Grosse Pointe, MI — I’ve been connecting with some of my newer readers in recent weeks, which has led to some great restaurant suggestions and introductions to other foodies!

One such foodie, whose path shares similarities to my own, happens to be Robert Stempkowski. Robert is a longtime food/restaurant writer and works for the Detroit Metro Times. Robert also has an extensive history within the food industry and in none other than my former stomping grounds in Arizona, where he worked as a chef and restauranteur in the Phoenix and Scottsdale markets for many years.

Like myself, Robert returned to our native Metro Detroit in 2022 (albeit he spent a few more years in Phoenix than I did!). Also, like me, Robert has been getting re-acquainted with Detroit’s dining and food scene. A lot has changed and improved over the years in terms of options, variety, and representation around Metro Detroit. So, we did what any two food writers would do and made plans to meet up for lunch.

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We decided to meet at SideStreet Diner in Grosse Pointe, a downtown hub serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day! The eatery came highly recommended by Robert, who had just finished a feature on SideStreet for the Metro Times. Robert conveyed some of the restaurant’s unique story to me, and after a quick search of the diner on Google and Instagram, I was easily convinced.

SideStreet Diner holds down a cozy corner spot (conveniently next to a parking lot) on St. Clair Ave, just south of Kercheval Ave in Grosse Pointe. Robert mentioned that one of his favorite aspects of the diner is its mom-and-pop vibe, run by a family proud of its Irish heritage. Good thing Robert and I happened to visit just a few days before St. Patrick’s Day!

I arrived at the aforementioned parking lot at noon last Thursday. It was a rather dark and gloomy kind of day, with a few droplets of rain beginning to make their presence known as I walked into the restaurant. The bright and colorful exterior of the establishment provided a distinguishable glow in contrast to the dreary, overcast skies above. The exterior design and sign fixtures gave the diner that downtown establishment feel, a proper gathering place for everyone.

Even for a bit of a cooler day with weather far from ideal, that didn’t slow down the loyal patrons of this establishment because most tables were taken save for one or two. I met with Robert once inside, and we sat at a table in the center of the dining floor as servers zig-zagged between tables, some carrying plates overflowing with food, others still wielding the latest pots of fresh coffee. SideStreet Diner’s menu is designed to offer something for anyone at any time of day, including old diner favorites. One of the first things I noted (and immediately set the stage for the rest of the dining experience) was my first impressions of the cordial and friendly staff.

Our server, Stacey, was so cool. Stacey treated us like we were longtime friends, and it made me feel right at home in this diner, where I suddenly felt like I was already part of a community. Robert recalled how, during his first visit to SideStreet Diner, Stacey announced to the restaurant’s patrons within his first five minutes there that the meter enforcement officer had arrived in the parking lot next door, a warning for those who might need to run out to renew their meter times. Robert phrased it best: now THAT’s hospitality!

“From a service standpoint, SideStreet treats us to hospitality that comes from a collective sense of top-down ownership. Everyone’s all-in on the effort, and it comes across loud and clear. As to the ambiance, the vibe is primo mom-and-pop. You feel as cared for as can be. And the crowd: multi-generational and cross-cultural. A happy roomful of regulars being tended to be a handful of real hospitality pros,” Robert said.

Stacey pointed out some of the menu favorites and explained the Celtic Celebration specials. As she broke down each item from the specials, I was impressed to hear that the Irish sausages and meats were all stuffed and produced in-house by two brothers in the family. This family endeavor is helmed by Meghan Josefosky and Sheila Taylor, who are cousins. Robert explained some of the family’s history and pointed out some cool factoids about the diner. I often do this myself whenever I take friends to beloved eateries or places I recently featured. I must admit, it’s nice to be on the receiving end of the cliff notes for once from a fellow professional dishing out knowledge on a new restaurant!

This awesome family put together one helluva holiday menu. As tempted as I was to try the Corned Beef and Cabbage or the Irish Grilled Cheese, I went with Stacey’s suggestion of the Scottish Meat Pie and added a side order of Potato Leek soup. Stacey gave me all the deets on the meat pie as she broke down the specials and I was sold on ordering it before she finished her sentence. Stacey’s candor was phenomenal and made the dining experience feel like we had all been great friends for years, even though, technically, this was my first time meeting her and Robert. It was the general vibe that permeated through SideStreet Diner; the staff just made you feel like you were part of the family.

