Dearborn/Detroit Area: Need Restaurant Advice

[Princess Tink]

My DH has spent the past 3 wks in Dearborn/Detroit for business. He is not finding very many GOOD places to eat .....of course not, he doesn't have me there to help him.

Anyone have any suggestions? He's looking for Mexican, Italian, and some good home cooking....maybe some place that has good Chef Salads would be good too. This trip has not been good for his waiste-line.....

He goes back up next week 3 more weeks, then a couple more weeks in May. So, he'll have plenty of time to try a lot of places. I know when they go back up, they are going to try to catch a baseball game.

TIA
Micaela

 

[figment52]

http://www.andiamoitalia.com/ardearborn.htm

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the Detroit Metro area.

http://www.muer.com/locations/bigfish_dearborn/bigfish_dearborn.html

excellent seafood, and bread

 

[briannesmom]

For Mexican head to Mexicantown in Detroit and go to Xochilmilcos. Really good food and margaritas, very budget friendly.
http://detroit.citysearch.com/profile/5231068
If he wants really good pizza try Pizza Papalis They have a location in Detroit in the Greektown area (across the street from Greektown Casino) and a location in Dearborn.
Best hamburgers in Dearborn Millers Bar. I have friends that live in the Dearborn area and they love this place.

If I can think of anywhere else I will let you know.

Amy

 

[DianeV]

Close to where he may be at Ford Road and Telegraph is Mexican Fiesta..very good but gets busy at dinner time

Great breakfast and basic diner type food for lunch/dinner: Franks Diner on Plymouth Road between Telegraph and Beech Daly

 

[Tinkerbelle99]

Well, you can't go wrong with the suggestions so far. For Italian Andiamo is the best around...they have several locations, one is right on Michigan Avenue, just a hop skip from Ford WHQ. Dearborn is Ford country here, in the "circle" around Fairlane mall are a few choices, as mentioned Big Fish a Jim Muer restuaration.

Miillers, very unassuming from the exterior, but it sure does have the best burger around!

Senate Coney Island...all good here...love their greek salad...actually most coney islands around here are good

mongolian bbq - an experience

george and harrys

LaShish - mediterrianen , but so awesome you owe it to yourself to try it.

bellacino's has grinders

gosh, there are tons....most on michigan ave are good, cant go wrong

hockey fan by chance? detroit red wing chris chelois owns two Cheli's Chili Bars one downtown and one in dearborn, again on michigan avenue. everything is good and yes, so is the chili.

tons of the chain stuff - red robin, chili's, fridays, fast food galore

 

[sorcerormickey]

You guys are making me sooooo hungry and homesick!! I lived in Dearborn for 28 years!

Senate's has THE BEST coneys EVER!!! And they have really good breakfasts too.

Where is he staying while he's there??? Is he there with Ford?

 

[Slyboots]

Miller's is THE best for burgers! However, that's all they serve. You have a choice of hamburger, cheeseburger, fries or onion rings. There is no menu.

I'll add a few more...
Kaseys Salad Bar...Salads
Matis Deli...Sandwiches
The Wheat and Rye...Sandwiches
Amantea...Italian
Deluca's...Italian
Pancho Villas...Mexican
Mr. Chicken...really good broasted chicken

I had no idea there were so many Dearbornites here

 

[Cendrillon]

For Dearborn:

Miller's on Michigan Ave between Telegraph and Outer Drive in Dearborn has the best burgers in the state and is consistently listed in the top 5 for the nation (check out the Wallstreet Journal article on the nation's best burgers a couple of weeks ago). http://millersbar.com/ http://online.wsj.com/public/articl...2BeaMYFkoo_20070408.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

Dearborn in general is well known for their Middle Eastern food. La Pita and La Shish, both on Michigan Ave in West Dearborn are both great! Even though Middle Eastern sounds exotic it's not all that unusual, mostly grilled meats, vegetables, etc. Very healthy food in general.
http://www.lapitadearborn.com http://www.lashish.com

