MANCHESTER, MI — With a menu highlighted by homemade jams, breakfast burritos and chicken and waffles, the Manchester Diner is anything but a typical diner.
The diner serves an elevated version of normal diner fare, focusing on farm-to-table meats and freshly prepared homestyle cooking.
“So the whole concept was trying to bring homestyle cooking, like comfort food cooking, a little more elevated, without being pretentious,” said owner Leslie Streit, who took over the business in November 2021.
While much of the menu was established by the previous owner, Streit said she has tried to take it to the next step, making much of the updated menu from scratch. Items made in-house include corned beef, a variety of jams, weekly soups and the sausage gravy served with the country fried steak.
In addition to house-made sausage gravy, the country fried steak is served with two eggs any way, redskin potato house fries, toast and homemade jam. Other fan favorites include the breakfast burrito, served with house-made chorizo, black beans and house-made salsa, and a farro salad with caramelized shallots, red bell pepper and apples, served on arugula with a honey mustard vinaigrette.
The farro salad, which is served as a special, also includes salmon. Another popular special has been the chicken and waffles dish, which features white cheddar cheese and green onion in the batter, locally sourced chicken tenders marinated in hot sauce and a chipotle maple drizzle.
“So it’s kind of a sweet, hot kind of thing,” she said.
Streit’s weekly specials, which she uses to “kind of tell who I am,” have been a hit with the community, she said.
“I have an older gentleman that he tries my special no matter what it is,” Streit said. “He doesn’t even ask what it is; he wants to try it”
Manchester Diner, 112 Adrian St. in Manchester, is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Find the diner on social media or by phone at 734-428-0721.
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