Well had a group of Spanish Business Folks here touring manufacturing outside Europe. Well Dixie was recommended. Sadly I am not impressed. The location was prime, food was not. A hungry man frozen Country Fried Steak would have been better than mine. Greens were ok, not great. Place was clean, well staffed, and staff was real friendly and fast. Food should have been half as good as service.
(3)
Charles B.
The Dixie Grill in Live Oak, FL is an "institution" in every sense of the word. My trip to the Dixie Grill makes at least three generations from our family that have eaten at this restaurant. There's a chance that a fourth generation has dined here, but it's hard to say. The Dixie Grill has been a part of the culture & history of Live Oak for over 50 years. For many years, they were THE place to eat. And although they are facing some new comers in town, they still stand tall as the local favorite. The fried chicken, gizzards, and liver are among some of their beloved Southern favorites. If you're on I-10, it's just a short 11 minutes from the Interstate to the front door of the Dixie Grill. Take Exit 275, and follow US-90 to downtown Live Oak. It's worth the trip!
(5)
Kathy O.
Brought a group of 40 with various dietary issues. Chef Robbie able to accommodate everyone. Plentiful, fresh and cooked to order. Thanks to the waitstaff for an awesome job!
(5)
Lady V.
Great service. Food was awesome!! My family loved it! Will return real soon..;)
(4)
Ray H.
The service was excellent and the food was tasty. There was a film on the table top and the glass cover over the salad bar was badly spotted, probably hasn't been cleaned in several weeks.
(2)
Robert S.
One of the things that is disappearing. The iconic neighborhood place. Marsha was excellent; attentive and again another disappearing thing; The person that knows what good service is and is willing to give it. The food was perfect; from the different options of potatoes to the eggs done as ordered. Having recent bad service from all sorts of restaurants, I really appreciate this good experience. THANK-YOU
(5)
Keith P.
Traditional Southern comfort food favorites, clean, efficient and friendly staff, and great bread pudding. Definitely worth the trip down from I-10!
(4)
Marie B.
Gosh ~ I feel awful writing this review because our waitress was super sweet and the menu shows that someone is hugely creative. BUT, we had the BLT/Pimento Sandwich and it was just Bacon and Melted Cheese on toasted white bread. For some reason, it sounded much more appealing in the description. The other sandwich was the Fried Green Tomato and Bacon...and it was a wee bit better. I was also surprised that the sandwiches did not come with fruit or coleslaw...if not fries or chips. It was just a sandwich on toasted white bread...no fanfare whatsoever. I was also surprised by the decor/setting. The website is rather cheery and upbeat, so I envisioned this charmingly lit place with lots of natural light and warm woods. NOT! This is a rather dated, sorta musty, place with absolutely no charm. Last, despite indications otherwise, we were talked into dessert. The Lemon Pie was a miss...bland meringue and the crust was squishy like it had been sitting for some time. In all, definitely not worth the hike off the main highway.
(2)
Debbie S.
Arrived Sunday morning 11:15 and they weren't serving the full breakfast menu. Sad to have missed their biscuits and gravy, but better for the waist line. They did offer egg platters, grits, potatoes, and meatss though and plenty of ,coffee. The waitress was friendly and very accommodating. Though they charge $1.40 per person for breakfast at this time of day their prices are reasonable enough it is not too expensive. I would return but earlier next time.
(4)
Jan D.
Acceptable breakfast. Nothing really good. Omelet was the kind where they pour the eggs on a grill, and they are paper thin, and over cooked. Hubby liked the biscuits, but they didn't seem to be homemade. Disappointing.
(2)
Ron C.
While not a regular (I've only been to Live Oak once!), I must confess that the staff and management of the Dixie Grill were superb! The food came out hot, the manager (It was Halloween and he was dressed up as "The Joker") pitched right in with his staff (We had 50 of us), the meal was tasty, and the portions were generous. Mind you, we probably upset the locals with our loud selves, however, even they were kind to my rowdy group. Should I ever make it back to Live Oak, I'll know where to have my supper!
