Best of Detroit 2009

Restaurant for general excellence:

Local:

The Lark, West Bloomfield Township; 248-661-4466,
thelark.com.

Chain:

The Capital Grille, Troy; 248-649-5300,
thecapitalgrille.com.

Multi-Location:

Andiamo, various locations,
andiamoitalia.com.

Restaurant ambience:

Iridescence, Detroit; 313-237-6732,
motorcitycasino.com.

View from a restaurant:

Coach Insignia, Detroit; 313-567-2622,
mattprenticerg.com.

Beer selection:

The Berkley Front, Berkley; 248-547-3331.

Dessert:

The Whitney, Detroit; 313-832-5700,
thewhitney.com.

Margarita (two-way tie):

El Monterrey, Detroit; 313-441-9228,
elmonterreymexrest.com.
Xochimilco, Detroit; 313-843-0179

Appetizers:

Small Plates, Detroit; 313-963-0497,
smallplates.com.

Place to have dinner before a show:

Small Plates, Detroit; 313-963-0497,
smallplates.com.

Sunday brunch:

Beverly Hills Grill, Beverly Hills; 248-642-2355,
beverlyhillsgrill.com.

Place for late-night dining:

Como’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Ferndale; 248-548-5005

Service (attentive):

The Lark, West Bloomfield Township; 248-661-4466,
thelark.com.

Locally produced food brand:

Better Made Snack Foods, Detroit,
bmchips.com.

Wine list (two-way tie):

The Lark, West Bloomfield Township; 248-661-4466,
thelark.com.

Vinotecca, Royal Oak; 248-544-6256,
vinotecca.com.

Martini:

Goodnite Gracie Jazz & Martini Bar, Royal Oak,
Ferndale, Ann Arbor;
goodnitegracie.com.

Window seat:

Coach Insignia, Detroit; 313-567-2622,
mattprenticerg.com.

Place for a business lunch:

The Capital Grille, Troy; 248-649-5300,
thecapitalgrille.com.

Gourmet market:

Holiday Market, Royal Oak; 248-541-1414,
holiday-market.com.

Ice cream parlor:

Ray’s Ice Cream, Royal Oak; 888-549-5256,
raysicecream.com.

Independent coffeehouse:

Bean & Leaf Café, Royal Oak; 248-586-9602,
mybeanandleaf.com.

Fish market:

Local:

Superior Fish Company, Royal Oak; 248-541-5220, superiorfish.com.

Chain:

Mitchell’s Fish Market, various locations, mitchellsfishmarket.com.

Place for nightcaps after a show:

The Whitney, Detroit; 313-832-5700,
thewhitney.com.

Romantic restaurant:

The Lark, West Bloomfield Township; 248-661-4466,
thelark.com.

Chinese:

Mon Jin Lau Nu Asian Cuisine, Troy; 248-689-2332,
monjinlau.com.

French:

The Lark, West Bloomfield Township; 248-661-4466,
thelark.com.

Breakfast (two-way tie):

The Original Pancake House, various locations;
originalpancakehouse.com.

Detroit Breakfast House, Detroit; 313-961-1115,
detroitbreakfasthouse.net.

Indian:

Priya Indian Cuisine, Troy;
248-269-0100;
priyarestaurant.com.

Mexican (two-way tie):

Xochimilco, Detroit; 313-843-0179.

El Barzon, Detroit; 313-894-2070,
elbarzonrestaurant.com.

Italian:

Multi-location local:

Andiamo, various locations;
andiamoitalia.com.

Single location:

Bacco Ristorante, Southfield; 248-356-6600,
baccoristorante.com.

Chain: Olive Garden, various locations;
olivegarden.com.

The Berkley Front, “Best Beer Selection

Photograph by Justin Maconochie

Korean:

Shilla Korean and Japanese Cuisine, Clawson;
248-655-0120.

Greek:

Pegasus Taverna, Detroit; 313-964-6800.

24-hour restaurant:

National Coney Island, various locations,
nationalconeyisland.com.

Japanese:

Chain:

Benihana, various locations,
benihana.com.

Local (three-way tie):

Cherry Blossom, Novi; 248-380-9160,
cherryblossom.biz.

Café Sushi, Troy; 248-280-1831,
cherryblossom.biz/cafesushi.

Mene Sushi, West Bloomfield Township;
248-538-7081.

Middle Eastern:

Phoenicia, Birmingham; 248-644-3122,
phoeniciabirmingham.com.

Thai:

Sy Thai, Birmingham; 248-258-9830.

Vegetarian menu:

Inn Season Café, Royal Oak;
248-547-7916,
theinnseasoncafe.com.

Steakhouse:

Chain:

Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Troy;
248-269-8424,
ruthschris.com.

Local (five-way tie):

Big Rock Chophouse, Birmingham;
248-647-7774,
bigrockchophouse.com.

Clawson Steakhouse, Clawson;
248-588-5788,
clawsonsteakhouse.com.

Lelli’s Inn, Auburn Hills; 248-373-4440.

Mr. Paul’s Chophouse, Roseville;
586-777-7770,
mrpaulschophouse.com.

Rochester Chop House, Rochester;
248-651-2266,
kruseandmuerrestaurants.com.

Seafood:

Chain:

Mitchell’s Fish Market, various locations,
mitchellsfishmarket.com.

Local:

Streetside Seafood, Birmingham;
248-645-9123,
streetsideseafood.com.

Sushi (two-way tie):

Noble Fish, Clawson; 248-585-2314,
noblefishhouse.com.

Little Tree Sushi Bar, Royal Oak; 248-586-0994.

Soup:

Zoup!, various locations,
zoup.com.

Corner bar:

The Corner Bar (at The Townsend Hotel),
Birmingham; 248-647-2958,
thecornerbarmi.com.

Michigan winery:

Leelanau Cellars, Omena; 231-386-5201,
leelanaucellars.com.

Soul food:

Beans & Cornbread, Southfield;
248-208-1680,
beanscornbread.com.

Classic Round Pizza:

Jet’s Pizza, various locations,
jetspizza.net.

Deep-dish Pizza:

Buddy’s Pizza, various locations,
buddyspizza.com.

Burger:

Redcoat Tavern, Royal Oak;
248-549-0300.

Barbecue ribs:

Slows Bar BQ, Detroit;
313-962-9828,
slowsbarbq.com.

Coney Island:

Lafayette Coney Island, Detroit; 313-964-8198.

Carryout:

Steve’s Deli, Bloomfield Township;
248-932-0800;
stevesdeli.com.

Deli:

Steve’s Deli, Bloomfield Township;
248-932-0800;
stevesdeli.com.

Microbrewery:

Woodward Avenue Brewery, Ferndale;
248-546-3696.

Casino Restaurant:

SaltWater  (inside the MGM Grand Detroit),
Detroit; 877-888-2121,
mgmgrandetroit.com.