Locations in Detroit: Staff Pick

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Arbor Brewing Company

114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor Washtenaw County

734-213-1393; (734) 2835 (FAX)

Brew pub, Neighborhood bar, College bar, American, Eclectic, Salads, Burgers, Good To-Go, Takeout, Curbside Pickup, Online Ordering, Games: Darts, Kid Friendly, Staff Pick

Simplified menus with items that travel well
Assaggi Mediterranean Bistro

330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale Oakland County

(248) 584-3499; (248) 584-2143 (FAX)

Eclectic, Italian, Mediterranean, Bistro, Good To-Go, Takeout, Curbside Pickup, Staff Pick

Known for its attractive atmosphere and creative menu, Assaggi's menu skips along the northern coast of the Mediterranean from Spain to Lebanon. There's seating for 80 in the al fresco patio, where a garden of tomatoes, peppers, basil, flowers and other herbs — and statuary including reproductions of the "Venus de Milo" and Michelangelo's "David" — conjure the atmosphere of Tuscany. And, happily, the sound of the fountain drowns out the traffic on Nine Mile Road.
Atlas Global Bistro

3111 Woodward Ave. Detroit

(313) 831-2241

Bistro, Romantic, Staff Pick, Menu

At Atlas, you’ll find Carolina catfish, pork taquitos, short ribs, ravioli and polenta, Hawaiian shrimp and Moroccan beef. Ingredients — which don’t necessarily remain with their cuisine-of-origin — include lemongrass, cactus, Gorgonzola, wasabi, coconut, pancetta, caviar and black-eyed peas. It may sound like the chef is confused, but even if he were, open-minded taste buds should not quibble with the results.
Bahama Breeze

539 E. Big Beaver, Troy Oakland County

(248) 528-1674

Caribbean, Staff Pick, Menu
Bahama Breeze 2

19600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia Detroit

(734) 542-0891

Caribbean, Staff Pick, Menu
Baker's Keyboard Lounge

20510 Livernois Ave. Detroit

(313) 345-6300; (313) 345-6303 (FAX)

Jazz club, Romantic, Staff Pick

Baker's bills itself as "The world's oldest jazz club," and, in the club's 76-year history, almost every jazz musician of national importance has played its bandstand. Baker's complements the music with some amazing down-home cooking, their catfish being a true showstopper. Live entertainment nightly, with metro Detroit's finest local musicians every weekend.

1 event 1 article
Belmont Bar

10215 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck Detroit

(313) 871-1966

Neighborhood bar, Sports bar, Staff Pick, Games, Games: Board Games, Games: Darts

The Belmont is a place where everyone can feel comfortable. Whether you're a rocker, a dancer or just looking for a neighborhood bar to chat and shoot some stick, The Belmont can accomodate you. Located in one of Michigan's most diverse and interesting communities, the Belmont has something for everyone.
The Berkley Front

3087 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley Oakland County

(248) 547-3331 (FAX); (248)

Neighborhood bar, Beer hall, American, German, Tavern Fare, Games, Games: Pinball, Staff Pick

The Front is a mainstay in downtown Berkley, doubling as an American biergarten as well as a martini lounge. Patrons can choose to enjoy the Old World charm and laid-back style of the downstairs or to chill out in the '50s-style lounge upstairs, where live music plays every weekend.
Bert's Marketplace

2727 Russell St. Detroit

313-567-2030

Jazz club, Barbeque, Games, Games: Billiards, Games: Board Games, Games: Darts, Games: Pinball, Staff Pick, Menu

Anyone can show up here. Detroit's only late night jazz club serving up Cajun catfish and red beans and rice all night long. It's not common to find a bar where everyone seems to know each other and yet newcomers don't feel excluded. Dozens of regulars turn up Thursdays for the open mic jazz jam sessions. Bert's serves the music fans bargain-price soul food from rows of steam tables: meat and two sides for nine bucks, or up to $25 for a whole slab of ribs. In keeping with Bert's bare-bones, working-class atmosphere, their food is more down-home than much of the soul food you find in restaurants, which has often been upgraded from its humble origins.

