My first time here and the food was awesome we went for a late breakfast...I hade the French toast with eggs and sausage links..my other half had the 3 eggs, plate with sausage, hashbrowns and toast...The portions were great the service was just as good...very good food!!! Also liked how the interior of the place was very creative lots of coloring materials for kids...classic diner atmosphere... read more

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Great cafe experience! We had a group of 6 for breakfast and the Food was great and portions were good. The staff were very welcoming. It was a small cafe atmosphere with big personality. Definitely recommend! Don't let the route to get there fool you, it's safe and easy to find. read more

Wow! Friendly family service. Great for the gals on a road trip. Delish! A little off the side road and TOTALLY worth it!! Make sure you say hi to the gals and leave a message on their wall! Family Road Trip Club Sandwiches Patty melt Homemade soup of the day was potato and so yummy!!! read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Decor and seating - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

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The salad was fresh and the ingredients were crisp. The dressing was a bit too tangy, but overall, a good option. read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

The salad was crisp and the ingredients were fresh. The dressing was a bit too sweet, but still a good option. read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

This is a great place for a casual meal. The food was absolutely delicious, and the restaurant was spotless. Staff was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was really relaxing. I will definitely come back soon. read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

Soup fries and sandwich outstanding!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND !! The people were very nice and welcoming. And the ambiance inside the restaurant was very vintage and trendy . I loved the overall experience!! read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Forgot what I ordered but it was amazing ! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

Had lunch here today. First of all the staff is freaking amazing and very welcoming... And the food was excellent. All in all. It was a wonderful experience and I would go back! read more

Very cute restaurant with a 60s vibe. The service is amazing with a huge variety of menu options with very large portions. Definitely a must for breakfast or lunch read more

Great food. Better people. Miss Cindy and the ladies working are too kind. All the food is home made and feels like your mom made it for you before you go out for the day. Definitely stop here for the home town diner vibes and get you some good food. read more

The most welcoming restaurant ! Celebrated my daughter's special day here. Food was fantastic...service spot on...and the Owner was simply lovely ! Can't wait to come back ! read more

Off the beaten path is accurate... The road to Great Lakes Cafe is rugged but worthwhile! Driving into the parking lot is sort of like playing minesweeper on Windows 98. Its also fun to watch the trucks drive under the bridges, with very little room to spare. The cafe is awesome and the service is great. Prices are what you'd expect, and the place has plenty of character. Reminds me of an 80's movie off a highway truck stop, and the ambiance does not disappoint! If you're looking for a good place to grab some breakfast & feel nostalgic, it doesn't get much better! read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Great place to grab some coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

This business is close to my work and it always offers tried and true food for lunch. No matter what I get it is a substantial amount of food and I feel satiated. I love the fact that they have soda in the coolers so you can take an extra pop with you if you want. I like grabbing stuff to go. The lemon rice soup is my favorite here. You cannot top the service as the owners are there and super friendly. All the staff is really nice. As far as ambience it's cute because it just looks like an old time diner, it's a place where men from the Mills and from the courthouse and all other surrounding areas come for a quick bite to eat. Their breakfast is really good too. I enjoy having their breakfast potatoes and ask them to be well done. read more

What a find! So glad we stopped here! Retro diner atmosphere, with well-prepared menu options. Our server Krissy, was friendly, funny, and very helpful! Whether you're on a diner-tour, or just passing through, stop here. They also do amazing breakfasts!! read more

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Good food decent prices the owner is a sweetheart. Beautiful Eggs, Duffy pancakes and the bacon was made just rite read more

Food came out super fast! Service was quick and very caring. The whole vibe made me feel comfortable and cozy. Definitely coming back for my pre beach adventures. A hidden gem. read more

This is the place they have in mind when they talk about hidden gems. Only wish they had more expanded hours, but I get it.

Great place off the beaten path. Good serving sizes, good prices, good staff...can't ask for more!!

