Athens Coney Island

Athens popped my Coney cherry, and over the years, I’ve kept on coming back for more.
Many years ago, my uncle brought me here and introduced me to the Coney, and when I reflect fondly on those summer vacation days I used to spend in Detroit, I always find myself thinking of Athens as some magical place where I experienced a major life milestone. It’s where I had my first legit diner experience, and it’s where I had my first experience of an All-​American classic.
Come here and have a hot dog, with fries and slaw, and maybe a shake. Nothing else. You won’t be disappointed. They’ve always done it right, and I suspect they always will.

if i could put zero stars i would. first of all i am a former employee and this business had changed owners. the business is going downhill fast. they have changed a lot of the food recipes like the chili for instance. they are more concerned about getting customers in, seated, and out as fast as possible. which one would think is good. but what they lack is customers satisfaction. i had had a lot of friends stop going there and if anyone ask me i would tell them to stay away.

Can not believe what I just experienced at a long time, great restaurant like Athens Coney Island. The hotdogs were changed by the new owners. the casings on them are awful and you don’t get much meat inside the dog because they’re smaller. Pete and Mark the previous owners did a great job keeping reputation old man Pacini started. this is horrible I’m not going to step back in there and I’ve been going there for 35 years and then some. hope they get their act together

Where to start.
Had always heard good things about this place. Shame on me for not checking with Unilocal first. Sure, we had a party of 10. But, we kept it pretty simple. Greek salads, coney dogs, fries and one breakfast order (a pancake, a egg, a piece of sausage and a piece of bacon). Pretty simple right? Well, apparently, it stunned the staff. It took 20 minutes before we saw any food. No salads, no pre-​cooked hot dogs, NOTHIN. 20 minutes! It’s not as if they were very busy either. Maybe 10 tables total. All the food came out staggered. 2 people got a salad. Then someone got an order of fries. Then 3 more salads showed up. Followed by the rest of our, hard and cold, fries and then eventually the breakfast. The service was just rotten. She was very disorganized and clearly had met her match. We even witnessed another table get up and walk out because they were waiting for their Hani and coney for a half hour. For Christ sakes! It’s a coney. You expect fast service. Most of the food is pre cooked and ready to roll. These guys just blew it.
Food was decent, except for fries. Chili was clearly National brand. Not very original. But the homemade sweet beet dressing for the salad was quite yummy. Although I’ll never taste it again because I won’t be setting foot in the joint. Just an example of how much poor service can ruin the entire experience.
****Gluten Alert!****
Not the place for gluten sensitive people. Limited menu choices and not very knowledgeable about ingredients. They told me mayo was dairy… good lord.

I know that Athens has been a Woodward tradition for years, but I for one think it’s sliding downhill.
The service is still pretty good, but out last two orders of coney’s a chili fries were bland and tasteless. It wasn’t just a lack of salt, but a total lack of flavor. The fries were undercooked, but the dogs themselves were still good. I hope they improve soon. It’s a long drive to Lafayette Coney for carry-​out.

I have been going to Athens for nearly 40 years. It was, without a doubt, the best Coney in Detroit. The fries were spectacular, the hot dogs and chili were head and shoulders better than anywhere else. The new owners killed it. Crappy fries with gross seasoning on them, cheap ingredients in the chili. Why would anybody buy an institution like Athens and turn it into a mediocre place. A sad day

My first time here with new ownership. Ordered breakfast and 30 minutes later still did not have my food. I will not be back.

Just went there last night for the last time. So sad. I have been going there for nearly 30 years. The new ownership is ruining it. This used to be the best coney in Bham if not one of the best restaurants in Bham. Gave the new version one more try the other night and walked out for the last time. They’ve gone to the fake cheese I noticed with my chili-​cheese fries, and there was no mustard on my coney dogs. Hello — no mustard? Are you from here? Blasphemous. The interior no longer has the charm it once did, and reminds me of an Applebees who is trying too hard.
It pains me to say this as I grew up on Saturdays going there with my Dad, but I’ll be taking my kids downtown to Lafayette.

