Quick recap: a coney is an all beef vienna style hot dog made with natural casings served in a bun with chili mustard and onions topped in that order. It started in Jackson Michigan during World War I. The chili is generally made from beef hearts with some tomato and pepper, spices, onion, chili powder and water and cooked for hours. Senate used to be on Michigan Avenue just west of Livernois on the north side of the street. My parents used to dine there when they were dating in the 1950's. Decades later, Senate opened the Livonia, then Dearborn locations and then SOLD the Detroit location to a man who ran it under the same name for a few years with the same original menu, without even eradicating the others owned from the list. He ran it for a few years and then it burned to the ground. This was probably 1997-1998ish. Fast forward to 2015. Senate has been in the family for over 60 years. They started in Detroit. They have made their way to several suburban locations. They do an absolutely whopping business and they do a huge volume. There is no time to be a waitress and miss a beat because the management isn't having it. Senate is for the most part very clean and the food is for the most part very consistent. When you do the kind of volume they do, you something miss a few spots. That's ok. Let's talk food. The Coney's are the main attraction. If you are not from Michigan, you simply don't get it. See my review on Lafayette Coney Island. That tells the story. For you Detroit natives, Senate is the west side's answer to National Coney Island on the other side of town. Don't give me Kerby's Abe's or Leo's. They're all pretty good. Don't take it personally. It's a west side thing. The Senate Coney's are some of the best in town. They are leaders in making Greek salads and like always there served with a pita. Do you like pie? Senate has great pies! Ask for lemon merengue. You'll love it. Do you like to go out for breakfast? They serve that too! great selection of breakfasts and lots of menu items to choose from. By the way, they have great coffee!
(4)
Elisha C.
Very nice breakfast and lunch spot. One of my favorite Coney Island diners. I really like their breakfast sandwiches, spinach egg ham and cheese omelette and their chicken wrap with fries. Always very filling and quick sit down service as well.
(5)
Almaz M.
My go to place for the best greek salad in all of Dearborn. The salads are fresh and loaded with olives, the best feta cheese, tomatoes, banana peppers, onions made to order (mine -beets), and served with the best bread. The dressing is fantastic. This salad is so filling it would be suitable as a meal by itself.
(4)
Julie G.
Chicken greek salad is fab! The dressing is homemade, small salad is good size and comes with pita. Service is fast and efficient, although not most friendly. That's ok tho, they don't really need to be friendly. A staple for lunch for sure!
(4)
Elisa G.
My family and I go through restaurant cycles. Whenever we're going out for dinner, we go to the same place for several weeks (months.. years..) until we get tired of it and pick someplace new. I do the exact same thing with CDs in my car . . . Anyhow, Senate Coney was one such place when I was in middle and high school. The place is mostly clean and it's typical coney food. The best part is watching the cooks -- my dad and I had a favorite guy that we liked to watch: we both thought he looked like a character actor for the X-files. One of the guys who believes in UFOs or got struck by lightning or has some kind of weird power that Scully doesn't believe in. If you go and you're an X-Files fan, watch for this guy -- you'll immediately spot him. I like their gyros, bacon cheeseburgers and their chili cheese fries. It used to be that the smoking section was badly partioned and the entire restaurant was smokey when one table was smoking, but that's no longer a problem.
(4)
Steve D.
I usually go to the Senate for lunch when I'm around Dearborn. Typically I will get two coneys and an order of fries, which will cost around 6 bucks, so it's affordable, and doesn't take forever if you have time constraints for getting a bite to get during work.
(4)
Dave K.
Been to this Senate many times back in the days before Yelp!, but not much lately. Well, I went once again today and can truthfully say I'm still a fan!!! :) I had a Small Greek Salad with Chicken on top. At first, I was kind of hesitant to order it as the salad with chicken added was $7.50ish. But it HIT THE SPOT! The salad, loaded with greek olives, feta cheese, beets, onions, tomatoes & pepperoncinis hit the spot - the dressing which came on the side was simply amazing. The chicken was a little dry, but once dipped in the greek dressing, was really good and seasoned just right. It also came with a warm piece of awesome tasting Pita bread. :) This place has some serious turnover at lunch due to the Ford crowd like myself, but is always quick. The waitresses are seasoned veterans and know how to please their customers. Overall, a great place to eat and best yet, they have a bit of everything!!!!
(4)
Tom F.