For Italian in Dearborn, there's Andiamo's as previously mentioned, but that's a bit on the expensive side. I would also recommend Deliziosa (in a strip mall near Michigan Ave and Military) for less expensive but high quality pasta dishes or Guilio's in the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, they always have fantastic food and great service.
http://info.detnews.com/restaurants...singleresults&restaurantid=739&locationid=832
http://dearborn.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/restaurants/index.jsp

LA Express, also on Michigan Ave, is a sister restaurant to Deliziosa and also has excellent food, a range of sandwiches to more gourmetish entrees.
http://info.detnews.com/restaurants...singleresults&restaurantid=740&locationid=833

For "good homecooking", I would recommend Richter's, located on Michigan Ave at Telegraph Rd. Richter's is a German restaurant but they are family owned and have a big mostly American menu, with lots of traditional family dishes. They also make all of their own pastries and breads and have an overwhelming dessert tray. http://www.richterschalet.com/

And for good sandwiches and salads along with a little history and a nice view, go to The Pool, a restaurant located in the former pool room of the Henry Ford Estate. http://www.henryfordestate.org/restaurant/

For Detroit:

There are so many places, but I'll list a few of my favs.

Traffic Jam and Snug - this is a restaurant near the Wayne State campus that has their own bakery, brewery, and dairy onsite. Their menu is eclectic but everything is quite fresh. http://www.traffic-jam.com/

Pegasus - a restaurant in Greektown next to the Greektown Casino. Try the saganaki - flaming cheese. Also stop by the acclaimed Astoria bakery across the street.

Detroit Breakfast House and Grill - near Campus Martius, they have typical southern foods (like fried chicken) in addition to breakfast favorites (omelets, quiches, etc.). www.detroitbreakfasthouse.com

I've also heard great things about Seldom Blues and Sweet Georgia Brown.
This list is of course omitting nationwide chain restaurants and the really expensive places like Coach Insignia, Opus One, The Caucus Club, and The Whitney.

 

[figment52]

I almost forgot - CHicken Shack. It is take out but family run and multiple locations in the Detroit Metro Area. Great Ribs!!!! and Broasted potatos to die for.

http://www.chickenshack.com/

 

[Microcell]

I almost forgot - CHicken Shack. It is take out but family run and multiple locations in the Detroit Metro Area. Great Ribs!!!! and Broasted potatos to die for.

http://www.chickenshack.com/

OH MY GOD!!! They have a website??? I have been gone WAAAAYYYYYY too long! I loved Chicken Shack, we always went to the one in Royal Oak, even after we moved to Dearborn back in 1984. Now I have been gone 17 years.


Millers Bar is a bar bar. I remember the first time I went there when I was 12 with my best friend and her dad and we were the only kids in the place. Great hamburgers!!

My favorite Mexican, hands down for Mexican is Mexican Village. It is three blocks from the bridge to Canada, 18th and Bagley in downtown Detroit (it is still there, right?). A little history, my mom and her mom went there to that location when there were literally 4 tables only! It was a hole in the wall. They had one going the other direction in Utica, which might be safer.

I second Richters for rich food, if he likes German, and it is right there in Dearborn.

If he wants Deli, go to the Breadbasket in Southfield, a little far, but worth the 1/2 hour from Dearborn. Take the Southfield expressway to Lincoln (10 and1/2 mile) and it is on Lincoln and Greenfield in a shopping center that also had my favorite chineese restaurant. Tell him to order the # 18 Jaymies Jubilee- Quadrupile decker to die for!!! They close early on Friday night (or at least they used to).

Heck I even miss Tubby's (which I know are still around because my best friend always calls me when she is ordering a sub there on her way to work).

Wow, The Pool looks SWANK! I was last there when it was an empty room! The Henry Ford Estate is interesting to be sure.
I need to get home! Chicken Shack here I come!

 

[Microcell]

Ohhhh, Princess Tink, I see you are from Missouri, like me and I think he will not consider Richters home cooking. I have to be honest, you can't really get "home cooking" like you can here in Dearborn that I can think of. Chicken Shack might be the closest to the fried chicken and mashed potatoes etc.. he might be looking for.

