Downtown Detroit

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by TomCat11, Feb 14, 2017.

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  1. TomCat11

    TomCat11 Pooh-Bah (2,096) Jul 21, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Working on plans for lunch tomorrow and looking for what local would recommend best. I see the breweries that open at 11am have a food menu to some extent. I would prefer a brewery that serves food or I guess could grab a Shawarma and head to one. Do the ones serving food also allow outside food to be brought in? Of my options below (breweries and restaurants) what would you recommend (or is there a place I'm not listing) for a good beer / food combo for lunch tomorrow? Whatever I don't check out for lunch I'll probably go for dinner after heading to 8 Degrees Plato

    - Batch Brewing
    - Traffic Jam
    - Motor City Brewing Works
    - Jolly Pumpkin

    - HopCat
    - Grand Trunk

    Thanks again in advance!
     
    #41 TomCat11, Mar 14, 2017
  2. fAtHanD

    fAtHanD Crusader (443) Mar 7, 2007 Michigan

    I've heard great things about the food at Batch.

    I've never eaten there but a co-worker swears that their Cuban sandwich is like looking directly into the face of God.
     
    #42 fAtHanD, Mar 14, 2017
  3. TomCat11

    TomCat11 Pooh-Bah (2,096) Jul 21, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks! I saw the Cubano on their menu and that immediately popped out to me along with the Pasty. Batch is also place I heard good things about that I did not have time to visit when I was there a couple years ago.
     
    #43 TomCat11, Mar 14, 2017
  4. goast8127

    goast8127 Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2010 Michigan

    If it were completely at the whim of my own personal tastes, you'd lunch at either Batch or Mudgies (on the same street), stop at Brew Detroit if you wanted, visit 8 Degrees as you mentioned, then Midtown for HopCat, JP, etc. Allows you to continue to travel in the same direction, minimizes parking struggles as much as possible, leaves you in a good place to access freeways to wherever you're staying, assuming it's not downtown (can't remember what your original post said; on mobile).
     
    #44 goast8127, Mar 14, 2017
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  5. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    It has been a few years since I have been there, but Traffic Jam has great food, has been around for AGES, is quirky and was the first craft brewer in the state of Michigan.

    If I was on an expense account, I would let work pay for dinner at traffice jam, then stroll to JP and HC for drafts
     
    #45 moshea, Mar 15, 2017
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  6. TomCat11

    TomCat11 Pooh-Bah (2,096) Jul 21, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Good trip so far. No issue with parking anywhere and have visited....
    - Batch Brew - solid beers. Had the fish tacos. Tasty
    - Motor City Brewing Works - beer was meh
    - 8 Degrees Plato - Cool spot. Grabbed KBS draft easily. Not sticking around until 6 for bottles
    - Traffic Jam - meh

    Will be having dinner at Jolly Pumpkin of HopCat
     
    #46 TomCat11, Mar 15, 2017
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  7. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    Thanks for letting us know. So often people ask for advice but never report back

    I feel bad for recommending motor City. I agree the beer is average at best, but I love hanging out in their tap room.

    They were there during some bleak Detroit days Of course with JP and HC on the same block, the scene has become much more competitive
     
    #47 moshea, Mar 16, 2017
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  8. rrrobotRock

    rrrobotRock Initiate (0) May 8, 2016 New York

    Shh... don't tell anyone. Whole Foods (midtown?) has KBS bottles behind the meat/cheese counter in the back. I struck out at 8 degrees plato for both bottles and draft today but glad to find some somewhere else close by.
     
    #48 rrrobotRock, Mar 16, 2017
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  9. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,647) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Only was there once, the pizza was outstanding. The beer...
     
    #49 hopfenunmaltz, Mar 16, 2017
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  10. TomCat11

    TomCat11 Pooh-Bah (2,096) Jul 21, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I definitely don't mind checking out spots that others don't have high opinions on. I just like trying all the local breweries I can when traveling.

    Motor City was definitely a quirky place. Even though the beer did not stand out I did enjoy the conversation. The guy behind the bar (older guy w/ glasses and a beard) was definitely a little out there but made for a good experience despite the beer. And it was cool that I could walk across the street to Traffic Jam and Jolly Pumpkin. I didn't make it to Jolly Pumpkin so I could make it to 8 degrees to grab KBS draft not knowing how turnout would be but maybe I'll try that tonight for dinner.

    I see directly across from my hotel and in the GM building is a place called Granite City Food & Brewery. I'm guessing this is a chain. Any thoughts on there? Do they actually brew beer on site?
     
    #50 TomCat11, Mar 16, 2017
  11. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    Chain. We have a few in town, I have never been but they do make their own beer. If you are looking for beer in walking distance to the Ren Cen, the Grand Trunk pub has a great tap list and is less than a half mile away.
     
    #51 moshea, Mar 16, 2017
  12. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    The first rule of the Whole Foods Cheese Counter..........
     
    #52 moshea, Mar 16, 2017
  13. TomCat11

    TomCat11 Pooh-Bah (2,096) Jul 21, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks! I actually walked there last night to check it out. Pretty cool spot. Had an Arcadia - Porter Rico. Didn't have any food.
     
    #53 TomCat11, Mar 16, 2017
  14. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    Dang, you sure made the most of your day!!!!!
     
    #54 moshea, Mar 16, 2017
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  15. Sparty93

    Sparty93 Devotee (399) Aug 29, 2013 Michigan

    If I'm not too late to weigh in, my opinion of Traffic Jam is that it's one of those local institutions every city has. Been around forever, but starting to show its age and is struggling to keep up with the rapidly improving neighborhood around it. I've become a huge fan of Vietnamese food - another food spot that I'd recommend around Midtown is Pho Lucky on Woodward. You can get a giant bowl of noodles/broth/meat to soak up all the beverages from Hopcat and 8 Degrees.
     
    #55 Sparty93, Mar 16, 2017
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  16. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    mmmmmm........Pho Lucky........
     
    #56 moshea, Mar 16, 2017
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