9] DINING

DAY STARTERS

BRUNCH

Frittata, Clawson
Owned by two couples, this non-smoking, kid-friendly restaurant feels like a friend’s home with its cozy interior and colorful artwork in the dining room. Co-owner Tracy Parlangeli, whose hubby is the artist, likely will greet you. Dishes include Eggs Benedict and French toast with sautéed bananas.
236 S. Main St., Clawson, 248.280.2552

PANCAKES

Original Pancake House, Birmingham, Grosse Pointe Woods, Southfield
Long lines are legendary, but owners Frank and Johanna Hamilton say you’ll never wait more than 20 minutes. All the faster to dig into the famed Dutch Baby treats: pancakes filled with bananas and strawberries, topped with homemade syrup.
www.originalpancakehouse.com

BREAKFAST

Toast, Ferndale
This retro, cool diner, a perfect spot for a brunch with girlfriends, jams on the weekends. The wait is worth it when you taste such favorites as the Pumpkin Pancakes, Grand Marnier French Toast or the signature Breakfast Burrito. Check out the vintage toasters on the walls (OK, the Hello Kitty one isn’t that old).
23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 248.398.0444, www.toastferndale.com

BUSINESS LUNCH PLACE

Sweet Lorraine’s, Detroit, Livonia, Southfield
Owner Lorraine Platman is one of the area’s most enduring and consistently creative chefs. The interior is artsy and whimsical, and the eclectic multiethnic menu never bores, from vegetarian paella to Chicken & Shrimp Creole. www.sweetlorraines.com

SANDWICHES

Pronto!, Royal Oak
Women looking for choices have come to the right place. Pronto serves 300-400 sandwiches a day from a menu of more than 70. There are several vegetarian options, and in fact the vegetarian roulade recently nabbed the honor of “most ordered sandwich” from the famed corned beef Reuben and popular California Chick.
608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 248.544.7900 www.prontorestaurant.com

NATIONAL CHAIN

Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Livonia, Rochester Hills
This place puts a little kick into upscale casual as you dine amid Roman ruins. More than half the lunch crowd (at least in Rochester) consists of women. Visitors love the entrée salads, such as the best-selling Wood Grilled Salmon. Kids get to create their own pizza, play with dough, and peek at the wood-burning oven.
www.bravoitalian.com

CREATIVE MENU

Fly Trap, Ferndale
Buzz into this finer diner, co-owned by Kara McClanaghan, for the best Huevos Rancheros around. Creative soups (almost always vegetarian) and jams (such as blueberry ginger) are house-made Tuesday through Sunday. Do try the Swat sauce, Green Eggs and Ham, and gingerbread waffles – but not together! The Fly Trap recently was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
22950 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 248.399.5150 www.theflytrapferndale.com

SOUL FOOD

Slows Bar BQ, Detroit
Sometimes a gal just wants some good ol’ homestyle soul food. Sauce “on the side” is standard here (great if you are watching your waistline or looking to protect your clothes from the wonderful mess of barbecue). What’s more, you get a half-dozen varieties to play with. Dishes distinctively dry-rubbed and smoked include vegetarian “chicken,” and spicy macaroni and cheese. Whet your palate while you wait with one of 20 brews on tap and another 60-80 bottled.
2138 Michigan Ave., Detroit, 313.962.9828, www.slowsbarbq.com

FINE DINING

LUXURY RESTAURANT

Tribute, Farmington Hills
You’ll feel like a starlet at the five-star Tribute, heralded by Wine Spectator and Gourmet magazines. Female foodies love the best seat in the house – a table in the open kitchen. Insiders know to ask for The Egg, since it’s not on the menu: crème brûlée with maple syrup and sea salt served in a brown eggshell.
31425 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, 248.848.9393 www.tributerestaurant.com

COFFEE SHOPS

LOCAL SHOP

Che Cosa, Mount Clemens
This thoroughly independent coffee shop displays works by local artists – including February Strut Cover artist Caroline Van Campe – and even insists drop-in musicians play original material. Women looking to explore their creative sides have found their niche. Try your luck (Poetry reading? Stand-up comedy?) on open mic night, or just enjoy the roasted-on-site coffees and work on your novel.
90 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens, 586.954.2677

LUXURY LATTE

Tuscan Café, Northville
Anytime is latte time, says owner William Hundley. Women know how difficult it is to find a quality latte. At Tuscan, the lattes here get added goodness from all-natural milk (delivered in glass bottles!) from Illinois-based Oberweis Dairy. Enjoy with the rugelach pastry for a taste of decadence.
150 N. Center St., Northville, 248.305.8629 www.thetuscancafe.com

NATIONAL CHAIN

Starbucks, various locations
Whether it’s the inimitably strong coffee that draws you in or the “baristas” (espresso/coffee experts), the Italian words (“Venti!” “Grande!”) or the 90-calorie Skinny Latte, the music for sale or the cozy atmosphere, there is definitely something addicting about Starbucks. Favorite part? The baristas who know you by drink and first name.
www.starbucks.com

DRIVE-THROUGH

Tim Hortons, various locations
Women on the go can count on Tim Hortons for fast breakfast – 25 seconds from speaker to drive-through window between 6 and 10 a.m. And the premium coffee blend has become legend since the Canadian-bred business started serving it in 1964. Most locations have a 24/7 drive-through.
www.timhortons.com

SWEETS AND BAKED GOODS

BREAD AND BAKED GOODS

Avalon International Breads, Detroit
At this socially responsible, environmentally conscious mom-and-mom biz, baked goods are made from scratch and on-site (you can watch) with 100% organic flour. Do not leave without trying the Motown Multigrain bread and oatmeal raisin cookies.
422 W. Willis St., Detroit, 313.832.0008

