Rosie’s Diner

• 4500 14 Mile Road NW
• Rockford, MI 49341
• (616) 866-3663
• Website
• Menu

Yeah.  I’m one of those dorks.  You know, those dorks that want to travel the country following in Guy Fieri’s footsteps.  That’s me.  J and I have done pretty well getting to the ones close to where we live or where we’re going.  There have only been two three others in Michigan (Krazy Jim’s Blimpie Burger, Joe’s Gizzard City & The Fly Trap).   We’ve been to both all three of those as well as a number in the Chicagoland area and two in Indiana.  Most have been outstanding.  One has been a huge disappointment (White Palace Grill, Chicago).

I had to head up to Big Rapids for a hockey game and J decided to tag along.  Since we were both going, I suggested we get up early and hit the third, and to this point, final Triple D stop in Michigan. 

Rosie’s Diner is just off US-131 in Rockford.  It’s on 14 Mile Road about half way between Northland Drive and Summit Avenue.  Now, I’ve already told you it was on Triple D, but even faithful viewers may not realize it.  Why, you ask?  Because it was on the very first episode…and yes, I remember the night it premiered.  I am that much of a dork. 

The diner is a classic 50’s New Jersey diner.  How authentic is it?  The original location was actually in Little Ferry, NJ.  Long before the Food Network, Rosie’s (then known as The Silver Dollar Diner) was featured in Bounty commercials.  According to Rosie’s website, the diner was purchased in 1991 and moved to Michigan to it’s current location just outside Rockford. 

The diner is actually part of a “diner complex.”  There are three classic diner’s on the property with Rosie’s being the center of attention.  Connected to Rosie’s to the south is another classic diner that serves as a sports bar.  To the north is another classic diner that looks like it has seen better days.  It’s not connected to the other two diners yet. 

We pulled in to the parking at about 10:30 on a Saturday morning.  There were a few cars in the parking lot, but not many.  I was kind of glad to see that.  We were kind of on a strict time schedule and there wasn’t much time for waiting. 

The diner has an “entrance” and an “exit door that surround a cash register.  When you walk in, you come in to exactly what you would expect from a 1946 Paramount Deluxe.  There’s a breakfast/lunch counter near the kitchen then a series of booths and tables that fill in the remaining space.

We sort of stopped when we walked in not knowing if we should sit down or not.  A waitress noticed us and told us to sit where we’d like.  We headed to a booth in the back of the space.  The booths are all U-Shaped.  The one we chose probably would have only sat three comfortably, but there were larger options as well as tables. 

The menu is classic diner fare.  We were at a time we could go either way.  I sort of wanted breakfast, but I sort of wanted a burger.  We got a couple Coke’s while we mulled over the menu.

I ended up going with breakfast.  I chose Rosie’s Classic Breakfast which included two eggs, choice of two breakfast meats, hash browns, and toast.  I got bacon and sausage for my meats.  Like I imagined, it was classic diner breakfast at it’s best.  The bacon was fantastic.  You can tell it was griddled on a flat top that was well seasoned.  The eggs were done perfectly and the portion size was just right.  I got hash browns because J wanted them.  She was going to order and extra side, but I figured I wouldn’t eat all that I did plus potatoes so I got them for her. 

J was all set to order a wrap for lunch until I stumbled upon an item on the back that was featured in a star.  The Cobblestone French Toast was the item featured on Diner’s, Drive-In’s, and Dives.  That wasn’t the reason she ordered it.  Just a coincidence.  It starts with three thick slices of home-made cobblestone bread which is filled with cinnamon, walnuts, apples, and brown sugar.  It then gets the french toast treatment.  It was everything she loves in one piece of bread.  She mentioned there were large chunks of apples that were warm and tender.   She absolutely loved her breakfast.  She somehow missed it on the menu, but once I pointed it out, it would have been a crime for her not to order it.

Our bill was under fifteen bucks and it was well worth the little detour.  Rosie’s Diner is classic Americana.  The great thing is, they don’t rely on that and crank out some really delicious food.

Rosie's Classic Breakfast

Cobblestone French Toast