1 article
Blind Pig

208 S. First St., Ann Arbor Washtenaw County

734-996-8555

Rock club, College bar, Games, Games: Billiards, Games: Darts, Games: Pinball, Games: Video Games, Staff Pick

Artists from across the country say that the Blind Pig is one of those 'must play at' locations. We have developed a world-class reputation as the foremost club to see up-and-coming talent. We are also renowned to artists as a venue for attracting label attention. Enjoy great sound and reasonable drink prices in an intimate atmosphere while watching live music or playing games in our 8 Ball Saloon downstairs. Come and see for yourself that the Blind Pig is the best place for a night out on the town. Cover varies at the Blind Pig; 8 Ball Saloon has no cover charge.

1 event 9 articles
Blue Goose Inn

28911 E. Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores Macomb County

(586) 296-0950

Cocktail lounge, Blues club, Seafood, Burgers, Games: Darts, Romantic, Staff Pick

This east side staple has been bringing a little piece of Memphis to Macomb County for years, featuring some of the Detroit area’s best blues bands. The venerable restaurant serves a full menu of tavern fare such as steaks, pizza and burgers; lake perch is a house specialty. And live rip-roaring blues can be seen and heard every night except Monday and Thursday at the Goose.
Bo's Smokehouse

51 N. Saginaw, Pontiac Oakland County

(248) 338-6200; (248) 338-6165 (FAX)

Brew pub, Neighborhood bar, Restaurant bar, Blues club, Barbeque, Soup, Staff Pick, Games, Games: Billiards, Games: Pinball, Games: Video Games, Kid Friendly

A true microbrewery; six to eight microbrews made on the premises. Spacious, high-ceilinged Chicago loft-style decor. Happy Hour Monday through Friday; 60-item menu served 'til midnight (until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday). Specials include Employee Appreciation Night, Two-fer Tuesdays, karaoke and College Night.
Boodles

935 W. 11 Mile Rd., Madison Heights Detroit

(248) 399-5960; (248) 399-5038 (FAX)

Restaurant bar, Seafood, Steak, Bistro, Staff Pick

Steak dominates the fare and there’s nothing on the menu that would make a meat-and-potatoes lover squirm. Six dishes under the heading “VIP” are flambéed at two stations in the dining room. All of the entrées we tried were very good: seafood strudel ($16.95), fettuccine carbonara (prepared with chicken), veal Marsala, seafood marinara ($17.95). Sides are predictable, such as green beans. Soup or salad comes with entrees; the clam chowder, which we had in both the New England and Manhattan variations, is terrific. Service is a serious issue that needs attention from management.
The Bosco

22930 Woodward Ave., Ferndale Oakland County

(248) 541-8818

Cocktail lounge, Staff Pick

If you're in the know about metropolitan nightlife then chances are you've heard of the Bosco, the trendy bar lurking behind frosted glass windows in downtown Ferndale. This hot spot has great music, a cool atmosphere, and often hosts a good-looking crowd of "scenesters, fashionistas, minimumwage celebrities and bibulous professional freeloaders."
Bucci Ristorante

20217 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Detroit

(313) 882-1044

Italian, Staff Pick, Menu

As Maxine’s the modest surroundings were trumped by the terrific food. It was the kind of restaurant you weren’t sure you wanted to talk about — maybe you wouldn’t be able to get a table on a weekend evening. The remodeled restaurant is more elegant, spacious, comfortable and relaxing, but the most coveted seats are still the stools that pull up to the marble counter surrounding the open kitchen where diners can watch the theater that is cooking as an art.
Cadieux Café

4300 Cadieux Rd. Detroit

313-882-8560

Neighborhood bar, Restaurant bar, Belgian, Seafood, Live music club, Games, Kid Friendly, Staff Pick

Feather bowling is not the only draw to this Belgian cultural hub. Cadieux Cafe combines European flair with a unique menu, and the current owners have furthered the popularity by bringing in live musical acts and staying open until 2 a.m. daily (Midnight on Sundays). So whether you are in the mood for steamed mussels, Belgian beer or Elvis impersonators (sometimes), this is the place for you.