CAKE

Josef’s European Pastry Shop, Grosse Pointe Woods
No request is too wild at Josef’s, where they’ve made cake castles and rocket ships. The to-die-for buttercream frosting is made with no trans fats. Most popular cake? Chocolate on chocolate with a layer of fresh raspberries.
21150 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods, 313.881.5710 www.josefspastryshop.com

CHOCOLATE SHOP

Gayle’s Chocolates, Royal Oak and Detroit
Leave it to Gayle Harte to offer actual-size, 14-ounce chocolate shoes, available in mules or pumps. Signature truffles and other confections are made from scratch to the tune of about 50,000 pounds of chocolate a year.
417 S. Washington, Royal Oak, 248.398.0001, www.gayleschocolates.com

DESSERT

Cannella Patisserie & Crêperie, Birmingham
Ladies wishing they were at a Parisian street café can get their fix at this French pastry shop. You’ll hear various European languages spoken among guests at this family-run bakery and French café. However they say it, the most-asked-about dessert is the Croquant au Chocolat (chocolate mousse with crunchy nuts and macaroons on the bottom).
300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 248.203.9704 www.cannellapatisserie.com

ETHNIC BAKERY

La Gloria Bakery, Detroit
Women looking for an inexpensive culinary delight need go no further than La Gloria. Two generations of the Gonzalez family run this busy Mexican bakery. Among the 150-plus daily items on display, top sellers include pumpkin empanadas and churros, aka cinnamon stick donuts. Even an Italian cannoli is on the menu.
3345 Bagley St., Detroit, 313.842.5722

PIES

Achatz Handmade Pie Co., Armada, Chesterfield Township, Oxford, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Troy
The Achatz pies are perfect for the woman who wants a dessert that not only wows her friends and family, but is wholesome as well. Achatz uses Michigan products as much as possible and no preservatives. Sink your teeth into the best-selling Michigan Four Berry pie for an explosion of Michigan flavors: cherries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. Bring the pie tin back to Achatz to reuse – you’ll get 10 cents off your next purchase.
Visit www.achatzpies.com for location near you.

DINNER

UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE

The Blue Nile, Ann Arbor, Ferndale, Trenton
Great for adventurous eaters and romantics – where else can you hand-feed your partner? Silverware is available, but the injera (like a thin pancake) is way more fun for scooping. Ordering is easy with just two selections – regular (lamb, beef, chicken) or vegetarian.
www.bluenilemi.com

AUTHENTIC ETHNIC

Pegasus, Detroit
Diners looking to share a Mediterranean experience with their friends or family can dig into traditional Greek country dishes, such as grilled lamb chops, lemon chicken soup and baklava while sipping Greek beer or wine. Feel free to chime in when you hear “Opa!” (basically “Cheers!” in Greek) as flaming kasseri cheese is served.
558 Monroe St., Detroit, 313.964.6800

TAKE-OUT: ETHNIC

Sy Thai, Birmingham, St. Clair Shores
Great for women on the go: Walk-ins often can be out the door in five minutes, call-ins can usually pick up in 15. Top take-out orders? Pad Thai, Pad Pak and Kow Pad (fried rice) – all made to-order (only the sauces are prepped ahead of time).
315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 248.258.9830; 23519 Nine Mack Drive, St. Clair Shores, 586.776.8424

TAKE-OUT: AMERICAN

Aunt Olive’s Good Food 2 Go, Birmingham
On the run? No need for fatty fast food. Try the Over 30 Smoothie, an energy drink with wheat grass, flax seed, wheat germ and fruit. Other items are heart smart and vegan. Nutritious comfort foods, such as good ol’ mac and cheese, are staples of a business known for nutritious down-home cooking. Call ahead, and dinner will be waiting for you to pick up.
525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248.593.0364, www.auntolives.com

PIZZA

DINE-IN AND CARRYOUT

Buddy’s Pizza, Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Dearborn, Detroit, Farmington Hills, Livonia, Royal Oak,Warren
This enduringly popular pizza joint, which opened in 1936 as a “blind pig,” has long since gone legit. The inimitable square deep-dish pizza is worth the calories. The price is right, and Buddy’s is kid-friendly, too.
800.965.0505 For locations, visit: www.buddyspizza.com/findabuddys.htm

CHICAGO-STYLE

Pizza Papalis, Bloomfield Township, Dearborn, Detroit (downtown, Greektown and Rivertown), Farmington Hills, Romulus, Southfield
Who needs Chicago when we’ve got Pizza Papalis? These pizzas are a Detroit mainstay and a wonderful way for a gal to not only feed a crowd but to also make them feel special. More than 20 years ago, the owners traveled from Kansas to Wisconsin to Italy in search of the best ingredients for their distinctive deepdish pies, more than 3 inches deep. Try the Meat Eater’s Deluxe or the V.I.P.
For locations, visit: www.pizzapapalis.com

THIN CRUST

Crust, Bloomfield Township, Rochester Hills
Women who love a more traditional Italian pizza (and a sassy casual atmosphere) will enjoy these super-thin Neapolitan-style pizzas that place the emphasis on the crust first, the toppings second. These pies are baked at 750 degrees in a brick oven. Build your own (Maytag blue cheese and fennel sausage?) or try the Shroom (with four varieties of Chiantiroasted mushrooms), the Thai Pie or the Margherita. Each cooks in about two minutes.
2595 Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills, 248.844.8899; 6622 Telegraph Rd., Ste. A, Bloomfield Township., 248.855.5855, www.crustpizza.net