Hartell's Village Diner Has Food And Fun For The Whole Family

Hartell’s Village Diner opened its doors in 2008 and quickly became one of the go-to places for family dining in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Owners Michael and Jamie Sobik wanted to create a fun place where families could come, even after the late night festivities of the village got underway. Well, they got it right. With yummy food, good value and a retro vibe, Hartell’s has something for every member of the family. 

Sure you can grab a good bite to eat at Hartell’s, but it’s their sweet treats that really set them apart. You can get cult favorites like banana splits and root beer floats at the ice cream bar that’s built atop the front end of a 1957 Chevy. Or add a little novelty to your visit with the Dreamsicle shake, a creamy combination of those happy-making orange and vanilla flavors.
 

Hartell’s is the perfect place for a kid’s birthday party, and the back door even opens up to a shaded courtyard. Friends will love celebrating with The Kitchen Sink. They start with 15 scoops of ice cream and throw in two bananas, two donuts, and a dozen more toppings. Happy Birthday to you!
 

If you and the fam want to grab a meal anytime of the day, Hartell’s has some great classic diner food on the menu. The B.E.L.T. (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato) makes a great first meal of the day. For lunch and dinner, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders are right for the taking. (They’re all served with Hartell’s shoestring fries.) Adults can grab a beer for $2…that’s about the best deal you’ll find in Baytowne!

Now you should pay attention to this, because it concerns you. Hartell’s Krispy Krunchy Chicken is delicious. Delicious. And your number one priority should be grabbing a bucket of tenders before heading to the beach.
 

But if you really want to settle in at Hartell’s, it could be your lucky day. Baytowne’s real life version of Man vs. Food is alive and well at the diner.

Enter Mr. Sparkles. Six hamburger patties layered with Swiss and American cheeses, topped with a fried egg, steamed, grilled, sliced, and diced onions (yes, four types of onions), bacon, French fries, chili, lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, sautéed mushrooms, and Hartell’s special sauce, smothered in beef gravy and served on a four-layer grilled bun.

If you finish the challenge, you get the meal for free. Not to mention bragging rights and a long trip to the bathroom. If you tap out, you pay up. “There is a time limit of 1 hour and they have to finish on their own-it cannot be shared,” said Jamie. “About 30 people have finished over 8 years.”

As for me, I’ll take a box of chicken and Myrtle’s Turtle, three scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with hot fudge, hot caramel, chopped nuts and whipped cream with a cherry on top. Perfection.

Hartell’s Village Diner is located in The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin near Acme Oyster House. They’re open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. Call 850.354.9453 for more information, or to place a to-go order. Visit Hartell’s Village Diner on Facebook and see the menus at BaytowneWharf.com.