Favorite Metro Detroit Restaurants

Many, many thanks to those who helped compile this list! I've learned a lot about the different restaurants (not to mention driving directions!) while working on this list. Although I have not eaten at all, or even most, of them, I am looking forward to trying some! In my request to put this list together, I mentioned that we were going to try one new restaurant a month and write about it on this blog. I still am planning on doing that and (fortunately, it's after lunch today, otherwise I may have been tempted to venture out for some good Thai food) am looking forward to which restaurant we should go to first.

The information was gathered using LinkedIn and Facebook, as well as our friends and family and own personal network. All information is relayed directly from their own websites, or comments made from those who recommended the restaurants. I cannot take credit, nor criticism, for any of the information listed. I am willing, however, to post your comments if you've had a chance to visit any of these restaurants. I would love to hear feedback, and I'll add to the list if you have any restaurants that didn't make the list!

In no particular order:

Restaurant: Big Rock
City: Birmingham
Type: Chop House/Brewery
Comments: Excellent food and consistent service, atmosphere is incredible.
Website: www.bigrockchophouse.com

Restaurant: Mon Jin Lau
City: Troy
Type: Asian/Sushi
Comments: Great food (website not up yet, but menus are available online)
Website: www.monjinlau.com

Restaurant: Cheli's Chili
City: Dearborn/Detroit
Type: Sports/Entertainment
Comments: Owned by former Red Wings, Chris Chelios; eat first, then take shuttle to a game!
Website: www.chelischilibar.com

Restaurant: Pizza Papalis
City: Various
Type: Pizza
Comments: Great spinach pizza, some of the locations are connected to RioWraps, too!
Website: www.pizzapapalis.com

Restaurant: Peking House
City: Royal Oak
Type: Chinese
Comments: Easy online ordering menu
Website: www.pekinghousero.com

Restaurant: Anita's Kitchen
City: Troy/Ferndale
Type: Lebanese Café & Marketplace
Comments: The freshest, most flavorful Lebanese cuisine, friendly staff, and reasonable prices, too. On W. Maple Rd. just west of Livernois in Troy.
Website: www.anitaskitchenonline.com

Restaurant: Lake Street Tavern
City: South Lyon
Type: Tavern Fare
Comments: Non-smoking, closed on Sundays
Website: www.lakestreettavern.com

Restaurant: Louis Chop House
City: Chesterfield
Type: Chop House/Brewery
Comments: Family owned and the food is excellent. The menu varies but the steaks are always top notch! It is a 'treat' to dine there. I highly recommend it.
Website: www.louischophouse.com

Restaurant: Kruse & Muer
City: Northern Oakland County
Type: Chop House
Comments: Main St in downtown Rochester. Nice venue & excellent food @ good service. Wish I could stop in there this afternoon.
Website: www.kruseandmuerrestaurants.com

Restaurant: George's Coney Island
City: Auburn Hills
Type: Coney Island
Comments: Only about 10 tables and the line goes out the door at lunch. Best coney's in the D.
Website:

Restaurant: Slow's BBQ
City: Detroit
Type: BBQ
Comments: The best BBQ in the city. Excellent beer list. Mac and cheese, chicken wings and baby back are a must! Great space, excellent design.
Website: www.slowsbarbq.com

Restaurant: Cadieux Café
City: Detroit
Type: Belgian fare
Comments: Mussels by the bucket, and the best beer list around; live entertainment, family owned and operated since the '60's
Website: www.cadieuxcafe.com

Restaurant: Sheesh
City: Clawson
Type: Meditteranean
Comments: Owners are former employees of LaShish, so you know you're getting the best food, service and experience!
Website: www.sheeshonline.com

Restaurant: What Crepe
City: Royal Oak
Type: Crepes
Comments: Newly opened Crepe restaurant; many changes (for the better) since their opening in spring of 2009. Remember the Magic Pan restaurant? Similar to that. Yum.
Website: www.whatcrepe.com

Restaurant: Happy Sushi
City: Novi
Type: Sushi
Comments: Almost hate to tell people about it! Great food, large quantity for small prices.
Website:

Restaurant: Bread Basket Deli
City: Southfield
Type: Deli
Comments: ONLY uses Michigan made products, specifically those from Detroit. Check out the letter from the owner on their website. Good call on recommending this one!
Website: www.breadbasketdelis.com

Restaurant: Library Pub
City: Commerce/Novi
Type: Burgers/Bar
Comments: Sports bar, great food, outdoor seating for summer, friendly atmosphere.
Website:

Restaurant: Ninja Sushi
City: West Bloomfield
Type: Sushi
Comments: Great presentation and unusual selection..$1 sushi on Tues. Edible art after the meal.
Website:

Restaurant: Ventimiglia's Italian Deli
City: Sterling Heights
Type: Italian
Comments: Top notch sandwiches and italian specialties just like Grandma used to make. Worth the drive from anywhere in Metro Detroit!
Website:

Restaurant: Giorgio's
City: Oak Park
Type: Gourmet Diner'
Comments: HUGE portions, reasonable prices and a fantastic Chicken Marsala, Pistachio Pie.
Website:

Restaurant: Red Coat Tavern
City: Royal Oak
Type: Bar fare
Comments: Cedar plank salmon is tasty; known for their burgers and beer. Call ahead to put your name on the list; there is always a wait (means they are always busy, the best sign in a restaurant!)
Website:

