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Real Best Of 2010, Best Bar To Have Opened In The Past Year: Rosie O’Grady’s — Ferndale
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Real Best Of 2010
Best Bar To Have Opened In The Past Year: Rosie O’Grady’s — Ferndale
For those of us who love a good Bloody Mary after a wild night out (but probably shouldn’t drive all the way to Chesterfield or Sterling Heights, because, let’s face it, we’re probably still a wee bit drunk), life got just a little bit better this year. Rosie O’Grady’s, the place that gives us everything we want in a bar at night and everything we need the morning after, just opened their third location, right here in fabulous Ferndale, hometown headquarters of Real D. And we’re not partial just because we both call this fair city our own. No, Rosie's puts together one mean drink and one mean omelet. And speaking of Ferndale and omelet, try the egg amalgamation so named for our native city, or anything else on their ginormous menu that spans breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and drinks. Seriously, we can’t think of a reason not to visit this new “mega location” over and over and over. Still have your doubts? Do the words “cheap drinks” piqué your interest? Or consider that this place is humongous ... and nobody’s going to be bumping into you, spilling their beer on you or inadvertently grabbing your ass. As for advertent ass-grabbing, well ... that’s not really Rosie’s fault.
When we told Heather Matteson that she won Best Bartender this year, she was pretty much floored. “I didn’t see that coming,” she says. “But, I’ve been at it long enough.” She’s been in the business for 12 years, working at Small’s and the Hard Luck Lounge. It’s that experience and longevity that makes this sexy and stylish brunette bombshell the best in The D, in your humble opinions. But bartending isn’t her dream job, she says it’s the income that helps her to pursue her real passion. It’s the money she makes slinging shots, and lots of help from her parents, that brought to fruition her boutique, Dragonfly, a ridiculously chic and trendy shop she set up in Rochester. Although Heather says she’d love to call it quits when it comes to manning the bar, she’s quick to add that she loves her job at Small’s. “I work with my best friends,” she says. “It’s a really great work environment and it’s a really safe environment when you work with people you like.” She says she’s lucky to work there and she loves the live music she gets to experience at Small’s, but sometimes things can get a little crazy. Her most bizarre experience included people hanging from the rafters during a live set. One day Heather will work one job, instead of three, and you’ll no longer be able to experience her superb skills serving at Small’s. Get your butt there before that day comes.
At Hamlin Pub, everyone’s a regular. Does that mean only alcoholics go there? We’re not sure, but we like the place anyway, even if they only accept the patronage of people with a problem. And you picked it as Detroit’s best pub, so it appears as though most of fit right in.
The point is, you’re not going to find a better place for a burger and a beer, considering you can build your own burger and choose from one of their 10 beers on draft. Plus, there’s more than one location to choose from, so depending on your current city of habitation, one of their six locations is probably pretty close-by. How did this place get so popular, you ask? They originated the 23-ounce mug. Aaahh, it all makes sense now.
The list of musical interests on Gusoline Alley’s Myspace page says it all: there's nothing to be found on the Top 40. And that’s enough to clue anyone in the know in as to the reason so many of this year's Best Of voters picked this bar as the retainer of the best jukebox in the area.
The only drawback is that this little hole-in-the-wall bar gets so packed at night with its eclectic group of regulars (think bikers, hipsters, writers, etc.) that you might not always be able to hear that favorite tune you picked. If not, you can still enjoy one of the 100+ beers Gus’ offers, play a video game or just make some new friends.
Ah yes, Monday — the beginning of the week and, traditionally, its very worst day. Everything bad that happens occurs on a Monday, so what better way to wash away those sour faces than an ice cold brew and half-off food? Woodward Avenue Brewers (the WAB to anyone who has ever set foot inside) is a fantastic place to find top-notch brewed beer (the Raspberry Blonde is delicious) and meet up with friends, or meet new people altogether! Always a laidback place to hang and nosh on some great (and healthy) food, the WAB never disappoints regardless of the day — but it is definitely the perfect place to refuel and prepare for the rest of the week.
There’s nothing worse than hitting the club, ready to get your dance on, only to be obnoxiously dry-humped by any number of young gentlemen whose olfactory senses have somehow become immune to the copious amounts of cologne they applied before leaving the house. Fortunately, there’s a remedy, and it’s called Luna. This is a dance-crazed alternative disco known for its proximity to Coney Island, hosting the best Saturday night around (but more on that later), and somehow avoiding the attentions of over-spritzed young men.
With a name like Vain, you know this place is going to be sexy. Yes, this Woodward Avenue nightclub does our city proud repping the dishy of Detroit. The inside of this place, which also did tours as Pure Nightclub and The Woodward over the past 10 years, looks like something out of the Victorian era, except with warm neon lighting and live DJs spinning high-energy beats. It's cameo necklace meets fishnet stocking, metaphorically speaking.
