New downtown hotel reveals name of rooftop bar
After nearly 40 years of vacancy, the Metropolitan Building opened its doors to the public for the first time giving visitors a taste of the forthcoming Element Hotel. The hotel is slated to open later this month and ahead of the North American International Auto Show, according to Curbed Detroit. As previously reported, the Element will feature several food and beverage amenities including a rooftop bar. Developers revealed this week that the rooftop cocktail lounge and outdoor terrace will be dubbed the Monarch Club and customers will likely have one of the best views in the city. Details on the other establishments are expected to be announced soon.
Fried chicken for Christmas
Izakaya-inspired Ferndale restaurant Antihero is introducing a new tradition for its first Christmas. The restaurant is offering dine-in customers 8-piece buckets of buttermilk-brined fried chicken with kimchi cheddar biscuits, potato salad, black pepper gravy, and napa cabbage coleslaw on Sunday, December 23, for $28. The fried chicken meal is an homage to the Japanese tradition of ordering KFC on Christmas and comes with brown butter miso chocolate chip cookies.
New vegetarian restaurant heads to Canton
Vegetarians will soon have another spot to dine out in Canton. Indian fast-food restaurant Veg-O-Rama is expanding to 44930 Ford Rd. in February after a successful run at its first outpost in Ypsilanti. Owner Prafulla Kharkar is also looking into opening locations in Farmington, Royal Oak, and Detroit, as well as franchising opportunities. The restaurant features vegetarian burgers and options like tamarind barbecue jackfruit sandwiches.
Labor lawsuits
Sushi chain Maru Sushi, which has a location in downtown Detroit, is facing another lawsuit — this time from the U.S. Department of Labor. The lawsuit was filed in October, according to the Lansing State Journal, and alleges that Maru Sushi violated minimum wage, overtime, and record keeping laws.
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