The 10 Best Brunch Spots In Detroit Mitchigan

Breakfast is easily found in The Motor City, be it downtown or in the Detroit metropolitan area. As new energy comes into this resuscitated town, so do great options for brunch. With its good share of eclectic and more traditional options, something delicious is always waiting for the early morning traveller. Here are 10 favourite places.

petosky omelet with home fries and whole wheat toast, Toast

1. Toast

Diner, American

Toast in Ferndale is one of the best places for brunch in all of metropolitan Detroit. Its layout is similar to a vintage 1950s diner, however its décor is nothing short of original, with a breakfast and lunch menu to match. Their omelets are the most popular dish, although their chicken and waffles combo plate looks truly fine. Toast’s daily specials keep regulars coming back, with delicious offerings like their apple streudel, french toast and monkey cakes, topped with bananas, granola and brown sugar.

2. The Chocolate Gallery Café

Cafe, American

Growing out of a home-made chocolate business, The Chocolate Gallery Café has become an extension of home for the many Detroiters in search of a great breakfast. Their Warren, Michigan location is reminiscent of a grandma’s house, with its cozy, dated décor. The café draws a regional clientèle for their many delicious brunch options, and extremely attentive service. Their lemon and ricotta pancakes are a very popular menu choice, although their stuffed strawberry French toast is a stiff competitor.

3. The Hudson Café

Restaurant, American, Contemporary, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free

Monte Cristo French Toast, The Hudson Cafe

It’s worth the wait at this downtown Detroit breakfast gem. The Hudson Café may look average, with a standard contemporary décor of neutral, inviting colors, however its food is another story. With sweet offerings like red velvet pancakes, graham cracker French toast, and savory dishes, like its in house cured corned beef hash and its salmon croquettes, bland is hardly the right word to describe the menu at this one.

4. Ham Shop Café

Restaurant, American

Stuffed French toast w/maple syrup and home fries

It takes a very sharp knife to cut through the thick cuts of ham, bacon and sausage dished out at the Ham Shop Café. This Old Greektown restaurant has a reputation in the neighborhood for its huge portions, low prices and delicious soul food classics. Despite its worn exterior, the meats at the Ham Shop are some of the best in Detroit, with ham fresh off the bone, juicy roasted chicken and delicious fried catfish to name just a few. Also look out for the ridiculously large scrambler plates, especially after a night out at Tiger’s or a Red Wing’s game!

5. Honest John’s

Restaurant, Bar, American, Vegan, Vegetarian

Not many bars can pull off serving as terrific a breakfast as this, but Honest John’s in Midtown Detroit has proven to be an exception. Its brash, yet truthful neon signs serve just enough character with the kitchen’s quality brunch offerings. Honest John’s Monte Cristo and chicken waffles make a great morning choice after visiting the restaurant’s bar the night before, which boasts a truly local tap and cocktail list.

6. The Fly Trap Restaurant

Diner, Restaurant, American

The Fly Trap Restaurant is a hip dive diner in Ferndale serving up one of the most eclectic brunch menus in the Detroit area. With everything from its ‘Red Flannel hash’ (with beets), to its Thai-inspired noodle bowls and pastas, this restaurant can satisfy even the most random of brunch cravings. On weekends, The Fly Trap tends to crowd quite fast, so get here nice and early.

7. Duly’s Place

Diner, American

Enjoying a great reputation for Coney dogs, Duly’s Place is an old-school diner that has managed to survive in Detroit for over 93 years. Its vintage, hallway-style layout is from another era, and so are its prices. What you see is what you get at this diner, with a menu that’s hardly been changed over time. Step into this greasy spoon for some of the most affordable omelets in town, and a cup of coffee that never gets cold. Mark at The Clique | © Eugene Kim/Flickr

8. The Clique

Restaurant, American

The Clique is a restaurant a city can be proud of. It gives Detroit a working man’s standard of what a great breakfast place should look like. With fair prices, a nice view when sitting in the atrium and delicious food, The Clique is a great place to stop while dining on a budget. The restaurant might also be the only one to serve chicken wings and tenders on the side for its brunch menu, so do take advantage and take a seat at this popular Detroit restaurant.

9. Gold Cash Gold

Bar, American

As Detroit’s newest brunch destination, Gold Cash Gold’s food is exactly like it sounds. In homage to the space’s former life as a pawnshop, this restaurant’s high valuing of the services it provides is evident in their farm-raised food and simplistic, rural preparation. Their cocktail list, featuring many creative renditions on the classics, like their pickle juice bloody mary, hits the spot every time, and is perfect when paired with one of the savory brunch dishes.

10. The Brooklyn St. Local LLC

Bakery, Restaurant, Vegetarian, Vegan

Leave it to two Canadians to offer poutine for breakfast. The founders, a couple from Toronto, recently opened their restaurant, The Brooklyn St. Local LLC, in a restored restaurant in Corktown. However they have much more here than poutine, although it is a favorite among locals. Their omelets and fresh bakery are all highly sought after for their freshness and quality, while the pork belly breakfast, featuring a thick slab of farm fresh bacon, is just about as good as it gets.

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