tell not many care about this place anymore. read more