Smelk's Diner — Restaurant in Irving Township

Smelk's Family Diner is a place that I stumbled upon while taking back roads home one evening after work. It is not near my home - one hour away - but I stop in whenever I get the opportunity.

Today was my third or fourth time to dine and Smelk's; It was approximately 1/2 hour out of the way for me to stop there, but worth every mile.

It is a clean, quiet (at least the slower times that I've stopped in), and colorful - lots of reds - and there are tables throughout with traditional chairs, as well as a 50's diner-style counter top with round stools.

The bathrooms are clean and tidy, not freezing cold, and not graffitied-up. They have paper towels, which I prefer (as opposed to the 30 seconds of mediocre air machines that never quite get the job done), and the garbage can is close enough to the door to use the paper towel to unlock the door, open the door, and then throw away your soiled towelette away without getting door handle bathroom gunk on your freshly washed hands.

Now the food... Is there a character limit here? Because I could go on for a few paragraphs... and I probably will.

Everything I have had there has been everything I've ever wanted and more. Seriously. Whatever your mood, there is going to be a food for you.

For me, I have tended to lean toward the "comfort food" category at Smelk's, today having the Open-Faced Roast Beef Sandwich, with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. (Yes, those food titles are capitalized as proper nouns, people, that is how damn good it was!)

My parents used to take me to an Amish restaurant in Indiana when I was a kid, and I almost always ordered the same dish whenever we went there. It was made by country life genuine Amish hands, so delicious...

I would not jest about this, you must be advised: The dish that the chef at Smelk's prepared was JUST AS GOOD, if not... BETTER??? I think so. Still love you, Amish restaurant.

The beef was shredded, lean, moist, and flavorful. The combination of the potatoes and gravy and high quality bread (not some Dollar store Wonder Bread) was truly just what I needed.

As always, I followed up my meal with a Butterscotch Malt to go. Uuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhh. To die for. This is the owner's favorite flavor, and he only carries it because he loves them. Apparently, not too many places do a Butterscotch Malt. They also have other ice cream flavors and dessert options.

The menu is extensive, and there are many daily specials, and cyclical options. Today I could have purchased a true quarter pounder burger, normally $4.00, for $1.99! (Would have, had the roast beef not sounded so tempting).

The staff and other patrons of the establishment have been fabulous, very friendly, with comfortable conversations, and a pleasant atmosphere.

They take cash or cards, so very flexible in that respect.

This small town restaurant is well worth the trip, and highly recommended. As for me, I will be back as often...

Owner does not have any customer service skill or tact, our orders where not correct and we where mislead about sides for are meals and blamed as it was our fault tho was told it was included as an option, charged the same $$ for different shake size, told only was one size & one price but then given 2 sizes & charged the same $ one was for a child so I guess we should pay for larger size but given a littler one? and on multiple occasions we where charged for things that where included in order not extras example kid drink is included in meal but was charge for it many times separate. PLEASE WATCH YOUR BILL AND VERIFY YOU ARE BEING CHARGED CORRECTLY. Just back business and sadly bad...

We love this place. We have been coming here for about 4 years. The food is excellent. Best burgers, outstanding fish, and spectacular omelettes. Haven’t found anything on the menu that we haven’t liked. We love the local, small town feel. Oh, and love the simple things like grilled cheese and chili. You can always get a side of potato chips, if you like. Don’t get me started on the malts! Hand dipped and served with the big silver container it was blended in containing the extra that didn’t fit into the glass. Mr. Smelker and his mom, Nadine, make the place...