What's your favorite Metro Detroit area restaurant (ethnic or not)? (Clawson: moving, sushi)

[MS313]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

I know. It's the concept itself I don't really "get". Why is it that Metro D has such affinity for the name that?
It's just a popular name.
That makes some sense.
Eh...that's debatable.
Lol no, it's not at all debatable unless you went to a nasty Coney Island. There's a reason why they get more business overnight then Mcdonald's, IHOP, Denny's, ect. In fact they have often times put chain restaurants out of business. Even most people I know from out of town (Chicago, Atlanta, Ohio, STL, Indiana, ect) choose Coney Island over any of those 24 hour chains when they are in Detroit.
?
What I mean is people often name their restaurants after Coney Island. (Leo's coney island, George's coney island, national coney island, John's grille coney island, ect, ect, ect)

My response in blue.

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by MS313

Lol no, it's not at all debatable unless you went to a nasty Coney Island.

I've been to several. And, no, there is nothing definitive (="not at all debatable") about tastes. They are entirely subjective.

I do get what you're trying to say, but I still don't get the appeal.

There's a reason why they get more business overnight then Mcdonald's, IHOP, Denny's, ect.

Do they, really? Also, I'm not sure comparing them to McD is at all fair.

[mgkeith]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

Just out of interest, did you not know before going that you'd be doing the cooking yourself?

Yes, I did. Used a card that was a gift. The gift- giver was a thirty-something (one of our kids) who really likes the place. What we didn't expect was that it would be so unpleasant...table was too small, not enough cooking space, difficult to avoid hot stone, disappointing ambiance and food was nothing special overall. I'll do bulgogi at a Korean restaurant because it's more pleasant and fun sometimes...and tasty.

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by mgkeith

Yes, I did. Used a card that was a gift. The gift- giver was a thirty-something (one of our kids) who really likes the place. What we didn't expect was that it would be so unpleasant...table was too small, not enough cooking space, difficult to avoid hot stone, disappointing ambiance and food was nothing special overall. I'll do bulgogi at a Korean restaurant because it's more pleasant and fun sometimes...and tasty.

Fair enough. The difficulty in avoiding the hot stone would turn me off - these things are supposed to be fun, not a health hazard.

[usroute10]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

Perhaps here's where I show my own ignorance. I get that Coney restaurants are sacrosanct to Detroiters, but I really don't get them. To me they are nothing more than Denny's/Bob Evans with a side of gyros or an occasional six thousand calorie "Michigan" salad. Yay?

Originally Posted by Arthur Digby Sellers

These three menu items qualify a metro Coney:

1. Coney dogs (duh)
2. Giant greek salads
3. Gyros

Bonus points for the following:

1. Spinach pie
2. Stuffed grape leaves (the best)
3. Chicken lemon rice soup
4. Loose coney
5. Rice pudding

Right, Coney Islands are the Detroit/Flint area's take on the classic diner, but with Greek and Mediterreanean influences. Coney Islands offer quintessential diner food. However, they serve coney island hot dogs, and Greek/Middle Eastern-inspired foods like gyros, kabobs, saganaki, and mousaka.

National Coney Island seems to have invented a new diner food - the hani, or basically a chicken fingers pita with swiss and american cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a sauce.

Coney vs. Hani: National puts Detroit rivalry to vote

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by usroute10

National Coney Island seems to have invented a new diner food - the hani, or basically a chicken fingers pita with swiss and american cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a sauce.

Huh. I've had it, but never knew that's what it was called. It's not awful, but it's not something I'd go out of my way to eat.

[ekman243]

Detroit Vegan Soul in West Village and Louisiana Creole Gumbo on Gratiot across from the old Joe Muer. All the great authentic Mediterranean restaurants in Dearborn, West Warren, Michigan ave.

[MS313]

Originally Posted by highlanderfil

I've been to several. And, no, there is nothing definitive (="not at all debatable") about tastes. They are entirely subjective.

I do get what you're trying to say, but I still don't get the appeal.Do they, really? Also, I'm not sure comparing them to McD is at all fair.

Yeah that's true. To me I grew up eating mostly cheap food (with the exception of my mom cooking) so I can really tell the difference. But yea, that's the only reason why it's well over 400 of them and most of them open late. In my experience, most people I know even from out of town chooses Coney Island over other chains for late night eats when in Detroit.

But for people who grew up in Detroit (the city) I guess it's the pride and loyalty that also plays a big part. When so many big chain restaurants have opened up multiple locations in the suburbs but have been avoiding most of the city for decades, eventually most have that attitude like "I'll rather spend my money on a restaurant that wants to serve my community then drive to the suburbs".

[highlanderfil]

Originally Posted by MS313

But for people who grew up in Detroit (the city) I guess it's the pride and loyalty that also plays a big part. When so many big chain restaurants have opened up multiple locations in the suburbs but have been avoiding most of the city for decades, eventually most have that attitude like "I'll rather spend my money on a restaurant that wants to serve my community then drive to the suburbs".

Yeah, this I definitely do understand and respect. Just wish, from a purely personal standpoint, that the food was a bit better. But I know I'm in the minority here.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by mgkeith

My husband and I found Black Rock to be annoying, too. Yes, both the cooking part, which is easier to do at home, and the hot stone which is in the way. Maybe if people don't do much cooking, it seems more exciting?

My wife and one of my daughters really like it. the rest of our family would prefer someplace else, especially for the price. Everyone prefers my barbequed steaks when the weather is nice, and it is less work since I do not have to cook it mouthful by mouthful.


We like some of the Japanese places better. You do not have a 700 degree rock sitting right in front of you. They actually do most of the work and you do not have to cook one mouthful at a time. Plus a steak is not $35.






The Coney chains are just that, bland chain food. The advantage is you generally know what you are going to get if you go to one, because they all have mostly the same things. They are usually a little better than a Dennys or Norms, but not really all that different, just a different style of food.


Lafayette Coney is different. It is all about ambiance/tradition. Basically you are going to get a Coney dog or two and a beer. You sit at a big long dining counter and the waiter is never more than a few feet away. The place looks like it has not been changed (or cleaned) since the 1950s and that is what it is all about. Not fine dining, but a flashback to stopping in for a cheap dog on the way to tiger Stadium. You need to go to the bathroom there are least once. It will make you laugh.