Restaurants we recommend (in no particular order, other than grouped by cuisine):
Asian
Mon Jin Lau: 1515 East Maple Road, Troy; 248-689-2332
Wild Mango Restaurant & Bar: worth the drive to Cleveland, Ohio
Chinese
Hong Hua: 27925 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills; 248-489-2280
Thai
Thai Peppers: 29402 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington; 248-932-9119
Thai Garden: 721 East Nine Mile, Ferndale; 248-542-6860 (have not been since they remodeled)
Orchid Thai: 115 Monroe St (Compuware Building), Detroit; 313-962-0225
Contemporary/American
220: 220 Merrill Street, Birmingham; 248-645-2150
Union Street Saloon: 4145 Woodward, Detroit; 313-831-3965
Vinsetta Grill: 28028 Woodward Ave; Royal Oak; 248-543-2626 (ribs incl. beef. Trans fat-free.)
Traffic Jam and Snug: 511 West Canfield, Detroit; 313-831-9470
Sweetwater’s Tavern: 400 E. Congress, Detroit; 313-962-2210 (pub/soul food)
Zingerman’s Roadhouse: 2501 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor; 734-663-3663 (best service in town. Upscale with great sweet potato fries and root beer floats)
Pronto: 608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak; 248-544-7900
The Lodge: 2812 Orchard Lake Road, Keego Harbor; 248-683-5458
Vinsetta Garage: 27799 Woodward, Berkley; 248-548-7711
The Root: 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake; 248-698-2400
Cafe ML: 3607 W. Maple, Bloomfield; 248-642-4000
Greek
Uptown Parthenon: 4301 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248-538-6000
New Parthenon: 547 Monroe, Detroit; 313-961-5111
Pegasus Taverna: 558 Monroe, Detroit; 313-964-6800
Indian
Rangoli: 3055 East Walton Boulevard, Auburn Hills; 248-377-3800
Ashoka: 3642 Rochester Road, Troy; 248-689-7070
International
The Fiddler: 6676 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248-851-8782
Christine’s Cuisine: 729 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-584-3354
Italian
Andiamo Italia Bloomfield: 6675 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills; 248-865-9300
Lelli’s Inn of Auburn Hills: 885 North Opdyke, Auburn Hills; 248-373-4440
Picano’s: 3775 Rochester Road, Troy; 248-689-8050
Roma Café: 3401 Riopelle Street, Detroit; 313-831-5940 (claim to be Detroit’s oldest Italian restaurant)
Sposita’s Ristorante: 33210 West 14 Mile Road, West Bloomfield; 248-538-8954
Brio Tuscan Grille: 2801 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-643-6045; plus other locations
Crispelli’s Bakery & Pizzeria: 28939 Woodward, Berkley; 248-591-3300 -or- 6690 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248-254-4760
Pizza
Buddy’s (known for Detroit-style square pizza): 31646 Northwestern Hwy, Farmington Hills; 248-855-4600; plus other locations
Pizza Papalis (Chicago stuffed pizza): 23703 Greenfield, Southfield; 248-552-7272; plus other locations
Hungry Howie’s (flavored crust chain): numerous locations (carry-out/delivery)
Loui’s Pizza: 23141 Dequindre Road, Hazel Park; 248-547-1711 (sit-down)
Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina: 29110 Franklin, Southfield; 248-750-2442 (thin crust)
Japanese
Mene: 6239 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248-538-7081
Noble Fish: 45 E. 14 Mile Road, Clawson; 248-585-2314 (sushi and soup only)
Makimoto: 2741 University Drive, Auburn Hills; 248-475-0880
Korean
Shilla has closed.