(4)
David M.
awesome for breakfast. omelettes, pancakes. fresh vegetables in omelette. fluffy pancakes. good service. very polite. grits were cooked just right. big portions of hash browns
(5)
Brian O.
We stopped in for a late Sunday evening meal on our drive to Lake City. We both had their soup of the day, vegetable beef, which was homemade and good. I had a grilled cheese sandwich which was also good. My wife had a one trip to the salad bar with her soup. The salad bar was mediocre. Service was a little slow, but okay.
(3)
Gary H.
Went there for dinner this evening, me, the wife and two teen girls. Chose Dixie Grill because of Yelp reviews. Well, we must have gone on an off night. Place was about 25% full and getting drinks on the table took about 15 mins. Other people came in after us, ate and left before us. Maybe being a local has it's perks. (We are RV'ing at a area campground and decided to eat out this evening) We then ordered dinners and waited, waited and waited some more. Finally the food came and my wives and daughters food was cold. When the waitress came back a while later we asked that they nuke the two dinners. They came back warmer but my wife said she has lost her appetite and took it home to the dogs. My daughter ate some but the chicken turned rubbery, she was not a happy camper. Mine was fine as was my daughter's friend. We spent $67.00 plus tip for four dinners, appetizers and drinks. Not a cheap meal for grill food by any means. If only someone would have even ask if everything was OK, I would have felt better, but nobody cared enough to ask. This was our first trip there and according to my wife, the last.
(2)
Henry C.
This place is kinda a greasy spoon/home cooking type place thats trying to be fancier than they are. Seems popular for breakfast, but they serve lunch and dinner as well. I've eaten all three here and none were very impressive. Breakfast is ok, the omelet was below average and the breakfast potatoes were not really the best. There's better local breakfast places at better value, but Dixie Grill is doable for breakfast if you have to. Lunch and dinner menu are similar and have the usual suspects like burgers, sandwiches and a few meat and fish meals. The burgers are not that great, typical frozen food service patties, and no seasoning. Lately it seems like they've added some upscale meals like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles. I tryed one of the new Sriracha sandwiches, and it was ok, but I was surprized they were able to make a sandwich with hot sauce bland. My wife tried the catfish and grits and they were pretty rough. Catfish wasnt cooked well and tasted both bland and funny at the same time, grits seemed like insta grits from walmart. The "tomato gravy" was basically canned tomato sauce and was pretty bad. Seemed kinda like they saw this on a menu a place in a big city but didnt learn how to cook it right. Also, the food didnt seem too fresh, and I got a skunky beer. Afterward, my wife got food poisoning from the fish... The waitresses are nice, but the service kinda slow, and they dont really have good customer service or know whats on the menu. The one bright spot on the menu is the homemade pies, some of which are baked fresh daily. Lemon meringue and coconut cream are good, but one waitress recommended the pecan pie, which I was really disappointed to find out is a frozen pie from Cisco. I'm not sure why they would even offer this, since they have a reputation for local homemade pies. The location is decent, but the dining room is kinda outdated. I like old diners and greasy spoons, but this one kinda feels like eating in a nursing home, and seemed like it might need to be cleaned a little more thoroughly. They have a TV in the back room but it usually seems to be playing kids shows with the sound on. Overall, I've tried to like the Dixie Grill several times, but the food is not that great and I havent really seen anything to go back for. Also my wife refuses to go there after she got food poisoning. There's better options in town and nearby in Lake City.
(1)
Catherine S.
I eat here everytime I come to Live Oak. I like choosing my own table and I have always found the wait staff to be friendly and helpful. My favorite is the fried chicken and the salad bar has a nice selection for a small restaurant. The sandwiches are huge. If you don't want French fries, say so. There are other options. It's perfectly clean; it just is an older building-it has been here since 1959. I've been here since 1949, so we are aging together. The pies are wonderful. A friend says the apple pie is the best pie he has ever had. I like the chocolate pie as a special treat. If you want a cookie-cutter restaurant, go on down I10 until you get to Lake City where you can find all the Red Lobsters, MacDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King's that you want. If you want to eat with the locals, try the Dixie Grill.
