Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I live in the 'burbs (East Side) but used to work at the Ren Cen and we would go to the Eastern Market for lunch and to browse, have also been several times on Flower Day. Your best bet is to just browse. If you are looking for meat or seafood, there are some really good purveyors there, we are talking 'old time' butchers and fish mongers (family places that go back decades and decades) who are very approachable and will not only cut specific cuts of meat, but will tell how to cook them. Ask fish mongers what is the best that day. Make sure to ask to smell the seafood/fish, they will see you as 'serious' - don't know why some people are afraid to do this, of course this being 'Serious Eats,' I am sure no one here is afraid to! Some of the guys look/seem gruff but they really know their business! There are several unique little shops to look around in. I personally always stop at Rocky Peanut or Stroh's Ice Cream. On Gratiot (right before Historic Trinity Luthern and Brewery Park) is People's Restaurant Supply. The BEST restaurant supply house, period. I could spend hours in that place and you won't believe the deals. With Michael Symon there, I'm sure parking will be a challenge. Let me know if you would like suggestions and I will do my best to help you.

It's on the eastern market website (they have 2 actually, .com and .org). Apparently they bring in people every weekend to showcase locally grown stuff... He was making lamb and it smelled awesome.

Thanks for the ideas!!