Waffle House of America, Lawrence, MI

Of the franchises missing from the Chicago landscape, I always feel Waffle House deprived. Like Stuckey’s of old with the turquoise colored roofs with red lettering always meant pecan treats. The brown and yellow structures with the towering signage ‘WAFFLE HOUSE,’ promises pecan pancakes, hashed browns and time warp early 60’s styling. I visit a lot of estate sales, there are homes that were tastefully decorated in 19XX, everyone said it was fabulous and no changes were ever made since. This soundly represents Waffle House décor. They spent the money once; they considered it a wise investment and one not to be revisited. They are true to their stodgy yellow and brown, their quaint server uniforms and their large plastic encased menus.

The closest Waffle House I know of is just outside of St. Louis in Collinsville. Last weekend as I was driving up to Ann Arbor, I thought I observed an even closer Waffle House at exit 52 on I-94 in Lawrence, Michigan. I’d eaten breakfast shortly before, so there was no need to stop, but I did grab some paper to jot its location for the future. I’m so glad we had an opportunity to visit on the way home, as I would have steered you wrong. This place is not THE Waffle House, instead it refers itself as Waffle House of America.

Arriving to Waffle House of America, I was immediately struck how the brown and yellow décor had been dropped. I thought maybe they finally decided to reinvent themselves into something a bit homier. The menu was not the large double-sided page but a folded book-style conventional menu. I went searching for pecan pancakes, only to find banana pecan pancakes. I went searching for the hashed browns served countless ways, only to find they were served one-way. I knew I wasn’t in Waffle House as I had hoped; yet I was in for a surprise.

When I went to wash my hands, I learned I had the distinct privilege of visiting the Nation’s 5th Best Public Restroom. From the moment I passed through the beveled glass door, I knew I was in for something special when my nose was overwhelmed by rose scented deodorizer too heavily applied. Soothing piano music was playing, which was distinct to this cozy room as opposed to the rest of the restaurant. An oasis with a comfortable chair with pillows waiting for you. Of course, one does come to do their business here, where you enter crackle painted institutional stalls with hand painted roses on the seat and mini waste basket.



Wash your hands on a hand painted vanity to look like a garden wall.



Only then I noticed this special bathroom has this special ranking. I talked to the owner who advised children request to have birthday parties in this restroom; which it is simply not large enough to accommodate. Though I can imagine they still spend too much time in this restroom.

They are now turning their attention to the men’s room. A friend did open the door to see if anything special was obvious but saw nothing extraordinary.

How was the food? Not nearly as high ranking as the Ladie’s restroom, which by itself is worthy of a visit. For just off the interstate with few independent choices, Waffle House of America is a competent choice. I had a steak cooked rare with eggs sunny side up, hashed browns with onions, a biscuit and a side of sausage gravy. Everything was prepared to my specification, though the sausage gravy needed a pepper bite, which I supplied. Is it in my top 5 choices for breakfast? No, though this is a better than average choice off the interstate.

I’m so glad we did visit, if only to see that restroom, though it saved me from egg on face by falsely proclaiming there was a Waffle House in our region.

Waffle House of America
60631 County Road 365 North
Lawrence, MI 49064
269-674-8500

That particular Waffle House of America is a regular stop for me and the Chow Poodle on our frequent trips to Michigan to visit the MIL. Julie always makes it a point to visit the ladies room. The gentlemen's facilities are not nearly as grand. (Isn't that nearly always the case?)

With the weather being as nice and sunny as it was yesterday, the Chow Poodle and I decided to make a quick impromptu trip to Michigan for a quick post-Christmas visit. As I indicated upthread, a trip to Waffle House of America at exit 52 is a traditional stop for us.

Waffle House of America


Warning: Do not be seduced by the pretty signage for the Faux Waffle House of America at exit 41. You will be disappointed if you fall for that trick. The place I'm talking about is at exit 52. Accept no substitutes.



The Waffle House of America is a great little stop along the road. The food is nothing earth shattering, but they do a great job with both breakfast items and fried chicken. When it comes to the holidays, they go all out with the decorations.



They even have a train that runs along the top of the wall that keeps the kids interested and active while they follow it around the restaurant. This can be a bit annoying for those of us not used to dealing with kids, but I find myself getting into the spirit and not minding all that much.

All Aboard for Breakfast


Coffee is served in an eclectic mix of non-matching coffee cups.

Coffee Anyone?


As I said, the food is pretty straight forward. The Chow Poodle ordered French Toast and I ordered the Waffle House Special, which is two eggs, sausage or bacon and two mini-waffles.

French Toast


Waffle House Special


As Cathy 2 mentioned, probably the biggest draw here is the Women's rest room. Although the Men's room features little more than a tin can and a roll of scratchy toilet paper, the Ladies facility is an oasis of lavatory splendor. It even has it's own Christmas tree.

