I'm not sure if they read reviews like this or just fixed things on their own, but we stopped here last week (out of convenience) and a check of the salad bar had really fresh items, all of the pasta dishes looked fresh, and the soups looked great. Hopefully things are changing for the better so I am upgrading to three stars. :)
(3)
Donna R.
Their soup and salad bar is the best! I get it all the time or there breakfast are great too! I like this location because it closest and the staff are friendly. I fully enjoy going to Big Boys. It is a great place!
(4)
Terri S.
Ugh! Our waitress made us feel like we were a bother. Food was dry and bland. Never offered salad or coleslaw. Never again.
(1)
Andria B.
I am sad to have to post this review, because my husband and I have been eating here for years, but for the past few months the service and food have been getting worse, and our last visit was the straw that broke the camels back. When we walked in, two girls were standing across from us talking. They looked right at us, and continued with their conversation. Once they were done, one decided to wander over to us to seat us. After being seated and being ignored for a decent amount of time, a waitress came by to say that John would be our waiter and sorry because he thought she had our table. John came over behind a new girl who apparently he was training. This girl couldn't have been more rude. No eye contact, completely monotone and rude in her expression and speech, and John her trainer found nothing wrong with her behavior. We placed our order, and a few minutes later, the rude new waitress came back over and had to get my husbands order a second time. A few minutes later, John came over and asked for my husband order again. My husband and I questioned what the problem was and were told by John "She's new and doesn't know what to listen for" I guess writing down a food item on paper was too complicated for this young lady. We were treated very rudely by John who felt the need to be arguementative. We decided to leave at that point and my husband stopped again to inform John and the Managers he was standing with why. They again did nothing to try to rectify the situation or to keep the customer. They argued again, and my husband overheard them while we were walking out saying "that wasn't your fault". I am paying you to provide me with a meal and good customer service. I am not paying you to be rude to me and serve me a sub par meal. Don't worry guys, we won't be back!
(1)
Jordan S.
Good food, I enjoyed this since they serve breakfast all day. The salad buffet looks very good as well.
(3)
Sue M.
I am giving this restaurant three stars because the food is not consistent. Every once in awhile I go down memory lane and start to crave a Big Boy burger. Sometimes they come out of the kitchen perfectly, just like I remember them from my youth and other times they come out either soft and mushy tasting or burnt. I always ask for more Big Boy sauce on the side because some of the cooks are very stingy with it and lets face it, it's the sauce that makes the burger! Their onion rings used to be very good but they have changed things up and what they serve now, definitely comes frozen from a bag and I do not recommend them. Breakfast is also just so-so. My scrambled eggs were tough and rubbery and I could not make myself eat them. The waitress noticed this and asked me what was wrong and I told her, but she did not offer to substitute or reduce my bill. This is not an expensive restaurant so I don't expect gourmet food but a little consistency in the kitchen would be greatly appreciated.
(3)
Carol K.
From the moment I pushed open the door and smelled the unmistakable smell of a Big Boy restaurant, I was drawn back 30 years when this used to be the place to go after school dances, or concerts, to gather with friends and laugh about boys, and just to play "grown up" as we sat and ate their famous ice cream hot fudge cake. Oh sure- it's been updated and remodeled throughout the years (there was never the atrium area to sit in when I lived a few blocks away oh so many years ago) but the salad bar is still there, the seats at the counter, and the very friendly servers who quickly bring you your food. My favorite product is not even on the menu anymore; the Swiss Miss. An interesting taste combination of a burger on a rye bun with Swiss cheese, shredded lettuce, and wait for it . . . . . tarter sauce! Sounds odd but it works somehow. And imagine my delight when the server said that they would make it for me even though it was no longer on the menu! Meals come with soup or salad, a side and a sandwich with dinner for two running about $19 (a real deal given the amount of food you get!) As I sat in the Naugahyde booth, the smells and ambiance took me back to another time; a simpler time in my life. And even though I had not been there in years, in an instant I felt as if I had never moved away. Good casual food, friendly service and a pile of memories for this Livonia girl? Yep- Big Boy is okay in my book!
(4)
Kevin S.
Worst breakfast bar I've ever had. Powdered eggs only look like eggs and everything is as salted and buttered as can be. Whatever happened to real food? Not like it was super cheap.
(1)
Meredith P.
Oh my gosh, Big Boy. It brings back such great memories. We used to have one about a minute from our house, and we went at least once a week when I was really young. We also knew everyone who worked there. This is the closest one to our house. While it's not the same, I still love their food. Their brawny lad is my favorite. But their garlic buttered bread is to die for. I think they only use the bread on a few sandwiches, but you can get it with spaghetti meals. The atmosphere is older, more quiet and laidback. And I've always liked their booths. Again, it could be just because of my fond memories there, but I will always be a huge Big Boy fan.
