RJ’s American Grille

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire! We don’t need no water let the… burn!

Shockingly bad is a total understatement. What follows is a bit verbose, but to capture the sheer ineptitude of our experience, I felt as specific and in-​depth a description as necessary was warranted. As others have mentioned, it’s essentially Hellas, a Greek restaurant that retains all the same décor, with the pretense of returning to a «bar and grill» theme. The wife and I decided to try it, as we had actually enjoyed the previous incarnation of RJ’s, and had frequented former restaurants in the space, mostly to mixed results. Well, this time, the results were not mixed, just downright awful.
We were greeted by what I can only guess was an owner, who politely let us sit where we wished, as it was late afternoon, and there was only one other table seated in the entire place. Upon waiting for several minutes for a waiter, who turned out to be the owner, we ordered some drinks, she ordered iced tea, while I opted for club soda with lime only to be informed – and yes, I’m not joking – they did not have club soda… at a restaurant… with a bar. He then offered me some Perrier, which I accepted, though he forgot to bring lime. Still not sure if they really did not have club soda or whether he just didn’t know what club soda was.
The menu contained some standard grilled items, and a conspicuous number of remaining Greek and Mediterranean dishes, but opted to start with some apps: a French onion soup for her, minestrone for me, and mussels to share. Then we waited… and waited… and waited… until finally our soups arrived. Erin’s French onion was lackluster, very sloppy (more cheese on the dish under the bowl than IN the bowl) and the broth was rather bland, with none of that rich beefy goodness you would hope for. My minestrone was rather blatantly a canned and further watered-​down version which would have been put to shame by a decent can of Progresso. Utterly flavorless.
But lest you think I am being overly harsh or cruel, the «best» was yet to come. Around 15 minutes later our mussels arrived, terribly overcooked into rubber and swimming in an incredibly over-​reduced sauce, which led us both to conclude that they were either left over from a previous service, or just really old mussels served with last night’s sauce. Again, that’s not even the «best» part: the bread that was served with them was two, toasted sesame seed hot dog buns. Seriously, you read that right… hot dog buns. Then, after quickly deciding that we were done and wished to cash out, we waited for over twenty minutes, while the owner was no where to be found. When he finally came back to our table we informed him the mussels were no good, and my wife added «Yeah, and these are hot dog buns,» half-​expecting that he might at least feel a bit sheepish and acknowledge how ridiculous it was. His response?
«No they aren’t.»
«Um, oh yes they are!»
«Well, we don’t serve hot dogs,» (See, I told you it was going to get better!)
Finally, exasperated, she replied, «Seriously?! OK, that really doesn’t matter, because these are hot dog buns!»
Finally, the unapologetic cheapskate acquiesced, and took the mussels off our tab, then proceeded to take another fifteen minutes to bring us our check. Needless to say, we immediately paid it and got the hell out of there. And let me say, I have NEVER (seriously, not one time till this one) refused to leave a tip at a restaurant till this particular experience, nor am I prone to excessive hyperbole regarding dining experiences, but I can confidently say, after years of experience as both a diner as well as a decent amount as a cook/​waiter/​chef/​manager in the industry, this was by far, one of the WORST if not THE WORST and most feeble, lazy attempts at customer and food service I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing.

