West Bay Diner & Delicatessen
E21825 Veteran St, Grand Marais, MI, 49839
West Bay Diner & Delicatessen Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant diabetes menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
E21825 Veteran St
Grand Marais, MI, 49839 - Phone (906) 494-2607
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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 : Breakfast, Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Tim G.
This was probably our most enjoyable meal on a 9-day car trip through Michigan. Mom, Dad, and 2 grade school girls ate brunch for $28. We were stuffed, comfortable, & charmed by the setting. I've never seen such a neat building. The front portion is an old east-coast diner that reminds me of a rail car, an airplane, or maybe an Airstream RV. The rear of the building is nifty, too. The food came out a little slowly, but faster than the 45-minute estimate provided by our server. I had a huge waffle with a medium size omelet. Mom had a delicious blueberry muffin and a quiche. The muffin was something special. The diner is just minutes from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. If you're in the U.P., don't miss the diner or the park.
(5)Susan L.
We had a mid-afternoon meal there on a Sunday in 10/07. The diner had been recommended to us by someone in Detroit and we'd been surprised to hear there was an authentic diner way up there by Lake Superior, but the West Bay has a great history. It's a real "classic", as it's a Paramount and it was built in 1949. After being in use in a small PA town for many years, it sat vacant in fields - in PA & NJ - for many years. Later it sat vacant in a field in a small town in NY and it deteriorated until it was about to be demolished. At that point it was bought by someone in MI and it sat in another field for awhile. Finally, a couple in Grand Marais bought it (by then it was mostly rotted out and a home to skunks & raccoons). The diner was trucked to the UP (Upper Peninsula) via the Mackinac (pronounced "Mackinaw") Bridge, back in late 1997. The new owners spent seven months restoring it, including making many out-of-town trips for parts and materials. They added a larger section onto the diner, but the transition between the original and the new is seamless. The new section has several tables plus the kitchen and the deli section (people call ahead to make sure their favorite items are available). They also sell some colorful t-shirts & sweatshirts (we each bought one of the latter) which exhibit the owners' humor. On the front there's a small logo with "West Bay Diner & Delicatessen est. 1949, Grand Marais MI, World Headquarters" - and on the back in small letters, it says "Hours: Open to Close". They were pricey, but the quality of the material is exceptionally good. We'd been told that their pizza and (freshly homemade) cookies are delicious, and it was absolutely true. We ordered a veggie pizza with stuffed crust (pure "heaven"), and the cookies were also wonderful. The (one) server was delightful and we had a great conversation with her. She'd worked there for six years, starting out washing dishes during summers when she would stay with her grandparents. She moved up to Grand Marais from Flint after HS graduation and became the permanent server. All of the other patrons were "regulars" and she greeted everyone by name, also joking with them. Later I had an enjoyable/sometimes humorous conversation with the owners. The hours vary according to the season, but they're always closed on Wednesdays.
(5)Laura S.
A diner with a great personality, the building as well as the staff. It is the one place in Grand Marais with wifi and good espresso drinks. The servers are friendly and happy to chat and engage with the customers. The food selection can be limited, for example they didn't have hot dogs all week, ran out of vanilla ice cream, and no bananas. But the baked desserts are fantastic and all homemade. The main courses are good. In addition to a full deli, they also sell meat and sausage to cook yourself. The homemade Italian and Polish sausages were excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the diner and getting to know the staff.
(5)Sonya P.
This place looked so cool from the outside that I had to check it out. Honestly from the looks of it I wasn't looking to be blown away, but Yelp hasn't steered me wrong so far so I thought I'd give it a try. I had a Grilled Pastrami and Cheese sandwich with a side of coleslaw and it was quite good! This place has that classic, small-town feeling and I really loved that there were several locals eating in there. I could tell they were local and came in often because they knew the staff's names and the staff knew them by name. One table was these two old guys who were just adorable!
(4)Russ P.
what a disappointment this time. I guess the other reviews are right, I waited 2 hours to be told my omelette was almost ready. my wife and son ate already because THEY got served an hour earlier. just before we left, my daughter got a pizza she didn't even order, but not the grilled cheese she ordered. BONUS???!!! bottom line.. the cook is flakier than pie crust, and the staff plays along. none of us care to go back to this disaster in waiting. BTW, if I had hours to cook a couple sandwiches and an omelette, I think I could manage. the view is good.
(1)Kristina B.
I haven't been back to town since my 2001 graduation but brought my children up to town since we were already in St Ignace. There was no way I was coming to Grand Marais with out stopping! Food was as amazing as always, menu was clear and to the point and there were tons of dessert options (I took an amazing cookie to go). Nearly 15 years later....and this diner is as good, if not even better, than ever!!