(4)
Brett C.
Not every Big Boy location is the same. If I'm being completely honest, I ate at this Big Boy because my preferred location at Plymouth and Farmington shut down and was converted in to another family-style restaurant. No bueno. It was only because we hadn't been to a Big Boy in a while that we ate here. So, why the already cynical tone? Well, everything was going fine until we walked in. The lights were so bright you would have though there were multiple police interrogations going on. It was crazy bright. Our server was pleasant...OVERLY pleasant. The amount of conversation went beyond casual and in to the unusual as he engaged not only us, but the 4 other tables around us in conversation at the same time. That was different. The menu is always the same. The biggest difference to this visit versus others is that the food was actually hot. I ordered a burger and fries. SOP for a visit to Big Boy. Also had the salad bar. Nothing unusual there. Just...mediocre.
(3)
Joe B.
This is about as traditional American as it gets. I've been coming here since I was a tot. Last visit I noticed that it recently got a facelift out of the 80's and into 2001. It's still an improvement as are some of the additions to the menu. I'll always love their Slim Jim but now they have a Slim Jim Club with turkey which piqued my interest but I just wasn't ready to commit to such a life altering change at this juncture. Service is always friendly and mostly fast and I think I'll be coming here for a long time if not just to reminisce over this high school hangout.
(3)
Tony C.
Not sure what's with all the bad reviews. I've been here many times and it is by far better than any Big Boy I've ever gone to. The place is clean, the service is good and the food is good. The salad bar is always well stocked and likewise for the breakfast bar. One time we were here around 10:45pm. I just wanted the salad bar and although they were getting ready to close it down the waiter kept it open for me. Service has never been an issue for me when I've been here. And the example I mentioned was just an example of the stellar service. Even just for desert this place is great. Great desert menu. Big Boy is a classic American restaurant, many have closed but this one is still going strong.
(5)
Ernie M.
I was really yearning for a Big Boy Burger. My favorite burger. I had not had one in at least a year. I had time for lunch and there I went. I noted that they now have an extra large Big Boy on the menu now, so I ordered it. Twice the deliciousness ---right? No, It was a mistake. It was good, but it loses some of the compact flavor that the classic has. Too much meat and too little sauce If you want more Big Boy, order two classics The service at Elias Brothers is still top notch.
(3)
David A.
All of the food we received was either cold or old. My burger tasted so old like it had been sitting out all day and my fries were far from hot. The only good thing I can say is that our waitress was nice and cute :)
(3)
Amy R.
I hate this Big Boy. Every time I go here I have a horrible experience. One time, I went there with a friend and it was crazy busy. My friend and I are both waitresses, so we told the server not to worry and to get to us when she could. She thanked us profusely and ran off. We didn't see her again for 15 minutes. From experience, I know it doesn't take that long to catch up and at least get a drink order. Then I asked for cheddar broccoli soup, she came out with cream of ham or something. When I asked what happened, she said they didn't serve cheddar broccoli at that location and so she brought out ham instead. First of all it shouldn't say cheddar broccoli on the menu if they don't have it. Second, she should have known they didn't carry it and told me when I ordered. Instead, she randomly brought out a totally different kind of soup, maybe hoping I wouldn't notice? I did. So I went again and ordered a cheeseburger. They brought it to me with no cheese. I asked if they could put some cheese on it, after ten minutes brought me a slice of cheese on a plate. They could have at least taken the whole plate back and put it under a heat lamp so the cheese could melt onto my burger. I went again and saw that cheddar broccoli soup was still on the menu. I asked if they carried it now, the server said they did. She then brought me the ham soup again. I went again and ordered a four cheese pasta, it was super dry and tasted like it spent fifteen minutes waiting under the heat lamp. I have given this place too many chances. I am done and will never return.
(1)
J. B.
We have had issues with food quality in the past. The last couple of times we had a waiter there named Tom. He is the best thing that happened to that Big Boy. If everyone there was like him, they would not have issues. Hoping they can stick around.
(5)
Evie B.
