Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
-The Old School Burgers of Detroit, Michigan
The stories and pictures of Detroit that those outside of there see
remain ones of abandoned buildings, crime and bankruptcy. However those
that have followed my posts here (check part one of this series
HERE and part two
HERE ) know that those stories are only half of
it. The other is the places and people that remain. We know about the
Motor City's deep affection for Coney Dogs but there's another love and
it's as much about the buildings as the food. In a city where
architecture is strong, the slider shops stand out. Beautiful white
enamel buildings sitting in the same place, most for over 50 years,
nothing except maybe the prices have changed. "Sliders" are what locals
they call the burgers that these spots put out, many do so 24 hours a
day. Not as small as a White Castle slider nor steamed these are more
like your typical 1930's style smashed burger with grilled onions, the
type you used to find everywhere. The style McDonalad's has made billions on. This is actually a couple years worth
of round-ups but I'm confident in saying not much if anything has
changed at these places. There's a reason they've survived time. For
many they bring back memories of better times. Plus the greasy burgers are good.
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Sonny's
City Limits
I
cant figure out when Sonny's got it's start but there are two locations
and this one is within city limits on Schoolcraft road. In an area
where not much else remains, this beautiful building still stands and
the local folks still flood the place. Great atmosphere inside here, as
good as any I stopped in at. I didn't get a snap of their longtime grill
but it sits right behind the counter by the register and must be 5x5
feet at max. I witnessed a funny exchange between a mother and her child
who was impatient with the wait. "I'm gonna eat your sliders" if you
don't start behaving. She hushed up real quick. I'm usually a no ketchup
on my burger guy but sometimes forget to mention it as I did here but I
actually kind of liked it on there. I could see myself eating these at
later hours, theyre open 24/7. I walked out with a t-shirt that cost me a
buck less than my six pack of cheeseburgers ($6).
Cheeseburgers from Sonny's
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The Telway
City Limits
This
classic grease pit is one of the only spots on this round-up that sports a coca-caola sign, the rest prefer Pepsi. They've been around since 1944
and have another location in Madison Heights. It's an all night diner
but the coffee and dirt cheap mini burgers are their most popular
items. An article from The Metro Times circa 2002 says the building
itself has been around for 78 years which would mean it's pushing 90
these days but that seems a little old for this style. There's only
about eight seats inside, none of these spots have tables, most of the business comes from the take
out window on the other side of the entrance.
To-Go Window
All
the spots featured offer bags of burgers which must of been the
preferred way of ordering them back when lunch time hit at the
factories. These days it's still a popular spot and two guesses for why
would be it's still a spot where one can fill up with just a few bucks
and also there must be quite a few who grew up on them. Because they
weren't my favorite. Mushy is the best way to describe them. Not
inedible but definitely different. I guess I could see enjoying them if
they brought back pleasant memories of better days in Detroit.
Telway Cheeseburgers
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Motz's Burgers
City Limits
Over
by the river in Southwest Detroit is one of the cities longest tenured
burger makers. Motz's Burgers has been around since 1929 and with the
exception of price they haven't changed a thing. Same customers, same
service. These burgers are bigger than all the rest featured on here.
Not large but definitely not small balls of beef are smashed on their
longtime griddle with the smell of the onions being abundant inside and
out. Common trend from all these spots is the use of cheap picnic buns
which I don't really mind because the beef shines. Motz's is often
mentioned on "best burgers in America" lists and while I've always said
those are impossible, there's a reason they've been around for over
eight decades and get mentions, its really good.
Cheeseburger from Motz's
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Elmer's Hamburgers
City Limits
You'll
find Elmer's off the beaten path located deep on the cities west side.
Located in an area where there used to be seven steel plants within a
couple miles. The only other business still around is a nite-club and
I'm sure most everyone from there goes to Elmer's when last call is
over. It’s been open 24/7 for the last 50 years. Originally there were
two but nowadays just this one. Its run by a couple and their kids who
took it over from their grandparents. The one thing that has changed
here I read, is the bulletproof glass as robberies got all too common in
the 70's. Judging by the "systems" text on the outside I'm guessing
Elmer took this place over from one of the many White Castle spawns that
came around when it was taking the country by storm. I didn't sample
these burgers all one by one within a small time frame but I remember
Elmer's as much as any other. Another thing all these spots have in
common is grease at the bottom of the brown bag they come in, not to
mention the covered walls at all. Elmer's makes a fresh but certainly not lean
hand smashed patty that comes with an extra black pepper kick, grilled
onions and pickles. Old school doesn't get much better, both in taste
and atmosphere.
