Olga's Kitchen leaves downtown Detroit

**jmarie** · September-06-15, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by 313WX

I wouldn't object to a restaurant like Burger King, Wendy's or McDonald's.

There's a severe lack of fast food options downtown, especially given the increase in daytime workers. One shouldn't have to go into the Ren Cen or drive to the outskirts of the CBD just to get a quick/cheap cheeseburger and fries.

I agree. While I like having other options, there are days when I want [[or need) a cheap alternative. I don't have $10-15 [[or more) to drop on lunch everyday. I usually bring a lunch, but there are days when I haven't made it to the store or I'm running too late to pack one. While I enjoy tacos from a food truck, they can get old! And I am not a Subway fan. And I don't usually feel like hiking to the Ren Cen. Other than that, there are few options to get in the $5-7 range.
I'm still amazed that Ilitch hasn't put a Little Caesars downtown. I'm sure he'd sell a bunch of the lunch specials.

**archfan** · September-07-15, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by jmarie

I agree. While I like having other options, there are days when I want [[or need) a cheap alternative. I don't have $10-15 [[or more) to drop on lunch everyday. I usually bring a lunch, but there are days when I haven't made it to the store or I'm running too late to pack one. While I enjoy tacos from a food truck, they can get old! And I am not a Subway fan. And I don't usually feel like hiking to the Ren Cen. Other than that, there are few options to get in the $5-7 range.
I'm still amazed that Ilitch hasn't put a Little Caesars downtown. I'm sure he'd sell a bunch of the lunch specials.

Try Lunchtime Global in the First National building. They're usually pretty quick, in your price range, and better than fast food, IMO.

**jmarie** · September-07-15, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by archfan

Try Lunchtime Global in the First National building. They're usually pretty quick, in your price range, and better than fast food, IMO.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've never eaten there. [[I only started working downtown this summer, so I'm still learning.)

I know there are a few places to eat cheaply. [[Although if you don't like hotdogs/coneys, it knocks out some options.) Especially if you learn the specials at places

[[I know I sound extremely cheap, LOL. I don't mind spending once in a while, but the week before last I didn't make it to the grocery store and ate out everyday. I don't have the money to spend $50-75 on lunch for the week! Yikes!)

**Neilr** · September-07-15, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by jmarie

Thanks for the suggestion. I've never eaten there. [[I only started working downtown this summer, so I'm still learning.)

I know there are a few places to eat cheaply. [[Although if you don't like hotdogs/coneys, it knocks out some options.) Especially if you learn the specials at places

[[I know I sound extremely cheap, LOL. I don't mind spending once in a while, but the week before last I didn't make it to the grocery store and ate out everyday. I don't have the money to spend $50-75 on lunch for the week! Yikes!)

I'm not recommending Al-Karar's because it's cheap [[although it is inexpensive); I'm recommending it because it's good.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...-cafe-al-karar

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-al-karar-detroit-2

**313WX** · September-07-15, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by jmarie

Thanks for the suggestion. I've never eaten there. [[I only started working downtown this summer, so I'm still learning.)

I know there are a few places to eat cheaply. [[Although if you don't like hotdogs/coneys, it knocks out some options.) Especially if you learn the specials at places

[[I know I sound extremely cheap, LOL. I don't mind spending once in a while, but the week before last I didn't make it to the grocery store and ate out everyday. I don't have the money to spend $50-75 on lunch for the week! Yikes!)

Nothing wrong with that at all. Detroit is probably about the only major American city in the country that lacks quick/cheap food options in its CBD, which is unfortunate.

And quite frankly, the fact is every typical person occasionally craves a Double Quarter Pounder or a Whopper. When these cravings come about, it would certainly be nice to not have to get in a car and take a 10-15 minute drive to Chrysler/Mack or Canfield/Woodward to get one.

**iheartthed** · September-07-15, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

Nothing wrong with that at all. Detroit is probably about the only major American city in the country that lacks quick/cheap food options in its CBD, which is unfortunate.

And quite frankly, the fact is every typical person occasionally craves a Double Quarter Pounder or a Whopper. When these cravings come about, it would certainly be nice to not have to get in a car and take a 10-15 minute drive to Chrysler/Mack or Canfield/Woodward to get one.

I really can't tell whether or not you're serious.

**313WX** · September-07-15, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I really can't tell whether or not you're serious.

I guess that's a problem you will have to work out on your own then.

**bailey** · September-08-15, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

Nothing wrong with that at all. Detroit is probably about the only major American city in the country that lacks quick/cheap food options in its CBD, which is unfortunate.

And quite frankly, the fact is every typical person occasionally craves a Double Quarter Pounder or a Whopper. When these cravings come about, it would certainly be nice to not have to get in a car and take a 10-15 minute drive to Chrysler/Mack or Canfield/Woodward to get one.

..or walking three blocks to the Ren Cen? I mean after eating a double quarter pounder or whopper meal, walking might be a good thing. will the Campus Martius McDs need on site parking and a drive thru too? #thestruggleisreal #sterlingheightsyes!

**dtowncitylover** · September-08-15, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

..or walking three blocks to the Ren Cen? I mean after eating a double quarter pounder or whopper meal, walking might be a good thing. will the Campus Martius McDs need on site parking and a drive thru too? #thestruggleisreal #sterlingheightsyes!

While I agree we all need to be walking more, lunch times are coveted and enjoyed by office professionals. Those "three blocks" can add up to 40 minutes just walking to and from. Some people don't have 40 minutes. No one who works along Griswold or around CM are gonna walk down to Wooward, across the Nile that is Jefferson, walk up to the RenCen, down into the food court and probably wait in a line filled with GM workers. It's not like the MCDo in the RenCen is right on the corner of Jefferson and Randolph it's in the belly of the beast.

A fast food chain, despite it being a fast food chain, would work well there. It could even service hotel stayers at the Book Cadillac and the David Whitney.

**1953** · September-08-15, 02:06 PM

A Wendy's in this spot would be awesome.

I don't mind going to the Ren Cen, but it does eat up a lot of time.

I don't feel like there are many quick, cheap options downtown - and, yes, I am aware of all of the restaurants and food trucks [[yuck) that are in the CBD.

1953

**iheartthed** · September-09-15, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

While I agree we all need to be walking more, lunch times are coveted and enjoyed by office professionals. Those "three blocks" can add up to 40 minutes just walking to and from. Some people don't have 40 minutes. No one who works along Griswold or around CM are gonna walk down to Wooward, across the Nile that is Jefferson, walk up to the RenCen, down into the food court and probably wait in a line filled with GM workers. It's not like the MCDo in the RenCen is right on the corner of Jefferson and Randolph it's in the belly of the beast.

A fast food chain, despite it being a fast food chain, would work well there. It could even service hotel stayers at the Book Cadillac and the David Whitney.

Yeah, I guess if they are a regular connoisseur of McDonald's cuisine then it might take 20 minutes to walk 3 blocks. A normal person in good health can walk a mile in 20 minutes at a walking pace.