Nothing leaves us longing for the summer months more than a look at this beautiful bar in Walled Lake. Just the view from inside the bar is enough to distract us from the game playing on the TVs that line their walls. But once it’s warm enough to head out to the patio for a beer and some chow, there is no place better than the wood-planked veranda that sits right over the water. They even have a marina, so you can cruise on over, dock your boat and continue the water works after you’ve had your fill of food and drink.
The great thing about a lot of our favorite bars in Detroit is that they’re our hometown heroes' favorite bars, too. And with so many stages and bars at the Majestic, there's a good chance you'll see the star of your fave LP sippin' a cold one while checkin' out a buddy's live set. If you watch closely, you'll also surely spot a few out-of-town A-listers hiding behind their hipster shades. Featured artists will often leave the confines of their tour buses to chill in the Stick. Lady Gaga was spotted knockin' pins in the Garden Bowl, while Jimmy Fallon, Eve, and virtually everyone in the movie industry have submitted to the magic of our favorite fun house.
In both Roseville and Sterling Heights, Dooleys Irish Tavern encompasses the laid-back mood typical of many sports bars. Plenty of seats, fetchin' wait staff, and good-tastin' food on the cheap.
But in one way, Dooleys stands on the shoulders of all the good-time Shamrock sports bars that came before it —Happy Hour. Dubbed the longest mid-afternoon discount drinkin' promotion around, this massively good time spans from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. That means that everyone from business types escaping the office at lunch to late-shifters and the overworked can find a time to enjoy the Mother of all Happy Hours. What to expect? including dollar domestic drafts and 20 beers on tap.
The best thing about The Comet is the best thing about any dive bar and, of course, part of the reason it’s on our Best Of Detroit list: there’s no cover. Other reasons to love this place: in the summer, you can play volleyball or horseshoes in the back; they’ve got great food and a year-round Christmas theme. There’s no pretension here, so you don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing or if you’re going to see someone you need to impress.
Beneath the posh and elegant sushi and Thai restaurant of Oslo lies a dark and mysterious cave-like nightclub and bar. Modestly decorated, the cemented floors and a closed-in architecture allow the music to fill every cubic inch of the room and satisfy the cravings of any dance fiend. The simplicity of Oslo’s nether regions keeps the focus on the tunes, and whether it’s a crowd or just a single person, the dim lighting and privacy keeps the groovers coming back for more.
D’Mongo’s reminds us of hanging in our boozy great-aunt's living room. Photos of old-time musicians, Prohibition-era mobsters, retired instruments, and gilt-edged mirrors cover the walls. Owner Larry Mongo is one of Detroit's most vivacious characters, and you can bet he and his wife will sit down and introduce themselves. Lively acoustic, R&B and folk on the weekends. If you're lucky, you may catch musician and D'Mongos regular Chuck Nannini tickle the ivories with a well-loved rendition of R.Kelly's "Ignition." Arrive hungry: the food is hot and fresh out the kitchen!
Best Billiards Hall: The Loving Touch
This place might be billed as a pool hall, but really it’s so much more. It’s comfy, it’s cozy, it’s friendly and it’s relaxed. It’s like an anti-bar. The hall’s owners keep live plants that add to the hospitable environs. Warm lighting and a one-of-a-kind handmade wooden bar with chairs to match give our favorite place to rack ‘em up enough of an edge for a Best Of pick. But what really has Detroiters devoted to the LT is its amazing atrium in the back of the bar. Situated under a sky light is a circle of rustic yet futuristic handcrafted wood chairs that forms the perfect place to chill with a beer and catch up with your favorite people.
Best Dance Club: The Bank
Mt. Clemens might not have always been known for its classy club scene, but all that changed when The Bank set up shop there. The spacious venue boasts four bars, café seating, indoor and outdoor levels and music that might cater more to the ladies, but hell, we all know where there are ladies, some gentlemen are bound to show up, too. The Bank’s architecture is stunning, not to mention the lights and winding grand staircases.
Best VIP Area: Reliv
Listen, we aren’t trying to fool anyone. Most of us here at Real Detroit aren’t even allowed in the VIP section of the McDonald’s playplace, but we can still appreciate a swanky lounge like Reliv when we see one. The club, formerly known as Elysium, just completed a $250,000 overhaul and re-opened for a classy pre-Thanksgiving bash, the likes of which metro-Detroit has never seen before. Their resident DJ, Tom T, used to spin at MGM, but he made a smart move switching over to your choice for the best VIP area around.
Best Irish Bar: Dick O’Dow’s
There’s one day a year when we’re all a little more Irish than we were the day before (and will be on the day to come), but at Dick O’Dow’s it’s that day all year long. With an atmosphere to match the authentic Irish cuisine, stepping into this bar is like being transported to the Celtic island. The convincing décor is considerable in the cavernous backroom, a place that’s great for getting to what the Irish intended a pub to be for: a good drink and a good story.