Wiener Wars Part 3A I'm a Wiener, he's a wiener, she's a wiener, eat Senate Coney Island and you can be a wiener too! Michigan coneys at their best! I went to this location becasue it was just after a traing class down the street. I know everybody asks, "Who's is better? American or Lafayette? I rated them both the same four stars. Well here's the tiebreaker. I'm partial to Senates because I went to the original restaurant on Michigan Ave. and Livernois(no longer there) years ago(1976 and beyond). They have the best wieners, grilled with the right amount of dark brown skin all around. The french fries are hand made every day. Stop in and say hi to the potato guy. I call him Spuds. At this location they actually call him Timmy. These are the best of all the coney restaurants. Straight up fries, chili fries, with cheese....you name it, they're the best. I eat my coneys with light onions, smothered in mustard. I put mustard on my fries. Coneys for breakfast, coneys for lunch, coneys for dinner. Oh, and just to eat a little healthy I added a dinner salad with ranch dressing. It was okay. I'm in heaven!!!
(5)
Frank Z.
Once upon a time I worked in this area and often had lunch here. It was always okay. The coney dogs were good, the chili okay, the service was fine. Lately my wife and I visited and I had chili fries, I love chili fries. I really loved these chili fries. Their chili fries were better than the Senate in Livonia on Plymouth Rd. Probably the best around.
(4)
Craig M.
Ok, it's a Coney... If you're a Michigander, you know exactly what this is about. But where this Coney stands out is the service. From the Kitchen to the waitstaff, to the casheirs, this team handles a large weekday lunch time crowd faster than shit through a goose. Oh wait... that's not very flattering, is it? Let's just say that they serve a large crowd with good quality coney fare quickly and friendly. In all the years I've worked in Dearborn, if Senate Coney Island had a frequent flyer card, Mine would be Platinium.
(4)
Killoud D.
I wait every week for Fridays! They have the best Mac n cheese I have ever had. It's so nice and creamy with the golden brown melted cheese on top is mixed in. The staff is so sweet and even when it's rush they always pay attention and get there orders right. It's Friday and I will be there soon
(5)
Jacqueline B.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here almost every Sunday for breakfast. The food is delicious and consistent. The staff is wonderful and if you ask for any changes to your meal they will gladly change it. If you're looking for a good breakfast coney you should definitely come here.
(5)
Jeff L.
I basically love all Coney Islands. Especially when they are fast, efficient, and clean. This Coney Island is all three. This crew works lightning fast. My average wait time from ordering to receiving food is 5 minutes. Seriously. Things are a better too since they annexed another dining room. Like most Coney Islands, Senate is not meant for people with health conditions, especially not cardiovascular. You can easily stuff your face for under $10. My favorites: coney dog light onions, gyro, lemon rice soup, bowl of chili, french fries, chili fries, or greek salad. For a medium appetite like mine, lemon rice soup + coney dog + share fries is enough food. 2 coneys if I were 22 years old again.
(5)
Maurie A.
Yuck..maybe this is a regional fav,? I got a boiled (not grilled) hot dogs, so-so chilli and a non-toasted bun? Hello, I'm not 5 anymore. We don't roll like that on the east coast. I was really disappointed with this place. On the same line with Mc Donalds in my opinion. Go if there's nothing else available or you need a fix for grease. Otherwise save you money!
(1)
Frank Z.
Once upon a time I worked in this area and often had lunch here. It was always okay. The coney dogs were good, the chili okay, the service was fine. Lately my wife and I visited and I had chili fries, I love chili fries. I really loved these chili fries. Their chili fries were better than the Senate in Livonia on Plymouth Rd. Probably the best around.
(4)
Craig M.
Ok, it's a Coney... If you're a Michigander, you know exactly what this is about. But where this Coney stands out is the service. From the Kitchen to the waitstaff, to the casheirs, this team handles a large weekday lunch time crowd faster than shit through a goose. Oh wait... that's not very flattering, is it? Let's just say that they serve a large crowd with good quality coney fare quickly and friendly. In all the years I've worked in Dearborn, if Senate Coney Island had a frequent flyer card, Mine would be Platinium.
(4)
Maurie A.
Yuck..maybe this is a regional fav,? I got a boiled (not grilled) hot dogs, so-so chilli and a non-toasted bun? Hello, I'm not 5 anymore. We don't roll like that on the east coast. I was really disappointed with this place. On the same line with Mc Donalds in my opinion. Go if there's nothing else available or you need a fix for grease. Otherwise save you money!
