These are the top rated restaurants in Detroit, presented in alphabetical order.
These are the top rated restaurants in Detroit, presented in alphabetical order.
UNRANKED
CURRENT SCORE
less stats more stats5.92
Rank
(best ever)
37
Score
(all time)
2156.00
Created
09/04/08
Views 2106
Votes [disabled]
Comments
1
Coach Insignia
Renaissance Ctr., Detroit, MI 48243 / 313-567-2622
What some rooftop restaurants often lack in food quality, they try making up for with the view. Coach Insignia, however, does not fit the mold. From the outstanding riverfront or downtown scenes, to the topnotch food and fine service, Coach has it all. Everything about your experience here satisfies, from the recommendations off of the 25-page wine list chosen by master sommelier Madeline Triffon and sommelier Patrick Peterson, to the carefully prepared entrées. Start with an appetizer like Maine lobster corn dogs with whole grain mustard hollandaise. Or try the foie gras prepped two ways with chipotle-cherry jam. Come spring, it’s morel mushroom time, and the rich mushroom bisque shouldn’t be missed; if that’s unavailable, opt for lobster bisque. Then proceed to the tender petite filet with two lobster tails and drawn butter, or one of eight other choices including rack of lamb, seared ahi or salmon. The dish of grilled mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini and peppers in a roasted tomato is good for vegetarians. Linger over a dessert like the velvety, warm chocolate pudding cake while enjoying the spectacular Detroit River view.
2
Giovanni's Ristorante
330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, MI 48217 / 313-841-0122
In a setting that belies its modest beginnings as a pizza parlor, this grown-up restaurant now takes its place among the best Italian spots in the Detroit area. House-made pastas are outstanding and include cannelloni stuffed with finely chopped wild mushrooms in delicate tarragon sauce. For those who like a heartier approach, try gnocchi with Bolognese sauce or lasagna cloaked in béchamel. Three cozy rooms are done up lavishly in carved oak with a wine-inspired theme, and framed family photos on the walls are a reminder of its beginnings. In the kitchen, chefs Tony Polito and David Machuga turn out the fare. The pasta room, however, is the domain of those who still make the pastas every Monday. On weekends, the menu is augmented with contemporary dishes such as Maryland lump crab cakes with ancho chili-lime mayonnaise and herb-dusted salmon with scallop and truffle mousse wrapped in flaky pastry. But most of the clientele comes for the traditional dishes: the solid veal saltimbocca, beef braciola and chicken Marsala. A very good Italian wine list complements the food.
3
The Grill Room
The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn, 300 Town Center Dr., Dearborn, MI 48126 / 313-441-2000
Service and luxury are hallmarks at the Ritz, so expect to find a particularly attentive staff in the dining room as well. The Grill Room offers a clubby and comfortable setting with an old-hotel feeling, thanks to upholstered and polished wood furnishings, English country paintings and soft lighting that glints from shining silver and glassware. The menu offers upscale steakhouse fare, with chef de cuisine David Viviano and executive chef Erle Webber presiding in the kitchen. The menu is also all-organic, featuring choices such as the ten-ounce filet with Cabernet onions and the 16-ounce Delmonico with grilled peppers, cornmeal-manchego fritter and chimichurri sauce. Dining in The Grill Room is pricey, but for those who appreciate the luxuries, it is well worth it.
4
Il Posto Ristorante
29110 Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI 48034 / 248-827-8070
With its arched windows and doorways, terra cotta-hued stucco walls and elegant silver-and-crystal-laden dining tables, Il Posto reminds us of a romantic Tuscan villa. Tuxedoed waiters provide unsurpassed service to couples indulging in quiet celebration or groups of well-heeled business associates rewarding the day's efforts. A tiered dining room provides good people-watching, while a more private room envelops those who crave anonymity. Beginnings are as important as endings, so start with fresh caprese or carpaccio alla Piemontese, thinly sliced filet mignon dressed in delicate truffle oil. The linguine with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and Pecorino Romano is given extra oomph with the addition of baby asparagus. Homemade potato gnocchi is served in a four-cheese sauce, and the paillard di vitello con rucola e aceto balsamico features a grilled, fork-tender veal steak with roasted potatoes. A number of the dishes are prepared tableside. The dessert tray includes a delicate lemon torte, a sinful tiramisu and, our favorite, chocolate profiteroles.
5
The Lark
6430 Farmington Rd., West Bloomfield, MI 48322 / 248-661-4466
Done up in a Portuguese country inn style, the restaurant serves a prix-fixe dinner which begins with selections from the appetizer trolley trundled to the tableside, followed by soup, pasta, a dollop of house-made Italian ice and salad, all at the price of the main course chosen from a brief list. Entrées might include grilled veal medallions or honey-crisp, Chinese-oven roasted duck. There is no such thing as an inexpensive evening at The Lark, which is named for proprietors Jim and Mary Lark. Mary, an artist, is responsible for many of the pottery items displayed. A brick-walled garden produces herbs and flowers during summer.