(5)North Girl M.
Darling diner and most everything was hot, fresh and tasty. The triple decker sandwiches are humongous so consider sharing. Timing isn't their strong suit as our three entrees were delivered roughly 20 min apart and the coffee was at least 15 min after I ordered it. But the waitress was sweet, the location ideal and the decor kitchy. Bottom line? Fabulous for a leisurely meal but trying if you are in a hurry or expecting to dine as a group.
(4)Lynn M.
The food has always been wonderful here! And this time, the malt that my significant other and I shared (blueberry wafflecone) was simply amazing. Best malt I've ever had!! I definitely enjoyed nearly everything in my meal, though I will say that the coleslaw was far too watery. Staff was attentative and friendly, atmosphere is great.
(4)Suzanne H.
This is a MUST on any visit to Grand Marais. We had a turkey rueben & a gyro. The rueben was the best turkey sandwich I have had anywhere...ever. The gyro was made with real chunks of grilled lamb (not the pressed/shaved meat normally served). I got the impression there was only one (maybe two) people working the kitchen, but any wait was WELL worth it! Fresh & skillfully prepared.
(5)Kelsey C.
West Bay Diner has all the charm and quirks that you expect from a small-town locals joint. And towns don't get much smaller than Grand Marais! Went here on a Monday morning in late July after two of our party did a huge 45-mile ultra-marathon the day before. We were looking for hefty, hearty breakfasts, and boy, did we find it! Great portions and prices, cooked-to-order, delicious food, and you couldn't ask for friendlier service. (NOTE: There's a $15 minimum for credit/debit cards.) This is a mom-and-pop place so this is a great place to come when you want a leisurely breakfast, not if you're in a hurry, like others have said. The owner was one of the two servers, and her husband seems to be the only cook, so they are working hard but it does take some time. At 9am there was a line but we just waited a few minutes to be seated in the aqua booths up in the renovated diner car in the front of the restaurant. After, however, we waited close to 10 minutes and eventually had to just ask for coffee, which came right away after that. They also brought us a little dish of unshelled peanuts - never seen it before at breakfast but our toddler loved it. The water came in a big pitcher without ice, and a stack of paper cups. The restaurant is homey and a little cluttery, with lots of odds-and-ends for sale, bookshelves scattered about, and an awkward layout that has the servers walking all the way around the restaurant just to take orders and get them to the kitchen. Even so, we loved the personality of the place, but the obviously dirty spoon I got with my coffee creamer was an oversight that had me wishing for a little more attention to detail. There seems to be a lack of space in the restaurant so there are boxes of onions and potatoes stacked on the floor in the waiting area by the back door - seemed a little unsanitary, BUT the food is so good you can overlook it. The food is the highlight. All their breakfasts specify that they are meals, and the portions really are very huge and filling. We were told they were out of pancakes and French toast when we were there, and I also asked about the steak and eggs (subject to availability) but didn't get a reply about whether it was available or not. I went for the Chicago Breakfast, which included a double-stack of delicious homemade hash browns, a perfectly cooked (not dry at all!) simple jalapeno-cheese omelet absolutely stuffed with gooey cheese and just-right amount of spiciness, two giant meatball-shaped spicy sausage balls (seemed homemade), and a toasted English muffin (choice of toast) with homemade berry jam served in a little paper cup. Fantastic. Another person ordered the corned beef hash, which he said was the best he'd ever had. Our friend had the biscuit and gravy, which was a huge portion and very good, but he wished they served a smaller portion as a side order. Another ordered the 2+2+2, which was 2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon (or sausage or ham) and "2" toasts, which really was just one English muffin sliced in half, but that ended up being plenty of food so we aren't complaining. There is a big row of barstools in front, plus the two booths at either end that could seat about 4-6, but only about 5 small tables in the back room (which is pretty dark and dreary). Supposedly free wifi but wasn't able to connect on my phone. Expect to wait if you're a large party, and the waiting area is pretty tight and cramped in the back entrance too - though there is a nice selection of books for sale you can check out while waiting. The owner is a published author and has an obvious love for books! They also have ice cream in a case in the front. If you're in Grand Marais, this will be the best breakfast in town and a great memory. Would happily return.
(4)Christina B.
When we arrived there was a pile of deli meat sitting out the counter at room temperature. It was still there when we left thirty minutes later. Food was substandard. Service was good and the waitress was very nice. Was definitely turned off by the food sitting out.
(1)Rich C.
Good food, and a very interesting and fun building. Excellent service and a warm place to hide from a rainy night.
(5)John G.
Very cool story about how the diner arrived there and all of the work they put into it. They are the only show in town and do a decent job of it. I little pricey for what to get compared to the big city but they have to rely on a short tourist season. Would definately go back :)
(4)Mike M.
