The restaurants worth a reservation in Detroit, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Detroit. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Selden Standard on 2nd Avenue has anchored Cass Corridor seasonal cooking in Detroit since November 2014. Located in Midtown. Priced at $$$.
Signature: Wood-fired vegetables, Hand-cut pasta
Order: Wood-fired vegetable plate and whichever fresh pasta the kitchen is running that week.
Tip: Book two weeks out for weekend evenings. Bar seats hold space for walk-ins at 17:00.
Takoi on Michigan Avenue in Corktown serves modern Thai cooking in Detroit since March 2016. Order the crispy rice salad and the whole-fried fish with herbs.
Signature: Crispy rice salad, Whole-fried fish
Order: Crispy rice salad and the whole-fried fish with herbs.
Tip: Dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday from 16:00. Reservations open three weeks out.
San Morello inside the Shinola Hotel on Woodward serves Southern Italian wood-fired cooking in Detroit. Located in Downtown. At 1400 Woodward Ave.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House-made pasta
Order: Margherita pizza from the wood oven and a plate of cacio e pepe.
Tip: Brunch runs weekends 10:00-14:00. Reservations on OpenTable; bar seats are first-come.
The Apparatus Room inside the Detroit Foundation Hotel on Larned Street serves New American cooking in a converted 1929 firehouse. Open since 2017.
Signature: Half chicken, House pasta
Order: The wood-roasted half chicken with seasonal vegetables and a glass of Michigan Riesling.
Tip: Breakfast runs from 07:00 daily. Dinner reservations recommended; the bar is open later.
Marrow in the Market on Riopelle Street is the Eastern Market butcher-and-brasserie concept from Ping Ho's Marrow Hospitality Group. Priced at $$$$.
Signature: Dry-aged steak, Whole animal cuts
Order: Dry-aged steak from the in-house butcher counter and a glass from the deep cellar.
Tip: Includes a butcher bar, City View Lounge and Capital Dining Room. Book through Tock for the dining room.
Wright & Company on the second floor of the Wright-Kay Building on Woodward serves James Beard-nominated composed small plates in Detroit. Open since 2014.
Signature: Burrata plate, Lamb meatballs
Order: Three to four shared plates with the burrata and the lamb meatballs leading.
Tip: Reservations strongly recommended for weekend evenings; cocktails worth a stop alone.
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails in the Park Shelton next to the DIA serves farm-to-table small plates in Detroit's Midtown. Open since 2015. Priced at $$$.
Signature: Seasonal vegetable plate, Duck confit
Order: Seasonal vegetable composition and the cocktail list, which leans bitter and herbal.
Tip: Two private dining rooms; lunch Fridays only. Walk-ins for the bar.
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. Priced at $$$. At 600 Vester St.
Signature: Oysters, Crudo plates
Order: A half-dozen East and West Coast oysters and the daily crudo composition.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Bar runs through 22:00 on weekends.
Prime + Proper in Capitol Park on Griswold Street serves a modern Detroit steakhouse in a 1912 building. Open since November 2017. Located in Downtown.
Signature: Dry-aged steak, Tableside Caesar
Order: The dry-aged ribeye, hash browns and the tableside Caesar.
Tip: Reservations through Resy; cocktail bar takes walk-ins for the front bar seats.
Joe Muer Seafood on the river inside the Renaissance Center serves classic Detroit seafood since the 2011 GM Tower revival. Original Joe Muer's dates to 1929.
Signature: Whitefish, Lobster bisque
Order: Pan-fried Michigan whitefish and the lobster bisque, both legacy plates.
Tip: Floor-to-ceiling river view best at sunset. Saturday dinner-only; book a week out.
Caucus Club at street level of the Penobscot Building on West Congress serves an old-Detroit chophouse since 1952. Reopened under new ownership 2017.
Signature: Dover sole, Steak Diane
Order: Dover sole tableside and steak Diane finished at the table.
Tip: Lunch service runs weekdays; dinner Monday through Saturday. Reservations on OpenTable.
