Places: Polish Village Cafe

When Bill Clinton was president, his people called ahead to let them know he was on his way. A witness said he ordered the dill pickle soup (best in town). And if that wasn't enough that "Bam!" guy from the food channel, Emerial Lagasse, filmed an episode of his show there. That's two pretty big notches on the ol' ego belt, for sure. The Polish Village is pretty much a basement, but not in the traditional musty, storing boxes sense. It's packed with an unparalleled Polish ambiance that only Hamtramck could produce. The servers wear traditional garb, save for maybe their athletic support shoes. The area is filled with square, shaky, uneven tables that lend a sense of authenticity to the place. And the huge goblets of beer force you to stay and enjoy the cozy, rectangular space. The menu, both in Polish and English, offers daily specials that won't steer you the wrong way. Look out for the Hungarian Pancake, though, if you're not accustomed to spicy food you might want to invest in some antacid.

Favorites are the pierogi (fried over boiled), the dill pickle soup, and the Polish plate that offers a little taste of everything.