Hovey's Diner

My husband and I were passing through here on the way home from the eclipse, looking for lunch. I always look for diners in small towns, because I believe more often than not they will serve good, home cooked comfort food. Which is just what you need before a long ride home. Hovey's perfectly fit that description and did not disappoint.There was plenty of room in the restaurant, but we opted to sit at the window so we could take in the sight of the main street. There was a fairly steady influx of people coming in for lunch, so service was a little slow but nothing outrageous. My husband ordered the Country Fried Steak which came with two large pieces, accompanied by small bowls of mashed potatoes, coleslaw and gravy. Everything was very good, especially the coleslaw. My husband is a self-proclaimed coleslaw connoisseur, and he thought Hovey's was the best he's had in a while. He's also not a big fan of gravy, but thought theirs was a great compliment to the steak, being rich and creamy and not overly seasoned. I decided to try the breaded Five Alarm Chicken sandwich, and thought that was delicious. The chicken was crispy and flavorful, and the pepper jack cheese, hot sauce and jalapenos were the perfect way to round it all out. Overall a savory sandwich with a nice kick.If you stop in for a bite, head next door after your meal to visit Chilly Willy's. Both places are a nice way to spend your stop in Olney.

We are from Chicago and came to visit Olney for the eclips. We just stopped in at 12, and they were busy, but the foh staff was smooth. The staff was nice, and the food did take some time (which we were told and completely understood). My chicken sandwich hit the spot, and my daughter's waffles were also delicious.The place is definitely family run and seems loved. We still haven't seen white squirrels in the wild yet, so we will be back, and this place will be a spot to hit.

Great place to get breakfast In Olney. I wasn't a fan of the brisket but everything else was great. Great service and great conversation with fellow patrons.

Great burgers, chili, breakfast, daily specials. Their fried chicken on Sunday and I believe also on Friday nights is delicious! An Olney, Illinois institution!

Absolutely perfect All-American diner. Incredibly friendly staff, quick service, delicious food and an overall wonderful experience!!

Hovey's used to be the kind of 'Happy Day's retro place we all loved. Anytime you walked in (especially if you were home for a visit) you were guaranteed to bump into an old friend or somebody's Mother and Dad. I especially loved the big long communal table in the center where you could share town news with the locals.But hold on. All of that has changed. Now, hovey's isn't owned by anyone of that last name any longer, and the place is spotlessly clean. It seems kitschy now instead of small town retro. It could almost be a chain restaurant, and that in itself is disappointing too.Most missed is the taste of the chili, the fried 'shrooms, and the proper sized big Murt's and Big Mike's. You can't get a Diet Rite either.So, the new and improved Hovey's is okay if you want a burger and a coke, but the truth is, Mickey D's is cheaper and tastier. Part of visiting Hovey's was the place, and now that's gone, so I guess I'll just have to visit that in my memories.

The chili was good. The Patty Melt by itself is $7.79 and it was not a large sandwich at all. It was okay. My bill had a "Credit Card Fee" on it and I was not asked if I was paying by card. In fact, I had cash. The service was okay. With that price for a small sandwich, I don't know if I need to ever come back.

Good service, good food, warm environment. This place has a friendly atmosphere with a old time cafe feel. Love it.

The new owners walked around and just stared at everyone like some kind of creeps. They didn't offer to help the staff. I was also told that when they get pissed at an employee, they cut their hours and force the employee to quit. Horrible experience. I won't be going back there ever again. The previous owners did a wonderful job managing and running the restaurant. They actually cared about their customers and employees. The new owners need to get their shit together. They really don't have any business owning a restaurant.

Had lunch here one afternoon and breakfast the next morning. Overall, a good little cafe/restaurant to get a hot meal and mix with the locals.Lunch time was a standard cheeseburger and fries, nothing special, but both were hot and tasty.Breakfast was bacon and eggs with home fries and an english muffin. Again, good and simple fare. Listening to the local guys, about 10 of them, talk about squirrels, raccoons, and other critters was pretty entertaining (before they moved on to the next topic).The looney toon below, worried about Covid/ChinaFlu, needs to just stay in her basement if she is so afraid. Condiments are out on the table and not hidden like in some places who are hypocrites when it comes to the 'pandemic'.