Pictured is the facade of Marquette Big Boy, located at 1950 US-41. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley)

MARQUETTE — Marquette Big Boy made a big change in the past year, with the addition of a 22-by-23-foot room for large private events and extra seating on weekends.

Steve Whelan, owner of the restaurant, said that business has benefited from the add-on, which was finished in September.

“It’s been great,” Whelan said. “It’s been really busy. We have at least four or five events every week, and then extra seating on Saturdays and Sundays when we’re extra busy.”

He added that the room is free to rent if food is ordered, with a nominal rental fee for use without food being ordered.

The past year has seen an expansion in catering services, as well. “We’ve catered weddings, we’ve catered private parties, catered business after-hours,” said Whelan, who also noted that Big Boy can accommodate catering dishes for “anything the customer wants. It doesn’t have to be on our menu, we’ll do anything — lasagnas, Swedish meatballs, chicken (or) other stuff that’s not on our regular menu.”

Speaking of the menu, Whelan said that two of the restaurant’s signature menu items are the Classic Big Boy burger, with two fresh-seasoned beef patties, cheese, lettuce and Big Boy special sauce; and the Famous Slim Jim sandwich, with ham, swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce and special sauce grilled and pressed on a sesame roll. Both come paired with french fries.

The menu also features “comfort food, like meatloaf and spaghetti, shrimp, fish and chips,” Whelan said. “Fish and chips is probably our most popular item at night.”

Big Boy also boasts a diverse buffet selection.

Whelan said there is a breakfast buffet every day from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. that costs $10.99 for adults, $6.99 for kids 10 and under, and free for kids age 5 and younger with each adult purchase.

For buffet dinner, Whelan said “we do a soup, salad, fruit and taco bar every day Monday through Wednesday. Thursday we have a chicken buffet. Friday we have a seafood buffet. Saturday and Sunday we have a homestyle buffet.”

Dinner pricing is $12.99 for adults, $7.99 for children 10 and under and free for kids under 5 with an adult buffet purchase. Dinner buffets run from 3 to 8 p.m.

For dessert, Whelan recommended the hot fudge cake, citing it as the most popular choice. He added, “Our shakes are really good. Homemade ice cream. Not the stuff that you get off a gun, real ice cream.”

Marquette Big Boy is open 6 a.m to 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. More information can be found at marquettebigboy.com.

Rachel Oakley can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 243. Her email address is roakley@miningjournal.net.