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. |