Class of 61 wrote: but we ate (and met Ed and Michelle) surprisingly enough at an IRISH bar that is "catty corner" to the casino.... was crowded with people and decent food. I'm assuming your friend, being a P burg fan, likes to drink; and I'm not the one to help him with that, but we DID enjoy the IRISH place from a food standpoint.
That bar is called the "Old Shillelagh" It's a pretty decent little Irish pub, but the prices are a little high, IMO. It is towards the stadium from the Casino.
It's really tough to know how many of my Detroit tips are useful for superbowl because I'm sure it all will change. For instance, normally I'd tell anyone going to Ford Field/Comerica to park at the casino. Parking there is generally free if you go into the Casino and get it validated. Validation is done by a computer and takes about 30 seconds...plus the 5 minute walk from the garage to/from the casino and it's well worth it IMO. They may not offer the free parking on superbowl sunday, however, no clue.
Greektown rocks. As mentioned it's just a collection of greek restaurants, etc. If he likes a good Gyro it's a good place to hit up, I always grab one when I'm up there.
Right across from Comerica/Ford Field Hockeytown is right there. The food is decent, but the prices are expensive, but if they're into hockey there is a lot of good memorbilia there. Right across from Hockeytown there is a Johnny Rockets. Personally, I've never been to the one in Detroit, but I'd recommend against them in a general rule. It's a 50's style diner that is way overpriced for pretty lousy food, IMO.
Typically I think the best value food in that area are the Greek places in Greektown. I've never been to the Detroit Beer Company that somebody mentioned, but I've never found a good beer drinking place up there before. The Shillelagh is probably the best cuz they have Guinness & Killians, seems that most of Detroit doesn't drink good beer, as far as I can tell. That said your friends are Steelers fans so they likely know nothing of beer anyways...tell 'em to take their Iron City with 'em.
If your friends are into gambling I think the Windsor Casino is much nicer than the American side ones. However, Greektown is the most convenient to the stadiums, and it's not bad either. I'm sure they won't be spreading anything but $20 min black jack on Superbowl weekend...they may up it to $25 min. They've got all the games that you'd expect at most casinos. Windsor & Greektown have the largest poker rooms (MGM doesn't have one, and Motor City is very small). I usually play at Greektown, $50-$100 buyin NL HE. They had 7 tables of NL going last Saturday, I think they've got about 35 tables in total. Half are smoking, half non and you don't get your choice (although you can request a move once you've been seated and you'll get the next available on the other side). Windsor's pokerroom is all non-smoking. The games at Greektown are LOOSE, easy money for anyone that knows what they're doing. That said, the rake structure is HIGH. So it's easy to beat the opponents, but you've gotta do it at a pretty decent rate to beat the rake. With all the people that will be there for the SB I bet the games will be even looser...they may also spread some higher limit games.
Other than gambling, drinking, and eating I'm out of ideas for downtown Detroit
