This is the item to discuss Ann Arbor's Fleetwood Diner.
Food selections seem to be rather basic (but they do have some burgers
suitable for members of the lacto-ovo vegetarian community!), & the service
will depend on whether the waitresses are either on the rag, or just feel
like being rude.
The two positive things about the Fleetwood is that it is open 24 hours
a day, & it attracts some very STRANGE looking people!
It is neat to be able to sit down & enjoy some food, while basically
watching a show. Each time I've been there (about 10 times in the last two
months, between 11PM - 3AM), I've been entertained by either a freak show or
listening & watching somone who looks halfway normal (halfway normal in terms
of society, not in terms of Fleetwood patrons...) but ends up being mentally
unbalanced!
Last night (around 11PM) was a rather sedate night at the ol'
Fleetwood.
No freaks, & just one mental case. The mental case was merely shouting
out random words at a rate of 3 or 4 a minute ("BRASS FIXTURES!" "GOAT!"),
but what made it kinda exciting was the fact that he was wielding a cane.
You had to keep an eye on him, but on the other hand you didn't really want
to make eye contact with him. I thouht he was going to beat on two women
(yes, I would have intervened!), but instead he walked back inside the
restaurant, & was promptly kicked out by that little guy who seems to be
the manager or at least head chef (whom the crazy guy called a "bitch" as he
walked off).
I warn you though, the Fleetwood is not a place for the weak & timid!
Especially for the weak of heart & people who have trouble digesting food,
I'd
I'd suggest just ordering something light (french fries) on your first visit.
It would be a waste of food & $$ to order something elaborate, only
to lose your appetite at the sight of some of the freaky patrons, who are
complete with nose, lip & tongue piercings, blue hair, etc. Remember,
you've been warned!
For the timid yet adventurous, sit inside. That way (assuming you're
weak & look like an easy target) if/when some of the freaks or
mentally-unstable customers decide to abuse you, the Fleetwood management will
see it right away & intervene (since they can't afford the bad publicity of you
being killed & dismembered there).
Those of you with more gusto (or a permit to carry a concealed weapon)
should definately eat al fresco, at one of the 8 or so (plastic) tables
between the diner & the sidewalk. That's the prime foraging area for the
freaks, & it is a small seating area, so you're practically guaranteed an up
close & personal look at all sorts of dredges of society & genetic wonders!
Listening in on their 'discussions' can also provide some fascinating
insight.
TheFleetwood is much closer & usually less expensive than going to
the Zoo, the food quality is decent (although my sampling of their cuisine
has been drastically limited), and the indeginous life is thrilling to
see!
25 responses total.
Legal disclaimer -- Visit the Fleetwood Diner at your own risk! I cannot be held responsible for any damage or injuries which might result from your visit to the Fleetwood Diner!
(I've been to the Fleetwood once, and it was with xenon313 and a couple of others. I know some of the regulars, though, and will stay as far away as possible. The only restaurant I can think of that could have been worse would be the old Burger King on Maynard.) (BTW, I didn't eat anything. This inquiring mind *didn't* want to know.)
Heh. I've been there during the daylight hours and it's very similar to tnt's description. But, it was fun and the food was everything I expected from a greasy spoon type of place (which to me means it was pretty decent grub). I sat inside, however...
"Tongue piercing"??
Hey, sounds like just the place for a midnight Grexpedition! Really.
Popcorn.....think of the values of having a partner who has his or her tongue pierced. I am not advocating it...but there are distinct possibilities. <VBG>
Midnight Grexpedition sounds like a winner. I'll wear my cowboy hat and perform my impression of Dennis Hopper in "Blue Velvet".
In public! Oh, my. (I must be thinking of the wrong scene.)
This I've got to see. Count me in! Arwen -- what does VBG mean?
Very Big Grin? at a guess.
