The Grand Diner — Restaurant in Novi

While I have driven by this place a thousand times, its only when something came across my feed about "50's Diner with the best burgers in Michigan" that I decided to stop in. I will say the staff are very friendly and engaged and certainly look after you. One of my favorite dishes - and one not commonly serves is goulash - and they had it as the special. So, I asked about it and of course, my waitress raved it up - which is her job.

With solid confidence, it was the worse meal I can recall ever having at a restaurant and certainly by far the worst goulash. I am not convinced it met the requirements of goulash. What I got was tasteless tomato sauce with ground beef/hamburger. There seemed to be some evidence of chopped green pepper in there. Oddly, on one side of the bowl was a small amount of chopped white cheese – not melted or baked in, just tossed in. And 3 of the waitresses and the owner all asked if I wanted parmesan cheese. Why? It’s not spaghetti? To makes the meal that much worse, the dish ranged from tepid to cold depending on where I dug in the spoon. My assumption was either the noodles were cold and warm goulash poured over - or - the opposite, hot noodles and they poured cold goulash on top. Now, if the issue was only the temperature, I would have asked to warm it up – but, why bother.

Very friendly and attentive wait staff. Decent coffee that was filled many times. The coleslaw was good. The overall prices seemed reasonable. I guess if I go back, I’ll...

Been twice and really liking this place. Food is always great. I've had the burger and though it's a standard it's well met. Had some coneys second time and just like the burger well made and you can tell it hasn't been sitting in grease waiting. Produce for the burger was fresh cut and not soggy. Fries were killer, also had the curly fries 2nd time I was here. My wife had an omelette that looked great and she devoured it with no hesitation. Staff is always very nice and smiling, we love coming here and plan to come more often.

Will update after third time because I saw someone order the meatloaf and I felt like oh was in a cartoon I wanted to follow the plate cause it smelled great.

UPDATE *

So I didnt get the meatloaf cause we ended up with lunch rather than dinner. The slim Jim.... OMG THE SLIM JIM. This is officially a new favorite stamp of approval. The food is always great, well prepared (fresh cut/chopped produce) alot of places get recut but definitely not the case here. Perfectly sliced ham on the sandwich not thin but not think that you cant chew it. I did ask for the fries well done so keep that in mind in the photo it for a lunch special for 7$ I was impressed. Staff is great absolutely great. Always smiling and in a great mood despite the amount of customers.

Do yourself a favor and grab a bite at The...

What a GREAT Gem! I’m a critical type of person, if’s it’s bad I say so, if’s good, I say so, this place is great.

From greeting, seating, service, clean and with wonderful food. Menu is long and fair pricing!

My wife had Eggs Benedict. It had good slices of ham, eggs poached perfect, crisp toasted bagel, and really good hollandaise sauce. Real homes fries cooked perfectly with sautéed bell pepper and onions on request.

I had bowl of home made chili with cheese and onions on top. A touch of sweetness, hint of spice, and hot but not scalding. Also ordered the Grand Diner Ruben with onion rings. The Ruben was on properly grilled marble rye, stuffed with loads of shaved corn beef, coleslaw, and homemade thousand island dressing. It was not soggy at all and was one of the best Rubens I’ve had in years. I asked and the onion rings were not homemade but were battered in flour and panko, fried crisp. The onions inside were done and did not just pull out of the batter, I give them an 8, only because they were not homemade.

All in all, great clean place with good food at fair prices cooked and served by people that know what they are doing and care about their customers. Will become a once a week...