Great place, a true Michigan landmark, great service and food in a restaurant the size of a backyard clubhouse.

This was an awesome LITTLE place.....hand made hamburgers cooked by one lil lady. When we sat down at one of THREE tables there were 20 orders ahead of us.... We only waited about 30 minutes. ....cooked to order and delicious!!! They do have outdoor seating available and when we left there were maybe 8-10 people waiting to even order. Great service, too. read more

I've driven through this city for the last 19 years as we traveled back and forth from Lansing to Traverse City but have never stopped here to eat until last week. We past the place first because it is so small and not what we thought it would look like. Then we couldn't find a parking place next to it so we has to circle around. Parking is easy and abundant at the corner across the street from the restaurant. The diner is super small, 6 booths and the kitchen sits open beside the seating area. There are also 2 picnic tables beside the building that can be used. It is busy and super small but definitely worth the try. The cooks and staff were older ladies, like grandma cooking for you. They were so nice and prepared the food quickly. I had the olive burger and also ordered the fried pickles. AMAZING food. The burger was so perfect and the pickle spears were the best I've ever had. Great place. Worth the time it takes to make the stop. read more

Whitehouse Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Clare, Michigan

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Good quality, fast service in this tiny diner. The 1 pound burger is crazy - 3 big patties piled on a bun with all the fixings. Soup was definitely home made and hot on a chilly fall day. read more

Whitehouse Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Clare, Michigan

I had heard a lot about this place. All good. Everyone was right! All food is made fresh to order. The burgers are what I'd heard all the hype about, but they have a nice breakfast menu too. The diners that were present recommend the omelettes, which would have also been great from the looks of them. Side note: getting to know the other diners, cook and waitress is pretty easy when there only a few booths right by the kitchen/grill. A very friendly atmosphere, fresh ingredients, and affordable. Nothing not to like here. I had the half-pound bacon burger with onion rings. The burger was good and juicy, the bacon was just right, and the bun was fresh-baked down the street at Cops and Donuts Bakery. All burgers come with fresh chopped onions, lots of pickles, ketchup and mustard. Or you can order how you like. Next time, breakfast! read more

Whitehouse Restaurant - Mmm! - Diners Near Me - Clare, Michigan

So. Good. A little hole in the wall in downtown Clare, and I mean little! Who doesn't love a fantastic hole in the wall? I didn't get pics because we had to get takeout and we were cramped in the car (we were also super hungry lol). I got the jalapeño olive burger, my husband got the philly sandwich and we got chili cheese fries to share. All were SO good. The chili on the fries was homemade! We will definitely be back when we're in town. read more

A great spot to stop on the way back from a trip up north! Fresh burgers and pulled pork. The diner feel is okay but the food takes the cake! read more

My boyfriend and I enjoy trying new places when we travel around, and love the family owned and dive type places on our road trips, but we definitely won't be stopping at Whitehouse again. We stopped in on a Monday afternoon on our way back home because we saw this place featured in an article claiming this was the place to stop in Clare. Definitely the worst experience we had of all the new places we've tried. First of all we waited almost 10 minutes before even being acknowledged and getting drinks. We watched as people who walked in after us have their order taken and served before us. It took over an hour to get 2 hamburgers and one side of fries. We were hoping that the food would be worth the wait but the burgers came out on a sad looking grocery store bun, over cooked patty and over cooked bacon with no seasoning or flavor...very bland. We were incredibly disappointed to waste time waiting for a meal we could have cooked better at home. The "bacon cheeseburger" fries were just fries with over cooked hamburger patty pieces and hard, over cooked bacon with shredded cheese on top that wasn't even melted. It definitely could have been cleaner inside, and would be nice if they put more than one menu at each table. We were well aware this was a small dive place, but even with that being said, it would have been nice to have a decent bathroom. Don't expect anything from the one bathroom that's located outside, around the front entrance. It's airplane size and disgusting with no supplies (soap, paper towel). We definitely won't be back and won't be recommending this place. read more

Not interested in a fancy, schmancy dining experience? Then check out the Whitehouse in Clare, MI. Don't blink or you'll miss this teeny tiny "whitehouse". Try to get here when it's not busy otherwise you'll be waiting for one of only a few booths, but well worth the wait. It seems "Grandma's" work the grill and are the wait staff so it's almost like eating at Grandma's! Plus they always have a smile and it's fun watching them work the grill like a real master griller! You can't help but watch since the booths are literally backed up to the grill station (Grandma's aproned behind isn't too obtrusive!) How's the food you ask? DELICIOUS! Nothing fancy just darn good home cooking. Burgers, hot dogs, breakfast and some of the best sweet potato fries. Hubby had a grilled cheese burger....burger patties between two grilled cheese sandwiches! I had a deliciously messy 1/3 lb cheeseburger and they are always fresh off the grill! This tiny little restaurant packs a big punch with the great food, friendly service and cute atmosphere. Be sure to check it out when in Clare! read more

Greasy spoon charm - if you get it, you get it. The Whitehouse has been a favorite for years. They have good burgers, omelets, pancakes, + coffee, just to name a few. They are consistently delivering flavorful meals with hardy portions. Yes, there are only 6 booths, which makes snagging one extra awesome. The oven is located up front so you can see + smell your food as it's being cooked before you. The decorations are dated, floor is slanted, + it hasn't changed much over the years - which makes the charm + quirk of this place extra timeless. Not much changes at the Whitehouse - the food is still better than ever. read more

Full stack of pancakes for the win! A great breakfast with great prices. I also recommend the Steak breakfast sandwich.

