  Roadmaster49 Member Username: Roadmaster49 Post Number: 133 Registered: 01-2008 |
I was reading Wine Spectator magazine during a slow stretch of my part time Wine & Spirits grocery store department job. I came across an article on New Orleans dining establishments. One was Emeril's restaurant DELMONICOS. It waxed poetic about their steaks, seafood, etc (atmosphere) I am sure it would be pricey. I then thought what the hell. What if I told my wife we are takinmg a four day weekend, driving to New Orleans (from greater Des Moines, Iowa) and eating at Delmonicos then getting in the car and driving home. IF I wanted to do the same going to DETROIT, what ONE restaurant is DETROIT personified? Great food, great Detroit digs, atmosphere? | ||
Gazhekwe Member Username: Gazhekwe Post Number: 3007 Registered: 08-2007 |
Well, let's see. Delmonico's in New Orleans has been there more than 100 years. Of course, Emeril hasn't. It's hard to find that kind of history here, and a celebrity chef to boot. How about the Whitney? It's in a historic Detroit mansion with Tiffany windows. The mansion is mid-1890s, and Delmonico's opened in 1895. Chef Michael Lutes isn't on TV like Emeril, but he puts out some great food. | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 3513 Registered: 02-2007 |
Mario's | ||
Macknwarren Member Username: Macknwarren Post Number: 148 Registered: 10-2007 |
Ponchartrain Wine Cellars. It's closed? | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 1718 Registered: 05-2008 |
Roma Cafe | ||
Ronaldj Member Username: Ronaldj Post Number: 122 Registered: 01-2007 |
Opus One for high end. | ||
Retroit Member Username: Retroit Post Number: 1052 Registered: 04-2008 |
"What if I told my wife..." Your wife must be a saint! | ||
Sec106 Member Username: Sec106 Post Number: 48 Registered: 03-2007 |
I agree Roma Cafe is the one. Every time we go there it is a treat. One hundred year old house, old waiters the food is fantastic. | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 2164 Registered: 03-2006 |
Roma's is still good, but its not what it used to be. | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 304 Registered: 02-2007 |
Duly's , but don't order heavy onions on the hot dog. They'll put on too many. | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 333 Registered: 05-2006 |
I've been to Delmonico's. True, it was a great dining experience, though more of a steakhouse and less of a New Orleans cajun/creole restaurant. Emeril's other NO restaurant, NOLA, was also pretty good. Since I'm a transplanted Detroiter, any time I make it back to the CofD, Lafayette is a must, and it used to be Fishbone's, though the food has changed a bit over the years. | ||
Penelopetheduck Member Username: Penelopetheduck Post Number: 46 Registered: 09-2006 |
I think Mario's is terrible and Roma cafe is only so-so. Vince's on Springwells is hands-down the best Italian food in Detroit. I'm going to have to go with Small Plates for best restaurant. It's fancy but not pretentious and the food is delicious. For most 'Detroit' restaurant (that isn't a coney island): How about Traffic Jam? | ||
12468_laing Member Username: 12468_laing Post Number: 450 Registered: 07-2008 |
Traffic Jam is still there? I went there when I was at WSU in the 70's. What about Hella's in Greektown - stil there? | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 2166 Registered: 03-2006 |
sadly no, RIP Hella's | ||
Thefishwrap Member Username: Thefishwrap Post Number: 28 Registered: 11-2008 |
Roma's Cafe. Hands down. 12468_laing: Traffic Jam is still there. Hella's sadly closed a year or two ago. | ||
Ditman Member Username: Ditman Post Number: 71 Registered: 05-2007 |
Sidebar-what's the latest update on Carl's? | ||
Paczki Member Username: Paczki Post Number: 99 Registered: 02-2007 |
Went to Mario's to celebrate a milestone birthday. Food and service were both awful. It was a Friday night and the place was pretty much empty. | ||
12468_laing Member Username: 12468_laing Post Number: 455 Registered: 07-2008 |
always liked Sinbad's, and eventhough it isn't in Detroit proper, Lido's on the Lake was also a favorite. | ||
Thecarl Member Username: Thecarl Post Number: 942 Registered: 04-2005 |