I also have to say that if you live in Kansas City or have eaten BBQ here and liked it, your DH will not like the offerings in Detroit at all. My aunt took us to the Boneyard in Bloomfield Hills and my DH knew he was in trouble when he couldn't smell anything and there was no wood sitting outside. Avoid ribs there at all costs (they boil them!).

 

[abeyst]

Yep, all good places! I live just outside Dearborn (and drive through it everyday on M-39) to go to work in Royal Oak. We visit Dearborn a lot!

I was gonna post my favs, but Cendrillon gave you a great list to go by.

All I can add is Pancho Villas www.panchovillas.net . They're newer to Dearborn, but have excellent food and you get a lot for your money. They're on the south side of Michigan Avenue in a shopping strip mall, just west of Military St. The strip mall faces west, so you won't see it from the street. If you see Aco and Michael's (which face Michigan avenue), it's in the same parking lot but is just in front of them.

Noone has mentioned the new restaurants off of M-39 and Outer Drive. Technically it's Allen Park (woo-hoo for my home town!!), but it's 2 exits south of Michigan Avenue so it's really close. Right off M-39 and Outer Drive they've built 2 new huge shopping complexes (and they're still expanding). They have a bunch of carry-out places like Salsarita's, Olga's Kitchen, Moe's, Starbucks, Coldstone and Panera Bread. And they have new restaruants like On the Border, Chili's, Johnny Carino's, Longhorn Steakhouse, Applebee's. They're all really nice and in a good area. And they're all right by each other - very convenient for your DH and any other out of town travelers.

And if your DH needs to shop for anything there's a new Target, Lowe's, JoAnn Fabrics, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, World Market, and others.

PM me if you want more exact information on anything in the area. (Wow, your DH is gonna be impressed when you have this huge list for him!! I think he might owe you an extra trip to Disney for this!! )

 

[ILMICKEY]

It's neat seeing all these dissers from Michigan.

We always do Hockeytown USA when we go to a tigers game. It's pretty good food. One person mentioned the pizza in Greektown, it is awesome. There is also a Greek restaurant with flaming cheese. That was pretty good too.

 

[hopey1kenobi]

Senate Coney Island...all good here...love their greek salad...actually most coney islands around here are good

I moved away from Michigan 4 years ago, but let me tell you the thing I miss most are the Coney Islands. Senate is a good one, I'm partial to Abe's in Ypsilanti.

Anything around Fairlane is going to be good

 

[Princess Tink]

Ohhhh, Princess Tink, I see you are from Missouri, like me and I think he will not consider Richters home cooking. I have to be honest, you can't really get "home cooking" like you can here in Dearborn that I can think of. Chicken Shack might be the closest to the fried chicken and mashed potatoes etc.. he might be looking for.

I also have to say that if you live in Kansas City or have eaten BBQ here and liked it, your DH will not like the offerings in Detroit at all. My aunt took us to the Boneyard in Bloomfield Hills and my DH knew he was in trouble when he couldn't smell anything and there was no wood sitting outside. Avoid ribs there at all costs (they boil them!).

Yep Microcell, from KC. We already had 'that' talk about BBQ before he even stepped foot on the plane. We are so particular about BBQ, that we have to have THAT talk before we go any place new.....that if we happen to eat at a BBQ place out and about don't expect it to be like our fav's back home, every place has a different idea of what GOOD BBQ is. Not bad, just different.

I'm also glad you mentioned "Richters home cooking", I'm afraid he may pass on this one....he's not always adventurous. But that's okay, because it appears my freinds on the Disboards have provided a whole list of new places to try.

He's hit alot of the national chains already, so it looks like we're going to get him some variety here. I can't beleive all the responses here. You guys are the best. Thanks!

Micaela

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I totally agree with those who have said Millers and La Shish!

Also, if you venture over to Windsor, there is a very nice buffet in the basement of the Casino. (Maybe a little far, but so much fun too!)

