Reconnecting at The Red Apple

Welcome back to another Spotlight Series with Sarah!
The series where the writer gets to know the city more personally, while the readers get to know the writer better in the process.
If you missed Downtown Wayne Restaurant Week in April or the “Best in Wayne” winners in May, never fear, Sarah is here.
This year for Restaurant Week, guests could scan the QR code on the tables at participating restaurants to not only enter to win $200 in gift cards but also to cast their vote for “Best in Wayne” categories: Best Burger, Best Pizza, Best Breakfast, Best Cocktail, and Best Vibe.
The winners were: Best Burger: The Red Apple Restaurant. Best Pizza: The Red Apple Restaurant. Best Breakfast: The Red Apple Restaurant. Best Cocktail: The Avenue American Bistro. Best Overall Vibe: Karma Coffee and Kitchen.
I wrote about The Avenue American Bistro a few months ago in March, and Karma Coffee and Kitchen was my very first Spotlight Series with Sarah in March 2024. Now it’s time for The Red Apple Restaurant’s spotlight moment.
When my neighbor, Autumn, and I were planning our monthly dinner together to catch up, I suggested we go to The Red Apple Restaurant. On Friday, May 29th, we went.
There was a chill vibe in the restaurant when we walked in and a sign that said “seat yourself,” so we picked a booth in the middle of the restaurant.
Autumn and I always like to share items we order, so since The Red Apple Restaurant was voted “Best Pizza,” we already knew we’d have to try one.
We ordered the 14-inch Red Apple Supreme (cheese, pepperoni, ham, bacon, onions, green pepper, mushroom, black olives, and hamburger), and the Grilled Cheese BLT.
Neither Autumn nor I are big fans of black olives, so we asked for those to be removed.
Our sandwich came out first and we were told that there was a mix up with our pizza (extra olives were added instead of no olives), so they were remaking our pizza and it would be a few minutes.
Autumn and I didn’t mind at all. It gave us more time to catch up. Within a few minutes, an employee brought us a pizza server and shakers of red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese and told us that our pizza was almost ready and they’d give us a discount for the mistake.

The Red Apple Restaurant was voted “Best Pizza,” I ordered a 14-inch Red Apple Supreme (cheese, pepperoni, ham, bacon, onions, green pepper, mushroom, black olives, and hamburger), and the Grilled Cheese BLT.

We were appreciative and let them know we didn’t mind and weren’t in a rush.
The wait was worth it. When they brought our pizza to our table, we couldn’t believe our eyes. It was massive and loaded with toppings. We couldn’t wait to dig in.
Our Grilled Cheese BLT was delicious. The bread was perfectly toasted, the bacon was crispy, and the tomato was juicy. Everything went together so well. I have had many grilled cheese sandwiches and many BLT sandwiches in my life but never had them combined before. That’s a mistake I won’t be making again. I’m a big fan now.
Our pizza was heavy from the toppings. Like too heavy to pick up. When you hear the phrase “pizza pie,” this is the type of pizza they’re referring to. So after multiple attempts to pick up our slices, we accepted defeat and ate our pieces with a fork and knife.
After one single bite, it was obvious why The Red Apple Restaurant was voted “Best Pizza.”
While we were still eating, Autumn and I decided that we’d come back to try their breakfast and burgers too since they won those categories as well.
The Red Apple Restaurant had been in Wayne since 1971.
Some of The Red Apple Restaurant’s best-selling items are: the Country Omelet or Samson for breakfast, the Patty Melt or Grilled Cheese BLT for sandwiches, pizza or fish and chips for dinner, and the specialty “Squeeze burger” that’s only served on Thursdays.
“That’s probably how we won for best burger,” said Deanna Blair, The Red Apple Restaurant manager. “It’s absolutely amazing we won three categories. We have a lot of repeat customers. They’re like family.”
Not only did The Red Apple Restaurant win three categories, but the $200 gift card winner was a Red Apple Restaurant customer as well.
“The customers are my favorite part. They’re just like family to us. I don’t consider it like a job. I love coming here,” said Blair. Blair has been with The Red Apple Restaurant for 30 years, and manager since the new owners took over in February.
“We appreciate the support from our customers,” said Blair.
The Red Apple Restaurant is located at 32711 Michigan Ave, is open 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday, and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday.
For more information about The Red Apple Restaurant, call (734) 722-4100.
Be sure to check out The Red Apple Restaurant, and be on the lookout for the next Spotlight Series with Sarah!