Best Cocktail Lounge: The Bosco
For the nights we plan to keep it classy in metro Detroit, The Bosco Lounge is definitely the best one we could find. It’s the chillest lounge around to get together with old comrades. And not just because it’s another of our favorites in Ferndale. No, you can’t deny this place has got panache. We especially love it when we’re looking for a place to talk — not scream — with our friends over a drink that doesn’t come in a 40-ounce glass.
Best Cocktail Lounge to Have Opened in the Past Year: Bookie’s
OK, so this year’s best cocktail lounge to have opened in the past year has really been around since 2004, but since they’ve only inhabited their new home on Cass Avenue since the last turn of the calendar, we totally feel it counts. And it's obvious that many of you feel the same way. The move from Washington Blvd. brought the cocktail lounge closer to Comerica Park and an amazing view of the city skyline, which you can appreciate while you’re dining and drinking on their rooftop patio.
Best Martini Bar: Centaur
In Greek mythology, a Centaur was a creature in the form of a man’s torso and a horse’s backside. We don’t know what that creature has to do with Detroit’s best martini bar, but it’s a pretty cool name anyway, right? It’s right behind the Fox Theatre and dead-centered with the rest of the marvelous hot-spots in Detroit’s sports and entertainment district, but there’s something a little different about this place. Something like amazing architecture, swank lounge areas, masterful chefs and ... uh, martinis. Duh. Their choice of 21 specialty martinis changes seasonally, so we suggest trying them all before they gallop off the menu.
Best Martini Bar to Have Opened in the Past Year: Seven Lounge
Formerly Blue Martini, this bar is so new their website doesn’t even work yet. But that shouldn’t stop you from visiting Seven. Their sister location in Southfield caters more to pizza and televised sports, but Seven’s West Bloomfield home is dishing up sushi and a gourmet bar menu and, of course, some spectacular martinis. They’re open every day from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. The kitchen serves until 12 and you can order sushi until 1 a.m. If you’re looking for a fusion Asian experience, you can’t really go wrong here.
Best Gay Bar: Pronto! Video Bar
Pronto! is a gay bar the entire family can enjoy. And though they cater mostly to their gay clientele in the evening hours, this bar has got a lot more to offer than just a friendly atmosphere for men who love men. It’s a restaurant that serves sandwiches, Mexican and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, a bakery where you can pick up a plethora of sweets to eat there or later and, of course, a bar. But the shop next door adds even more to what is Pronto! — The Pronto! Corner Store sells over 150 kinds of candy, gift baskets and hometown favorites like Better Made Potato Chips and Turan’s Chocolate.
Best Lesbian Bar: Stiletto’s
Although Michigan is severely lacking in the lesbian bar scene, there is one place that does our state proud. Stiletto’s is the place to find girls seeking girls every Saturday night. And it’s 18-and-up, so you’re getting the widest possible range for ladies looking for a potential mate. There’s two parts to this club, too: a music venue and a dance club. Best of all, this Inkster club is open to everyone — so whether you’re attracted to men or women, you’re bound to have a good time here.
Best Sports Bar: CJ Mahoney’s
There are over 30 TVs at CJ Mahoney’s in Troy, and some of the booths even have their own private boob tube. That probably explains why you chose it as the best in its class — but like the fat kid in the cafeteria, there’s more to love on the inside (sorry, fat cafeteria kids ... ). They also have a full menu, cheap drinks, a fetching waitstaff and a groovin' dance floor. This is a great place to go watch the game, even if you don’t plan on ordering chow — but we do diligently advise you to get in on their delightfully cheesy pizza pie.
Best Piano Bar: JD’s Key Club
Dueling Pianos: need we say more? This Pontiac piano bar is not for the faint of heart. But don’t be scared. Request your favorite tunes, from classic rock to new alternative (the musicians here can take anything you throw at them) and participate in a feel-good sing-a-long. But there are more incentives to stop at JD’s aside from ridiculously entertaining live music. Incentives like $1 draft beer, free food buffets and rambunctious in-house trivia games.
Best Karaoke Bar: RockStarz
Perhaps hoping to capitalize on the popularity of the video game Guitar Hero, which eventually evolved into Rock Band, the owners of your pick for Best Karaoke Bar have taken the video game to a whole new level: live action. This isn’t just a karaoke bar —it's a karaoke experience. They even supply faux instruments. Suddenly, your “In the Air Tonight” drum solo is a tactile event.
Best Drag Bar: Gigi's
If you’re looking for a woman who’s “100 percent passable,” Gigi’s drag bar is your best bet in Detroit. That’s why it’s your pick for the paramount place to pick up or hang out with your favorite trans-gendered gal pals. Catch a Princess Sabin-hosted drag show or just dance the night away with a little help from some of those sexy shot boys. This place might be tiny, but it’s still a staple for gays and all of us who love them.
