Snacking at the Hunter House.

Fellow novice Tony and I just returned from Woodward Avenue landmark Hunter House Hamburgers, where we went for a (near) midnight snack. The Hunter House is a classic linoleum and white tile greasy spoon joint, with locally famous hamburgers. For the record, the burger I had was decent but didn't quite live up to its reputation; it also didn't live up to the $1.75 price. Tony got a grilled cheese sandwich, which ironically was more expensive (by a dollar) than my burger. Even so, part of what you're paying for at a place like the Hunter House is the ambience, and in that regard we were well taken care of. Woodward in general is shaping up as one of my favorite places in metro Detroit; in addition to hosting the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, this 27-mile long commercial strip offers a cornucopia of 1950's to '70's roadside Americana, with plenty of greasy spoon diners, kitschy pubs, mom-and-pop motels and timeworn specialty stores. "Detroit's main drag" is also designated as a National Scenic Byway, and justifiably so; lots to see along this stretch of roadway, especially if you - like me - enjoy postwar commercial architecture with lots of neon. AMDG.