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Having a tough time keeping up with all the new dining options? Welcome to the Opening Report, a regularly-updated round-up of restaurant openings big and small across metro Detroit (and a few around Southeast Michigan). Visit the summer opening report for an archive of the newcomers from June 2017 through August 2017.
November 10
DOWNTOWN — Upscale steakhouse Prime + Proper made its debut in early November in the Capitol Park area of downtown Detroit. The restaurant from Townhouse founder Jeremy Sasson specializes in high-end steak and seafood. All the meats are dry-aged on the premises for a minimum of 28 days to allow flavors to develop. Customers can also expect to pay premium prices making Prime + Proper more of a special occasion spot. Status: Certified open. 1145 Griswold St.
DOWNTOWN — Bar, restaurant, and specialty grocer Eatori Market slowly rolled out over the course of October. Now fully operational, customers can expect to find a variety of nicely portioned appetizers and entrees such as steamed mussels and burgers alongside beer, wine, and cocktails. Status: Certified open. 1215 Griswold St.
DOWNTOWN — Detroit’s mini arcade bar boom continued into October with the opening of Ready Player One. The gaming oasis features roughly 40 machines including arcade sets, pinball, and even Nintendo 64. Customers purchase food and drink in exchange for fistfuls of tokens. Status: Certified open. 407 East Fort St. (basement).
DEARBORN — Qahwah House recently opened its doors in Dearborn specializing in rare and sought after Yemeni coffee beans. The cafe also makes Yemeni desserts in-house and offers a selection of Zingerman’s Bakehouse pastries. Status: Certified open. 6655 Schaefer Rd.
TROY — Burger giant Shake Shack bestowed its second Michigan outpost on Troy near the The Somerset Collection in late-October. The restaurant offers standard-bearers like Shack burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and hot dogs alongside Michigan-centric desserts. Special to the Troy location is the Concrete of Troy — a vanilla custard concrete with salted caramel sauce, Zingerman’s Buenos Aires dulce de leche brownie, and chocolate sprinkles. Status: Certified open. 850 W. Big Beaver Rd.
TROY — Brazilian barbecue paradise Fogo de Chão arrived on November 6 with plenty of skewered, fire-roasted meats in tow. The popular chain offers fixed-price meal options that include premium and classic cuts of meat plus sides like feijoada (black bean stew). Status: Certified open. 301 W. Big Beaver Rd.
FERNDALE — High-quality cheese and chocolate fans can find both in plentiful supply at Provisions, a retail counter that recently opened inside the Farm Field Table butcher shop. Status: Soft open. 1030 Woodward Heights.
SOUTHFIELD — Metro Detroit Mediterranean mini chain Mr. Kabob recently expanded to a fourth “Xpress” outpost in Southfield. Status: Certified open. 24532 Twelve Mile Rd.
BIRMINGHAM — Starbucks opened the first Michigan outpost of its fancy Reserve brand coffee bar in Birmingham. A second hybrid location is also located inside the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. Status: Certified open. 101 N. Old Woodward.
BIRMINGHAM — Dick O’ Dow’s recently launched The Dow Beer Exchange, a craft beer bar where prices mimic a stock exchange. The costs of beers are designed to update every 15 minutes — rising when beer is in high demand and dropping when they’re in low demand. Status: Certified open. 160 W Maple Rd.
BIRMINGHAM — Troy’s Whole Foods has relocated to a bigger space in Birmingham complete with several restaurants and bars. Status: Certified open. 2100 East Maple Rd.
October 10
HAMTRAMCK — Patisserie and café Le Detroit Macaron opened to the public with Saturday-only retail hours September 23 inside Bon Bon Bon’s original tiny space. Expect an assortment of whimsical offerings like pink champagne, Oreo cheesecake and Fruity Pepples. Status: Certified open. 2756 Evaline St.
CORKTOWN — Chef Kate Williams’ highly anticipated Lady of the House made its long-awaited debut September 20 in the former St. Cece’s Pub in Corktown. The menu’s focus is ingredients that are sourced from local farms such as Acre Farm, Brother Nature Farm, Coriander Farm, and Cover Crop Ranch. Status: Certified open. 1426 Bagley Ave.