Restaurant: Lelli's
City: Auburn Hills/Detroit
Type: Steaks/Italian/Upscale
Comments: Filet Mignon w/ zip sauce!!!! Mmmmmmm. Still owned by the Lelli family. Expensive, but worth it!
Website: www.lellisrestaurant.com

Restaurant: House of Reuben
City: Sterling Heights
Type: Sandwiches
Comments: Soups and sandwiches; converted from an old Taco Bell!
Website:

Restaurant: Mr. Pita
City: Various
Type: Roll Up sandwiches
Comments: Cheap, fresh, tasty, Schedule the Pita Truck to come to your work at lunchtime!
Website: www.mrpita.net

Restaurant: Sala Thai
City: Rochester
Type: Thai
Comments: Don't forget the soup. Great food or have a cocktail if you'd like!
Website:

Restaurant: Thang Long
City: Madison Heights
Type: Thai/Vietnamese
Comments: Don't let the appearance of the strip mall prevent you from trying out this 'gem' of Metro Detroit. One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the area!
Website:

Restaurant: Union Street
City: Detroit
Type: Full Menu
Comments: Very influential in the Detroit 'see and be seen' scene. Evolved into the place to be in Detroit. Shame not to see it at least once, although it'll soon become .your favorite downtown restaurant!
Website: www.unionstreetdetroit.com

Restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings
City: Various
Type: Buffalo Wild Wings (duh!)
Comments: Family favorite, everyone can order to their liking!
Website: www.buffalowildwings.com

Restaurant: Sweet Lorraine's
City: Detroit/Southfield
Type: Creative ethnic cuisine
Comments: Great fresh menu with daily/weekly/seasonal rotations
Website: www.sweetlorraines.com

Restaurant: Fishbone's
City: Detroit/Southfield/St. Clair Shores
Type: Steak, seafood, sushi
Comments: Wonderful sushi and also a full Steak and Seafood menu
Website: www.fishbonesusa.com

Restaurant: Boodles
City: Madison Heights
Type: Bar fare
Comments: They offer gourmet food at affordable prices, including tableside preparation, great wait staff, very good wine and liquor selections and live piano player almost every night. It is a real treat!
Website:

Restaurant: Pi's Thai
City: Madison Heights, maybe? 10 Mile and John R
Type: Thai
Comments: It is the craziest little hole in the wall Thai place. Mostly take out, but they have two tables inside to dine in. The ratings for spicyness are misleading - hot is "will burn your mouth and incinerate all of your internal organs". Mild is actually quite hot. Since it is such a small place, we became quite friendly with the owners and employees there and they began to remember us and get our orders set as soon as we walked in. Since moving to Georgia I haven't found another Thai place that is quite as good.

Mangi bene!!

Scams, Shticks or Sure Things?

These days we cannot be careful enough in our job search. We put out resumes, complete profiles, create cover letters and when we get a response, we don’t want to let it go. But are there times when we should back away from the phone? How do we know? I mean, really know? While some people will take advantage in times like this, it’s really up to you to decide what opportunities sound like good ones and which ones you should hang up quickly. Human nature is to believe the good, right? What if there are some people who would take advantage of that? Would you be able to spot them?

Take a look at these three scenarios and you decide:
You get a call from a recruiter with a great job for you: the location is great, doing what you love and the money is more than you’ve ever made. They love you for the position (you haven’t met them, or even phone interviewed yet) and for $25 in cash or money order, you will be guaranteed to be in the top three candidates. No, you don’t need to meet them, they’ve done their research and they really think you are the best candidate. Just send the money and we’ll get back to you.
Scam? Shtick? Sure thing?

Standard call from a recruiter with an OK opportunity (they seem to think it’s great, but I’m not all that excited about selling . . . I’m not sure what, they haven’t quite been very clear on that). I’m not sure what I’d be doing, or where I’d be working. I didn’t catch the name of the company, either, but I’m sure I’ll get their website and check them out. Hmm. Really generic looking website with no direct contact information, nor any mention of who owns the company. You really feel their sense of urgency and they keep saying that if you aren’t interested, there is someone else who would love the job. Am I in or out? Can I think about it? No? OK, I’m in! Yeah, I got a job! Or did I?
Scam? Shtick? Sure thing?

Recruiter calls, talks about my resume, tells me about a job. It’s close to my home, but the dollars are not quite what I want, but I am interested in the work. He wants to set an interview and gives me website info so I can research their company beforehand. I ask a couple of questions, which I get answers to, and am getting excited about the position. I’ve been excited before, however, so I’m a little skeptical right now. I don’t want to blow it. Now I need to get a good nights’ sleep so I’m well rested. And I’ll practice my interview questions while I’m making dinner. I’m getting more and more excited the more I think about it!
Scam? Shtick? Sure thing?

I know things are tough out there right now. I’ve talked to people who say I’m the first call about a job they’ve had in weeks. I get that when someone calls with an opportunity, we want, so bad, for it to be real and certain and mine. But, please be careful. Remember, ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably it’ or, ‘if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck’? There’s a reason that ‘sayings’ have become ‘sayings’. They’ve been proven to be true way too many times.

Be smart about your decisions, your contacts and your money. Make connections with people who you know have your best interests in mind and follow those leads. The right position will come along, and when it does, you’ll know you made the right decisions.