Restaurant Reviews

MIKKI'S SCHOOLHOUSE DINER, PORT ROYAL, SC

While visiting South Carolina, I was lucky enough to have my Mom treat me to lunch at this incredible little diner, which used to be an old schoolhouse, located in Port Royal, called Mikki's Schoolhouse Diner. Mikki Roland, the owner, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, enjoyed the quaintness and electivity of Port Royal, South Carolina and her passion for cooking and experience in the food industry was a main factor in opening the schoolhouse diner.

When you first walk in, you are greeted by Mikki and can sit wherever you like. The walls are filled with an array of southern paintings, a large chalk board with daily specials,  a small "reading section" filled with children's books in the corner and towards the back of the diner, there is a coffee station where most locals just help themselves to refills. The atmosphere is cozy and almost reminds me of being in one of my old elementary school classrooms.

The menu may be All-American however, Mikki has put a personal twist on each item, which truly makes this diner special. My Mom and I decided to split a simple cheeseburger and fries. We asked if the burger was big enough to split and Mikki replied with a laugh, "Oh yah!". Less than 10 minutes later, Mikki served us two plates, with a half a cheeseburger and fries on each plate. I was truly impressed by this simple gesture of splitting the meal and plating if for us. Most restaurants will just bring you an additional plate and expect you to do the splitting. As we assembled our cheeseburgers with the fixins', we both looked at each other thinking, "how in the world am I going to fit this half burger in my mouth?!" That's how big just one half was! As we embark on our first few bites, we were in heaven. The burger was cooked to perfection, nice and juicy. The bun tasted like it was right out of a bakery and the fries were crispy, hot and salted just right. Mom and I were hooked on Mikki's Schoolhouse Diner from this point on.

Second visit was just as good! Mom and I split the chicken salad sandwich. As Mikki served us, she said, "You know, my chicken salad isn't like other chicken salad." As we each grabbed our half of the sandwich, this amazing mixture of chicken, mayo, shredded cheddar cheese and caramelized garlic onions just oozed out. We scooped some drippings off our plates and took our first taste. WOW, this was definitely not like any other chicken salad sandwich! The chicken was tender and still warm, the mayo and shredded cheddar complimented the chicken and the caramelized garlic onions gave the sandwich a very unique and delicious taste. Once again, this sandwich was HUGE! I could not finish my half, even as good as it was!

Since my last visit, I have heard about the many other items on the menu that apparently are spectacular. Just to name a few:

Eggplant Sandwich

(Fresh Eggplant with melted Mozzarella and Sliced Tomatoes)

Polish Boy Sandwich

(Polish Kielbasa, Coleslaw, French Fries and BBQ Sauce on a Hoagie)

The "Giant Cow"

(Grilled Cheese with Grilled Vegetables and Sliced Tomatoes)

The Eden Salad

(Green Apples, Mandarin Oranges, Strawberries, Walnuts, Goat Cheese & Shredded Mozzarella on a plate of Romaine with Raspberry Vinaigrette)

The Monte Cristo

(French toast, ham and Swiss cheese with a side of preserves)

Mikki's is located at 1638 Paris Avenue, Port Royal SC. 843-379-4322 M: 7am-3pm, T,W: 7am:5pm, Th: 7am-2pm, F-Su: 7am-3pm.  OPEN Thanksgiving and Christmas! Check out Mikki's Schoolhouse Diner for more information!

**Disclaimer: This review should not be read as an endorsement or warning for or against patronizing the described restaurant. It is intended strictly as a study of the restaurant’s operation, perceived weaknesses and strengths, and suggestions on how to improve the operation. As this review is not sanctioned or paid for by the owner, it is not meant to be a comprehensive review such as Mikki's Schoolhouse Diner provides to it’s clients. It is strictly superficial. There has been no discussion with the owner about these observations and no back of house or office visit has taken place to gain perspective on my visit. My assumptions are based on my experience and may not necessarily reflect the actual cause or source of an issue.**