Mediterranean
Mediterrano: 2900 South State, Ann Arbor; 734-332-9700
M&M Cafe: 13714 Michigan Ave, Dearborn; 313-581-5775
Deliziosa Bistro: 22439 Michigan Ave, Dearborn; 313-277-4990
Middle Eastern
La Pita: 22681 Newman, Dearborn; 313-563-7482 (sit-down)
Mr. Kabob: 12 Mile and Coolidge; 248-545-8000 (carry-out)
Falafel King: 32748 Woodward, Royal Oak; 248-554-9881 (carry-out)
Cedarland: 13007 West Warren, Dearborn; 313-582-4849 (sit-down and drive-thru)
Babylon TakeOut: 6609 Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield; 248-851-4343 (carry-out)
Polish
Two Sisters has closed after 24 years.
Seafood
Kruse and Muer on Main: 327 North Main Street, Rochester; 248-652-9400
Lily’s Seafood: 410 South Washington, Royal Oak; 248-591-5459
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant: 2850 Coolidge Highway, Troy; 248-637-6400
Mitchell’s Fish Market: 117 Willits Street, Birmingham; 248-646-FOOD. 17600 Haggerty Road, Livonia; 734-464-FOOD
Irish
Duggan’s Irish Pub: 31501 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak; 248-549-3659 (more pub than Irish)
Dick o’ Dow’s: 160 West Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-642-1135
Ethiopian
Blue Nile: 545 West Nine Mile, Ferndale; 248-547-6699
Spanish
Sangria has closed.
Mexican
Zumba Mexican Grille: 121 North Main Street, Royal Oak; 248-542-1400
Camelia’s Mexican: 30685 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-474-0902
Los Dos Amigos: 7115 Parkwood, Detroit [seasonal taco truck open F-Su]
Soul Food
Beans & Cornbread: 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield; 248-208-1680
BBQ
Slows Bar B Q: 2138 Michigan Avenue, Detroit; 313-962-9828 (recommended despite their overuse of paprika)
Fondue
The Melting Pot: 888 West Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-362-2221
Belgian
Bastone: 419 South Main Street, Royal Oak; 248-544-6250
Breakfast
Recipes: 2919 Crooks Road, Troy; 248-614-5390 (also serves dinner)
Toast, A Breakfast & Lunch Joint: 23144 Woodward, Ferndale; 248-398-0444
Toast Birmingham: 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham; 248-25-TOAST (also serves dinner)
Early Bird Cafe: 3415 Orchard Lake Rd, Keego Harbor; 248-682-3918
Morning Star Cafe: 711 Washington, Grand Haven; 616-844-1131
Steak House
No. VI Chop House: 27000 Sheraton Drive, Novi; 248-305-5210 (now located in the Crowne Plaza)
Big Rock Chophouse: 248 S. Eton Street, Birmingham; 248-647-7774
Capital Grille: 2800 West Big Beaver, Troy; 248-649-5300 (located in the Somerset Collection)
Rochester Chop House: 306 Main, Rochester; 248-651-2266
Cameron’s Steakhouse: 115 Willits, Birmingham; 248-723-1700
Coach Insignia: Top of the 200 Renaissance Center, Detroit; 313-567-2622
Deli
Zingerman’s Delicatessen: 422 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor; 734-663-3354
Stage & Co. Deli: 6873 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248-855-6622
Louie’s Ham & Corned Beef Restaurant: 3570 Riopelle (at Mack), Detroit; 313-831-1800
Mudgie’s: 1300 Porter Street (in Corktown), Detroit; 313-961-2000
Wild Game
Camp Ticonderoga: 5725 Rochester Road, Troy; 248-828-BUCK
Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: 43034 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 248-85-TROUT
Deadwood Bar & Grill: 18730 Northville Road, Northville; 248-34-RIFLE
Brewing Company
Royal Oak Brewery: 215 East Fourth Street, Royal Oak; 248-544-1141
Rochester Mills Beer Co: 400 Water Street, Rochester; 248-650-5080
Black Lotus Brewing Company: 1 East 14 Mile Road, Clawson; 248-577-1878
Windsor (Little Italy)
Il Gabbiano Ristorante: 875 Erie Street, East Windsor, Ontario; 519-256-9757
Nico: 851 Erie Street, East Windsor, Ontario; 519-255-7548
Cook’s Shop Restaurant: 683 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, Ontario; 519-254-3377
updated January 2015
