The Detroit News: Michigan's Best

food & drink: potpourri

Best chocolate strawberries:

Maggies Chocolate Strawberries

32418 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills (248) 737-8088

Second place:

Godiva Chocolatier

godiva.com

Third place:

Incredibly Edible Delites

fruitflowers.com

Best place to buy cheesecake:

Cheesecake Shoppe

23409 Mack Ave., St. Clair Shores

(586) 773-2090

Second place:

Trader Joes

traderjoes.com

Third place:

Bakers Square

bakerssquarerestaurants.com

Daniel Mears / The Detroit News

Exotic morning meals including pulled chicken and jalapeno cheese omelettes helped make Detroit's Breakfast House and Grill one of the best newcomer restaurants.

Best restaurant born in 2005:

Strawberry Fields

51070 Foster Road, Chesterfield

(586) 949-7740

Second place:

Detroit’s Breakfast House and Grill

1241 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 961-1115

Third place:

Mosaic Restaurant

501 Monroe Ave., Detroit (313) 962-9366

Best spot with the biggest sandwiches:

Wheat & Rye

7291 N. Middle Belt Road, Westland (734) 427-3180

Second place:

Eph McNally’s

1300 Porter St., Detroit (313) 963-8833

Third place:

Russel Street Deli

2465 Russell St., Detroit (313) 567-2900

Best buffet to totally pig out on:

Fortune Buffet

29583 Five Mile Road, Livonia

(734) 524-8383

Second place:

Old Country Buffet

Various locations throughout Metros Detroit

Third place:

MGM Grand Buffet

1300 John C. Lodge Fwy., Detroit

(313) 393-7777

Best Michigan-made edible:

Cherry Republic

cherryrepublic.com

Second place:

Sander’s Hot Fudge

sanderscandy.com

Third place:

Better Made Chips

bettermadepotatochips.com

Best Sunday brunch:

Gino’s Surf

37400 Jefferson Ave., Harrison Twp. (586) 468-2611

Second place:

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café

fishbonesusa.com

Third place:

Starving Artist Restaurant

212 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale

(248) 545-5650

Best place for a romantic diner:

Ristorante Café Cortina

30715 W. 10 Mile, Farmington Hills

(248) 474-3033

Second place:

The Lark

6430 Farmington Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 (248) 661-4466

Third place:

Ernesto’s

41661 Plymouth Road, Plymouth (734) 453-2002

Best outdoor terrace dining:

Como’s

22812 Woodward Ave., Ferndale

(248) 548-5005

Second place:

Big Rock Chop & Brew House

245 South Eton St., Birmingham

(248) 647-7774

Third place:

Diamond Jim Brady’s Bistro

26053 Town Center, Novi (248) 380-8460

Best take out/delivery service:

Apple Annies Kitchen & Bakery

28030 Gratiot Ave., Roseville

(586) 778-4321

Second place:

M'Dear's Creole Cooking

15102 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Park

(313) 821-1881

Third place:

Dublin Fish & Chips

41900 Hayes Road, Clinton Township

(586) 416-3474

Best late-night dining:

International House of Pancakes

29202 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak

(248) 545-2255

Second place:

Classics Buffet –

Motor City Casino

2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit (877) 777-0711

Third place:

Auburn Café

3520 W. Jefferson, Ecorse (313) 381-8133

Best drive-thru:

Taco Bell

tacobell.com

Second place:

Chicken Shack

chickenshack.com

Third place:

Wendy’s

wendys.com

Best hide-away diner:

Central City’s Diner

6600 N. Canton Center Road, Canton (734) 354-9312

Second place:

Gina’s Café

1120 S. Main St., Chelsea (734) 475-7714

Third place:

Omega Grub

332 S. Telegraph, Pontiac (248) 681-5100

Best down-home breakfast:

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place:

Strawberry Fields

51070 Foster Road, Chesterfield (586) 949-7740

Third place:

Bob Evans

bobevans.com

Best spot for the last date:

McDonald’s

mcdonalds.com

Second place:

White Castle

whitecastle.com

Third place:

Elbow Room Espresso Bar

131 Main St., Flushing (810) 487-0662

Best spot to find a fish taco:

Baja Fresh

bajafresh.com

Second place:

Zumba Mexican Grille

121 N. Main St., Royal Oak (248) 542-1400

Third place:

Del Taco

5644 Telegraph Road, Dearborn Heights

(313) 562-1420

Best food-fest:

Arts, Beat & Eats

Pontiac

Second place:

Comerica Tastefest

Detroit

Third place:

International Wine & Food Festival

Rochester Hills

Best diner:

Coty’s Westside Diner

2336 Ballenger Hwy., Flint (810) 238-2119

Second place:

David’s New York Deli

15215 Farmington Road, Livonia

(734) 425-8170

Third place:

Mack Ave Diner

19481 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods

(313) 886-0680

David Coates / The Detroit News

Michelle Rastelli, owner of Moo Moo's Organic Bistro in Grosse Pointe Park, offers an all-vegetarian menu.

Best restaurant for vegetarians:

Moo Moo’s Organic Bistro

14929 Charlevoix, Grosse Pointe Park (313) 331-6667

Second place:

Inn Season Café

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

Third place:

Seva

314 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor (734) 662-1111

Best place for fresh lake perch:

Kokomo’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar

76 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens

(586) 469-4774

Second place:

Salvatore Scallopini

slavatorescallopini.com

Third place:

Ocean Grille

280 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham

(248) 646-7001

Best tiniest eatery:

Opa Gyros

7099 Wayne Road, Romulus

(734) 467-1826

Second place:

221-B Baker Street

10063 Dixie Highway, Clarkston (248) 922-9020

Third place:

The Chocolate Gallery Café

3672 Chicago Road, Warren (586) 979-1140

Best restaurant for deep pockets:

Rochester Chop House

306 S. Main St., Rochester (248) 651-2266

Second place:

The Hill Seafood and Chop House

123 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms

(313) 886-8101

Third place:

Capital Grille

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

Best kiddie menu:

Big Boy

bigboy.com

Second place:

Rainforest Café

Great Lakes Crossing, Auburn Hills (248) 333-0280

Third place:

McDonald’s

mcdonalds.com

Best wine list:

Giovanni’s Ristorante

330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit (313) 841-0122

Second place:

Capital Grille

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

Third place:

Prickly Pear Southwest Café

328 S. Main St., Ann Arbor (734) 930-0047

Best coffee shop:

Starbucks

starbucks.com

Second place:

Tim Hortons

timhortons.com

Third place:

Coffee Beanery

coffeebeanery.com

Best comfort food:

Rootbeer float

Second place:

Chocolate ice cream

Third place:

Pizza

French fries smothered in brown gravy

Best place for fried plantains:

Vincente’s Cuban Cuisine

1250 Library St., Detroit (313) 962-8800

Second place:

Café Habana

417 S. Main St., Royal Oak (248) 544-6255

Third place:

Bahama Breeze

Livonia and Troy locations

Best overall restaurant:

Giovanni’s Ristorante

330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit

(313) 841-0122

Second place:

Europa Bistro

2076 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills

(248) 852-0077

Third place:

Il Posto Ristorante

29110 Franklin Road, Southfield

(248) 827-8070