Andiamohttp://andiamoitalia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Detroit-Riverfront-Patio.jpg

My brother and I were adopted from South Korea and we grew up in a big, Italian family. Before my Grandma died a few years ago, we would go to her house every Sunday for family dinner with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. My Grandma would cook up a huge, delicious meal and we would eat till we couldn't fit any more food in my stomach with my Grandma and Grandpa at the head of the table. Unfortunately, my Grandpa didn't do any of the cooking so we don't have too many Sunday dinners anymore. Whenever we have family gatherings I always look forward to the food because I know it is going to be a good meal with all kinds of snacks before and after. Italian food is my favorite kind of food and I will never get sick of it.
The restaurant Andiamo in Detroit is on the riverfront. It's very pretty. They have a lunch and dinner menu but we usually go for dinner. They are kind of pricey but well worth it. It's always a treat when we get to go to Andiamo for dinner. We always order calamari whenever we go to an Italian restaurant and in my opinion, Andiamo has the best calamari by far. I squeeze as much lemon as I can onto mine and dip it into the ammoglio sauce. It's delicious. Depending what mood I'm in for dinner, I'll either get the Fettuccine Alfredo, Gnocchi Palmina, or one of the chicken dishes. There are so many options it's hard to make up your mind.
Very rarely do I order the steak because of how expensive it is. If it's a special occasion I'll order it but if not I'll stick with something more reasonable in price. They have endless choices of wine to choose from but I never try anything I'm not familiar with so I usually just get the Pinto Grigio, white wines are my favorite especially if it's chilled. My dad usually orders the red, dry wines and my mom isn't a wine drinker. 
Monday through Friday rom 3pm-6pm they have their happy hour which is half off their drinks and wines by the glass. It's a pretty good deal in my opinion. 
They also have a showroom inside where they'll have some famous people come in and perform as well. I've never been there for that but I heard it's a pretty cool experience. You can also use Andiamo for catering as well for parties. 

They have their own Facebook and Twitter too.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andiamoitalia
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndiamoItalia

Andiamo is the perfect place to go to for a romantic date or a special occasion such as a birthday or a anniversary. It's a quiet, chill, and peaceful restaurant with no distractions or anything.
Since I am graduating this month I may suggest to my parents that we go here for dinner to celebrate! It's a perfect reason for why we should make the trip out to Detroit and dine at a fabulous place!

Hard Rock Cafe

Any Hard Rock Cafe you go to is going to be awesome. The one in Detroit is pretty cool, it's located on Monroe street. They have so much memorabilia treasures on display there it's awesome to be able to look at them up close and personal. They have a white silk dress that Madonna wore in her "Vogue" music video in 1990. They have decorated shin guards worn by Gene Simmons from Kiss during one of their tours.  They also have a self-portrait of Jimi Hendrix. Those are only a few of the many famous things around their place. They also have a gift shop in there as well to buy apparel and collectables. They also have events going on and a free shuttle that takes you to the Tiger's game during baseball season. Sometimes they'll have live music or a DJ that comes in to play. You can also have parties here and special events if you wanted.
They have a good selection of appetizers to choose from such as spinach artichoke dip and nachopalooza. I love spinach artichoke dip so that's what I usually order for a starter. Their classic club sandwich is very good as well as their honey mustard grilled chicken and ham sandwich. Chicken and ham doesn't sound that good together but surprisingly they go pretty well together. Your sandwiches come with seasoned fries and coleslaw. I think seasoned fries are better than normal fries, I like salt and pepper on everything I eat so that's probably why.
Their chocolate molten cake is delicious. It's a chocolate cake served with oozing, warm chocolate in the center served with vanilla ice cream. I could eat a whole one by myself it's so good. They also have a baker's choice dessert which is any special dessert made from scratch. They don't have it every day however. Their fresh apple cobbler is pretty good too but I just stick to my chocolate molten cake.

Their website lists their hours on a regular basis and for holidays.
They also have their own Facebook and Twitter as well.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardrock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hardrock

The Hard Rock Cafe in Detroit is a great environment to be in, especially when they have live entertainment. It's a music themed place so it's great when there's live music going on. It's also a fun place to go to with friends before or after a sports game and with the convenience of a free shuttle to Comerica Park it couldn't get any better.

