Where to Eat at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

Here we are again. It’s travel season, folks. Maybe you travel for work and it’s always travel season. Anyway, we’re back at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, on the hunt for sustenance. It’s time to meet that hierarchy of needs. Let’s face facts. Hardly anyone is going to the airport for a great meal. One is looking for a kind of convenience and sustenance. A port in a storm — sometimes a literal snowstorm. The casual airport customer wants a meal. Hopefully, that meal is decently filling and not 50 dollars at checkout, though we can’t really promise the latter. Ideally said meal that doesn’t leave you feeling like garbage on a four-hour flight to Mexico City or wherever your journey may take you (Bismarck?). Maybe that meal comes with a nice local beer or a strong cocktail. Maybe there are outlets where you can plug in your laptop before takeoff or a quick-service element that gets you to your gate on time and caffeinated. Whatever your particular need, may this guide ease the decision-making as a captive audience in what’s basically a big mall built for airplanes. While the terminal offerings haven’t shifted too much, there are a few surprises in store if you haven’t traveled through DTW recently including a pizza machine (?!?) and a salad and sandwich vending machine. Whether traveling out of McNamara Terminal or Warren Cleage Evans Terminal (formerly North Terminal), here’s a rundown of the options for grabbing a bite ahead of your next flight. If you’re flying, visit Eater for guides to national and several major international airports, plus dining guides to cities the world over. [Image: Get in the mood for Movement 2025 with a stroll through the vibe-y tunnel at DTW. https://platform.detroit.eater.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13444987/_VJP7734.jpg?quality=90&strip=all] McNamara Terminal McNamara is the hub for all Delta Flights as well as Aeromexico, AirFrance, and WestJet Airlines. This terminal has undergone a few changes recently including the addition of Cask & Craft Local Spirits + Bites and the addition of two food vending machines — Pizza Cat and Farmers Fridge. It’s got a lot of options including some chains that are decently popular with frequent fliers, and who are we to disagree? Best bets are noted with ** asterisks. [Image: A map of the McNamara Terminal. Click here for the interactive map. https://platform.detroit.eater.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23585197/Screen_Shot_2022_05_24_at_9.55.19_AM.png?quality=90&strip=all] * ** Harmonie Public Market/Vino Volo: Named for the downtown Harmonie Park district, this shop serves coffee, pastries, grab-and-go options, and retail wine, as well as pre-packaged snacks and drinks. It shares space with Vino Volo, a longtime DTW airport wine bar resident that serves small plates and wine flights, and recently expanded its menu to include cocktails and beer. [Central Link] * McDonald’s: World-famous hamburgers, fries, and unfortunately service that leaves something to be desired probably because we’re all stuck in an airport looking for comfort in a Big Mac. [Gate Central Link] * ** Reflections Restaurant and Lounge: This restaurant and bar inside the airport’s on-site Westin comes with nice amenities. The menu features options like flatbreads, salmon, and seasonal soup, plus a full bar. [Inside the Westin Hotel] * Eastern Market Shoppe: A quick stop for grab-and-go snacks and drinks. [A6] * ** The Shed Bar: Belly up at this straightforward bar that serves a handful of local Michigan and domestic beers, cocktails, and wines. [A8] * Corridor Kitchen: Pizza, salads, burgers. [A8] * Coffee Beanery: A Flushing, Michigan-based coffee shop. [A8] * Grobbel’s Gourmet Deli: “America’s oldest corned beef specialist” serves sandwiches. [A8] * Farmers Fridge: If you’re in the terminal outside of the regular restaurant business hours, this might be the spot. It’s a vending machine for salads, bowls, and sandwiches that literally never closes. [A15, A36, A65, B11, Baggage Claim] * Max & Erma’s: Casual dining chain featuring American cuisine and drinks in an environment with kitschy memorabilia. [A18] * ** Cat Cora’s Taproom: This celebrity chef-backed restaurant in the McNamara Terminal specializes in beer and pub food, but many customers simply make a beeline for the boozy milkshakes. [A24] * Andiamo Italia: This local chain serves Italian food. [A30] * Sora Japanese Sushi Bar: Airport dining stalwart Sora serves bowls of udon and sushi rolls. [A35] * Pizza Cat: Step aside Sbarro. This bonafide pizza vending machine boldly declares that it’s “revolutionizing the way travelers enjoy pizza.” The menu includes options like cheese, pepperoni, veggie, and meat-lovers slices as well as cheesy bread and chocolate chip cookies. Reps for the airport say that Pizza Cat will soon add new flavors like barbecue chicken pizza and a gluten-free option. Perhaps most importantly, because it’s a machine, it’s open round the clock, 365 days a year, just like the airport. [A36] * ** Plum Market: Southeast Michigan’s bougie grocery chain has an outpost at DTW selling flaky Zingerman’s pastries and coffee. One can do far worse than Plum Market at DTW. The outlet features a bar area and dine-in seating, but most customers head for the cafe line to fuel up before a flight. [A36] * PF Chang’s: Asian-themed casual dining chain with the big horse statues. [A38] * ** Leo’s Coney Island: You’re in Detroit... well Romulus, so why not partake in a time-honored tradition and hit up a coney island in the airport? While Leo’s at McNamara lacks the old-school charm of some of the more venerable coney islands in the city, and the bargain-basement prices, this full-service airport diner with options like gyros and chili-topped hot dogs is worth consideration. Just make sure to ask for your check when the food is delivered or you might be waiting longer than you’d like. [A46] * ** Mezza Mediterranean Grille: Find diner-quality Mediterranean food here including beef and chicken shawarma, kebabs, and hummus. Customers