Cynthia and Jesse are wonderful and the food is always delicious! I love that it's situated by the steel mill too. Here's this charming little diner directly next to industrial steel. Hidden gem! read more

Awesome food awesome service awesome prices Amazing people. Thank you great lakes for feeding us mill workers

"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations" As a morning person breakfast is a sacred meal to me. So it makes sense that the journey here felt like a pilgrimage to the holy mecca. When you arrive you immediately know this is a hallowed place, deserving every ounce of your reverence. All your senses, sight, scent, sound, touch, and taste (and in that order) come alive and everything feels warm and fuzzy. I was traveling from California to visit my Mom in Illinois. After catching a Dead and Company show in Noblesville we decided to make the trek up to see Lake Michigan. I'm a nature girl in my heart of hearts but the real star of the show that day was the chicken fried steak and eggs. The savory flavors spill onto your lips like a prayer that echo a resounding "hallelujah"! You can feel the love that is alive in the chef and it's bigger than the Great Lake of Michigan. Bigger than all the lakes and oceans combined!!! The food came out in a to go box which I thought was really smart because it eliminates the need to ask for one once you've finished your meal. But there was no "to-go" about this box. I finished every bite without hesitation or even a consideration for my waistline. To not finish it would have been sacrilegious. Treat yourself to heaven on earth at the Great Lakes Cafe. The only sin you may have to confess for after is gluttony :) read more

The food is always good here I always get the same thing and I've only been disappointed once but the food is always good

Great diner in an industrial area. Great service. Nice ambiance. Food was good, basic, but good. Very affordable. read more

Wanted to visit Indiana for a few days and wanted to start off with a good breakfast so this place fit the bill. Entered address on Google Maps and something was off. The streets do not match gps at all. I went under a spooky, run down looking area. Lucky my hub saw this sign that said Great Lakes Cafe. Made a right turn and saw a truck pit ahead and the spot on my right. Decorated nicely on the outside. Ample parking. When I opened the door 2 ladies immediately spoke to me. They were nice. Told us to sit anywhere we wanted, which we did by the window. Our server came by in less than a minute. Took order and was friendly, cool, funny. The place is decorated like a museum. Love it. I ordered the chicken fried steak which tasted good, got potatoes and they were soft and tasty, egg whites were good. The coffee was tasty, wished they had flavored creamer. Bathroom was average, could use some updating and some smell goods but despite that, food was good, service was great. Spoke with owner and was given a nice reusable bag. Got hugs and kisses from the staff. What a nice start to me wondering Indiana. read more

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It's getting closer and closer to the time of my eventual move to Gary. Looking for breakfast spots in the area Great Lakes Cafe seemed to be well reviewed. So it definitely peaked my interest. I made a mention to D and he was game to try it out. In fact he knew the area where it was though he had never been. It is off a beaten path though thankfully there were a couple signs that guides you the rest of the way. The restaurant is in the parking lot off to the right just before the gate station to a local plant. So walking in you definitely get that 'old school diner' experience. Jessica introduced herself quickly as she was cleaning some tables and told us to sit anywhere. She was very friendly as was the owner who took the time to chat with D and I. You get the sense that they are genuinely interested in knowing a little bit about all customers that come in to dine. Even the main cook (who I believe is one of the owners as well) came out to chat for a brief spell. Very nice family oriented business. I ordered their pancakes (3) with 2 scrambled eggs and 3 pieces of bacon. The price was reasonable at $7. D always likes to have a Monte Cristo sandwich which they didn't have but told D they would make one for him. That was a definite plus that they would custom cook that. The fries he had with it were very well seasoned and had a nice crunch to it. You really didn't need any ketchup with them. Jessica was very attentive to check in on us at appropriate times. She even asked later if I needed water after almost finishing up on the pancakes. That was good of her to anticipate that without me asking. So dare I say I think I found our future breakfast spot. D and I definitely will be back. Now finding a good sushi spot might be more of a challenge (but that's more for me)...*LOL*. read more

Def off the beaten path but well worth it. The staff were so friendly and the food fantastic and fast. Classic diner type menu with some twists. Lemon rice soup is a must. read more

Very nice little place with a super friendly staff. The food is well priced and very tasty! I had the corn beef hash and eggs and the potatoes very good size for the price. It is hidden from everyone so it takes a minute to find it. Good thing for smart phones with maps. I will come back and bring more people to show where good food and a friendly staff is. I don't mind driving out of the way for good service and a meal. read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

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This place is truly a hidden gem of The Region. It's family owned and has been serving the community for a rock solid 17+ years. From cookies to Country Fried Steak...close your eyes and chose from the menu- any decision will be phenomenal. The decor is warm, kitschy-creative, and most inviting even on the dreariest of winter days. Food is promptly served and everyone has a great sense of humor. (P.S. The soups are also amazing! Especially the split pea.) read more

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Good food. Attended a bridal shower there and food was good. Would definitely return.

