7 Best Restaurants in Michigan, USA

The co-owner–chef at the helm here is from Galway, Ireland, and trained at top European restaurants, and the menu at The Belvedere Inn's restaurant reflects that global eclecticism. The 19-year-old restaurant is inside a 100-year-old inn designed by a colleague of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Selections on the seasonally focused prix-fixe menu—choose from two, three, or four courses—include Prince Edward Island mussels in Pernod cream, lobster tail, and Chateaubriand (21-day-aged roasted beef tenderloin in béarnaise sauce). Dessert for two is included, and might feature profiteroles or warm tarte tatin. There are one or two seatings nightly.

This authentic New Orleans–style restaurant in the heart of Greektown is loud, brash, funky, and fun. The spicy creole fare on the seasonal menu includes gator, gumbo, crawfish, and gulf oysters on the half shell. The whiskey ribs are tops year-round. If you're staying in the suburbs, check out the branches in St. Clair Shores and Southfield.

Built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Resort's restaurant is what you would expect of a rustic lodge. Hearty dinner dishes include Mountain Man Beef Chop, a 16-ounce steak with chili-fried onions; and smoked-bacon-wrapped sirloin filet mignon with basil smashed potatoes. Lighter items such as Cobb salad or a jerk-chicken ciabatta are available for lunch. Included on the wine list are bottles from near (Michigan) and far (Germany). During the warmer months the chefs pluck herbs and greens from the lodge's gardens. In addition to lunch and dinner, continental breakfast is served daily, with a buffet breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Detroit's contribution to gastronomy is the Coney dog: a hot dog topped with cheese, onions, and chili, all in a bun. Every day, suburbanites and visiting celebrities in stretch limos share counter space with workers getting off the night shift at this area institution, which serves all day.

As the name suggests, Tom's is an area favorite with an extensive oyster selection. But don't miss the spicy crawfish bisque and the many fresh fish dishes. The walls are done in dark paneling covered by lots of old New Yorker covers. There's open-air dining on a flower-filled patio.

For folks watching their wallets, this family-owned, family-friendly diner serves a worthy bang-for-your-buck, all-day breakfast, with nearly everything under $10. Veterans of the restaurant business, Vicki and Ron Beisel received plenty of kudos when they opened their diner in spring 2012. It's for dishes like Belgian waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream; three-egg omelets made fresh in a sauce pan; and the lunch-menu club sandwich, featuring shaved turkey and ham, generous bacon slices and thick, crunchy lettuce.

Once the mansion of lumber baron David Whitney, this posh restaurant turns out creative American dishes, snappy pastas, and very fresh seafood. Brunch is served on Sunday, and lunch is available Tuesday through Friday.