The Great Slider Debate: Metro D’s Mini Burgers

By: Toni Cunningham | February 8, 2013
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Metro Detroit is known for its sliders, and everyone has his or her own favorite. Instead of debating whether Bray’s is better than Telway (or vice versa), I figured I would impart some different knowledge.

We’re all familiar with the area’s standard slider joints, housed in the tiniest of buildings. However, several restaurants in the area serve sliders, and many of them are a far cry from the standard beef, cheese and onions.

Green Dot Stables, 2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, has a menu of 20 different sliders—everything from Buffalo Chicken (bleu cheese spread, buffalo sauce, celery) to Grilled Cheese (jack, cheddar, mornay) to Gyro (lamb, tomato slice, mint tzatziki). If you prefer a more traditional slider, the menu features a standard Cheeseburger version with onions and pickles, too. You can pair your sliders with several variations of French fries, including Truffle & Herb, Venison Chili Cheese, Le Poutine, and more.

Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti, is known for its handcrafted burger, as well as sliders and “mini burgers.” Choose from Handcrafted Mini Burgers (American cheese, grilled onions), Gourmet Handcrafted Mini Burgers (bleu cheese, caramelized onions, bacon), Mini Turkey Burgers (mashed red skins, cranberry sauce), or Hippie Sliders (vegetarian black bean burger, topped with cheddar cheese and salsa).

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Penny Black Grill & Tap, 124 W. 4th St., Rochester, specializes in house-smoked barbecue, cooked slowly over hickory wood chips. The Smokehouse Sliders can be ordered as a small plate or full-sized entrée, and come with three different variations: sliced brisket and cheddar, pulled pork and slaw, and pulled chicken and arugula. If you order the platter, it comes with a side of house-cut fries and baked beans.

The Emory, 22700 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, serves both savory and sweet sliders. Yep, you read that correctly. The Slider Plate includes four pint-sized burgers with grilled onions and au jus for dipping. If you’d like a snack on the side, onion rings or chili cheese fries are a good option. Don’t forget the Dessert Sliders—ice cream sandwiches made with local Treat Dreams chocolate raspberry ice cream and homemade Emory sugar cookies.

Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor, features a 5 Burger Super Sampler, which includes five mini-burgers, each topped with a different type of cheese. They’re served on an onion roll with lettuce, onion and pickles. If that’s not enough cheesy goodness for you, order a Side-o’-Mac-N-Cheese, too.

Keep in mind; sliders don’t have to be just a simple beef patty on a steamed bun. The great slider debate of Detroit isn’t likely to come to a consensus soon, and there are some unique contenders in addition to the usual suspects. Consider it your civic duty to sample them all!

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