Detroit Tigers fans celebrate ALDS Game 3 win
Detroit Tigers fans celebrate after the ALDS Game 3 win at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.
Getting ready for postseason October baseball and game day grub.
As thousands of people head downtown on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners American League Division Series (ALDS) games, nearby restaurants and bars are geared up.
Dozens of establishments are steps or a short walk from Comerica Park. Many will host watch parties, plus there will be plenty of food and drink options. And all season long at Comerica Park, it wowed fans with new and returning local restaurant favorites, new concession foods and its new Priority Club offerings. For the ALDS, Comerica will have a selection of food and drink specials.
Nearby the ballpark, visitors will find offerings ranging from Detroit-style pizza to Eminem’s Mom’s Spaghetti to places known for great chicken wings, sliders, nachos and plenty of coney dogs. Other restaurants nearby include those in Greektown, Midtown and Corktown neighborhoods that are a QLine ride or a short drive away.
Here’s a snapshot of 25 eateries near Comerica Park ahead of the Tigers vs. Mariners games. Some will open earlier for the games.
Basement Burger Bar
Here, of course, burgers are the stars, and plenty of them, with plenty of options. Choose from beef, bison, chicken, and turkey, or a vegetarian burger. There are also appetizers, salads, and sides. 1326 Brush St., Detroit; basementburgerbar.com.
Brass Rail Pizza Bar
Appetizers, salads, and burgers are on the menu at this establishment on Adams off Woodward, along with red- or white-sauced, and build-your-own pizzas. The Brass Rail also has dozens of TVs for game-watching. It’s also connected to Love & Tequila and the Annex. 18 W. Adams, Detroit; brassraildetroit.com.
Buddy’s Pizza
Buddy’s Pizza is known for its square pizzas with thick crusts, crisp and caramelized edges with sauce drizzled atop the cheese. A downtown location offering its popular Detroit-style pizza and traditional salads is on Broadway just minutes from Comerica Park. 1565 Broadway, Detroit; buddyspizza.com.
Buffalo Wild Wings
The spot for all things chicken wings — boneless or classic — and game-watching football. There are also salads, appetizers, burgers, and more. Buffalo Wild Wings downtown on Randolph is a several-minute walk from Comerica Park. 1218 Randolph Street, Detroit; buffalowildwings.com.
Detroit Beer Co.
Just a short walk from Comerica Park, this longtime establishment has plenty of beer options that pair with its burgers, twice-cooked chicken wings, sandwiches, and main dishes. 1529 Broadway, Detroit; detroitbeerco.com.
Easy Peasy
On the corner of Woodward Avenue and John R Street, Easy Peasy has cocktails, beer, salads and sushi. Easy Peasy is from the same team that operates the nearby Huddle Soft Serve ice cream window. 1456 Woodward Ave., Detroit; easypeasydetroit.com.
Elwood Bar and Grill
The Elwood, at the corner of Brush and East Adams, is steps from Comerica Park. Its regular menu offers a selection of starters, sandwiches and burgers. 300 E. Adams, Detroit; elwoodgrill.com.
ESPN SportsBet
Inside Hollywood Casino at Greektown, ESPN SportsBet offers a selection of craft burgers, deep-dish pizzas, handhelds and salads. 555 E. Lafayette, Detroit; hollywoodgreektown.com.
Firebird Tavern
Here, the menu includes the tavern’s popular burgers and chicken wings. You can also try soups, salads, steak frites and a selection of sandwiches. They also offer weekly specials. 419 Monroe St., Detroit; firebirdtavern.com.
Fixins Soul Kitchen
This soul food restaurant is in the Paradise Valley Cultural and Entertainment District on Randolph Street, about a 5-minute walk from Comerica Park. Its menu features traditional soul food dishes, including its signature fried chicken with its secret sauce and 24-hour brine soak before frying. The menu includes a chicken and waffle combo, shrimp and grits, gumbo, oxtails with sweet brown gravy, and other traditional soul food dishes. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit; fixinssoulkitchen.com.
Frita Batidos
Frita Batidos offers Cuban-inspired street food on District Detroit’s pedestrian-friendly brick-lined street. 66 W. Columbia St.; fritabatidos.com.
Gilly’s Clubhouse and Rooftop
Gilly’s is in memory of Nick Gilbert, who died in 2023 and is the son of Rocket Mortgage founder Dan Gilbert. Its lower level is spacious and has an outdoor patio. Gilly’s rooftop bar is the upper level of the sports bar and has a glass ceiling and retractable doors to a rooftop terrace offering views of Detroit’s skyline. 1550 Woodward Ave.; gillysdetroit.com.