My coworkers and I came here for lunch to find that we were the only people in the building and sat down for what would prove to be one of the most bizarre dining experiences of my life. As I’m sure nobody wants to read a review that is as long as our meal was, here are the lowlights:
1)While we were sitting down, the waiter asked me what I wanted to drink and left before taking any other drink orders
2) One drink had a mysterious glob floating in it (rice??)
3) We were told they normally don’t open until three, despite the hours on the door stating they opened at 11
4) We were told that the staff was busy cleaning up from a party the night before (not sure what type of party requires cleanup until noon the next day but I wouldn’t want to be invited)
5) The menu featured items with names that had no relevance to the actual food (i.e. the jalapeño burger [billed as ‘very healthy’] had no jalapenos on it – not even in the cheese, our waiter told us the difference between two salads is that one had no lettuce in it)
6) We were all brought chicken noodle soup that we did not order
7) Everything we ordered came out separately (an investment in a tray would really do wonders)
8) I asked for mayo on the side of my burger and was brought what looked like honey mustard with unknown bits in it
9) One of my coworkers ordered a bacon cheeseburger which was given, sans bacon, to another coworker. The woman who had asked for the bacon cheeseburger was given the other coworker’s plain hamburger. When the waiter was told that the cheeseburger needed bacon and the hamburger needed lettuce/​tomato/​pickles, he seemed befuddled as to why we could not just cobble together a full order from other plates though he did eventually bring lettuce/​tomato/​onion (she gave up on the pickle dream). He then assured us he would bring bacon, with a tone that suggested it was perfectly normal for it to be served on the side, later
10) We had to repeat requests for condiments multiple times (which all came out separately)
11) When I asked for a refill on my drink, I was brought what appeared to be coleslaw dressing («I asked for another Coke…» «Oh, so you don’t want this?” – he still left it just in case)
The food was okay, certainly nothing special and not worth the hassle.

I’m really disappointed in this new «reincarnation» of RJ’s. They still have all the Greek murals from Hellas and they’re using The old Prime steakhouse carpet runners (with the logo on it). It’s really cheesy and looks unprofessional.
What’s the point of opening for business when the menu items aren’t made as described, and when the only waitress in the entire restaurant doesn’t know the menu or what the chef is able to substitute, it doesn’t really make for a good patron experience.
Although, I must say that besides not knowing the menu, the waitress was fabulous (how can she not be when there’s only 3 tables in the restaurant), and we tipped her well for her great service. No fault to the waitress though really… she was obviously new and It must be hard to keep a good employee when you have no customers to make money off of.
The food on the other hand is far beneath what the old Rj’s used to be. I got the prime rib sandwich (kind of like a philly cheese steak) but it was supposed to come with a horseradish aioli and it didn’t. When I asked for it, I got a side of horseradish. The sandwich itself tasted ok. But the meat portion was extremely small compared to the same sandwich I had just a few weeks prior. I ordered a side of broccoli steamed for my 8 month old son, without butter, and my husband had a Greek salad that was standard.
I wish they could get a little more funding, make this the RJ’s it used to be when it was in the other building that’s obviously no longer there. Because at this point, it’s really just a waste of money being open.

Half the meals didn’t arrive as stated on the menu. Water tasted horrible and when stated something was to of the water was filtered Beef was overdone. Baked potato served with 2 individually wrapped butters. Rice tasted like Rice a Roni. Soup tasted like watered down Campbell soup and was overpriced.
Definitely not planning on going back!

Our server was nice and as responsive as the ktchen would let her. Then it was mostly downhill from there. The meals came out one at a time. Amazingly, the five of us were the only ones dining… after about an hour, the last meal arrived. Let’s just end this with the meals were one star, at best.

The good was just okay (not great, not bad). The service was terrible. I walked in to a view of the back of a man who was too busy watching the tv rather than greet a paying customer. After several minutes, he finally acknowledged me and offered to seat me. Water came, but no other drink was offered. He came back and said «I guess I can take your order.» Well I’m sure glad somebody can. Food comes and is edible. Not one time did anyone come back until I pushed my plate to the end of the table and placed my credit card next to it. Lady comes by and says do you want carrot cake? I state no, check please. Don’t waste you money or time. Very disappointing!