Best Bar at Midnight: O’Tooles
That is, if you can get in at midnight. O’Tooles is the kind of bar you have to wait in line outside of if you get there too late.And it’s not hard to see why. Men love it here because of the huge TVs they can watch the game on (and when we say huge, we mean the biggest TVs in Royal Oak, a 48-inch plasma among them). The ladies love it because, well, they can always count on there being scores of the opposite sex. OK, and some of them might want to watch the game, too, but there are also video games, pool and an awesome patio open in the summer, inviting the cool breeze of Royal Oak to merge and mingle with the folks chilling, drinking and living it up.
Best Corner Bar: The Tap Room
The history of The Tap Room alone is enough to inspire a Best Of pick and it’s only fitting that a bar that originated as a speakeasy during prohibition is your favorite corner bar in The D. Its roots in breaking the law must give it that community, "we’re-all-doing-something-wrong-together" feeling that we all look for in the bar we call our home away from home. Still not convinced? Every year on the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition, the bar holds a themed costume party to celebrate the historic occasion.
Best Bar For the Bachelorette: The Liquor Store
There are few nights in the life of a lady that inspire the need to ride a mechanical bull in front of all your closest friends, and about 100 strangers you’ve never met in your life. That’s usually your last night out before making the most momentous commitment and swearing the most serious oath ever asked of you. And where are you going to wrangle this bull that is so worthy of such a wild ride? The best place to take the blushing bride to be: The Liquor Store in Novi.
Best Bar at Last Call: Malarkey’s
Malarkey's may seem like a random choice for Best Bar at Last Call to anyone who hasn't been there as 2 a.m. approaches. And sure, Malarkey’s is a great bar — they’ve got a million TVs, great food and a packed dance floor by the middle of the night — but what really sets it apart? Well, friends, consider this: Malarkey’s is a bar where, at last call, you can order 166 ounces of beer. They call it a beer tube. Some call it excessive. We call it awesome.
Best Bathroom: Northern Lights Lounge
You’ve probably heard that the best way to tell if a place is actually clean is by checking out the bathroom. And Northern Lights Lounge passes this test with flying colors. The ladies room’s got a lounge area — a girl talk room, if you will. So if you’re being pestered by a member of the opposite sex, you can just grab your drink, put up your feet and chill in this so, so fresh, one-of-a-kind, red-themed, retro style, ladies-only VIP area.
Best Beer Selection: Bailey’s
There’s a lesson about love every man can learn from Bailey’s. Bailey’s loves beer and honors that love by honoring beer. Bailey’s doesn’t treat beer like some cheap date to be used, abused and never thought of again. No, Bailey’s never stops contemplating beer. And Bailey’s proclaims its love with righteous acclamations to its patrons and to the world. That’s why they created a color-coded guide to ordering beer, and why they have $2 pint nights and a beer night. where all drafts are the same price. If men loved women the way Bailey's loves beer, the world would be a better place.
Best Draft Beer Selection: CK Diggs
CK Diggs wants you to appreciate beer. And this Rochester Hills tavern wants you to be able to articulately convey your feelings for the beer you appreciate. That’s why they give you a cheat sheet with all the vocabulary and definitions you’ll need in order to have an intelligent, intellectual conversation about your beer. But they also want to expand your knowledge of (and enlighten your palate to) beer from around the world. The path to enlightenment? Tasting draft beers originating everywhere from the Czech Republic to Jamaica to Thailand to our own homeland.
Best Liquor Selection: Dirty Martini
They call themselves a playground for adults. The founders of Andiamo Italia opened this stylish and sophisticated bar to serve the nightlife community four days a week with live music, DJs and lots and lots of booze. They serve 20 different specialty martinis, as well as cocktails and spirits, and they have bottle service. And for the stogie connoisseur, they even offer a cigar menu. If this place sounds hot, that's because it is — and if you’re going there, you better have your hottest gear on.
Best Pick-Up Scene: Blackfinn
The dance floor is always packed, and really, that’s what counts. It’s dark and stylish and a little bit upscale, so the gentlemen are a little bit better-behaved ( ... usually). Why is this the best place to pick up a potential lover? Well, considering the prodigious patronage, there sure are a lot of budding beau possibilities. And we once heard the DJ spin Eddie Murphy’s “Party All the Time.” And that pretty much defines our idea of a "win-win" situation.
Best Drink Prices: Corktown Tavern
On Mondays at Corktown Tavern, two bucks gets you your choice of domestics, well drinks, or a16 oz. Blatz. And if you get a little too tipsy, there's also $2 burgers, wings and fries. Tuesday nights are $2 beer specials and $2 land pirate cocktails. They’re also known to put $5 martinis on the menu to complement the live music and cheap cover.
Best Bartender (male): Patrick Tierney — Gusoline Alley
“Some of our customers like to order beer from the bottom shelf to watch him bend over,” fellow bartender Coleen Parsons-Novak says of her co-worker, who's become the face of Gusoline Alley since he started there in 1991. But it’s other assets aside from his rear that keep him at the top of the list when it comes to bartenders. “He’s consistent; he knows a ton about beer,” Parsons explains. “He invented the ultimate bartender. Everything you want in a bartender is Patrick.”
