BERKLEY

Amici's Pizza and Living Room 3249 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-544-4100; amicispizza.com; $$: Pizza crust made with bran? Biodegradable dishes and soy candles? No TV? Gluten-free beer? Even a couple of organic vodkas? Amici's manages both to be virtuous and to pull it off without a hint of self-righteousness. It is a bar, after all. Open daily at 4 p.m.

Bagger Dave's 2972 Coolidge Hwy.; 248-543-3283; $$: Bagger Dave's is more a full-service restaurant than its fast-food competitors, even if the burgers, fries and sandwiches are often delivered to the table wrapped in paper bags. Affordable bottled beer and wine by the pour, sophisticated jazz playlist and woodsy Up-North interior.

The Berkley Front 3087 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-547-3331; $: Patrons can choose to enjoy the Old World charm, laid-back style and great beer selection downstairs or to chill out in the '50s-style lounge upstairs, where live music plays every weekend. Open 4 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Monday-Tuesday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesdays, noon-2 a.m. Thursday-Friday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m.-midnight Sundays.

Berkley Bistro & Cafe 1999 Coolidge Rd.; 248-691-4333; $$: On Sundays, long past noon, customers are asking for coffee refills as they mop up the last of their four-egg omelets made with Italian sausage, sausage gravy, or chili and cheddar cheese, or French toast stuffed with strawberries and mango-infused cream cheese.

Blarney Stone Pub 27253 Woodward Ave.; 248-541-1881; $: The Blarney Stone's everyday menu is all-American pub grub, with familiar deep-fat fried items, "pizza dip," and a five-slider plate. Plenty of beers either on tap or bottled.

Hogger's 2959 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-548-2400; $$: Good food, fresh ingredients, affordable lunch specials, community-oriented management, friendly staff. Orders to go.

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant 27861 Woodward Ave.; 248-547-5050; $$: Located right smack in the middle of the Woodward corridor, Margarita's serves authentic Mexican cuisine that's heavy on the veggies and true to its roots.

Mr. Kabob 3372 Coolidge Hwy.; 248-545-4000; $: Located inside a Sunoco station at the corner of 12 Mile and Coolidge, you hardly expect the restaurant-quality cuisine you'll find here. Fourteen entrées average around $7 for lunch and $10 for dinner. Open daily 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Mazza Indian Cuisine 3354 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-541-2119; mazzaindiancuisine.com; $$: In the heart of Berkley, Mazza serves contemporary Indian cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.

O'Mara's Irish Restaurant 2555 W. 12 Mile Rd.; 248-399-6750; omaras.net; $$: Traditional Irish fare, such as succulent shepherd's pie, as well as good renditions of classic American food in a welcoming atmosphere.

Panini Press 28983 Woodward Ave.; 248-547-7377; thepaninipress.com; $: Small, mostly takeout place with eight small tables and free Wi-Fi. White, multi-grain and gluten-free panini, as well as roll-up wraps and lettuce wraps. Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sundays.

FERNDALE

Anita's Kitchen 22651 Woodward Ave.; 248-548-0680; anitaskitchenonline.com; $$: In warm weather, a large, covered outdoor dining area allows outside dining. The bar serves beer, wine, juice, smoothies and wine and craft brews. Salads, veggie-intensive appetizers, pita pizzas, kebabs or shawarma, lamb chops, shanks and kibbeh dazzle the palate.

Assaggi Mediterranean Bistro 330 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-584-3499; assaggibistro.com; $$$: Attractive atmosphere, creative menu of Mediterranean dishes influenced by Italian, French, Middle Eastern and Spanish cuisines. Full wine list, sangria and a full bar. Seating for 80 in the courtyard patio in fair weather. Closed Mondays.

Blue Nile 545 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-547-6699; bluenilemi.com; $$: At this Ethiopian joint, you get to eat with bread, choosing from two all-you-can-eat choices: four meats and seven vegetables for $17.90, or all-veg for $15.90 (kids eat for half price). In a nod to the West, a full bar.

Christine's Cuisine 729 E. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-584-3354; $$: A casual, comfortable place to dine, whose menu dances from Eastern European into Italy, America, France, and burritoville. Daily house specials.

Club Bart 22726 Woodward Ave.; 248-548-8746; $$: Club Bart's normal breakfast menu is extensive enough with 13 omelets and 10 pancakes or waffles. But for the hip weekend breakfast crowd, there's a tantalizing array of specials. Add in the liquor license and you have it made.

Como's 22812 Woodward Ave.; 248-548-5005; $$: Though they do serve pizzas and pastas, Como's is best-known as a lively bar scene, particularly on their commodious tent patio, even on a frigid night.

The Fly Trap 22950 Woodward Ave.; 248-399-5150; theflytrapferndale.com; $: You can get a burger and fries, or bacon and eggs, but after that the menu goes in all sorts of interesting directions, including sandwiches with such names as the Pea Patch or the charmoula chicken. Closed Mondays.

French Gourmet 23421 Woodward Ave.; 248-541-1200; $$: Grapevine-wrapped pillars, classical background music and jeweled murals provide the setting, but the prepared-to-order entrées are gems. The pastries are beautiful to behold.

Howe's Bayou 22848 Woodward Ave.; 248-691-7145; howesbayouferndale.net; $$: Cajun and Creole food pleases those seeking a bit of Nawlins living. Full bar. Great sweet potato fries and bread pudding.

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