Soul Food$$ferndaleMon-Tue 11:30-21:00, Thu-Sat 11:30-21:00, Sun 11:30-19:00, Wed closed
Cornbread Restaurant & Bar on Northwestern Highway in Southfield serves Detroit soul food, the successor to Beans & Cornbread since 1997. Located in Ferndale.
Signature: Fried chicken, Catfish
Order: Fried chicken and waffles, the catfish dinner, and a slice of cornbread.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. Sunday brunch with gospel runs from 11:30; book ahead.
Wine bar$$corktownTue-Wed 11:00-15:00, Thu-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-15:00, Mon closed
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.
New American$$$midtownDaily 17:00-22:00
Selden Standard on 2nd Avenue has anchored Cass Corridor seasonal cooking in Detroit since November 2014. Located in Midtown. Priced at $$$.
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.
Modern Thai$$$corktownTue-Sat 16:00-22:00
Takoi on Michigan Avenue in Corktown serves modern Thai cooking in Detroit since March 2016. Order the crispy rice salad and the whole-fried fish with herbs.
Signature: Crispy rice salad, Whole-fried fish
Order: Crispy rice salad and the whole-fried fish with herbs.
Tip: Dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday from 16:00. Reservations open three weeks out.
Southern Italian$$$downtownMon-Fri 07:00-23:00, Sat-Sun 07:00-23:00
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.
New American$$$downtownMon-Sun 07:00-22:00
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.