12 Fresh Metro Detroit Restaurant Openings to Know

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 winter opening report for an archive of the newcomers from December 2016 through February 2017.

June 9

CORKTOWN — The Trumbull & Porter Hotel’s long awaited restaurant and bar, Red Dunn Kitchen opened to the public on Thursday with the launch of breakfast service. Lunch and dinner are expected to commence later this month. The restaurant seats around 150 patrons with patio seating in the restaurant courtyard. Helmed by chef Jay Gundy and general manager Dustin Walker, diners can expect dishes like yellow fin tuna crudo, burgers, artichoke agnolotti, and whisky-butterscotch glazed doughnuts. Status: Soft open. 1331 Trumbull Street.

MADISON HEIGHTS — A new karaoke bar and restaurant joined 168 Asian Mart and Fuji Buffet this week, according to the Detroit News. The 5,600-square foot 168 KTV Bistro offers dim sum, stir-fry, Szechuan dishes, and noodles, plus an extensive list of beers. The subtitles are available in seven languages. Status: Certified open. 32415 John R Rd.

DEARBORN — The owner of La Pita recently opened a new restaurant, Mint 29, in downtown Dearborn. According to the Dearborn Press & Guide, the eatery serves “upscale international cuisine” with dishes like dry-aged halal Kobe bone-in ribeye, crab rolls, oysters, and more. Status: Certified open. 22000 Michigan Ave.

Michelle and Chris Gerard

SHERWOOD FOREST — The Avenue of Fashion’s latest restaurant recruit, Bucharest Grill, was unleashed on Thursday afternoon and fans quickly lined up at the mini-chain’s fourth outpost. The restaurant has a similar layout, format, and the same hours as its counterparts across Detroit but a larger footprint with more seating for 50 customers. Status: Certified open. 19492 Livernois Ave.

NORTH END — Clothing and accessories retailer Stef-n-Ty recently opened a new shop featuring a cafe with select pastries and coffee. Status: Certified open. 9425 John R St.

EASTERN MARKET — Wood-fired market fresh eatery Gather debuted in late-May, bringing a new dining destination to Gratiot Avenue. The 34-seat restaurant features a full bar and a brief menu with dishes like grilled wings, char-braised pork belly, whole grilled fish with lemon, and more. Status: Certified open. 1454 Gratiot Ave.

ROYAL OAK — The cold-press juice mavens behind Drought opened a fifth metro Detroit storefront in May on the border of Birmingham and Royal Oak. The organic juice purveyor is also planning a location in Ann Arbor. Status: Certified open. 32823 Woodward Ave.

DEARBORN — Latin American eatery M Cantina recently opened its doors in Dearborn with a lineup of tacos, tortas, Mexican street corn, and tapas. The restaurant also offers fresh juices and Jarritos. Status: Certified open. 13214 Michigan Ave.

ROYAL OAK — HopCat unveiled a tri-level craft beer bar in Royal Oak in May — the Grand Rapids-based chain’s 13th location to date. Each floor boasts its own bar leading up to a sun-soaked patio area on the roof. Status: Certified open. 208 5th Ave.

Courtesy of Roche Photo Collective

FERNDALE — Axle Brewing Co. unleashed its first-ever brewpup, Livernois Tap, in one of Ferndale’s quieter corners. Alongside an extensive list of house-brewed beers, the establishment offers a creative menu developed by the team from Grey Ghost. Diners can expect dishes like bologna corn dogs, mussels, and chicken paprikash. Status: Certified open. 567 Livernois Ave.

ROCHESTER HILLS — Grosse Pointe Farms brunch destination Jagged Fork has expanded to a second outpost in Rochester Hills, according to Crain’s. The 3,000-square-foot eatery seats 100 people and offers a range of skillets, alongside french toast, omelettes, burgers, and beyond. Alas, the booze license won’t be on board until the end of the summer. Status: Certified open. 188 N Adams Rd.