Hockeytown Cafe
A two-minute walk to Comerica Park, the multi-level Hockeytown Cafe will have a Tigers playoff party from 1-4 p.m. There will be a selection of its bar bites, beer and cocktail specials.2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit; hockeytowncafe.com.
Jo Jo’s Shakebar
On pedestrian-friendly Columbia Street in downtown Detroit, this is a spot for over-the-top shakes. The shakes are paired with craft cocktails and classic bar food like wings, burgers, and fries. There are also soups, salads, and entrees. Jo Jo’s Shakebar’s annual and festive fall pumpkin patch is in full swing with seasonal offerings and fall activities. 88 W. Columbia St., Detroit; jojosshakebar.com.
Mom’s Spaghetti
The restaurant is inspired by Detroit rapper Eminem’s lyrics for “Lose Yourself.” It has a walk-up window on the side of Union Assembly on Woodward offering spaghetti, spaghetti, and meatballs or a Sghetti sandwich. There’s also an upstairs retail store within Union Assembly. 2131 Woodward Ave., Detroit; momsspaghetti.com.
Mootz Pizzeria
Serving New York-style pizza with a crisp crust, there’s also a selection of starters, salads, beer, wine, and a full cocktail menu. Within walking distance of Comerica Park, fans can also grab a slice to go if not dining in. Next door to Mootz is its Side Hustle Lounge. 1230 Library St., Detroit; mootzpizzeria.com.
Parlay
This downtown Detroit Sports and craft cocktail bar is co-owned by former Detroit Lion Joique Bell. On its menu is a variety of starters, including chicken wings and bang bang shrimp. There’s also brick oven pizzas, burgers, a wide variety of entrees, soups and salads. 1260 Washington Blvd, Detroit; parlaydetroit.com.
Presley’s Kitchen + Bar
Mere minutes walk to Comerica Park, Presley’s is located at Park Avenue and Woodward on the ground floor of the historic David Whitney Building and Autograph Collection Hotel. It offers American cuisine, with craft cocktails, daily brunch, and dinner menus, including starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. Presley’s is billed as a neighborhood restaurant and one of the few restaurants on Woodward Avenue offering brunch and dinner. 1 Park Avenue, Detroit; presleyskitchen.com.
Sahara
This District Detroit spot on pedestrian-friendly Columbia Street offers a huge variety of Mediterranean fare. There are sandwiches, entrees, soups, and stews. 77 Columbia Street, Detroit; saharadining.com.
The Brakeman/Penny Reds
At the Brakeman in Parker’s Alley, you can watch the game and play a few games. There’s foosball, table shuffleboard, or beer pong. If you work up an appetite, the Brakeman has an attached walk-up window serving up buckets of fried chicken, sweet-savory honey-butter biscuits, and a small offering of sides from Penny Red’s. 22 John R St., Detroit; thebrakemandetroit.com or pennyreds.com.
The Lone Goat
This English pub, which draws inspiration from public houses and taverns of London, is on the ground floor of the historic Metropolitan Building in downtown Detroit. Steps off Woodward Ave., the Lone Goat serves classic pub fare, paired with British and domestic draught beers, cocktails, and spirits.33 John R. Street. Detroit.
The Old Shillelagh
This classic, longtime downtown Detroit Irish pub spot has been around since 1975 and is a favorite spot on game days. Its menu highlights sourcing local ingredients and bills with offering “elevated Irish comfort food.” Pizzas are new to its menu, which offers starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and nachos. 349 Monroe Street, Detroit; oldshillelagh.com.
Tin Roof Detroit
Steps from Comerica Park, Tin Roof is a multilevel spot with entertainment and game-watching paired with a menu that includes wings and Nashville hot chicken. 47 E. Adams, Detroit; tinroofdetroit.com.
Union Assembly
The Multilevel Union Assembly is on the ground floor of Little Caesars’ world headquarters. The restaurant has a second-floor outdoor terrace with elevated views of Woodward Avenue and Comerica Park. 2131 Woodward, Detroit; unionjoints.com.
Vicentes Cuban Cuisine
On Library Street, Vicente’s offers authentic Cuban flavors from sandwiches, main dishes, paella options and side dishes of fried sweet plantains and yuca. 1250 Library St., Detroit; vicentesdetroit.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.