Dottie's Hometown Cafe

I really hate to do this to a local restaurant, but my experience here was one of the absolute worst I have ever had in ANY restaurant I have dined in.  We went here for breakfast and the place was quite busy... a good sign right?  We ordered coffee and our meals.  Then we waited... and waited, and waited and waited and waited... seriously it was that long.  Actually we never got our food after waiting 45 minutes.  We paid for the coffee we got (and drank about 4 cups each).  
The wait staff just kept saying "it's really busy today"... no offers for anything to help make our horrible experience better, just a monotone poor excuse.  It was pancakes, eggs, bacon and some french toast.  I don't care how busy it is, if you are not able to serve the breakfast crowd that you seat then don't allow that many people in the door.  That order should not take that long and when your customers are displeased and still waiting for a simple order there should have been more done about it.
We will never return here... ever.

Went to Dottie's for the Fri. night all-you-can-eat Walleye while on vacation near Grand Rapids. Judging by the high percentage of apparent "locals" dining there (based on fact that many people knew each other and the wait staff), it's a small-town favorite. We were impressed -- here's why:

(1) Walleye was delicious, and we tried both the fried and grilled. I had the grilled and, though I was coveting my husband's fried filets while simultaneously feeling good about saving the calories, both versions were very good and fresh tasting. (There's walleye in probably every lake in the area.) Nice to have the choice, which is rare for a Fri. night fish special.

(2) Service was quick and very friendly. Nothing lacking, and felt almost like having dinner in a friend's home.

(3) Atmosphere was quaint and cabin/diner style -- just like one might expect in an old city where logging was the leading industry in the early 1900s.

(4) Delicious homemade desserts, and a large selection including several pies.

Dottie's exterior is not impressive, hence our passing it by and passing it up several times throughout our week's stay... until I picked up a menu/brochure in the local bait shop and saw all they had to offer. At this time (maybe always?), the restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch only except on Fridays, when they have the fish special. The menu is extensive, and we would've returned had we not visited on our last night in town.

Did the All-You-Can-Eat-Walleye last time I was in town. Nothing beats walleye in my book. Nothing. Great service, price, and atmosphere. Don't ask my grandpa though- he'd find multiple things to complain about at French Laundry.