13 Recent 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 fall opening report for an archive of the newcomers from September 2017 through November 2017.

March 30

THE VILLAGES — A combination laundromat and coffee shop by the name of The Commons Detroit is now serving caffeinated brews, third-wave style, and fancy teas. Status: Certified open. 7900 Mack Ave.

BIRMINGHAM — Rose Room at 220 220 Merrill team has quietly opened a new lounge in the former Edison’s spot, located below 220. Status: Soft open. 220 E Merrill St.

DOWNTOWN — 150 seat share plates spot Asaysia is in business near Greektown from chef Larry Middlebrooks — just don’t call it “tapas”, since the plates are pretty large. Status: Certified open. 1452 Brush St.

ALL OVER — The people behind former downtown bistro Cilantro (which closed in 2015) are back with a food truck by the same name, and doing a variety of hearty sandwiches. Status: Certified open.

WATERFORD — Frito pies and fancy hotdogs with wide-ranging toppings are the name of the game at cheesily-named Doggy Style, on Telegraph Road. Status: Certified open.

ROYAL OAK — Fast casual chain Freshii (think salad bowls, burritos, and more) has touched down on S Main Street. Status: Certified open.

MIDTOWN — The founder of Go! Smoothies, Monique Dooley, is back in business in Midtown and keeping things healthy with smoothie bowls galore at Fresh101. Status: Certified open.

DOWNTOWN — Tuck into Pueblo-style tacos and fusion options like mole pizza at La Noria, on Michigan Avenue. Status: Certified open.

DOWNTOWN — Beacon Park welcomes Lumen, with a futuristic and environmentally friendly building design (complete with 45-seat rooftop patio), and a hearty bistro menu. Status: Certified open.

TROY — Breakfast and brunch-only restaurant First Watch is now frying and scrambling eggs on E Big Beaver Road. Status: Certified open.

DOWNTOWN — On the ground floor of the Detroit Club building is no-membership-required chophouse The Grille Room, with ample steaks and seafood in a very classic, oaky setting. Status: Certified open.

DOWNTOWN — Griddled burgers and sandwiches are the focus at new Capitol Park arrival Lovers Only, from Voyageur restaurateur Eli Boyer, with a tidy interior that sits on the fence between casual and classy. Status: Certified open.

MIDTOWN — Part perfume shop, part bar Castalia is mixing its talents to do scented cocktails in a compact 2nd Avenue storefront. Status: Certified open.

February 28

MIDTOWN — Berkley favorite Park Shelton Pizza debuted in the Park Shelton Building in mid-February, taking over the former Detroit Pizza Co. space that had closed and changed hands several times over the past year. The restaurant, operated by the owners of Amici’s Gourmet Pizza and Living Room in Berkley, primarily offers carryout with seven tables for dining in. Status: Certified open. 15 E Kirby St #115. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of Park Shelton Pizza.

HAMTRAMCK — The former Campau Tower building is now home to a Mexican-style taco shop called Dos Locos Tacos. The restaurant owned by partners Mike Petrack and partner Brittany Olmstead features a halal and vegetarian-friendly menu with options like beef chorizo and seasoned black bean tacos. The restaurant makes its horchata in-house and sources many of its ingredients locally including its tortillas and tamales from Mexicantown’s Evie’s Tamales. Status: Certified open. 10337 Joseph Campau.

MEXICANTOWN — The Huron Room transitioned into a new restaurant called Fist of Curry in February, serving up curries from around the world. The restaurant features ‘70s-inspired decor and offers soft serve ice cream cones for dessert. Status: Certified open. 2547 Bagley St.

STATE FAIR GROUNDS — Marijuana dispensary-adjacent fried dough slinger Holy Moly Donut Shop debuted on February 8 with all manner of sweet treats ranging from crullers to cinnamon rolls to cake doughnuts. The shop also features a nifty designer topping bar. Status: Certified open. 201 W 8 Mile Rd.

MIDTOWN — Le Petit Zinc is gradually reopening its doors this week at its new home on Alexandrine in preparation for a grand opening during the first week of March. The restaurant took over the short-lived Dangerously Delicious Pies space across from Great Lakes Coffee and serves a menu with coffee, crepes, quiche, and other French-style breakfast and lunch food. Status: Soft open. 70 West Alexandrine.

January 31

BIRMINGHAM — The owners of The Bird and The Bread retired that restaurant last fall in order to revive a longtime Royal Oak favorite Vinotecca. The rebooted wine bar features wine, cocktails, and frosé as well as small plates and “world cuisine.” Status: Soft open. 210 S. Old Woodward Ave.

NEW CENTER — Hot chocolate connoisseurs and pastry fans alike will find themselves at home at New York City transplant City Bakery. The cafe and bakeshop opened its doors on January 29 inside the Fisher Building. Status: Soft open. 3011 W Grand Blvd.

SOUTHWEST DETROIT — After ages of waiting, Southwest Detroit’s Flowers of Vietnam finally reopened in a bigger, refurbished version of its original space on West Vernor. The Vietnamese eatery helmed by chef George Azar offers a variety of dishes including Korean-fried caramel chicken wings, broken rice, and pho. From the bar, look out for refreshing wine list plus plenty of beer and cocktails to go around. Status: Certified open. 4430 W. Vernor Hwy.

ROYAL OAK — A Taco Bell Cantina officially landed in Royal Oak in January, but much to everyone’s disappointment it doesn’t offer booze yet. The restaurant serves food on plates, according to the Detroit News. The menu also stands out from standard Taco Bells with options like loaded potatoes and chili burritos. Status: Certified open. 420 S. Main St.