(1)
Killoud D.
I wait every week for Fridays! They have the best Mac n cheese I have ever had. It's so nice and creamy with the golden brown melted cheese on top is mixed in. The staff is so sweet and even when it's rush they always pay attention and get there orders right. It's Friday and I will be there soon
(5)
Jacqueline B.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here almost every Sunday for breakfast. The food is delicious and consistent. The staff is wonderful and if you ask for any changes to your meal they will gladly change it. If you're looking for a good breakfast coney you should definitely come here.
(5)
Julie G.
Chicken greek salad is fab! The dressing is homemade, small salad is good size and comes with pita. Service is fast and efficient, although not most friendly. That's ok tho, they don't really need to be friendly. A staple for lunch for sure!
(4)
Stephen H.
Quick recap: a coney is an all beef vienna style hot dog made with natural casings served in a bun with chili mustard and onions topped in that order. It started in Jackson Michigan during World War I. The chili is generally made from beef hearts with some tomato and pepper, spices, onion, chili powder and water and cooked for hours. Senate used to be on Michigan Avenue just west of Livernois on the north side of the street. My parents used to dine there when they were dating in the 1950's. Decades later, Senate opened the Livonia, then Dearborn locations and then SOLD the Detroit location to a man who ran it under the same name for a few years with the same original menu, without even eradicating the others owned from the list. He ran it for a few years and then it burned to the ground. This was probably 1997-1998ish. Fast forward to 2015. Senate has been in the family for over 60 years. They started in Detroit. They have made their way to several suburban locations. They do an absolutely whopping business and they do a huge volume. There is no time to be a waitress and miss a beat because the management isn't having it. Senate is for the most part very clean and the food is for the most part very consistent. When you do the kind of volume they do, you something miss a few spots. That's ok. Let's talk food. The Coney's are the main attraction. If you are not from Michigan, you simply don't get it. See my review on Lafayette Coney Island. That tells the story. For you Detroit natives, Senate is the west side's answer to National Coney Island on the other side of town. Don't give me Kerby's Abe's or Leo's. They're all pretty good. Don't take it personally. It's a west side thing. The Senate Coney's are some of the best in town. They are leaders in making Greek salads and like always there served with a pita. Do you like pie? Senate has great pies! Ask for lemon merengue. You'll love it. Do you like to go out for breakfast? They serve that too! great selection of breakfasts and lots of menu items to choose from. By the way, they have great coffee!
(4)
Elisha C.
Very nice breakfast and lunch spot. One of my favorite Coney Island diners. I really like their breakfast sandwiches, spinach egg ham and cheese omelette and their chicken wrap with fries. Always very filling and quick sit down service as well.
(5)
Almaz M.
My go to place for the best greek salad in all of Dearborn. The salads are fresh and loaded with olives, the best feta cheese, tomatoes, banana peppers, onions made to order (mine -beets), and served with the best bread. The dressing is fantastic. This salad is so filling it would be suitable as a meal by itself.
(4)
Dave K.
Been to this Senate many times back in the days before Yelp!, but not much lately. Well, I went once again today and can truthfully say I'm still a fan!!! :) I had a Small Greek Salad with Chicken on top. At first, I was kind of hesitant to order it as the salad with chicken added was $7.50ish. But it HIT THE SPOT! The salad, loaded with greek olives, feta cheese, beets, onions, tomatoes & pepperoncinis hit the spot - the dressing which came on the side was simply amazing. The chicken was a little dry, but once dipped in the greek dressing, was really good and seasoned just right. It also came with a warm piece of awesome tasting Pita bread. :) This place has some serious turnover at lunch due to the Ford crowd like myself, but is always quick. The waitresses are seasoned veterans and know how to please their customers. Overall, a great place to eat and best yet, they have a bit of everything!!!!
(4)
Tom F.
