Best Tableside Restaurant Preparations In Detroit
From homemade French fries to Greek food, there are many places where you can get your food prepared for you tableside or, at the very least, right in front of you. Check this list for the best in the area.
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Pegasus Taverna
558 Monroe St.
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 964-6800
www.pegasustavernas.com
Although Greektown is no longer exclusively full of Greek restaurants, there are a few left in the area, and Pegasus is one of them. Although most of its dishes are not prepared tableside, if you order the flaming cheese dish, it is set on fire in front of you with an "Opa!" included as well. Try the chicken or lamb gyro to go with your appetizer as well. Pegasus is close to the People Mover and Greektown Casino if you're in the area to gamble or see a show.
Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger
551 S. Division St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 663-4590
www.blimpyburger.com
If you haven't been to Blimpy Burger, you haven't been to Ann Arbor. Its current location is closing on August 14th, so you'd best hop to it. A new location is currently being scouted but the owners have not yet announced where it will be or when it will open. Although your food is not cooked tableside, you get to watch it be made as you move through the line - think cafeteria style - and it is definitely worth the wait. When you first approach the line, you order your fried foods first - French fries, onion strings, mushrooms or the combo. After you order the sides, you'll be asked how many burgers you want (double is the smallest it offers, other than kids' burgers, since the patties are small), what kind of bun and what toppings. Street parking is available nearby and in front of the restaurant, or you can park in the parking structure on Thompson Street.
Katana Nu-Asian Steakhouse
111 S. Main St.
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 591-9900
www.katananuasiansteakhouse.com
If you're looking for a unique tableside experience, go for the hibachi at Katana Nu-Asian Steakhouse, where your meal is prepared right at your table in the teppanyaki style ("flat iron grill"). The chefs put on a show, as well - onions are set on fire, utensils are tossed high in the air and shrimp tails are tossed into the chefs' hats. The restaurant has seven hibachi stations and can seat up to 10 people at each, and it also features a "bistro section" if you aren't there for the hibachi. Katana is located near the corner of 11 Mile Road and Main Street in downtown Royal Oak.
Related: Detroit's Best Steakhouses
Mario's Restaurant
4222 2nd Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 832-1616
www.mariosdetroit.com
Mario's has a vintage Italian feel and has been in Detroit since 1948. It offers tableside cooking, ballroom dancing on weekends and valet service, and is located close to the Theater District. The restaurant prepares traditional Italian dishes tableside, such as its veal Olympic and flambe desserts, as well as its fresh salads and some pastas. Mario's even offers shuttles to a few theater locations around the city; make sure to confirm locations and times before you go, though.
Related: Best Italian Food in Detroit
Boodles Restaurant
935 W. 11 Mile Road
Madison Heights, MI 48071
(248) 399-5960
www.boodlesrestaurant.com
Boodles is specifically known for its tableside preparations, including but not limited to, homemade Caesar salad, steak diane, cherries jubilee and bananas foster. The restaurant opened in 1985 by Bruno and Charlotte Ferguson, both from New York, who wanted to make it into a "romantic supper club." The venue also offers entertainment on its grand piano Tuesdays through Saturdays - check the website to see the weekly schedule. Also check out the "VIP tableside" menu on the website as well as the "tableside desserts," including those mentioned above and crepes suzette, to maximize your tableside dining experience.
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Liz Parker is a freelance writer and a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in Creative Writing and Literature. Her work can be found at Examiner.com and yesnofilms.com.