GROSSE POINTE — A new bar and grill opened its doors on June 1 in Grosse Pointe. Old Pony Martini Pub offers lots of drink specials plus cheeseburgers and fries. Status: Certified open. 17008 Kercheval Ave.

Bonus: BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Joe Muer Seafood’s second location opens its doors on June 12. The 9,000-square-foot restaurant seats 279 diners and offers private dining space for up to 70 people. Diners can expect the traditional dishes found at Joe Muer’s downtown restaurant including seafood towers, sushi, and other surf-and-turf dishes. Brunch service begins on July 2. Status: Soft open. 39475 Woodward Ave.

May 15

CASS CORRIDOR — An eclectic lineup of halal burgers and creative shakes arrived in Midtown in late-April. Royale With Cheese, a riff on a line from the film Pulp Fiction, serves everything from spicy, crunchy chip-topped burgers to vegetarian-friendly falafel patties. Status: Certified open. 4163 Cass Avenue.

ANN ARBOR — Zingerman’s latest Southeast Michigan storefront, the Cream Top Shop, is housed inside a portion of the company’s creamery and offers a bevy of dairy products and pairings. Choices rang from American made artisan cheeses to made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches and brownie sundaes. Status: Certified open. 3723 Plaza Dr.

Michelle and Chris Gerard

CASS CORRIDOR — Designer cake maker Jessica Bouren’s bakery-cafe made its entrance on May 2. While Bouren is still focused on creating whimsical desserts for weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations, her storefront Cake Ambition also offers plenty for walk-ins. Customers can expect old-fashioned candy sold by by the pound and half-pound as well as small, “lightly decorated cakes,” pastries, and cheesecake by-the-slice. Status: Certified open. 4154 3rd Ave.

DOWNTOWN — The Bullshot charged back into downtown Detroit on Friday with the debut of the new Caucus Club. The revived restaurant offers a modern take on old-school chop houses. The steaks are dry-aged on the premises and the menu boasts plenty of surf-and-turf including prime rib, pork and lamb chops, and a raw bar. Caesar salads are prepared table side. Status: Certified open. 150 W. Congress.

DOWNTOWN — Located inside the freshly opened Detroit Foundation Hotel, The Apparatus Room debuts today. Helmed by a Michelin-starred chef Thomas Lents, the vast hotel restaurant features modern American dishes that touch on familiar Detroit flavors. For example, the pici pasta with beef heart and horseradish is the chef’s ode to a Coney dog. During the day the restaurant will offer breakfast and lunch with the bar serving Anthology Coffee and house made pastries. Status: Certified open. 250 West Larned St.

Bonus: DOWNTOWN — Park-side patio spot, The Fountain Detroit, has reopened for the season. Some recent additions to the menu this year include reuben fries, Southwest-style salad, and boozy milkshakes. Status: Certified open. Campus Martius Park.

April 24

CASS CORRIDOR — Sunny spring weather calls for cold sippers. Enter Juice Joint, a new juice bar ready and waiting to quench your thirst inside the Marcus Market. The spot debuted in mid-April with a menu featuring smoothies, juices, and cold brew coffee drinks. Prices range from around $2.50 to $7 per drink. Status: Certified open. 4614 Second Ave.

NEW CENTER — After well over a year of anticipation, Atomic Chicken finally debuted its Detroit outpost at the intersection of Woodward Ave and East Milwaukee. The revised menu features chicken sandwiches, loaded mac & cheese and tater tots, chicken tenders, and more. Status: Certified open. 6500 Woodward Ave.

DOWNTOWN — One of several newcomers to the downtown area, La Lanterna is the reincarnation of a former Capitol Park restaurant owned by Da Edoardo Restaurant Group founder Edoardo Barbieri. Grandson Eddie Barbieri has reinvented the restaurant as a Northern Italian eatery with 10 thin-crust pizzas, plus sandwiches, salads, and handmade pasta. Status: Certified open. 1224 Griswold St.