Wiener Wars Part 3A I'm a Wiener, he's a wiener, she's a wiener, eat Senate Coney Island and you can be a wiener too! Michigan coneys at their best! I went to this location becasue it was just after a traing class down the street. I know everybody asks, "Who's is better? American or Lafayette? I rated them both the same four stars. Well here's the tiebreaker. I'm partial to Senates because I went to the original restaurant on Michigan Ave. and Livernois(no longer there) years ago(1976 and beyond). They have the best wieners, grilled with the right amount of dark brown skin all around. The french fries are hand made every day. Stop in and say hi to the potato guy. I call him Spuds. At this location they actually call him Timmy. These are the best of all the coney restaurants. Straight up fries, chili fries, with cheese....you name it, they're the best. I eat my coneys with light onions, smothered in mustard. I put mustard on my fries. Coneys for breakfast, coneys for lunch, coneys for dinner. Oh, and just to eat a little healthy I added a dinner salad with ranch dressing. It was okay. I'm in heaven!!!
(5)
Jeff L.
I basically love all Coney Islands. Especially when they are fast, efficient, and clean. This Coney Island is all three. This crew works lightning fast. My average wait time from ordering to receiving food is 5 minutes. Seriously. Things are a better too since they annexed another dining room. Like most Coney Islands, Senate is not meant for people with health conditions, especially not cardiovascular. You can easily stuff your face for under $10. My favorites: coney dog light onions, gyro, lemon rice soup, bowl of chili, french fries, chili fries, or greek salad. For a medium appetite like mine, lemon rice soup + coney dog + share fries is enough food. 2 coneys if I were 22 years old again.
(5)
Elisa G.
My family and I go through restaurant cycles. Whenever we're going out for dinner, we go to the same place for several weeks (months.. years..) until we get tired of it and pick someplace new. I do the exact same thing with CDs in my car . . . Anyhow, Senate Coney was one such place when I was in middle and high school. The place is mostly clean and it's typical coney food. The best part is watching the cooks -- my dad and I had a favorite guy that we liked to watch: we both thought he looked like a character actor for the X-files. One of the guys who believes in UFOs or got struck by lightning or has some kind of weird power that Scully doesn't believe in. If you go and you're an X-Files fan, watch for this guy -- you'll immediately spot him. I like their gyros, bacon cheeseburgers and their chili cheese fries. It used to be that the smoking section was badly partioned and the entire restaurant was smokey when one table was smoking, but that's no longer a problem.
(4)
Steve D.
I usually go to the Senate for lunch when I'm around Dearborn. Typically I will get two coneys and an order of fries, which will cost around 6 bucks, so it's affordable, and doesn't take forever if you have time constraints for getting a bite to get during work.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Stephen H.
Quick recap: a coney is an all beef vienna style hot dog made with natural casings served in a bun with chili mustard and onions topped in that order. It started in Jackson Michigan during World War I. The chili is generally made from beef hearts with some tomato and pepper, spices, onion, chili powder and water and cooked for hours. Senate used to be on Michigan Avenue just west of Livernois on the north side of the street. My parents used to dine there when they were dating in the 1950's. Decades later, Senate opened the Livonia, then Dearborn locations and then SOLD the Detroit location to a man who ran it under the same name for a few years with the same original menu, without even eradicating the others owned from the list. He ran it for a few years and then it burned to the ground. This was probably 1997-1998ish. Fast forward to 2015. Senate has been in the family for over 60 years. They started in Detroit. They have made their way to several suburban locations. They do an absolutely whopping business and they do a huge volume. There is no time to be a waitress and miss a beat because the management isn't having it. Senate is for the most part very clean and the food is for the most part very consistent. When you do the kind of volume they do, you something miss a few spots. That's ok. Let's talk food. The Coney's are the main attraction. If you are not from Michigan, you simply don't get it. See my review on Lafayette Coney Island. That tells the story. For you Detroit natives, Senate is the west side's answer to National Coney Island on the other side of town. Don't give me Kerby's Abe's or Leo's. They're all pretty good. Don't take it personally. It's a west side thing. The Senate Coney's are some of the best in town. They are leaders in making Greek salads and like always there served with a pita. Do you like pie? Senate has great pies! Ask for lemon merengue. You'll love it. Do you like to go out for breakfast? They serve that too! great selection of breakfasts and lots of menu items to choose from. By the way, they have great coffee!
(4)Elisha C.
Very nice breakfast and lunch spot. One of my favorite Coney Island diners. I really like their breakfast sandwiches, spinach egg ham and cheese omelette and their chicken wrap with fries. Always very filling and quick sit down service as well.
(5)Almaz M.
My go to place for the best greek salad in all of Dearborn. The salads are fresh and loaded with olives, the best feta cheese, tomatoes, banana peppers, onions made to order (mine -beets), and served with the best bread. The dressing is fantastic. This salad is so filling it would be suitable as a meal by itself.
