San Morello Kicks Off Brunch This Weekend With Italian Cream-Filled Doughnuts

Detroit Free Press names Restaurant of the Year

The Detroit Free Press concluded its countdown today of metro Detroit’s best restaurants for 2019. Chef Garrett Lipar’s Albena took the top spot for Best New Restaurant, while chef Mike Ransom’s Ima landed the Restaurant of the Year title. Ima, which recently opened a new location in Madison Heights, was Eater Detroit’s 2017 Restaurant of the Year.

Asian restaurant lands near Grand Circus Park

Briggs Houze, a building located near Grand Circus Park, is getting a new restaurant tenant with a “Asian theme” called Pao Detroit, according to Crain’s. The restaurant sounds like it will be harkening back to the former 1920s Oriental Theater that was once located near the property, though it will have “nightlife elements.” The 110-seat restaurant will serve items like black cod miso, garlic shrimp, and filet mignon. Eater has reached out for more details.

No longer for sale

After a brief stint up for sale, Dino’s Lounge and M-Brew in Ferndale have been taken off the market. The Oakland County Times reported in December that the restaurants had listed for $2.35 million. However, owner Dean Bach now tells the Detroit Free Press he’s changed his mind and is now looking at investing in a remodel of Dino’s and considering partnerships to take some of the responsibility off himself while he works on a project up north.

Somm shuffles in Hazel Park

Paulina Schemanski has been named the new sommelier at Mabel Gray, chef James Rigato tells Eater in an email. Schemanski helped open Joebar and Frame and was most recently a manager at Tallulah in Birmingham. She will be taking over the position following the departure of Lindsay Martinik, who left the restaurant pursue a new day job.

Midtown fast-food restaurant ends contract with towing company

A Midtown McDonald’s location has formally ended its contract with Breakthrough Towing, a company that’s been accused by numerous customers of predatory towing tactics, per the Metro Times. The company allegedly employed a “spotter” to alert a truck whenever customers left their cars — sometimes for only a few minutes.

Downtown restaurant expands into brunch

Customers can now hangout inside San Morello’s mid-century modern space during the daylight hours. The Shinola Hotel’s flagship restaurant is expanding into brunch service this weekend beginning Saturday, February 9. Reservations are now available online. The menu features options like bomboloni (Italian cream-filled doughnuts), eggs in purgatory (Calabrian chili, mozzarella, grilled ciabatta), roast beef sandwiches, and spiced apple waffles. The service runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Scope out the full menu below.

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