50 Best American Restaurants in Detroit

“Asparagus Pistachio Butter, Scallops, Parsnips, Rib Eye, Pecan Pie Catching Rabbits Cocktail“

“I celebrated my birthday at the high bar over the weekend and had an excellent time! Although we only ordered drinks, the service was spectacular and the atmosphere was unlike any other restaurant. Beautiful presentation of our beverages as well! Would love to return for dinner sometime.“

“Ran into this place the day before the marathon. Sat at the bar and got recommendations on what to get from the staff. Everything was fantastic. We ended up with calamari, scallops, gnudi, and trilece for dessert. This place was one of the best parts of our trip and we're excited to return. The only thing better than your food is your staff.“

“If you’re looking for an unforgettable dining experience in Detroit, Lumen is the place to be. Located in the heart of Beacon Park, this modern yet inviting restaurant offers a perfect blend of great food, craft cocktails, and stunning ambiance—all with a front-row seat to one of Detroit’s most vibrant public spaces.

One of the biggest reasons Lumen stands out is Chef Aramis Torres, whose creativity and passion shine through in every dish. With a deep appreciation for fresh, high-quality ingredients, Chef Torres crafts a menu that blends elevated comfort food with inventive, seasonal flavors. His expertise is evident in everything from the perfectly cooked steaks and fresh seafood to unique dishes that surprise and delight the palate. And let’s not forget the truffle fries—a fan favorite that pairs perfectly with one of Lumen’s handcrafted cocktails!

The atmosphere is another standout feature. With floor-to-ceiling windows, an open and airy design, and one of the best rooftop patios in the city, Lumen provides an unforgettable setting for any occasion. Whether you’re enjoying a cozy dinner inside or sipping cocktails outside while watching the city lights, the ambiance is simply top-notch.

Service at Lumen is warm and attentive, making every visit feel special. Whether you’re stopping in for brunch, dinner, or happy hour, you’ll experience top-tier hospitality and expertly crafted cuisine.

To top it off, Lumen’s location in Beacon Park makes it the perfect spot to enjoy live music, outdoor events, or simply take in the energy of downtown Detroit. Thanks to Chef Aramis Torres’ culinary mastery, Lumen is not just a restaurant—it’s an experience. Whether you’re a local or visiting the city, Lumen is a must-visit destination for an unforgettable meal. Highly recommended!“

“Literally the best breakfast sammich I’ve consumed. I’ve had several attempts to recreate this at other diners & they ALL fail in comparison.“

“Great service!! We shared small plates and entrees!“

“Must try the peanut butter and jelly slider if you’ve never had it“

“Amazing anniversary dinner there and did not disappoint!! 5 stars and we will be back.“

“Went with Family for a B-Day dinner, Had A Berry, 2 of those Your Good. Had the Wings tried other dishes on the table with family remember Great Food. Will stop by before a Piston Game. P.S. Nice Staff and Clean Invironment“

“They serve lunch at our hospital and the brisket is to die for! Sauce has an amazing kick of sweet and savory in every bite. Definitely recommend.“

“Best of the best In Detroit!!! ⭐️ 🌭 Service is always top notch!!! Definitely will always be my go to spot! You are not just a customer at Duly’s, you feel like a part of the community! This is a must try spot for everyone, AMAZING 🌭! Breakfast looks fantastic as well! 🌟“

“Wow, what an experience. This was truly fine and fun dining. Amazing food, incredible service and cool tunes!“

“To die for - delicious! Had the squash app with the mushroom dumplings and bone marrow. Hot damn - this was superb! I was by myself from out of town and a lovely group of girlfriends sat next to me and started a lovely discussion! Really enjoyed my time.“

“The food and service was excellent!!! The stuffed salmon is a must!! The bartender customer service was impeccable.“

“Zeff’s is a respectable Coney Island. Most of our meals on a Sunday Brunch on Lions game day were on point. Coneys always good. Bacon pitas were fair. Chicken Swarma was not as tasty as preferred. Stick with the classics is our opinion. Will likely go again as it is near Sunday Church.

