Family Dining in Detroit
A family vacation in Detroit may not immediately seem like the perfect thing. What does Motor City have to offer a family? Well, you’d be surprised. Detroit is home to more than the Automotive Hall of Fame. There’s Belle Isle, a 1000-acre island park with a zoo, aquarium and conservatory. Your family could take in the sights at the Cranbrook Art Museum or the Historical Museum. How about a trip to the Michigan Renaissance Festival or a night at one of the many theaters in the region? And don’t forget about the Motown Historical Museum.
Yes, downtown Detroit and the surrounding area has a lot more to offer visitors than ever before and it’s often overlooked as a family fun spot. Detroit is actually crammed with activities that can educate, enlighten or entertain every member in the family. But the one thing Detroit may be a little light on is family dining options that aren’t your standard McDonalds or other chain restaurant. If you’ve brought your family to Detroit and are looking for just the right combination of family friendly dining with unique flare, use the following guide to help you find the right restaurant for you and your family.
(cc: photo credit: Pillsbury.com)
Apple Annie’s Kitchen & Bakery rates pretty high with locals and guests. Serving up the best of both worlds when it comes to family dining, large portions and low prices, Apple Annie’s Kitchen is your standard family restaurant with reliably consistent food, cheerful service and a pleasant atmosphere. Children are not only welcome at Apple Annie’s, they’re expected.
Another family restaurant located just outside Detroit is the Moose Preserve Bar & Grill. Don’t let the word Bar scare you off, this upscale bar and grill is known for its steaks, fresh fish and BBQ Ribs. You can also try one of its famous buffalo burgers. The hunting lodge motif makes it a welcome environment for the entire family. The clientele is varied so you don’t have to worry about running into a crowd that’s just interested in the cheapest taper in town. If the weather is nice, head out to the patio to eat on the terrace or under the sugar maple tree. When it’s a little chillier the upper deck provides a place to eat with a covered roof and heating.
Okay, it’s a chain restaurant, but a visit to the Hard Rock Café in a city that’s known for its music is different than any old Hard Rock. In the heart of Detroit, this café shares the pride of the city’s rich musical past. Look for memorabilia from musical greats such as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Eminem, Jimi Hendrix, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad and Kit Rock among many, many others. Not only is the Hard Rock sort of a tourist sight in itself, its located so close to many attractions that it’s a super convenient place to take the family without a lot of travel or tricky directions.
A great place to bring the kids is Guernsey Farms Dairy, a family owned and operated restaurant since 1940. The restaurant features an ice cream parlor, store and gift shop and a dairy processing plant. Not only is there a lot to see and do at the Guernsey Farms Dairy, but only the finest ingredients are used and each meal is always a delight. Before your visit, take a virtual tour of the dairy plant to turn your little trip into a learning experience for the kids. It will make the visit all that much more interesting. And don’t forget to pick up some dairy products at the family owned store.
What’s family dining without a pizza restaurant in your back pocket? Ferlito’s Family Dining & Pizza might be just the back up restaurant you need. A standard pizza restaurant that serves up traditional fare with fresh, quality ingredients. No fancy over the top Italian theme here, just good old fashioned family food. It’s important to note that the menu is full of variety so if you’ve got a finicky eater who only likes noodles, then he or she is going to be happy, in fact the whole family will be happy with this large menu.
For a restaurant that screams kid-friendly, try Secret Recipes Family Dining. The built in toy boxes or the game boys available up on request should occupy the children for quite some time while you sit back and take a long needed and well deserved break. Secret Recipes prides itself on cooking most of its items from scratch and making deep fried foods as healthy as possible by using trans fat free frying oil. The menu is varied and again, it’s very kid-friendly. Meals are also available on a carry out basis, so if you want to pick up something to bring back to the hotel feel free, but let us recommend visiting the restaurant and taking a break while the kids play.
Okay, so its another chain restaurant, but if you’re really looking for a break and a little time to relax, then the old standard is right at hand, Chuck E. Cheese. You know the menu and you know the routine and sometimes when you’re vacationing with children they need a little taste of the familiar to calm high-strung nerves and provide a stress free dinner. It may not be exactly what you had hoped for your vacation but you’ll be glad that you let them play in a familiar atmosphere for a while. If not while your at (the sometimes impossibly loud) Chuck E. Cheese restaurant, you’ll be happy later when they’re so tired they fall right to sleep.
Detroit is also full of other chain restaurants, including the dreaded McDonald’s, and many other family owned and operated restaurants that cater to families. Use the above list as a starting point and check with your hotel or tour guide to see if they have any recommendations. But whatever you do, don’t avoid a trip to Detroit. It’s really a great city to visit and comes loaded with fun, educational and recreational activities for everyone in the family.
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Categories: Restaurants and Dining