Al Ameer on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1989. James Beard America's Classic 2016, the first Michigan winner.
Signature: Hummus, Shawarma
Order: Whole-leg lamb shawarma, hummus with pine nuts and warm pita straight from the oven.
Tip: Walk-in friendly; the parking lot is large for the area. Hours 11:00-22:00 most nights.
Sahara on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1968. Priced at $$. At 22815 Michigan Ave. Booking recommended.
Signature: Mixed grill, Tabouleh
Order: Mixed grill platter for the table and a finely chopped tabouleh.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Catering is a substantial side of the business; weekend dinner books out fastest.
Yemen Cafe on Joseph Campau in Hamtramck serves Yemeni cooking in metro Detroit. Halal counter, mandi and saltah are the canonical orders. Priced at $$.
Signature: Lamb mandi, Saltah
Order: Lamb mandi with saffron rice and the bubbling cast-iron saltah stew.
Tip: Open from 08:00-01:00 daily; cash is welcome, cards work. No alcohol served.
Polish Village Cafe on Yemans Street in Hamtramck serves Polish cooking in metro Detroit since 1975. Below-street basement room, cash-friendly counter.
Signature: Pierogi, Kielbasa
Order: Plate of mixed pierogi (potato, kraut, cheese) and the kielbasa with sauerkraut.
Tip: Stairs down to the basement room; no reservations. Sunday opens at noon.
Mexican Village on Bagley Street has anchored Detroit's Mexicantown since 1958, Detroit's oldest continuously operating Mexican restaurant. Priced at $$.
Signature: Enchiladas, Chimichangas
Order: Combination plate with an enchilada, a chimichanga and rice and beans.
Tip: Margaritas on the patio in summer; the dining room is large enough for groups without a booking.
El Asador Steakhouse on Springwells in Southwest Detroit serves Mexican steakhouse cooking, the gourmet end of Mexicantown. Family-run since 2014.
Signature: Carne asada, Mole
Order: Carne asada with house mole and a flight of small-batch tequila.
Tip: Tuesday and Wednesday close at 22:00; weekend prime time books out a week in advance.
Slows Bar BQ on Michigan Avenue has anchored Corktown's revival since September 2005. The barbecue room that put Corktown back on the map. Priced at $$.
Signature: Pulled pork, Burnt ends
Order: Yardbird pulled-pork sandwich with mac and cheese, plus a Michigan craft draft.
Tip: No reservations; expect a wait at peak hours. Tiger Stadium site is across the street.
Pegasus Taverna on Monroe Street has anchored Detroit's Greektown since 1981. The flaming saganaki and the Greektown casino crowd are the constants.
Signature: Saganaki (Opa!), Lamb chops
Order: Saganaki cheese set alight at the table and a plate of grilled lamb chops.
Tip: Open through 02:00 on weekends; the late-night kitchen runs the cluster.
Coriander Kitchen and Farm in the Jefferson-Chalmers canal district serves farm-to-table cooking in Detroit. Kitchen leans farm-to-table american.
Signature: Salad of the day, Wood-fired pizza
Order: Salad built from the on-site farm and a wood-fired pizza from the patio oven.
Tip: Seasonal hours; the patio over the canal is the seat to ask for. Open from spring through autumn.
Supino Pizzeria on Russell Street in Eastern Market serves East Coast-style pizza in Detroit since 2008, founded by Dave Mancini. Priced at $$.
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.
Cornbread Restaurant & Bar on Northwestern Highway in Southfield serves Detroit soul food, the successor to Beans & Cornbread since 1997. Located in Ferndale.
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.
Mudgie's Deli & Wine Shop on Brooklyn Street in Corktown serves a New York-style deli with a Detroit wine list since 2008. Late-night menu runs through 22:00.
Signature: Hot pastrami, Reuben
Order: Hot pastrami on rye and a glass off the natural-wine list that doubles as a retail shop.
Tip: Patio is the prime summer seat; the wine shop will pour any bottle for $15 corkage with the meal.