Vegetarian options: They’ve got few vegetarian items. Greek Salad is good. Remember, it’s a Coney Island.“

“Sweetwater has ruined all other wings for me. Life-changing. Been one of my favorite restaurants for years and always a great meal, in an awesome old building. Got an earlier dinner there today and service was quick, kind and efficient. Our server Tiffany was sweet. I hope this place never changes!“

“Our server Emily was very attentive, warm and welcoming. She made us feel very comfortable. We highly recommend the rueben sandwich and THE STUFFED SQUASH! Hats off to the chef and Emily. Thank you for a wonderful experience. We will be back.“

“Great bloody’s -you won’t b disappointed“

“Best restaurant in Detroit Metro airport sit at the bar for first class service!“

“Great foodie experience! Jake our waiter was amazing! Excellent food and service!!! Desserts delicious! Go now!“

“The best corn beef eggrolls I’ve ever had“

“Food was amazing. I had the chicken (tenders) & waffles & my fiancée had the corned beef hash & both were delicious & so much food that neither of us finished ... our waitress name was Noble & she was absolutely amazing too. She made sure we had everything we needed & was really nice (even calling us ma'am & sir) ... the atmosphere was perfect too ... we've added this to our list of favorites

Parking: Super hard to get a close spot, so be prepared to possibly walk“

“😃try his bacon cheeseburger with homemade potatoes“

“I love Batch! Of course the beer is good but in addition to that the sandwiches are always amazing, and it’s always a great vibe whether you’re outside or inside. Plus they’ve got trivia, food pop ups, and so many other events and activities“

“*EDIT:
The owner did reach out to me to apologize and offer cleaning/replacements for my clothing. They also spoke with the staff to make a training and learning lesson for them which I appreciate. I’m changing my rating of the experience based on Owen’s response, as most owners do not attempt to rectify a bad situation.

I have never had an experience as bad as the one I just had at Firebird Tavern. Needless to say I will never return or recommend this place to anyone. The visit started well and our server was very pleasant and attentive. Halfway through our visit, a full tray of drinks and shots was spilled on me to the point that a mop was needed and a wet floor signed was placed behind me. Not only that, but my white shirt is stained and not reparable. I was soaked. The server eventually did apologize to me and told me that she was personally comping ONE of my drinks. First of all, I would NEVER expect the server to comp any drinks. Second of all, I was never approached by the manager to access the damage or talk about comps, WHICH I would assume from the establishment itself. When we were brought our bill, I asked the server, ‘what is the establishment taking care of for my damages’. The manager eventually came to talk to me and did not seem aware of the situation, even after many servers explained what happened and I showed him my clothing that was still wet and stained. He simply replied that the server was comping one drink and he would see what he could do. The server came back with the same bill, no initiative from the bar or manager and I paid for the bill as it was. How is this acceptable from a bar that my table paid several rounds of drinks and food for the night? I have never experienced this lack of care in my life and cannot express my disappointment and frustration with the management and overall experience of Firebird. What an embarrassment to our city. As a resident of the downtown area, I would never expect such a terrible experience.“

“Wonderful place to go for a special occasion. The entertainment is always top notch. The food was absolutely delicious and the entire staff at the top of their game!“

“I love going to this place I love Sparkle and Candy but the guys didn't cook my food really good but that's okay that's very rare that happens

Kid-friendliness: They love to have family dining there kids is always welcome they even have a kiddie menu

Wheelchair accessibility: They have handicap parking in the wheelchairs can fit through their doors they are wide and there are no stairs“

“Great environment for a game or if you're a sports fan. Staff is usually pretty personable but can be very overwhelmed. Especially on a game day. It just seems it may be time for hiring. Maybe time to expand operations.

The burger was delicious. And the jalapeño poppers taste fresh. My advice would be hire some wait staff. At least part time for game days“

“Absolutely 100% recommend Nemo’s! We’re here for tigers opening day and I am breastpumping. I asked if they had a room I could pump, although they didn’t have a secluded area for me, they let me pump in this back area. Thankfully I had a wearable pump so you can’t see anything but one of the bartenders brought me a water & a hotdog and was just the sweetest man. Truly thankful for their hospitality! So very sweet! Above and beyond!“

“We had a gift card from the Detroit Redwings that we had to use, and we are so glad that they threw in the gift card. I had the 10 oz steak and it was incredible but the dessert was my favorite. We ordered something called The Game and it was incredible. I highly recommended this place.“

“Beautiful place for a special occasion.“

“Food was delicious we just had appetizers and the smash burger tacos and chicken bites were so yummy, but the best part was the bartender and the service! Shawn was our bartender and I have not had such a friendly, helpful, nice, bartender/server since before covid. Thats what customer service should be like again! Seems to really enjoy his job and the people he serves!
We really enjoyed our time here before the game! We are leaving with a great experience and our day is genuinely better walking out of here! Highly recommend!“

“100% the best friendly local bar I’ve ever been to in the whole country. Every single employee was so welcoming, the food and drinks were excellent and affordable. The perfect vibe. I love this place!!“

“We dined in JLSK on Sunday. The service was spot on. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was inviting. A "trifecta"!“

“Love the whole vibe and atmosphere. From the wonderful front desk person to our awesome server Jonathan.

