No Clingons, Ferengi or even Romulans. This Romulus is not a planet from the future world of Star Trek. This Romulus is a city on the outskirts of Detroit and home to the Detroit Metro Airport.
Angie and I spent a night at the Metro Detroit Airport Marriott this past weekend on our two night visit to Detroit. The question that anyone who is reading this must ask is: WHY????
Being a huge Detroit Red Wings fan, I purchased a pair of tickets for the March 4, 2012 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. We were able to book a room at the Greektown Casino Hotel for Sunday night for a reasonable price. However, Saturday night’s price was out of the question. For the same price as the Sunday night in Greektown, we were able to get Saturday night at the Marriott.
With Angie wanting to do some baby shopping (and shopping in general) and I wanting to do a
little planespotting, the Marriott was perfect. Positioned near the end of the three runways and a ten minute drive from a 160 store shopping mall, the exceptional room and facilities the Marriott offered were an added bonus. Finding Leonardo’s Italian Grille just up the road was just another bonus to staying in the area.
The Marriott is located just to the northeast of the intersection of Interstate 94 and Merriman Road.
Shopping
The area is full of retail. The pinnacle is the Fairlane Town Centre in Dearborn. About 10 minutes from the Marriott on Michigan Avenue, the mall is a large two story, split level building boasting 160 stores.
For me, I got a kick out of the large quantity of security staff. If there were issues with crime and violence in the past, there certainly wouldn’t be any now. I believe there was a rule in place where kids under 19 could not be in the mall without being accompanied by an adult. I witnessed more I.D. checks at Fairlane than I did the next night at the Greektown Casino.
Planespotting
For those like me who can’t get enough of big jets screaming overhead, the Marriott was a decent location. However, the Best Western on Wick Road (on the west side of Merriman) would be optimal.
I ended up walking past the Best Western (15 minute walk from the Marriott) to a place the Detroit Spotters (www.detroitspotters.com) call the Wick Road Field. This is simply an open field that ends at the Interstate. The planes fly low overhead at this point and the view is unobstructed. I could have easily just driven over and parked at this spot but I’m a little paranoid about hanging around the end of an International Airport runway since the 9-11 thing.
One major block in the other direction, at Wick and Middlebelt Road, was the location of the area’s worst airliner disaster in 1987. All but one passenger on Northwest Airlines flight 255 were killed when the plane crashed on takeoff onto Middlebelt Road, just north of Wick. A memorial was erected in 1994 at Middlebrook and I-94. We didn’t visit the site, but may on the next time through the area.
Leonardo’s
As we were leaving the Fairlane Town Center on Saturday night, we thought we would catch dinner in a trendy area of Dearborn. However, all the parking was metre parking and we only had Canadian change. We explored near the Marriott and came across Leonardo’s Italian Grille.
The place was packed. We were told it would be a 20-25 minute wait. Normally, we would walk at that point because no restaurant is worth the wait. Not wanting to drive around for the rest of the night searching for another place to stop, we chose the wait. About 45 minutes later, we were seated at our table.
The wait wasn’t inefficiency on the restaurant’s part. The place was simply loaded with customers and you really can’t accurately predict when customers are going to leave. The staff were pleasant and top-rate the whole time and we were so glad we stayed.
Being vegetarian (95% vegan with the odd dairy cheat…) I chose the Eggplant Parmesan for $16.95. Angie, being a worshipper of the Walleye chose the Crusted Walleye for $21.95. We had Artichoke Fritters ($8.95) as a shared appetizer. One word describes the food at this place: Amazing. If you’re anywhere near the Detroit Metro, or just passing by on the I-94, perhaps on the way to Chicago or other points west, take the time to stop by.
Their website is www.leonardositaliangrille.com . By visiting the site, you can find all information needed like directions, hours and the full menu.