(4)
Michelle c.
Four stars simply because I wasn't expecting much! My husband and I were on the road and did a Yelp search to find a place to stop for lunch. The food was unexpectedly good for a small town diner. We did get some funny looks- apparently we didn't blend in there, which is fair because I am a little west coast, health nut, granola. The service was a little slow, but that is coming from a city girl perspective. The manager was very friendly and made sure we were taken care of. The shrimp Cesar salad was excellent and even had fresh Parmesan. The Blake's fish sandwich my husband ordered was very good. The mashed potatoes were okay, but not fantastic and the coleslaw seemed to be cabbage free and full of fat! I would definitely stop in again if I were in the area.
(4)
Rootie M.
Chicken fingers a must! Waitresses are sweet. The blonde woman at the counter (owner?) seems crabby & judgmental every time we've gone in. I've even heard her trash the waitstaff. Very unprofessional & tacky. Lucky for her, the chicken tenders are the most juicy & delicious I've ever had. I will continue coming back for them & the salad bar. This is a nice little small town diner/restaurant for great comfort food.
(3)
Duane D.
The Dixie Grill is an institution in Live Oak...been there a long time. I have only eaten breakfast there, but the food was great, service was quick, and prices were very reasonable. Try the thin sliced breakfast potatoes -- they are like thick cut potato chips. Yum.
(4)
Randy D.
Stopped on the way back home from USF-FSU game weekend. Excellent food. I had the FGTBLT (fried green tomato, bacon lettuce tomato) sandwich and had them add a burger patty. The deserts are excellent. Specializing in coconut cream, and bread pudding with rum sauce. Took our deserts home with us.
(5)
Mike W.
I had been meaning to update my review of this restaurant for some time, because for one thing, if you're in Live Oak there's not that many options--especially of those open both for dinner and lunch seven days a week. This is one, however, and it's certainly a local institution, as they say. They serve up simple yet quality Southern-style cooking here, and especially are known for their down-home desserts. There's two seating areas: the main, brightly-lit one with ample windows which looks a little like an old-skool diner and is popular for lunch and the "Steer Room" which is larger and popular with church groups and other crowds. It is also very dim in the Steer Room, and not in a nice, romantic, way but just in a sense that the lighting chosen isn't enough for the space involved. Also, there is no steer despite the name: I plan to bring them a small plastic toy bull the next time I dine here to make up for that. Here's additional observations of mine on the Dixie Grill: --The food is fairly-priced and lunch is a downright deal. --That said, the portions on some things could be larger while on others, like the mac n cheese side, they are quite ample. --The bread pudding is awesome. --The fried shrimp isn't so awesome. --The fried chicken is also very good. --The service tends to be good, but ask to sit near where other people are already seated or else you may wind up in some forlorn corner of Siberia (the Steer Room) and they will forget about you. They simply have way more restaurant here than they have any idea what to do with. --Watch your mouth: church groups come here a lot!
(3)
Renee E.
Fantastic fried chicken! The food was great, the service was good, and we will return.
(5)
Jessica M.
Went here for breakfast a few times last week while staying at Spirit of the Suwannee Music park for Springfest. It was nice to find a local place and avoid the chains out by the highway. It's really only another mile or two into downtown Live Oak to the Dixie Grill and the downtown is interesting with some beautifully preserved historic buildings in the center of town. The Dixie Grill has good food for very good prices, nice staff, good coffee, and it's a large place so you can always find a spot even when they're quite busy for breakfast. I had a veggie omelet with potatoes and a biscuit with honey - large steaming hot omelet with tons of veggies and melted cheese. Hits the spot!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Tim W.