TROY — A new Polish spot, Polka Restaurant, debuted in Troy on January 23 with hearty Eastern European-style options like fresh baked pretzels, salmon tartare, and roasted pork shank. Status: Soft open. 2908 E Maple Rd.

FERNDALE — After going the way of disco in 2014, Boogie Fever is making a comeback in its former space along Woodward Avenue. The bar and dance club replaced the former Twisted Tavern on January 20 with an updated menu. Status: Certified open. 22901 Woodward Ave.

SOUTHFIELD — Fishbone’s West returned to Southfield in early January serving up a combination of seafood, steaks, sushi, and Creole fare, the Detroit News reports. Status: Certified open. 29244 Northwestern.

YPSILANTI — Dolores, a Mexican eatery, opened its doors in the former Elbow Room dive bar on January 30, according to Metro Times. The restaurant is now slinging tacos, tostadas, flautas, and more with a full bar specializing in tequila and mezcal. Status: Soft open. 6 S. Washington St.

January 2

ROYAL OAK — Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken has thrown open the doors at its third metro Detroit location in Royal Oak. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant seats 46 people. The Memphis-based chain imparts a bit of kick to its fried chicken and also offers sides like baked beans, coleslaw, and white bread. Status: Certified open. 31105 Woodward Ave.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Shipwreck Brewing Company officially crashed into the Nautical Mile on December 18. Status: Certified open. 24409 Jefferson Ave.

SOUTHWEST — A new Mexican eatery El Caporal Taqueria Y Restaurant has been slowly ramping up service off Junction Street in Southwest Detroit. The restaurant offers a variety of tacos as well as rotisserie chicken, ceviche tostadas, Jalisco-style burritos, and more. Status: Certified open. 1414 Junction St.

DOWNTOWN — Eat-N-Out Pizza and Gelato replaced Krema in Greektown in December, serving thin crust-style slices, crepes, and calzones. Status: Certified open. 531 Monroe Ave.

DOWNTOWN — Juice & Fuel debuted last fall inside CrossFit in the D. In addition to smoothies and juices, the shop offers acai bowls and other grab-and-go meals and snacks. Status: Certified open. 110 Michigan Ave.

DOWNTOWN — Detroit Is The New Black now features an in-house coffee bar and roastery called Coffeehaus. The shop offers pour overs and nitro brewed coffee. Status: Certified open. 1426 Woodward Ave.

HAMTRAMCK — California Burgerz opened its doors in Hamtramck in November. The restaurant offers a brief menu with options like the Gorilla Burger — an Angus patty paired with pickles, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, and American cheese on a pretzel bun. The spot also serves shakes and hand-cut fries. Status: Certified open. 2045 Conant Ave.

ROYAL OAK — Noodle slinger Edo Ramen opened up shop on December 27 serving its namesake dish alongside a lineup of fusion items such as Hawaiian poke to Filipino logonisa sausage with rice, pineapple slaw, and eggs. Status: Certified open. 4313 W. 13 Mile Rd.

BRUSH PARK — For the Love of Sugar is now whipping up sweet treats in The Scott building. The bakeshop helmed by Manal Hussein offers a variety of French macarons and custom cakes as well as coffee and breakfast bowls. Status: Certified open. 100 Erskine St.

ROCHESTER — Metro Detroit chain Recipes christened its third outpost in Rochester in November. The eatery specializes in brunch dishes but also offers Pan Asian cuisine such as Vietnamese bun thit nuong cha gio (grilled pork chop vermicelli) and spring rolls. Status: Certified open. 134 W. University.

HAMTRAMCK — Yemeni restaurant Remas recently took over the former L George’s Coney Island in Hamtramck with options like “zesty” gallaba, shish kafta, and stuffed grape leaves. Status: Certified open. 11444 Joseph Campau Ave.

PLYMOUTH — Macaron maker The Blu Kitchen finally went brick-and-mortar in Plymouth last fall. The shop is open on Saturdays only. Status: Certified open. 965 N. Mill St.

SOUTHWEST — The Detroit Optimist Society’s dive tiki spot Mutiny Bar started slinging drinks in mid-November. Status: Certified open. 4654 Vernor Hwy.

BAGLEY — Neighborhood coffee house Detroit Sip is officially brewing on the city’s west side. Status: Certified open. 7420 W McNichols Rd.

CASS CORRIDOR — West Michigan brewery titans Founders Brewing Company landed its second taproom in Cass Corridor in December. The brewery features a full menu and 32 taps as well as a small brewing system for creating Detroit-specific beers. Status: Certified open. 456 Charlotte St.

CASS CORRIDOR — The team behind Vincente’s Cuban is now serving up South American flavors in Midtown at Bolero Latin Cuisine. Status: Certified open. 51 W Forest Ave.

FERNDALE — The former Local Kitchen & Bar space completed its transition to an entertainment complex with a board game bar called The Corner and an axe-throwing venue dubbed Detroit Axe. Status: Certified open. 344 West Nine Mile Rd.

WYANDOTTE — Downriver’s Bobcat Bonnie’s is now back in action on Sycamore after a brief hiatus this fall. Status: Certified open. 118 Sycamore St.

BRUSH PARK — Ohio-based Mexican chain Bakersfield arrived in the former Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe building on December 18 bringing with it housemade tortillas and an extensive selection of tequilas and whiskeys. Status: Certified open. 3100 Woodward Ave.

EASTERN MARKET — Chef Guy Pelino brought back much of the former Roma Cafe’s classic Italian menu under a new name at Amore da Roma. The restaurant debuted on December 16 and will continue to undergo tweaks this spring with the addition of an outdoor bar and patio. Status: Certified open. 3401 Riopelle St.

• All Detroit Restaurant Openings Coverage [ED]