Fantastic New York Style Deli and Diner in Mid Michigan-State Side Deli

You walk into the Okemos location of State Side Deli and you feel like you are in a New York Diner. We were greeted by the owner, a very sweet woman, who told us to sit wherever we would like.  My daughters loved that we got to pick own seats.  The menu is fantastic!  You can order breakfast all day!  I would have, if I hadn't had breakfast for dinner the night before.  The rest of the menu is a combo of diner and deli food; Corn beef sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers.  There wasn't an item on the list I didn't want to eat.  I knew exactly what to get my son, the BLT, his all time favorite sandwich.  They have a kids menu so one of my daughters was set with the kids chicken tender meal.  My other daughter surprised me by ordering the chili in a bread bowl!  I love her sense of adventure.

We got fried pickles to start!  I was so excited to see that they had them.  Very few places do.  They were so good!  They were crispy and seasoned well.  I really dislike mushy fried food so these made me very happy!  They come with a ranch dipping sauce because who doesn't love to dip!

My picky one got her chicken strips and I prayed she liked them.  She said, "Mommy these are real chicken, you have to try them"!  She actually ate two of them!
That is huge! Guess she liked them.

The bowl of chili was a success too!  I was worried at first, because it looked nothing like my chili and you know how kids are, but she said "Mommy that looks so good"!  She was right!! And it tasted good too!!

I went for the big prize, and a local favorite,
The Price Is Right.  Really that is the name!  What a sandwich it is!  Corned beef and pastrami with swiss and coleslaw on grilled rye!  Totally New York and perfect!  I actually ate the whole thing!  Don't judge me, please!  It was so good!!! Moist corn beef and spicy pastrami with creamy coleslaw on warm toasted rye, awesome good.

Just as we were finishing up, my girls discovered that they had smoothies.  Well that is a semi healthy dessert so why not.  This was really the icing on the cake (or lack there of) for my girls!  They loved this place!

After my son had his BLT, he agreed.  Extra thick bacon in abundance!  He had half for dinner and was super excited to have the other half for lunch today.  We were all happy at State Side Deli and will be headed back soon for breakfast!

Farm Fresh, Fantastic Food- Fork in the Road, Lansing

I have been hearing about this little place in Lansing that serves fresh, locally grown products in a creative and fun way.  Fork in the Road, is appropriately named because it is located at the fork of West Saginaw and Oakland.  This little "diner" is quaint and fun!  There are full size 6-8 person booths in the center with tables surrounding them.  You order at the counter and then seat yourself.  I love this idea! It saves on wait time and keeps the flow.  This is great, because this place is popular!  

They have a small menu but it is amazing!!!  You can order breakfast or lunch at anytime.  My girlfriends and I went there for birthday brunch last weekend and it was a fantastic!!!  We all ordered something different.   This was awesome, because I was able to try some of the other dishes!  I was very hungry so I ordered the Cherry French Toast, and a side of scrambled eggs and breakfast potatoes with hot tea, of course.

I got my hot tea first, and they sent it with a tiny hourglass to measure the seeping time.  How cute is that??!!   Now on to the French toast.  I am not usually a fan of French toast, I prefer pancakes, but I was intrigued by the cherries, pastry cream and coconut, and oh, the hickory syrup!
 
How beautiful is that!!! I was so happy with my choice!  It was like dessert.  The tartness of the cherries and the sweetness of the pastry cream were like heaven!  Seriously!  An additional bonus was that the french toast was not soggy (the reason I am usually not a fan).   Now remember, I also got the eggs and potatoes.  These were not your ordinary potatoes.  They season them in a way that is amazing and a bit spicy.
My girlfriend ordered the Veggie Scramble.  I plate piled with fresh vegetables (onions, zucchini, tomato, eggplant, green beans and squash) with eggs and feta cheese.  And to make it even better you get a piece of bread with a pesto spread on the side.  She kept saying  "This is the best meal I think I have ever had".  I have to say I was so jealous of her meal!!  I mean, look at that plate!  
Most of the ladies ordered water but one of my girlfriends ordered the Hummingbird Nectar Iced Tea.  It was really good! 





She also ordered the Breakfast Burrito.  This is a meal and a half!  Tortilla stuffed with eggs, chorizo, fried tofu, kimchi, quinoa, eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomato, and feta. It is topped with creama. This is the definition of a brunch item.  

 

The remaining member of our group ordered the Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes.  They also came with that amazing hickory syrup!  My girlfriend's only complaint was that they didn't give her enough of the syrup.  

As you can see we really enjoyed our brunch!  We were all happy girls at The Fork in the Road.  We are already thinking of a time to go back!

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