American vs. Lafayette

Last night for our date, we and some good friends visited the famous Coney Island Restaurants located in downtown Detroit. Like Pat's and Geno’s in Philadelphia, American Coney and Lafayette Coney are bigtime rivals. They have an interesting history. In 1917 the Keros brothers decided to start a Greek American restaurant with the Coney hotdog and Gyro as staples, but soon after starting the business, the brothers had an argument resulting in the restaurant splitting into two. The restaurants have remained side by side ever since and there have been taste disputes for the past century. So last night we took the Coney challenge and tasted both hot dogs (after palate cleansing in between.) I must say it was very fun and the hot dogs were much better than anticipated. The typical Coney has chili, mustard, and onions. Each topping differs between the two Coneys so you have to try and isolate the sides as well. After careful review, I declared the American coney the winner of the taste category, but the Lafayette won out in texture. Steve would tell you that the American would win both categories, because he liked the “snap” of his American hot dog. Our friends Julie and Shelly agreed. So if you ever come to Detroit, you have to take the Coney challenge and find your favorite. Both restaurants are packed and have a loyal following. Let the best Coney win!

The interior of the American Coney Island Restaurant