Quick(ish) meal near the conference hotel
Wario’s (downtown location; enormous and delicious sandwiches, very little seating, order ahead online for faster service; 11 am to 7 pm, occasionally open later for events at Nationwide Arena)
North Market (a food hall very close to the conference with lots of options, including good vegetarian and vegan options; seating outside and upstairs; open 9 am to 7 pm)
Brassica (Short North location; fast casual middle-eastern-ish; lunch and dinner)
The Lox (Montreal-ish style bagels; breakfast and lunch)
Piazza Pelino (foccacia sandwiches and gelato; lunch and dinner)
North Star (Short North location; counter service, high quality basics; open all day)
Pie of the Tiger (pizza pop-up inside the Short North Tavern at 674 N. High St; “a little Detroit & Sicilian”; 5-10 pm)
A small subset of sit-down meals near the conference hotel
The stretch of High Street running north from the conference hotel to about King Avenue is called the Short North and is full of restaurants and bars. Many sit-down restaurants in the Short North are only open for dinner. South of the conference hotel, there are also some good options, but less dense. All of the listed options allow reservations.
Short North
The Guild House (“creative American cuisine”; reservations recommended; open breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
The Pearl (Short North location; upscale bar food and good cocktails; open for dinner weekdays, brunch and dinner weekends)
Forno (fancy pizza; open for lunch and dinner weekdays, brunch and dinner weekends)
SoCal Kitchen (seafood; reservations recommended; open for dinner weekdays, brunch and dinner weekends)
Marcella’s (Short North location; Italian)
Hiraeth (wood-fired oven; recommendations recommended; main courses are large and meaty, appetizers and sides are more varied)
The Eagle (fried chicken)
Arch City Tavern (bar with reasonably good food; open for lunch and dinner)
Ampersand Asian Supper Club (casual restaurant with pretty good ramen)
Plas (Italian-ish, reservations recommended)
South of the Hyatt
Haveli Bistro (Indian; buffet at lunch)
Speck (Italian; open for lunch and dinner; reservations recommended)
Wolf’s Ridge (brewery with both sit-down restaurant and bar serving good bar food; dinner on weeknights, brunch and dinner on weekends; reservations recommended for restaurant)
Pat and Gracie’s (downtown location; burgers (including Impossible Burger option), sandwiches, salads; lunch and dinner)