Detroit Restaurant Week is the glorious bonanza where you can eat a three course meal for $30 in expensive Detroit restaurants where manners matter. Although all of the restaurants are interesting and definitely worth it, what about the Restaurant Week newbie? Where should you start when there’s all of these fine establishments to choose from?
We chose the five participating restaurants to put at the front of list for making reservations during this 10-day food rush from May 1-10, with an eye toward the idea that you’ve not done this before. Restaurants were chosen based on personal experience, its reputation, Restaurant Week menu, dining experience, and proximity to fun stuff.
Cuisine, New Center
670 Lothrop Road, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 872–5110
Cuisine is at the top of our list because its reputation and our past dining experiences have been so good. Some would say it is the best French restaurant in Metro Detroit. Their Restaurant Week menu reflects the lightness of spring. That strawberry oatmeal brown sugar shortcake with basil cream? Sounds delectable. The fact you might be able to eat here for $30 this week is an absolute steal, and it’s often overlooked in food coverage since it won “Best Restaurant” back in 2002 before the most recent culinary boom hit. It is close to the Fisher Theater, so see a live show after dinner. The Illusionists, the magic show direct from Broadway, will be playing.
Santorini Estiatorio, Greektown
501 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226
313.962.9366
Santorini Estiatorio is the fine-dining Greek restaurant in the middle of busy Greektown, which is basically Detroit’s version of Times Square, with its street artists, packed bars and crowds from the casino. Its crisp blue and white dining area will calm all your frazzled nerves like a real Mediterranean trip. Their Restaurant Week menu will make you scream “Opa!” with smoked salmon served with orange vodka sauce or their arugula salad with watermelon and lime-infused dressing.
Ottavia Via, Corktown
1400 Michigan Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48226
313.962.5500
Ottavia Via is the place to go if you like Italian food and truffles. Everybody likes that, so make a reservation soon. Look forward to a four-cheese foccacia bread served with truffle honey and a truffle butter pasta served with mushrooms. The restaurant is located in Corktown, which is the best neighborhood to start an epic food crawl with Slow’s, Rubbed, and Mercury Burger Bar so close to each other. End up at Two James Spirits where we hear they’re making their own absinthe now.
The Whitney, Midtown
4421 Woodward Avenue, Detroit 48201
313.832.5700
The Whitney is in one of the richest buildings you can find in Detroit. It is dripping floor to ceiling architectural decadence, such as the secret vault in the original dining room. Their impressive menu offers six main course choices, compared to the three choices most restaurants offer. We are excited to try Chef Eric’s Duet of Miniatures. It is located in Midtown, Detroit’s art district, so stop by the Detroit Institute of Arts, Shinola, and direct across the street is the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Or let it be the beginning of crawl from there to Hopcat to Jolly Pumpkin to Traffic Jam to Motor City Brew Works to … well, too many places to name. It’s like a choose-your-own adventure book.
Detroit Seafood Market
1435 Randolph Street, Detroit 48226
313.962.4180
Make a reservation at Detroit Seafood Market in Paradise Valley just for the Wafer, Berries and Cream Restaurant Week dessert. It captures the spirit of summer in one dish. If you can’t decide between red meat or seafood, have it all with Kenny’s Favorite, which includes shrimp, catfish, chicken and beef over saffron rice. Comerica Park and Ford Field are a light walk away. Find out when the Tigers are playing next and make a day out of it.
This is just a beginning! Participating restaurants to check out include:
24grille – Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
204 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI. 48226
(313) 964-3821
Andiamo Detroit Riverfront – GM Renaissance Center
400 Renaissance Center, Suite A-403, Detroit, MI 48243
(313) 567-6700
Angelina Italian Bistro – Downtown
1565 Broadway St, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 962-1355
Da Edoardo Foxtown Grille – Foxtown
2203 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 471-3500
Fountain Bistro – Campus Martius Park
800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 237-7778
The Grille Midtown – Midtown
3919 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 832-0892
La Dolce Vita – Palmer Woods District
17546 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48203
(313) 865-0331
PRISM – Greektown Casino-Hotel
555 E Lafayette St, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 309-2499
Roast – Westin Book Cadillac
1128 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 961-2500
Roma Café – Eastern Market
3401 Riopelle St, Detroit, MI 48207
(313) 831-5940
Top of the Ponch – Downtown
2 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 782-4313
Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina – MGM Grand Detroit
1777 3rd St, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 465-1648
For more info or reservations, check out the Detroit Restaurant Week website.