I have been going to Athens since I was born-​I literally grew up as the diner grew from 25 seats to over 100. I remember spinning on the blue bar stools while waiting for my hot dog with no bun, no mustard, no chili. I remember Pete’s face when I ordered my first hot dog with chili on the side and then, years later, when I finally graduated to a coney (on a pita). I proudly own a «where man bites dog» t-​shirt.
When I went away to college I would come home at Thanksgiving and want to head immediately to Athens. While my mother is an excellent cook, Athens was what I wanted– the friendly atmosphere, the staff I had known for years, Mark sitting at the corner table doing the ordering for the next week. I would bring a friend home with me and we would go there because, duh, we needed to. It was comfort food at its finest.
As a part of my post-​grad life I do not get to come home often, but we still make a stop at Athens. However, my most recent trip home caused many a tear. First of all, my family went on a Thursday night and the place was dead-​bad sign number 1. Then we sat down and were greeted with new menus, but no matter I hadn’t needed a menu to order in years. I wanted a coney with light onions on a pita instead of a bun with a small chili fry on the side. «We don’t do small fries anymore and I can’t put your hot dog in a pita but I can give you a pita on the side.» Okay– this is fine. The chili was not the same, the pita didn’t have a hundredth of the yummy grilled texture, and the hot dog was mushy. It was like popping a balloon in my face. It was awful, I could only take two bites and had to stop. As mentioned in other posts, the fries were also terrible.
This was a place that I loved, loved, loved. I fully intended to have the after party food from my wedding catered from here so that Mark and Pete could stop by and say hello. But sadly that place is gone and a chain has arrived. They should change the name-​it is insulting to call this place Athens Coney Island.

Bacon: crisp. Sausage: thick. Ham: unnecessary. Eggs: lots. Hash browns: brown. Pancakes: savory and fluffy. Coney dog: yeah got that too. Listen up chumps, you crushing Woodward Ave? Then cruise your ass to Athens for all things American. Yeah I got the big breakfast, a short stack and a coney, but I’m about to have a big day and straight tear shit up around town so I need that good ass fuel you dig? Come in for the décor, stay for the food, be cool to the super sultry and classically beautiful diner waitress. Buddies, you don’t come through here, you don’t deserve a car. Motor city what up.

Wow, best hot dogs I have ever had in my life. Never ending glass of Vernors for only $ 2, and complete with extraordinary cole slaw and a mountain of fries. Top it off with literally the most genuine and kind server (Lisa) that I have ever had the privilege of having, and the quaint and humble feel of the 1950’s diner, and the result is Athens Coney Island.
What an amazing place, definitely a must see.

I have been going to Athens Coney Island for 25 years. The original owners knew my Dad and I by name and the food was outstanding. So when I found out they sold, I had to stop by and check out the new operation.
1. I got a negative vibe from long time staff. I could tell they were not happy.
2. Switch from Red Gold to Heinz, I had to make a comment. These guy obviously are rookies.
3. Chili was different. Tasted like canned crap.
4. They added some stupid salt seasoning to the fries, I’m assuming Lawrys. Fries were super greasy and just not good.
Why change an institution? If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I am a lifelong customer who will be hitting up Hunter House more when I come to town. They lost my business.

Devastated! I knew something wasn’t right when I didn’t see Pete or Mark as soon as I walked in… the atmosphere was… different. Not good different like when they expanded and updated the place several years ago now. BAD different, like the first time you visit grandma’s house after she’s passed and there’s no aroma of her cooking to hug you at the door. Morbid, I know — but that’s the feeling!
Full disclosure: I worked at Athens as a teenager and have been going ever since; I have a very sensitive palette for their menu so my opinion may be more biased than most. Yes, I still want to call out my order to the grill as «1 up no mustard» but now the staff there would probably just stare at me as though I was speaking Greek — which btw, WAS the roots of this Royal Oak landmark.
Ok ok, on to the actual meals we had. Athens chicken pita, ordered old school with only chicken & cheese like they used to do — yuck! Different pitas are being used, chicken was way over seasoned & the cheese looked like a a couple of kraft singles they didn’t take the time to melt (even though our order made it to the table in just under 20 minutes when back in the day you could order, eat & pay in that time). Kids got burgers which were fine, nothing special and the buns were obviously from a new vendor & looked more like whole grain Aunt Millies that you might buy for your turkey burgers at home.
The biggest disappointment came when the last items made it to the table. And since when are the coneys the last thing to be served??? I remember when a plate of dogs were in front of you 2 minutes after ordering & we gladly waited a couple extra minutes for the FRESH, CRISPY fries to be delivered and the salt would stick to thanks to the oil still popping as they were set on the table. Those days are long gone folks! The fries — which I learned were switched with crinkle fries for a minute until the rioting in the booths got someone’s attention — were awful… Luke warm, soggy and about half the size they used to be. Nothing worthy of dipping into the sides of the Athens chili and cheese we knew and loved. But guess what? The chili wasn’t even worthy of the soggy fries! I almost cried right there at the table when the waitress presented the coneys & sides of chili/​cheese. I could tell by the look & smell that this was not the Mitchell family recipe. At the very least, the same vendors are no longer being used. The onions were chopped so small they had zero crunch, the chili was a strange rust color with a completely different taste that nobody at the table enjoyed. I won’t go into detail about the dogs themselves but for those familiar with the nostalgia of «where man bites dog» you should know there is no longer that SNAP that made them stand out above all the rest. Ballpark perhaps?
As if dinner wasn’t bad enough we tried to order dessert in hopes of getting the homemade rice pudding. Uhhh, no rice pudding? I’ve heard this before when they’ve run out. Petes wife would fully stock the cooler with her secret recipe cups of pudding but it flew off the shelves because the whole place would smell like warm pudding and no one could resist ordering a cup or two, even it meant taking it home because you had no room left after scarfing down the best high calorie meal you could ask for. But no, they did not run out. They no longer have it, ever… EVER!!! Wtf! This was when I started asking questions: why did they change everything, where’s Pete & Mark, why did I feel like a stranger in a strange land???
BOOM! The place has been sold. New ownership. Some digging has led me to believe this is soon to be a Nicky D’s location. Thanks but no thanks. I will never be back. A tear falls as I shake my fists in the air one last time… Goodbye Athen’s, we had a good run :-(

