For downtown Detroit, I was going to suggest the Soup Kitchen Saloon, but I see that it has closed.
Away from the Middle East (and in the opposite direction from Dearborn), The Cadieux Cafe is a great little Belgian restaurant near the border of Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Park.
(Despite the saucy dancer on the web page and menus, it is a family restaurant with imported Belgian beer, wonderful (and huge) plates of mussels, and a pair of feather bowling lanes attached to the restaurant where spectators are welcome.
A couple months? Ro Carter mentioned the Auto Show. Keep an eye on the dates you’ll be here, as the show happens every January, and, IME, it’s entertaining even if you’re not much into cars.
Seconding Zingerman’s in Ann Arb. Maybe a bit overpriced, but you’re also paying for excellent service and delicious, fresh ingredients. A2 is probably about a 50 minute drive from where you’re staying. Maybe a bit out of the way, but if you’re gonna have a food day, I’d suggest spending a chunk of it in Ann Arbor. Plus, it’s just a town, so your husband shouldn’t be as worried.
I’m gonna have to check out these Dearborn restaurants now. La Shish has a fairly new location around here. I never heard that about the owner. Dare I ask for a cite, Happy? Not in an argumentative sense, mind you. I would just like some confirmation lest I help spread a nasty rumor.
Indicted is not convicted, but stil…the Feds usually have a good case before they move.
There are plenty of indie restaurants to choose from, don’t worry!
I also must second the Cadieux Cafe, I stumbled on it from an Entertainment book coupon in 2002 and got hooked, the feather bowling is a blast! It would be a great place for a small Dopefest, as it’s often packed. The only downside is their lambics are somewhat expensive IMHO.
I’m trying to avoid renting a car, but I’m reading various reports about the taxi service in Detroit. Is it reasonable to think that if we’re staying downtown we can get back and forth to the airport, and maybe to the Henry Ford by taxi? How about late-night taxis, like if we go to a restaurant in a suburb?
I realize the people mover serves the downtown area. Is it safe to use at night?
Maybe things have improved since then, but I was pretty dismayed by the uneven taxi service last time I stayed in downtown Detroit. Cabs were not always easy to find, even at times/places where you think they’d be lined up waiting for riders. We encountered one really shitty, unhelpful cab driver who was SUCH a profoundly rude jerk he inspired us to cut our stay short. Seriously. But the next one we found was about the nicest woman you’d ever meet.
I am hopeful that all the SuperBowl-related improvements they made to visitor services have endured, and that this included things like the cab service.
You can always call the cab company for a pick-up from your hotel; that’s the best luck I’ve had with good cabbies. Wherever you stay may have a cab service they recommend who’d have something to lose if they were jerks to you.
Airport to Greektown will be about $40 and you can’t pick your cab, they’re lined up in a queue in order.
The People Mover **is ** safe, even at night. Check out when it stops running though, so you’re not stuck somewhere. It takes tokens you buy at the station.
Last time I stayed in Dearborn, I rented a cheap compact at the airport and drove myself where I needed to go. The big parking structure in Greektown (across from Old St. Mary’s) is inexpensive and a block from the People Mover station. I used that as my HQ when I went downtown.
Detroit does have a bus system, but I can’t vouch for its reliability or swiftness.
I’m no expert, but I’m guessing a cab from the casino area to Henry Ford would cost roughly a metric assload. The bus, while marginally slower, should be a pittance comparably.
It’s motor city, we just don’t get the public transportation thing real well here.
Yeah, had the trip. As it turned out, it was only 2 nights, and it was completely taken up by business
We did get a tour of the down town though, and snuck out for a couple hours at the art museum. Now I want to go back when I can actually take some time and see some of the city!
Team of Scientists, The La Shish in Ann Arbor is a franchise, not actually owned by the same people that owned the first few. IIRC, he added the “Charlie’s” part of “Charlie’s La Shish” to distance himself once the terrorist connection problems surfaced for the owner of the original restaurants.
Here’s an article that talks about it a bit. Apparently, he’s dropping the “La Shish” completely from the name, changing to “Charlie’s Mediterranean Cuisine”[/hijack]