Woman's Christmas Tree

Photo courtesy of The Chow Poodle

The Women's room is the recipient of a GNB Award, being recognized as the 5th best rest room in America.

The Waffle House GNB Award


Waffle House of America
I-95 at Exit 52
60631 C.R. 365 & I-94
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8500

One thing I'm certain this place also would be missing is the standard jukebox with an entire left column full of Waffle House based songs. These songs can be found highlighted in yellow on the jukeboxes located in almost every Waffle House. I'm particularly fond of "Special lady waiting for you at the Waffle House." It's the standard accompaniment to the many "scattered, smothered, covered and chunked" 2AM outings of my youth, much to the chagrin of the folks working there.


Growing up in Florida, I'm quite fond of Waffle House. I'm not sure why they stop in Ohio, but were one to open up in the heart of Wicker Park or Wrigleyville, it'd make a killing. If the mediocrity of Hollywood Grill can draw folks in, a Waffle House would have lines out the door. If it weren't for the franchise clause stating that any owner has to be an active manager, I'd consider investing in one.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:One thing I'm certain this place also would be missing is the standard jukebox with an entire left column full of Waffle House based songs. These songs can be found highlighted in yellow on the jukeboxes located in almost every Waffle House. I'm particularly fond of "Special lady waiting for you at the Waffle House." It's the standard accompaniment to the many "scattered, smothered, covered and chunked" 2AM outings of my youth, much to the chagrin of the folks working there.


Growing up in Florida, I'm quite fond of Waffle House. I'm not sure why they stop in Ohio, but were one to open up in the heart of Wicker Park or Wrigleyville, it'd make a killing. If the mediocrity of Hollywood Grill can draw folks in, a Waffle House would have lines out the door. If it weren't for the franchise clause stating that any owner has to be an active manager, I'd consider investing in one.

Please note, this is not a branch of the southern diner chain "Waffle House". This is a completely different restaurant called Waffle House of America and is not part of any chain.

No, I absolutely realize that. Thus the note that they'd be missing the jukebox since every "real" Waffle House I've been in has one.

Ralph Wiggum wrote: but were one to open up in the heart of Wicker Park or Wrigleyville, it'd make a killing. If the mediocrity of Hollywood Grill can draw folks in, a Waffle House would have lines out the door. If it weren't for the franchise clause stating that any owner has to be an active manager, I'd consider investing in one.

True dat. There have been many a drunken night here in Chicago that I have longed for a chili omelet and sweet tea along with hash browns chunked, covered, scalltered and smothered.

Waffle House has locations in the Indianapolis area:

1 Waffle House
2621 SOUTH LYNHURST
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46241


2 Waffle House
7290 PENDLETON PIKE
LAWRENCE, IN 46226-5166


3 Waffle House
4937 KNIGHTS WAY
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46217


4 Waffle House
7810 S STATE RD 13
PENDLETON, IN 46064-9740

www.wafflehouse.com

C2, that's not *brown* and yellow, it's *black* and yellow, specifically to match the colors of



where the originators of the diner-chain came from!

Geo

Geo wrote:C2, that's not *brown* and yellow, it's *black* and yellow, specifically to match the colors of where the originators of the diner-chain came from!

Considering that the Waffle House in Athens, GA pretty much kept me and everyone I knew alive for a few years, I guess Waffle House could be a bridge to peace in our times. All can unite around the jukebox and cheese eggs with grits.

Although I guess you could say this of the Varsity too....

But grits, it can be a Bridge to Peace only if you were UGA, *knew* where the black-and-yellow came from, and STILL ate there! Now that would be peace-bridging!

Come to think of it, how'd the City Fathers in Athens ever approve the Waffle House app in the first place? : )

Geo

Geo wrote:But grits, it can be a Bridge to Peace only if you were UGA, *knew* where the black-and-yellow came from, and STILL ate there! Now that would be peace-bridging!

I have to admit that I never knew the founders were Techies. However, their unfortunate personal inclinations will not stop me eating at the Waffle House when I am in a 15-mile radius of one. I suppose we all have our skeletons in the closet.

During a recent trip to Michigan, we made our usual stop at Waffle House of America on a Sunday morning only to find it closed up tighter than a drum. There was a small handwritten sign on the door that said "Opening Soon". Everything inside was completely intact, looking like they had gone home one day and just never returned. That's not a good sign, but it's still to soon to declare WHoA dead. If anyone passes by Exit 52 in the near future, please check it out and report back. I'd hate to lose this place, a paragon of Waffle making and bathroom kitsch (at least on the Woman's side). Hopefully it's just a temporary situation that caused them to close down.

They won't get any of my business until my gender gets equal treatment:

deer head mounted on wall.

big model ship on a shelf.

putting green to pass time if stall occupied.

Old Spice air freshener.