Excellent service and love the expresso Martini.

Will definitely be back and want to visit the cigar bar and spa.

Excellent anniversary dinner.“

“Came down for brunch whoever made that omelette it was the balm will be back again for one, nice place also.“

“We visited Mudgie’s late in the day on their host day for Sandwich Week. The food is always fantastic here but what truly stands out is the level of service. We were truly touched by the amount of effort and care these people provide. We knew we were late in the day and they were out of a few things as everything is fresh. The host took a great deal of time to run through the menu and made sure that the 12 year old we had with us felt fully taken care of. He ordered a grilled cheese and he likes to dip in ketchup. As they make their own and it was a busy day , they were out of ketchup but moments later, our server came by with some. The server had run to another restaurant in the area to make sure this young guy had his ketchup with his grilled cheese. Thank you to Mudgie’s staff for a great experience“

“Nice atmosphere, nostalgic vibe.

Parking: Parking was great even on a Saturday night

Kid-friendliness: Likely kid friendly during the week or daytime.
Older kids/teens would have a better time.“

“The bartender Jon was amazing. The food is so good and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. I will say that the hostess, Ms. P was extremely rude, and I almost left. I wanted to dine in, but Ms. P said reservations were required. I told her if we can't eat in, then we can order to go. She interrupted me while I was speaking and asked, "You wanted to eat in, don't you?" I almost left because as her being the face of the restaurant, it was not a welcoming experience.
I'm glad I walked away from her and ordered at the bar. She definitely needs a class in customer service.“

“Corporate event here and they were very accommodating . The manager did an excellent job and was very respectful. Overall great job. Food was good, we had a classic menu and some of the dishes were done really well. The beef in particular was excellent, not over seasoned just simple and cooked correctly. Only future request is for the scallops to have one side seared to create multiple textures. The scallops lacked that good sear which holds on to some of the delicious flavors of the butter and salt without that it really became a bland scallop. Regardless we would still eat here again. Good service, nice people and a good enough variety on the menu.“

“Originally from Michigan but now live in Florida. Went to Detroit for the weekend to attend Red Wings games. Looked for perch dinners and found Andrew’s. Absolutely awesome perch with a generous portion. Loved the atmosphere of the old time era. Staff exceptionally friendly as was the owner. Would definitely recommend this place and can’t wait to return. What I liked was the minimal breading so you have the true taste of perch. This is by far the place to go if you love perch.“

“I had a delicious biscuit and a Black Tonic! Very interesting beverage if you’re feeling a little daring - I liked it!“

“Best place in Detroit and metropolitan area. A true dining experience. Not to be be missed.“

“Been there two times now. Perfect neighborhood bar for folks in Brush Park. Food was very good and service was excellent. My wife and I are “Summer birds” . We reside in Arizona and reside in Brush Park when weather is good so it’s a perfect neighborhood place for a nightcap.“

“Amazing food and great waitstaff.“

“This is a great place to try out if you are:
-Hungry in the DIA
-Treating your girlfriend to a nice meal
-Looking to take a break from the DIA

Honestly seeing this place for the first time is a breath of fresh air. It’s like dining outside without the blaring sun, the bugs, and the wind blowing away your food. And honestly the prices were not outrageous especially for the atmosphere you are paying for. The service is wonderful and the food was great. Overall experience: 11/10

PS: looking to try the peach flatbread the next time I go ?“

“Table No. 2's lobster bisque, surf and turf, and peach cobbler make for a fantastic dining experience! High-quality food and friendly service. Highly recommend! Will return!“

“We came to The Whitney for an early birthday dinner for my husband. I cannot say enough positive things about our experience there! The staff went above and beyond my expectations. The food was amazing and cost was much less than I would have expected for the caliber and presentation of our meals and dessert. For all of you paranormal afficionados, their Ghost Bar is a must. The owners of The Whitney have done so much to preserve this amazing estate in Detroit without any funding assistance from the government or grants. Please consider supporting them by being a patron the next time you are in Detroit.“

“Been going there for 60 yrs. My dad used to work there back in the early 60s. GREAT FOOD.“