Crunchy's — Restaurant in East Lansing

We went to Crunchy’s 3 times as it was becoming our go-to place. Each time we parked in the parking lot next to their building, as we have seen other customers do. There are signs that say unauthorized vehicles will be towed. We thought that meant people who aren’t eating at the restaurant would be towed - or at the very least, people who are parked directly in front of a sign. Nope. My son met his friends there this weekend and their cars got towed with many others. The Mobile station is charging $550 for towing services! I went back to Crunchy’s and asked them what was going on and they said that happens all the time and they were sorry! The host even pulled out and showed a map of where we could park in the street - if there is space available. So they know their customers are getting towed and the tow company is making a scam out of it, knowing people are doing this accidentally. There are no signs that say permit parking, there are no signs that say apartment parking only, there are no signs that say no restaurant parking! Why doesn’t Crunchy’s have a sign on the big green wall, or next to the door, warning their customers that they cannot park there? When I went back, and it wasn’t busy, I did notice signs on their inside glass door. The problem is, each time we went in, like when our son got his ticket, the glass door was propped open so you can’t see the signs! As I left this time, two more cars parked in the lot and people started walking into Crunchy’s. I asked if they knew that they were parking illegally and they thought I was joking. Again, the way the signs are worded outside, people think that the Unauthorized Vehicles are whoever is not in the restaurant - or just the spots that have a sign are unauthorized. Then you have a sign on the inside glass door, but the door is propped open on busy nights? This is a terrible joke and we will never go back to...

Disappointed. Just disappointed at this point. I’ve been ordering take out from Crunchys for months for lunch because it’s a cheap and nice option close to my job. I don’t eat much, and i don’t get a lot of time to eat when i do so i often opt for the kids menu at most places i eat, its never usually a problem, and it hasn’t been for the almost 6 months ive been ordering from crunchys. Until now. They removed the kids menu off of online ordering, and today said that “adults can’t order the kids menu” so they won’t let us order it anymore. The kids menu options are always under $10, while over the phone they try to charge us $11 to $12 for the same amount of food. There is no option for a chicken tenders adult menu item, and the only thing close is a bucket of chicken tenders that comes out to almost $20. The last time i ordered that, half of my tenders were burnt and/or just breading, and i got like two more than i do in the kids menu. So they want you to pay almost double the price, for the same amount of food, with no side. Honestly overall i’m just disappointed. The owner said that it was because “the kids menu is to give parents a break when they dine-in.” And if that’s an excuse he’s okay with using, what about the other individuals who also would like a break from the high prices? Or those who aren’t looking for a whole dinner spread, but just lunch? Also, the kids menu was available for takeout for months at the minimum before it was randomly taken off and we were given this excuse. If it’s for dine-in, why was it on the takeout menu? They lost multiple REGULAR customers today. Wild that this place would rather lose customers than continue to make money...

Crunchy's is a historic college eatery just off the campus of Michigan State University. Voted best burger in the Lansing area several times in the last 20 or so years. Great tater tots. And I did enjoy my burger recently. Tasted char-broiled, like when my dad used to burn them on the old Weber over store-brand charcoal. During our recent visit, I had a great beer. Something I couldn't find at Hopcat or Reno's. The woman who sat us, and who could be seen giving tables a second wiping if necessary, could be running the fancy dining room at the Kellogg Center with her attention to detail. So good food, good beer, and good service. However, Crunchy's looks like a cheap 80's dive. Kinda dark. Cheap, old tables and chairs. The parking lot adjoining the place, tight up against the wall of the building, isn't theirs. I picked the place for lunch with my parents, because on Google maps you can see there's a parking lot that looks just like it should be theirs. It is not. Also the entry door is not in front of the building. It's not in back of the building, either. The entry also is not on the side of the building that is open to the parking lot that they obviously sold to some junky apartment building further up the block. The entry is in a narrow, dark alley. And the closest parking is meters on the street behind; hopefully a spot is available. I might rather get a burger and a beer at Hopcat or just a burger at Five Guys. But neither have the nostalgia factor you get at...