Troy: Big Beaver, Between Coolidge & Rochester

e city of Troy's "main street"
Big Beaver Road — has long been
referred to as the Golden Corridor
thanks in large part to the high-pro-
file commercial and residential
developments spanning both sides
of the boulevard.

Indeed, as the city commemorates
the 50th anniversary of its incorpo-
ration, the Golden Corridor and its
surroundings have never radiated
so brightly, from Coolidge on the
west to Rochester on the east.

DINING

Don't be surprised if the Golden
Corridor is renamed Steak Street or
T-bone Thoroughfare next year
when Morton's The Steakhouse
opens its second Detroit-area loca-
tion at Big Beaver and Crooks.
When it fires up its grills for the first
time, it will join an already estab-
lished roster of classic steakhouses,
including the The Capital Grille (at
Somerset Collection North, 248-649-
5300), Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
(755 W. Big Beaver, 248-269-8424),
Shula's (200 W. Big Beaver, 248-680-
9616) and Larco's Italian
Chophouse (645 E. Big Beaver, 248-
680-0066). A few miles north of Big
Beaver, The Palm (5600 Crooks,
248-813-7256) serves up its leg-
endary steaks and mammoth lob-
sters in richly appointed dining
rooms, with walls decorated with
caricatures of local personalities and
national celebrities.
And speaking of lobsters, not to
mention just-caught fish from
around the world, the first — and last
word — in seafood is the clubby
McCormick & Schmick's (2850
Coolidge, adjacent to Somerset
Collection South, 248-637-6400).
Contrasting the buttoned-up
demeanor of the chophouses is a
string of raucous restaurants where
food and fun mix with aplomb.

Follow the crowds to P.F. Chang's
China Bistro (at Somerset
Collection South, 248-816-8000) for
a decidedly sophisticated twist to
traditional Asian cuisine, Bahama
Breeze (539 E. Big Beaver, 248-528-
1674) for an "island getaway" close
to home — those coconut prawns are
worth the wait, and Maggiano's
Little Italy (2089 W. Big Beaver,
248-205-1060), for toothsome Italian
dishes served in a nostalgic atmos-
phere i.e., red-checked tablecloths,
vintage family photos.
Newcomers to the Big Beaver din-
ing scene include The Melting Pot
(888 W. Big Beaver, 248-362-2221)
for fondue, and Brio Tuscan Grille
(at Somerset Collection South, 248-
643-6045) for housemade pastas,
prime meats, and flatbreads cooked
in wood-burning ovens.
Despite being so heavily traveled,
Big Beaver is home to a few wonder-
ful places many people have yet to
discover. On the third floor of
Neiman Marcus (Somerset
Collection South, 248-643-3300), the

chic, always buzzing Zodiac is the
quintessential "ladies who lunch"
spot. From the petite cup of con-
somme when seated and the warm
popovers with strawberry butter, to
imaginative salads and savory
entrees, Zodiac is a true hidden gem
in a store already bursting with
them.
Across the road at Marshall
Field's (Somerset Collection North,
248-816-4000), shoppers in the
know savor a pleasant respite at
Somerset Bistro where they'll find
several items made famous when the
store was known as J. L. Hudson's,
like the piquant Maurice salad,
always satisfying chicken pot pie,
and rich Canadian cheese soup.
And if you prefer your meal with
a view, the casual café on the third
floor of Nordstrom (Somerset
Collection North, 248-816-5100) will
satisfy both your hunger with its
hearty sandwiches and creative sal-
ads, and your desire to watch the
passing, bustling parade of people
and cars, thanks to an expansive

bank of windows overlooking Big
Beaver.

SHOPPING

The Golden Corridor takes on new
meaning when you consider the
number of fine jewelers vying for
the custom of the area's well-to-do
shoppers. On the western end of Big
Beaver, at Coolidge, and cater-corner
to Somerset Collection, Jules R.
Schubot (3001 W. Big Beaver, 248-
649-1122) is home to prestige watch-
es, exquisite gemstones, and exclu-
sive giftware. Flanking the eastern
perimeter of the street, at the base of
the city's signature skyscraper,
Sidney Krandall & Sons (755 W. Big
Beaver, 248-362-4500), itself a well-
appointed jewel box, has earned a
reputation for quality and selection.
And in between the two, at
Coolidge, Somerset Collection,
spanning Big Beaver via an elevated,
enclosed skywalk, is the address for
some of the world's best names in

TROY on page 40

MainStreets • October 20, 2005 • 39