Critic: La Dulce Is a 'Welcome and Dramatic Departure From the Ordinary'

Sylvia Rector gives La Dulce a rave: "La Dulce's authentic Spanish tapas with their boldly flavored, often unfamiliar ingredients are a welcome and dramatic departure from the ordinary," the critic writes. She further echoes previous reviews by dubbing the tapas restaurant "one of metro Detroit's most distinctive new dining destinations." The eatery "wins me over with its surprisingly simple preparations, beautiful ingredients and intriguing flavors. Those who are looking for a different kind of dining experience and who enjoy trying new foods will be delighted to discover this place." [Freep]

Serena Maria Daniels visits Sweet Soul Bistro near Belmont: Toya Green's "accessible corner spot" debuted in June offering the neighborhood a place to "get dressed up, meet up with friends for cocktails, have a bite to eat, dance to live music, or take in a comedy show." The bistro features a "sleekly decorated lounge with muted lighting, neutral tones, cushy lounge seating and a modern, granite bar with mirrored walls." Sweet Soul's "upgraded" bar snack menu offers Motown-inspired items like wings, sliders, and catfish bits "dusted in sweet and spicy Cajun seasoning" all served on butcher's boards. [Metro Times]

Molly Abraham samples the revamped menu at Tom's Oyster Bar: Chef Norman Fenton recently took over the kitchens at Tom's Oyster Bar and Ale Mary's in Royal Oak and is already making improvements. Classic recipes for New England clam chowder and cole slaw have received updates. Likewise, Fenton's previous experience at Bistro 82 shines through in the preparation of several of his plates including the lupe de mer — "oven-roasted sea bass, elegantly presented in a big white bowl topped with a subtle tomato-olive mixture, a scattering of capers and pickled wax beans, a market-priced dish and one that wouldn't be out of place in any of the area's upscale restaurants." Tom's receives three stars. [Detroit News]