Fast-Casual 2941 Street Food Headed to Midtown and Rochester Hills

Another chef-driven fast-casual concept is hitting the Metro Detroit area this winter. In the coming months, Michelin-rated chef Jacques Van Staden and partner Jeff Langlois plan to launch two locations — one in Rochester Hills and one in Midtown — of their fusion restaurant 2941 Street Food.

The eatery aims to offer wholesome and affordable food featuring progressive twists on traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, says Van Staden, whose resume includes Bistro Joe's in Birmingham, Alize in Las Vegas, and Celebrity Cruises. Van Staden says he sees a huge opportunity in fast-casual restaurants. "When you look at different studies, people want better healthier food but they still want it fast," he says. "It's probably the hottest market in the industry."

Menu items at the 2941 will include things like "Jar Chow" (a glass mason jar filled with layers of rice, meat, and pickled vegetables), as well as five-grain falafel, tandoori chicken, and Iraqi-style bread. Like the food, the name of the restaurant is an allusion to map coordinates for the Levant region. Van Staden acknowledges that this cuisine isn't necessarily revolutionary for the Detroit area, but believes his recipes will offer a progressive take on traditional cuisine without additives or preservatives. 2941 Street Food locations will also feature local beers and wine on tap, grab-and-go fridges, and retail sections with 18 different packaged spices and merchandise for sale.

Similar to a Chipotle, diners will walk along the counter selecting items to create their meal. They can then choose to dine-in or carry-out. The restaurant designs feature lots of black steal, a wood pallet drop ceiling, and mixed seating from extra-long communal tables to individual seats. Wicker baskets will hang from the ceiling and knotted pine wood will be incorporated throughout the space. The first 3,600 square-foot Rochester Hills location is slated to open in mid-November, with a Midtown location to follow in the under-construction Woodward Willis Building. The latter will occupy 2,300-square-feet but will also feature a 1,000-square-foot patio. Stay tuned for more details.