Downtown Detroit Restaurants & Bars- 1970

**Magnatomicflux** · October-30-10, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

The one I miss most is the Old Top Hat that was right next to Tunnel BBQ when you got out of the tunnel on the Canadian side.

When the US dollar was up, you could get an entire slab of Baby Back Ribs with Fries for around $8, and the ribs and sauce where seriously the best in town.

On top of that, they usually had a live show ever few weeks, it was a top notch establishement which lived way beyond its time.

What ultamatly forced them to close down was the death of the owner, September 11th, Curranty exchange rates, and the Detroit Casinos.

9/11 Just killed the business from the customers like me who would go over once or twice per week just to eat. 30 minutes in customs when coming back home and then being harrassed for another 5 minutes with the fear of a possible inspection was just too much for alot of people.

The Detroit Casino's picked off a little more business, as they where more convient for most people to travel to

Then we can all blame the all mighty US dollar, with the Canadian dollar being about par with the US dollar, raised their prices over 50%. Didn't help much that they tried to off set their losses by raising prices even more!

Finally the owner did pass away a few years before the place closed, and eventhough the kids did an excellent job running the place for their mother, things just where never the same.

Good news is that I still got the guys email address and can get sauce

Here ya go. You can keep this stuff for weeks.

TBQ Sauce

1/2 cup Ketchup
1/2 cup prepared mustard
1/2 cup vinegar white
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon chile powder
1/4 cup white sugar

OR....you can order it from tbqsauces.com. I'm pretty sure you can pick it up at Zerhs too next time you're over.

...geez......growing up with the stuff I knew realized just how popular it really is!

**Stinger4me** · October-30-10, 03:49 PM

How about the Clover Club Bar on Park Ave. south of Columbia. Owned by Max Lobell. It was a couple of doors away from a restaurant called, State Restaurant. all of the folks were good people.

**Resty** · April-24-12, 04:32 PM

posted again with quote down line

**Resty** · April-24-12, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by detroitbob

Wasn't LaLanterna on Griswold between State and Grand River at Capital Park?

Right in that area was also the Blue Note bar and I too enjoyed the meals at
LaLanterna I left Detroit for NYC in 1972 and my heart was broken when I
return in 2008 to see all of the destruction.

Is Detroit better off now under current management for the last 40 years?

I really like Mayor Bing I think he mean well but he should stop listening to the enablers bite the bullet do the receivership and re establish correct principles!

**Resty** · April-24-12, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by terryh

Do any of you remember the Anchor Bar at its original location?

I think that was on Water St across the Flour mill and near where Ford Auditorium
was the home of the DSO.

**Resty** · April-24-12, 04:58 PM

Does anyone remember Ernie Klee’s famous for his stakes which now Ruth Chris uses the same method cook in a pizza over like top and bottom at the same time his famous garlic/blue cheese dressing and cottagefries!

I think it was on Second ave.

**MidTownMs** · April-24-12, 05:13 PM

Greenfield Cafeteria
Sander's
Big Boy's on Grand River
The Maurice Salad at Hudson's on the Mezzanine
Flaming Embers
Victor Lims
Chin Tiki
Gaslight
Gypsy Tea Room

**douglasm** · April-24-12, 05:33 PM

Mayflower Coffee Shop. That place and Howard Johnsons kept me fed when I worked downtown.

**rutlev** · April-25-12, 04:11 PM

Cary, I believe the Italian Restaurant you refer to was Luigi's and if you
read the post on 30 Clifford, I've been asking for some confirmation.

**takascar** · April-25-12, 10:43 PM

Jacoby's for sure.

Anyone remember Sindbads on St. Clair. It seems to still
have a web presence, but the website doesn't respond.

Went there all of the time for family gatherings as a kid and used to like to walk out on the dock and look at the boats after dinner

**sumas** · April-26-12, 07:39 AM

This is a trip down memory lane. Have been to most of the places mentioned. Could add a few more but haven't had my morning coffee yet.

**Wesley Mouch** · April-26-12, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by detroitbob

Wasn't LaLanterna on Griswold between State and Grand River at Capital Park?

I think LaLanterna may have been run by the same family as Da Eduoardo's. If not, it was some other Italian place on GCP.

**jwillie49** · April-26-12, 03:44 PM

Lindell, Athens, Porterstreet,

**BRAZZMAN** · April-26-12, 04:25 PM

Leandies behind Lindell A.C. for great lunchtime fish & chips. Torn down for people mover. Full of Detroit Damon Runyan characters.
Chin Tiki for the Korean spare ribs and a dish of white rice with a pat of butter, salt and pepper melting thru.
The Brass Rail on Michigan Ave across from the coney islands.
Bush's Bar on Woodward where I think Foran's is now.
Jack Brokensha's restaurant on Grand Blvd near the Fisher Bldg.

