If you need to get your chic diner craving on, come here.
Minus 1 star for no waffles OR pancakes (I'm sorry, but a diner has to have at least one).
Damn it all to hell, I really want to give this place 5 stars. I really do. Because unlike the other faux diners in the area, this place has good FOOD. But lack of waffles AND pancakes is just a crime.
OK, that aside, this place was a gem. A surprise. It is located approximately next to nothing, near nothing, and just kind of awkwardly but quietly makes its prescence on a street I've never heard of: Woodward Heights.
It's diner food, not to be mistaken with some crappy coney island food. That means NO Greek salads or coney dogs on the menu. Instead there is a Michigan salad, omelets, pasta dishes, tasty sandwiches, and plenty of vegetarian friendly options.
So, I was shocked. Aaron K said diner food, I figured that translated to crap served with a bad attitude. Not the case! I want to commend the owner/manager who trained the wait staff. They are honestly some of the best trained staff I've come across in these parts. If a waiter/waitress sees you have an empty drink, but your server is busy, and they have a moment, they go right ahead and refill it. They weren't too invasive or too distant. Friendly, knowledgeable about their food, and just overall... shocking!
On to the food...
I had the soup of the day which happened to be an artichoke bisque -- and it really just "hit the spot" in all the right ways. I let out a small moan of pleasure. I also had the portabello goat cheese panini -- and for some reason I can never eat a portabello sandwich of any kind easily. Why are those darned tasty mushrooms so slippery? There has to be a better way to keep the mushroom in the bread. But my issues aside, it was a tasty and delicious combination. The ingredients were superbly fresh. It came with a coleslaw that was house made and actually tasty (I'm not a coleslaw kinda girl, unless it's Appalachian style). And also some thin cut French fries which I normally don't care for, but they had the skins on them so they were pretty tasty. I picked at Aaron K's apple goo that came with his omelet. And it tasted just like apple pie filling. Coincidence? I don't think so. They make homemade pies here (unsure if they use lard in the dough... I would guess no if I had to).
You know what I say? Eff the Fly Trap. Eff Toast. Eff all of the other Ferndale wanna-be diners. Their food or service doesn't even come close to Pete's. If you need to get your chic diner craving on, come here.