Went here so my hubs could walk down memory lane. Uuuuugghhh high priced, processed, yucky food. I'm sorry to be so negative, but why would you spend your hard $ for mediocre, high processed, when there are good places in the area. Big boy burger- worse than McDonald's Big Mac. Bun cold on bottom, yet had a toasted feeling.. Cheese - not melted and looking like fake colored non cheese product. Patties- bland again crunchy but not hot. Fries, gross limp, cold....salty. Waitress was so nice!!! She gets a 5! The guy who seated us was clueless. It's freaking hot outside, and were coming in to eat and escape the heat, so he leads us to a far back corner in the atrium area, where there's no air, it's muggy and the sun is beating down on the area. Hubs asked him for a cooler seating... He stopped at every muggy table til we found a booth where there was a fan, no sun beating down on the table... Not the cleanest facility either!
(2)
Debbie Z.
Was on my way to Laurel Park Shopping Mall and me and my friend decided to stop here to have breakfast. Waitress was nice. Against my better judgement I got my food from the breakfast bar. Remind me never to do that again! Food mediocre - not hot, not cold, not good, not bad. For the price we could've had dinner. Don't know why but the bill for two people for breakfast was close to $30 what's up Big Boy????
(2)
Bill B.
New remodel just opened late Sept. inside is very nice, food was good (very high for Big Boy standards). Staff was hard working but disorganized. A lot of wasted effort. The man who appeared to be the manager was running around, bussing tables, seating people, running the cash register, etc. We waited a long time for our food. Overall, we will come back (food was good) but not often.
(2)
Cantonite P.
Stopped in here for breakfast with the wifey before Laurel Park Place mall opened up, thinking that a quiet breakfast would be cheap, good and quick. Little did I know we should have gone to Kerby's or Spangas Coney in the same general area for all those things. First we waited around 2 minutes for someone to come seat us... (time it yourself, it's a long time in a barely half-filled restaurant). Our server was pretty blah. Everything was pretty blah- we were the youngest customers in the entire place (every other table was a senior reading a paper and drinking a coffee). Then I noticed that they no longer had the blockbuster breakfast for 3.99 any longer... yes I understand food prices are going up... but if Coney's can still offer specials at 3.99, a big chain should be able to. The food was decent and for some odd reason, the lady cook came out to ask if we liked everything. Maybe she's new or something, I don't know... the eggs were standard, sausage links pretty bland... best part of the meal had to be the biscuit. And that's kind of generous. Breakfast for about 14 dollars including tip should have been a lot better or a lot more substantive. Will most likely not come here again unless i need a mediocre experience again.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : 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
Bob R.
I'm not sure if they read reviews like this or just fixed things on their own, but we stopped here last week (out of convenience) and a check of the salad bar had really fresh items, all of the pasta dishes looked fresh, and the soups looked great. Hopefully things are changing for the better so I am upgrading to three stars. :)
(3)Donna R.
Their soup and salad bar is the best! I get it all the time or there breakfast are great too! I like this location because it closest and the staff are friendly. I fully enjoy going to Big Boys. It is a great place!
(4)Terri S.
Ugh! Our waitress made us feel like we were a bother. Food was dry and bland. Never offered salad or coleslaw. Never again.
(1)Andria B.
I am sad to have to post this review, because my husband and I have been eating here for years, but for the past few months the service and food have been getting worse, and our last visit was the straw that broke the camels back. When we walked in, two girls were standing across from us talking. They looked right at us, and continued with their conversation. Once they were done, one decided to wander over to us to seat us. After being seated and being ignored for a decent amount of time, a waitress came by to say that John would be our waiter and sorry because he thought she had our table. John came over behind a new girl who apparently he was training. This girl couldn't have been more rude. No eye contact, completely monotone and rude in her expression and speech, and John her trainer found nothing wrong with her behavior. We placed our order, and a few minutes later, the rude new waitress came back over and had to get my husbands order a second time. A few minutes later, John came over and asked for my husband order again. My husband and I questioned what the problem was and were told by John "She's new and doesn't know what to listen for" I guess writing down a food item on paper was too complicated for this young lady. We were treated very rudely by John who felt the need to be arguementative. We decided to leave at that point and my husband stopped again to inform John and the Managers he was standing with why. They again did nothing to try to rectify the situation or to keep the customer. They argued again, and my husband overheard them while we were walking out saying "that wasn't your fault". I am paying you to provide me with a meal and good customer service. I am not paying you to be rude to me and serve me a sub par meal. Don't worry guys, we won't be back!
(1)Jordan S.
Good food, I enjoyed this since they serve breakfast all day. The salad buffet looks very good as well.
(3)Sue M.