MIDTOWN — Southwest Detroit food truck, El Taco Veloz, expanded its footprint in September and landed at a counter inside Cass Corridor’s Marcus Market. The location was formerly home to Alley Taco, which vacated the space earlier this year and moved to a larger restaurant on Willis Street. On top of its new Midtown digs, El Taco Veloz continues its food truck operations at Livernois and Toledo. Status: Certified open, 4614 Second Ave.
NEW CENTER — This marks the latest outpost of the popular Detroit-based bakery and cafe chain Avalon Cafe and Biscuit Bar, which debuted September 7. Situated inside the former Cafe Con Leche space on West Grand Boulevard, the focus here is specifically on flaky biscuit sandwiches – for breakfast and lunch. Also featuring traditional sandwiches served on Avalon breads, coffee and espresso drinks. The shop also sources ice cream from Reilly Craft Creamery. Status: Certified open. 2990 West Grand Blvd.
SOUTHWEST DETROIT — Neapolitan pizzeria and café combo PizzaPlex debuted September 9. Described as “community pizzeria and events space,” the ownership introduced the concept to diners via pop-ups over the summer. Customers can expect affordably-priced pies, coffee drinks and alcoholic beverages. Status: Certified open. 4458 W. Vernor Highway.
RENAISSANCE CENTER — The GMRENCEN has welcomed a second Starbucks location, in tower 100, Level Two across from CVS Pharmacy. The new store is 1,703 sq. feet and features a full-service menu, merchandise, and free Wi-Fi. Status: Certified open. GM Renaissance Center.
GREEKTOWN — Chicago-style deep dish chain Giordano’s made its Detroit debut in September with a limited dinner menu and has since gone on to offer lunch service. This marks the second location in Michigan and the first for Metro Detroit. The Detroit location sits in the former Bagger Dave’s space, which had sat vacant since December 2015. Status: Certified open. 1224 Randolph St.
CLARKSTON — Eatery and bar The Fed opened in late July in an old bank building in downtown Clarkston. The spot features a New American menu, featuring the Double Double Burger (no, not that Double Double), a variety of tacos, sushi, red snapper ceviche and weekend brunch. Guests have the option to book private dining rooms, situated inside the bank’s old vaults. Chef Travis Holewinski serves as executive chef, following Justin Dalenberg — previously of Zingerman’s Roadhouse — who was brought on to as a consultant to open the place. Status: Certified open. 15 S. Main Street.
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Carryout-friendly pita spot Yeeros Grill debuted just after the beginning of October in Shelby Township. Similar to the Chipotle concept, diners can decide how they want their shawarma: in a pita wrap or in a bowl as a “platter” with choice of protein, veggies and rice. Other Mediterranean favorites include fattoush salad, hummus, gyro and baklava for dessert. Status: Certified open. 49085 Van Dyke Avenue.
MADISON HEIGHTS — new-ish eatery Noodle Topia, specializing in authentic hand-pulled Szechuan noodles made on site, opened in late August. The brief menu features fiery Szechuan noodles, handmade ramen in beef soup and Beijing noodles. Status: Certified open. 30120-30140 John R Rd.
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, ANN ARBOR — Coffee chain Roasting Plant has expanded its footprint with the fairly recent opening of two new locations, in Dearborn Heights in June and Ann Arbor September 10. The locations each seat about 100 customers with indoor and patio seating. The Dearborn Heights coffee shop features 24-hour drive-thru service. Customers can expect hot and iced coffee, as well as espresso drinks, teas, and smoothies on the menu. The New York-based chain first arrived in Michigan in 2012 with help from metro Detroit native Elizabeth Rose (co-founder of New Order Coffee). Status: Certified open. 26931 Ford Rd. in Dearborn Heights; 312 S. State Street, Ann Arbor.
ANN ARBOR — Detroit-style pizza chain Buddy’s Pizza is opening its newest locations October 13. The 6,500-square-foot location is in the Pittsfield Place Plaza and includes indoor and outdoor seating for more than 200 people. Status: Certified open. 3153 Saline Rd., Pittsfield Township.
