Located at 11616 Detroit Avenue, My Friends is a diner with a deep history and great food. The diner was originally located at the corner of Detroit and West 117th, where it was first known as The Detroiter and then The Vienna after a location change. Now in yet another location, My Friends is open 24 hours a day and brings a family-oriented restaurant to Lakewood.
The 24-hour availability makes My Friends the go-to destination, no matter the time of day or night. The restaurant offers a large menu with various breakfast, lunch, and dinner options served throughout the day, alongside an amazing dessert counter. The cakes are delivered fresh from a bakery in Chicago. From carrot cake to pineapple upside-down cheesecake, there is an option for everybody.
The My Friends menu has a selection of classic salads and sandwiches of all sorts, including Reubens, blt’s, Gyros, and unique creations. Appetizers like mac and cheese bites and jalapeño poppers bring fried goodness to the menu. For main dishes, there are burgers, seafood dishes, and steak and chicken entrees. My Friends also offers classic breakfast foods like pancakes, waffles, eggs Benedict, omelets, and more.
They also offer a seasonal menu, which is decided on by My Friends’ cooks. “I have the freedom to do whatever I want with the specials,” said Chef Arjan Mellaraj.
The efficient staff keeps the place running smoothly. Between the chefs, servers, bussers, and hosts, My Friends stays clean and welcoming, ensuring a pleasant experience for customers. Cynthia Lester, a server at My Friends for 47 years, said, “The customers are the best in the world…I couldn’t miss a day because then I’d miss my regulars that come in.”
The restaurant has become a cornerstone of the community and holds a special meaning to many people. Longtime hostess Angela Thomas said, “This place is like the show Cheers. It is like that neighborhood bar where everybody knew everybody, and you just felt at home. That is what this is, but in restaurant form, and it’s awesome.”
The large interior makes My Friends the ideal place for team dinners or late-night hangouts. The welcoming environment and kind servers make it the best place to spend time with family and friends, creating a sense of belonging.
“When people walk into My Friends, I want them to feel happiness. We want it to be a family-style restaurant,” said owner Timothy Moff, who has owned the restaurant for eight years. That is definitely what people feel when they walk in, happy and welcomed, and a sense of belonging.
My Friends has a community and environment unlike any other. Even with the uniqueness of 24-hour service and all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is the people who truly make My Friends special.
No matter the craving, My Friends will have something to satisfy it, whether coming for breakfast or a piece of skyscraper cake. With a long history of serving Lakewood, the restaurant plans to stick around for much longer. The 24/7 service makes it easy to visit, so make sure to pop in.
