The Best of Michigan for 2005

Food & Drink: ETHNIC

Best all-around American menu

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place: Red Robin

For locations: redrobin.com

Third place: Ram’s Horn Restaurant

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Best place for Greek “Opa!”

Pegasus Taverna

558 Monroe St., Detroit

(313) 964-6800

Second place: New-Hellas Restaurant

583 Monroe St., Detroit

(313) 961-5544

Third place: Laikon Cafe

569 Monroe St., Detroit (313) 963-7058

Best Thai restaurant

Orchid Cafe

Two Troy locations

Second place (tie): Sala Thai

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Second place: Sy Thai

Birmingham and St. Clair Shores locations

Third place: Bangkok Silver Bowl

449 W. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson

(248) 435-2140

Best French restaurant

Boocoo

1824 W. 14 Mile Rd., Royal Oak (248) 655-5000

Second place: Cuisine

670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit (313) 872-5110

Third place: Zinc Brasserie

Restaurant & Wine Bar

6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Twp.

(248) 865-0500

Best Middle Eastern restaurant

La Shish

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Second place: Steve’s Backroom

Harper Woods and St. Clair Shores locations

Third place: Pita Cafe

43224 W. 11 Mile Rd., Novi (248) 347-7444

Best Mexican restaurant

Taco Loco Mexican

Restaurant

52899 Van Dyke Ave, Shelby Township (586) 323-9494

Second place: Mexican Village

Detroit and Shelby Township locations

Third place: El Charro Mexican Restaurant

Fraser and St. Clair Shores locations

Best Italian restaurant

Salvatore Scallopini Italian

Locations throught Metro Detroit

Second place: Antonio’s Cucina Italiana

Farmington Hills and Dearborn Heights locations

Third place: Andiamo’s

For locations: andiamoitalia.com

Best Japanese restaurant

Benihana

benihana.com

Second place: Shogun Japanese Steakhouse

37750 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights

(586) 268-4882

Third place: Kyoto Japanese Steak

& Seafood

1985 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy (248) 649-0874

Best Indian food

Passage to India

3354 12 Mile Rd., Berkley

(248) 541-2119

Second place: Priya

72 W. Maple Rd., Troy (248) 269-0100

Third place (tie): Shalimar Restaurant

Farmington Hills and Ann Arbor locations

Third place: Star of India

180 W. 9 Mile Rd., Ferndale (248) 546-5996

David Coates / The Detroit News Albert Holmes of Detroit loads up on finger lickin' good selections at Steve's Soul Food in Detroit, home to Michigan's Best soul food.

Best soul food

Steve’s Soul Food

8443 Grand River Ave., Detroit

(313) 894-3464

Second place: Beans & Cornbread

29508 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield

(248) 208-1680

Third place: Sweet Georgia Brown

607 Shelby St., Detroit (313) 965-1245

Best German restaurant

Bavarian Inn Restaurant

713 S. Main St., Frankenmuth

(989) 652-9985

Second place: Dakota Inn Rathskeller

17324 John R St., Detroit

(313) 867-9722

Third place: Richter’s Chalet

23920 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 565-0484

Best Polish restaurant

Polish Village Cafe

2990 Yemans St., Hamtramck

(313) 874-5726

Second place: (tie): Polish Century Club

2975 E. Maple Rd., Troy (248) 457-9916

Second place: (tie)Two Sisters Family Restaurant

121 S. Main St., Rochester

(248) 656-3092

Third place: (tie): Polonus Restaurant

1744 Biddle St., Wyandotte (734) 283-3530

Third place: (tie): Under the Eagle

9000 Joseph Campau St., Hamtramck

(313) 875-5905

Best Chinese restaurant

Fortune Buffet

29583 5 Mile Rd., Livonia

(734) 524-8383

Second place: PF Chang’s China Bistro

Northville and Troy locations

Third place: Mon Jin Lau

1515 E. Maple Rd., Troy 689-2332