Detroit: 10 Things to Do

Detroiters love to eat. A lot. And there are plenty of terrific restaurants in and around Detroit. One of the first places locals will take you is to a get a "coney" — basically, a hot dog (despite the name, it's not directly associated with New York City's Coney Island, which is also known for dogs). Two of the best coney spots in Detroit are American Coney Island (Grace Keros, who runs the family business, will take care of you) and its next-door rival Lafayette Coney.

Just a few steps away, inside the wonderfully restored Westin Book Cadillac Hotel, is one of the sleekest restaurants in town: celebrity chef Michael Symon's Roast, where there's often a giant pig roasting within view of the main room. We recommend the filet mignon with rosemary fries and fried brussels sprouts. This is a place to see and be seen, and one of the few restaurants in town where it would be smart to make reservations for dinner.

In Ferndale, one of Detroit's eclectic suburbs, try Anita's Kitchen for terrific, relatively inexpensive Middle Eastern fare such as chicken shish kebabs and tabbouleh.

• 1. American Coney Island
  114 W. Lafayette St., Detroit, Mich. 48226; (586) 219-0995 42.3313738-83.0485901 americanconeyisland.com
• 2. Lafayette Coney Island
  118 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, Mich. 48226; 313-964-8198 42.331325-83.0487066
• 3. Roast
  1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit, Mich. 48226; 313-961-2500 42.332254-83.050818 roastdetroit.com
• 4. Anita's Kitchen
  22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, Mich. 48220; 248-548-0680 42.459344-83.1339907 anitaskitchenonline.com