(4)Julie G.
Chicken greek salad is fab! The dressing is homemade, small salad is good size and comes with pita. Service is fast and efficient, although not most friendly. That's ok tho, they don't really need to be friendly. A staple for lunch for sure!
(4)Elisa G.
My family and I go through restaurant cycles. Whenever we're going out for dinner, we go to the same place for several weeks (months.. years..) until we get tired of it and pick someplace new. I do the exact same thing with CDs in my car . . . Anyhow, Senate Coney was one such place when I was in middle and high school. The place is mostly clean and it's typical coney food. The best part is watching the cooks -- my dad and I had a favorite guy that we liked to watch: we both thought he looked like a character actor for the X-files. One of the guys who believes in UFOs or got struck by lightning or has some kind of weird power that Scully doesn't believe in. If you go and you're an X-Files fan, watch for this guy -- you'll immediately spot him. I like their gyros, bacon cheeseburgers and their chili cheese fries. It used to be that the smoking section was badly partioned and the entire restaurant was smokey when one table was smoking, but that's no longer a problem.
(4)Steve D.
I usually go to the Senate for lunch when I'm around Dearborn. Typically I will get two coneys and an order of fries, which will cost around 6 bucks, so it's affordable, and doesn't take forever if you have time constraints for getting a bite to get during work.
(4)Dave K.
Been to this Senate many times back in the days before Yelp!, but not much lately. Well, I went once again today and can truthfully say I'm still a fan!!! :) I had a Small Greek Salad with Chicken on top. At first, I was kind of hesitant to order it as the salad with chicken added was $7.50ish. But it HIT THE SPOT! The salad, loaded with greek olives, feta cheese, beets, onions, tomatoes & pepperoncinis hit the spot - the dressing which came on the side was simply amazing. The chicken was a little dry, but once dipped in the greek dressing, was really good and seasoned just right. It also came with a warm piece of awesome tasting Pita bread. :) This place has some serious turnover at lunch due to the Ford crowd like myself, but is always quick. The waitresses are seasoned veterans and know how to please their customers. Overall, a great place to eat and best yet, they have a bit of everything!!!!
(4)Tom F.
Wiener Wars Part 3A I'm a Wiener, he's a wiener, she's a wiener, eat Senate Coney Island and you can be a wiener too! Michigan coneys at their best! I went to this location becasue it was just after a traing class down the street. I know everybody asks, "Who's is better? American or Lafayette? I rated them both the same four stars. Well here's the tiebreaker. I'm partial to Senates because I went to the original restaurant on Michigan Ave. and Livernois(no longer there) years ago(1976 and beyond). They have the best wieners, grilled with the right amount of dark brown skin all around. The french fries are hand made every day. Stop in and say hi to the potato guy. I call him Spuds. At this location they actually call him Timmy. These are the best of all the coney restaurants. Straight up fries, chili fries, with cheese....you name it, they're the best. I eat my coneys with light onions, smothered in mustard. I put mustard on my fries. Coneys for breakfast, coneys for lunch, coneys for dinner. Oh, and just to eat a little healthy I added a dinner salad with ranch dressing. It was okay. I'm in heaven!!!
(5)Frank Z.
Once upon a time I worked in this area and often had lunch here. It was always okay. The coney dogs were good, the chili okay, the service was fine. Lately my wife and I visited and I had chili fries, I love chili fries. I really loved these chili fries. Their chili fries were better than the Senate in Livonia on Plymouth Rd. Probably the best around.
(4)Craig M.
Ok, it's a Coney... If you're a Michigander, you know exactly what this is about. But where this Coney stands out is the service. From the Kitchen to the waitstaff, to the casheirs, this team handles a large weekday lunch time crowd faster than shit through a goose. Oh wait... that's not very flattering, is it? Let's just say that they serve a large crowd with good quality coney fare quickly and friendly. In all the years I've worked in Dearborn, if Senate Coney Island had a frequent flyer card, Mine would be Platinium.
(4)Killoud D.
I wait every week for Fridays! They have the best Mac n cheese I have ever had. It's so nice and creamy with the golden brown melted cheese on top is mixed in. The staff is so sweet and even when it's rush they always pay attention and get there orders right. It's Friday and I will be there soon
(5)Jacqueline B.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here almost every Sunday for breakfast. The food is delicious and consistent. The staff is wonderful and if you ask for any changes to your meal they will gladly change it. If you're looking for a good breakfast coney you should definitely come here.