There are tons of Hard Rock Cafe Locations around the world and a lot of the hotels are nice as well. I had the opportunity to stay at a Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana and it was out of this world.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

A lot of people I talk to do not like Five Guys at all but I like their food. It's very messy but I think the food tastes great. However, it is very messy. My first experience there I used so many napkins because my hands were constantly covered in food. It was worth it though! They are famous for their burgers and you get bottomless fries. They also have sandwiches and hotdogs on the menu so it's not just burgers and fries. The Five Guys in Detroit is located on Monroe street however I have only been to the one in East Lansing. For their burgers they serve their regular burgers and then "little" ones. They also have cheeseburgers for the people who like cheese but for me, I don't like cheese on most foods so I always end up getting the regular hamburger or bacon burger.
You have so many choices for toppings that your burger would be huge if you asked for them all.

 I usually get lettuce, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard. Sometimes I'll get jalapeño peppers and hot sauce if I am in the mood for spicy. This place is a small restaurant, not really a place to go and hang out. It's more of a place to just eat and then leave.
Five Guys started in 1986 created by the Murrell family. They started off as a carry-out burger joint in Arlington, Virginia and soon because the number one burger joint in the metro area. Now, there are over 1,000 locations and more in development.
Some interesting and cool facts about Five Guys are that there are over 250,000 possible ways to order a burger at Five Guys. They have no freezers, just coolers. Nothing is ever frozen. They also only use Peanut oil for their cooking.
If you go on their website they have apparel you can buy such as t-shirts and hats. You can also share your photos on their website of you or whoever eating their food which is pretty cool. You can also order your meal online to save time.


Of course, they have their own Facebook and Twitter to update their customers on whatever they feel such as letting us know that it is national grilled cheese day on April 12. They also have 41.4K followers on Twitter.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fiveguys
Twitter: https://twitter.com/five_guys

I definitely recommend Five Guys Burgers and Fries to someone who enjoys a hamburger every now and then, but if you can't keep up with a messy meal then this place isn't for you.

Buffalo Wild Wings

I recently ate at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Detroit and I had a great time there. I was there for opening day so the place was packed with Tiger's fans. I had boneless buffalo wings with medium sauce and they were very good. Not too spicy, they were perfect. Bdubs offers you so many choices of sauces but I never go out of my box and try new ones. I always stick with medium. Some of my friends are crazy and they get Blazin, the hottest sauce they have and it is painful to watch them eat their wings. My mouth waters just watching them eat it because I can imagine how spicy and hot it is. Their mouths were probably on fire. I don't see how that is even enjoyable, I wouldn't be able to appreciate my wings if my mouth was on fire the whole time eating them.

I think this Buffalo Wild Wings is pretty new in Detroit, it hasn't been there too long yet. It's definitely a great place to go with friends to watch sports games. It's two levels which is nice and I'm sure they get a lot of business now from the students from Detroit Mercy and Wayne State as well. It's a great environment to be in and they have tons of flat screen TVs to watch. It's not too far from Comerica Park so you could definitely walk there before or after a Tiger's or Lion's game. 

Shogun Japanese Steak House

This restaurant isn't in Detroit but it is probably my favorite place to eat. Whenever we have a special occasion to celebrate my family and I always pick Shogun. My family and I have been eating here since I was little and it's been a favorite of ours since. It's a Japanese steak house and they cook right in front of you at your table. It is a very cool experience for those who have never been there before. There are other restaurants like Shogun but in my opinion, Shogun is the best. They start you off with soup and then salad. They have a ginger salad dressing that they make themselves and it is delicious, I wish they sold it in their restaurant. They also have a sushi bar but we never order it, we aren't big sushi fans. The chefs will do cool tricks while they are cooking, they will cut the tails off shrimp and toss them into their hat or pocket or they'll make a fire volcano out of towering onions. You get a fun show during dinner. I always order the teriyaki chicken dinner with fried rice. On top of that you get vegetables, shrimp, and bean sprouts as well. It's a very filling dinner and most times I have to take some home with me because I can never finish it. My brother always gets the scallops and shrimp dinner and my dad gets the steak dinner. Their steak is very good too but I always stick with the chicken. I highly recommend this restaurant for the quality of the food and the experience. It's not your typical restaurant and I find it very enjoyable. The prices are reasonable and it's cheaper if you go during lunch time. However, you don't get the same amount of food. I've never had desert from here though, so I have no say on whether or not it's good. I could imagine it being good but I'll have to try it next time I'm there which I hope is soon!