seem to gravitate towards the lamb burger topped with feta cheese. [A54] * Starbucks: The ubiquitous chain serving espresso drinks, pastries, teas, and grab-and-go snacks. [A61, B8, A18, Gate Central Link] * ** Cask & Craft Local Spirits + Bites: Stop in for cocktails made with Detroit-owned spirits from Valentine Distilling Co. and Detroit City Distillery alongside local beer and snacks. [A64] * ** Longhorn Steakhouse: The airport’s outpost of this chain has gained a modest reputation among frequent flyers for consistent quality and prices (the view isn’t too bad either). Grab breakfast with options like French toast, or order from the regular menu complete with steak, steak salad, and burgers. Be forewarned: The cutlery inside the airport is plastic, which may make slicing beef challenging. [A66] * ** Pinkberry: Frozen and fresh yogurt, plus smoothies if you’re feelin’ sassy. [A71] * ** Qdoba: A chain competitor with Chipotle, it’s got big burritos, salads, bowls, and nachos topped with queso. [A72] * ** Chick-fil-A: Fried chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, lemonades, and more. [A72] * ** Gordon Biersch: This casual chain serves German-style beer with garlic fries, sausages, turkey sandwiches, and more. [A74] * ** Detroit Street Lunchbox: Express location to grab a snack, a drink, a sandwich, or a salad. It’s got Zingerman’s Coffee and a refreshed storefront. [A74] * ** Chili’s/Chili’s To-Go: You may have heard of this place. It’s famous for its baby back ribs. This location does both casual dining and grab-and-go. [B2] * Potbelly: Made-to-order sandwiches prepared with meats, cheeses, and veggies. [B2] * Embers Lounge: This lounge-style bar wines from Michigan vineyards and local beer. [B18] * Harvest & Grounds: Featuring Michigan-made food and drink options. [C11] * Subway: Submarine sandwiches, wraps, salads, and beverages [C15] Lounges The airport has four Delta Sky Clubs (gate level across from A38, second level across from A18, second level across from A68, at gate level across from Concourse C). Freedom Center (Armed Services Lounge) is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., across from A43. Warren Cleage Evans Terminal [Image: A map of the Warren Cleage Evans Terminal. Click here for an interactive map. https://platform.detroit.eater.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23585193/Screen_Shot_2022_05_24_at_9.52.24_AM.png?quality=90&strip=all] At the Warren Cleage Terminal (nee North Terminal) you’ll find a grab bag of all the other airlines including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, Sun Country Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. This terminal used to be the lesser of the two — a wasteland of McDonald’s and not much else — but a handful of years ago it underwent upgrades to its dining options and now has a more selection. Best bets are noted with ** asterisks. * ** Air Margaritaville: Why not waste away at the airport bar version of the late Jimmy Buffett’s restaurant chain where margaritas, strawberry-banana pina coladas, and guacamole-jalapeño burgers are a traveler’s de jure? [D6] * ** Detroit Street Cafe — Zingerman’s: One can do so much worse than grabbing a bite from Detroit Street Cafe. There’s bagels, there’s coffee, there’s smoothies, all with a stamp of approval from Ann Arbor’s favorite deli. And any companions who disagree can swing by its neighbor Air Margaritaville. [D6] * MOD Pizza: Expect, well, pizza from this fast-casual pizza chain. [D8] * Brioche Doree: This cafe serves sandwiches, pastries, and coffee. [D9] * Starbucks: The ubiquitous chain serving espresso drinks, pastries, teas, and grab-and-go snacks. [Gates D10 & D26] * Farmers Fridge: At the risk of repeating ourselves from McNamara Terminal, if you’re trying to eat outside of the regular restaurant business hours, this might be the spot. It’s a vending machine for salads, bowls, and sandwiches that literally never closes. [D12, D26, Baggage Claim] * ** Jolly Pumpkin: Dexter-based sour beer purveyor Jolly Pumpkin’s outpost in the airport serves everything from pizza to macaroni and cheese to beignets. [D14] * McDonald’s: The Golden Arches might seem like an appealing option but consider that everyone is thinking the same thing and you might be trapped waiting for your order for ages. [D15] * Common Grace: A branch of a Dearborn-based roaster with espresso drinks and pastries, plus a refrigerated bottled drink section. [D16] * ** National Coney Island: What’s a trip through Detroit without a coney dog? National Coney Island holds as a steady option touting a little slice of Detroit food culture. Will it be as good as grabbing a dog in downtown Detroit? No. But it will satisfy hunger pangs in a pinch. Check out the traditional coney topped with chili, onions, and mustard or Greek entrees like the gyro. [D18] * ** Atwater Brewery: Welcome to the airport outpost of Detroit-born brewery Atwater. Expect German-style beer options such as the Dirty Blonde Ale, Vanilla Java Porter, and the Corktown Rye IPA. There’s also food such as brats, beer cheese burgers, and Bavarian pretzels. Breakfast is served, but it’s really an afterthought. [D19] * ** Anita’s Kitchen: This may not be the best location of metro Detroit’s beloved Lebanese dining spot, but it is the one in the airport. Think: fattoush salads, chicken shawarma, falafel, and even pita bread pizzas. [D23] * ** Chick-fil-A: Fried chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, lemonades, and more. [D26] * Pei Wei Asian Kitchen: This chain Chinese restaurant serves options like firecracker shrimp and beef and broccoli. [D26] * Outback Steakhouse: This Australian-themed steakhouse chain is the home of the Bloomin’ Onion. [D26] Lounges The Lufthansa Senator Lounge is on the second level near Gate D8. Freedom Center (Armed Services Lounge) is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., across from D17 Use an App to Order and Pre-Pay The mobile ordering app Grab allows customers to place orders and prepay for meals at a limited selection of spots including Air Margaritaville and Atwater in the Warren Cleage Evans Terminal.