Awesome place. Great home cooking.
(4)Karl W.
Well had a group of Spanish Business Folks here touring manufacturing outside Europe. Well Dixie was recommended. Sadly I am not impressed. The location was prime, food was not. A hungry man frozen Country Fried Steak would have been better than mine. Greens were ok, not great. Place was clean, well staffed, and staff was real friendly and fast. Food should have been half as good as service.
(3)Charles B.
The Dixie Grill in Live Oak, FL is an "institution" in every sense of the word. My trip to the Dixie Grill makes at least three generations from our family that have eaten at this restaurant. There's a chance that a fourth generation has dined here, but it's hard to say. The Dixie Grill has been a part of the culture & history of Live Oak for over 50 years. For many years, they were THE place to eat. And although they are facing some new comers in town, they still stand tall as the local favorite. The fried chicken, gizzards, and liver are among some of their beloved Southern favorites. If you're on I-10, it's just a short 11 minutes from the Interstate to the front door of the Dixie Grill. Take Exit 275, and follow US-90 to downtown Live Oak. It's worth the trip!
(5)Kathy O.
Brought a group of 40 with various dietary issues. Chef Robbie able to accommodate everyone. Plentiful, fresh and cooked to order. Thanks to the waitstaff for an awesome job!
(5)Lady V.
Great service. Food was awesome!! My family loved it! Will return real soon..;)
(4)Ray H.
The service was excellent and the food was tasty. There was a film on the table top and the glass cover over the salad bar was badly spotted, probably hasn't been cleaned in several weeks.
(2)Robert S.
One of the things that is disappearing. The iconic neighborhood place. Marsha was excellent; attentive and again another disappearing thing; The person that knows what good service is and is willing to give it. The food was perfect; from the different options of potatoes to the eggs done as ordered. Having recent bad service from all sorts of restaurants, I really appreciate this good experience. THANK-YOU
(5)Keith P.
Traditional Southern comfort food favorites, clean, efficient and friendly staff, and great bread pudding. Definitely worth the trip down from I-10!
(4)Marie B.
Gosh ~ I feel awful writing this review because our waitress was super sweet and the menu shows that someone is hugely creative. BUT, we had the BLT/Pimento Sandwich and it was just Bacon and Melted Cheese on toasted white bread. For some reason, it sounded much more appealing in the description. The other sandwich was the Fried Green Tomato and Bacon...and it was a wee bit better. I was also surprised that the sandwiches did not come with fruit or coleslaw...if not fries or chips. It was just a sandwich on toasted white bread...no fanfare whatsoever. I was also surprised by the decor/setting. The website is rather cheery and upbeat, so I envisioned this charmingly lit place with lots of natural light and warm woods. NOT! This is a rather dated, sorta musty, place with absolutely no charm. Last, despite indications otherwise, we were talked into dessert. The Lemon Pie was a miss...bland meringue and the crust was squishy like it had been sitting for some time. In all, definitely not worth the hike off the main highway.
(2)Debbie S.
Arrived Sunday morning 11:15 and they weren't serving the full breakfast menu. Sad to have missed their biscuits and gravy, but better for the waist line. They did offer egg platters, grits, potatoes, and meatss though and plenty of ,coffee. The waitress was friendly and very accommodating. Though they charge $1.40 per person for breakfast at this time of day their prices are reasonable enough it is not too expensive. I would return but earlier next time.
(4)Jan D.
Acceptable breakfast. Nothing really good. Omelet was the kind where they pour the eggs on a grill, and they are paper thin, and over cooked. Hubby liked the biscuits, but they didn't seem to be homemade. Disappointing.
(2)Ron C.
While not a regular (I've only been to Live Oak once!), I must confess that the staff and management of the Dixie Grill were superb! The food came out hot, the manager (It was Halloween and he was dressed up as "The Joker") pitched right in with his staff (We had 50 of us), the meal was tasty, and the portions were generous. Mind you, we probably upset the locals with our loud selves, however, even they were kind to my rowdy group. Should I ever make it back to Live Oak, I'll know where to have my supper!
