Gator bites, key lime pie, and a full diner menu in the heart of Everglades City.
Island Cafe is the kind of place you stumble into hungry and leave genuinely happy. The menu covers a lot of ground: classic American diner breakfast, burgers, pizza, fish tacos, crab cakes, and fried alligator tail nuggets for anyone curious enough to try them. The key lime pie has its own reputation around here. Order it.
Breakfast runs early, which makes this a smart stop if you're driving through on your way deeper into the Everglades or heading south toward the Keys. Eggs, grits, biscuits, biscuits with gravy. Solid, no-frills, exactly what you want before a long day outdoors.
Lunch and dinner lean into the island-diner vibe. The gator bites and fried pickles show up in a lot of conversations. So do the fish and chips, the crispy fries, and the large pizza. It's a menu built for groups with different appetites, and the portions are generous for the price.
The space has a casual, family-friendly feel with some island-themed character to it. Outdoor seating is available if you want fresh air. Staff gets consistent praise for being warm and attentive. (The kind of place where you might not catch your server's name but you'll remember the vibe.)
Everglades City sits at the Gulf Coast entrance to the park, about 35 miles from Naples. Island Cafe is one of the most reliable spots in town for a full sit-down meal before or after a day on the water.
1,994 reviews
a month ago
Whilst on a trip to Florida a couple of months ago we visited Island Cafe. Can I just say for the best food in Everglades City then look no further than here. The food is awesome and at a great price. The server was polite, prompt and well presented. I can highly recommend eating here.
3 months ago
Nice place with a super friendly staff. We had fried pickles, the fish and chips, a chicken wrap, the gator bites and a large pizza. All the food was incredible, super fresh and all that for a very good prize. The fries that came with the fish, wrap and the gator bites were super crispy and perfectly seasoned. The gator bites were the best I had so far. We will be back next time when we are around...
3 months ago
Stopped at Island Cafe for breakfast on our drive through the Everglades toward the Keys. It was exactly what we needed: open early, easy stop, good old-school breakfast, and fair prices. We had eggs, bacon, grits, biscuits, potatoes, and biscuits with gravy. Everything was solid, the place had a relaxed local feel, and it worked perfectly as a family road-trip breakfast stop. Would definitely recommend if you need breakfast on Route 41 before heading toward the Keys.
2 months ago
stopped here with my grandma and my mom for lunch. my mom had been here before and always brought me key lime pie, which was the best. our server was so sweet, we didn't catch her name but her vibes were incredible. would definitely recommend for those coming to Everglades city
4 months ago
This classic island diner is a pleasant local hangout with a variety of items including fried alligator tail nuggets for tourists. We had crab cakes and fish tacos.
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