DOWNTOWN. Occupying a gracious building from the turn of the century, this accomplished restaurant mixes tradition and innovation to great effect. Its menu is also an amalgam, unifying flavors from around the globe and allowing them to transcend their usual roles. This tendency is evident at brunch, which offers a host of à la carte options. Choose from a variety of egg dishes and omelets, or go simple with fruit-studded oatmeal. Favorites include crabmeat eggs Benedict, French toast, and chorizo with scrambled eggs. Salads and sandwiches can also be had.

SOUTHFIELD. Boasting a global menu and one of Southfield's more refined environments, refreshing Sweet Lorraine's Cafe is a veritable gourmet's haven. Eclectic decor and colorful walls play off Lorraine's diverse menu, which offers everything from Jamaican jerk chicken salad and French potpie to grilled steaks and maple-cured Atlantic salmon. Be sure to save room for a delectable dessert offering ­ a cup of potent Spanish coffee or perhaps the Hazelnut Heater (Bailey's, Kahlua, Frangelico, and a dab of coffee).