Since opening in 2015, The Southerner has been a critical success for chef Matthew Millar, a two-time James Beard Awards semifinalist who pays homage to his Southern roots with this waterfront eatery in Saugatuck. Before opening The Southerner, Millar boasted an impressive fine dining resume, including a stint as executive chef at Reserve Wine and Food in downtown Grand Rapids. Dishes such as Nana’s fried chicken and homemade biscuits have generated a lot of buzz for the restaurant.

There are many reasons why Grove has garnered multiple Restaurant of the Year honors from Grand Rapids Magazine and is a consistent fan favorite. Locally-sourced, seasonal cooking are par for the course these days, but Grove nails it, offering a three-course farm-to-table meal that you can customize. The ambience and killer cocktails also continue to draw a regular stream of diners. And since you’re in town already, the East Hills neighborhood that’s home to Grove is also a hub for other food and drink destinations including Brewery Vivant, Marie Catrib’s, and Green Well Gastropub.

Founded in 1994 by executive chef Julie Stanley, Food Dance is a restaurant, market, and bakery. It prides itself on making many items in house from the ketchup to the sausage. It also subscribes to the culinary philosophy of cooking locally and seasonally. Menu items with “dance” in the name are good bets, including the Belly Dance (harissa verde, avocado, French feta, pickled radishes, cucumbers, arugula, and grilled scallions on four-grain bread) and The Chicken Dance — a sandwich more appealing than its eponymous hokey wedding tradition. They also offer educational opportunities such as cooking classes and rum tastings. Furthering your cocktail knowledge and elevating your cooking skills while getting a great meal? Sounds like a road trip worth taking.

For the better part of two decades The Common Grill has been dishing up fresh takes on new American cuisine with a seafood-forward menu while emphasizing impeccable service. Chef and owner Craig Common started his culinary career at age 14 as a dishwasher before working his way up as corporate chef overseeing 16 restaurants in the C.A. Muer Corporation. In 1990, Bob Daniels of Chelsea Lumber Company approached Common with the idea to open a restaurant that would cater to playgoers of the Purple Rose Theater founded by Bob’s son, Jeff Daniels the actor. Common has also cooked at the James Beard House in New York City and was named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award in the Great Lakes category.

This casual European bistro emphasizes high-quality fresh ingredients all prepared lovingly from scratch. With expansive menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, The Laundry truly embraces the local and seasonal ethos with an organic kitchen garden providing heirloom tomatoes, peppers, squash, and herbs and an on-site beehive. A bakery and brewhouse round out the dining experience, making it worth the drive. In 2012, the owners opened artisanal bakery Crust, which provides many of the delectable baked goods for The Laundry. Located behind The Laundry is Lynchpin brewery, which makes handcrafted beers only available at the restaurant.

Established in 1993, The Farm Restaurant in Port Austin specializes in from-scratch creative comfort food. Chef and owner Mary Gabriel-Roth worked at Café Bon Homme in Plymouth after her sister encouraged her to work in the kitchen. She then applied to attend Schoolcraft College where she joined the culinary salon team and traveled with chef Mary Brady (owner of Diamond Jim Brady’s Bistro in Novi) all over the U.S. and Europe. Gabriel-Roth’s approach to seasonal cooking continues to draw diners and has helped make the Thumb a destination.

Once a major center of shipbuilding and lumber processing, Marine City in St. Clair County is in the midst of a revival, with new restaurants, theaters, and boutique shopping. Husband and wife team Tom and Kathy Vertin own the Riverbank and Snug Theatres and are building a waterfront hotel called the Inn on Water Street. Slated to open next spring, it will feature 27 boutique hotel rooms with views of the St. Clair River and Canada. The city is also home to several antique stores, making it a popular spot for antiquing. What helped to put this riverfront town on the map is Marine City Fish Company, which opened during the recession. The bold move paid off as it’s consistently packed with patrons in search of fresh, local fish and craft beers. They’ve recently expanded to meet demand. Between the shopping, entertainment, and food, it’s easy to make a day trip out to Marine City and be back home by bedtime.

Okay, we know what you’re thinking: Why would I drive all the way to Ohio for Michael Symon’s food? True, we have Roast in the Book Cadillac and B Spots around town, but Lola is where it all began. Cleveland is only about 170 miles away from Detroit, which isn’t bad for the experience of checking out the Iron Chef’s first restaurant that helped shine a light on the city’s culinary scene with his focus on nose-to-tail cooking before it was even a thing. Signature dishes include the perennial favorite beef cheek pierogi. Since opening 20 years ago, Symon he has gone on to open several new restaurants, including Mabel’s BBQ and to celebrity chef status with countless Food Network appearances as well as a hosting gig on The Chew.