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.

Women’s clothing store:

Tender, Birmingham.

Women’s evening wear:

Chain (tie):

Nordstrom, three locations.

Saks Fifth Avenue, Troy.

Independent:

Tender, Birmingham.

One-of-a-kind dress:

Tender, Birmingham.

Vintage:

Lost and Found, Royal Oak.

Men’s clothes:

Nordstrom, three locations.

Fitted for a suit:

Nordstrom, three locations.

Athletic wear:

Lululemon Athletica, Troy & Ann Arbor.

Cutting-edge fashion (tie):

Linda Dresner, Birmingham.

Impulse, Brighton.

Lingerie:

Harp’s Lingerie, Birmingham.

Buy jeans (tie):

Caruso Caruso, Birmingham.

Impulse, Brighton.

Buy a bridal gown:

Roma Sposa Atelier, Birmingham.

Buy antiques:

Oddfellows Antiques, Berkley.

Farmers market:

Eastern Market, Detroit.

Giftwrap service:

Lisa’s Gift Wrappers, Royal Oak.

Gift registry:

Macy’s

Buy an engagement ring:

Single location:

Miner’s Den, Royal Oak.

Multiple locations:

Tapper’s Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, three locations.

Local crafts:

Yellow Door Art Market, Berkley.

Cake:

Holiday Market, Royal Oak.

Wine:

Champane’s Wine Cellar, Warren.

Fine spirits:

Champane’s Wine Cellar, Warren.

Jeweler:

East side:

Ahee, Grosse Pointe Woods.

West side:

Tapper’s Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, three locations.

Estate jewelry:

Miner’s Den, Royal Oak.

Produce store:

East side:

Randazzo Fresh Market, three locations.

West side:

Westborn Market, three locations.

Personalized service:

Neiman Marcus, Troy.

Candy shop:

Doc Sweets, Clawson.

Children’s clothing :

Love Child, Royal Oak.

Lunch while shopping:

Olga’s Kitchen

Accessories store:

Lolly Ella, West Bloomfield Township.

Used vinyl/CD store:

Macomb County:

Car City Records, St. Clair Shores; 586-775-4770.

Wayne County:

Dearborn Music, Dearborn.

Oakland County:

UHF, Royal Oak.

New book selection:

Book Beat, Oak Park.

Used bookstore:

John King, Detroit.

Furniture store:

Multiple locations:

Art Van

Single location:

Leon & Lulu, Clawson.

Buy a bicycle:

Local chain:

American Cycle & Fitness/Trek, seven locations.

Single location:

The Hub of Detroit, Midtown Detroit.

Place to find a bargain:

Champane’s Wine Cellar, Warren.

Gift shop:

Catching Fireflies, Berkley and Rochester.

Nursery/greenhouse (tie):

English Gardens

Bordine’s

Place to buy a greeting card:

Write Impressions, Royal Oak.

Independent hardware store:

Frentz & Sons Hardware, , Royal Oak.

Place to buy electronics:

Hawthorne Home Appliance & Electronics, Birmingham and Rochester.

Place to buy sports equipment:

Chain:

Dicks Sporting Goods,

Local:

Varsity Shop, Birmingham.

Optical:

SEE Eyewear

Toy store:

Adventure in Toys, Birmingham; 248-646-5550.

Place to buy original art (tie):

Detroit Artists Market, Midtown Detroit.

David Klein Gallery, Birmingham.

Shopping district (non-mall):

Downtown Birmingham

Resale/consignment shop (tie):

Bellocchio Upscale Resale, Royal Oak.

Closet Envy, West Bloomfield Twp.; 248-626-9996.

Place to furnish a baby room:

Babies R US

Detroit souvenir:

Website:

Down with Detroit Apparel

Shops:

Pure Detroit

Smoke shop:

La Casa De La Habana

Store for furnishing a first home/apartment/loft:

Ikea

Pet supplies:

K9 Specialties, Warren; 586-939-5960.

Local newspaper:

Detroit Free Press

Local radio station:

101.9 FM WDET

Local TV newscast:

WDIV-TV, Channel 4.

Local radio news:

WWJ 950-AM

Local radio station with the best playlist:

DOUG 93.1-FM.

Local website:

Clickondetroit.com.

Local male columnist:

Mitch Albom; Detroit Free Press.

Local female columnist:

Rochelle Riley, Detroit Free Press.

Local male TV anchor:

Devin Scillian, WDIV-Channel 4.

Local female TV anchor:

Carmen Harlan, WDIV-Channel 4.

Local talk-radio host:

Drew and Mike, WRIF 101.1-FM

Local sportscaster:

Bernie Smilovitz, WDIV-Channel 4.

Local sports play-by-play:

George Blaha (Pistons).

Traffic reporter:

Erin Nicole, WXYZ-Channel 7.

Local weather forecaster:

Chuck Gaidica, WDIV-Channel 4.

Local radio DJ:

Mojo in the Morning, WKQI 95.5-FM.

Radio voice:

Paul W. Smith, WJR 760-AM

Local radio program:

Mojo in the Morning, WKQI 95.5-FM.

Private club:

Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit.

Historically significant building :

The Guardian, downtown Detroit.

Contemporary building:

Renaissance Center, downtown Detroit.

Hotel:

The Townsend, Birmingham.

Best loft building:

Willys Overland Lofts, Midtown Detroit.

Post-prison job for Kwame Kilpatrick:

Garbage collector.

Sign of a Detroit comeback:

Chrysler Super Bowl commercial with Eminem.

Fix for the Detroit Lions:

New owners.