This place was awful. The server’s tried their best. But. I would still say they were awful. The food, the service, the ambiance, EVERYTHING… AWFUL. Do NOT recommend. Don’t bother…

RJ’s reopened next to their original location on Northwestern Highway, in what was Hella’s Greek Restaurant for a short time. They have not bothered to redecorate. It still has the Greek theme, but with old Frank Sinatra tunes playing.
This was the farthest thing from a bar & grill. The menu was sparse — and the meals were not prepared as ordered. My husband ordered tilapia with an artichoke & caper sauce over pasta. He got plain grilled tilapia with broccoli and rice. When we asked the waitress, she shrugged and said different chefs prepare it differently. We asked to talk to the manager but no one came to apologize. By the time she offered to have the chef re-​make the dish, we were almost done eating. I ordered the fish & chips and they were obviously just some frozen product. Didn’t taste fresh at all. And worst of all — they never provided a beer and wine menu. It was awful all the way around. This restaurant has changed hands so many times, and this one won’t be around for long. Very disappointing.

Wow, just wow. One of the best restaurants! Their hamburger was the best I’ve ever had and the BBQ ribs are to die for.

Soooooooooooooooo — this was clearly, very cleary, an old Chili’s that was barely done a little remodeling. The menu is similar to Chili’s and other «American» chain restaurants, but without the «chain»…
We came at lunchtime. The place wasn’t super busy– and we each just got a beverage and meal. I’ve got to be honest, service was kind of shoddy… and my meal (The California Pasta) was one of the saltiest things I’ve eaten in quite some time. Salty to the point where I could barely eat any of it. I’ll give them credit for at least having a nice selection of local brews available by the bottle or can.
I’m willing to give it another try if someone else suggests it, but I can’t imagine I’ll be hurrying to suggest it again.

Good consistent food. Been here many times and never had any issues or bad food. Everything we have ordered we would order it again. Lot’s of TV’s in the Bar area (Only place we have sat). Good loaded fries (for a appetizer) and pretty decent pizza as well.

After checking out their menu online, and reading the RJ’s posts on Unilocal,I was happy to support an independent restaurant that was attempting to «out chain» the chain restaurants that surrounded it.
So once again, it’s with a heavy heart that I preface my review by telling all who read that I HATE giving RJ’s one star, but our dinner tonight deserved it because there wasn’t a single meal amongst our family that was edible.
Now when I say edible, I mean food you can actually keep down. Playing it safe, we ordered an RJ’s Signature burger, an order of their babyback ribs, and a cheeseburger for our daughter. Everything we ordered was burnt to charcoal. I’m talking hockey puck consistency on the RJ’s Signature burger — which was probably done to mask the fact it was completely devoid of flavor.
The ribs were no better. You could literally taste the butane coming off them.
The only redeeming quality of the establishment was its staff who were courteous and friendly. I’m sure had they known just how bad the food was, they wouldn’t have served it to us.
So no, I won’t be coming back to RJ’s any time soon, which is depressing because that strip on Northwestern Highway is turning into a row of massage parlors and as much as I hoped RJ’s would serve cuisine worthy of repeat visits, there’s simply no happy ending worth mentioning ever again.

I had a bad experience the first time, hence my earlier 2-​star review. But I’ve been back a few times this year and now I’m a fan. They have a nice outside seating area that is the perfect place to soak in some rays during your one hour break from cubicles and fluorescents. I must say the service is still on the slow side so if you’re in hurry for lunch it might be a bust.
The fries are good and I recommend the wraps as well. I had some type of mexican wrap once and I think it might have been the best thing I’ve had there.
Overall, legit lunch spot.

This place is consistent, I’ve been back two more times and have only had sandwiches but all good same with the apps. The only issue I would say is just make sure or drinks are refilled before they are out. Other than that it’s great! Check it out.

Wow. I’d been wanting to try this place for a while, and I was not at all disappointed. Best of all was my delicious meal. It was a special that they were having, so it wasn’t on the menu, but man was it good. I remember the waitress describing it as chicken coated in parmesan cheese and bread crumbs and topped with a lemon and Chardonnay sauce. It came with some great rice and veggies too.
Portion sizes there are great. I was able to bring about half of it home to eat later, and my dad’s chicken parm meal was even bigger.
The waitress was so nice that she was almost too friendly. But she recommended the special and was absolutely right about how good it was.
The place looks just like a Chili’s or Friday’s inside. All the paraphernalia on the walls, plus some nice flat screens, make it pretty comfortable.
Service was fast. I was actually surprised that we got in and out so quickly. We even went during the dinner rush. I’m glad Buddy’s was so packed, cause we wouldn’t have tried this place otherwise.