went to mario's for a wedding rehearsal dinner. food and service were both excellent. it was a friday and they were doing decent business. | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 3524 Registered: 02-2007 |
Awful food at Mario's? They must have really went downhill. I don't believe that. What was so bad about it? I take food/restaurant assessments with a grain of salt. People used to rave about the Whitney, it sucked. No wonder they went out of business. Food was crap and the staff was rude. Terrible place. | ||
Bobl Member Username: Bobl Post Number: 691 Registered: 07-2008 |
Had a birthday luncheon at Mario's last fall, and it was as good as ever. | ||
Warsaw7 Member Username: Warsaw7 Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2009 |
Bar none - Slow's | ||
Texorama Member Username: Texorama Post Number: 383 Registered: 12-2006 |
I'm liking the Whitney idea. The building, if not the restaurant, has been there since before the auto industry and reflects the lumber age that gave birth to it indirectly. You can also hang out in the third-floor bar for a taste of local sports fandom and conversation. Me, I also like both the Roma and Mario's, which are old-line Italian places. But the Whitney will knock your eyes out. | ||
Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm Post Number: 1797 Registered: 02-2005 |
I used to go to The Rattlesnake Club for special dinners, but that was years ago and I don't know if it's as good as it used to be. | ||
Paczki Member Username: Paczki Post Number: 100 Registered: 02-2007 |
The night we went to Mario's I had high expectations as I had always heard how fantastic the food was. I was with two of my girlfriends. The waiter could care less about waiting on us and he had a pretty big chip on his shoulder. Our salads were wilted, the soup was cold, my steak was charred on the outside and raw inside. I had ordered it medium rare. Both of my friends ordered the sea bass and both of their meals were cold. After our food came, no one came and asked us if we needed anything, or how the food was. When the waiter brought our bill to the table he asked why we hadn't eaten our dinner. We told him about the problem with the food, he shrugged his shoulders, asked us if we wanted to box up our food and gave us the bill. | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 306 Registered: 02-2007 |
Last time I went to Mario's it was pretty good, portions were always large. Back in the day, waiters were usually snotty, maybe because they had to wear a tux all night. If you order the filet medium rare it's gonna pratically have a pulse, you gotta go medium or even medium well. Thick cut of meat you're ordering. Mario's zip sauce tastes an awful lot like soy sauce to me. It's tasty but kinda salty. | ||
Detmi7mile Member Username: Detmi7mile Post Number: 165 Registered: 12-2007 |
Between the Whiteney or Slow's...quite a contrast lol. www.detroit-travel-guide.com | ||
Nickstone Member Username: Nickstone Post Number: 81 Registered: 02-2006 |
I know we said no coney islands but I travel all over the country and internationally and I always miss how you can pretty much hit any corner coney in the city and (1) know what's on the menu, (2) know what it'll taste like and how much it'll cost, and (3) get it fast and be back on your way, in some cases even through a drive-through window... they don't have that in other places and I'm always quick to come back and get a sandwich from Zef's downtown or any of the fantastic late night coney islands in the McNichols/Greenfield area. I know we said no coneys, but I just had to throw that in... Coney's are pretty unique to here and are fantastic... oh btw also Detroit One on Woodward near Peterboro is terrific too. | ||
Gdub Member Username: Gdub Post Number: 284 Registered: 10-2003 |
Other cities have their proletariat cuisines and you can pretty much expect the same thing from every casual establishment in the area--Chicago-style dogs/Italian beef, etc., Philly cheese steaks/hoagies, New York dogs/pizza slices, LA tacos. Detroit's the same. As far as best restaurant I would vote Slows for Detroit, but it's a biased vote since I consider the all around experience--neighborhood, people, beer selection, comfortability, and, of course, the food. It's heavy comfort food, and sometimes I'd rather have something lighter, but on all points it scores #1 with me. |
