What is Detroit food? Where can you now get it in Florida? Take a look
A new restaurant and deli has brought some Detroit classics to Florida food scene.
Kelsey’s Coney Island and Deli in Bradenton opened in July with a menu that stars the coney dog — a hot dog topped with chili, onions and mustard.
“We actually have the sauce brought in from Detroit,” owner Ken Dowse said.
MORE: Pizza spot with Detroit-style pies will be sticking around in South Miami
For Dowse, the restaurant is more than just a new business venture — it’s a chance to reconnect with his own Detroit roots.
Dowse has lived in Florida for 30 years. He previously owned Kelsey’s Bar and Grill in the area., as well as a thrift store. When a convenience store in the plaza closed, Dowse jumped at the chance to launch a new restaurant where he could share his Detroit favorites.
What else is on the menu?
In addition to the Detroit-style coney dog, Kelsey’s menu features other dressed up dogs and deli sandwiches.
The New Yorker hot dog is topped with sauerkraut, mustard and onion; the Beach Bum with chili, onion and coleslaw; and the Cortez has chili, onion, mustard and cheese.
The hot dogs are priced at $4.25 each, and most menu items are less than $12.
That includes two signature sandwiches: the Italian and the pastrami. Dowse said those are their two best sandwiches.
“We steam [the pastrami] rather than grill it,” Dowse said. “It tastes a heck of a lot better.”
Kelsey’s Coney Island and Deli also sells beer and wine.
Coney dog craving
Before opening a coney shop, Dowse said his family would travel all the way to Largo, St. Petersburg or Tampa to get a coney dog.
“Joey D’s has a good coney, but it’s not a Detroit,” Dowse said. “It’s just different.”
Dowse said there’s only one major difference between Kelsey’s coney dogs and the Detroit version.
“We use a Boar’s Head hot dog,” Dowse said. “Detroit uses a Koegel. It’s just not cost-effective to bring it down here. We’d have to charge $6 a dog. One of my big things with this restaurant, any restaurant I’ve had, is I like to keep the price down.”
Dowse said they will add french fries, milkshakes and root beer floats in the future.
What about the restaurant name?
The restaurant is named after Dowse’s daughter, Kelsey.
It’s the second time Ken Dowse has named a place after her. The first one was Kelsey’s Bar and Grill. Dowse sold the original Kelsey’s three years ago. He said his non-compete agreement with them expired right when his daughter expressed interest in a new restaurant.
“This is gonna be hers,” Dowse said.
Hours, location and contact
The restaurant, 7824 Cortez Road West, in Bradenton is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m..
For more information, visit Kelsey’s Coney Island and Deli on Facebook.