I am giving this restaurant three stars because the food is not consistent. Every once in awhile I go down memory lane and start to crave a Big Boy burger. Sometimes they come out of the kitchen perfectly, just like I remember them from my youth and other times they come out either soft and mushy tasting or burnt. I always ask for more Big Boy sauce on the side because some of the cooks are very stingy with it and lets face it, it's the sauce that makes the burger! Their onion rings used to be very good but they have changed things up and what they serve now, definitely comes frozen from a bag and I do not recommend them. Breakfast is also just so-so. My scrambled eggs were tough and rubbery and I could not make myself eat them. The waitress noticed this and asked me what was wrong and I told her, but she did not offer to substitute or reduce my bill. This is not an expensive restaurant so I don't expect gourmet food but a little consistency in the kitchen would be greatly appreciated.
(3)Carol K.
From the moment I pushed open the door and smelled the unmistakable smell of a Big Boy restaurant, I was drawn back 30 years when this used to be the place to go after school dances, or concerts, to gather with friends and laugh about boys, and just to play "grown up" as we sat and ate their famous ice cream hot fudge cake. Oh sure- it's been updated and remodeled throughout the years (there was never the atrium area to sit in when I lived a few blocks away oh so many years ago) but the salad bar is still there, the seats at the counter, and the very friendly servers who quickly bring you your food. My favorite product is not even on the menu anymore; the Swiss Miss. An interesting taste combination of a burger on a rye bun with Swiss cheese, shredded lettuce, and wait for it . . . . . tarter sauce! Sounds odd but it works somehow. And imagine my delight when the server said that they would make it for me even though it was no longer on the menu! Meals come with soup or salad, a side and a sandwich with dinner for two running about $19 (a real deal given the amount of food you get!) As I sat in the Naugahyde booth, the smells and ambiance took me back to another time; a simpler time in my life. And even though I had not been there in years, in an instant I felt as if I had never moved away. Good casual food, friendly service and a pile of memories for this Livonia girl? Yep- Big Boy is okay in my book!
(4)Kevin S.
Worst breakfast bar I've ever had. Powdered eggs only look like eggs and everything is as salted and buttered as can be. Whatever happened to real food? Not like it was super cheap.
(1)Meredith P.
Oh my gosh, Big Boy. It brings back such great memories. We used to have one about a minute from our house, and we went at least once a week when I was really young. We also knew everyone who worked there. This is the closest one to our house. While it's not the same, I still love their food. Their brawny lad is my favorite. But their garlic buttered bread is to die for. I think they only use the bread on a few sandwiches, but you can get it with spaghetti meals. The atmosphere is older, more quiet and laidback. And I've always liked their booths. Again, it could be just because of my fond memories there, but I will always be a huge Big Boy fan.
(4)Brett C.
Not every Big Boy location is the same. If I'm being completely honest, I ate at this Big Boy because my preferred location at Plymouth and Farmington shut down and was converted in to another family-style restaurant. No bueno. It was only because we hadn't been to a Big Boy in a while that we ate here. So, why the already cynical tone? Well, everything was going fine until we walked in. The lights were so bright you would have though there were multiple police interrogations going on. It was crazy bright. Our server was pleasant...OVERLY pleasant. The amount of conversation went beyond casual and in to the unusual as he engaged not only us, but the 4 other tables around us in conversation at the same time. That was different. The menu is always the same. The biggest difference to this visit versus others is that the food was actually hot. I ordered a burger and fries. SOP for a visit to Big Boy. Also had the salad bar. Nothing unusual there. Just...mediocre.
(3)Joe B.
This is about as traditional American as it gets. I've been coming here since I was a tot. Last visit I noticed that it recently got a facelift out of the 80's and into 2001. It's still an improvement as are some of the additions to the menu. I'll always love their Slim Jim but now they have a Slim Jim Club with turkey which piqued my interest but I just wasn't ready to commit to such a life altering change at this juncture. Service is always friendly and mostly fast and I think I'll be coming here for a long time if not just to reminisce over this high school hangout.
(3)Tony C.
Not sure what's with all the bad reviews. I've been here many times and it is by far better than any Big Boy I've ever gone to. The place is clean, the service is good and the food is good. The salad bar is always well stocked and likewise for the breakfast bar. One time we were here around 10:45pm. I just wanted the salad bar and although they were getting ready to close it down the waiter kept it open for me. Service has never been an issue for me when I've been here. And the example I mentioned was just an example of the stellar service. Even just for desert this place is great. Great desert menu. Big Boy is a classic American restaurant, many have closed but this one is still going strong.
(5)Ernie M.
