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Scene In Detroit: Le Petit Zinc

By Amelia Kanan, CBS Detroit

As I was cruising the CBS Detroit "Best of" restaurant lists, I found one of the "best cafes" missing. Thank goodness Scene in Detroit is here to make sure no gem goes unnoticed.

Le Petit Zinc is far from being a new business but because it's small and tucked away, I could see it being overlooked. However, due to its cozy size and hidden locale, it's easy to feel as though you're not actually in an historic American-Irish neighborhood in Detroit but rather Aix-en-Provence in France. I felt so far removed my first time there that I found myself keeping a look out for stray barnyard animals (I love pigs).

Everyone raves about Good Girls Go To Paris but, I'm not afraid to say that they have nothing on Le Petit Zinc. Their menu doesn't just consist of crepes, either. It may seem small like its venue but it is mighty, offering a wide variety of dishes: salads, quiche, sandwiches, sweets, classic entrees and beverages (non-alcoholic).

This authentic experience exists both on and off the plate. A bar with zinc countertops, yellow walls, a tiny open kitchen, bring-your-own-wine policy, fresh and organic ingredients, indoor/outdoor seating, red table umbrellas, ratatouille, chalk boarded specials, old Cuban music on the speakers, Coco Cola bottled in Mexico (only the best), cups of soup served in mugs, dishes are plated with an artful eye and the service is excellent without overstepping any boundaries.

I'm still shocked that no one at CBS had written about Le Petit Zinc before because every time I visit, it's bustling with coworkers sharing a lunch, friends catching up over macchiatos or people like me who enjoy lunching leisurely with a good crossword puzzle. It's quaint, delicious and extremely modest in pricing.

Le Petit Zinc is located at 1055 Trumbull St., Detroit, MI (Corktown) and open Mon-Thurs: 10am-4pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-9pm and Sun: 9am-3pm.

Amelia Kanan is freelance writer/photographer and a returning native of Detroit. A graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, she wrote for an Emmy nominated sketch comedy show and pursued her passion for documentary filmmaking in Los Angeles. An incomplete list of her loves: books, human rights, improv, the smell of new shoes, talking to strangers, libraries, France, yoga, furniture, music, sociology and pushing the limits.

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