John R Grill — Restaurant in Madison Heights

I’m a Ferndale local and found this place a couple weeks ago on Easter Sunday. I had a great breakfast and all around great experience that day, so I decided to return this morning.

I was the first customer of the day (9am) with one server on staff. The servers here are for the most part your old school, professional wait staff: attentive, fast and friendly. That said: this server was just mediocre. I had to ask for coffee refills twice and she didn’t check in after she brought the food. She only returned to leave the check. I could also hear a rather lengthy conversation happening once her coworker arrived —- clearly gossiping about other staff. Maybe this would have mattered less, if the server had been more friendly and attentive.

The breakfast here is great. I ordered their breakfast special which runs Monday-Friday from 8-11 am. I had 2 eggs, hash browns, toast and added 3 link sausages ($6.49). Eggs, toast and sausage were cooked to perfection. Hash browns were undercooked for my liking and coffee was hot but bland.

The atmosphere and vibe are both great for this type of family style restaurant. It’s very clean (including the bathroom!!!). It’s updated with thoughtful touches, and it’s clear that they employ good hygiene and food safety standards.

Their breakfast and lunch specials are incredibly reasonable.

It may be slightly out of the way, but not so out of the way that - if you’re a weary traveler passing through Detroit and looking to have a nice rest, clean bathroom, belly filling meal - find your way here. If you’re a local, consider becoming a regular of this rather lovely establishment.

I really wanted to give this place 5 stars, but the service was just not there, especially considering I was the only person in the place.

Perhaps the service was reflective of the minimal tip the server ‘thought’ she’d get - 20% would be under $2! But I don’t tip that way. In this case, I would have normally tipped 30/40%, or $3/$4. So giving benefit of doubt, maybe the server’s in-attention was directly related to how much of a tip they thought...

Food was good but I ended up paying almost $90 for a $45 food order because the woman at the cash register kept swiping my cash app card telling me that it was declining. I showed her my app and that it showed that the amount had been taken from my. There was mild back and forth before I obliged and handed my card back over to her. Now I have about six different transactions six different amounts that she assured me would "wash out" in the end. That was late June early July... Here we are at the end of August now and absolutely nothing has shaken out. I disputed the charges with cash app but they said that that could take up to 90 days for them to reach a decision. All in all, not a very happy customer which is very unfortunate because we just moved down the street on June 1st. Haven't been back since, obviously. Check your receipts. Only let them swipe once!!!!...

I love love this place. Myself and my parent's are frequent visitors of this restaurant. If you want a restaurant where the staff genuinely cares about you as a person. Like your sitting at their kitchen table. Then stop in and see Cindy and her amazing waitstaff. Nadean I hope I am spelling her name right is always quick to help.. or Sarah with her amazing warm smile who could brighten anyones day.. anyone in their staff is amazing. The food is amazing and portions are fabulous. Well worth the price.. Just stopped in for a bite for dinner. They'll greeted us like we were family they have not seen in forever. Asked about my parents who have had health issues and not able to come in. Where do you find a place like this anymore? Go check them out it is so...