6
Mon Jin Lau
1515 E. Maple Rd., Troy, MI 48083 / 248-689-2332
This sophisticated spot has spanned the eras of almond chicken, a short-lived flirtation with South Seas and the shift to Mandarin, Hunan and Szechwan dishes. Its current status is that of a highly contemporary restaurant fusing global tastes. Some of the original Chinese-American dishes are still on the menu, but most diners order from the updated list typified by Singapore noodles, a toss of angel hair pasta with shrimp, red peppers, curry and chili peppers, Chilean sea bass steamed in a banana leaf and Mongolian rack of lamb with Asian vegetables. Proprietor Marshall Chin always returns from trips with ideas for the menu. The wine list could be found in a French restaurant, and the desserts also look to France with a pastry tray filled with confections, crème brûlée and whipped cream-lavished tortes. The setting is attractive with three distinct seating areas to choose from: the smoking section in a dining room featuring lustrous murals resembling giant Chinese screens in bronze, green and gold, the central cocktail lounge and sushi bar, and an airy garden room with French door-style windows, tropical greenery and contemporary art.
7
No. VI Chop House & Lobster Bar
Hotel Baronette, 27790 Novi Rd., Novi, MI 48377 / 248-305-5210
This plush emporium of Prime beef and topnotch seafood certainly ranks among the best in town. We like the house specialty steak au poivre, a 14-ounce New York cut rubbed with Tellicherry pepper and roasted with Cognac and porcini mushrooms. Others to try include char-grilled Tasmanian salmon, and sashimi-grade ahi with ponzu sauce and grilled pineapple. Accompaniments include Lyonnaise potatoes, house-made onion rings and fried corn made from the family recipe of chef Jim Barnett. Some people enjoy dining in the lobster bar with leather seating as well as the cigar bar (the air filtration system manages to whisk away the smoke to hardly a trace). A platter of chilled lobster, fresh oysters and jumbo prawns is a popular combination to be shared by two. The bar is stocked with single malt Scotches, Cognac, grappa and port, as well as a notable selection of wines listed from lightest to most full-bodied. Madeline Triffon, the master sommelier, chooses the wines here and at other Matt Prentice restaurants.
8
Opus One
565 East Larned St., Detroit, MI 48226 / 313-961-7766
One of the great power dining spots in downtown Detroit, Opus One is flexible, like the savvy corporate executives who often go there. Elegant when required, yet capable of accommodating a casually dressed customer who prefers a meal at the bar, this fine restaurant has it all. At busy times, peek into the mirrored dining room and see what bigwig (from General Motors, Blue Cross or one of the Detroit sports teams) might be sitting there. Menu headings follow the restaurant's musical name: appetizers are Preludes, entrées are Orchestrated Compositions, and desserts, The Finale. Fare includes Alaskan king crab-stuffed filet of salmon, sesame-crusted ahi and pan-seared Chilean sea bass. You’ll also find more than a dozen beef and seafood entrées (generally there are three specials). Expect white linen on the tables, bread hot from the ovens and a rolling cart of desserts. Owners patrol the floor, shaking hands with all, and it’s first-class service all the way. Also expect lots of action on the nights when the Opus shuttle transports theater and sports fans and Detroit casino patrons to their destinations.
9
Steve & Rocky's
43150 Grand River Ave., Novi, MI 48375 / 248-374-0688
Menus are printed daily and bear the date, always an indicator of a kitchen that strives to be much more than routine. A tasting of three soups---served in demitasse-size cups on a triple saucer---includes two ever-changing choices as well as the house mushroom (called Chef Milos' mushroom in deference to the chef who taught Steve Allen, the on-site chef and co-proprietor, his tricks). The premise here is that people want fine food, but want it served in a comfortably unpretentious atmosphere. To that end, this vibrant magenta, lime green and teal blue dining room with Japanese kites strung overhead and high-gloss green tables succeeds. Typical dishes include spice-rubbed pork loin with apple cider-mustard glaze and roast duck with wild rice, lentils and bacon. But mind you, seafood selections outnumber meat choices on most evenings. Lunch sandwiches and salads include items such as chicken salad on sourdough rye and a clever house Caesar with crisscrossed romaine on a white plate surrounded by heaps of roasted garlic, pepper, tapenade and a crouton spread with cheese. Breads and desserts, all made in-house, include a made-to-order flourless chocolate ganache cake. A number of premium wines are available by the glass as well as the bottle.
10
Tribute
31425 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48334 / 248-848-9393
This spot is the sort where auto-industry honchos like Roger Penske gather. The restaurant was designed with an understated opulence and, with muted lighting and subdued colors, it succeeds in projecting a relaxed, upscale mood. Entrées may include bacon wrapped duck roulade served with apples, chestnuts, sweet potato purée, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and cranberry conserve. Patrons should take a peek into the state-of-the-art, stainless steel kitchen on the ground floor; tucked in a corner is the Chef's Table, which is known as a top power table in Detroit. Staff advises on the evening's menu and custom-prints it for the table.
Not watching this list (get updates on this list).
(all people watching this list)
).
RECOMMENDED LISTS
COMMENTS
