Stalvey’s Restaurant & Lounge

I’m surprised at the negative reviews of this restaurant. It’s a real gem. First of all, the staff was wonderful. From the lady that runs the cash register (she’s really sweet) to the server. The server was very attentive and genuinely friendly. She even seemed to enjoy taking me and my friends picture when we asked her too. Our glasses go refilled promptly and extra condiments were brought out instantly. The food, though, is what everyone really goes to a restaurant for and at Stalvey’s it is great. For starters we had the onion rings and fried brocolli. It came with a side of ranch dressing and horseradish. Its was ummm ummm good. For my entrée i had the fried seafood platter and it was excellent. It was seasoned perfectly so it didnt need loads and loads of tartar sauce or cocktail sauce to give it flavor. It was just good. Also, the dressings for their salads are made in house and they are awesome. I had the ranch dressing and i could tell it was not from a jar. One last thing. Some folks say the restaurant is dated. I like to say it’s vintage style. It’s not all modern with all the fancy fixtures and stuff but it is nicely decorated and the place seemed very clean. I would not hesitate to go back.

Pathetic excuse of a restaurant. If anyone knows a lick about food, they would agree. American cheese on a salad! The steak was as bad as an Omaha frozen steak. Typical Covington establishment, lousy food, and the same chicken quick chick serves, bland terrible chicken. Doesn’t even deserve a star.

We have been here several times before and I must say that it is consistent. The cold food sucks real bad. The server hates people and her job and the lady that takes your money sure don’t care. Your better off with the fast food next door. We will not be back.

Ok, let me start off this review by saying, I have lived in Covington my entire life, and have had to suffer through multiple restaurants owned by Jim Stalvey. The ONLY thing that has kept Stalveys open is the «good Ol boys» who are loyal to their pal Jim, because it sure ain’t the food!
Let’s start with the atmosphere, which is flat out awful, old, and somewhat smelly. White boards let you know what the «specials» are, which I guess you are supposed to read before you sit down.
Second, the service, which is lackadaisical at best. Servers are always «in a rush» and make you feel like you’re putting them out by asking questions. Most of the servers have been working here (or one of his other restaurants) since I was a child, and are cranky and inept in their job. You pay at the front counter, where the old lady will ask «how was everything», but don’t say not good… because she really doesn’t care.
Food quality. If the atmosphere and service hasn’t pissed you off enough yet, the food quality sure will. Sure, the price was cheap, but have you ever heard the saying «you get what you pay for»?! Yeah, that applies here… everything tastes like its out of a can (because it probably is), and if you don’t eat pork (which I do not), then you are SOL, because EVERYTHING is cooked in pork. As far as the meat, it’s pretty low end quality, and is generally either tough or flat out nasty. There isn’t one single thing on the menu that is eatable. But let’s not stop there, don’t order a glass of water, as it tastes like its straight from the toilet!
Summary. When all of the «good Ol boys» of Covington either leave or die, this establishment will shut its doors, it’s simply that bad. All of Stalveys other restaurants have closed due to poor service, food, and/​or lack of business. This one hangs on because of nostalgia, not because of quality. From start to finish the visit is poor, and Stalveys is one or two good restaurants moving to town before they are done for good!

I’m going to try to make this short. I’m new to the area and I guess I need to lower my expectations quite a bit when it comes to food. The service was ok. They make you pay at the front where there is a cashier and it makes for a congested clump of people standing around which is highly annoying to me, but a lot of restaurants seem to do this around here.
I had the steak and shrimp special which was only $ 11.99. Everything was fine up until I tried to eat that shrimp. It was teeny tiny «salad sized» shrimp served in a small ramekin almost giving the appearance of shrimp scampi, but instead of a delicious garlic butter sauce it was sitting in a little bit of water like it had just been boiled. I shared it with my fiancé and we both had a mild case of food poisoning later that evening. No fun.
My fiancé ordered a some kind of fried fish with fries, slaw, and hush puppies. Looked to me like he might as well have gone to Captain D’s, but I am beginning to learn that no one eats seafood around here unless it has been battered and fried.
I don’t get how the word «lounge» fits into the name of the restaurant. Where I am from a lounge is a place with a bar and maybe live entertainment, somewhere you don’t necessarily go for a meal. I feel like I am in an alien land where that word no longer means what I think it means.
Bottom line, I would not come back even if it weren’t for the food poisoning. The atmosphere was not my thing. I wouldn’t even call it «run down». I kind of like «run down» sometimes, but something about sitting in here was just depressing, and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I drove by the place looked interesting so I call them to find out their website so I can check out the menu. The first person that answer didn’t know what I was talking about put me on hold then came back and asked where I lived. I thought what does that have to do with your website. I’ve been spoke to a «manager» Who was going to tell me the menu over the phone which I had to write down. Then put me on hold and told me they were busy. I told her that websites are free oh I wouldn’t know that she said. She was kind of condescending. So even before I spent a dime there I decided I’m not going to a place like this… It’s up to you but if they don’t have a website in 2013 what else they doing back in the kitchen???

