Best of Detroit 2011

Restaurant for general excellence (tie):

Toasted Oak Grill and Market, Novi.

The Lark, West Bloomfield Township.

Restaurant ambience (tie):

Toasted Oak Grill and Market, Novi.

Crave, Dearborn.

View from a restaurant:

Coach Insignia, atop the Marriott Renaissance Center, Detroit.

Place for dinner before a show:

Mario’s, Midtown Detroit.

Place for nightcaps after the show:

The Whitney, Midtown Detroit.

Restaurant dessert:

The Whitney, Midtown Detroit.

Appetizers:

Small Plates, Detroit.

Sunday brunch:

City:

La Dolce Vita, Detroit.

Suburb:

Beverly Hills Grill, Beverly Hills.

Pancakes:

The Original Pancake House (four Michigan locations).

Wine list:

City:

Roast, in the Westin Book Cadillac, Detroit.

Suburb:

Vinotecca, Royal Oak.

Beer selection :

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

Window seat:

Coach Insignia, atop the Marriott Renaissance Center, Detroit.

Place for a business lunch:

The Capital Grille, Troy.

Locally produced food brand (three-way tie):

Better Made.
Garden Fresh Gourmet.
Capies Candies.

Fish market:

Superior Fish, Royal Oak.

Gourmet market:

West Side:

Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market; Birmingham, Rochester.

Macomb County:

Vince & Joe’s, Clinton Township;  Shelby Township.

Place for late-night dining:

Redcoat Tavern, Royal Oak; 248-549-0300,
West Bloomfield Township; 248-865-0500.

Attentive service:

Suburb:

Crave, Dearborn.

City:

Roast, in the Westin Book Cadillac, Detroit.

Independent coffeehouse:

Bean & Leaf Café, Royal Oak.

Ice-cream parlor:

Independent:

Ray’s Ice Cream, Royal Oak.

Chain:

Cold Stone Creamery

Romantic restaurant:

Ristorante Café Cortina, Farmington Hills.

Pizza:

Local chain:

Buddy’s. 

Single location:

Supino Pizzeria, Detroit (Eastern Market).

Burger:

Wayne County:

Miller's Bar, Dearborn.

Macomb County:

Shamrock Irish Pub, Utica.

Oakland County:

Redcoat Tavern, Royal Oak; 248-549-0300,
West Bloomfield Township; 248-865-0500.

Chinese:

Mon Jin Lau, Troy.

Greek:

Pegasus Taverna, Detroit and St. Clair Shores.

Indian restaurant:

Priya, Troy.

Italian:

Local chain:

Andiamo

Single location (tie):

Ristorante Café Cortina, Farmington Hills.

Roma Café, Detroit.

French:

The Lark, West Bloomfield Township.

Japanese:

Chain:

Benihana.

Local (tie):

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

Ronin Sushi, Royal Oak.

Korean:

New Seoul Garden, Southfield.

Mexican:

Mexican Village, Detroit.

Vegetarian menu:

Inn Season Café, Royal Oak.

Thai (tie):

Sy Thai, Birmingham; 248-258-9830.

Khom Fai, Shelby Township; 586-247-7773.

Middle Eastern:

Local chain:

Palm Palace, three locations.

Single location:

Anita's Kitchen, Ferndale.

24-hour restaurant:

National Coney Island, 21 locations.

Steakhouse:

Roast, in the Westin Book Cadillac, Detroit.

Breakfast:

Toast, Birmingham and Ferndale.

Seafood:

Streetside Seafood, Birmingham; 248-645-9123.

Sushi:

Crave, Dearborn.

Soup:

Chain:

Zoup!

Non-chain:

Russell Street Deli, Eastern Market, Detroit.

Michigan winery:

Black Star Farms

Soul food:

Beans & Cornbread, Southfield.

Fish 'n' chips:

The Lodge Bar & Grill, Keego Harbor.

Cheap eats:

Leo’s Coney Island

Ribs:

Slows Bar BQ, Detroit.

Coney island:

Chain:

Leo’s

Single location:

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

Carryout:

Dish, Detroit.

Deli:

Steve’s Deli, Bloomfield Township.

Doughnuts:

Daily Dozen, Warren; 586-777-8650.

Bagels:

New York Bagel Co., Ferndale, Oak Park, Southfield, West Bloomfield Township.

Bloody Mary:

Lily's Seafood, Royal Oak.

Bakery:

Avalon International Breads, Detroit.

Bar/restaurant deck/outdoor seating:

Woodward Avenue Brewers (WAB), Ferndale.

Classic cocktails:

Cliff Bell's, Detroit.

Microbrewery:

Woodward Avenue Brewers (WAB), Ferndale.