Downtown's Central Kitchen + Bar isn't the only restaurant to debut today. On Michigan Avenue in Corktown Bobcat Bonnie's hosts its inaugural service for the public at 11 a.m. Bonnie's is the result of a collaborative effort by managing partner Matthew Buskard, bar manager Alisha Garlow, and chefs Beren Ekine-Hewitt and Michael Lloyd, who set out to reinvent the old O'Blivions Corktown Café as an updated casual bar with wallet-friendly prices. Diners can expect just that with a menu featuring cocktails in the $7 range and few dishes surpassing $10.
Bonnie's team put significant effort into repurposing items from O'Blivions and reclaimed materials from the Detroit metro area. Tables have been refinished and a several church pews serve as booth seating. Slow's owner Phil Cooley even designed and built a bowling alley-wood communal table. Bonnie's departs from O'Blivions with a much brighter pallet. Yellow and grey geometric wallpaper provides accents to the exposed brick accompanied by bright yellow stools. A hodgepodge of knick-knacks decorate shelves alongside a metal sculpture of a bull's head. In the far back corner of Bonnie's find a selection of vintage arcade games. Photographers Michelle and Chris Gerard took a look inside Corktown's newest casual eatery.
Bobcat Bonnie's is open 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant hosts happy hour every weeknight from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a Burger Night on Mondays from 5 p.m. until close. Expect brunch to launch August 23.
