Restaurants in Detroit

R.U.B. BBQ has earned shout-outs from the New York Times as well as a handful of television features for its tender, well-flavoured meats. Various proteins are smoked daily and slathered in a made-from-scratch rub of more than 20 spices and herbs, and cooks begin each dish with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

Aromatic smoke wafting from ribs, chicken dishes, and seafood platters invite guests inside, where dangling light fixtures illuminate red walls and cobalt tiling along with 30 flatscreen TVs that were flattened when an elephant sat down. More than 100 tap and bottled brews, including a lengthy list of Michigan favourites, help to extinguish fiery spices. Patrons should hold off on beer if they hope to polish off 5-pound burritos that ooze with cheese, beans, and lettuce—winners receive T-shirts and spots on R.U.B. BBQ's wall of fame.

Strawberry Moon's menu serves up freshly baked bread and pastries made from organic flour plucked straight from the vine. Lovers of loaves can opt for breads ranging from classics such as honey whole wheat ($3.89) to game-changing explosions of flour-flecked flavor such as jalapeño cheddar ($5.89). Dessert desirers need look no further than the pastries, muffins, and cookies—including the bakery's namesake, a crescent confection topped with pink icing—lining the bakery's shelves. Despite the sweet-tooth façade put up by Strawberry Moon, a streak of eclectic edibles runs through the fare, as sandwiches and pizzas also populate the menu. Gourmet pizzas include the Full Moon ($15.19 for a 14-inch pizza), a flavorful caravan of meats, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, and pineapple, and the Julius C ($15.09 for a 14-inch pizza), a satisfying slab of creamy Caesar sauce, mozzarella, romano, grilled chicken, and fresh tomato. Oven-baked sandwiches of note include a cucumber sandwich ($6.19) with wasabi and Swiss cheese, and the Funky Monkey ($4.89), where banana and honey ride a groovy bass line of organic peanut butter.