The Best of Michigan for 2005

Food & Drink: POTPOURRI

Robin Buckson / The Detroit News Diners have already discovered the Brasserie Zinc Restaurant & Wine Bar in West Bloomfield Twp., picked as the best new restaurant.

Best new restaurant

Brasserie Zinc

Resaurant & Wine Bar

6745 Orchard Lake Rd.,

West Bloomfield Twp. (248) 865-0500

Second place: Cameron’s Steakhouse

115 Willits St., Birmingham (248) 723-1700

Third place: Maggiano’s Little Italy

2089 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy (248) 205-1060

Best down-home breakfast

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place: Cracker Barrel

For locations: crackerbarrel.com

Third place: Bob Evans Farms Restaurant

For locations: bobevans.com

Best late-night dining

Chesley’s Bar

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park (313) 388-8500

Second place: Big Boy

For locations: bigboy.com

Third place: National Coney Island

For locations: nationalconeyisland.com

Best Michigan-made edible

Better Made Chips

10148 Gratiot Ave., Detroit (313) 925-4774

Second place: Nibbles & Nuts

32418 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills

(248) 737-8088

Third place: Faygo Beverages

3579 Gratiot Ave., Detroit (313) 925-1600

Best Sunday brunch

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place: Gest Omelettes

39560 W. 14 Mile Rd., Commerce Twp.

(248) 926-0717

Third place: Toast

23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale (248) 398-0444

Ritz-Carlton

300 Town Center Dr., Dearborn

(313) 441-2000

Robin Buckson / The Detroit News Bahama Breeze

Best outdoor terrace dining

Tin Fish

10069 Dixie Hwy., Fair Haven (586) 725-7888

Second place: Bahama Breeze

Livonia and Troy locations

Third place: 222 & Edison’s

220 Merrill St., Birmingham (248) 645-2150

Best menu

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place: Antonio’s Cucina Italiana

Farmington Hills and Dearborn Heights locations

Third place: Salvatore Scallopini Italian

Locations throught Metro Detroit

Best place for a romantic dinner

Whitney Restaurant

4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit

(313) 832-5700

Second place: Ritz-Carlton

300 Town Center Dr., Dearborn (313) 441-2000

Third place: Cafe Cortina

30715 W. 10 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills

(248) 474-3033

Best power lunch

PF Chang’s China Bistro

Northville and Troy locations

Second place: Mon Jin Lau

1515 E. Maple Rd., Troy 689-2332

Third place: Capital Grille

2800 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy (248) 649-5300

Elizabeth Conley / The Detroit News Want to know why readers honored the Hollywood Brown Derby in Detroit for its five-course meals? Start with desserts like Allabouts Pecan Delight, which Chef Leroy Douglas makes with Girl Scout cookies.

Best five-course dinner

Lark Restaurant

6430 Farmington Rd., West Bloomfield (248) 661-4466

Second place: Hollywood Brown Derby

1300 John C Lodge, Detroit (877) 847-8471

Third place: Whitney Restaurant

4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 832-5700

Best wait staff

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place: Kerby’s Koney Island

For locations: kerbyskoneyisland.com

Third place: Antonio’s Cucina Italiana

Farmington Hills and Dearborn Heights locations

Best restaurant for deep pockets

Tribute Restaurant

31425 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills (248) 848-9393

Second place: Capital Grille

2800 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy (248) 649-5300

Third place: Whitney Restaurant

4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 832-5700

Best hotel restaurant

The Grill at Ritz-Carlton Hotel

300 Town Center Dr., Dearborn

(313) 441-2000

Second place: Rugby Grill -

Townsend Hotel

100 Townsend St., Birmingham (248) 642-7900

Third place: Shula’s Steakhouse -

Troy-Marriot Hotel

200 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy (248) 680-9619

Best flavor

Arts, Beats & Eats

Pontiac

Second place: Comerica Tastefest

Detroit

Third place (tie): Taste of Clarkston

Clarkston

Third place (tie): Taste of Troy

Troy

Best spot for the biggest sandwiches

Breadbasket Deli

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Second place: Jimmy John’s Gourmet

Sandwiches

For locations: jimmyjohns.com

Third place: New York Deli

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Eph McNally’s

1300 Porter St., Detroit

(313) 963-8833

Best place to feel like it’s the fifties

Johnny Rockets

Auburn Hills and Detroit locations

Second place: A & W Family Restaurant

For locations: awrestaurants.com

Third place: Don’s of Traverse City

Novi and Traverse city locations

Best spot for the last date

Chesley’s Bar

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park

(313) 388-8500

Second place: Outback Steakhouse

For locations: outback.com

Third place: Kerby’s Koney Island

For locations: kerbyskoneyisland.com

Best restaurant to take kids

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place: Chuck E. Cheese’s

For locations: chuckecheese.com

Third place: McDonald’s

For locations: mcdonalds.com

Best drive thru

Chicken Shack

For locations: chickenshack.com

Second place: Taco Bell

For locations: tacobell.com

Third place: Wendy’s

For locations: wendys.com

Best dinner wine list

Lark Restaurant

6430 Farmington Rd., West Bloomfield (248) 661-4466

Second place: Andiamo’s

For locations: andiamoitalia.com

Third place: Boodles Restaurant

935 W. 11 Mile Rd., Madison Heights

(248) 399-5960

Best hideaway diner

Nannas Kitchen

434 Sycamore St., Wyandotte

(734) 281-9093

Second place: Fleetwood Diner

300 S. Ashley, Ann Arbor (734) 995-5502

Third place: Old Port Inn Restaurant

278 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson

(248) 588-2660

Best takeout/delivery service

Chicken Shack

For locations: chickenshack.com

Second place: La Shish

Muliple locations: lashish.com

Third place: Chicken King

3560 Elizabeth Lake Rd., Waterford

(248) 683-6440

Best bowl of chili in town

Kerby’s Koney Island

kerbyskoneyisland.com

Second place: Big Boy

For locations: bigboy.com

Third place: Shield’s Pizza

For locations: shieldspizza.com

Charles V. Tines / The Detroit News 221-B Baker Street

Best tiniest eatery

221 B Baker Street

10063 Dixie Hwy., Clarkston

(248) 922-9020

Second place: Inn Season Cafe

500 E. 4th St., Royal Oak (248) 547-7916

Third place:Third street: Roly Poly Sandwiches

Troy and Grand Blanc locations

Moo Moo Organic Bistro

14929 Charlevoix, Grosse Pointe Park

(313) 331-MOOS

Best handmade ice cream

Ray’s Ice Cream

4233 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak

(248) 549-5256

Second place: Cold stone Creamery

50496 Schoenherr Rd., Shelby Twp.

(586) 685-2663

Third place: Cook’s Farm Dairy

2950 E. Seymour Lake Rd., Ortonville

(248) 627-3329