I love eating here. It's a bit cramped on the inside, but that contributes to it's overall charm.

Cozy little old time restaurant. The waitress treats you like your family! The omelette's are delicious! read more

Whitehouse Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Clare, Michigan

Nothing special. Your run of the mill greasy spoon. Definitely didn't like the wait of 45 minutes for our 2 to go burgers. I felt bad that we were taking up one of the few booths in the place waiting for our order. Apparently the cook can only do one order at a time, which might have been ok, but she took the large order of 3 people that came in AFTER us. They also took up space & didn't leave a tip. They really need a take out window! The 2 ladies running the place were at least 70+ years old. No problem there. Nice & friendly....just very slow. Won't be going back. read more

Stopped here despite the size of the place, due to yelp's rating. Glad we did! Delicious olive burger with fries done to golden brown like we like 'em! Cherry chicken salad made with fresh ingredients was so delish with homemade ranch, and homemade creamy asparagus soup tasted gourmet! Fast & delicious! We'll be back! read more

We seen drive though Clare every other weekend and seen this on a mighigan favorite restaurant site. We decided to give it a try. It's very very tiny we had to sit outside because I am 9 months pregnant and could not fit behind a booth. The wait staff was amazing and very sweet. We ordered the burger cheese fries and my husband got a cheese burger and I got a coney dog. It took a long time to get the food. But they were nice and made sure we had our drinks filled. When the food got there the fries were just OK not anything impressive. My coney sauce was more like salsa and it wasn't what I wanted. I scraped it off and just ate the hot dog. My husband said the burger was OK but not up to the hype. We will try again some other time. read more

Small,cute and yummy food. The people are really nice and a plave ill stop again when i come camping this way. Plus cute town. The place is really small bit its worth sitting inside. read more

Great little place! Very small but the food is good. Everything came out quickly. Portions were plentiful and the price was great! Two adults and two kids and everyone was happy and enjoyed their food. read more

Delicious!!! If you're looking for a home cooked meal this is the place to go. Everything from the burgers to the dessert made me feel like I was home. The onion rings and French fries also delicious. If you have the room I would recommend getting dessert. The sweet potato pie was out of the world...my picky kids even tried it then couldn't stop helping themselves to more. Love the small quaint atmosphere of this place. Truly home cooking. read more

Small venue but worth it. Great staff and real food cooked in front of you. Don't let the size of the place fool you read more

Whitehouse Restaurant - Full menu and breakfast is served all day - Diners Near Me - Clare, Michigan

Smoking or non-smoking is truly the question of the year at the Whitehouse. In a restaurant only about 15 feet wide, with the two sections separated by about 2 feet, it really doesn't matter. And that's a part of the charm. There aren't many places to get 24 hours a day, 365 days a year dining in this area and... well, the Whitehouse does it splendidly and cheaply. If you've never eaten at a "greasy spoon" restaurant, then you can basically tour the place that wrote the handbook right here in Clare, MI. The food is far from gourmet, but it does the job and it's sure a hell of a lot better than dining on Hamburger Hill (right off the freeway where all the fast-food joints are). Service is often curt but friendly and the other patrons are typically a good source of entertainment. It can be simply a crazy dude or just eavesdropping on the conversation of the table right next to you... which would be all of them. Maybe the Whitehouse doesn't deserve the 5 star rating I gave it - but it sure doesn't deserve anything less for the endless years of food and entertainment it has given me. read more

Cute. No longer 24 hours..it closes at ten and they only take cash because of the "high credit card fees." We were so hungry after off-roading and found this place. I got an omelet with country fries and toast and bf ordered a jalapeño burger. It came to $20. Not bad at all. And the grill is along the side and you can watch them make your food. Limited seating. It's quite cozy. I'm glad we stopped. Our waitress was very nice too. read more

Yes, it is a hole-in-the-wall place, great burgers and good, quick service. Healthy portion of onion rings to make the burger a basket. Burgers are juicy and have great flavor. Lots of options! You won't be disappointed! read more

Obviously this place is not a five-star fine dining restaurant but it's surely a five-star hole in the wall. The best omelette I've ever eaten was served here just a few days ago, and the second best omelet I've ever had was at this place 25 years ago, the last time I stopped in. I can't vouch for the other dishes, but they omelets have always been hot, fresh, and perfect. read more