(5)Jeff L.
I basically love all Coney Islands. Especially when they are fast, efficient, and clean. This Coney Island is all three. This crew works lightning fast. My average wait time from ordering to receiving food is 5 minutes. Seriously. Things are a better too since they annexed another dining room. Like most Coney Islands, Senate is not meant for people with health conditions, especially not cardiovascular. You can easily stuff your face for under $10. My favorites: coney dog light onions, gyro, lemon rice soup, bowl of chili, french fries, chili fries, or greek salad. For a medium appetite like mine, lemon rice soup + coney dog + share fries is enough food. 2 coneys if I were 22 years old again.
(5)Maurie A.
Yuck..maybe this is a regional fav,? I got a boiled (not grilled) hot dogs, so-so chilli and a non-toasted bun? Hello, I'm not 5 anymore. We don't roll like that on the east coast. I was really disappointed with this place. On the same line with Mc Donalds in my opinion. Go if there's nothing else available or you need a fix for grease. Otherwise save you money!
(1)Frank Z.
Once upon a time I worked in this area and often had lunch here. It was always okay. The coney dogs were good, the chili okay, the service was fine. Lately my wife and I visited and I had chili fries, I love chili fries. I really loved these chili fries. Their chili fries were better than the Senate in Livonia on Plymouth Rd. Probably the best around.
(4)Craig M.
Ok, it's a Coney... If you're a Michigander, you know exactly what this is about. But where this Coney stands out is the service. From the Kitchen to the waitstaff, to the casheirs, this team handles a large weekday lunch time crowd faster than shit through a goose. Oh wait... that's not very flattering, is it? Let's just say that they serve a large crowd with good quality coney fare quickly and friendly. In all the years I've worked in Dearborn, if Senate Coney Island had a frequent flyer card, Mine would be Platinium.
(4)Maurie A.
Yuck..maybe this is a regional fav,? I got a boiled (not grilled) hot dogs, so-so chilli and a non-toasted bun? Hello, I'm not 5 anymore. We don't roll like that on the east coast. I was really disappointed with this place. On the same line with Mc Donalds in my opinion. Go if there's nothing else available or you need a fix for grease. Otherwise save you money!
(1)Killoud D.
I wait every week for Fridays! They have the best Mac n cheese I have ever had. It's so nice and creamy with the golden brown melted cheese on top is mixed in. The staff is so sweet and even when it's rush they always pay attention and get there orders right. It's Friday and I will be there soon
(5)Jacqueline B.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here almost every Sunday for breakfast. The food is delicious and consistent. The staff is wonderful and if you ask for any changes to your meal they will gladly change it. If you're looking for a good breakfast coney you should definitely come here.
(5)Julie G.
Chicken greek salad is fab! The dressing is homemade, small salad is good size and comes with pita. Service is fast and efficient, although not most friendly. That's ok tho, they don't really need to be friendly. A staple for lunch for sure!
(4)Stephen H.
Quick recap: a coney is an all beef vienna style hot dog made with natural casings served in a bun with chili mustard and onions topped in that order. It started in Jackson Michigan during World War I. The chili is generally made from beef hearts with some tomato and pepper, spices, onion, chili powder and water and cooked for hours. Senate used to be on Michigan Avenue just west of Livernois on the north side of the street. My parents used to dine there when they were dating in the 1950's. Decades later, Senate opened the Livonia, then Dearborn locations and then SOLD the Detroit location to a man who ran it under the same name for a few years with the same original menu, without even eradicating the others owned from the list. He ran it for a few years and then it burned to the ground. This was probably 1997-1998ish. Fast forward to 2015. Senate has been in the family for over 60 years. They started in Detroit. They have made their way to several suburban locations. They do an absolutely whopping business and they do a huge volume. There is no time to be a waitress and miss a beat because the management isn't having it. Senate is for the most part very clean and the food is for the most part very consistent. When you do the kind of volume they do, you something miss a few spots. That's ok. Let's talk food. The Coney's are the main attraction. If you are not from Michigan, you simply don't get it. See my review on Lafayette Coney Island. That tells the story. For you Detroit natives, Senate is the west side's answer to National Coney Island on the other side of town. Don't give me Kerby's Abe's or Leo's. They're all pretty good. Don't take it personally. It's a west side thing. The Senate Coney's are some of the best in town. They are leaders in making Greek salads and like always there served with a pita. Do you like pie? Senate has great pies! Ask for lemon merengue. You'll love it. Do you like to go out for breakfast? They serve that too! great selection of breakfasts and lots of menu items to choose from. By the way, they have great coffee!
