Bob Evans — Restaurant in Gaines Charter Township

So it's way too early to be awake, and I'm here at the Bob Evans closest to my digs. With all the reviews I've read I have a bit of trepidation stepping over the threshold, but it's nothing like I was led to expect.

The place is brightly lighted, the workers are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, complete with a clear greeting, happy smile, and purpose. The clientele is varied, both by age and socioeconomic strata. (I hear retirees and kids discussing adding NO2 to their cars' engines.)

From the Bowls & Skillets section of the very large menu I pick The Everything Breakfast ("includes Bob Evans' sausage, hickory-smoked ham, hardwood-smoked bacon, three scrambled fresh-cracked eggs, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and hollandaise sauce on a bed of hash browns. Served with a freshly-baked biscuit.") because why not?

The steaming, hot coffee arrives within moments, with a side of half-and-half; the proffered French Vanilla creamer gets a thumbs-down. The coffee is tasty, has a great aroma, and stays drinkable over the few minutes it cools. That, in itself, is a wonderful wake-up treat.

The food arrives in less than five minutes. (Not something I usually clock, but given some of the whinging I've read, something I was considering.) It's a big bowl, covered from edge to edge. Each element contributes its own flavor: the sausage is earthy, the ham is sweet and smokey, and the hollandaise goes well with the eggs and the meat. As I watch the shaved cheddar cheese melting I realize that I'm happy to be digging into something so hearty.

It's not perfect. The hash browns should've had another half-minute on the griddle, the cold tomatoes are a discordant note that would've been better warm, and a big 'ol spoon would be a way better method of attacking this open-faced omelette than the fork that I have.

The biscuit is a bit confusing. It's dry. Why? I ask for some sausage gravy - which arrives in seconds - and things look up. The gravy is rich and the biscuit soaks up it's umami goodness. Oh, the waitress brings butter and jelly, which work even better than the gravy; perhaps I needed sweet to counter the savory.

I have to say, this breakfast is exactly as advertised. My server, Katy (or is it Kelly, as the cheque suggests), has been just fantastic this morning. I am pleased with myself for giving Bob Evans a try. The sweatheart is happily making noises as she digs through the take-away contents, so there's another up-vote. Two people full on one breakfast and ready for a day of exploring more of Grand Rapids.

I'm thinking that if you're not getting the best from places like this - and I can tell by some reviews that you're not - it might not be them....

Great burger for the price.

Bacon Cheeseburger - $12: The burger is slightly thinner, but about a quarter pound (maybe less). It was tender, juicy, and cooked medium to medium-well. The double cheese was a great addition. The bacon was medium thickness and stuck out a bit over an inch out of the bun. The toppings were fresh and well balanced. You have to add your own sauces. The bun was toasted. Overall, it was good, but an even better value.

Fries (comes with the burger): Standard medium cut potato fries that were slightly over cooked. They needed a bit of salt, but were very good. The last bite was ironically better than the first. I did like them.

Water in jars was kind of cool. It kept the water cold longer with the thicker glass to maintain the temperature better.

Service: Seated by the manager, waited on by the waitress, and served by yet a third person. The staff was neatly dressed, quietly kind, and helpful. We didn’t have an empty glass of water for long. You pay at the counter when leaving.

Atmosphere: Country feel. Some booths, some chairs with tables. It was more modernized and updated. Everything felt clean and newer.

Conclusion: I’d definitely recommend their burger for the price. Actually, it was good even then. The country feel makes you feel like your visiting an uncle and aunt who know how to cook.

Visited on a...

We come here quite a bit. On weekends it's always crazy busy but we feel it's worth the wait, and I don't think we've ever waited longer than 20 minutes. There's room to sit and chat while you wait so it's not a deal breaker in my opinion.

During the week there generally is no wait, which is always nice.

No matter if we visit during the weekend or a weekday we get the same great service. The staff is always very friendly, they are attentive and really seem like they want you to enjoy your visit. The food always arrives pretty quick and is hot and good.

I have no complaints about their food. I like the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. And their portion sizes are right in line with their prices, which I consider very reasonable considering some places I've been to lately.

And, parking is a breeze. Lots of space and it's...