This is a restaurant I keep rooting for but I’m thinking they can’t do it. I’ve been here 5 or 6 times since it opened and there has been one fairly consistent problem: the kitchen.
My most recent visit was no exception, except this time the service was weak as well. We had a group of 13, so you do expect it to take a little longer. Group was fully seated at 6:00, but drinks weren’t served until 6:20 and orders weren’t taken until 6:30 pm. This to me was unacceptable. Food didn’t arrive until 7:15 pm.
I had the char grilled salmon filet (served like a burger) — did not taste the advertised sauce on it. I also got the onion rings — they are good. But I told the server I was quite disappointed in the quantity of them, especially after waiting 45 minutes for the food! At this point, they started bringing extra onion rings.
Sadly, I’m not in a hurry to return. The food is good, and priced well, but they still have major kitchen issues after being open more than 8 months.

Nice addition to the Farmington Hills restaurant scene, but I’m not convinced it will last. Menu has lots of options, many vegetarian and a nice kids selection ($ 4.99−5.99). Service was OK but food seems to be very slow in cooking/​coming out of kitchen. I don’t think it’s a service issue – I think it’s a kitchen issue. Sweet potato fries are very good, and a great change from the regular!

RJ’s stands in place of a former Chili’s on Northwestern Highway. They changed the outside colors and façade quite nicely, but the inside still looks like Chili’s – with a fresh coat of paint. Random pictures and license plates still adorn the walls.
We chose a stuffed portabella mushroom for starters. The portabella is grilled and stuffed with gorgonzola cheese, wilted spinach, and generously covered with a tasty roasted red pepper sauce. We divided into thirds and dug in. The combination was meaty and tasty, with the sauce offering a nice smack in your face zing.
In the mood for a salad, I chose the Cobb. Nicely presented, the salad featured a generous helping of micro greens, crispy chicken tenders, cheese, pecans, bacon and avocado. You just can’t go wrong if you’ve got bacon and avocado. This salad satisfied my craving and left me quite pleasantly full.
Burgers are good choice at RJ’s, as they really should be. What’s more American than a hamburger after all? I like their approach – ½ pound fresh (never frozen) premium ground steak served on artisan buns with homemade French fries.
Our group ordered two burgers – RJ’s Famous, with gouda cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and thousand island dressing; and the Pesto Burger with concasse (roughly chopped) tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto. Both burgers were flavorful, juicy and cooked to perfection. Tasty Sweet potato fries were ordered on the side, as were crispy Vidalia onion rings with a side of chipotle mayo.
RJ’s is a casual friendly spot that’s reasonably priced, with enough menu choices to please just about anyone.

It’s nice to have an independent version of the all-​American restaurant fill the vacancy of a former chain all-​American restaurant…
Our office is a block away from the new and very welcome addition to our lacking choice for chow within walking distance.
The menu — predictable. Appetizers close to $ 10, lots of burgers, sandwiches and salads, and some larger entrees for the dinner crowd. Some item menus that caught my group’s eye include sweet potato fries and a huge chicken salad sprinkled with top-​notch ingredients, including pine nuts and dried cherries.
The décor — comfy. Like all American-​themed restaurants (think of a higher class Applebee’s), the walls are laced with license plates and sports memorabilia. Table space is plenty and seating is comfortable.
My first (and only meal thus far) was the salmon burger, meant to be cooked medium, with fries. The salmon was a little underdone, but eatable (luckily I’m used to consuming raw fish often). The fries were good and plentiful. The one peeve — no ketchup bottle at the table. I had to ask the waitstaff a few times to replenish my stash. I DO have an unordinary addiction to ketchup, so it might have saved them the trouble if the condiments weren’t served in small cups.
Overall, a good addition to our lack of choices on the Northwestern trek. Hope to have higher ratings and more tasty meals soon.