By Mark Turpin
Detroit Metropolitan Airport offers airline employees a plethora of both new and trusty standby restaurants. In 2015 several new dining options debuted at McNamara Terminal and a few more are expected soon, while the North Terminal remains mostly unchanged. Here are some highlights to check out on your next trip thru DTW.
McNamara Terminal – Top Options include:
Plum Market Wine Bar & Cafe: Airport dining newcomer Plum Market is primed to hit all the right notes with made-to-order sandwiches prepared on Zingerman’s bread, a grab-and-go section, and a sit-down bar with small plates, wine (including champagne), cocktails, and beer. [A36]
LongHorn Steakhouse: LongHorn Steakhouse is a relatively recent opening but its gaining a pretty decent reputation for consistent quality and prices (We hear the view isn’t too bad either). Grab breakfast with options like french toast, or order from the regular menu complete with meaty plates of steak, steak salad, and burgers. Be forewarned: the cutlery inside the airport is plastic, which may make slicing off a bite of beef challenging. [A63]
Vino Volo: This wine oasis in Concourse A is a great option if you’re looking to relax with a glass of Chardonnay or Cabernet Franc. Try the cheese plate or a brie sandwich while enjoying calming ambiance and let the mayhem of roller bag-toting travelers pass you by. [A45]
Gordon Biersch: Grab a decent but slightly overpriced beer at Gordon Biersch. The menu features items like fried artichokes, grilled strip steak, and shrimp tacos. [A74]
Sora Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar: Find decent Japanese options at this sit-down mainstay in the McNamara Terminal. Many airline employees love the eatery’s attentive service, tasty rolls, and generous servings of ramen. It’s a safe bet for a long layover. [A35]
P.F. Chang’s: The Chinese restaurant chain opened its second-ever airport location in March at the Detroit Airport. Find breakfast items like fried rice and bacon and eggs here, as well as a condensed lunch and dinner menu, and a grab-and-go station for customers with tight connections. [A36]
Here are all of your dining options in McNamara Terminal:
Bud Bar & Grill [Central Link Area]
Caribou Coffee [Central Link Area]
Chick-Fil-A [Gate A74]
Qdoba [Gate A74]
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf [Gate A64 & Baggage Claim]
Detroit Street LunchBox [Gate A71]
Einstein Bros. Bagels [Gate B2]
Fuddruckers (Hamburgers) [Gate C25]
Gordon Biersch [Gate A74]
Taco Bell A74
Hungry Howie’s Pizza [Gate A1]
Illy Coffee [Gate A40]
LongHorn Steakhouse [Gate A63]
Martini Lounge [Gate C19]
Max & Erma’s [Gate A12]
McDonald’s [Gate A36]
Mrs. Field’s Cookies [Gate A1]
National Coney Island [Gate A46]
National Coney Island Express [Gate A24]
Online Café – Bar & Grill w/ Internet Access [Gate A36]
P.F. Chang’s [Gate A36]
Plum Market [Gate A36]
Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen [Gate A60]
Quizno’s Toasted Subs [Gate A1]
SlapShotz – Bar & Grill [Gate A24]
Sora Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar [Gate A35]
Starbucks [Gate A20, A61, B10]
Tim Horton’s [Gate C4 International Arrivals]
Thee Irish/Guinness Pub [Gate B7]
Vino Volo Wine Room [Gate A45]
Vito’s Market (Grab & Go Sandwiches) (2 locations) [Gate B18, C11]
Waterworks Bar & Grill [Gate A1]
Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers [Gate B5]
Air Canada, American, Frontier, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian, Southwest, Spirit and United all arrive and depart from the North Terminal.
Unfortunately it’s suffers from a serious lack in quality food options. Choices include run of the mill chains with poor service and quality and a few lesser-known spots racking-up negative reviews. In any cases the options are slim.
The two best options include:
National Coney Island: What’s a trip through Detroit without a Coney Dog? Will National Coney Island – North Terminal be the best meal you had in months? Definitely not. Will it be as good as grabbing a dog in downtown Detroit? No. But you can order a traditional Coney topped with chili, onions, and mustard or Greek entrees like gyros. [D15]
Earl of Sandwich: For a terminal devoid of strong candidates, Earl of Sandwich is an alright spot to grab a bite. The median price for a made-to-order, hot sandwich here hovers around $7. Find caprese-style sandwiches, tuna melts, and even breakfast sandwiches, alongside salads, wraps, and soups. [D26 & D28]
Here are all of your options at the North Terminal
Coffee Beanery Café [Gate D6 & 8]
Coffee Beanery Café [Gate D15 & 16]
Coffee Beanery Café [Gate D23 & 24]
Coffee Beanery Deli & More [Baggage Claim]
Caribou Coffee [Gate D10 & 11]
Caribou Coffee [Gate D26 & 28]
Champps Restaurant & Bar [Gate D6 & 8]
Mediterranean Grill [Gate D6 & D8]
Earl of Sandwich [Gate D26 & 28]
Hockeytown Café [Gate D12 & 14]
Le Petit Bistro [Gate D19 & 20]
Legends Bar [Baggage Claim]
McDonald’s [Gate D12 & 14]
National Coney Island [Gate D15 & 16]
Ruby Tuesday [Gate D23 & 24]
TGI Friday’s [Gate D17 & 18]
Villa Pizza-Fresh Italian Kitchen [Gate D26 & 28]