Troy Korean Restaurant Sammi Serves Up Dishes Piping Hot

Molly Abraham gives Elie's Mediterranean Grill three stars: Elie's has "aged well"  after more than two decades in the biz. While appetizers like hummus, baba ganouge, and tabouleh have become "cliché" elsewhere, here they "are as carefully prepared as the more elaborate lamb and chicken dishes." While Elie's focuses on Lebanese dishes there are also items like chicken pot pie on the menu. "One of the things I especially like about Elie's is the refreshing attitude, really a lack of attitude. This is not a place striving to be trendy or au courant." [Detroit News]

Jane Slaughter dines at Sammi in Troy: Food at Korean restaurant Sammi comes out piping hot, recounts the critic. "I kept attempting to take a bite and then doing that attractive thing where you open your mouth to let the steam out while trying to cover the cavity with your hand." Slaughter finds plenty to like here, from the dduk mandu gook (soup) to seafood pancakes; though the critic seems to be asking "Where's the beef?"  when it comes to her bibimbap and short ribs. [Metro Times]

Sylvia Rector check's out Dearborn's Brera Pizza & Salad Co.: One-month-old Brera "doesn't disappoint" the critic writes. Not only are the signature pies are "creative and colorful," but they're also quick to emerge from the oven — in just 3 minutes. "Brera may still be in start-up mode operationally, but its pizzas are already delicious — crisp, with narrow raised edges and fresh, top-quality toppings." Rector enjoyed the Wild Forest vegetarian pizza with mushrooms, goat cheese, basil, truffle oil, garlic, and red sauce as well as the Taco Stand pie. In addition to the food, the critic reports that partner Michael Jaafar has slowed the pace on the start-up's planned expansion in order to focus on fine-tuning the first location. [Freep]