I want to start off by saying that I am a fan of Detroit. I know it gets a bad wrap (unfairly so, if you ask me), but it is honestly one of my favorite U.S. cities to visit. One of the main reasons why I love this city so much (aside from the sheer grit and soul that it has) is the food! The food is, oh, so good! I have visited Detroit a few times now and each time I try a new restaurant or two. Some are good. Some are okay. And some become staples. Those staples are the ones that I will proudly boast about in this post. These have been tried time and time again and each time have not disappointed. If you ever find yourself in the Motor City, reference this post and plan your meals accordingly.

San Morello (in the Shinola Hotel) (shown above)

Whether you are staying at the Shinola Hotel or not (and we suggest that you absolutely do), you must pay a visit to San Morello. Located in the lobby of the hotel, it sits on the corner of Woodward Avenue and E. Grand River Avenue. It bares the same warm, curated aesthetics as the rest of the property while offering a hospitable and chic environment that few places can organically pull off. The checkered tile flooring, cognac leather banquettes and stone top tables all add to the overall refined look. The neutral palette of the space is perfectly balanced by the marigold bar that greets you upon entering. Despite its aesthetic appeal, the menu does not lag behind by any means. The chef serves authentic wood-fired dishes, pizzas, salads and house-made pastas using local, seasonal ingredients. The sheep’s milk, ricotta and hot honey & garlic appetizer is a must-try! Kindly request additional pieces of bread. Thank me later. Follow it up with Carmellini’s lamb meatballs and the Classic pizza with bianco dinapoli tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, and basil.

Cliff Bell’s

This place deserves an entirely separate post so I can really get into the history of the venue, but for the purposes of this post, I will tell you that the food served here is phenomenal! The Brussel sprouts are cooked to perfection with the ideal savory to sweet ratio. They have a bit of maple glaze and dried cherries. Chef’s kiss! I have tried to mimic their recipe at home each and every time I cook Brussels sprouts and I have failed each and every time. The Salmon Croquettes are indulgent and filling with crème fraîche, lemon zest. Round out the appetizer order with their truffle fries. For dinner, try their Overnight Braised Beef Short Rib with red wine demi-glace, pearl couscous and roasted broccolini. An honorable mention to the Homemade Merguez Meatballs. As good as the food is, it falls secondary to the absolute stunner of a show you will witness. More to come on that.

Wright & Company

This restaurant is tucked away on the second floor of 1500 Woodward, a building built for the F.J. Schwankovsky Company, a retailer of musical instruments. Their sign is inconspicuous and can easily be missed if you do not know what you are looking for. Just know that the entrance is across the street from the Huddle Soft Serve walk-up window. If you still cannot find it, simply look up. The restaurant has a panoramic view of Woodward Avenue and especially at night, you’ll see the interior lights wrap around the corner. Wright & Co. is known for their shareable plates created by James Beard nominated Chef / Partner Marc Djozlija and Executive Chef Kyle Schutte. The cornbread with candied garlic butter is a hearty start followed by the Pork Belly Sliders with tomato jam, sriracha aioli and arugula. The Roasted and Chilled Baby Carrots with bacon-whipped goat cheese and a hot honey vinaigrette are a must. There is something about the creaminess of the cheese and the kick of the hot honey that pairs so well. You aren’t done, just yet! The one shareable plate you must order each and every time are the House-made Potato Chips. Now, I know what you are thinking, but hear me out! They are basically fancy nachos! You have the perfectly crisp potato chips, drizzled with a cheddar cheese sauce, bacon, tomato relish and chives. They were recommended to me when I first dined at Wright & Co. and I have ordered them every time since. Zero regrets.

Buen provecho!