I was really yearning for a Big Boy Burger. My favorite burger. I had not had one in at least a year. I had time for lunch and there I went. I noted that they now have an extra large Big Boy on the menu now, so I ordered it. Twice the deliciousness ---right? No, It was a mistake. It was good, but it loses some of the compact flavor that the classic has. Too much meat and too little sauce If you want more Big Boy, order two classics The service at Elias Brothers is still top notch.
(3)David A.
All of the food we received was either cold or old. My burger tasted so old like it had been sitting out all day and my fries were far from hot. The only good thing I can say is that our waitress was nice and cute :)
(3)Amy R.
I hate this Big Boy. Every time I go here I have a horrible experience. One time, I went there with a friend and it was crazy busy. My friend and I are both waitresses, so we told the server not to worry and to get to us when she could. She thanked us profusely and ran off. We didn't see her again for 15 minutes. From experience, I know it doesn't take that long to catch up and at least get a drink order. Then I asked for cheddar broccoli soup, she came out with cream of ham or something. When I asked what happened, she said they didn't serve cheddar broccoli at that location and so she brought out ham instead. First of all it shouldn't say cheddar broccoli on the menu if they don't have it. Second, she should have known they didn't carry it and told me when I ordered. Instead, she randomly brought out a totally different kind of soup, maybe hoping I wouldn't notice? I did. So I went again and ordered a cheeseburger. They brought it to me with no cheese. I asked if they could put some cheese on it, after ten minutes brought me a slice of cheese on a plate. They could have at least taken the whole plate back and put it under a heat lamp so the cheese could melt onto my burger. I went again and saw that cheddar broccoli soup was still on the menu. I asked if they carried it now, the server said they did. She then brought me the ham soup again. I went again and ordered a four cheese pasta, it was super dry and tasted like it spent fifteen minutes waiting under the heat lamp. I have given this place too many chances. I am done and will never return.
(1)J. B.
We have had issues with food quality in the past. The last couple of times we had a waiter there named Tom. He is the best thing that happened to that Big Boy. If everyone there was like him, they would not have issues. Hoping they can stick around.
(5)Evie B.
Went here so my hubs could walk down memory lane. Uuuuugghhh high priced, processed, yucky food. I'm sorry to be so negative, but why would you spend your hard $ for mediocre, high processed, when there are good places in the area. Big boy burger- worse than McDonald's Big Mac. Bun cold on bottom, yet had a toasted feeling.. Cheese - not melted and looking like fake colored non cheese product. Patties- bland again crunchy but not hot. Fries, gross limp, cold....salty. Waitress was so nice!!! She gets a 5! The guy who seated us was clueless. It's freaking hot outside, and were coming in to eat and escape the heat, so he leads us to a far back corner in the atrium area, where there's no air, it's muggy and the sun is beating down on the area. Hubs asked him for a cooler seating... He stopped at every muggy table til we found a booth where there was a fan, no sun beating down on the table... Not the cleanest facility either!
(2)Debbie Z.
Was on my way to Laurel Park Shopping Mall and me and my friend decided to stop here to have breakfast. Waitress was nice. Against my better judgement I got my food from the breakfast bar. Remind me never to do that again! Food mediocre - not hot, not cold, not good, not bad. For the price we could've had dinner. Don't know why but the bill for two people for breakfast was close to $30 what's up Big Boy????
(2)Bill B.
New remodel just opened late Sept. inside is very nice, food was good (very high for Big Boy standards). Staff was hard working but disorganized. A lot of wasted effort. The man who appeared to be the manager was running around, bussing tables, seating people, running the cash register, etc. We waited a long time for our food. Overall, we will come back (food was good) but not often.
(2)Cantonite P.
Stopped in here for breakfast with the wifey before Laurel Park Place mall opened up, thinking that a quiet breakfast would be cheap, good and quick. Little did I know we should have gone to Kerby's or Spangas Coney in the same general area for all those things. First we waited around 2 minutes for someone to come seat us... (time it yourself, it's a long time in a barely half-filled restaurant). Our server was pretty blah. Everything was pretty blah- we were the youngest customers in the entire place (every other table was a senior reading a paper and drinking a coffee). Then I noticed that they no longer had the blockbuster breakfast for 3.99 any longer... yes I understand food prices are going up... but if Coney's can still offer specials at 3.99, a big chain should be able to. The food was decent and for some odd reason, the lady cook came out to ask if we liked everything. Maybe she's new or something, I don't know... the eggs were standard, sausage links pretty bland... best part of the meal had to be the biscuit. And that's kind of generous. Breakfast for about 14 dollars including tip should have been a lot better or a lot more substantive. Will most likely not come here again unless i need a mediocre experience again.
(2)