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Where to Eat and Drink Near Ford Field This Season

Fill up on massive cheeseburgers, Nashville hot chicken, or soul food before or after the big game

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It’s not always easy being a fan of the Detroit Lions, but season after season diehard fans turn out to support the team. While Ford Field itself has some fine options — including several locally-owned spots — for food and drink during the game, for those willing to brave the crowds there are many excellent restaurants and bars surrounding the stadium with great ambiance and food. From Italian-style breakfast sandwiches to wine and charcuterie, here’s a guide to dining and drinking before and after the game.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Tin Roof Detroit

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A restaurant, bar, and live music venue Tin Roof’s Detroit spot is one of more than a dozen across the United States. The “Southern-inspired” menu — limited on game days — includes wings and tenders, street corn quesadilla, coney dogs, and Nashville hot chicken. There also are happy hour specials.

The Royce Detroit

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The Grand Circus Park bar is a lively spot to enjoy a glass of wine before or after a game. Customers can sip their drinks while sampling a variety of imported charcuterie, cheeses, and marinated seafood.

La Pecora Nera

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Sometimes all that’s really required for a perfect meal on game day is a really great sandwich. If that’s the case, then look no farther than La Pecora Nera. This small deli is mainly designed for to-go orders and offers a variety of filling Italian subs such as the caprese with fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. The shop also offers breakfast, salads, and espresso drinks.

Downtown Louie's Lounge

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This bar and restaurant at the quiet intersection of Griswold and Clifford streets offers excellent cocktails and slightly upscale American tavern food with a European twist, ranging from beer-battered fish and chips to steak tips to massive cheeseburgers. There also are craft cocktails and local brews.

Cornerstone Barrel House

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This restaurant and bar serves a strong selection of bourbon and whiskey and tasty tavern fare. The menu at Cornerstone Barrel House features beer and Better Made chip-battered fish and chips as well as Italian meatball sandwiches. Flat-screen TVs stretch along the back of the bar for fans outside of the stadium to catch the game.

Wright & Company

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Open Friday through Sunday in a historic building, Wright & Co. has a seasonal menu of shared plates that’s paired with phenomenal cocktails, beer, wine, and cider. The menu features options like pork belly sliders, Maine crab cakes, and seared scallops.

Mister Dips

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Mister Dips’ menu is pretty spartan, with three types of burgers anchoring the menu. For vegetarians, there’s the Impossible Dip, featuring a plant-based Impossible burger patty, plus a tomato slice and sprouts. There also are waffle fries and Dairy Dips, their sweet soft-serve ice cream cones that come in several flavors. The restaurant also serves Dipsy Doozy (described as a “thick-aaazz shake”), and adult-only Boozy Doozy shakes, along with a few tapped beers. A three-course meal comes in under $20.

Four hands hold hamburgers Mister Dips

Olin Bar & Kitchen

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Olinan American-Mediterranean brasserie from restaurateur Holly McClain, opened in September 2020 in the former PuppetArt Theater building. The small plates and paella on the menu can be accompanied by a white, red, or rose; bottles or drafts; and a few cocktails. Eat at the bar or at a dining room table.

Holly McClain stands, arms crossed with sunglasses on in front of Olin and Parker’s Alley on a sunny day. Olin [Courtesy photo]

Vertical Wine Bar

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This classy wine-centric restaurant is located below street level in Harmonie Park. Vertical’s extensive wine list is accompanied by options like charcuterie boards, heirloom tomato and watermelon salad, and squash risotto.

Vicente's

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Mix and match tapas at Cuban hotspot Vicente’s. Expect options like chicken and beef empanadas, Spanish omelets, and ham-chicken croquettes for takeout or dining in. The restaurant also serves four styles of paella that are perfect for splitting with a group.

Mootz Pizzeria + Bar

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This downtown Detroit pizzeria serves New York-style slices with two different styles of service: Customers on the go can pick up a meal with to-go cocktails at the small carryout slice shop or dine in with full service and cocktails. The restaurant is currently open for outdoor and indoor dining with limited capacity and also accepts online orders for carryout, including DIY pizza kits.

Pizza with a drizzle of dark red sauce across the top. Gerard + Belevender

The Skip

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This Belt Alley bar is a casual option for a quick beer and a shot, or a frozen cocktail before and after the game. The Skip also features a dedicated snack cart that serves up a rotating list of Indian-inspired curries, hot dogs, sandwiches, and more.

Lions VIP Tailgate

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A few blocks from Ford Field, the “Lions VIP Tailgate” is a spacious hangout that just opened in the former space of Punch Bowl Social bar, restaurant, and bowling alley. For a flat fee, fans can get access to an open bar, a buffet, pre-game TV broadcasts, gaming stations, and a DJ.

Basement Burger Bar

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Whether customers are in the mood for a straight-forward cheeseburger or a bison patty piled high with barbecue sauce and onion straws, there’s a burger here to suit the occasion. Customize a burger, or those who hate making tough choices in toppings can choose a house special like the pesto-mushroom burger or the avocado burger.

A cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato sits on a table

Firebird Tavern

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Just a few blocks from the stadium in Greektown, this casual pub caters to sports fans by keeping the kitchen open late on game days. In addition to beer and cocktails, customers can find a solid selection of bar food ranging from fish tacos to corned-beef sandwiches.

PizzaPapalis of Greektown

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Metro area chain PizzaPapalis offers three types of pie including an uber-filling Chicago-style deep dish pizza (keep in mind it can take up to 45 minutes to bake). In addition to offering pizza, the Greektown restaurant serves hearty sandwiches like the Roman Club — a ciabatta sandwich with turkey, ham, bacon, and melted provolone cheese.