A Michigan landmark for forever! Love this place! Awesome staff, excellent service, and the food is always consistent and great!

My friend and I hopped in this place prior to a concert and apparently it has changed ownership. She was disappointed to hear that her fave mac and cheese had been removed from the menu. I ordered up breakfast for dinner and it wasn’t awesome. Eggs were overdone, my toast overdone, and my bacon pretty rubbery, though I asked for burnt. Our service was also pretty bad. She was pleasant enough, but more interested in checking her phone at the counter multiple times. We had told her we were on limited time, but that snapchat session must have been more important. I’m disappointed, I’ve been here before and it’s a great little diner, great location, and formerly great food. I hope the new ownership steps it up a little.

I love Athens. It is by far my favorite coney in metro Detroit. I drive out of my way several times a month to go there. My extended family visits multiple times every time they come to town. When we have our annual 4^th of July party we go and buy a gallon of their chili. We served them as late night snacks at my wedding for god sake. So you can imagine my horror when I was told the new owners will be dumping the home made chili for national Coney Island chilli. Oh yeah, national, the crappy chain in every town in Detroit. One step above Kerbys… if I wanted National I would go to the local one five minutes from my house instead of driving a half hour for Athens.
Dear new owners you haven’t been there long but you just lost a life long customer, I will make sure to let everyone I know there is no longer any reason to drive to Royal Oak. Way to screw it up in record time.
It was said they may reconsider if enough people complain, I encourage everyone to do so.

Staff is very nice, food comes out quick and taste good, and it’s got a nice old style dinner feel to it. Definitely a place I would go to again and again.

When In Detroit (B-​ham) I do this place for coney dogs and fries. Great service, clean
and just a good old short order restaurant. You want fancy, your in the wrong place. Coney dog, loose burger, eggs and bacon yep good spot!

For a coney, this place is legit. I like the convenient location on Woodward & the fairly unique interior. My daughter loves eating up at the counter.
I’ve had breakfast and lunch here and there are decent menu items. Super cheap breakfast specials from 8 – 11, weekdays. Yummy buttermilk pancakes. Good salads and soups for lunch. I’ve not tried lots if items on the menu, but I’d expect they’d be as good quality and taste. Service is fine – nothing spectacular. But what is, nowadays? :/

This place epitomizes coney island mediocrity.
At first look, it’s a chromed out, old-​school street car style diner. Visually, this place looks pretty cool. The wheels fall off the wagon shortly after this.
After prefacing our meal with the waitress that we have tree nut and peanut allergies with our table guests, she said we were in good hands and to just stay away from the obvious menu items with nuts. Sounds knowledgeable. We order and the sandwiches all come plated with potato chips. I ask her if she knows if what kind of oil they are fried it and she didn’t know. So she went to go look and she tells us they come from a generic bag with NO LIST OF INGREDIENTS ON THE BAG! Meal over for our guests. I had the Greek salad and the lettuce looked a little brown and wilted; definitely not a vibrant and fresh green. Dressing was good though.
I’ve been here before for coneys and fries and they on par with most places. Nothing extraordinary and certainly not unique. GFS or US Foods all the way. Again, not bad but not great.
When it comes to customer food sensitivities this place strikes out. I dub this carelessness. Most places have a binder with ingredients, Athens does not. With so many other coney/​diners around town, I’ll pass on ACI.