Best New Restaurant

Best Beer Selection 

in a Restaurant

One-Eyed Betty's 

Beer Bar & Kitchen

175 W. Troy St., Ferndale; 248-808-6633; oneeyedbettys.com

One-Eyed Betty holds an impressive collection of craft brews, around 45 drafts and 85 bottled beers. Betty's food is luscious, filling and inexpensive. The gargantuan burger is gilded with garlic aioli, melting cheddar, and piled with applewood-smoked bacon. Desserts include house-made donuts, hand-cut from yeast dough and deep-fried, then served with milk chocolate and raspberry sauces. All items pair perfectly with the beer selection, or are cooked with beer — like the tasty beer-and-cheese soup.

Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Towners

Best Restaurant to     Spend Less Than $50, Wayne County

Best Barbecue, Wayne County

Best Slow Food

Slows Bar BQ

2138 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-9828; slowsbarbq.com

This nationally recognized Corktown gem is packed with faithful barbecue fans willing to wait over fancy beer or wine selections for the delicious Carolina-style pulled pork, the sharp and creamy mac-n-cheese, or the flaky catfish. Not only did our readers vote it the best moderately priced restaurant and best barbecue in the county, they judged it the best place to show off metro Detroit to visitors. As for the slow food thing, well, it is right in the name. ...

Best Romantic Restaurant, Wayne County

Best Steak, Wayne County

Roast

1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 313-961-2500; roastdetroit.com

Roast covers every detail, from the complimentary coat check to the elegant white linens. Floor-to-ceiling windows afford views of Washington Boulevard. But all this elegance doesn't mean you can't dress casually to enjoy Roast's bounty. And then there's the steak: fine cuts of beef, all naturally raised and dry-aged, cooked over a wood-fired rotisserie. What's more, the poultry and seafood dishes receive just as much love and care. And then there are the inspired touches that make a Michael Symon restaurant special, blending in such unusual ingredients as marrow or fried egg.

Best Romantic Restaurant, Oakland County

The Melting Pot

888 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy; 248-362-2221

26425 Novi Rd., Novi; 248-347-6358

309 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-622-0055; 

meltingpot.com

The staff at the Melting Pot is willing to go the extra mile to cater to your fondue fantasies. All tables feature a heating element that keeps your fondue pots hot and ready for your choice of vegetables, breads, meats, fruits and more, dipped in a variety of chocolates and cheeses.

Best Romantic Restaurant, Macomb County

Best Restaurant to    

Spend Less Than $50, 

Macomb County

J. Baldwin's

16981 18 Mile Rd., Clinton Twp.; 586-416-3501; jbaldwins.com

Jeff Baldwin, the respected chef who presided over the kitchens at the Whitney and Van Dyke Place, owns this casual eatery that elegantly presents about 30 entrées daily, along with a variety of sauces and accoutrements. Among the entrées are crusty pizzas cooked in a stone oven, calamari, crab cakes, ahi tuna, lemon chicken piccata and portobello ravioli. Many desserts are made in-house, including the crème brûlée and rich Black Forest torte.

Best Romantic Restaurant, Washtenaw County

The Earle

121 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-994-0211; theearle.com

The Earle is the perfect spot for a candlelit dinner for two. Live jazz music accompanies your meal on weekends. The menu includes French- and Italian-inspired entrées, such as escargot vol-au-vent, salmon pate with cognac, baked goat cheese and duck. Choose from an extensive, award-winning wine list.

Best View in a Restaurant

Coach Insignia

GM Global Renaissance Center, Floors 71 and 72, Detroit; 313-567-2622; theepicureangroup.com

Coach Insignia is lined with floor to ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view. You can view the Detroit and Windsor riverfronts while dining at the second-highest restaurant in the country, located on the upper floors of the Renaissance Center. Even the elevator ride is paned with glass windows, allowing you to view the city from the first to 72nd floor.

Best Restaurant to Spend Less Than $15, Wayne County

Bucharest Grill

2040 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-965-3111; 

bucharestgrill.com

Bucharest Grill is a small counter set up in the back of Park Bar, where you can get inexpensive menu items made up of Eastern European and Middle Eastern dishes. A popular choice is the chicken, beef or vegetarian shawarma wrapped in a pita for around $4. Also desired are the "gourmet dogs," such as a bratwurst covered in your taste of sauerkraut, grilled onions, chili or even bacon.

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