Elmer's Extra Peppery Cheeseburger
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Campau Tower
Hamtramck, MI
This
beautiful structure in downtown Hamtramck was originally a White Tower. One of the many who tried to claim White Castles crown they
were founded in Milwaukee in 1926 according to Wikipedia. It also
mentions that In 1929, White Tower put 30 locations in Detroit alone. So
it's possible this structure goes back to then. At their high point
White Tower had 230 locations in a handful of states. I learned the last
of the White Towers is in Toledo (Ohio) but there's still a handful of
buildings up including this one which I believe is still 24 hours. Your
odds of having a normal experience at these places aren't as high as
your average fast food joint because of this. Of course I had an interesting incident here.
Menu was widespread and I noticed they had "sliders" listed on top of
the cheeseburgers which came with a nice heaping helping of rehydrated
onions ala WC. Both under the cheese and at the bottom of the bun.
Anyone that appreciates the old school 30's style burger documented
HERE by
Sky Full of Bacon will appreciate most of these spots, the fresh but never lean beef spots anyway. Campau included.
Campau Tower Cheeseburger
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The Giant System
Dearborn Heights, MI
Unfortunately
this spot has been under renovation on my last two attempts to visit.
But gotta look at the good and at least it's not being torn down. Some
stuff on the web seems to trace this spot back to somewhere around 1950.
There's not much more on it out there.
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Carter's
Lincoln Park, MI
This
beautiful building and the Carter's name have been around for over 50
years. As was the case here you can expect the employees to be long time
workers at most everyone of these spots. Also the case for all, whoever lives nearby is a regular. Many
of these places are social gathering spots as much as they are eating
establishments.
a peak inside
The
burger here comes pre-formed but it is a fresh patty used. When they
throw them them on the griddle they really sizzle. Something unique I noticed here
compared to others was that they toast the bottom part of the bun. Their
menu is large and Thursday is Coney day (.99). All their soups,
chili and cakes are homemade.
Cheeseburger from Carter's
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Hunter House Hamburgers
Birmingham, MI
Hunter
House Hamburgers was established in 1952. They've been going strong
ever since. You know you're near when the grilled onion smell is in the
air. It's probably the most well known resident in Birmingham, a suburb
where many of Detroit's best athletes live. You can still catch some top
notch car shows and eat their famous "sliders" inside their beautiful
porcelain diner.
a peak inside
Meat
is coming from the same local butcher as the current owners parents
used back when they got started. Who knows how many pounds of onions
they've smashed into that beef but it must be in the millions because
these are some really wonderful burgers in that change nothing type of
way. The folks working the grill here were way younger than any of the
other spots, it must be a popular high school summertime gig, but they
did a great job with the burgers. The thick kosher deli sliced pickles
were best of the bunch.
Hunter House Cheeseburgers
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Bate's Burgers
Livonia, MI
They've
been going strong here since 1959. Like Hunter House the inside here
was really well kept and every stool was taken during my visit. I found
it best to get them from the pick-up window and eat but Bate's had a
sign saying that's a no-no. I rebelled. All good, these style of burgers
go down quick.
Sign Outside
I
did a handful of these on one swoop and have been back to a few since
then, Bate's remains very consistent. It was the overall winner on one
roundabout to a few within distance of each other. It's almost
impossible not to start salivating over some of these spots as the smell
in the air is too much to pass up. It'd be hard driving by here
everyday and not stopping in for at least a couple.
Cheeseburger from Bate's Burgers
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Greene's Hamburgers
Farmington, MI
The
Greene's name has been around since the late 1950's. There were a few
around the Detroit area for a while but just this one in Farmington
remains. You know the drill by now, fresh beef with tons of onions smashed into them.
Making Sliders
They
probably handled the onions here better than anyone else, I don't know
if it's because they load them on or their using a specific type,
Spanish seemed to be preferred at most spots, but these were some potent
burgers. Locals were sitting at the stools ordering them up like they
were beer "I'll take another when you get a chance hun"
Greene's Cheeseburger
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Sonny's
20001 Schoolcraft Rd
Detroit, MI 48223
(313) 535-2278
Telway Hamburgers
6820 Michigan Ave
Detroit, MI 48210
(313) 843-2146
Motz's Burgers
7208 W Fort St
Detroit, MI 48209
(313) 843-9186
Elmer's Hamburgers
8515 W Chicago
Detroit, MI 48204
(313) 933-7766
Campau Tower
10337 Joseph Campau Avenue
Hamtramck, MI 48212
(313) 873-7330
Giant System
21944 Van Born Rd
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125
(313) 561-3940
Carter's Hamburgers
2908 Fort St
Lincoln Park, MI 48146
(313) 928-6222
Hunter House Hamburgers
35075 Woodward Ave
Birmingham, MI 48009
(248) 646-7121
Bates Burgers
33406 5 Mile Rd
Livonia, MI 48154
(734) 427-3464
Greene's Hamburgers
24155 Orchard Lake Rd
Farmington, MI 48336
(248) 474-7980
