At the counter of the Choo Choo Grill recently, patrons passed around a newspaper clipping. It was the obituary of a regular of this Northeast Side institution. The cook and owner Kathy Spencer told those sitting in the tiny red restaurant at the corner of Plainfield Avenue and Leonard Street that she had stopped by the funeral home after her shift for the visitation.

Choo Choo Grill is that kind of place. It is like having breakfast or lunch with a group of friends. I’m no Choo Choo Grill regular, but I’ve been there a dozen times over the years and I’ve always felt welcome at the diner that has stood next to the train tracks for more than 60 years.

The place is tiny with a handful of stools lined up along the L-shaped bar that separates the dining area from the kitchen. There are just two booths (and signs on them say that you have to have a party of two or more to sit there).

Still, the Choo Choo Grill manages to rustle up some of the best diner grub in the area from that little kitchen. And it is cooked by Kathy right before your eyes. Stepping into the restaurant is like stepping into a time capsule. There is a rotary dial telephone on the wall that rings when take-out orders are called in. An old malt machine churns out amazing frozen drinks like the diner’s Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Vanilla Strawberry old fashioned malts ($3.99 and worth every penny).

Children love the place because of its railroad-themed décor and the amazing pancakes. Adults love it for the camaraderie the comes as a side with every dish served. Everyone loves it for the food.

I’ve eaten at the Choo Choo Grill for breakfast and lunch and the restaurant does both meals right. At breakfast, I usually go with the Rail Kill Sandwich ($4.89) with its egg, cheese and sausage. It is a greasy, delicious mess of a sandwich and I love it. I was tempted during a recent visit to try the Conductor’s Omelette ($5.89) with perfectly cooked potatoes, cheese, onion, ham and a side of rye bread. It was cooked by Kathy on the well-seasoned flat top grill right in front of me and it was perfection.

For lunch, the Choo Choo Grill is best known for its burgers. You have to be a major carnivore to try the massive one pound Legend Burger ($7.69). I’ve never had the guts to order it. They also have excellent half-pound deluxe burgers and mushroom, bacon Swiss for $4.99 each.

Don’t come to the Choo Choo Grill expecting gourmet. The food is about as unpretentious as it gets. Also, try to hit the restaurant on off hours as it can get packed in the little place during breakfast and lunch rush. That being said, I’d encourage everyone to give the Choo Choo Grill a try. If you are looking for diner food at a reasonable price, it doesn’t get much better than the Choo Choo Grill.

And who knows? You might make a few new friends along the way.

Bill’s was a diner before diners were cool. Think yellow vinyl booths, a menu that is displayed on a white board with back lighting and prices you haven’t seen since Happy Days was airing in prime time. I’ll start this review out with a warning: The food isn’t very good. That being said, there’s something about the place that I like. It makes me feel comfortable and warm inside.

Maybe it’s the portion size I like. The meals at Bill’s are large to say the least. When you order goulash, it fills a plate the size of a Ford hubcap. Breakfasts are large too, with heaping portions of potatoes.

Maybe it’s the price I like. A Cheeseburger at Bill’s is $2.40, Turkey Sandwich is $3.70 and the Slim Gem — a grilled ham and cheese sandwich — is $3.80. Dinners are simple. Choices include Fish, Chicken Strips, Beef Steak, Chicken and Shrimp, and all are $6.75. Breakfasts range from $1.50 for a Bagel to the $6.75 Western Omelette. Two eggs and toast with choice of meat is $4.75.

Ultimately, what I like at Bill’s is the atmosphere. It is a mix of senior citizens, college students and suited professionals from downtown. Most of those who eat at Bill’s are regulars. Spend a morning there and you will see the problems of the world discussed, dissected and digested along with a few pots of coffee and several orders of eggs. While people come from all over, it’s mainly a neighborhood joint. Having grown up on the Northeast side of Grand Rapids, I often run into family friends who ask how my parents are enjoying Florida (they are) or if my brother still works at Meijer (he does).

Most satisfying of all is that Bill’s knows what it is and knows what it isn’t. There’s nothing more irritating that a restaurant that pretends to be more than it is. Bill’s is a greasy spoon and it wears its stains with pride.

My 88-year-old grandmother is a Bill’s regular, so we took her to her favorite restaurant for her birthday dinner. The staff knows her well and doted over her all night. She ordered a chili dog ($1.60) and a cup of coffee. It was a Friday and Bill’s was running a special on all-you-can-eat fried Lake Perch ($9.95). I went with that and was happy with the quality of the fish and the cole slaw that came on the side with choice of potato. My wife, Stephanie, decided to have the soup of the day, a creamy chicken and rice that she has enjoyed before. My daughter, Daisy, ordered the BLT.

All of us were satisfied with our choices. Though Bill’s won’t win any culinary awards for its menu, they do what they do pretty well. It isn’t a date night destination, but if you wake up with a wicked hangover after a night on the town and roll out of bed looking for some grub, you can do a lot worse than Bill’s.

I know, that’s not a ringing endorsement. This review is what it is, just like the diner food found at Bill’s.