Red Knapp’s Dairy Bar

Nothing to like except the milkshake. The restaurant was filthy, service pathetic, burgers dry and the onion rings were greasy. Our lackluster waitress failed on all counts. Failed to bring the waters, failed to bring the salad first as she offered, failed to bring silverware except for one fork and knife for the four of us which she instructed were for the onion rings.
Two of the burgers were ordered without mayo, of course, they came with mayo. We told our waitress about the mayo on the burgers. She took the burgers back and returned the burgers with a new top buns, but the mayo was still in the lettuce. We have been to Red Knapps previously but will never return again.
The Oakland County Health Department needs to pay a visit to this restaurant and make them clean it up.

Very small little bar diner with pretty good food. I ordered a turkey burger, diet coke and a cup of pea soup. The food was pretty good and the service was fast. Really nothing to complain about!

I’ve frequented this establishment for 9 years and the food had always been good. But my last visit was a nightmare with service. The waitress was Chaise and she took half hour getting our food to us I was splitting my burger, asked for 2^nd plate, that arrived after I finished my half of burger. Asked for silverware, she said, they didn’t have any. The table near us provided us with the few pieces of silverware they had, unused. Others around us, had one milkshake every 5 minutes delivered to them…4 people at that table. The onion rings were very greasy; oil was probably not hot, burger was small inside large bun and fries were very salty. Chaise had a horrible attitude, snarled when we asked for more water. Then a long line waiting to check out. Many waitresses standing around, so crowds were not the issue. Lack of management seemed to be. I don’t know if this place is under new management, but won’t return. This has been a Rochester legend eatery, but something has failed. To top it off, my car had a ticket for expired meter!

Oh no, just no. Stopped in last week for a quick lunch. While I was waiting to be greeted, my boyfriend stopped off to use the restroom. On his way back, he let me know the kid cooking on the grill was digging the burger meat out with his bare hands and slapping it on the grill… and there was no soap in the bathroom– which only means the employees (like the cook) have dirty hands. We couldn’t possibly agree to eating in an establishment with such low regard for health and sanitation. Sorry Red Knapps– clean it up.

Boy oh boy, are these burgers and milkshakes amazing! When you’re in the Rochester area, this historic spot is a must visit!

I am so close to giving this place two stars because of the burger. Something about the simplicity of it made it ok and the bun is really what sold me. However, everyone else in my party thinks I’m crazy to consider more than one star.
When walking in, we started as a party of four. We weren’t greeted and sat ourselves. We also weren’t told there was a back room until we finished eating so my mom uncomfortably sat at the bar. We also had plenty of company from nat and flies. It was disgusting. We had to put a napkin over my moms chili while she used the restroom because the bugs wanted the first taste.
After ordering a lousy chocolate milkshake, fried pickles, three burgers and two orders of fries, we owed $ 50. We couldn’t believe it. Don’t be fooled by the cheap diner interior, because you’ll pay a pretty penny for shitty food and even shittier service.

Atmosphere: A nostalgic divey kind of place that holds lovely memories of mine and hubby’s youth. But that isn’t enough to overcome the general malaise seen now in this place. And yes, the flies are problematic and it just gives an off-​putting feel. The condiment containers and menus were all GROSS and I was afraid to touch them. The black & white checkered floor and cute wall signs evoke a 50’s feel.
Service: URGH. Couldn’t hear the waiter and he couldn’t hear us. He acted like he wanted to be anywhere but helping us. For the menu prices, one expects better service — at least minimal service, please. Didn’t take away dirty plates, and these tables aren’t that big folks. We ordered grilled onions and he didn’t explain there would be an extra charge for this. Guess that’s a standard restaurant trick?
Food: Again, not as remembered. Ordered a standard Knapps burger (w/​soup and salad), and a mushroom & swiss burger (no sides). The buns are bakery fresh and the meat fresh. BUT cheap meat! Kept biting into grissle, eeeew. The salad was NOT fresh. Would have preferred cole slaw, but waiter couldn’t answer if vinegar based or cream based and didn’t offer to find out or a spoon of it to try. With 2 waters to drink, this bill came to $ 18.50 (sept 2015) with none of these so-​called fantastic milkshakes or malts.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. We won’t be going back. Just EH.

This place has great food and great ice cream but lets face it this cant be ignored. This place has been just sorta clean every time. Finally my parents were in town and asked me where we cold eat quick. Their were 4 of us so we went to the back and back their their was 100 plus fruit flys or naut bugs flying around that whole back area and this was my first tome back their. I desided to sit up front at the tables but the bar tables were mostly dirty. I told my parents lets go and we left. As much as I loved their food I will never go back. All those bugs yuck. If I worked their I would handle that bug problem even if I had to go back their 3 times a day!

Hello yum fatty food best onion rings… Great malts and hell yeah a cheese burger with the works… We’ll worth the calories

Super average. This knapp’s used to be legit turn for the worse average service didn’t even get waters and the burger was a joke for the price #Whatadive

Love the Boston Cooler. It’s just a fun place to go for a burger and fries. The soups are good. It’s all American.

The ambiance of the old style diner is more than enough reason to go here. But I mean it when I tell you that you will never look at milkshakes the same way once you’ve tried a Knapp’s Malt! Seriously, I don’t care how lactose intolerant you are (I am too) it worth it! I also love their season fries and cheese burger. It’s not the kind of place you can eat everyday but it’s worth the splurge once in a while!