Detroit building worth saving:

Michigan Central Train Station.

Detroit-brand automaker:

Ford Motor Co.

Detroit-brand car model:

Mustang.

Detroit-brand car division:

 Chevrolet.

Makeover:

East side:

Runway Salon & Spa, Shelby Township.

West side:

Todd’s Room, Birmingham.

Dressmaker:

Katerina Bocci Designs, Shelby Township.

Shoe repair:

Frank’s Shoe Service, Birmingham; 248-647-3530.

Car repair:

Multiple location:

The Suburban Collection

Single location:

Curt’s Service, Oak Park.

Tailor/Alterations:

Ali, The Birmingham Tailor, Birmingham; 248-433-3703.

Florist:

Multiple locations:

Wesley Berry Flowers, four locations.

Single location:

Blossoms, Birmingham.

Caterer:

Fórte-Belanger, Troy.

Divorce lawyer:

Neil Rockind, Southfield.

Pet grooming:

Bark-A-Bout, Shelby Township.

Veterinarian (tie):

DePorre Veterinary Hospital, Bloomfield Twp.

Jefferson Veterinary Center, Detroit.

Hair salon:

East side:

Runway Salon & Spa, Shelby Township.

West side:

Salon Bliss, Rochester Hills.

Blowout:

Salon Bliss, Rochester Hills.

Spa:

Margot’s European Day Spa,
Birmingham.

Yoga studio:

Single location:

Namaste Yoga Center, Royal Oak.

Multiple locations:

Yoga Shelter, four locations.

Makeup artist:

Elizabeth Arsov, Elizabeth’s Head to Toe, Birmingham; 248-203-9933.

Gym:

Chain:

Life Time Fitness, six area locations.

Local:

Nth Degree, Royal Oak.

Massage:

Nicolena Inniss, Deyo Studio, Birmingham.

Dry cleaner:

Huntington Cleaners, Huntington Woods.

Manicure:

Shelia Shamami at Salon Edge,
West Bloomfield Township.

Pedicure (tie):

Shelia Shamami at Salon Edge,
West Bloomfield Township.

Todd’s Room, Birmingham.

Facial:

Elena at Beauty by RX, Birmingham.

Cable provider:

Comcast.

Barber:

Sam’s Barber Shop, downtown Detroitl 313-961-7373.

Custom framing:

Art & Frame Station, Birmingham.

Home-delivered food:

Gourmet Everyday.

Celebrity dinner companion:

Kid Rock.

Political dinner companion:

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing.

DJ (non-radio):

Mike Anthony.

Colorful character:

Kid Rock.

Sports star (tie):

Ben Wallace, center/power forward, Detroit Pistons.

Nicklas Lidström, defenseman, Detroit Red Wings.

Best-dressed woman (tie):

Rhonda Walker.
Kay Morris.

Best-dressed man:

Geoffrey Fieger.

Publicity hound:

Geoffrey Fieger.

Maître d’:

Jim Lark, The Lark, West Bloomfield
Township.

Chef (two-way tie):

André Neimanis, Dirty Dog Jazz Café; Grosse Pointe Farms.

Sommelier:

Madeline Triffon, Matt Prentice Restaurant
Group.

Bartender:

Carl Gerych, The Lark, West Bloomfield Township.

Local Band:

Killer Flamingos.

Personal trainer:

Male:

Dave Krainiak.

Female:

Jennifer Gray.

Political rising star:

Local:

Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh

State:

Gov. Rick Snyder

Local comedian:

Mike Green.

Detroit ambassador:

Kid Rock.

Usher at sports venue:

Joe Louis Arena Staff.

Concert venue:

DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston.

Place to learn to dance:

Arthur Murray Dance Center.

Charity event:

Auto Show Charity Preview.

New bar (two-way tie):

Cork, Pleasant Ridge.

Neighborhood bar:

Dick O’Dow’s, Birmingham; 248-642-1135.

Bar for business deals:

The Capital Grille, Troy.

Male gay bar:

Pronto!, Royal Oak.

Lesbian bar:

Como’s, Ferndale; 248-548-5005.

Karaoke:

Royal Kubo, Clawson; 248-588-2300.

Jazz club:

Cliff Bell’s, Detroit.

Singles scene:

Blackfinn Saloon, Royal Oak.

Bowling alley:

Garden Bowl, Detroit.

Pool hall:

Multiple location:

Snookers Pool & Pub.

Single location:

Loving Touch, Ferndale; 248-546-3644.

Place to see a first-run movie:

Birmingham Palladium, Birmingham.

Place to see an art film:

Chain:

Main Art, Royal Oak.

Local:

Detroit Film Theatre (DFT), at the DIA, Detroit.

Place to hear bands:

Magic Bag, Ferndale.

Casino:

MGM Grand, Detroit.

Museum:

Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit.

Indoor tennis court:

Franklin Athletic Club, Southfield.

Public golf course:

Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club,
Clarkston.

Private golf course:

Oakland Hills, Bloomfield Hills.

Wine bar:

Vinotecca, Royal Oak.

Scenic drive:

Lakeshore Drive, the Grosse Pointes.

Freebie:

Detroit RiverWalk.

Michigan vacation destination:

Traverse City.

Annual sporting event:

 Tigers Opening Day.

Happy hour:

Chain:

Kona Grill, Troy.

Local:

Roast, in the Westin Book Cadillac, Detroit.

Special-event venue:

Infinity & Ovation Yacht Charters.

Community theater:

Stagecrafters, Royal Oak.

Comedy club:

Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Royal Oak.