**douglasm** · April-26-12, 04:54 PM

I know it isn't "downtown", but people keep mentioning resturants in the New Center area. In my mind's ear, I seem to remember a string of resturants on Lothrop between Woodward and 2nd. Would these have been there to feed people working in the GM building? I assume they didn't eat at the Toddle House.

**BRAZZMAN** · April-26-12, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by douglasm

I know it isn't "downtown", but people keep mentioning resturants in the New Center area. In my mind's ear, I seem to remember a string of resturants on Lothrop between Woodward and 2nd. Would these have been there to feed people working in the GM building? I assume they didn't eat at the Toddle House.

Yeah, I meant Jack Brokensha's on Lothrop. He was a local jazz musician. Played vibes.

**Bobl** · April-27-12, 12:34 AM

In the Wayne State area: The Bronx Bar. I lived across the street. Del Rio Bar. Worked next door at Henry's Drugs, and stopped in at lunch once in a while. The stories from the old patrons were amazing. They played "Those Were The Days" constantly, but I stayed for the stories. Vernes. Alvin's. Cobb's Corner, a little bit later. More great stories and great live music. Closer to downtown, Jacoby's.

**asquared** · September-12-12, 06:34 PM

I "learned how to eat" at Ernie Klees - the father of a buddy of mine took us to Ernie's one night in 1966. [[We were 2 smart a** 17 year olds.) The waiter asked what we wanted to order and before either of us could to speak, my friend's father said, "They'll have 2 New York strips charred rare, corn on the cob, baked potato w/ sour cream and salad with blue cheese" I was schooled right then; there is a right way to order a steak dinner. I'm thankful to this day.

**rutlev** · September-12-12, 07:17 PM

I remember the Anchor also known as the No Name Bar being
on 3rd or 4th S. of Fort St. and was closed for the xway. There was a big FBI bust for illegal gambling involving quite a few patrons who worked for WWJ and the News.

**ptero** · September-12-12, 08:36 PM

The Normandie, Verne's, the Bronx back when, Traffic Jam when it had pool tables and fights!, the non-alcoholic Snug on the corner for ice cream after high school events, Gus' Coney [[NONE better) on the East side of Woodward around the corner from the Greyhound station, Palombo's out on 8 mile, south side, now one of those strip joints, Forbidden City for dinner before seeing something at the Masonic.

**douglasm** · September-12-12, 08:43 PM

Do you mean across the lobby from the Fisher Theatre? There was a little bar there, but the only other resturants I remember were the row on Lothrop Street between Woodward and 2nd.

**Chinman** · September-12-12, 08:56 PM

hi folks,
don't know alot about the old bars...but do know that the Lindel AC closed well after the people mover and only closed because of ownership issues and now we have the bus station there.

**Chinman** · September-12-12, 09:08 PM

again.. the Anchor Bar was not ever on 3rd or 4th.
i asked my dad who grew up in Detroit in the 30's and 40' about it's history.
started in the basement of Shelby and Congress in the the 40's. then moved to Shelby between Congress and Fort. After things happened in the 60's, they the moved to Fort street where they are now. It is still good though. they and we have the belief for Detroit. I LOVE the Anchor Bar as so many have!!!!

**ptero** · September-12-12, 09:36 PM

The Normandie was across Grand Blvd from the Fisher, at the southwest corner of G.B. and Second. The main entrance was around on Second, with a lesser entry from the parking lot in back. It was Detroit's version of Sardi's in New York. I knew it throughout the 70's, . The walls were plastered with signed pictures of stars largely from shows that came through the Fisher. Some were headshots, some were of the stars in the place in booths or posing with others. Great place for a drink after a show, but they also had great food. Burgers and steak. A search found this:

http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...ight=Normandie

Also great was Carl's Chop House at Grand River and the Lodge. Unfortunately, Carl's went through many years of decline with fading looks and quality before it finally closed. It was fading as early as the 70's.

**MidTownMs** · September-12-12, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by takascar

Jacoby's for sure.

Anyone remember Sindbads on St. Clair. It seems to still
have a web presence, but the website doesn't respond.

Went there all of the time for family gatherings as a kid and used to like to walk out on the dock and look at the boats after dinner

Sindbad's was still there when I left Michigan in April. But it is definately not the Sindbad's that it was in the 70's. The food is at best mediocre and the service is worst. The only thing that went up is the prices everything else took a nosedive.