Always great for breakfast and for lunch your seated and served quick as shit. If your late getting back to work that's your fault read more

Great Lakes Cafe - The Counter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

Excellent food and VERY accommodating owner who allowed me to get some soup shortly after she had closed!

Great diner option close to the Skyway (note: it's north of the 90 Toll Road - you won't find it on Mississippi south of it) Loved the soup, egg salad sandwich, and the owners/servers. Want to try more of the specials next time but will give them the benefit of the doubt with 5 stars until the next update. read more

Nice cozy place.. With old world charm..!! Friendly staff, great food choices and taste.. read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Witty captions - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

Excellent customer service and excellent food. The owners are always pleasant to speak with. This food fueled me through my undergrad and now on my second Master's, I'm so happy to still be eating here. They remember my order from years ago!! I've been going to other businesses for decades and I can't get 1/18th the customer service and appreciation I receive on every single visit from Great Lakes. The food is homestyle, fresh, plentiful, and the customer service is unmatched. Seat yourself, you're home. read more

Had a little honeymoon spot on Miller beach, came here to eat breakfast and was beyond impressed with the warm-ness of staff and quality of food. "I've never enjoyed eggs so much" - my fiancé. Definitely a diamond in the rough (': read more

Couldn't have asked for a better breakfast experience! Traveling out of Chicago and needed a bite to eat. Saw the Yelp reviews and they were right on target! We were a little concerned as we drove there as it seemed a bit off the beaten path, but when we arrived at this gem, we were literally greeted with a "Hi and Welcome come on in!" We ordered the chicken fried steak, 1/2 truckers breakfast (biscuits and gravy, eggs and meat) and pancakes. We cleaned our plates and I have to say, I kept stealing bites of pancake from my son's plate they were so good. The price for our 3 meals and drinks was quite reasonable, $32. While we ate, the owners both came and asked how everything was. One of the owners engaged in a conversation with our 9 year old. She couldn't have been any sweeter and more genuine. Our server was very pleasant and our food came out quickly. During our time there, several regulars came in to eat and one of them even took several orders to go. We can honestly say that if we have the chance to stop by here again on our travels, we absolutely will! We even have a Tee Shirt as a remembrance! read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Our son and some of the local Firefighters at Great Lakes Cafe. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

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We were in the area for the day looking for a good lunch stop. We were not disappointed. I got the breakfast special and my college got a burger. Great good, great hospitality and great prices. read more

Today I had country fried steak with scrambled eggs with cheese ordered a super soft fresh biscuit on the side! The steak was perfect the biscuit was super soft delicious cheesy eggs I cannot wait to come back! All of the ladies are super friendly and kind of that work there everyone has an upbeat awesome attitude! They serve breakfast and lunch options as well I don't think you cannot enjoy anything here! Acquaint unique fresh Fast breakfast lunch spot! read more

Great Lakes Cafe - Delicious Country Fried Steak & scrambled eggs with Cheese. The softest Biscuit I've had in a while..Mmmmm Great Breakfast & Lunch options. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Gary, Indiana

My first visit here was awesome. It's a "gem" in a hidden place as most gems are. It has a clean, bright and friendly atmosphere. The staff was very welcoming and totally professional. The atmosphere takes me back to the days of diners and malt shops. They use the silver creamers and still have the sugar containers. No packets. This was a great experience. Chef Ramsey. Jr. read more

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Great little off the beaten path restaurant with excellent food and a super friendly staff. I have never had anything from here that wasn't delicious. Keep up the good work ladies. read more