(4)David M.
awesome for breakfast. omelettes, pancakes. fresh vegetables in omelette. fluffy pancakes. good service. very polite. grits were cooked just right. big portions of hash browns
(5)Brian O.
We stopped in for a late Sunday evening meal on our drive to Lake City. We both had their soup of the day, vegetable beef, which was homemade and good. I had a grilled cheese sandwich which was also good. My wife had a one trip to the salad bar with her soup. The salad bar was mediocre. Service was a little slow, but okay.
(3)Gary H.
Went there for dinner this evening, me, the wife and two teen girls. Chose Dixie Grill because of Yelp reviews. Well, we must have gone on an off night. Place was about 25% full and getting drinks on the table took about 15 mins. Other people came in after us, ate and left before us. Maybe being a local has it's perks. (We are RV'ing at a area campground and decided to eat out this evening) We then ordered dinners and waited, waited and waited some more. Finally the food came and my wives and daughters food was cold. When the waitress came back a while later we asked that they nuke the two dinners. They came back warmer but my wife said she has lost her appetite and took it home to the dogs. My daughter ate some but the chicken turned rubbery, she was not a happy camper. Mine was fine as was my daughter's friend. We spent $67.00 plus tip for four dinners, appetizers and drinks. Not a cheap meal for grill food by any means. If only someone would have even ask if everything was OK, I would have felt better, but nobody cared enough to ask. This was our first trip there and according to my wife, the last.
(2)Henry C.
This place is kinda a greasy spoon/home cooking type place thats trying to be fancier than they are. Seems popular for breakfast, but they serve lunch and dinner as well. I've eaten all three here and none were very impressive. Breakfast is ok, the omelet was below average and the breakfast potatoes were not really the best. There's better local breakfast places at better value, but Dixie Grill is doable for breakfast if you have to. Lunch and dinner menu are similar and have the usual suspects like burgers, sandwiches and a few meat and fish meals. The burgers are not that great, typical frozen food service patties, and no seasoning. Lately it seems like they've added some upscale meals like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles. I tryed one of the new Sriracha sandwiches, and it was ok, but I was surprized they were able to make a sandwich with hot sauce bland. My wife tried the catfish and grits and they were pretty rough. Catfish wasnt cooked well and tasted both bland and funny at the same time, grits seemed like insta grits from walmart. The "tomato gravy" was basically canned tomato sauce and was pretty bad. Seemed kinda like they saw this on a menu a place in a big city but didnt learn how to cook it right. Also, the food didnt seem too fresh, and I got a skunky beer. Afterward, my wife got food poisoning from the fish... The waitresses are nice, but the service kinda slow, and they dont really have good customer service or know whats on the menu. The one bright spot on the menu is the homemade pies, some of which are baked fresh daily. Lemon meringue and coconut cream are good, but one waitress recommended the pecan pie, which I was really disappointed to find out is a frozen pie from Cisco. I'm not sure why they would even offer this, since they have a reputation for local homemade pies. The location is decent, but the dining room is kinda outdated. I like old diners and greasy spoons, but this one kinda feels like eating in a nursing home, and seemed like it might need to be cleaned a little more thoroughly. They have a TV in the back room but it usually seems to be playing kids shows with the sound on. Overall, I've tried to like the Dixie Grill several times, but the food is not that great and I havent really seen anything to go back for. Also my wife refuses to go there after she got food poisoning. There's better options in town and nearby in Lake City.
(1)Catherine S.
I eat here everytime I come to Live Oak. I like choosing my own table and I have always found the wait staff to be friendly and helpful. My favorite is the fried chicken and the salad bar has a nice selection for a small restaurant. The sandwiches are huge. If you don't want French fries, say so. There are other options. It's perfectly clean; it just is an older building-it has been here since 1959. I've been here since 1949, so we are aging together. The pies are wonderful. A friend says the apple pie is the best pie he has ever had. I like the chocolate pie as a special treat. If you want a cookie-cutter restaurant, go on down I10 until you get to Lake City where you can find all the Red Lobsters, MacDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King's that you want. If you want to eat with the locals, try the Dixie Grill.
