This is NOT Burger King! You don’t get it your way. You take it my way or you don’t get the damn thing.
I took this picture on a recent trip home to Michigan. I met my Uncle Mike at one of his favorite hang outs, The Sip ‘N Snack Restaurant, in downtown Okemos. This sign is proudly displayed above Val’s (the feisty 80-ish owner and cook) grill. And, quite frankly, the sign describes Val’s personality to a tee.
The Sip ‘N Snack, conveniently located next to the Barber Shop, is a local diner serving breakfast and lunch. Val runs the place with help from his niece (the hostess, waitress, do-everything-else person). There are no frills here—no fancy lattes, gourmet muffins or WiFi.
There is a menu of sorts, but no one seems to look at it. Sal sees Uncle Mike walk in, he starts cooking what they call “Mike’s breakfast”. They take cash only (no credit cards or checks). If you don’t have the money on-hand, Val lets you pay him the next time you come in.
You see, it’s the kind of place where everyone knows each other. Just like the sign on the door says, it’s a place “Where Friends Meet”. And meet, they do. They hang out, share stories, read the newspaper, and discuss the day’s events for hours on end.
There are times when Val isn’t really up to cooking. During those times, he takes a seat at one of the tables and ‘the regulars’ just help themselves. After all, they aren’t really there for Val’s cooking (although, don’t get me wrong, Val can cook some eggs). They are there for the atmosphere—they are there because The Sip ‘N Snack is NOT Burger King!
Your 2 Cents
Do you know a place like this? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
