Restaurants in South Lyon

Originally founded in 1936 in Glendale, California, Big Boy’s flagship location initially bore the name Bob’s Pantry after owner Bob Wian. At a diner’s request, Bob piled two beef patties onto a bun to create the Classic Big Boy—an original double-decker hamburger that would become so popular that the small burger stand would eventually grow into a franchise of more than 100 U.S. locations. Legend has it that Bob named the creation after one of his most loyal customers: a 6-year-old boy in droopy overalls who would one day ascend to mascot stardom.

Though the menu has since expanded to include ham sandwiches, homestyle dinners, and breakfast, the eatery still serves its namesake burger stacked high with two patties, american cheese, shredded lettuce, and a special sauce. A large, overall-clad statue stands guard at every location, reminding patrons of the restaurant’s humble beginnings and that children will turn to stone should they not eat enough cheeseburgers.

The chefs at Palomino's Pizza decorate their pies with classic toppings, such as fresh mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. But they also provide the option of more creative adornments, including smoked gouda, meatballs, and alfredo sauce. This wide assortment of ingredients allows diners to customize their creations without festooning each slice in lapel pins.

Perfect for ringing in autumn with the calming clack of lobster shells, the Back East Feast offers a taste of Atlantic seafare in the heart of Michigan. The feast itself starts at 5:30 p.m., so before getting in line to load up on corn on the cob, guests can stretch their hunger muscles while listening to the live tunes of Hidden Agenda Band and drinking one of the house wines or a Miller Lite.

Stowed inside Embassy Suites Detroit, Riparian Grille is a major part of what the hotel's website vaunts as a "distinctly delicious hotel dining experience." Seven days a week, patrons gather inside the Embassy's capacious, open-atrium dining area, where chefs plate up dishes that range from lighter lunch fare to belt-loosening dinner entrees, such as filet mignon and chicken parmesan.

Sunrays and beams from airplane passengers' laser pointers pour in through a glass-paneled ceiling, splashing across the atrium's high-backed booths and the hotel's ascending floors.

BoomTown's menu of simple and sophisticated pub fare showcases its love of high quality ingredients. Indulge in deviled eggs, which form a deliciously evil alliance with Tillamook cheddar, cherrywood-smoked bacon, and paprika ($4), or use your dining power for good with a build-your-own-pizza option ($7+). BoomTown's 10 in. thin-crust pies wage war against hunger with such options as nitrate-free pepperoni ($2) and cherry-bomb peppers ($1) atop BoomTown's rich San Joaquin tomato sauce, all finished in a stone oven at 700+ degrees. Specialty Neapolitan-style pizzas include flavors such as shrimp and prosciutto with lemon zest, red chili, and fresh mozzarella ($12). Like the healthy star of the high-school football team, BoomTown's rotisserie chickens ($12 half, $16 whole) are locally raised without the aid of hormones or antibiotics, and the kitchen roasts the birds on a vertical spit before finishing them in the stone oven for a deep, savory flavor.

At Shogun Japanese and Chinese Bistro, cooks amass an army of fresh ingredients to fire up on a griddle at diners’ tables. Here, shrimp, calamari, and sirloin morph into hibachi-style dinners as they sizzle in the heat and tumble through the air with the help of the chef’s spatula. Fresh fish and rice converge to form sushi such as the crispy roll #24, whose salmon and yellowtail flaunt a sauce as sweet and spicy as a valentine from a jalapeño pepper. The Chinese section of the menu brims with house specialties such as beef with stir-fried string beans and family-style meals of shrimp kow and almond chicken.