Greektown

Greektown [1] is a delightful place come mealtime, and most Detroiters have their favorite Greektown restaurant. Top choices include the Laikon Cafe (569 Monroe St., 313/963-7058, 11 a.m.–midnight Wed.–Mon., $10–20), New Parthenon (547 Monroe St., 313/961-5111 or 313/963-8888, 11 a.m.–3 a.m. daily, $10–25), and the upscale
Pegasus Taverna (558 Monroe St., 313/964-6800, http://pegasusdetroit.com [2], 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Mon.–Thurs., 11 a.m.–3 a.m. Fri.–Sat., 11 a.m.–midnight Sun., $6–27). All serve specialties that include a tart avgolemono (chicken lemon soup), flaky spinach pie, pastitsio (Greek macaroni), and flaming saganaki cheese, lit with a flourish and a cry of “Opa!” from the waiter.

Afterward, many diners wander over to the popular Astoria Pastry Shop (541 Monroe St., 313/963-9603, www.astoriapastryshop.com [3], 8 a.m.–midnight Sun.–Thurs., 8 a.m.–1 a.m. Fri.–Sat., $2–5) for baklava and other Greek and European pastries laid out neatly behind gleaming glass countertops.

Of course, not everything worth seeing in Greektown [1] is Greek. PizzaPapalis Taverna (553 Monroe St., 313/961-8020, www.pizzapapalis.com [4], 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Mon.–Sat., noon–1 a.m. Sun., $6–24) is where Motown [5] meets the Windy City. Only the name is Greek: deep-dish pies are the specialty.

Meanwhile, Fishbone’s (400 Monroe St., 313/965-4600, www.fishbonesusa.com [6], $9–65) is a New Orleans–inspired eatery that opened in the mid-1980s and has been jammed ever since. It serves up surprisingly authentic gumbo ya ya and jambalaya, in addition to ribs, steaks, and seafood.

South of Greektown [1], Opus One (565 E. Larned St., 313/961-7766, www.opus-one.com [7], 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Tues., 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Wed.–Thurs., 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri., 5–11 p.m. Sat., noon–7 p.m. Sun., $10–35) ranks as one of the city’s most elegant eateries, with a sophisticated menu that reflects both continental and regional influences. Top off your visit with the warm chocolate cake, accompanied by freshly brewed Jamaican blue java.