Hockeytown Cafe

Even though I am not a big fan of hockey, I do like going to Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit. I've only been to a few Red Wings games and I never watch them play on TV although I know they're a very good team! Not only does Hockeytown Cafe serve food, they have entertainment as well. You can also have private parties there and there are four options to choose from. They have the Celebration Room, the Roof Top, the Patio, and the 2nd Mezzanine. Hockeytown Cafe is named Detroit's number one sports bar and number two sports bar in America by ESPN2. They are also located right next to the Fox Theatre so before or after a great show Hockeytown is a convenient and friendly place to stop at eat. They do score rewards where every $100 you spend you earn 10$. The inside of this place is so cool, they have all sorts of decorations that make it different from any place in Detroit. They also have a shop inside to buy t-shirts and whatnot. Hockeytown is obviously a great place to go to to watch the Red Wings play if you don't have tickets to go to the game or even watch other sports. Hockeytown Cafe has over 50 kinds of beer and have specials on their food Monday through Friday. They have a variety of choices for appetizers from chicken finger baskets to chips and salsa. I always order chips and salsa, I have a weakness for them. I usually eat so much of them that by the time my entree comes I'm full! Their food is very good here and I always have a hard time choosing what I want. Their BBQ chicken salad is good and so is their taco salad, I order those with no tomatoes! Their thin crust pizza and deep dish pizza are also an excellent choice. I just get pepperoni but my dad and brother seem to get almost every topping possible. That grosses me out and I stick to my pepperoni. When it comes to their sandwiches I've tried a few, their buffalo chicken sandwich, the smoked turkey, and their Italian panini. I order those with no cheese and tomato as well. They have a good selection of burgers although I've never tried them, I rarely order burgers. Their chicken fettuccine alfredo is good but I've had better. Same thing with their ribs, they're good but I've had better. I usually order their seasoned fries as my side, sometimes I'll order the coleslaw. My mom usually orders garlic bread and I'll have a bite of hers because I can't resist garlic bread! It's too good. If I order dessert I get the Hockeytown Brownie Sundae. It is way too good. Their apple pie is good too. They have fruity margaritas and martinis and also non-alcoholic specialty drinks. Another thing that is nice about Hockeytown is that they have a gluten free menu which some restaurants do not have. So I definitely recommend Hockeytown Cafe as a place to eat when you're in Detroit. It's too good to pass up and it's a cool experience to have. The staff has been friendly and accommodating every time I've dined there. Their hours vary depending on game times. It's a great place to come with a group of friends or your family. I don't think I will ever get sick of their food either!

They have their own Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/officialhockeytowncafe
They post updates about games or upcoming events or their hours.

Lafayette Coney Island

Lafayette Coney Island is another place you should eat at when in Detroit and it's located on West Lafayette Blvd. I personally love any Coney Island so I don't really have a favorite one in particular but Lafayette's is pretty good. They open at 8:00am and close at 4:00am which I find crazy yet convenient for all the people out who want a late night snack. This is definitely a good place to go to after a Tiger's or Lion's game. It's a good environment and the staff is very friendly! 

The menu is basically the same as all other Coney Islands so people have a pretty good idea of what to expect food wise. Some of my friends have had a bad experience dining there but I haven't. When it comes to ordering food I usually get something different every time because I like a lot on their menu. If I'm not too hungry I'll get a Greek Salad without the feta and every time I say no feta the waitress looks at me like I'm crazy! Feta cheese is like the number one thing you HAVE to get on a Greek Salad but I do not like feta at all. It grosses me out! I love their pita bread and ask for extra most times. I'm adopted but was raised in a very Italian family and bread is something I've loved since I can remember. Especially Italian bread from Randazzo's Fresh Market. If I'm really hungry I'm open to ordering anything. 

Their coney island hot dog is good and if I order that I get a side of chili fries as well. Sometimes I'll get their spinach pie, that's also good as well. Chicken fingers and fries is another meal that I get a lot. Their taco salad and grilled chicken pita are also good choices to get. I'm not too picky when it comes to coney island. Most times I don't order dessert because I usually eat all my food and is too stuffed to eat more. 

Sometimes Tigers, Lions, or Red Wings players will go there to eat which is awesome. I've never been lucky enough to be there when they are there though. I would probably freak out if I saw Justin Verlander there. 