Flood's Bar and Grille

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In the heart of Greektown, Flood’s has been a hotspot for seafood, soul food, and Cajun fare for 25 years. The loungey vibe is complemented by R&B, hip-hop and DJs on the weekend.

Tin Roof Detroit

A restaurant, bar, and live music venue Tin Roof’s Detroit spot is one of more than a dozen across the United States. The “Southern-inspired” menu — limited on game days — includes wings and tenders, street corn quesadilla, coney dogs, and Nashville hot chicken. There also are happy hour specials.

The Royce Detroit

The Grand Circus Park bar is a lively spot to enjoy a glass of wine before or after a game. Customers can sip their drinks while sampling a variety of imported charcuterie, cheeses, and marinated seafood.

La Pecora Nera

Sometimes all that’s really required for a perfect meal on game day is a really great sandwich. If that’s the case, then look no farther than La Pecora Nera. This small deli is mainly designed for to-go orders and offers a variety of filling Italian subs such as the caprese with fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. The shop also offers breakfast, salads, and espresso drinks.

Downtown Louie's Lounge

This bar and restaurant at the quiet intersection of Griswold and Clifford streets offers excellent cocktails and slightly upscale American tavern food with a European twist, ranging from beer-battered fish and chips to steak tips to massive cheeseburgers. There also are craft cocktails and local brews.

Cornerstone Barrel House

This restaurant and bar serves a strong selection of bourbon and whiskey and tasty tavern fare. The menu at Cornerstone Barrel House features beer and Better Made chip-battered fish and chips as well as Italian meatball sandwiches. Flat-screen TVs stretch along the back of the bar for fans outside of the stadium to catch the game.

Wright & Company

Open Friday through Sunday in a historic building, Wright & Co. has a seasonal menu of shared plates that’s paired with phenomenal cocktails, beer, wine, and cider. The menu features options like pork belly sliders, Maine crab cakes, and seared scallops.

Mister Dips

Mister Dips’ menu is pretty spartan, with three types of burgers anchoring the menu. For vegetarians, there’s the Impossible Dip, featuring a plant-based Impossible burger patty, plus a tomato slice and sprouts. There also are waffle fries and Dairy Dips, their sweet soft-serve ice cream cones that come in several flavors. The restaurant also serves Dipsy Doozy (described as a “thick-aaazz shake”), and adult-only Boozy Doozy shakes, along with a few tapped beers. A three-course meal comes in under $20.

Four hands hold hamburgers Mister Dips

Olin Bar & Kitchen

Olinan American-Mediterranean brasserie from restaurateur Holly McClain, opened in September 2020 in the former PuppetArt Theater building. The small plates and paella on the menu can be accompanied by a white, red, or rose; bottles or drafts; and a few cocktails. Eat at the bar or at a dining room table.

Holly McClain stands, arms crossed with sunglasses on in front of Olin and Parker’s Alley on a sunny day. Olin [Courtesy photo]

Vertical Wine Bar

This classy wine-centric restaurant is located below street level in Harmonie Park. Vertical’s extensive wine list is accompanied by options like charcuterie boards, heirloom tomato and watermelon salad, and squash risotto.

Vicente's

Mix and match tapas at Cuban hotspot Vicente’s. Expect options like chicken and beef empanadas, Spanish omelets, and ham-chicken croquettes for takeout or dining in. The restaurant also serves four styles of paella that are perfect for splitting with a group.

Mootz Pizzeria + Bar

This downtown Detroit pizzeria serves New York-style slices with two different styles of service: Customers on the go can pick up a meal with to-go cocktails at the small carryout slice shop or dine in with full service and cocktails. The restaurant is currently open for outdoor and indoor dining with limited capacity and also accepts online orders for carryout, including DIY pizza kits.

Pizza with a drizzle of dark red sauce across the top. Gerard + Belevender

The Skip

This Belt Alley bar is a casual option for a quick beer and a shot, or a frozen cocktail before and after the game. The Skip also features a dedicated snack cart that serves up a rotating list of Indian-inspired curries, hot dogs, sandwiches, and more.

Lions VIP Tailgate

A few blocks from Ford Field, the “Lions VIP Tailgate” is a spacious hangout that just opened in the former space of Punch Bowl Social bar, restaurant, and bowling alley. For a flat fee, fans can get access to an open bar, a buffet, pre-game TV broadcasts, gaming stations, and a DJ.

Basement Burger Bar

Whether customers are in the mood for a straight-forward cheeseburger or a bison patty piled high with barbecue sauce and onion straws, there’s a burger here to suit the occasion. Customize a burger, or those who hate making tough choices in toppings can choose a house special like the pesto-mushroom burger or the avocado burger.

A cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato sits on a table

Firebird Tavern

Just a few blocks from the stadium in Greektown, this casual pub caters to sports fans by keeping the kitchen open late on game days. In addition to beer and cocktails, customers can find a solid selection of bar food ranging from fish tacos to corned-beef sandwiches.

Related Maps

PizzaPapalis of Greektown

Metro area chain PizzaPapalis offers three types of pie including an uber-filling Chicago-style deep dish pizza (keep in mind it can take up to 45 minutes to bake). In addition to offering pizza, the Greektown restaurant serves hearty sandwiches like the Roman Club — a ciabatta sandwich with turkey, ham, bacon, and melted provolone cheese.

Flood's Bar and Grille

In the heart of Greektown, Flood’s has been a hotspot for seafood, soul food, and Cajun fare for 25 years. The loungey vibe is complemented by R&B, hip-hop and DJs on the weekend.

Related Maps