Best Bar Makeover: Alvin’s/D.B. Coopers
Readers, we have a tie. You have equal affection for both bars that were already amazing and then went and got even better. Alvin’s originally started out in the late ‘60s as a deli and served brunch, but eventually mutated into an artistic watering hole that has featured acts like Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Kid Rock and The Stooges. A recent remodel has replaced the front windows with a glass garage door that opens in the summer for outdoor seating. D.B. Coopers just finished remodeling, but loyal patrons shouldn’t worry: they still offer $2 drink days every Tuesday.
Best College Night: Tiki Bob’s
If you haven’t been to Bob's, you’re living under the proverbial rock. The channel 95.5 co-sponsored night is pretty much infamous in the metro-Detroit area. But just in case you haven’t heard, every Tuesday this tropical-themed club turns into Spring Break in Cancun, where steamy co-eds are liable to be doing body shots, dancing on the bar or getting lured into a contest. They’ve also got one of the biggest dance floors in Michigan with platforms for ladies-only dancing.
Best Bar Décor: The Kingdom
Brocade, leather, stainless steel, Detroit’s Kingdom isn’t a bar — it's a palace. Formerly, this year's winner for Best Bar Décor ran under the name Space, but it just didn’t do it justice. The Kingdom is the largest club in Michigan with four levels, which means four bars, and even a dominatrix dominated dungeon where you’re likely to be supplied with your annual birthday spanking any day of the year. If you’re wondering why any club would need so much space, it’s because they have a VIP floor (not area) that’s filled with leather couches, queen-sized beds, huge TVs and stripper poles.
Best Bar On a Tuesday Night: Shores Inn
Tuesday night is known as “Boomba night” at Shores Inn. On this day each week, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., mid-week partiers can enjoy 32 oz. draft Coors Light and PBR for only $2.95! What a steal! Shores Inn also has Miller Light, Bud Light and Labatts for $3.25. Aside from the amazing beer specials, Shores Inn offers a variety of bar foods that have been given a facelift. Chicken Picatta, golden salmon and delicious fajitas make you feel like you’re in a high-end restaurant without making your wallet feel the same way.
Best Bar On a Wednesday Night: Post — Novi
The baby of the Post clan, Post Bar Novi is planted right in the middle of all the wild action that downtown Novi is known for. During the day, all Post Bars offer dollar bottled beer and dollar sliders, but at night it’s Novi that shines. The Post Novi celebrates hump day the only way it knows how: getting wild. Their trademark “WYLD” Wednesday with DJ Joey “A” & MC Jevon Hollywood brings out all the fabulous people typically reserved for the weekend. If you're yearning for a mid-week club session, Post Novi is the place you wanna be.
Best Bar On a Thursday Night: Great Baraboo Brewing Co.
When last was fashion married with brewed goodness? RDW readers had to let us know that Great Baraboo does it every Thursday night! Proving that breweries aren’t just for the boys, the Boo offers free entry before 9:30 p.m. for imbibers who want a shot at winning an authentic Coach purse in a drawing — now that’s a true “ladies night!” In addition to this marvelous evening, this Clinton Twp. hotspot serves $3 martinis and dancing all night long. How very Sex and the City of them!
Best Bar On a Friday Night: Emerald Ballroom
The Emerald complex may be one of the most underrated bars/venues in the area. Thankfully, the chaps at Channel 955 make the general population remember that this is the hottest place to be on a Friday night. The Emerald Ballroom celebrates “New School” Fridays with Ice and DJ Who, who spins tons of hot hip-hop all night long. Ladies 21-and-up are free before 11 p.m. and drinks are only two bucks till then, as well. Gentlemen can also get in free before 10 p.m. Even if you show up a bit late, cover is only five bucks the whole night through. Not bad for one of the hottest nights spent with Detroit’s coolest female radio personality.
Best Bar On a Saturday night: Luna
The sexiest alternative dance club around also happens to have some of the best late night drink specials, too. Luna offers up dollar Jager bombs at 10 p.m., and the craziness continues from there. With different dollar drinks dropping on each half hour, including Washington Apples, Johnny Vegas's and Long Islands in addition to the $1.25 drinks all night, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’re gonna need a DD — and some of their free pizza — once the night wraps up. You'll never forget a Saturday night at Luna, but we advise you seek out the Best Bloody Mary bar at Lily's Seafood for your Sunday-morning hangover.
Best Bar On a Sunday night: Tonic
Pontiac’s Tonic is a little slice of heaven — but the naughty kind. Channel 95.5 broadcasts live from Sexy Sundays at Tonic with host Nick Craig on the night of the week that homebodies are usually preparing for the week ahead. Clubgoers enjoy the weekly wrap-up with $2 drink specials between 9 and 10 p.m., as well as some behind-the-bar eye candy. DJ Paul Martindale spins all the hottest music that would make anyone put on their dancing shoes.
