Brandon Twp.- Good golly, Miss Molly!
Miss Molly’s Diner, 5500 Oakhill Road, opened Dec. 1 in the township and is already developing a fanbase.
‘We’re getting pretty attached to you guys,? says Gloria McLaughlin, as she and her husband, Jim, walk in the front door of the restaurant located in the Cracker Barrel plaza at the corner of Oakhill and Sashabaw roads.
Diner owner Molly McCarthy smiles. The McLaughlins have visited four times in the past week, and she is happy they are enjoying the meals and atmosphere at Miss Molly’s Diner.
‘This is a youthful diner with personality,? said McCarthy. ‘We have very high-quality food and a relaxing atmosphere… I wanted it to be warm, comfortable, relaxing. I wanted it to be a place where you could get a great meal at a great price.?
While she has been working in the food industry her entire life? her parents own a restaurant in Buffalo, N.Y.? this is McCarthy’s first time owning a restaurant. She purchased the diner to fill a niche in the community, noting there is no other restaurant in the immediate area. Renovations took a few months and her mother assisted in diner decor? with dark, sleek wood for the booths, tables and chairs, framed black and white photos of 1950s and 60s icons Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren adorning the walls, and chandeliers illuminating the dining room which seats 40. Four 42-inch televisions are ready to offer a great view of various sporting events.
Most important, the menu offers a variety of cuisine for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Several dishes are named after McCarthy’s friends and family, including Uncle Pep’s Meatball Bomber, which features fresh baked Italian meatballs on a hoagie bun, with a spaghetti sauce that is her grandmother’s recipe, and topped with melted Provolone cheese. The Big Chuck Burger is a fresh 8-ounce patty loaded with Swiss cheese, grilled mushrooms and onions, with a secret sauce and served with a side of sweet potato fries. Beef on ‘Weck,? a roast beef sandwich, comes from her Buffalo roots, which she also draws on for the ‘real deal? Buffalo wings, which she notes are ‘crispy and crunchy, with wonderful flavor.? Miss Molly’s Mac and Cheese is also not to be missed, as McCarthy notes ‘it’s nothing like you’ve had before.?
Some of the menu dishes are even named after the stars on the walls, such as the ‘Presley Platter,? a double decker fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, and ‘The Sophia Loren,? spaghetti tossed in olive oil and garlic with broccoli, tomatoes, and grilled chicken.
All the breakfast staples? omelets, pancakes, waffles, French toast and biscuits and gravy? can be found here, and dinner entrees include fried or grilled chicken, meatloaf, and fish and chips, as well as a grilled steak dinner.
‘We have something for everyone,? said McCarthy, who is also expecting her liquor license to arrive in the mail anyday, at which time she plans to have mimosa and bloody Mary brunches on weekends. ‘Come on in to Miss Molly’s? we have a fun atmosphere, great food and great service and we’re looking forward to seeing you.?
Miss Molly’s Diner, 5500 Oakhill Road. 248-572-6777.