let me apologize in advance for this frivolous question. On the other hand , I have been around long enough to know you guys (and few gals that there are) rock and won't scorn me for this question.  I unforuntetely have to drive (driving is the unfortunate part, not Detroit  :-)  ) to Detroit to get a flight to Tampa in early November, for some weird reason flights out of Cleveland were in the 350-450 range for the weekend I needed to go to Tampa (about twice the normal) , hence the Detroit trip. Anyhow I am trying to appease myself in some way. Are there any good, regional ethnic eats off the highway between the two?  I am talking either midwestern ethnic or some immigrant ethnic (such as middle eastern).  This may belong on Chowhound.com but I thought I would shout out to UO first.

Have you thought about Akron/Canton before taking that drive to Detroit? I thought AirTran had a non-stop to there.

oh yeah. we looked everywhere over a 5 month period-even Youngstown. Akron is usually our backup when Cle is too expensive, runners up have been Pitt or even one time, Columbus. I am not talking saving $50 here but over 2 hundred per ticket  to go out of Detroit for the time period we needed.  We are actually taking Airtran, boo that it is Detroit instead of Akron. I checked all the search engines, with Kayak.com winning,  but Detroit being the caveat.

I suppose Tony Packo's in Toledo. 

If you're interested in Middle Eastern food, perhaps you should leave time for a stop in Dearborn.  They have a huge Middle Eastern population, and from what I hear the food is very good as competition is stiff with so many places.  There are also a number of Bengladeshi and Indian restaurants in Hamtramck.  And don't forget Greektown (you know, for Greek(food)).  Maybe ask the people at DetroitYes.com.

^pineland on michigan avenue in dearborn for middle eastern

 

also red star virtually across the street for chinese (with vegan versions of meat dishes, if you want)

 

there is a super cheap indian place in hamtramck (channa masala for $4.25) but i forgot the name of the place and the location.  whoops!

Doh!  Looks like Airtran just posted a sale to Tampa $79 each way from CAK for travel through 2/1/07.  Maybe they wil change your tickets, or give you a credit that you can use toward the CAK sale tickets.

 

http://www.airtran.com/sale/CAK.aspx?saleID=

 

 

 

wow I am crazy enough to ask airtran. I normally would wait for  a sale but it was a big family event so I could not take any chances. (also the tickets are 120 rt!) alhtough I would gladly pay 180 to not have to go so far . thanks everyone for their rec' for food so far!