Best Bar on Halloween: Clutch Cargo’s
Everyone loves a great Halloween party, and bars in the area are very happy to oblige. That said, Clutch Cargo’s has the very best Halloween party around. The Rave from the Grave, sponsored by Channel 955, sells out year after year and there’s no wonder as to why this is. Hundreds of ghoulishly — and scantily — dressed partygoers jam inside a 17th century church (creepy!) to compete for costume contests, once offering a trip to Paris as the grand prize. We don't know what craziness Clutch Cargo’s will cook up this Halloween, but rest assured it’ll be a haunting success.
Best Bar on Mardi Gras: Fishbones
If one took the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day at the Old Shillelagh and married it with wild Halloween costumes, the love child would be Mardi Gras at Fishhones. Way more than beads and paczkis, patrons of Fishbones come all decked out in purple, green and gold ... and wearing costumes (ahem, the devil?). And now that the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl, this year’s Mardi Gras at Fishbones is sure to be Detroit’s own miniature Bourbon Street — flashing optional.
Best Bar on St. Patrick’s Day: Old Shillelagh
An authentic Irish pub located in Greektown, of all places, the Old Shillelagh is a favorite of many any day of the week, but it gets especially rowdy on leprechaun day and is packed early with a wrap-around line the whole day. Whether you come in for the authentic Irish dishes, Irish folk music or to fill your gullet with more Guinness than your stomach can handle, participants in the St. Patty’s day celebration will get that and a whole lot more. Maybe you’ll try your first Irish car bomb or see girls on the ground fighting over free T-shirts; regardless of what new experiences ye may have, a good time will follow and patrons will drink enough green beer to fill the Detroit River.
Best Bar To Feel Like a Regular: Mr. B’s
While the atmospheres in all the Mr. B’s locations differ, the décor and pleasantries of the wait staff remain the same. No matter what neighborhood Mr. B’s you find yourself stumbling into, you’re bound to find a community; a place where everyone who pulls up a stool feels at home. Armed with a jukebox, pool tables and plentiful drink specials on a nightly basis, it’s a classic place to either meet someone for lunch or hang out any night of the week.
Best Promoter: Jody Haddad
If you’ve never heard of this promoter extraordinaire then you’re about to be schooled. Representing Vital Productions, Mr. Jody Haddad’s client list is longer than the lines his events create outside of clubs. Ranging from Ciroc to XM Satellite Radio, Haddad is a modern-day Jack-of-all-trades, promoting events at the hottest Detroit nightlife spots like V and Crave. His ability to pull together a posh experience unlike any other is key in Haddad’s success, and it’s clear that this entrepreneur will be planning our favorite parties for years to come.
Best Bar On The Water: Beach Grill
There’s the typical bar environment with four walls and the occasional window, then there’s the Beach Grill. Located on St. Clair Shores’ Nautical Mile, the Beach Grill’s interior is reminiscent of a tropical getaway and boasts giant windows so patrons can look out over the water without the chilly air. At the Beach Grills Aqua Bar, clubbers can dance amidst a spectacular light show and the darkness reaching into the room through the floor to ceiling windows. Regardless of whether you’re there for a dance party or to enjoy a brew and some dinner, the seafaring feeling with take you over.
Best Wine Bar: Vinotecca
To say the Jonna family loves wine would be an understatement. Their wine bar, Vinotecca, isn’t some posh, out-of-touch Cabernet club that exists to cater to the hobnobbing crowds. From the warm, slate-tiled floors to the cork accents, Vinotecca feels like a piece of Tuscan heaven. Offering around 40 different wines for your tasting pleasure, this wine bar also carries beer and specialty drinks for the non-wine lovers (how dare you!). The helpful staff will make sure that you'll understand the difference between a Chablis and a Chianti, even if you can't pronounce them.
Best New Pub: Big Beaver Tavern
One more reason to get off the freeway at exit 69 (we had to go there) is Troy's Big Beaver Tavern. This comfortable hangout was formerly Larco's Italian Grill, and the same ownership does bar food at a standard you'd expect from an upscale restaurant. Big Beaver Tavern also has a ladies night where the gals get a chance to win a $200 salon package while enjoying $3 martinis. Fellas can root for their favorite sports teams as well as participate in charity poker tournaments in the basement.
Best Bar in Greektown: Delux
Any attempt to drive through Greektown on a weekend between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. is a fruitless effort. Hordes of bar hoppers flood the narrow streets, shuffling off to their favorite destination. In many cases, that destination is Delux Lounge. Open seven days a week with specials running each day, Delux is the place to go when you want to spend a night dancing your heart out. The lounge's extensive specialty drink menu includes the Fruit of the Loom and the Playmate, both as fun to drink as their names would lead you to believe.
