The Honey Tree Restaurant

Had dinner last night at the Honey Tree Restaurant, at 4176 Pontiac Lake Road, in Waterford. I didn't know it at the time, but it is yet another Greek restaurant - which are commonly known as 'Coney Islands' in Michigan (but nowhere else in the world). Typical diner fare, with the day's specials on a chalk board at the front. I was greeted promptly and escorted to a clean table.

Service was friendly but a tad slow, and the waitress seemed to be on the 'new' side, as she had to go into the back to determine what the day's soup selection was.

I ordered one of the specials, the chicken-fried steak, which came with carrots and mashed potatoes. It was OK but not great - I would not have disliked it if I had encountered it in a TV dinner, but at a restaurant, I expected a bit more.

The bread basket and soup arrived AFTER the meal was served, which is backwards in my book, but I am glad that I saved room for the soup - it was the beef barley, and it was fantastic. More than made up for the chicken-fried steak.

Price was fine, about $10 for the entire meal, including a coke and a refill. I'll go back, hopefully I'll remember not to order the chicken-fried steak again.

On checkout, I was greeted by the owner, who has got to be named 'Gus' or 'Stavros' or something. Where do these guys come from? Are they all from some neighborhood in New Jersey, where they wear wife-beater tee-shirts with dress slacks and say "howza you dinner?" as you leave? Do they go to some school somewhere to all look, dress, and act exactly the same?

Not that I'm complaining, but it is kind of funny.

So that's the Honey Tree, in Waterford. Let's say three stars out of five, subject to revision at a later date.