Roman Village Cucina Italiana on Dix Avenue in Dearborn has served family Italian cooking in metro Detroit since 1964. Old-school red-sauce pasta and veal cutlets.
Signature dishes: House pasta, Veal parmigiana
Must order: House pasta of the day and veal parmigiana with the garlic bread.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch service most weekdays through 14:00.
Address: 9924 Dix Ave, Dearborn, MI 48120, Detroit
Buddy's Pizza on Six Mile and Conant is the birthplace of Detroit-style square pizza in Detroit, baked since 1946 by Gus Guerra in forge-blue steel pans.
Signature: Detroit-style square pizza, Antipasto salad
Order: Original Detroit-style square with pepperoni and the antipasto salad.
Tip: Conant location is the original; expect a wait Friday and Saturday evenings. Beer and wine only.
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.
Niki's Pizza on Beaubien Street in Greektown serves Greek-leaning deep-dish pizza in Detroit since 1980. Open through 3am Saturday, the cluster's late-night counter.
Signature: Deep-dish pizza, Greek salad
Order: Deep-dish with Greek toppings (feta, olives, sausage) and a Greek salad.
Tip: Closes 22:00 Sun-Tue, midnight Wed-Fri, 03:00 Saturday. Walk-in only on weekend evenings.
Supino Pizzeria on Russell Street in Eastern Market serves East Coast-style pizza in Detroit since 2008, founded by Dave Mancini. Saturday lines run out the door.
Signature: Bismarck pizza, Wood-fired pies
Order: The Bismarck (cracked egg, prosciutto, mozzarella) or a margherita off the wood oven.
Tip: Saturday market mornings are mobbed; weeknight dinners are easier. Beer and wine only.
Slows Bar BQ on Michigan Avenue has anchored Corktown's revival in Detroit since September 2005. The barbecue room that put Corktown back on the map.
Signature: Pulled pork, Burnt ends
Order: Yardbird pulled-pork sandwich with mac and cheese, plus a Michigan craft draft.
Tip: No reservations; expect a wait at peak hours. Tiger Stadium site is across the street.