Best Bar in Royal Oak: Blackfinn
Though relatively new to the Royal Oak bar scene, Blackfinn has become one of the go-to spots on any given weekend night for the trendsetters of the area. Packed to the gills Thursday through Saturday, this bar still offers amazing customer service at its peak times. At its core, Blackfinn is an upscale sports bar. Typically operating in this fashion during the week, Blackfinn has giant HDTVs for any type of fan to view their favorite team and eat some tasty, well-prepared bar food. Few establishments can have a Jekyll and Hyde operation like Blackfinn’s, but it suits them just fine.
Best Bar in Foxtown: The Town Pump
From the street, Detroit's Town Pump Tavern looks more like a gentlemen's pub in a Dickens novel. On the inside, with its intricately designed tin ceiling and wood walls, feels as thought it’s an extension of the historic Fox Theater. Offering free shuttle service for Wings games, happy hour specials and a 364-day calendar, not to mention awesome fried dill pickle spears, it's our fave place to ramp up the night from game-watching to DJ dance floor booty-shaking.
Best Bar in Novi: Bar Louie
Celebrating its second birthday this August, Bar Louie has become one of Novi’s premier spots for martinis and grub — oh how delicious it is. An open floor plan allows for plenty of bodies on the weekends, while it also helps those who aren’t exactly the bar scene type during the week. Bar Louie has a great staff that are only more than happy to serve and food that will make your taste buds dance in excitement. What more could a Real Detroit-er ask for?
Best Beer Promotion: Roger’s Roost
There are mug nights and then there’s “Ugly Mug Night.” Roger’s Roost hosts “Ugly Mug Night” every Wednesday. For $3, you can come and get your mug filled with wheaty goodness — and they promise not to make fun of your cup. No matter how hideous it is; whether it’s your favorite, a gag gift or a loaner, you can tote it on into Roger’s Roost and get your drink on. Plus, you get to hear the sweet tunes of DJ Johnny Brasco and tip back some shots on special every hour on the hour.
Best Bar Trivia: My Trivia Live
Looking for something other than music to entertain you? My Trivia Live is happy to oblige. Posting up at many a bar near you, the TJ (trivia jockey) asks your team questions and you get one full song to come up with the answer. What better way to use all that useless knowledge gained from watching Jeopardy? The top three teams win prizes while others get a chance to win some giveaways. Maybe My Trivia Live is a reason to not sleep through class.
Best-Looking Wait Staff: Hooters
It’s doubtful that there needs to be much explanation in the reasoning behind this pick, but here goes nothing: Hooters has become the sort of place dads take their sons at a certain age; a rite of passage, if you will. Beyond the mouth-watering wings is the even more mouth-watering wait staff. Equipped with skin-tight, low cut tops, orange short shorts and those famous white socks, Hooters girls tantalize men and women alike with their gorgeous looks and sparkling personalities and even have their own calendar with matching Hooters Girl competition. Let’s just say that if the very existence of your profession ignites controversy, audible guffaws from stuffy housewives and inspires women all over to dress like you for Halloween ... you might be a little hotter than average.
Best Spanish Coffee: Tom’s Oyster Bar
Plenty of us have had Irish coffee, but what about Spanish coffee? The rich darkness of the liqueur paired with the scent and flavor of coffee is perfect for cuddling up with a good book or sipping while meeting up with an old friend. Tom’s Oyster Bar serves up the area’s best Spanish coffee, which many dub as the perfect night cap. It's dreamy and creamy enough to rock you to sleep better than your mama.
Best Rooftop Bar: Memphis Smoke
Everyone loves the time-honored tradition of a good ol’ fashioned backyard BBQ. Nights around a fire chatting with friends tops many a person’s list of ways to spend a perfect night. Memphis Smoke has taken this cherished scenery and set it atop their BBQ bar in downtown Royal Oak. It features a full bar and picnic tables stocked with a reliable selection of Royal Oak hotties. Whether you’re stopping in for happy hour or perched on a stool under the starry sky, it's our favorite place to waste away a perfect summer day.
Best Bar Top: PJ’s Lager House
Sometimes a venue needs décor just as badass as the music that fills its space. PJ’s Lager House is known for bringing in some of the best musicians metro-Detroit has to offer, which means it brings in the best fans and music lovers as well. With all these people showing up, you need some great conversation pieces. To accompany the plentiful posters that line the wall, PJ’s transformed their bar top into its own piece of art by imbedding dozens and dozens of different guitar picks into it. Neat, to say the least, the bar top is a legenday piece that inspires a lot of love from PJ's regulars and musicians. Let’s hope this is one Detroit bar staple that never gets renovated.
Best Bar To Visit Solo: Goodnite Gracie’s
Goodnight Gracie’s is as sexy as the jazz music it plays. Sipping on a designer martini in the dimly-lit lounge, it doesn't matter how big your clique is once the live jazz comes on. Not clubby, not crowded, and definitely not cheesy, Gracie's feels like a quiet Greenwich Village institution for coolsters in the know. Whether you decide to pull up a barstool and make some new acquaintances or hang back quietly in the corner with your drink, Gracie’s chic, calm and collected atmosphere will provide perfectly.
