When you visit Old House Family Restaurant, you can expect two things: delectable bites for breakfast and lunch, served up with a little bit of sass. That’s how Old House started back in 1987 with original owners Rodney and Theresa Marino—and how the current owner, Megan Turner, plans to run the joint.
“[Theresa] wanted you to be your true self,” Turner said. “There was never a situation where you might be afraid to offend a guest. We were the waitresses with attitude. She would 100% have your back.”
Turner, 33, started working as a waitress at Old House when she was 17 years old and calls her relationship with the Marinos “like having a second set of parents.”
“They taught me how to waitress, taught me how to build a clientele we still have to this day, and how to create those relationships because it’s very different than working at any other restaurant,” she said.
While their slogan, “Good Food, Bad Attitude,” is a cornerstone of Old House’s personality, Turner said the jabs back and forth are more a testament to how closely the customers and staff connect.
“The ‘bad attitude’ is just humorous—they truly have the best attitudes. The playful banter creates a very close, family-like bond. It’s never from a place of malice,” she said. “I want everyone to be comfortable enough to come in here and feel like they’re at home.”
Since taking ownership in 2021, Turner has kept the flair of the restaurant alive with small tweaks: the wall of license plates is an ode to Old House’s first location in 1987, a favorite stop of long-distance truckers. Behind the register, you can find expletive-laden doodles from customers past. And while the menu still features classic diner favorites, Turner regularly adds fresh new dishes.
Turner cites her parents’ love of cooking and her Filipino American heritage as a melting pot of ideas. “Just being inspired by the two of them, I just learned to love to cook. It’s important for me to be in the kitchen, because you need someone who truly loves food to be able to serve food with love.”
When you visit Old House Family Restaurant, you can expect the old favorites—such as the 5-0 Burrito, named in honor of police officers who would show up in droves for the dish—but also plenty of new and unique options added weekly.
“When Dubai chocolate became a trend, we did a stuffed French toast with strawberries and homemade filling. I’ll do ube chicken and waffles to play on Filipino food. It gives our customers something new that they generally wouldn’t get anywhere else,” Turner said. “As long as people are willing to try some new flavors and be bold, they’ll always get something fresh here.”
Although Old House has big taste, Turner said the small diner feel sometimes prevents new customers from finding the hidden gem, which is tucked in a plaza with little fanfare or advertising.
“A lot of people are misconstrued because we don’t have a big sign outside, but if they actually hear the story of how we came about, they would appreciate our small family,” Turner said. “Don’t let the exterior fool you. Just because it’s not one of the newest fancy brunch houses, I guarantee you’ll like the food.”
Whether you’re a longtime customer who gets up to pour your own coffee or a first-time visitor, Turner just wants everyone to leave the restaurant a little happier than when they came in.
“You can tell if somebody enjoys something from that first bite of food they take. Some people smile, nod their head, do a little happy dance,” she said. “That’s all I care about—making sure everyone walks out of here not just full of food, but full of life.”
Visit Old House Family Restaurant at 44474 Mound Road, near Hall Road, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays.
