Greektown is a delightful place come mealtime, and most Detroiters have their favorite Greektown restaurant. Top choices include the Laikon Cafe (569 Monroe St., 313/963-7058, 11 a.m.–midnight Wed.–Mon., $10–20), New Parthenon (547 Monroe St., 313/961-5111 or 313/963-8888, 11 a.m.–3 a.m. daily, $10–25), and the upscale
Pegasus Taverna (558 Monroe St., 313/964-6800, http://pegasusdetroit.com, 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Mon.–Thurs., 11 a.m.–3 a.m. Fri.–Sat., 11 a.m.–midnight Sun., $6–27). All serve specialties that include a tart avgolemono (chicken lemon soup), flaky spinach pie, pastitsio (Greek macaroni), and flaming saganaki cheese, lit with a flourish and a cry of “Opa!” from the waiter.

Afterward, many diners wander over to the popular Astoria Pastry Shop (541 Monroe St., 313/963-9603, www.astoriapastryshop.com, 8 a.m.–midnight Sun.–Thurs., 8 a.m.–1 a.m. Fri.–Sat., $2–5) for baklava and other Greek and European pastries laid out neatly behind gleaming glass countertops.

Of course, not everything worth seeing in Greektown is Greek. PizzaPapalis Taverna (553 Monroe St., 313/961-8020, www.pizzapapalis.com, 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Mon.–Sat., noon–1 a.m. Sun., $6–24) is where Motown meets the Windy City. Only the name is Greek: deep-dish pies are the specialty.

Meanwhile, Fishbone’s (400 Monroe St., 313/965-4600, www.fishbonesusa.com, $9–65) is a New Orleans–inspired eatery that opened in the mid-1980s and has been jammed ever since. It serves up surprisingly authentic gumbo ya ya and jambalaya, in addition to ribs, steaks, and seafood.

South of Greektown, Opus One (565 E. Larned St., 313/961-7766, www.opus-one.com, 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Tues., 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Wed.–Thurs., 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri., 5–11 p.m. Sat., noon–7 p.m. Sun., $10–35) ranks as one of the city’s most elegant eateries, with a sophisticated menu that reflects both continental and regional influences. Top off your visit with the warm chocolate cake, accompanied by freshly brewed Jamaican blue java.