Checker Bar & Grill

After purchasing the restaurant from the original family, Tharp and Gregory have put forth a profound effort to breathe life back into this classic Detroit establishment. Think: historic tin ceilings, graffiti murals by local legends, restored brick walls and funky retro kitchen objects you forgot you missed so much.

While their boozy ice cream cocktail menu is coming soon, the kitchen is...

The original owner of this downtown bar and grill also once ran the city's Checker Cab Company, hence the bar's name. It's jammed every lunch hour during the week with lawyers and government workers who roll in from the nearby city and county offices. Known for having some of the best burgers in Detroit, that's what Checker does best. Try one with homemade chili or blue cheese, or pile your own...

In Short
It may look like your neighbor's basement bar, but its quaint interior hides a gourmet spirit. Casual is key, as diners munch half-pound burgers among the checkerboard tables,...