(4)Elisha C.
Very nice breakfast and lunch spot. One of my favorite Coney Island diners. I really like their breakfast sandwiches, spinach egg ham and cheese omelette and their chicken wrap with fries. Always very filling and quick sit down service as well.
(5)Almaz M.
My go to place for the best greek salad in all of Dearborn. The salads are fresh and loaded with olives, the best feta cheese, tomatoes, banana peppers, onions made to order (mine -beets), and served with the best bread. The dressing is fantastic. This salad is so filling it would be suitable as a meal by itself.
(4)Dave K.
Been to this Senate many times back in the days before Yelp!, but not much lately. Well, I went once again today and can truthfully say I'm still a fan!!! :) I had a Small Greek Salad with Chicken on top. At first, I was kind of hesitant to order it as the salad with chicken added was $7.50ish. But it HIT THE SPOT! The salad, loaded with greek olives, feta cheese, beets, onions, tomatoes & pepperoncinis hit the spot - the dressing which came on the side was simply amazing. The chicken was a little dry, but once dipped in the greek dressing, was really good and seasoned just right. It also came with a warm piece of awesome tasting Pita bread. :) This place has some serious turnover at lunch due to the Ford crowd like myself, but is always quick. The waitresses are seasoned veterans and know how to please their customers. Overall, a great place to eat and best yet, they have a bit of everything!!!!
(4)Tom F.
Wiener Wars Part 3A I'm a Wiener, he's a wiener, she's a wiener, eat Senate Coney Island and you can be a wiener too! Michigan coneys at their best! I went to this location becasue it was just after a traing class down the street. I know everybody asks, "Who's is better? American or Lafayette? I rated them both the same four stars. Well here's the tiebreaker. I'm partial to Senates because I went to the original restaurant on Michigan Ave. and Livernois(no longer there) years ago(1976 and beyond). They have the best wieners, grilled with the right amount of dark brown skin all around. The french fries are hand made every day. Stop in and say hi to the potato guy. I call him Spuds. At this location they actually call him Timmy. These are the best of all the coney restaurants. Straight up fries, chili fries, with cheese....you name it, they're the best. I eat my coneys with light onions, smothered in mustard. I put mustard on my fries. Coneys for breakfast, coneys for lunch, coneys for dinner. Oh, and just to eat a little healthy I added a dinner salad with ranch dressing. It was okay. I'm in heaven!!!
(5)Jeff L.
I basically love all Coney Islands. Especially when they are fast, efficient, and clean. This Coney Island is all three. This crew works lightning fast. My average wait time from ordering to receiving food is 5 minutes. Seriously. Things are a better too since they annexed another dining room. Like most Coney Islands, Senate is not meant for people with health conditions, especially not cardiovascular. You can easily stuff your face for under $10. My favorites: coney dog light onions, gyro, lemon rice soup, bowl of chili, french fries, chili fries, or greek salad. For a medium appetite like mine, lemon rice soup + coney dog + share fries is enough food. 2 coneys if I were 22 years old again.
(5)Elisa G.
My family and I go through restaurant cycles. Whenever we're going out for dinner, we go to the same place for several weeks (months.. years..) until we get tired of it and pick someplace new. I do the exact same thing with CDs in my car . . . Anyhow, Senate Coney was one such place when I was in middle and high school. The place is mostly clean and it's typical coney food. The best part is watching the cooks -- my dad and I had a favorite guy that we liked to watch: we both thought he looked like a character actor for the X-files. One of the guys who believes in UFOs or got struck by lightning or has some kind of weird power that Scully doesn't believe in. If you go and you're an X-Files fan, watch for this guy -- you'll immediately spot him. I like their gyros, bacon cheeseburgers and their chili cheese fries. It used to be that the smoking section was badly partioned and the entire restaurant was smokey when one table was smoking, but that's no longer a problem.
(4)Steve D.
I usually go to the Senate for lunch when I'm around Dearborn. Typically I will get two coneys and an order of fries, which will cost around 6 bucks, so it's affordable, and doesn't take forever if you have time constraints for getting a bite to get during work.
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