We had one of the best lunches we've had in a long time. Â We walked in and found that everyone sits together like family style. Â We sat with a delightful couple who had just built a home nearby and were eating here for the first time. Â We decided on the ruben with kettle chips and the pot roast sandwich. Â Everything Shirley serves is homemade, including the bread. Â My ruben arrived steaming hot, served on thick toasted rye bread. Â The corned beef was thick, tender and delicious, Â The swiss cheese was melted just right and the kraut was very tasty. Â They also serve the dressing on the side so you don't get a soggy mess. Â It was absolutely yummy. Â My wife's pot roast sandwich was amazing as it was just as it sounds. Â A pot roast on a bun. Â The meat was tender and delicious with that homemade flavor. Â This is a must stop if you are passing through at lunch time or breakfast time as they also serve breakfast. Â Actually, you can order breakfast anytime. Â And I will for sure next time we come through this way.
Review Source:Sweet Shirley! So nice and told us all about her recipes with whole food. Nothing processed. She gave us samples of her homemade breads...carrot is amazing, potato rosemary to die for and cranberry walnut. Yum!! Even gave us recipes to take home and bake for my family. We will be back!! Want to try the fried chicken bucket next time;)
Thanks Shirley!!!!
A group of us girlfriends stop at Shirley's at least twice a year....She is a sweet, vibrant lady and an amazing cook. The food is all homemade and she is always giving out samples to her customers....She is truly a person that is passionate about cooking and you can tell....it just melts in your mouth....We are going to steal her away from all her hard work one day and take her shopping with us she deserves it.
Look out Shirley we're coming for ya!!!
One of the joys of travelling is stumbling upon a an out-of-the-way local gem. Such is Shirley's Cafe in Mancelona, MI. Shirley bakes her own bread, roasts her meats, and makes her own pies. She brines her chicken before roasting and makes her own mashed potatoes and gravies. Making the rounds of tables at lunch she regales customers with culinary tales and tips in a way reminiscent of Lucy Ricardo from the "I Love Lucy" series. Ingredients are sourced locally and dishes are all prepared from scratch. My Billy Jo wrap featured roasted chicken pieces, pecans, fresh spinach, tart cherries and cream cheese. I washed it down with locally made root beer. A bit of local heaven!
Review Source:This is definitely a place I would recommend to anyone looking for a great home cooked meal. The owner went to great lengths to tell us her philosophy on healthy and natural food. Everyone in our group enjoyed their food and we are planning on stopping by on our way through again. They have the best selection of home made breads I have seen at a diner. This place is a great value and you should definitely give it a try. They are serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day.
Review Source:We stopped into Shirley's on our way home from Boyne Mountain Resort. Pay attention when you enter Mancelona because if you don't you'll drive right past. We sat down and the place looked nice, very clean, and had a great warm atmostphere. The food was very good, but as with some of the other reviews the service here is what makes Shirley's something special. Shirley has a bright, vaibrant, friendly personality and she's not afraid to let you know her food is good. Speaking of the food, she suggested that I get the fried chicken which is homemade. It was very good, but the item that I could not get enough of was her homemade potato bread and butter, it was served warm and soft. We really enjoyed our time here and I'm pretty confident that anytime I'm heading up north Shirley's will become tradition.
Review Source:Shirley's rocks!!
Everything is homemade.
Shirley's family has owned the place for decades, she has been working every time I've dined there. Shirley is very animated  and has a story for every picture and stick of furniture in the restaurant. Very entertaining, her antics are reminiscent of watching an old episode of 'I love Lucy' play out in front of you... then again I employ herbal appetite stimulants, which can have strange side effects.
My favorite is the pot roast hash. Mmmmmm.
Homemade soups (Cajun cabbage) was very spicy and tasty. Â Salad contained mixed greens (not just iceberg lettuce) and the wraps were tasty! Â Glad that they used a nice tortilla wrap (not just the standard white tortilla, how boring!). Â Their chicken and spinach wrap with pecans was very good. Â Coffee was nice and strong!
Review Source:Fresh baked pies and breads with "real" ingredients are the specialty. Yum! Clean and friendly, good service. Excellent salads, lots of food for the price, tasty dinners. Burgers, however, disappoint - pre-made patties with little flavor. Â A roadside cafe needs a good burger, hence the four stars not five.
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