Century Grille, Detroit

A trip to the Century Grille, housed in the same building as Detroit's historic Gem Theatre , is an experience for the eye as well as the stomach. After the club and the adjoining theatre were moved five blocks because of the downtown stadium-building project, developer Chuck Forbes restored and reopened the club as an upscale restaurant and 200-seat dinner theater. Thick carpets, old wood, upholstered chairs, chandeliers and Pewabic tile highlight the decor. Stained glass panels, ornate chandeliers, fireplaces and Pewabic tile were rescued from the downtown YWCA building before it was demolished for the stadiums. It is a place where Continental means North American, like the popular Jack Daniel's ribs, served with the chef's special Caribbean coleslaw. There is also an ample selection of seafood, and the desserts are memorable. Live jazz Thursday through Sunday makes this a truly fascinating piece of the downtown.