(4)Michelle c.
Four stars simply because I wasn't expecting much! My husband and I were on the road and did a Yelp search to find a place to stop for lunch. The food was unexpectedly good for a small town diner. We did get some funny looks- apparently we didn't blend in there, which is fair because I am a little west coast, health nut, granola. The service was a little slow, but that is coming from a city girl perspective. The manager was very friendly and made sure we were taken care of. The shrimp Cesar salad was excellent and even had fresh Parmesan. The Blake's fish sandwich my husband ordered was very good. The mashed potatoes were okay, but not fantastic and the coleslaw seemed to be cabbage free and full of fat! I would definitely stop in again if I were in the area.
(4)Rootie M.
Chicken fingers a must! Waitresses are sweet. The blonde woman at the counter (owner?) seems crabby & judgmental every time we've gone in. I've even heard her trash the waitstaff. Very unprofessional & tacky. Lucky for her, the chicken tenders are the most juicy & delicious I've ever had. I will continue coming back for them & the salad bar. This is a nice little small town diner/restaurant for great comfort food.
(3)Duane D.
The Dixie Grill is an institution in Live Oak...been there a long time. I have only eaten breakfast there, but the food was great, service was quick, and prices were very reasonable. Try the thin sliced breakfast potatoes -- they are like thick cut potato chips. Yum.
(4)Randy D.
Stopped on the way back home from USF-FSU game weekend. Excellent food. I had the FGTBLT (fried green tomato, bacon lettuce tomato) sandwich and had them add a burger patty. The deserts are excellent. Specializing in coconut cream, and bread pudding with rum sauce. Took our deserts home with us.
(5)Mike W.
I had been meaning to update my review of this restaurant for some time, because for one thing, if you're in Live Oak there's not that many options--especially of those open both for dinner and lunch seven days a week. This is one, however, and it's certainly a local institution, as they say. They serve up simple yet quality Southern-style cooking here, and especially are known for their down-home desserts. There's two seating areas: the main, brightly-lit one with ample windows which looks a little like an old-skool diner and is popular for lunch and the "Steer Room" which is larger and popular with church groups and other crowds. It is also very dim in the Steer Room, and not in a nice, romantic, way but just in a sense that the lighting chosen isn't enough for the space involved. Also, there is no steer despite the name: I plan to bring them a small plastic toy bull the next time I dine here to make up for that. Here's additional observations of mine on the Dixie Grill: --The food is fairly-priced and lunch is a downright deal. --That said, the portions on some things could be larger while on others, like the mac n cheese side, they are quite ample. --The bread pudding is awesome. --The fried shrimp isn't so awesome. --The fried chicken is also very good. --The service tends to be good, but ask to sit near where other people are already seated or else you may wind up in some forlorn corner of Siberia (the Steer Room) and they will forget about you. They simply have way more restaurant here than they have any idea what to do with. --Watch your mouth: church groups come here a lot!
(3)Renee E.
Fantastic fried chicken! The food was great, the service was good, and we will return.
(5)Jessica M.
Went here for breakfast a few times last week while staying at Spirit of the Suwannee Music park for Springfest. It was nice to find a local place and avoid the chains out by the highway. It's really only another mile or two into downtown Live Oak to the Dixie Grill and the downtown is interesting with some beautifully preserved historic buildings in the center of town. The Dixie Grill has good food for very good prices, nice staff, good coffee, and it's a large place so you can always find a spot even when they're quite busy for breakfast. I had a veggie omelet with potatoes and a biscuit with honey - large steaming hot omelet with tons of veggies and melted cheese. Hits the spot!
(3)