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2012 Tasted Good: The Best New Restaurants That Opened In The Detroit Area

(credit: Thinkstock) (credit: Thinkstock)

If you are hungry, then Detroit is the place to be with a variety of new restaurants opening in and around the city. What you will find at the five listed here are meals that range from extraordinary yet simple to some of the most unique the city has to offer and at a wide price range that will accommodate anyone's pocket book.

Kouzina Greek Street Food
121 N. Main St.
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 629-6500
www.facebook.com/KouZinaGreekStreetFood

New to the downtown area of Royal Oak, Kouzina specializes on Greek "street food," the always good and reasonably priced meals that are common to the street vendors in Greece. What you will find here are the traditional Greek gyros, but unlike other "Greek restaurants," these are wrapped in freshly baked pita breads that come out of the oven placed up front for the customers to see. They are served with either tzatziki, the luscious cucumber yogurt dressing, with feta cheese or with both. Like traditional street food in any country, each comes reasonably priced at $5.50. Like a street food vendor, all meals are served on disposable plates and there is only a small fare for diners to sit, but it is well worth the effort to either get takeout or to find a seat in this most unique diner.

Related: Best Barbecue In Detroit

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina
Located in the MGM Detroit Casino
1777 3rd St.
Detroit, MI 48226
(877) 888-2121
www.mgmgranddetroit.com/wolfgangpuckpizzeriaandcucina

Returning to Detroit and this time in a much more relaxed atmosphere is chef extraordinaire Wolfgang Puck with the opening of the Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina all under the direction of Executive Chef Marc Djozlija, former chef of Wolfgang Puck Grill. Featured on the menu are wood-oven baked pizzas along with Italian pasta dishes and other specialties. There are handmade pastas, salads and a variety of specially prepared fish and meat. Some of the more intriguing meals are penne carbonara with sautéed pancetta, seafood linguine covered in a sauce featuring calamari and shrimp and a lemon-caper chicken piccata that would challenge anyone's taste buds.

Luca's Chophouse
6870 N. Rochester Road
Rochester Hills, MI 48306
(248) 266-6370
www.lucaschophouse.com

When you have a restaurant that has a motto of "The house belongs to God and the Guest," you know that service and quality is at the top of the list when it comes to serving the customer. A restaurant boasting such high expectations is Luca's Chophouse. Featured on the menu, of course, are the "chops," which include petite filets, pork chops and a 24-ounce porterhouse steak. But there are also special creations like a herb-crusted rack of lamb, veal Charenté with wild mushrooms, tomatoes and leeks all with a cognac glaze and the shrimp Luca which is flash fried and then topped with a lemon garlic cream sauce. Luca's is the type of restaurant that will offer every guest a chance to try something new, all in a comfortable setting with service that can only be called extraordinary.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
201 S. Old Woodward Ave.
Birmingham, MI 48009
(248) 594-4369
www.hydeparkrestaurants.com

If you are looking for a top-of-the-line steakhouse, then you must consider Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse in Birmingham. The moment you walk into the building, you understand that you have entered a world of fine food and wonderful service. Though Hyde Park may be new to the Detroit area, the firm is not new to the world of steakhouses with 12 other locations across Ohio and reaching down to Florida. But do not think that because this is part of a "chain" that the service or food is anything but unique. The offerings center around steaks and other beautiful cuts of meat, all expertly prepared. From the filet mignon or 12-ounce heavy cut lamb chops to the steak a la lobster, there is something for any taste.

Tijuana's Mexican Kitchen
18950 Ford Road
Detroit, MI 48228
(313) 982-1455
www.tijuanasmexicankitchen.com

Sometimes what is old is new, and when it comes to Tijuana's Mexican Kitchen, such is the case. This well-established Mexican restaurant has returned to Detroit with its new location on Ford Road, just west of the Southfield Freeway. Often voted by food critics as having the best homemade salsa in the city, Tijuana's offers up a wide variety of ethnic Mexican food at a very reasonable prices. The tamales are absolutely the best and along with the basket of hot chips that arrive at your table, an order of the guacamole is a must. From the standard taco to a meal of the house special enchiladas swisa, which are tortillas stuffed with cheese, your choice of meat and all topped with a fresh tomatillo sauce, you will come back time and time again to enjoy the fresh and authentic offerings at this very affordable restaurant.

Related: Best Sommeliers In Detroit

Head to CBS Detroit's Best Of page for more local tips on family fun, shopping, nightlife, food,culture and more!

Award winning freelance writer and photographer Lawrence DiVizio is based in Southeast Michigan and works to convey in words and images the world around us. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

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