Three of us walked in out of the pouring rain to an eclectic mix of people. Very friendly and welcoming staff. I dig the diner vibe here - small and not pretentious one bit with the grill and deep firer literally 4 feet away. . My brother had a half pound cheese burger with onion rings (which he devoured) his wife had a farmers omelette,with great marble rye toast. I had the fried pickles and a Reuben sandwich on thick sliced marble rye. Everything was grilled prior to filling the bread. It was a good sandwich. Corned beef was a bit salty, but the pickles were good. I saw another customer order the hot fudge brownie sundae - It looked huge! I may have to sneak back tonight for a late night chocolate fix. They're open 24 hours on the weekend. The next time I'm in the area, I'm definitely coming back! read more

Love this little gem of a dive. Been eating here for over 50 years. Great place for a late night snack. The breakfast omelettes are gyenormous, always hot cuz they make m right n front of u..delish Their chz burgs are to die for. Don't pass up this vintage cafe, it is an experience u don't want to miss. read more

We came here for a birthday luncheon after hearing good things about this establishment. Two of our party got the coney dog and neither one ate mote than half. The coney sauce was nothing more than greasy ground beef. The bun was so soaked with grease that the bottoms were orangish. I had the Rueben which was low to medium compared to all the other places I have had this sandwich (It is my favorite btw). The onion rings were the best part of our meal. The service was great and is the only reason to give two stars given the poor quality food. read more

Tiny restaurant, big flavor! There are only 7 booths. But the food was amazing! Had the Reuben sandwich and fries. Delish! Sister has the northern fries. Again delish. Do not miss this place if you are in Clare! read more

Whitehouse Restaurant? For years we have called it by what the big neon sign says in front: "Open Hamburgers". It is THE place for a late night, after-drinking grease fix. It is also great for a dinner and a movie night since the sole movie theater is a block south. If you are staying at the Doherty Motor Hotel (http://www.yelp.com/biz/doherty-motor-hotel-clare), this is the cheaper alternative to the breakfasts served there. The breakfasts are on par with any of the other independently owned diners in the area. The coffee is nice and strong. Their onion rings are tasty. The burgers, despite the neon endorsement, are not anything to get excited about; small, flat and from frozen. Adam W. hit the nail on the head with this minuscule eatery. It has an overriding characteristic charm that outweighs any negative you could pick at. It is a no-frills diner that doesn't try to be anything else. read more

We really enjoy this place. It's quaint, and there's always some characters coming or going. The food is well-prepared, though nothing really special. But they have a good combination of good service, consistent food, interesting atmosphere, etc. It's a diner, and they do it very well. read more

Potato soup and coney fries. Both were delish snd mire than I could eat. But they were good as leftovers too.

My wife and I planned a stop on our trip from Flint, MI to Good Hart, MI. We walk in the door and were completely ignored. We stood there for 10 minutes and no one even acknowledged our presence. It was a Sunday afternoon and the inside seats were all full, but there were people getting ready to leave. We decided to just bag it and left. If you go to Claire, go down the road a little further to Dairy Phils. Great little drive in with a huge variety of all the best drive inn food. We will never visit the Whitehouse again. read more

Every time I've gone to the Whitehouse, I've enjoyed it. It's like stepping back in time, and the food is good, solid diner fare. The cheeseburgers in particular are delicious. Don't expect fine dining, but if you enjoy the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; you'll probably like the Whitehouse. The only downside? Last time I was there, I got caught short because I didn't have any cash - no plastic accepted. read more

They try but if they're rude to you when the place is full head on over to The Nest in Farwell. Not as "cute" but lots more space, great food and impeccable service. read more

Love places with atmosphere! Great burgers! read more

Whitehouse Restaurant - This dude is a burger professional!! - Diners Near Me - Clare, Michigan

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A local institution. Cozy, friendly, tasty and gives you a nostalgic feeling of what things were long ago when life was simpler. Loved the staff, had a great meal, chatted with some friendly locals and out of towners like myself. Worth a visit. read more

Wow 6 small booths and 2 great young ladies doing it all. The cook has been here 45 years and our server only 31 years. DH had the double BLT and I had the breakfast BLT. Special requests were no problem. The cooked the bacon for our order, none of this pull some cooked bacon out of the drawer and put it on the sandwiches. Great place. read more

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Stopped in back in October of 2018 and still am using the coffee cup I bought here. Fantastic breakfast and it really is a charming diner. Highly recommend the Corned Beef Hash Omelette. Nevef thou cheese t of doing that before, now Imake them at home. Not as good as at the Whitehouse, but considering the 2 plus hours long drive to get there... It gives me reason to come back on my next trip North. read more

I was in the area for business and decided to drive a little bit out of the way to try a local place. I was not disappointed! Great place. Everyone was very nice. The double bacon cheeseburger and French fries were AMAZING! It is a no frills place with excellent service and even better food! It is a very small place with maybe 7 small booths, but worth the wait! Do yourself a favor and make this a stop if you are in the area. read more

Satisfactory, warm and welcoming. Always a place to stop on in and have some coffee and a great breakfast, omelette, nachos or sandwich w/ sweet potatoes fries. I always love dessert too! Handmade peanut butter pie is to die for! read more

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