When you’re looking for a brasserie for breakfast with friends, an upscale eatery for lunch with colleagues or a classy restaurant to take your date for dinner, what you’re searching for is a dining setting that sets the mood with a certain dignified ambiance and a high caliber of delicious dishes on the menu.

This high-quality combination of standards in a restaurant is part of what defines a fine dining experience — but what does fine dining really mean? Does every fine dining restaurant include a fancy dress code? Can high-quality, expertly-prepared meals still be affordable?

If you’re wondering how and why you should consider eating fine dining in Metro Detroit, here’s everything you need to know.

What Does Fine Dining Really Mean?

As opposed to drop-in dining, family restaurants, cafes or casual eateries, fine dining restaurants tend to be defined by a more formal, upscale atmosphere that caters to higher-class clientele with a fancier menu of the highest-quality food. Fine dining restaurants are always sit-down settings with a sophisticated ambiance, often including a formal dress code of collared shirts and ties, dresses or dress pants and formal blouses.

In addition to a high-quality atmosphere, fine dining restaurants offer the finest quality and preparation of food, including exotic menu items like special-cut steaks, escargot, foie gras and other delicacies. While the portion sizes of entrees tend to be smaller, the food itself is of a much higher quality than might be found at a family-style restaurant. A wine menu is also often included, and sometimes sommeliers — or wine stewards — are available to assist you in pairing wine bottles with menu items.

Because of the high quality of the food and drink, as well as the formal atmosphere, fine dining restaurants are typically more expensive than more casual restaurant choices — but the delicious meals are worth it.

The History of Fine Dining

Fine dining restaurants date back to the aftermath of the French Revolution when the fall of the elite class left a force of private, upscale chefs unemployed. Instead of cooking in the homes of the upper class, these chefs began to open establishments to provide restorative meals — hence “restaurant” — in prominent cities.

While early fine dining restaurants offered little more than broths and soups, it evolved with the help of innovative chefs and the introduction of haute cuisine. Modern fine dining restaurants now provide a plethora of delicious dining options prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and spices to satisfy.

Affordable Fine Dining in Metro Detroit at TRIA

Intrigued by the elegance, exotic flavors and ambiance of fine dining but not too crazy about the formal dress code or incredibly high prices? Hoping to find a cheap fine dining restaurant near Metro Detroit?

At TRIA, Inspired American Cuisine right here in Dearborn, MI, you can get the best of both worlds at any time of day. Offering delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner menus made with seasonal ingredients for affordable prices, we make the fine dining experience enjoyable and attainable in a comfortable, welcoming environment with no dress code.

Make reservations for you and your date or the whole family today, or stop by our bar after work for specialty cocktails. You’ll love everything we have to offer.