Bacon is fried up for breakfast at Peppermill Café in Standale, Michigan.
STANDALE, MI — Just an eight-minute drive from downtown Grand Rapids, a tucked-away breakfast and lunch spot will make sure you never go home hungry.
The Peppermill Café, at 4511 Lake Michigan Drive NW in Standale, offers a full breakfast and lunch menu from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
“I really like the fact you can come in at 6 in the morning and get a burger and onion rings or an omelet at 2 p.m.,” said owner Lu Hayoz.
Hayoz has owned the café for 16 years, and the comfort food spot has become a community favorite.
“The building is so old, I always joke that Moses built it,” she said. “It’s just been a staple in Standale for many years.”
The menu features items like six-egg omelets, hubcap-sized pancakes, skillets, biscuits and gravy, homemade soups, meatloaf, burgers, sandwiches and salads.
The Peppermill in Standale is popular for its six-egg omelets, along with hubcap-sized pancakes and endless coffee refills.
The meatloaf is Hayoz’s grandmother’s recipe and the soups are homemade too.
For a first-timer at the Peppermill, Hayoz recommends the “Filthy Skilly,” which she said is the restaurant’s No. 1 selling item at $13. The “Filthy Skilly” is a two-egg skillet with hand-sliced American fries, bacon, sausage, smoked ham, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, melted cheddar cheese and house-made gravy, all served with a side of toast.
“We never let you go away hungry,” Hayoz said. “There are to-go boxes everywhere and we’ve got endless coffee. We want you to feel comfortable and have a super pleasant experience.”
Another popular menu item is the “Laker omelet,” made with six eggs, sausage, bacon, corned beef hash, sliced American fries and cheddar cheese. It sells for $10.75.
Many Grand Valley State University students from just down Lake Michigan Drive frequent the café, but folks of all ages fill the restaurant, especially for the weekend specials.
“We do love our college kids, we offer 10 percent student discounts,” Hayoz said. “And then we have our regulars, with their own certain coffee cups and they sit in the same spot every day. We get to know people’s names and it’s very welcoming.”
Hayoz’ personal favorite menu item is the inside-out grilled cheese, made on English muffin bread that’s encrusted with parmesan cheese. The sandwich is filled with baby Swiss and cheddar cheese, avocado, tomato and red onion and is served with house-made chips and a pickle spear.
One of The Peppermill's signature dishes is the Monte Cristo sandwich, served with a raspberry melba sauce.
The inside of the café is covered with quirky signs, all centered around breakfast and kitchen humor. A customer favorite is a sign letting diners know unattended children will be given “coffee and a kitten.”
“It just started with a few signs from me, so anything fun and foody, I like,” Hayoz said of the décor. “It’s just to entertain people. Now it’s just grown and grown and people will bring me signs now.”
The playful signs, huge omelets and constant coffee refills are all part of the atmosphere Hayoz has cultivated for customers.
“I want customers to feel cozy, a comfortable atmosphere, we want to treat them very well,” she said. “Just come and see us!”
The Peppermill Cafe can be reached at 616-453-7853. Check it out on Facebook here.
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