Where to take out of town guests

**dover627** · March-09-11, 10:18 PM

I have some friends in from out of town this weekend, and we are headed downtown on Friday night. As they're unfamiliar with Detroit, I want to take them to dinner somewhere unique and fun. I'm familiar with the usual suspects - - Slows, Small Plates, Roast, etc. but am wondering if anyone has suggestions for places to go.

I want to show off the city and prove that we do have great places to eat and hang out!

**5speedz34** · March-09-11, 10:51 PM

Maybe one of those 'You Buy We Fry' type places?! LOL!!!!

Are you looking for something within the CBD? There are tons of great places that are off the beaten path or in obscure neighborhoods. IE-Buddy's.

**mwilbert** · March-09-11, 11:15 PM

Detroit International Film Festival is on this weekend.

There's a pre-St Patrick's day bar tour in Corktown Friday afternoon-evening.

**begingri** · March-09-11, 11:38 PM

Greektown is another usual suspect, though it does have plenty of restaurants in addition to the casino.

**izzyindetroit** · March-10-11, 12:56 AM

http://www.yelp.com/detroit

**Gistok** · March-10-11, 01:45 AM

I would agree with Greektown... but be sure to take them on a loop around downtown on the People Mover... it never fails to impress out of towners [[at night the city and Windsor lights will impress)... If you do decide on that, check the PM hours.

Another option is, as has been mentioned one fo the restaurants in the Wintergarden at the RenCen... or to the top [[Coach's Insignia)... but do include a loop around the PM in your itinerary.

**belleislerunner** · March-10-11, 08:17 AM

It's not downtown - but it's a fun way to kick the night off. Go to the Dakota Inn Rathskeller. It's right off I75 and McNichols [[6 Mile). It's one of those funky German restaurants complete with sing a longs, dancing etc - think Frankenmouth meets Detroit. Definitely worth checking out if you're never been. http://www.dakota-inn.com/web/pages/home/

If looking for downtown specific - I think Oslo is a cool place. It's just north of Campus Martius on Woodward and is good people watching sushi/pan Asian. There's a lounge/dance floor underneath that gives it a very DC/NYC vibe. Start at Coach Isignia and have a drink or two - soaking up the views of Detroit. Then walk up Woodward through Campus Martius to Oslo for dinner. End with dessert at the Whitney [[3rd floor). I think those three should woo them appropriately.

**robyn** · March-10-11, 11:20 AM

I don't have any advice but just enjoyed the thread b/c I've wondered the same thing from time to time.

**DownriverGRap** · March-10-11, 11:24 AM

In Bricktown, The Detroiter has an awesome burger and good prices if you are looking for a laid back bar with good food.

**DetroitPlanner** · March-10-11, 11:25 AM

Sinbad's if the weather is nice.

I like bringing folks to Gracie See's just for the OMG! effect. But good subsitutes include Mario's, Italian Village, or Roma's.

**Rocko** · March-10-11, 12:50 PM

Mudgie's is more of a lunch place but I think they're open till 9. They're right in Corktown about 3 minutes from the CBD. I've really enjoyed Angelina Italian Bistro - it's right on Grand Circus Park in the old Madison Theatre building. Check ahead to see if there's anything going on at the Opera House though, if so, you'll never find a table. I'm also a fan of Sweetwater Tavern. It's more of a pub but they're food is excellent. They're at Congress and Brush right downtown.

I'd also second a loop or two on the DPM....well worth it for only 50 cents each and the views are impressive both day and night. Hope this helps!

**Planner3357** · March-10-11, 01:06 PM

You should take them to Eastern Mkt on Saturday morning. I always enjoy going there [[Except in the summer when I end up staying too long at Berts and end up singing Karaoke).

Go to Butcher's Inn, a historic place that used to have a brothel on the second floor! They have great food and the bottomless blood marys and mimosas are nice as well.

**dover627** · March-10-11, 01:26 PM

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions!

Mr. Houdini · March-10-11, 01:58 PM

Take them to Windsor.