Michelle and Chris Gerard

DOWNTOWN — Avalon International Breads’ restaurant spin-off, Avalon Cafe & Bakery, threw open its doors on April 14 along Woodward Avenue near Campus Martius. The establishment boasts a Detroit-themed interior and features a menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items including pizzas. For drinks choose from espresso beverages as well as beer and wine. Status: Certified open. 1049 Woodward Ave.

DOWNTOWN — Perhaps the most unexpected opening of the season might be the Press Room Cafe, a new food stall venture that quietly filled the former Detroit News Building on the west side of downtown in April. The spot includes an Intelligencia coffee bar as well as a Mercato by Fabio Viviani slinging Neapolitan-style pizzas and other Italian items for lunch. Status: Certified open. 615 W. Lafayette Blvd.

CASS CORRIDOR — Boba tea, desserts, and other Asian imported food and gifts can be found at one of Midtown’s latest recruits, Tou & Mai. The small storefront is operated by neighboring Go! Sy Thai and is one of the only spots in town to customize and slurp bubble tea. Status: Certified open. 4240 Cass Ave.

DOWNTOWN — On hiatus since last fall, sushi hand roll shop Chubby Duck returned to the Harmonie Park area on April 24. The restaurant renovated and expanded to offer customers more dine-in seating (a smart move that also resulted in delays to reopening). Status: Certified open. 208 E Grand River Ave.

ANN ARBOR — Tree Town gained new destination for craft beer. HOMES Brewery opened the taps on April 19. The spot offers hop-forward ales, stouts, goses, and an Asian-inspired menu. Status: Certified open. 2321 W. Jackson Ave.

OXFORD — In other booze news, HomeGrown Brewing Co. is now open in Oxford. The brewpub features 10 in-house beers and a locally-source menu from chef Clifton Booth. Status: Certified open. 28 N. Washington St.

PONTIAC — The Slows expansion continues with a new outpost next to the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac. The restaurant offers the traditional menu of barbecue favorites that the Corktown mainstay is known for, including The Reason sandwich with smoked pork butt, North Carolina-style sauce, coleslaw, and dill pickles. Slows’ Pontiac restaurant will also provide concessions to the theatre. Status: Certified open. 8 Saginaw St.

PONTIAC — Pontiac pop-up dining outfit Menagerie Kitchen has relocated to Lafayette Market. Founders James and April Forbes plan to host events every other Sunday. Status: Certified open. 154 N. Saginaw St.

April 5

DOWNTOWN — R.U.B. BBQ Pub has undergone a complete revamp. The Grand Circus Park restaurant relaunched this week as Brass Rail Pizza Bar. Expect an assortment of Italian dishes including pastas and pizzas ranging from margherita to the breakfast-inspired Wakey Wakey (sunny side up eggs, home fries, bacon, and steak). Status: Soft open. 18 W Adams Ave.

TAYLOR — Kardashian Bakery & Grill is now cooking up Armenian and Italian cuisine under the same roof. Find meaty Armenian-style lahmajoon flatbreads here as well as grilled chicken, greek omelettes, and salads. Status: Soft open. 11330 Allen Rd.

YPSILANTI — The owners of Cafe Ollie recently shuttered and renovated the restaurant space into two separate projects — a cafe and bakery called Cream and Crumb and a Michigan-centric restaurants called Ollie Food & Spirits. Status: Soft open. 42 E. Cross St.

YPSILANTI — Guatemalan baked goods can now be savored by Southeast Michigan residents at Panadería La Bendición in Yspi. The pastry shop features treats flavored with everything from cream cheese to strawberry jam to banana and coconut. Status: Certified open. 531 W. Cross St.

DOWNTOWN — La Pecora Nera brought Italian deli sandwiches, salads, espresso, and gelato to Detroit’s city center in March. The restaurant, located next to The Last Tangle hair salon, offers a few communal tables for dine-in seating. Customers can also find select pantry items in the shop such as sparkling water, bell peppers, and potatoes. Status: Certified open. 1514 Washington Blvd.