Lafayette Coney Island is a restaurant I recommend going to when you're in Detroit. I'm sure a lot of people have already been there before but it's a place I'll never get sick of!

They also have their own Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lafayette-Coney-Island/127456979952

New Parthenon

Whenever we go to Greektown I know I'm going to have a great dinner. I am never disappointed in Greektown regardless of what restaurant we go to. However, for this blog I am going to talk about the restaurant, New Parthenon. New Parthenon is obviously in Greektown on Monroe Street. They are averagely priced, not too pricey at all. They are also open from 11:00am to 3:00am which is convenient! I recently found out that there is a New Parthenon located in West Bloomfield as well. I haven't been there since Mother's Day 2013 so the next time I go it will be a treat for sure. Inside they have paintings on the walls which gives the place a different look.
I usually get the same thing every time because I don't go out of the box when it comes to ordering meals. For appetizers I always get Saganaki or "Opa!" as many people call it. This is a must when you go to New Parthenon. I am not a big fan of cheese but I make an exception for Saganaki. It's just too good to not eat! I usually squirt tons of lemon on mine because I like the extra flavor it gives it. I get one for myself and so does my brother. My parents normally split one. Sometimes we get the fried calamari, but we usually save that for when we go to an Italian restaurant. By the time I'm done eating my Saganaki and the endless amount of bread, I'm full. I hate when that happens because then I'll barely touch my dinner! For dinner, I either get the Chicken Gyro Sandwich or Fettuccine Alfredo. My brother always gives me a hard time when I order the Fettuccine Alfredo because it's not a Greek dish.
All of their desserts are homemade and they are pretty yummy. I get their rice pudding or ice cream. I've loved ice cream since I was a child. I'll always have a sweet tooth for ice cream. I definitely recommend this restaurant to people who have never been here before although I'm sure a lot of people have.

Slows Bar-B-Q

When it comes to food I'm usually open to try new things, except with sea food and fish. I'm extremely picky when trying food like that, but Slows Bar-B-Q is a restaurant that I enjoy eating at in Detroit and I have actually been there quite recently. This place is located on Michigan Ave by 14th Street. Out of all the times I've been to Detroit I never heard of Slows Bar-B-Q until my cousin told me to try them out. They've been a favorite of mine ever since! They aren't too pricey, very reasonable I would say. They recently added a new room and bar with tons of new craft beer to choose from. This place is definitely a friendly environment and a fun place to go to with friends to watch sports events and whatnot. If you're a beer drinker then Slows is a great place for you. They have so much beer to choose from that I haven't even heard of most of the brands. They serve the craft and specialty kind of beer that I'm not familiar with although they must be tasty because my dad loves them. They also serve wine which I like because wine is one of my favorites. Circa, Improvisation is my favorite wine there. It's a white wine with a peach flavor to it and it's even better if it's chilled.
Now on to their food! Their baby back ribs are one of my favorite entrees on the menu! My mother always orders her ribs burnt and I find myself ordering them burnt too, my dad and brother think it's gross but I love them burnt. It gives it a different kind of flavor. "The Genius" is a sandwich you can order there and I really like it. It consists of chicken with a sweet sauce over it topped with coleslaw and dill pickle strips. It kind of sounds like it would be gross but it's actually pretty good. Their BBQ Wings is a must get whenever you go there. They are delicious and of course you get a selection of sauces to choose from. I usually get spicy because I love spicy food. They have a bunch of sides to choose from such as waffle fries, cornbread, coleslaw, potato salad, beans, and mac-n-cheese. I've only tried their waffle fries, coleslaw, and mac-n-cheese when it comes to their sides. I usually don't go outside my box when it comes to picking sides. It's a rare occasion when we order dessert but when we do, we order "The Chuck Norris" which is a chocolate and Oreo brownie with coffee ice cream and hot fudge. It is delicious!  Slows also does take out and catering! 
They have a community parking lot for their customers to park in. It's 3$ and that fee pays the guards and maintains the lot. Also, whatever surplus funds they have they donate to the Roosevelt Park which is awesome!
So I definitely recommend this restaurant to you guys if you haven't been there yet.

Slows also has their own Facebook page and Twitter! 
https://www.facebook.com/SlowsBarBQ 
https://twitter.com/SlowsBBQ