Great local eatery… one good clue that this is a great local restaurant is the number of cars and trucks in the expansive parking lot.
Great, friendly service and good food at very reasonable prices. Try it, you’ll like it!

Blech. I have only eaten here once and it was not good. My husband and I decided to try it out when we moved to the area, since we are both fans of supporting locally owned businesses. But the food was not good. At all. We both got steaks and they were like shoe leather. I also got shrimp with my steak and they were also overcooked and rubbery. Longhorn’s is a million times tastier than this place and it’s a chain.

The place is old and so are most of the clientele, but the food is still good. I have never thought it was unclean, and the Porterdale Hotel Sweet Potatoes are AMAZING!

I don’t eat here anymore. The first time I went, several yrs ago, I wasnt impressed. Too pricey and the food was «ok» nothing special. I thought I’d much rather drive down the street to longhorns and get a good steak. However, I did give it another try a few years later because my mom wanted to go. Same experience. Décor looks like it hasn’t been updated since the 70s and the food just wasn’t all that! So, if you want a good steak, dive about a ½ mile down the road and go to longhorns. Or I’ve heard that RLs on the square is good… But I haven’t eaten there, yet.

I was going to start this review by checking the state database on food inspection scores. health​.state​.ga​.us/​p​r​o​g​r​a​m​s​/​e​n​v​s​e​r​v​i​c​e​s​/​i​n​s​p​e​c​t​i​o​n​s.asp
but could not find a record for it anywhere, until I searched by address, for some reason they go by a different name than what’s on the sign out front, you have to search for Sirloin Saloon.
Their current score was 86 and on their last 3 inspections there seems to be a recurring theme. the place isn’t too clean. Pretty much the first impression you get when you walk through the door.
7:00PM on a Friday night. Table for 1 waited just under 10 minutes.
Arrived to a table that was wiped off with a dirty rag. Oh well I can live with that.
I had the $ 14.99 Jim’s Fillet Mignon. and I will have to say for the price it was a fine cut of beef. you could defiantly tell it was fresh.
My meal started with the clam chowder, but I think someone just opened a can and poured it right into a bowl, then at best, set it under the heat lamp for 2 minutes. I wasn’t going to complain too much, but as I was paying the guy in front of me and the lady behind me complained their food was cold too. the guy in front of me actually sent his back and it came out cold the second time. Not sure what’s going on in the kitchen. but the entire place looks tired, and hasn’t been updated since like the 70’s. makes me wonder if half the stuff in the kitchen doesn’t work like it supposed to either.
The older lady at the register’s only comment was to ask if the waitress had apologized, she obviously wasn’t steering toward comping anyone anything.
oh well. I’m just glad I went by myself and didn’t have a large family bill to pay.
I almost forgot. my meal ended with my last swig from my water glass leaving me with part of a plastic wrapper from someones saltine crackers in my mouth. it must have been in the bottom of my glass. You know, these things happen but, I wanted to mention it because the lady at the table across from me sent her water back during her meal because something was floating in it… That kinda put the nail in the coffin for me.

I love Stalvey’s. Their lunch menu can’t be beat. Great prices and tons of food. The atmosphere could use an update and some of the waitresses could use some training on customer service. But if you’re looking for a quick, good, homestyle meal that’s inexpensive, check out stalveys

Been to Jim Stalveys’ several times. Food is good and very affordable, but the restaurant needs updating.

This is a homestyle restaurant that has been around a long time and it shows. Reimaging the interior would not hurt. The food is good most of the time (depending on what you get) and service average. I usually get the fish and fries with coleslaw which is good. They also have great peach and strawberry cobbler for dessert.

A steakhouse for people that don’t like steak. Or a steakhouse for people that love grease.
We walked into the establishment, and I thought we had accidentally stepped into the social security office We were the youngest in our 20’s by about 40 years. The waitress came over and was polite, but unable to answer our questions about portion size and other misc questions. (this will come into play later). we finally just ordered without the info we requested, and she went about her business. 10 minutes later, the old man behind us asked her the same exact question. and she said, «Let me go get that information for you sir, I wouldn’t want you to order without it»… Ridiculous. Anyway, the food arrived. The shrimp was disgusting, and the steak was less than mediocre. I will never again set foot in this restaurant. and I advise that you do the same.

The first step into Stalvey’s is like a brick over the head. The atmosphere is so rundown and outdated, it makes me wonder how the kitchen is kept. The menus were tattered and covered in a thin layer of grease. The ”specials” were written on a dry-​erase white board in a far corner of the room, requiring us to get up out of our seats to read it. Prime rib was the special of the day, however baked potatoes were not on the menu… ever (according to the waitress.) The prime rib was stringy and overcooked, seemingly wanting to be in a beef stew. however that would require potatoes… of which there are none.
I highly recommend saving your money by avoiding this dump.