Anna's House - Okemos — Restaurant in Meridian Charter Township

I called at 7:30AM asking if they did reservations the lady I spoke to informed me that they didn’t I did have a bigger party so I wanted to let them know we would be coming at 8:30 On the phone she told me to come 20-30 mins early to check in for our spot. I arrived at 8:00AM where the hostess then said she would get the tables ready. She came back with Mike who rudely told me that my full party had to be present in order to be sat and pulled the tables apart. When my party arrived (a few minutes short of 8:30) we were then told the only thing they would offer us is a 6 person booth FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. I had been sitting in the restaurant and waiting since 8AM and the restaurant was open until 3PM so why was I only being offered the booth that only holds 6 when I called at 7:30 telling them my party. Not once did they say my party was too big (which was a party of 8 & a high chair for a baby) not once did anyone mention having to have the full party present to be seated and not once did Mike come and explain or talk to us after having the full party there why we were only being offered a 6 person booth or not to be seated at all he sent his hostess (who was nice) to do his dirty work. Since I had arrived so early to check in I sat and watched everyone be seated but myself and my party. The difference? I am brown and they are white. From the manager to the hostesses/servers and customers everyone was white but myself and my party. I sat and watched them tell parties they could not be seated until their parties were present and then continue to seat them anyways. From smaller tables to larger parties everyone was being sat but me. Nor did I hear anyone tell them that the only option they had was a smaller table then what they were asking for. When calling to speak to Mike (the manager) his excuse was “it was smaller tables” and “how would you know” but why can they make them exception and not me? When asking if the difference was the color of my skin he sighed and said sarcastically “this doesn’t have to do with that”. I would love to know why other people who had small and bigger parties an exception but my party and I were not? Especially when I had been communicating with them since 7:30AM. Mike handled things extremely poorly and lacked empathy for the situation. Not only were we not accommodated we were given an insulting option of cramming into a booth while everyone else got to eat...

I was coming in with high expectations, as I absolutely loved Anna’s House in Grand Rapids , and have been there a few times.

This location had a medium wait, which is ok. Just need to get on the waiting list. But I guess what disappointed me the most was the food.

Pretty much everything I ordered as a vegan had issues with it. The juice - I asked for the ginger to be added (as it had ginger on the menu for other juices also). The waitress said ok, but the juice had no ginger when it came out. When I flagged it a few min later, she was like “oh yea, they said we have no ginger” - well maybe tell you customer? As for $7.50 per drink they are not getting what they have ordered. I would have ordered something else. And my friend’s juice was suppose to have a rim of spices with the mango, as at other locations and advertised. Again no spices.

Americano I have ordered, I asked for 4 shots, and I was charged for 4 shots of coffee, however the coffee was soooo weak, it couldn’t have been a quad shot, and I had to get another coffee at different establishment when I left. Dissatisfied already. However I was looking forward to the food.

But I guess the most annoying thing, is the vegan egg that I ordered was not vegan when it came out, the hashbrown when it came out (after I have clearly ordered everything else vegan) had bacon 🤢 through it. Bacon smell alone makes me want to vomit, but having chunks of it through my vegan hashbrown (disgusting!). Vegan pancakes were ok, however I had to remind them a few times the sides of fruit I have ordered and paid for. Just not attentive stuff, and a kitchen which does not pay attention to what they make for people with dietary restrictions.

My friend was ok with his meal, although also pointed out that the size of his lasagna was significantly smaller compared to what we had at Anna’s House in GR.

Toilet was out of paper hand towels also.

All of this for $75 - completely overpriced, did not hold the standard their other locations hold. Bummer. Luckily there are a couple of other breakfasts spots a vegan can go...

HUGE CROSS CONTAMINATION ISSUE!!

I have attended Anna's House in Okemos for the third time now and have had my concerns regardong cross contamination since the first visit. However this last visit, on December 18, 2021 was for my daughter's birthday. She picked it wanting to be able to share a meal with me as Anna's House is one of the few places I can eat at safely. However upon placing the order and reiterating that I NEEDED gluten free(vegan for dairy) multiple times and even the employee on the other end taking my order verified he had input it in correctly. Upon arriving to pay and pick up my order they told me that the celiac/allergy/gluten free grill has been broken ALL DAY. Not once was I told this when placing my order. As a matter of fact, they did prepare my gluten free and vegan foods. On the regular side. With gluten containing everything. They then preceeded to ask if I still wanted my food. Asking me if im sure I DONT want my cross contaminated (poisoned)food. They asked if I wanted a gift card as compensation. I turned it down I wasn't planning on going back to that location since they had no care nor concern about cross contamination or the harm it can cause those with celiac or allergies. I ended up traveling to Grand Rapids to visit the Anna's House in Kentwood, which ive veen to on multiple occasions and never hadan issue, and ordered food there since they've always been great and careful and always have well knowledgeable staff on duty that have first or 2nd hand experience with those with celiac or allergies and understand the importance of not cross contaminating food and acting like it isnt a big deal and still asking if they'll buy it.

Don't go to Okemos, take the trip to Grand Rapids. It's worth the trip knowing you won't be a walking zombie on their death bed seeing their life flash before your eyes wishing you didnt go to Okemos...