If you like thin, overcooked, thin, tasteless patties on large good looking buns that look better than they taste then this is the place for you. If you are going to serve large buns at least make the patty large enough to fit them without having to leave so much bread on the plate.
Very pricey burgers for the described quality and when you factor in the cost of (the small serving of) fries or the (rather large cut) onion rings and you’ve got yourself quite a tab (especially if you add a Malt or Shake).

The Best hamburger I’ve had in some time. The servers are Wonderful, Quick, and Friendly. Loved the quaint atmosphere of an old soda fountain, with Oldies but Goodies piped in. I’m from California, we don’t have a place like this in my area. Wish we did. Our food came out Fast & Hot ! Thanks for a great experience, it was great

I had just departed Château Beaumont with a ‘clean’ pathology report. I wanted to celebrate. It was lunch time. I was hungry. I hadn’t been to Knapp’s in a very long time.
Danielle was my waitress. She was prompt, attentive and knowledgeable. I ordered the double cheeseburger and a bowl of chili.
The chili arrived first. Hot food, served hot. This is typical Michigan chili (has beans). It was okay. I probably will not order again.
I had forgotten how big the double cheeseburger would be. I arrived about the time I was finishing my chili. I immediately knew that half the burger would be going home. Hot food, served hot from the grill. The lettuce was fresh and crisp. The tomato was YADWT (yet another disappointing winter tomato). The ground beef had good beef flavor and a bit of flat top char. Yea! I had forgotten about Knapp’s hamburger buns. It seems to be a bakery product, but it did not wow me. It was a tiny step up from a Wonder Bread bun.
Will I return? Yea, when I’m in the area and seeking a burger. Will I drive 13 miles for a Knapp’s burger? Nope.
Price. $ 15.something, before tip. That’s too much.
No WiFi.
CCW friendly.

I’ll never set foot in this place again. My wife and I just finished our first and last visit. This place is disgusting. The employees were using nasty, dirty rags to wipe down everything, including the wands used to make shakes. They wiped down the counter, spilled ketchup, then the shake wands. The rags looked like they’d been used all day long. Filthy.
As far as the food/​drinks, we had a chocolate shake (ordered before we saw what they were doing with the rags) and a chocolate sundae. The sundae was made with chocolate ice cream. Inexplicably, the shake was made with vanilla ice cream and Hershey’s chocolate syrup instead of chocolate ice cream. How does that make any sense? That’s exactly what it tasted like — fake chocolate syrup.

Need a time machine back to 1958? Get yourself to Red Knapp’s, slide into a shiny red leather booth (or hop on a metal stool at the bar!), and prepare yourself for a good, old fashioned diner meal.
This is one of those places that has been around forever, and you’d expect to see on that wretched unmentionable Food Network show, but are super grateful that it hasn’t. Red Knapp’s is true diner food, and is the real deal when it comes to Oakland County, Michigan history. An institution as far as I’m concerned.
Anyway, the food. These are thin, well cooked (but not «well-​done,» thankfully) burgers on a soft white bun with gooey cheese, shredded lettuce, and tomatoes. They are quite large for one person, but usually one (read: I) finds themselves finishing it before they know what hit them. It’s not the best burger you’ll ever have, but it certainly is good, and the charm of it all makes it well worth 4 stars.
I’d recommend finishing your meal with a true 50s throwback: the strawberry shake. You just can’t not do it! So so so very tasty.

This was delicious and fantastic. The service was great and the food was perfect. Yes, perfect. I have attached proof in the form of a photo of a Vernor’s shake and a stack of giant battered onion rings… which my husband described as «oh my god» and «a savory onion pastry» respectively.
He ordered a loaded bacon cheeseburger as well, that he enjoyed. I had a turkey burger with grilled onions, tomato, and a pile of coleslaw on top. The fries (perfect) and coleslaw were a side dish. I made the executive decision to heap the coleslaw on. Now you might asking if I negated the benefits of a turkey burger by adding coleslaw to it and I would say to you GET OUT YOU ARE NO FUN. So yes. A turkey burger with grilled onions, tomato, and a pile of coleslaw is now called an Executive Decision.
Go. Enjoy it.

Headed into downtown Rochester Friday afternoon and was craving a burger.
I remember coming here as a kid, but honestly, all I remembered was the amazing strawberry shake I had… I think I was 11.
Ahhh, good times.
Today we split one of those amazing shakes, had some delish bacon cheddar burgers and devoured some yummo chili cheese fries. Did you know they bake their own buns?
Some of the BEST chili cheese fries i’ve ever had!
I love the 1950s feel, it’s actually authentic… and the prices are really really good!
It’s a classic burger joint at it’s BEST For sure!!!
/​Nostalgia!

This place is a 1950’s diner. It’s a cute little restaurant on Main Street. The inside is small and quaint. I like the burger and ice cream smells as we entered.
There are bar stools surrounding the dairy bar. It’s first come first serve for these. There are also small booths for sitting too.
Now that we are sitting next to the ice cream right behind the bar; it smells so good! We each had a cheeseburger with fries. It was decent. I had the chocolate malt with double malt and it was amazing! The prices here a bit on the expensive side for a diner but the ambiance and free smells a good.