[HOT LIST] The Detroit Food Experience(TM)

Originally published January 15, 2013. Updated August 2, 2013.

Phil Cooley of Slows. Photo from the New York Times.

Welcome visitors from near (north of 8 Mile) and far (konnichiwa)! We hope you enjoy our city. It's an inverse of the whole "It's not the size but how you use it" thing.

I've noted previously that there is an Official Detroit Experience® check list out there somewhere and all these things are on it. Well, here is that check list! If you're looking for a way to fill your time in between looking at cars*, here is the official Detroit Food Experience(TM) bucket list of the hottest, most-written-about restaurants, bars, and food hubs in the city of Detroit. While I don't claim that this is a comprehensive list of all of the various national media coverage these places have received (or of all the places that have received it), this should at least give you a pretty good idea. (Of just how much media recycles content from other media.) And for those of you who feel like there are only 10 places that ever get written about, well, here they are. (NOTE: To be fair, some of these I'm actually in fact responsible for myself.)

May your stay here be just like that Eminem commercial!


#1 Slows BAR BQ
Barbecue and craft beer with a side of famousness. Now with expansions!

Find them in:
"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"
The Kitchen Daily (named by Adam Richman as one of the 12 best places to eat in America)
Fox News
Fodor's
The New York Times
New York Post
The Travel Channel, "Best Sandwich in America"
Martha Stewart Living
Food + Wine
Food + Wine (again)
Bon Appetit
New York Mag
The Atlantic Cities
Chicago Tribune
New York Times (again)

#2 Eastern Market
The largest historic public market district in the United States that's been on a tear lately (here and here). Also home of famous places Supino Pizzeria and Russell Street Deli.

Find them in:
Fox News
Fodor's
New York Post
GQ
Food + Wine
New York Mag
New York Times
Chicago Tribune
Time
New York Times (again)
AND New York Times, again

#3 Astro Coffee
Pour overs with a side of hipster. 

Find them in:
Fox News
Fodor's
New York Post
Martha Stewart Living
GQ
Food + Wine
New York Mag
Chicago Tribune

#4 The Sugar House
Alcohol and fancy vests.

Find them in:
Fox News
Fodor's
New York Post
Martha Stewart Living
GQ
Food + Wine
New York Mag
Nylon Guys
Chicago Tribune
Tasting Table

#5 Supino Pizzeria
Pizza and long-ass lines (soon serving expansions!).

Find them in:
Fox News
Fodor's
Esquire
The Food Network "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"
GQ
New York Mag
New York Times
Epicurious

#6 Roast
This is why.

Find them in:
Fox News
GQ
New York Mag
Woodford Reserve (winner of national competition)
Esquire
New York Times

#7 Cafe D'Mongo's
It's like drinking in an old lady's garage sale.

Find them in:
Esquire
GQ
New York Mag
New York Times
And from their website: The New York Times, The Financial Times, Cat Fancy, Slate, Cigar Aficionado, Women’s Wear Daily, Good Housekeeping, Town and Country, Field and Stream, Soldier of Fortune and Time –especially Time.

#8 Green Dot Stables
Weird sliders and cheap craft beer in Corktown Shores.

Find them in:
Fox News
Fodor's
Martha Stewart Living
GQ
New York Times
Chicago Tribune

#9 Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co/IFAD
Weird wine and sour beer on draft in a de facto freelance office. 

Find them in:
Fox News
New York Times
Food + Wine
Nylon Guys

#10 Lafayette Coney Island/American Coney Island
If you must.

Find them in:
The Travel Channel "Food Wars"
The Travel Channel (again) "Food Paradise"
New York Mag

*This list was originally published to coincide with the arrival of international guests coming into town for the North American International Auto Show.