Irene's Finer Diner — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I’ve passed by this place quite a few times and decided to stop in for breakfast, wait times were 20min, they seated people who were late for their reservations ahead of other diners who had been waiting longer than us.

Their window booths on a sunny day are sweltering, but they don’t have any shades and the overall temperature inside is very warm.

Due to all the tiling, including on some walls, the noise level is very loud for such a small space.

The food was disappointing and overpriced. Rather than making poached eggs, they use the sous vide method, this certainly makes it easier on the kitchen, but when paired with a thin poorly seasoned hollandaise, not at all toasted still dry crumbly English muffin, and unseasoned mushrooms+spinach, it’s a particularly goopy mess.

The turkey club was mid, but the fries were legit cold, probably for similar reasons as the sous vide eggs, they are not making them to order. The breakfast potatoes were excellently crunchy and the only thing seasoned well.

For service, they were busy, but we got one refill on the water, no refill on the coffee and were never asked. When we asked to get a to go box for the sandwich, they brought us a 3x2 container and said they didn’t have anything else. I had to ask them for foil and a bag, but the foil they brought was only enough for half the sandwich and nothing else.

Overall, I get the feeling that they care more about giving the illusion of using better/quality products, but it’s really not that they are any better, it just comes with a...

This place was really strange to us. My wife ordered the short rib grilled cheese and it was astonishingly good. I ordered the meat lovers skillet and it also was extremely good. I ordered orange juice and it came out warm. Didn’t taste very good either. Not sure where they got this and I’m sure I would order it again. I asked if they had diet Coke and he said we have cola… Not sure what that means. I also asked for toast with my meal. What came out was something like a flat crouton. It was literally that hard and dry. I also asked for strawberry preserves. What came out Tasted nothing like strawberries and had basil in it? It was wholly inedible according to everybody at our table. When the young man came to pick up our dishes he looked at it made it a comment about it to which I told him it is inedible and he didn’t say a word and just turned around and walked away.

Like I said, the place is really really good with some really really bad spots and they have an attitude obviously that will make sure they won’t change any of the negative things. Having said that, when I come back to town to visit my son, I will definitely stop in here again and be more cautious about...

Lots of high praise in other reviews here so take mine for WIW.

Been walking past this place for a year. Finally went with a pal. Atmosphere was classic diner. Loved it.

Service was great expedient, attentive and very friendly.

The food:

I got the chorizo skillet and wanted to add some other veggies but our server suggested get it as is, so I did. Have to say it was tasty but a plate of greasy meat, potatoes with eggs (which they did cook perfectly) was just too well...greasy. I'll spare you the effect it had on me 😬

My pal got an omelette that he liked but the pancakes were cold and one was either undercooked or not sure what but tasted and smelled funny.

Server admitted "we are having a problem with pancakes today. You're the second person to send them back"

And I appreciate that they make a lot of things in house but not sure what that mixed berry jelly was about.

A most important thing in the food biz is to give your customers a reason to come back. I can't find one....