Best Retro/Nostalgic Bar: Cliff Bells
This Prohibition-era bar, lovingly restored to its past splendor in 2005, makes us yearn for the days of juke joints, porkpie hats and old Model Ts. That old-school glamour is still part of Cliff's, from the retro-inspired menu to the powerful blues and jazz musicians who take the stage. The wooded walls, restored bar top, and warm, dim lighting make Cliff Bells the ultimate lounge for indulging your inner Jay Gatsby.
Best Arcade: Lucky’s
If you’re out to have child-like fun while still drinking like the big kids, Lucky’s in Novi is the place to be. Upstairs may be where the bowling is at, but downstairs is an all-out entertainment hub. Big-screen TVs, dancing, drinking and arcade games — lots of arcade games. From those shoot-till-you-miss basketball games to your old favorites (Pac-Man anyone?), Lucky’s arcade is enough to keep any adult entertained for hours with the excitement of a child.
Best Biker Bar: Stonehouse
Of all the bars in metro-Detroit, Stonehouse might just be the most hardcore. Having begun operating as the Stonehouse bar in the mid-'40s, the biker bar’s existence before then was a little sketchy — and we love it. It was a safe house for Al Capone’s Purple Gang way back when and, let’s face it, bar customers don’t get much more badass than the Mob. Resembling a residential house on Ralston St. with its covered front porch, the Stonehouse is many a biker’s home away from home.
Best Hotel Bar: Big City — Holiday Inn Express
Located inside the Holiday Inn Express in Detroit, Big City bar beckons city visitors and locals alike to make this bar a temporary home away from home. The downtown proximity makes it the perfect choice for travelers who want to see what our great city has to offer. The digs inside are comfy; the walls are a warm beige and there are a few murals showcasing what Detroit city life is all about. Top off the area with five plasma TVs, plenty of seating and great, yet simple, bar food and it seems that Big City is just what you need for a big night out.
Best Cigar Bar: Robusto’s
To a Metro Detroit cigar aficionado, Robusto's has the same kind of attraction as a top-price Cuban cigar (only legal!). The swank digs include dark mahogany walls and leather chairs, perfect for RDW readers who love to kick up their feet and enjoy a stogie. Once a secret to Grosse Pointers in the know, the outstanding martinis and understated service now attracts tobie tokers and cocktail drinkers all over the city. Robusto’s carries a dozen different cigar choices, a 185-option long martini list, elegant appetizers and TVs upstairs for sports enjoyment. After May 1, patrons can still freely enjoy a finely crafted cigar — did we mention it’s exempt from the smoking ban?
Best Wait Staff: Terry’s Terrace
Have you ever been driving in your car and heard a peppy young lady exclaiming her great service and happy hour specials available at her bar? That was probably one of Terry’s girls. All beautiful, all pleasant to talk to, Terry’s Terrace’s wait staff is the best around, bar none; and the word “phenomenal” has been thrown around when describing the food at Terry’s Terrace. While the location may be a jaunt for many, it’s worth the drive just for the chance to flirt with these Harrison Twp. honeys . Whether you’re in it for the happy hour specials, Suds Club or the beachfront view, Terry’s girls are there to help you every step of the way.
Best Neighborhood Bar: Muldoon’s
Muldoon’s Rochester (and the newly-planted Utica location) is the type of place that keeps people coming back. A reputation for great food and a welcoming clientele makes Muldoon’s a pub that will make any world-weary traveler feel like a regular. The pub has karaoke on Wednesdays and live music on Thursdays and Fridays, allowing not only seasoned local musicians to display their talents but the patrons, as well. While the Utica location is still blossoming, the owners are determined to maintain the family feeling of the Rochester digs. We have no doubts that we'll receive the fondest welcome back the next time we pull up a stool.
Best Bar For Lunch: Gator Jake’s
Most morning Detroiters are so rushed (gotta beat that traffic) that we seldom have time for breakfast. Which means by lunchtime we are straight-up ravenous. Gator Jake’s offers large portions, even by mid-day meal standards, and it’s delicious to boot. Blending American cuisine with Creole, diners are able to get a variety of tastes without breaking the bank. The atmosphere is inviting, the service is fast and friendly and patrons love soaking up all that lunchtime goodness.
Best Bar Patio: Madison’s
Enclosed behind the brick buildings of busy downtown Mount Clemens lies an oasis that we call Madison’s patio. Perfect for a lunchtime date, happy hour brew and nighttime mingling, Madison’s patio is as versatile as its indoor pub. The patio features a full bar, twinkling lights and built-in heaters in case of an uninvited chill in the air. The patio also has a raised stage to listen to your favorite local bands live. Open May through October, Madison’s patio gives appreciative RDW readers plenty of time to enjoy its magical splendor.
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