Ann Arbor’s Frita Batidos Will Unleash a Cuban Burger Spot in Midtown This Year

Welcome to the Plywood Report, a roundup of all the latest intel on Detroit's and metro Detroit’s coming restaurant attractions.

MIDTOWN — Ann Arbor-based Cuban street food destination Frita Batidos has officially confirmed plans for its long-awaited Detroit expansion. Following the restaurant’s big win during Sunday’s Detroit Burger Battle at Eastern Market, chef/owner Eve Aronoff announced that Frita Batidos would be unveiling a second outpost in Midtown later this year. The exact address has yet to be confirmed. Eater has reaching out for more details on the expansion.

Aronoff has been exploring properties in Detroit since 2014, but redoubled her efforts after flooding destroyed her revived fine dining project Eve The Restaurant last fall. As recently as January, Frita Batidos was fielding input from followers on social media about the best neighborhood for its Detroit restaurant with Midtown, downtown, and Corktown all in the mix. Frita Batido’s is known for its Cuban-style chorizo burgers topped with sunny side up eggs and shoestring fries. [Instagram]

MILWAUKEE JUNCTION — After many delays, the couple people behind Japanese-style izakaya and small batch sake bar, Miwaki, have officially declared the project dead. Husband and wife team Geoff and Fumie Sypitkowski had hoped to bring an Japanese tavern to the Pappas warehouse building last winter. Geoff tells Eater in an email that the pair ran into trouble with the City of Detroit and decided to abandon the project. They’ve since relocated to Japan and now pursuing opportunities there. [EaterWire]

ANN ARBOR — Detroit’s original square pie slinger, Buddy’s Pizza is on track for a fall opening in Pittsfield Township. The 6,500-square-foot restaurant, announced more than a year ago, is located on Ann Arbor-Saline Road and will feature a wraparound patio. [MLive]