4 articles
Cafe Felix

204 S. Main St., Ann Arbor Washtenaw County

(734) 6628650; (734) (FAX)

Cocktail lounge, Restaurant bar, All-ages place, Café, European, Vegetarian Menu, Staff Pick, Kid Friendly

Ann Arbor’s Café Felix is practically poetic. The tradition of a European café serving pastries, breads and cakes baked fresh on-site, as well as European wines, beers and liquors. They serve a full breakfast, omelets, crepes, soups, salads and tapas. Every finishing touch within the butter-colored walls is indeed, as the French say, “Au point.”
Cafe Sushi

1933 W. Maple Rd., Troy Oakland County

248-280-1831

Japanese, Vegetarian Menu, Staff Pick

Countless unique and different dishes that provide a complete change of pace from the other sushi bars across Metro Detroit. Also has a full-service bar. More than 100 items available daily that range from seared buttered scallops in a light cream sauce to a rolled beef and asparagus dish.
Callahan's Music Hall

2105 South Blvd., Auburn Hills Detroit

(248) 858-9508

Live music club, American, Tavern Fare, Burgers, Blues club, Kid Friendly, Staff Pick, Menu

Classic, moderately priced Detroit bar & grill fare served in a modern upbeat and casual environment. Lunch and dinner are served daily Monday thru Saturday. Also open on Sundays during football season. Large HD plasma TVs and a huge 142" HD projection screen put everyone close to the action of the big game. The entertainment stage hosts the best in local, regional and national entertainers on the weekends!
Carl's Chop House (closed)

3020 Grand River Ave. Detroit

(313) 833-0700

Seafood, Steak, Staff Pick

"Carl's Chop House is the oldest, most beloved steakhouse in Detroit - a city landmark for more than 60 years. Nationally renowned for its blue ribbon steaks, chops and prime rib, Carl's also features fresh seafood and live Maine lobster, and our award-winning wine list completes the perfect dining atmosphere. Afterward, use our free shuttle service to downtown casinos, sporting events and theatres." Carl's Chophouse is the only Detroit steakhouse that can boast sending 60 boxes of cuts to Paris last year. Their entire banquet space can hold 1,000 diners in one sitting. Since 1920, this has been the place to bring that first date, get engaged, or just catch up with the folks. Gift certificates are available.
Chaplin's Comedy Club

34244 Groesbeck, Clinton Township Detroit

(586) 792-1902

Comedy club, Staff Pick

National and local stand-up comedy.
Cheli's Chili Bar

21918 Michigan Ave., Dearborn Detroit

(313) 274-9700

American, Tavern Fare, Restaurant bar, Kid Friendly, Staff Pick, Menu

Fans would probably rank this a three-and-a-half star experience, but there's no reason for hockey agnostics like myself to visit Cheli’s. It’s a barnlike, underheated space with 14 TVs in one room (and one in each restroom) and a familiar menu whose execution ranges from poor to average. For red-and-white-jerseyed boosters, though, it's a place to exult in pure hockey-ness. The place assumes women aren’t die-hard fans; the TV in the women’s bathroom plays non-hockey fare.
Cherry Blossom

43588 W. Oaks Dr., Novi Detroit

(248) 380-9160; (248) 380-9169 (FAX)

Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, Staff Pick, Kid Friendly

Authentic Japanese food including sushi. 170 seatings in four different atmospheres including tatami room and sushi bar.
Cinco Lagos

424 N. Main St., Milford Detroit

(248) 684-7455; (248) 684-5935 (FAX)

