If you have read some of the other posts here you may note that it is my belief that packed parking lots mean good food. So as I have driven down Middlebelt in Livonia I always noticed a little mom and pop type restaurant that had a pretty packed lot.
At first I dismissed the place because of the type of cuisine mentioned on the sign out front: Polish. My mouth doesn't water at the mention of "Polish food". I am thinking that unless you are polish, your mouth doesn't water either. Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed a pirogi or two in the past. But the words "Polish food" never held the magic power of words like say..."Italian food" as far as I was concerned. That was until Steve's Family Dining II. I believe this is their second restaurant. The original is somewhere on Plymouth Rd in Livonia. But I aint been there. So we'll just focus on this one.
We came in and the first thing I noticed was the place was clean and updated. I guess it should be since they opened in 2006. The staff were friendly and competent throughout the visit. We asked what was popular. The waitress said the polish sampler plate was the most popular. So that is what we ordered. The sampler comes with your choice of stuffed cabbage or city chicken PLUS kielbasa, sauerkraut, 3 pirogies (again, your choice: cheese, potato, sauerkraut), and rice. All for the price of....wait for it.... wait for it......... ...... $6.95
We also ordered soup. We had the chicken noodle soup. It was okay. Not great, not bad. Word is the dill soup is good. Warning next few words are kinda gross. Ok, remember how this is a polish restaurant? And remember how if you are polish you might like Czernina, or Duck Blood Soup, a Polish soup made of duck blood and clear poultry broth? Yeah, they got that too. It just aint on the menu. Say the secret password "Czernina" (Czar NEE na) to get it. For 50 cents (with a dinner) you can get a "small" soup or for a $1.50 you can get a large soup. I figured small was like the chinese tea cup size bowls some places give you since it was only $0.50. So I ordered a large, my better half ordered a small. Stick with the small. The large was freking huge. Picture dinner plate size bowl. Small was more like a normal/large bowl, more then enough. So our food comes out and the large plate is packed with food. The kielbasa was the best. After a bad 4 day childhood camping trip where we lost all food but the kielbasa and ate it cold for 3 days, I have never been a big fan of kielbasa. But this was good kielbasa. Way better then that Hillshire farm stuff. Really everything was good. Since we both ordered the same thing one of us got city chicken and one of us got stuffed cabbage and we shared. We didn't get any sauerkraut pirogies. Just cheese and potato. I like the potato she liked the cheese. After all that good food, we had to try the carrot cake for $2 and change. Just about every restaurant you go to now a days overprices the desserts to $5-7. So I figured at $2 I couldn't go wrong. And no I did not go wrong. It was very good, nice size piece, lots of nuts - yum. So all in all, a wonderful experience. The food was very good, the prices were unbelievably low, and service was just great. We will be back, often.
So if you go, and I encourage you to go:
Steve's Family Dining
7/29/2007
Steve's Family Dining II - Good Polish Food?
7/10/2007
Review Mexican Fiesta II - Canton Michigan
Since we recently reviewed Mariachi Mexican Restaurant and it really sucked, we thought it was time to add in a good comparison. In fact it is only a block or two away. If you have driven by the intersection of Ford and Sheldon you have likely seen the packed lot at Mexican Fiesta II. A packed parking lot is always a good sign of good food. And yes, the place is busy in the evenings. But normally wait times are manageable (less the 20 mins). Mexican Fiesta II doesn't disappoint. (At this point you might be wondering if there is a Mexican Fiesta I, and there is. It's in Dearborn Heights, never been, but I expect it is as good as II)
We have been going there for several years and the food is always good. The service is excellent. Another sign of a good restaurant is that the staff has been there for a while. We see the same waiters and waitresses time and again. Everyday they have afternoon lunch and drink specials, there isn't usually a wait time at lunch. You get chips and salsa included as your starter with all meals. For $1.50 extra you can get hot chips. They give you mild and hot salsas in little carafes which you pour into small bowls. I like to mix the 2 and add a little salt. Prices are very reasonable, under $10 per person.
Recommended dishes are Steak Fajitas for 2 @ $17. It might even feed 3 as we always have left overs. One of the only places I know that gives you mushrooms in fajitas - yum. We just order Steak Fajitas, but on the menu it is Chicken and Steak. The chicken is ok, but the steak is awesome. So we just order it as full on steak. And this is not the fajita steak you get at any other restaurant, the steak is thick but tender and very flavorful. Chicken Enchiladas are really good. They must own stock in a dairy because they don't diddy daddle with the cheese. Enchiladas come with a tasty coleslaw and some good mexican rice. In fact I always sub coleslaw for anything that comes with beans there. Not that the beans suck. I just aint a beany person. They have tons more dishes and really I don't think we have ever been disappointed with a dish there. Did I mention the fried ice cream is good too :)
If you go:
Mexican Fiesta II
(734) 981-1048
44401 Ford Rd
