Best of Detroit 2012

Restaurant for general excellence:

// Roast, downtown Detroit.

Restaurant ambience:

// The Lark, West Bloomfield Township.

View from a restaurant:

// Coach Insignia, atop the Marriott Renaissance Center, Detroit.

Place to have drinks before a show:

// Roast, downtown Detroit.

Place for nightcaps after the show (tie):

// The Whitney, Midtown Detroit.

// Cliff Bells, downtown Detroit.

// The Sugar House, Corktown Detroit.

Restaurant dessert:

// The Whitney, Midtown Detroit.

Appetizers:

// Roast, downtown Detroit.

Sunday brunch:

City:

// La Dolce Vita, Detroit.

Suburb:

// Clarkston Union, Clarkston.

Pancakes:

// The Original Pancake House

Wine list:

// Opus One, downtown Detroit.

Beer selection :

// Clarkston Union, Clarkston.

Street-level window seat:

// Roast, downtown Detroit.

Place for a business lunch:

// The Capital Grille, Troy.

Locally produced food brand (tie):

// Better Made, Detroit.

// Capies Candies, Rochester.

Fish market:

// Superior Fish, Royal Oak.

Gourmet market:

West Side:

// Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market; Birmingham, Rochester.

East Side:

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

Place to take out-of-towners:

// Slows Bar BQ, Corktown Detroit.

Place for late-night dining:

City:

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

Suburb:

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

Attentive service:

// The Lark, West Bloomfield Township.

Independent coffeehouse:

// Astro Coffee, Corktown Detroit.

Ice-cream parlor:

// Ray’s Ice Cream, Royal Oak.

Romantic restaurant:

// Ristorante Café Cortina, Farmington Hills.

Pizza:

// Buddy’s Pizza.

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:

// Giovanni's, Southwest Detroit.

French:

// The Lark, West Bloomfield Township.

Japanese:

// Ronin Sushi, Royal Oak.

Korean:

// New Seoul Garden, Southfield.

Mexican:

// Mexican Village, Mexicantown/Southwest Detroit.

Vegetarian:

City:

// Seva, Midtown Detroit (also Ann Arbor).

// Inn Season Café, Royal Oak.

Middle Eastern:

Local chain:

// Palm Palace.

Single location:

// Anita's Kitchen, Ferndale.

Vietnamese:

// Da Nang, Clawson.

Thai:

// Sy Thai, Birmingham.

24-hour restaurant:

// National Coney Island.

Vegan:

// Inn Season Café, Royal Oak.

Gluten-free menu:

// Buddy’s Pizza.

Steakhouse:

// Roast, downtown Detroit.

Business breakfast:

// Beverly Hills Grill, Beverly Hills.

Creative breakfast:

// Toast, Birmingham and Ferndale.

Seafood:

City:

// Joe Muer Seafood, downtown Detroit.

Suburb:

// Streetside Seafood, Birmingham; 248-645-9123.

Sushi (tie):

// Noble Fish, Clawson.

// Ronin Sushi, Royal Oak.

Soup:

Chain:

// Zoup!

Non-chain:

// Russell Street Deli, Eastern Market, Detroit.

Michigan winery (tie):

// Black Star Farms

// Chateau Chantal

// L. Mawby

Soul food:

// Beans & Cornbread, Southfield.

Fish 'n' chips:

// The Lodge Bar & Grill, Keego Harbor.

Cheap eats:

// Leo’s Coney Island

Sandwich:

// Mudgie's, Corktown Detroit.

Ribs:

// Slows Bar BQ, Corktown Detroit.

Coney island:

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

Carryout:

// Slows To Go, Midtown Detroit.

Deli:

// Steve’s Deli, Bloomfield Township.

Doughnuts:

// Daily Dozen, Warren; 586-777-8650.

Bagels:

// New York Bagel Co., multiple locations.

Cookies:

// Avalon International Breads,  Midtown Detroit.

French fries:

Chain:

// Five Guys.

Independent, City:

// Roast, downtown Detroit.

Independent, Suburb:

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

Bloody Mary:

// Vivio's, Eastern Market Detroit.

Locally owned bakery (tie):

// Avalon International Breads,  Midtown Detroit.

// Just Baked.

Deck/outdoor seating:

City:

// La Dolce Vita, Detroit.

Suburb:

// It's A Matter Of Taste, Commerce Township.

Classic artisan cocktails:

// The Sugar House, Corktown Detroit.

Microbrewery (tie):

// Dragonmead Microbrewery, Warren.

// Motor City Brewing Works, Midtown Detroit.

Locally made beer:

// Badass.