Suburban communities ten minutes north of the city line, the modern dining suburbs. Voyager seafood, Mabel Gray tasting room, Loui's Pizza Detroit-style anchor the three towns.
Mabel Gray on John R Road in Hazel Park serves chef James Rigato's no-set-menu kitchen, five-time James Beard semifinalist. Open since 2015.
Signature: No-set-menu chef's plate, Local game
Order: The market plate; whatever the kitchen runs that night, no two services repeat.
Tip: Tuesday through Sunday; bookings on Tock. Twenty-five seats; reservations open four weeks out.
Voyager on Vester Street in Ferndale serves sustainable seafood and a raw bar across the city line from Detroit. Open since 2017, an oyster-focused kitchen that landed Food and Wine Restaurant of the Year in 2018.
Signature: Oysters, Crudo plates
Order: A half-dozen East and West Coast oysters and the daily crudo composition.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Bar runs through 22:00 on weekends.
Cornbread Restaurant & Bar on Northwestern Highway in Southfield serves Detroit soul food, the successor to Beans & Cornbread since 1997. GQ called it a new American classic.
Signature: Fried chicken, Catfish
Order: Fried chicken and waffles, the catfish dinner, and a slice of cornbread.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. Sunday brunch with gospel runs from 11:30; book ahead.
Cloverleaf Pizza on Gratiot Avenue in Eastpointe is the other original Detroit-style pizza in metro Detroit, baked since Gus Guerra moved his recipe here in 1953.
Signature: Detroit-style square pizza, Pepperoni
Order: Original Detroit-style square with double pepperoni and burnt cheese edges.
Tip: The bar room is the original 1946 building. Takeout and dine-in; cash and cards both fine.
Loui's Pizza on Dequindre Road in Hazel Park has baked Detroit-style square pizza in metro Detroit since 1977. Chianti bottles hang from the ceiling, salad bar in the corner.
Signature: Detroit-style square pizza, Salad bar
Order: Original square with pepperoni and a trip to the salad bar with house dressing.
Tip: No reservations; weekend dinners run a 30-minute wait. Cash discount.
Cannelle Patisserie on North Eton Road in Birmingham serves French patisserie and viennoiserie in metro Detroit. Chef Matt Knio's Versailles-trained kitchen, since 2013.
Tip: Croissants come out from 07:00; ham-and-cheese sells through by 11:00 most days.
Worth the queue: Kouign-amann
Achatz Handmade Pie Co. on Commerce Boulevard in Chesterfield Township bakes Michigan fruit pies in metro Detroit. Since 1993, the canonical regional pie kitchen.
Tip: Closed Saturday at this location. Michigan cherry pie is the editorial seller.
Worth the queue: Michigan cherry pie
Lily's Seafood Grill & Brewery on South Washington in Royal Oak has brewed and poured in metro Detroit since 1999. House-brewed beers alongside fresh seafood.
Signature drink: House brewed ale
Food: Seafood and pub fare
Tip: Patio in summer is the prime seat; book ahead for weekend evenings.
Joebar on John R Road in Hazel Park serves a cocktail bar in metro Detroit. Joe and Cari Vaughn's spot connects to Frame next door, a low-fi neighborhood room.
Signature drink: Martini-leaning house list
Food: Sandwiches and bar snacks
Tip: Walk-in bar; the back patio opens in summer. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Lily's Seafood Grill & Brewery on South Washington in Royal Oak has brewed beer in metro Detroit since 1999. House ales and lagers next to fresh seafood; the brewery is on site.
Tip: Patio in summer is the prime seat; the brewing is visible from inside the dining room.
Cornbread Restaurant & Bar on Northwestern Highway in Southfield serves Sunday gospel brunch in metro Detroit. Detroit soul food, the successor to Beans & Cornbread since 1997.
Order: Chicken and waffles with a peach mimosa
Tip: Sunday brunch with gospel runs from 11:30; book ahead. Closed Wednesdays.
Cafe Muse on South Washington in Royal Oak has served brunch in metro Detroit since 2007. Hour Detroit's best brunch poll winner; chef-driven daytime kitchen.
Order: House-cured trout with a horseradish cream
Tip: Walk-in for most days; Mother's Day brunch needs a phone reservation. Closed Tuesday.