Michelle and Chris Gerard

FERNDALE — Just in time for spring, chilled seafood has finally arrived in Ferndale with the launch of Voyager. The neighborhood establishment offers a rotating selection of oysters alongside dishes like crab spaghetti, marrow with mussels, and a white fish sandwich. Don’t forget the mai tai complete with a twisty straw. Status: Certified open. 600 Vester St.

OLD REDFORD — A new Senegalese eatery is heating up Detroit’s Northwest side. Maty’s African Cuisine opened its doors in March and is already turning heads with its West African dishes including grilled lamb, whole grilled tilapia, and whole chickens. Status: Certified open. 21611 Grand River Ave.

HAZEL PARK — The John R Rd. strip gained two fresh dining options this spring — Joebar and Frame. The pair share conjoining spaces but function as separate projects. Joebar offers a convivial atmosphere with communal seating, TVs tuned to sports, and a menu with appetizers like fried pickles, well-made dipped sandwiches, elephant ears, cocktails, and beer. Frame, a new project from the owner of Revolver, features extended pop-ups in a customizable space. It kicked off a month-long series with Katoi in late-March. Status: Certified open. 23839 John R Rd.

ROYAL OAK — In mid-March Royal Oak welcomed a new hot dog restaurant to its ranks. Detroit Dog Co. has relocated from Saline to metro Detroit and is poised to debut another new location soon as part of Detroit Shipping Co.’s food hall lineup. The menu features chicken and waffles in a bag, fancy hot dogs topped with everything from bacon and macaroni to peanut butter and jam, and french fries. Status: Certified open. 200 W 5th Ave.

DOWNTOWN — There’s a new National Coney Island outpost slinging Detroit’s signature hot dog inside the MGM Grand Detroit. Casino patrons can get their fix 24 hours a day at the Breeze dining court or at TAP sports bar. Status: Certified open. 1777 3rd St.

BIRMINGHAM — Will a meatball-themed restaurant make it big in Bham? Time will tell. Brooklyn Pizza founder Sam Abdelfatah recently debuted Polpetta Meatball Cafe in the downtown area. The menu features meatball sliders, pasta, and more. Status: Certified open. 126 South Old Woodward Ave.

Michelle and Chris Gerard

CASS CORRIDOR — Former 3rd Street Bar pop-up Dangerously Delicious Pies has carved out a new home on Alexandrine Street across from Great Lakes Coffee. The shop offers plenty of seating and pies in flavors like salted caramel, ratatouille, and BBQ pulled pork. Status: Certified open. 70 W. Alexandrine St.

YPSILANTI — Casual newcomer Ma Lou’s Fried Chicken descended on the Ypsilanti area in early March. The restaurant helmed by chef Frank Fejeran features traditional Southern-style fried chicken with a choice of spice level (classic to “spicy AF”). Also look out for the biscuit doughnuts. If the restaurant is successful, more locations could be on the way. Status: Certified open. 15 W. Michigan Ave.

WYANDOTTE — Corktown gastropub Bobcat Bonnie’s has expanded to Downriver, taking over the former Bourbon’s restaurant and bar in downtown Wyandotte. The restaurant features an identical menu with burgers, loaded tater tots, and dishes like Cap ‘n Crunch chicken fingers. The location also recently launched its popular weekend brunch. Status: Certified open. 118 Sycamore St.

DOWNTOWN — Buzzy New York burger chain Shake Shack finally unleashed its first Michigan outlet on Detroit in February. The restaurant initially attracted long lines but those have sufficiently died down now with the help of online ordering. The restaurant has Detroit centric interior details and serves specialty frozen concretes featuring ingredients from Sister Pie, Bon Bon Bon, Zingerman’s, and Rocky’s. Status: Certified open. 660 Woodward Ave.

ROYAL OAK — Burgrz has reopened as Rebel Cafe in Royal Oak. The switch happened in mid-February. The restaurant features burgers from its predecessor alongside sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items like french toast and blueberry pancakes. Status: Certified open. 410 S. Main St.

Have intel about a newly opened restaurant, bar, or cafe that we’ve overlooked? Tipping is essential. Send Eater the details at the Detroit tipline and we’ll check it out.

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