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 dishes: No-set-menu chef's plate, Local game
Must 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.
Address: 23825 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030, Detroit
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.
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.
Prime + Proper in Capitol Park on Griswold Street serves a modern Detroit steakhouse in a 1912 building. Open since November 2017.
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 to 22:00 most nights.
Sahara on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1968. Family-run, the older sibling on Michigan Avenue to Al Ameer's Warren strip.
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.