What do you mean by "zoo". I don't buy it. I frequented the Fleetwood during the all the times that I drove and owned my cab, and found it to be good food at a decent price. The people and we can call them people, are nice, that is, if you treat them as people and not as freaks. I don't think that we should go there expecting a side show but rather a decent meal. Many is the time when I went there after a particularly busy night just to unwind and relax. I once saved a life. A (now) good friend of mine was stranded without money and needed to get to his sister's house on Pear st. But it was snowy outside and bitter cold, and he was in need of a good meal. I pulled a $10 out of my pocket, paid for a huge meal for him, got something to take with him for later and a ride to his sister's house. I dropped him off, put a $5 in his hand and made sure he got inside then went home and thought nothing more of it. I saw him 6 months later when he came up to my cab which was parked on the Ashley cab stand and he handed me a $20, as he told me that I had saved him from freezing to death on that cold night. He told me that he gave up his drinking, and got into a program which put him into a $7.50 per hour job. He told me that after that night, he decided to stop his evil ways and get going. He tried to pay me back for my kindness. I declined the money and told him to pass that 20 along to someone who looked like they could use it. I don't ever think that I will forget him, or what I did that night, but had I not chose to have my breakfast at the Fleetwood, I don't think that that man would be alive. sorry for the drift.
Good drift...
(agreed.) (It reminds me of a classic Spider Man tale, as a matter of fact.)
I would cheerfully rub elbows with any number of freaks and nut cases to see Dr. Remmers do his impression of Dennis Hopper.
That was a wonderful $20 investment. Neat.
I've patronized this incarnation of the Fleetwood and I lived to tell about it. Drop me a note when you all are going, and I'll show up with bells on (well at least my Grex t-shirt).
I've been to the fleetwood, but not in many moons. The fleetwood is where I discovered vernors - at the time,, they had a coca-cola dispenser that was a bit heavy on the sugar. The resulting coca-cola didn't turn out so well, but somehow it worked great with vernors. I might eat there more often today if I hadn't gotten on sort of a healthfood kick, and for the fact that the majority of patrons seem to smoke.
The smoke is another reason to consider sitting outside.
Re: 18,
My Primary Woman & I went to the Fleetwood Monday night after her SCUBA
class, getting there at about 10PM. We were somewhat disappointed to observe
that everyone there looked pretty normal, but were hungry enough to plan on
eating there anyway.
We ordered our food & then sa outside, but alas, a few minutes
later, we noticed that the interior of the restaurant was filled with smoke,
& employees & patrons were pouring out.
I don't know if there ever was a fire or not, but apparently most of the
'smoke' was from some sort of fire extinguishing device (I don't think it was
halon, because I didn't hear the screech).
Alas, there would be no food for us from the Fleetwood, so off we went
to Cottage Inn.
fleetwood, cool, excellant lamb.
PW & I were there last night at about 9:30, & it was quiet, & abnormally
'normal,' using the traditional sense of the word...
Remember, THE FREAKS COME OUT AT (LATE) NIGHT!
Heh. I thought I would revive this item since The Fleetwood is still around and just one block from my work. I know people who work there during the week, during the day so I always feel comfortable there. One of my co-workers discovered Hippy Hash and now wants to go there a lot. So I go there once every couple of weeks or so. The food is still pretty good and mostly traditional diner food. It is one of the cheapest places to eat downtown. The waitresses are awesome!
# 4 tablespoons light-flavored oil(such as canola or peanut) # 1 tablespoon butter # 2 large russet potatoes, grated # 1/8 cup onions, diced # 1/4 cup tomatoes, diced # 1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced and sauteed until edges brown # 1/4 cup broccoli, chopped and steamed until tender # 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled # 4 slices rye bread, toasted (optional) # 4 eggs, cooked to order (optional) # Frank's red hot sauce, it won't be the same without it (optional) # Wrap the grated potatoes in a clean towel or paper towels and ring out all of the water. # 2 Heat the oil and butter in a skillet to medium high heat. # 3 Add the potatoes in a single layer and pat down into pan. # 4 Cover pan and reduce heat to medium. # 5 Let potatoes cook, undisturbed, for approximately 8 - 10 minutes. # 6 Remove lid and add diced onions. # 7 Periodically lift the browned bottom layer of potatoes with a spatula and mix it all together. # 8 Cook for another 8 - 10 minutes, depending on your stove. # 9 When the potatoes look done, taste them to be sure they're fully cooked. # 10 When they're ready, add the tomatoes, mushrooms & broccoli. # 11 Mix it all up and spoon it onto 2 plates. # 12 Top each portion with half of the crumbled feta. # 13 Serve buttered rye toast and fried eggs alongside. # 14 Douse with lots of hot sauce and enjoy!
resp:22 There's a Fleetwood in Lansing too- and every time a particular friend of mine comes to visit- we HAVE to go there, 'cause he needs his hippy hash. *grins*
Thanks for the recipe tod. I'll pass it on
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