I would describe the Middleton diner as an old school establishment and is certainly a dying breed. A location is in a very small town and the hospitality is small town! It's a no frills kind of establishment clean with very friendly people. But the star of the show is the food! The day I visited, they were offering a all you can eat buffet featuring chicken, fish and many more yummy items. I opted to just get a white meat chicken plate and it was pretty tasty. The chicken was very moist and juicy. The potatoes were fantastic with a little bit of chunk so you knew they were real the corn was a little bland and that's the only problem I had with it because there was no salt and pepper on the table for seasoning. But not to hold that them. If you're ever in the area and are looking for a great homestyle meal, give Middleton diner a shot. You won't be disappointed! read more

Middleton Diner - the menu! - New American Near Me - Middleton, Michigan

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Love going here. Delicious food and homemade pies. Very friendly staff. Great price for what is available. Have gone a few times for Thanksgiving and was very happy with the price as well. read more

Middleton Diner - New Menu January 2026 - New American Near Me - Middleton, Michigan

Very disappointed. People rave about this place but it isn't that great. If you want simple farm fare, ok. But don't expect variety at all. Or ambience. We both got the buffet, which was all good and fresh, but I was disappointed in the choices. Only sliced bread. The only hot veg was green bean. Two types of chicken and fried shrimp. The service though was great and prices were low. read more

I recommend if you like grilled cheese sandwiches don't want to cook go here best ones in the state pretty much service is nice

I like their chicken. But we were there for pick-up about a month ago, got the 4-pc chicken dinner. The chicken pieces were so small! A bit disappointing. But overall, I do love their food. Just teeny-tiny chicken read more

This is very much a little small-town diner. There are 2 rooms with tables, not much decoration. There didn't appear to be any menus, but there was a white board that showed the soup of the day, 2 sandwiches (a hamburger & hot beef) and a list of pies. The choices appeared to be that or the buffet, which consisted of a small but good salad bar and another hot food bar with fried chicken, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy and some soup. Nothing fancy and not a wide variety, but it all tasted homemade and fresh. And, at $10.99, it was priced well. As I was leaving, I noticed that they had cinnamon rolls, and I got one to go. Again, it was fresh, likely homemade and delicious. And, the staff was very friendly. read more

Middleton Diner - the front of the restaurant - New American Near Me - Middleton, Michigan

Small buffet with the Best broasted chicken ever. It's the only thing I've ever had there! Sides are the usual and very good. Small but good salad bar. GO there! read more

excellent food, service and price ayce fried chicken at lunch wonderful bread and cinnamon rolls that make cinnabon seem like a cinnamon scented turd. fried porkchops are also amazing in the dinner buffet I found this place by accident but i have returned several times never been disappointed by food or service warning the cinnamon rolls are addictive and may be a health hazard if consumed too often read more

Food the salad was great, chicken nothing special, dressing imagine a 6 pound brick of congealed bread with some spices....look I have on airforce chows around the world and "the Diner" leave much to be desired. Better fried chicken and side Kroger on the west side and apple market on the east side read more

Doesn't look like much from the outside, but go inside anyway. Great buffet & salad bar. Broasted chicken is delicious. You can order off the menu, but most get the buffet. read more

Hi...We went here at least 2xs a month for their BEST broasted chicken and pork chops, and then " 3 years ago we moved up North" ...Missed it terribly! Now we are returning to the area(Ithaca and can't wait to visit...I had to check to see if they were still in business due to the last couple years of the Covid scare...Saw a review here from Aug,22(current) so I got Sooo excited! We really never ordered off the menu cause its "really not a "good buy"...Better going on your favorite "all you can eat day(ours are the Friday fish, and Tuesdays Broasted pork chops."...Yes, the staff is so nice, family friendly and can't beat the pricing...definitly Much better than "Frankenmuths chicken and budget friendly. in these times...you can afford to take your family there. they do not serve alcohol, but we came to eat...not get drunk... read more

Man, I'm really at odds with this one. I really wanted to like this place and looked forward to eating there. Was in Michigan and looking for that "got to go to" diner that wasn't a National chain. Found all the rave reviews on this and others so decided to drive the extra 45 minutes to give it a go. Boy was I disappointed. First of all, as many have said it's not the best looking joint, but hey, you go to eat, not gawk at the decor. So we got the Buffett, if you can call it that. An ok Salad bar, two meats (chicken and meat loaf) yellow corn that was white, stiff very lumpy mashed potatoes (called them smashed), very cold dry dressing, yellow chicken gravy. At least the chicken was good and hot. To boot, for two people with one soda and pie it was $40 so who ever said this is good eating on the cheap...., I would disagree. read more

Years in the Air Force eating in chow halls AKA Dining facilities and this comes about as close as it could be. Perhaps my expectations were higher due to Foodies reviews but nothing above fried fish and chicken. The salad was good read more

The chicken here is fantastic. And the pie is also! Server was nice and friendly. It is a nice little diner.