Mexican, Vegetarian Menu, Staff Pick, Kid Friendly

After a long run as an upscale eatery, Brian Polcyn has reinvented the Milford space as a Mexican restaurant.
Cliff Bell's

2030 Park Ave. Detroit

313-961-2543

Jazz club, American, Romantic, Staff Pick

Stepping into the newly restored art deco live jazz bar with an even more recently opened kitchen is to arrive in another era. Before the stage, the main area is separated into two spaces: One with round, candle-lit tables, the other, a stunning curved bar. All this sits below massive barrel-vaulted ceilings. All this ambience comes from pricey restoration work done in 2006 to make today’s Cliff Bell’s look like the Cliff Bell’s of 1935. That and the way they mix a cocktail. Neither cheap nor fast, mixed drinks are crafted old-school, more for taste than ease of production. With everything from a standard fillet of beef tenderloin to cassoulet, the French-inspired eclectic food menu speaks for itself. Try the duck confit on a buttermilk biscuit with cranberry jam for a small plate reduction of Thanksgiving dinner. Hedonists will go for a chunk of tender braised pork belly (otherwise known as bacon when cured and smoked) that comes plated with a rich, spicy sweet cider sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes and a pinch of cracklings for good measure.

1 event 5 articles
Clutch Cargo's

65 E. Huron St., Pontiac Oakland County

(248) 333-2362; (248) 333-0638 (FAX)

Concert hall, Dance club, Staff Pick, Games, Games: Billiards, Games: Darts

"Clutch Cargo's is housed in a turn-of-the century church. The stained glass windows and vaulted ceiling are dramatic, and the acoustics are superb - an atmosphere ideal for bands such as the Cocteau Twins, the first band brought to this venue in the summer of 1996. Since then, a wide range of artists have played here, including the Foo Fighters, Less Than Jake, Aphex Twin, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Deftones and Spiritualized."
CoCo's House of Comedy

3000 E. Jefferson Detroit

(313) 259-9806; (313) 259-9149 (FAX)

Comedy club, Staff Pick

Coco's features an open mic every Wednesday, and poetry readings the first Tueday of every month.
Comerica Park

2100 Woodward Ave. Detroit

(313) 471-2255

Baseball diamond, Stadium/Arena, Staff Pick

Opened in 2000, the home of the Detroit Tigers offers an outstanding view of the Detroit skyline, as well as the usual summertime pleasure found at ball parks - beer, hot dogs and rousing renditions of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." The park also boast a carousel, ferris wheel, food court and displays highlighting the glory days of past Tigers teams. The occasional mega-concert also takes place at Comerica.

25 events 10 articles
Common Grill

112 S. Main, Chelsea Detroit

(734) 475-0470; (734) 475-0681 (FAX)

American, Seafood, Bistro, Staff Pick, Kid Friendly

Specializing in fresh seafood, pasta and grilled meats. Bistro-type atmosphere; small town but cutting edge.
Como's

22812 Woodward Ave., Ferndale Oakland County

248-677-4439

Gay/lesbian bar, Restaurant bar, American, Italian, Pizza, Good To-Go, Takeout, Curbside Pickup, Online Ordering, Kid Friendly, Staff Pick

Whether it's pizza, pasta, or anything that can conceivably be breaded and deep-fried, this fixture on the corner of Nine Mile and Woodward has been serving it up since 1961. Rain or shine, Como's sheltered outdoor dining area offers a place for al fresco eating and open-air boozing. The restaurant closed in 2018 and reopened in 2019 under new management.

9 articles
Cork Wine Pub

23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge Detroit

(248) 544-2675; (248) (FAX)

Tavern Fare, Staff Pick

Cork Wine Pub offers an energetic bar atmosphere with exceptionally affordable wines and a variety of dishes to pair with, including cheese plates, classic pub fare (with a twist), heartier dinners, and creative desserts.
Cosi

30995 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills Detroit

(248) 538-9700

Eclectic, Staff Pick