Service is extremely slow. The chef quits whenever he feels like it and decides what and when he will cook items on the menu. It took an hour and a half to get a burger after being told two previous orders could not be filled. We went back three times at different times of the day to see if it was just due to timing. It was the same each time. The chef reminds me of the "Soup Nazis" on the Sienfeld show. The only thing you can hope to get in a timely manner is pie and ice cream if you are a tourist, and even then it is soooo slow. The dining car ambiance is really neat, but the owner needs to get a new chef to realize the full potential of this restaurant.
(2)R S.
I spent a week in Grand Marais one summer and the West Bay was by far the best place in town to dine. Different meats (the first place I ever had a buffalo burger) and grilled cheese and salad bar that were fabulous. The owner can be a little cranky, but he is the owner and there you have it. His wife was often our waitress and I marveled at how hard she worked. Then shortly after our summer there a friend gave me a section of the New York Times where the owner/waitress/baker/author had written about how she met her husband (the cook/chef). It is actually kind of a swell story. So I think that was '10 and then flash forward to 2012. The magic has kind of worn off. Where in '10 they had served fabulous iced tea in mason jars, in '12 the drinks came in paper cups. I can take low rent, but it felt sort of like being at a kiddie birthday party where they won't trust you with the real glasses. I also noticed in '12 that after some unknown time of day the menu is suddenly very limited. Kind of like they should really close at 4PM, but stay open to serve ice cream and not much else. The hours are open to close (not kidding, that is essentially the sign) so you might have some great food, but don't expect a friendly warm reception. I believe that is reserved for the locals. Depending on the mood of the day. Sometimes we could hear the chef/cook getting a little argumentative over things with the rest of the staff. It is kind of like the home where you never know what kind of mood your Dad will be in when he gets there, and when it is bad the atmosphere can feel really uncomfortable.
(3)Jim P.
Our 4 some was denied service today. 8/22/2012. We had 3 dogs in the car . Waited 20 minutes to even get approached by staff. Then asked for 4 orders of fish and Chips to be packaged so we could eat outside. The staff member said The chef does not allow any to go other than pizza and bakery. Even though they were serving kids on paper plates. This place is beyond arrogant UP at its worst. Could not rate the food as we were denied service. I understand the high marks but when service is denied the restaurant needs to re evaluate their beliefs and practices.
(1)Bre N.
You can't go in the same river twice. Last year, I gave this a 5 star review. This year, it did not open till 11 and the breakfast menu is gone. Sandwich menu is okay, pricey and service is very slow. Locals get friendly service, others are just served. Still love the diner ambiance but whoever heard of a diner without breakfast.
(2)Warren V.
We have been eating here since it was a small sandwich shop in downtown, the food is the best you will find anywhere, the service is odd at times and the chef is as demanding of the customers as he his of the quality of his food
(5)Susie A.
This may very well be the only spot in town that has yelp but we decided to try it out based on previous reviews. It did not fail us. Amazing. I has the fish and chips. I was first set back a little that the fish was in small pieces but it was deeeelish. It was very lightly breaded and the White fish tasted so fresh and tasty. My Man had one of the "hearty homemade" pizzas and it hit the spot too. It's made in their bakery so the timing with the fish was not completely in sync but we snacked on mine as an app before he shared some of his tasty pie. It tasted very homemade. Thick bready crust with hot thick sauce and ginormous slices of pepperoni. We could have shared the pizza alone - there was plenty. We loved the bottled RC & gingerale sodas we had too. And we didn't stop there. We took two cookies with us to go for the ride home laters. One monster and one lemon oatmeal. The monster was tasty - a combination of all cookies - oatmeal, choc chip, and m & m's but the lemon oatmeal I would go back for alone. If we are ever in Grand Marais again we will be back.
(5)penn p.
Great food. Also sells organic items. The only reason for 4 stars versus 5 stars..the chef is a little temperamental and may just serve a buffet rather than menu items. On a character note his wife is sometimes the waitress and a published author! Get her autograph and photo with the food.
(4)Joan S.
The only reason this place didn't get 5 stars is the wait. But wonderful food--simple but fresh, good sized portions and reasonably priced. We got in for dinner at around 7, were told it would be a while. You get peanuts while you wait. Two of us shared a pizza--phenomenal crust, tasty toppings--one got a burger which was moist and perfectly cooked on a fresh ciabatta--and one had fresh whitefish on a fresh roll. Then pie for dessert--not perfect but I'm a pie snob, fillings were flavorful, crusts meh. Service attentive. The setting--a renovated old diner attached to a house--made it even better.
(4)