I had heard about Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen before its debut on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (where Kid Rock personally takes Guy Fieri to Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen, as well as Union Woodshop). I had always heard how crowded the Clarkston Union can get, so I shied away from it. But, I finally decided to get to Clarkston Union right when they open at 11am and my husband and I were happy to be the first ones at the restaurant, as it filled up shortly after.

Click here for pics of the Clarkston Union Bar and Kitchen in Clarkston, Michigan.

Hippo's Hot Dogs restaurant has been around for decades in their Troy, Michigan location. Chances are if you live anywhere close to Hippo's, you already know all about it.

Bar Louie Restaurant Review - Auburn Hills (Great Lakes Crossing), Novi, Rochester Hills

Bar Louie restaurant has the ideal atmosphere to be a top pick family and friends gathering place. Bar Louie has three locations in Oakland County, Michigan. The newest location is in Rochester Hills in the old Shields Pizza spot, and the other locations are at Novi's Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk and at the Great Lakes Crossing Outlets mall in Auburn Hills.

Click here for a photo gallery of Bar Louie Restaurant.

I stopped in for lunch at the Zumba Mexican Grille in Birmingham recently. Zumba Mexican Grille is a Michigan-based restaurant with two locations, the original Royal Oak and the more recent Birmingham restaurant with the garage door style store front that lets the fresh air in during the warmer months.

Click here for a photo gallery of Zumba Mexican Grille in Birmingham, Michigan.

While driving around with my husband trying to find some place to eat recently, we saw Santa Fe Mexican restaurant on Lapeer Rd. in Auburn Hills. I must admit, the exterior caught our attention and almost drove us away at the same time.

Click here for a photo gallery of Santa Fe in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is a classic-style bbq restaurant that opened in the plaza near Big Beaver and Rochester roads in Troy. Dickey's took the old Zoup spot.

My husband is a huge bbq fan. I'm an occasional bbq lover, which makes me a bit pickier and you'll probably notice that in my review.

Vendetti's recently opened in Downtown Oxford after spending over 40 years in Shelby Twp., Michigan. My husband "grew up" eating at Vendetti's so I'll let him take over this review.

Click here for a photo gallery of the new Vendetti's in Oxford.

Flat Top Stir-Fry Grill is a new restaurant, located in the Village of Rochester Hills where the old Baja Fresh used to be. I checked it out recently and was eager to review it since my husband and I both love the Mongolian grill style of cooking.

Click here for a photo gallery of the Flat Top Grill.

How is it that I trek to Trader Joe's in Rochester Hills nearly two times a week and I've never seen the Half Day Cafe? They even share the same plaza. Now that I've been there, I will not forget where it is.

Tucked nicely in the inside corner of the University Square at Walton and Adams, the Half Day Cafe serves up breakfast and lunch daily. Breakfast items include omelettes, quiches, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, french toast and more. Lunch offers soups, sandwiches, and salads.

Click here for a photo gallery of the Half Day Cafe in Rochester Hills.