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While waiting for our food, Robert and I exchanged stories from when we both happened to live in Arizona. It turns out that I lived right down the street from a popular Phoenix restaurant that Robert used to manage called Richardson’s. I had eaten at the restaurant, which specializes in New Mexican cuisine, twice during my time in the Valley of the Sun, and from what I recall, I loved the food immensely both times!

I filled Robert in on my journey as a journalist, which took me around the country to various markets and cities over a span of eight years before returning home to Metro Detroit. I explained to Robert how, during my time back, I’ve realized that the most fun I’ve had has been operating this blog and sharing the stories of chefs and the burgeoning food scene around Detroit. Talking shop with a fellow food writer or chef in a new restaurant will always be considered a highlight on the personal life reel. Food is what brings people together after all, and to support Robert’s earlier depiction, it’s diners like SideStreet that exist as hallowed ground for multi-generational and cross-cultural crowds to gather and bond over the shared love for food.

After a couple of minutes, my Potato Leek Soup had arrived! This was a deliciously creamy soup with hearty chunks of potato mixed in. The soup was simple yet elegant and reminded me of how flavorful a dish could be with only a few key ingredients. The leeks were fresh and simmered into the soup well, which had hints of onion and garlic to its taste. I’ve always appreciated potato leek soup, and I must say that I loved SideStreet Diner’s rendition.

As I slurped away at this soup, scooping for the last spoonful or two, our main orders arrived. Alongside my Scottish Meat Pie, Robert got a Reuben sandwich with fries. Before I begin praising one of the best meat pies I’ve ever had, a quick shout for how great the Reuben sandwich looked that Robert received. I’ll order the occasional Reuben or Patty Melt when I’m out for lunch or in a good pub setting, so I got to pay respects to what looked like one tasty sandwich (and the fries were crinkle cut!)– see below.

Alrighty, it’s been some time since I last had a meat pie, but once Stacey set down my plate, I knew I had made a great choice. This meat pie was smothered in a delectable house gravy, which had exquisite taste and consistency. The typical approach to a Scotch pie is a small, double-crusted pie filled with meat of some sort. Traditionally, it would be minced mutton, but generally comes filled with beef or sometimes lamb. The Scottish Meat Pie at SideStreet Diner gets stuffed with meat processed in-house, similar to the sausages.

I forked the first bite with relative ease, my cutlery carving through the pie like a surgeon’s blade. The mixture of mashed potatoes, peas, thick crust, and meat amid the sea of gravy was a well-rounded delivery of flavor and complementing food textures. The savory gravy brought out great flavors with the minced beef and perfect dollop of mashed potatoes. As a parsley fan, I’m always pleased to see it garnish dishes, adding the extra emerald visual addition to the overall mosaic of the dish. My only regret was ordering one meat pie. Although I barely finished the one, it would have been great to have another one saved later for dinner!

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Stacey surprised Robert and me with a few dessert treats as we finished our meal. I could barely finish my meat pie; by the last two to three bites, I was already quite full. I was able to manage a bite from each of the desserts and took the remainder with me to work as leftovers to give to some coworkers. I was blown away by the homemade desserts, which could honestly be winning awards for how outstanding they are (see below). I was very grateful for the sweets and that I could share them with some friends at work, who also loved them very much!

Not enough praise could be said for the overall experience, stellar ambiance, and warm environment created so congenially by the staff and fellow diners at SideStreet. At one point during mine and Robert’s meal, I overheard the gentleman sitting at the table to my right politely get the attention of one of the servers and state that not only was it his first time dining at the restaurant, but that it was one of the best meals he had enjoyed in some time. Overhearing another patron enjoying their meal as much as Robert and I inspired me even more to write about this foodie adventure to such a fantastic establishment.

As I near the one-year mark since launching this blog, I’m very grateful to see the ways in which I’ve grown along with it. It’s thrilling to be at a point now where I’m engaging regularly with followers, meeting fellow foodies, and exchanging stories and restaurant suggestions. The food and dining experience at SideStreet Diner far exceeded any expectations I could have imagined, in part due to the sheer sense of welcoming I felt while there and witnessed amongst others. I appreciate Robert’s recommendation for the eatery and look forward to future foodie collaborations! And thank you to the staff at SideStreet Diner for the marvelous meal and adventure.

For more information about SideStreet Diner, click here.