**Gistok** · March-10-11, 02:14 PM

Dover627... if you do take them for a loop on the People Mover... get of at the Financial District Station.... Take them to the window on the east side of the platform, and point over to One Woodward Ave. [[formerly "The Gas Building"). Mention that this building was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the designer of the World Trade Center... [[I've taken 6 busloads of Germans and 1 busload of Hungarians on a tour of downtown, and that image of the Gas Building never fails to impress them)... I usually just tell them that this building [[designed 3 years earlier) was a prototype for the WTC, and you can tell in the slender windows, that the design was reused for the WTC.

After standing on that platform, you can either get back on the next PM car [[without having to pay again) or take them for a safe quick walk one block from the Financial Center Station, to the Guardian Building. Although late at night the shopping arcade [[former main banking hall) is closed at that time, the guards at the entrance desk will let you oogle at all the artwork in the lobby with a view up the stairs to the former main banking hall [[the gates will be closed). The lobby of the Guardian Building will impress even the most jaded visitor.

**stromberg2** · March-10-11, 05:39 PM

Checkers Bar on Cadillac Square has great burgers but limited hours. Mudgies is awesome! But, where is Gracie See's?

Stromberg2

Augustiner · March-10-11, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by stromberg2

But, where is Gracie See's?

West side of Greenfield south of Warren.

LodgeDodger · March-10-11, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by mwilbert

Detroit International Film Festival is on this weekend.

There's a pre-St Patrick's day bar tour in Corktown Friday afternoon-evening.

Why would anyone, save for the clueless, need to take a tour of bars?

LodgeDodger · March-10-11, 06:21 PM

Greektown, Belle Isle, Fisher Building, Guardian Building, Roma Cafe, Cadillac Place, Indian Village...

**5speedz34** · March-10-11, 06:36 PM

If you are looking for an off-the-beaten path type place check out la dolce vita at Cedarhurst and Woodward. Very non-descript building and they go solely by word of mouth. Although I don't know if they are open during the winter?

**Coplin** · March-10-11, 07:25 PM

Remember the DIA is open till 10:00 PM on Fridays . Dinner at Shangri La , DIA , then drinks at Woodbridge Pub would be a nice evening .

Or , Polish Village , a movie at the Redford [[maybe pre show espresso next door at Motor City Java House )& drinks at Motor City Brewing Works......

**mwilbert** · March-10-11, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

Why would anyone, save for the clueless, need to take a tour of bars?

I couldn't say of my own knowledge. Here's the organizers' pitch:

Thousands of people will be coming down to Corktown to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and we want to help you stay ahead of the crowds by showing you where to go once you get there. We’ll be taking you inside of some of Corktown’s best bars along the parade route. Throughout the night you’ll hob nob with owners and staff, get drink specials and find your inner Irish. And as always you’ll get fun information about Detroit plus you’ll meet lots of fun people along the way.

So I guess it is kind of for the clueless. I think sometimes people are reluctant to go into a bar they aren't familiar with, so maybe it is also for the recalcitrant.

LodgeDodger · March-10-11, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by mwilbert

I couldn't say of my own knowledge. Here's the organizers' pitch:

So I guess it is kind of for the clueless. I think sometimes people are reluctant to go into a bar they aren't familiar with, so maybe it is also for the recalcitrant.

Thank you for the info, mwilbert. I guess I just don't understand such things. ;-)

thatguy123 · March-10-11, 09:40 PM

Man up and show people what the city is really like. Why sugar coat it, take them to Del Ray, downtown Highland park, for a ride down Robinwood ect.

Why try to hide what Detroit really is?

**rencense** · March-10-11, 09:53 PM

i show people around detroit whenever i get the chance, some of my favorites:

*Grab a coffee either at the rowland [[guardian bldg) or stella [[fisher bldg)
*drive around belle isle, maybe check out the conservatory or just admire the view from just off the bridge
*eastern market
*get a good coney or detroit pizza like dulys or the original buddys [[im looking forward to trying gracie sees myself!)
*take the pm to the rencen and check out the gm display, the view from the 2nd/34d floor toward the river is awesome, if you feel like a walk hit the riverwalk

I have a zillion more but those are some favorites. I get kinda carried away showing off Detroit so i hafta keep it limited. I wish i could take a salary being an official tourguide of the city lol

best of luck!