To those unfamiliar with the Detroit area, Coney Island does not refer to a theme park in NYC. It's essentially a type of dineresque restaurant in the Detroit and mid-Michigan area, more often than not owned by Greeks, serving cheap Greek food and typical American diner food. The specialty is a Coney Island hot dog, which is a hot dog smothered in chilli.
Two brothers started the first Coney Island in the early 1900's and quickly feel into disagreements about business matters. They broke the Coney Island in half--one is called the American Coney Island and the other is called Lafayette Coney Island--and both now claim to be the first Coney Island.
The Lafayette Coney Island is a little more pared down, but it's where you'll find an authentic Coney Island experience. It only sells Coney hotdogs and loose hamburgers (kind of a like a sloppy joe), the waiters yell out orders and deliver them instantaneously (under a minute). It's open 24 hours a day but the best time to go there is late at night after the bars close because everyone knows everyone, and if they don't know you they'll get to know you. It's one of the few places where people from the suburbs mingle with people from the city (everyone from the fashionistas to the police), whether it's over hot dogs or while waiting in line for the bathroom that's so small you'd be amazed that you can fit in their with the door closed.
Lafayette Coney Island
118 W. Lafayette, Detroit
(313) 964-8198
~bEckY
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