Everything you want and more. Very good food, particularly chicken and pies. Nice little salad bar with plenty of choices to satisfy. Paula our server was great and prices very reasonable. Nothing fancy but can see why the area farmers love it. Worth the 45 minute drive from Grand Ledge. read more

My friends and I love this small-town restaurant everyone is so friendly the food is great the atmosphere gives you the feeling of just that small hometown that welcomes you. read more

It's worth the drive for the pie and cinnamon rolls alone! The buffet is always fresh and full of food!

Great little small town diner. When driving down M57 stop in for some great tasting, hearty food.

In a location where there are few options for dining, Middleton delivers in terms of American variety & quality. As the resident vegetarian, this restaurant is difficult to eat at. The buffet features fried chicken, and on Fridays fried fish. Soup & a salad bar are also included in the buffet price. There is also an extensive variety of pie options. Another thing to note is this restaurant is readily accessible for the elderly/handicapped. read more

Small town diner in Middleton. My wife and I both had the buffet. They have a small but good salad bar. The broasted chicken and spicy chicken are excellent. Good green beans and Mac and cheese. We will come again if we're back this way, excellent value! read more

I have been going here since 1949 and have never had a bad meal. IMO opinion the BEST buffet in Michigan and all for $8.75. We always go out of our way to stop here for a fine home cooked meal. Great food, great service and what a deal! VERY busy by noon daily. read more

Middleton Diner - Excellent salad bar - New American Near Me - Middleton, Michigan

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Yummy home cooking. Easy to pull in, especially if you have a dog in car and want to watch him from restaurant window. Food is fresh, hot and delicious. Crispy chicken, smooth real mashed potatoes, biscuits, bread pudding with lemon sauce, green beans bright and fresh. Just what we needed to calm our stomachs after a lot of questionable Labor Day weekend food and beverage choices! Fast to eat at buffet. Nice people eating there. Servers are friendly. Gem in the rough. Don't need Frankenmuth anymore. read more

We eat here about once a week because it's so good and so easy. Love the staff and the food

This was our first trip to middleton diner. After hearing rave reviews I was disappointed in the food. My husband had the much talked about chicken and thought it was good, but not great. I had the hot roast beef sandwich. The meat was good, but the gravy tasted canned, as did my husbands chicken gravy. We both didn't think the mashed potatoes were real and they were mildly warm, not hot. The restaurant and restrooms were clean. The portions were plentiful. One visit was enough for me. read more

Where do I start? OMG!!! If you are anywhere near the Middleton Diner 30 miles or so, you MUST go! Yes, it is out of the way; however, this is like going to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving dinner, however with the BEST Broasted Chicken and fixings! Being out of town I wanted to try something not chain driven, and someone told me about Middleton Diner. Thank-Goodness he did as this place is 'da bomb!!!!' So, first things, go for the lunch buffet as there is not that much difference between lunch and dinner and it is a bit cheaper. Also so know if you are 55 or older $1 off. LOL Also, they start taking down the lunch buffet between 2-2:30 PM. I got there just in the nick of time. You absolutely need three plates. One for the Chicken & Ham, the other plate for the mashed potatoes, and gravy, stuffing and corn and the last for the salad bar. Oh, and yes, soup as well. Everything is made from scratch. It is so friggin awesome! This place would put Milly's or Coco's out of business back home. The salad bar was all fresh veggies and had something for everyone. For me, this was the absolute 'BEST' Ranch Dressing I have ever had. Again, homemade as well. The Broasted Chicken is by far the best I have ever had, and there is no one in So. Cal that can keep with this Diner. It was so crispy, juicy and flavorful! That was the key. Most broasted chicken has the fried and moistness down due to the way it is cooked; however, this place actually does what every restaurant does not do, it added seasoning to the chicken, and it was an absolute delight. The potatoes and gravy all homemade and my taste buds were jumping all over the place. Mix that with the corn, and it was yummy time! This indeed was food made with a lot of love, and I loved every bite of it. If it is not broke, don't fix it and this place is on point! One item I found genuinely endearing, I noticed they had Banana Cream Pie on the board as a desert, however, when I sat down, it was wiped off. I asked the waitress about it, and apparently, it had sold well during the day, and they were out. She said she would have the cook make one for me if I really want one! WOW! I said, oh no, I don't want him to go through that much work for me. She assured me it was no trouble and they would sell it out during dinner. Sure enough, as I was finishing up my wonderful lunch, she delivered a generous slice of pie. The banana cream pie was delicious. Nice fresh slices of bananas and what a way to top off one of the best meals I have ever had. The price for the Buffett, 8.99! What a tremendous value for this treat. I hope more people come across this excellent Diner as it is delicious. Apparently, they have a terrific breakfast as well. If this place were closer, I would gain a lot of weight really fast. LOL, however, this was well worth it. read more

Middleton Diner - Nice History of Michigan - New American Near Me - Middleton, Michigan

Awesome home cooked food is well worth the 30 minute drive. Their buffet is awesome as well, however, it seems a little pricey. They make homemade bread daily and their giant cinnamon rolls are awesome as well. We usually get them to go. read more

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Great browsers chicken and ribs on the buffet. In the middle of a rural area it is a nice surprise. Worth the stop.

