French in Detroit: Staff Pick

Grapevine-wrapped pillars, classical background music and jeweled murals. Entrees prepared to order. Vegetable broth-based French onion soup, bay scallops poached in vermouth. Warm salad of duck confit and lobster. Pastries are beautiful to behold.

A sophisticated European-style country inn restaurant whose dining room overlooks a brick-walled garden with a fountain, wood grill, terrace with tables and herbs, vegetables, fruit and grape trellis. Interior decor includes tiled and carpeted floors, terra cotta walls, tile murals and important art. The Lark was voted the best restaurant in America in the Conde Nast Traveler reader's poll, best restaurant in Detroit area in Gourmet magazine reader's polls, top-rated in Michigan by AAA, Mobil and Zagat survey. 850 wines earned Wine Spectator's best award of excellence.