Alva Review-Courier -

Kathleen Lourde

LEFT: 818 Diner owner Terri Parsons – and the other owner/operators who are not in the photo: Don, Max and Joe Parsons – combine retro chic and timeless Americana favorites with modern day tastes and expectations, creating a comfortable but somehow unique casual dining experience. RIGHT: Shelly Bouziden enjoys some chicken-fried steak at 818 Diner, and says it's among the best she's ever had. "The mashed potatoes are homemade," she said. "The gravy may be a mix, but it's not frozen. The meat itself tasted fresh, not frozen, Bouziden said, adding that it had been well-tenderized and that the breading hadn't been "gobbed" on, but was "just right."