This place is off the beaten path, but it's truly off the hook. It's basic down home cooking, buffet dinner. They have breakfast and sandwiches, but the buffet is the reason to go. Broasted Chicken, real Thanksgiving dressing and mash potatoes. Perfect sweet and creamy coleslaw. And honest to goodness fresh baked white and wheat breads. I'm sure their dessert is the bomb too, but I was too stuffed to try it. They sell out of desserts quickly so planning ahead and ordering it with your meal is suggested. I will be back anytime we are in the area. read more

You have to try this place. It's 45 minutes from where we live but it's worth the drive and quite the experience. Home cooked food and friendly service and the locals are genuine nice people. Worth the drive! read more

Middleton Diner has the best chicken dinner in Michigan. This is not an exaggeration -- they put the much-loved Zehnder's to shame. The only reason this place isn't famous is because it's in the middle of BFE. MD does pretty much the same food as Zehnder's -- a chicken dinner with broasted chicken, some other kind of meat (ham, pork chop, or roast beef), stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetable, bread pudding for dessert -- but it's an all-you-can-eat buffet! For super cheap! The lunch buffet is $7.45, and the dinner/Sunday buffet is a little more expensive, but still ridiculously reasonable, so even with gas prices being what they are, you come out ahead on the deal. It doesn't have much in the way of ambience. It looks like it was built in two stages. The first actually looks like a diner (albeit a faded one from the 30s), and the second room (location of the buffet and the majority of the seating) looks like a church basement. I personally find this to be comforting, because you know that a restaurant with wood panelling from the 70s is more focused on its food than on you, which is how it should be. So foodies and hipsters beware -- it's really great, carb-heavy food, but you won't get a lot of attention here unless your water glass is empty. After the meal, make sure to check out the grandma crafts (handmade dishcloths and dishtowels) or buy some wonderful local honey ($5.45 for 2 lbs). read more

Best chicken dinner in mid Michigan. Tough to get to but worth the drive. They have a small buffet in the evenings with fried chicken that is a great deal. Worth a trip if you're in the area. read more

Found this place on Yelp and decided to try it. Boy am I glad I did!!!! Great food, had the Buffett of broasted chicken, stuffing, gravy, corn and green beans. I could drink a gallon of the gravy!!! Was just like a great home cooked meal!!! Friendly staff and very reasonably priced. I would stop here if you have the chance!! Too bad I am flying back home to Texas today or I would have taken some gravy with me!!! read more

Best broasted Chicken, Pork Chops and Friday fish in Mid Michigan. No reservations on Tuesday or Friday All You can eat

Middleton Diner is one of the greatest down home places to eat. They make the most delicious chicken and stuffing. We always get the filling buffet with a variety of things on it. The homemade bread and pies are good too!!!!! read more

Will worth the dive, it is truly out in the middle of nowhere. Very good home style food. Friendly staff. Clean and family friendly. Daily menu deals. read more

Great place, awesome food, and excellent service. The only bad thing is that we live close and if you do not watch it, gaining a few pounds is in the future. read more

Very good food! Excellent staff. The buffet is always fresh and delicious. Breasted chicken is to die for!! Kids always love the burgers as they're huge and always tasty!! read more

First time here and will not be back. If you go somewhere to eat to spend your hard earned money at there place ....you would expect their food to be nice and hot right? Well apparently this place didn't think that. Since it's Sunday they only serve a limited amount of items. Along with a buffet. Well I didn't want cold food that was sitting on a buffet all day long so I ordered a chicken plate with mash potatoes. They took it of the buffet brought it in back and 're warmed it. My fiance's was steaming and dry (but edible) While my whole plate was luke warm... I ask the server if they could just 're warm mine some more and she took my plate went to the buffet..... she got a new plate and I watched her stir the potatoes and put them on a plate along with chicken and brought me a that plate. I tried it and it was exactly the same as I was served the last time. She came back and asked if it was any better and I said no. She grabbed my plate and said there's not much more we can do. I simply stated that it was fine im just not going to eat it then. My fiance said that all's I wanted was it hot like his (which is obviously true) and she rolled her eyes walked away and said okay. She then came back and asked if I wanted any pie. (Well obviously not since I couldn't even eat my meal) we also got charged for the buffet price not just a chicken plate. Very disappointed. read more

Don't be fooled by the outside. Very clean, nice and friendly. We were traveling and wanted something local. Found this diner on yelp. Very friendly staff. Fast service. Prices were a little higher than we expected but portions were large. My aunt had the sliced beef sandwich and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy. She said it was delicious. I had a cheeseburger. It was 1/3 pound cooked perfectly on a nice homemade bun. Hubby had a turkey sub and it was probably 10" long. Mom had the roasted chicken and a baked potato. Everything was delicious. We didn't have room for pie. We were the only ones who ordered from the menu. Everyone else was getting the buffet with included a large salad bar and a hot bar. Breasted chicken, ham and BBQ ribs were the meat choices. Since it was after 2:00 it was the dinner buffet which was $11.25. We weren't that hungry so we stuck to a lighter choice from the menu. However at 4:00 on a Saturday the place was pretty full. Highly recommend this little hometown diner. read more

Had the buffet, great selection of fresh fried fish, chicken, salad bar, and usual fare,well worth price.