 

[Cendrillon]

I'm also glad you mentioned "Richters home cooking", I'm afraid he may pass on this one....he's not always adventurous.

You don't have to be adventurous to enjoy Richter's. I actually recommend it to people who don't want to be adventurous! They serve all the standard American foods, but they make everything in house so it has a more homey feel. For example, southern fried chicken, steaks, baked or fried fish, roast turkey, and homemade chicken noodle soup. That's why I thought it might be like "home cooking". My family loves the chicken schnitzel, which is basically fried breaded chicken cutlet with mashed potatoes.
Here's the link to the full menu: http://www.richterschalet.com/files/4104394.pdf

I didn't realize that you were looking for BBQ. It would be difficult to find good BBQ here. The best I've seen is a chain restaurant, Famous Dave's, but the nearest one is about 10 minutes from Dearborn or Detroit. Great Mexican and Italian are hard to find too, since they're not our primary immigrant populations. But if you're looking for Arabic, Polish, or Greek food, you'll be in luck.

 

[Princess Tink]

You don't have to be adventurous to enjoy Richter's. I actually recommend it to people who don't want to be adventurous! They serve all the standard American foods, but they make everything in house so it has a more homey feel. For example, southern fried chicken, steaks, baked or fried fish, roast turkey, and homemade chicken noodle soup. That's why I thought it might be like "home cooking". My family loves the chicken schnitzel, which is basically fried breaded chicken cutlet with mashed potatoes.
Here's the link to the full menu: http://www.richterschalet.com/files/4104394.pdf

I didn't realize that you were looking for BBQ. It would be difficult to find good BBQ here. The best I've seen is a chain restaurant, Famous Dave's, but the nearest one is about 10 minutes from Dearborn or Detroit. Great Mexican and Italian are hard to find too, since they're not our primary immigrant populations. But if you're looking for Arabic, Polish, or Greek food, you'll be in luck.

That's funny, I never really think about the different influences in different areas when it comes to 'ethnic' foods. I'm going to have share this list with him, and have him try at least a couple of these 'other' places and then share with me......I'm very adventurous when it comes to new foods!

 

[VictoriaT]

I totally agree with those who have said Millers and La Shish!

Also, if you venture over to Windsor, there is a very nice buffet in the basement of the Casino. (Maybe a little far, but so much fun too!)

My DH took me to Miller's when I was 8 months pregnant with our first! Just for the food! There are Many great Middle Eastern restaurants in the Dearborn area, not just La Shish!

I think, after seeing all these Michigan people SE side, we should plan a meet! Not to go OT~ There are many great places to eat here- I think many people have the wrong impression of Detroit! I would send him to Hamtramck for the Polish food, but he might get lost.

 

[Microcell]

Yep Microcell, from KC. We already had 'that' talk about BBQ before he even stepped foot on the plane. We are so particular about BBQ, that we have to have THAT talk before we go any place new.....that if we happen to eat at a BBQ place out and about don't expect it to be like our fav's back home, every place has a different idea of what GOOD BBQ is. Not bad, just different.

I'm also glad you mentioned "Richters home cooking", I'm afraid he may pass on this one....he's not always adventurous. But that's okay, because it appears my freinds on the Disboards have provided a whole list of new places to try.

Funny, we are the same about our BBQ, having grown up in Detroit it was fine to have their type (non smoked) until I tasted Hayward's in Overland Park (back when it was good) and was blown away. Then, like I said, my aunt kept raving about the Boneyard and DH thought it was not good at all, because he expected it to be smoked. We are even worried about trying some in Memphis when we go this summer.

I don't think OP was originally asking about BBQ (cause you can't beat what you can get at home) , but someone mentioned it and I thought about my husband's response, so I thought a warning was a good idea.

I had no idea Richters had southern type cooking. I always got the Chicken Cordon Bleu and had no other need for the rest of the menu. I just thought that it would probably have a more German influence than a down home kind of thing.

To add to the Coney Island thing, it really is much better than anything you can get in KC, he should try one out.