Cork and Gabel Prepares for Arrival in Detroit With Brats and Schnitzel BLTs

A new restaurant dishing up German, Irish, and Italian inspired comfort foods is preparing for a landing in Corktown next week. Chef Matthew McGrail of Cork and Gabel confirms to Eater that after several delays the anticipated restaurant is slated do open on Wednesday, December 19, next door to Two James Distillery at 2415 Michigan Ave.

McGrail in partnership with building owner Joe Mifsud has been developing the 4,450-square-foot beer hall and restaurant since last fall, which anchors a corner across from Roosevelt Park and Michigan Central Station. The space seats roughly 112 people and has an industrial feel with high ceilings, an open kitchen, and a horseshoe bar. A massive metal barrel have been refashioned as doorway into the building and large windows were incorporated into the original facade to bring in more light. Topping off the whole look is a rooftop clock.

McGrail, who previously worked primarily in the corporate restaurant world, is opening with a casual, comfort food menu that takes cues from Irish, German, and Italian cuisine. (The restaurant’s name is a reference to the historically Irish neighborhood of Corktown and “gabel,” the word for fork in German.) Diners can expect options like Guinness stew with braised beef short rib and herb gnocchi, schnitzel BLTs, and lamb bolognese with rye pasta. There’s also a large bangers and brats section devoted to sausages. From the bar expect plenty of beer as well as bourbon, whiskey, and scotch.

In addition to the opening, McGrail tells Eater that restaurant is also slated to be featured in a new series from the Food Network called Opening Night. Episodes will focus on restaurants that are on the cusp of opening. The show, which is also working with a restaurant in Philadelphia, is set to premier in 2019.

Cork and Gabel is slated to open beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. No reservations are being accepted for opening night at this time. Stay tuned for more details.

Correction: A previous version of this story reported the number of seats as 70.

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