Drive to Detroit: Five Awesome Spots to Eat During Motor City Madness
Lance Rinker
Drive to Detroit is a series that prepares fans for Motor City Madness. Each article will take fans behind the scenes of a team’s journey or preview what fans can expect when they arrive in Detroit.
In this installment of Drive to Detroit, Horizon League Contributor Joey Yashinsky outlines five delicious restaurants to visit in downtown Detroit during Motor City Madness.
Additional information can be found at VisitDetroit.com.
Photo courtesy of Bill Bowen.
HopCat
4265 Woodward Ave. | Directions
Just about a mile up Woodward from Little Caesars arena you will find HopCat, a brewery known for serving some of the most addictive French fries in the midwest. Adorned with a special in-house seasoning, these “Crack Fries” are accompanied by a warm cheese dipping sauce so good it could probably be consumed on its own. Burgers are prepared in a variety of ways, and for the non-meat eaters, an order of blackened tilapia fish tacos should hit the spot. There’s an extensive beer list for the over-21 crowd. HopCat is open until at least midnight every day of the week, making it a convenient option for Horizon League fans looking to unwind after a full slate of Motor City Madness action.
Small Plates
1521 Broadway St. | Directions
Whether you’re fueling up before the day’s games or breaking down the bracket after the final buzzer, Small Plates has you covered with plenty of robust flavors. Their brunch selections are to die for: frittatas, breakfast burritos, and buttermilk waffles. The dinner menu consists of a wide variety of dishes intended for splitting among the members of your party. Dial up a fresh caprese salad, an order of jumbo lump crab cakes, and select from four unique Detroit-style pizzas. With temperatures in March surely to be much more pleasant than the single-digit marks we’re seeing today, the brief half-mile walk to Small Plates will offer a nice chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. This restaurant is hopping once shows or games start to let out, so be sure to plan accordingly if visiting with a larger party.
Lafayette Coney Island
118 W Lafayette Blvd. | Directions
A true Detroit institution, Lafayette has been dishing out coneys since 1917. A hundred years later and the no-frills joint is still packing in hungry customers all hours of the day. It’s a super-short trek from LCA (Detroit shorthand for Little Caesars Arena); just hop on the QLine for $1.50 and you’ll be elbow-deep in Lafayette’s famous chili ten minutes later. For night owls, it’s the perfect way to cap off an eventful day in The District Detroit. The good folks at Lafayette are plating delicious dogs inside those steamed buns until 3 AM every night of the week.
Hockeytown Cafe
2301 Woodward Ave. | Directions
Literally a hop, skip, and jump away from Little Caesars Arena. (A fifth of a mile to be exact.) Hockeytown Cafe has been around since 1999 and it’s located right in the heart of District Detroit. They are cooking up all the classic bar and grill favorites: delicious wings with a variety of sauces, eight different entree-sized salads, a wicked collection of burgers, and some of the best deep-dish pizza you’ll find in the city. Hockeytown also boasts giant HD screens throughout the restaurant, so with conference tournament season in full swing, you won’t miss a minute of the hoops drama from across the country.
Union Street
4145 Woodward Ave. | Directions
Brunches. Burgers. Beers. The most bomb mac & cheese in the city. You’ll find all that and more at Union Street, a lively eatery located only a stone’s throw from all the tournament venue. The menu at Union Street has something for everyone; juicy lamb chops or filet mignon for the carnivores in your group and a hickory-grilled portobella sandwich for vegetarians. This creative joint even loads their grilled cheese with lobster meat, a sophisticated twist on the classic kid’s favorite. This is sure to be a go-to establishment all week during Motor City Madness.
MOTOR CITY MADNESS
The 2018 Little Caesars Horizon League Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championship will take place March 2-6 at state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Tickets can be purchased now at campus box offices or at HorizonLeague.com.
Drive to Detroit series
1: The District Detroit
2: College Hoops Invades Little Caesars Arena
3: #HLWBB Garners National Acclaim as League Play Tips Off
4: A Visitor's Overview
5: Five Awesome Spots to Eat During Motor City Madness