Perfect Potatoes

By: Katie Goncalves | March 3, 2023

"The Potato" at Detroit's Oak & Reel

The simple potato has been a menu and dinner table staple for years. Its versatility, ease of preparation, and starchy goodness are just some of the reasons it will likely always be around. But there’s something to be said for reinventing the potato in new ways. When a chef takes a leap to create a potato dish with a fresh spin, it’s nearly impossible to resist trying it out. These restaurants serve a hot take on potatoes you won’t want to miss…

The Potato Tornado – Basan

At Basan – one of Detroit’s newest restaurants – you’ll find the Potato Tornado. A whole potato is spiral sliced on a skewer and then deep fried to make a texture that’s a cross between a potato chip and a french fry. They then slather it with Sriracha mayo and pile on pickled ginger and bonito to finish. This delicious potato is perfect for sharing as an appetizer or a side dish.

Basan's Potato Tornado
Basan’s Potato Tornado

The Potato – Oak & Reel

Oak & Reel does simple food perfectly and The Potato is no exception. A crispy potato cake is topped with hen of the woods mushrooms, smoked trout roe, and finished with bagna cauda. Translated, bagna cauda means hot bath, a buttery dipping sauce traditionally served with vegetables. 

Loaded Baked Potatoes – The Potato Place

The Potato Place has been serving massively enormous loaded baked potatoes since 1980. You can get just about any variety of toppings on a baked potato including Detroit loose chili, corned beef, and even alfredo sauce. 

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Pesto Potato Pizza – Madam 

Inside the Daxton Hotel in Birmingham, Madam is one of the area’s go-to spots for unique fare. Their Pesto Potato Pizza starts with a layer of kale pesto and is layered with buttery Yukon gold potatoes. The whole thing is topped with parmesan and fontina cheeses. 

Loaded Potato Chips – Vinsetta Garage

If you’re looking for a dish to share with friends, Loaded Potato Chips from Vinsetta Garage is perfect. It starts with scratch-made potato chips and then piled high with house-smoked cheddar, pickled chiles, and scallions. You can choose to add ground turkey, ground beef, or Woodshop MI maple bacon for a little bit more filling meal. 

Cheddar Au Gratin Potatoes – The Chop House

For a true steakhouse experience, The Chop House in Ann Arbor has everything you need. While Au Gratin potatoes aren’t overly unique, the ones at The Chop House are beyond amazing. They only prepare a limited amount each day and they are super popular. Thinly sliced and layered potatoes are doused in cheddar cheese, cream, and leeks for a decadent little rectangle of potato goodness.

Potato Selection – Prime + Proper

For those interested in trying all sorts of potato dishes, Prime + Proper offers five variations in the potato section of their menu. Yes, an entire section dedicated to potatoes. You can order everything from pommes frites to the elevated beef-fat marbled potatoes. The showstopper here is the hash brown, which is topped with fire-roasted relish, a sunny-side-up egg, and black salt.

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