11 Recent Metro Detroit Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know

Having a tough time keeping up with all the new dining options? Welcome to the Opening Report, a regularly-updated roundup of restaurant openings big and small across metro Detroit (and a few around Southeast Michigan). Visit the winter opening report for an archive of the newcomers from January 2019 through March 2019.

June 5

NEW CENTER — A vegan demonstration kitchen and lunch cafe operated by blogger and food educator Quiana Broden opened on Wednesday, June 5 in New Center. The Kitchen by Cooking With Que serves rotating grab-and-go lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday with options like green smoothies, strawberry salad, and vegan macaroni and cheese. Status: Soft open. 6529 Woodward Ave. (Suite A).

TROY — Hawaiian-style fish salad mega chain Pokeworks debuted its first fast-casual poke location in Troy in May. The company, which serves build-your-own poke bowls, sushi burritos, and poke salad, also has plans for locations in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Status: Certified open. 716 W Big Beaver Rd.

DEARBORN — A.B.’s Amazing Ribs opened along Ford Road in mid-March. The menu at this barbecue spot is entirely halal with options such as beef back ribs, smoked chicken, and chopped brisket sandwiches. Status: Certified open. 27310 Ford Rd.

AUBURN HILLS — New York-based chain the Hummus & Pita Co. landed its first Michigan location in metro Detroit on May 25 at the Great Lakes Crossing Outlet food court. The restaurant serves sandwiches on pita and laffa bread as well as bowls and platters, but it’s perhaps best known for its chickpea shakes. Status: Certified open. 4418 Baldwin Rd.

EASTERN MARKET — Anthology Coffee finally settled into its new, bigger home in Eastern Market in May. The cafe serves a variety of coffee drinks using its own roasted beans as well as coffee tonic and pastries. Status: Certified open. 1948 Division St.

DOWNTOWN — Short-lived Korean seafood stall Pursue was replaced by a restaurant called Table in Fort Street Galley in May. The restaurant, which is operated by the Galley Group, serves a Southern-influenced menu with options like shrimp hushpuppies and chicken and biscuits. Status: Certified open. 160 West Fort St.

DOWNTOWN — One of Detroit’s highest public rooftop bars the Monarch Club opened at the top of the Metropolitan Building in May. It features views of the city including Comerica Park. Status: Certified open. 33 John R St.

SOUTHWEST — Taqueria y Cenaduria Triangulo Dorado recently opened in the former El Caribeño space in Springwells serving cuisine from the northern Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Sinaloa. The menu features options such as quesadilla-like mulitas and vampiros — flat-griddled tacos topped with carne asada, chihuahua cheese, and avocado crema. Status: Certified open. 8065 W Vernor Hwy.

ROMULUS — The North Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport leveled up in April ahead of the busy travel season with an outpost of Cantoro Italian Trattoria. Status: Certified open. DTW.

DEARBORN — Casual Thai restaurant La Thai Cuisine opened in March along Ford Road serving chicken satay, pad thai, Thai fried rice, and curry. Status: Certified open. 16351 Ford Rd.

DEARBORN — A new barbecue restaurant called Noah’s Smokehouse opened its doors in late April in Dearborn. The restaurant serves options like smoked brisket samosas, beef back ribs, and smoked beef sausage (No pork is served on the premises). Status: Certified open. 940 Monroe St.

May 1

EASTERN MARKET — Detroit gained a wine tasting room in early May with the debut of Detroit Vineyards. The winery produces wines, meads, and ciders using Michigan fruit and honey including a small amount of grown-in-Detroit grapes. It’s located in the old Stroh’s Ice Cream factory and features an industrial interior. Status: Certified open. 1000 Gratiot Ave.

MCDOUGALL-HUNT — Head to Saffron De Twah for carryout Moroccan American cuisine including lamb tagine bowls, hot chicken, and ras el hanout lamb ribs. Status: Certified open. 7650 Gratiot Ave.

HUBBARD-RICHARD — A new Mexican bar and restaurant called Peso is now slinging 20 different types of margaritas as well as cantaritos and other cocktails in Hubbard-Richard. The menu features tortas, burritos, and more. Status: Certified open. 2547 Bagley St.

HUBBARD-RICHARD — Neighborhood bar Bagley Central is officially mixing affordable cocktails next door to Peso in Hubbard-Richard. The bar has a rock and roll aesthetic with lots of metallic touches, dark green paint, and velvet upholstery. Status: Certified open. 2545 Bagley St.

MIDTOWN — Shield’s has now joined the ranks of Detroit-style pizza restaurants serving signature square pizzas in city limits. The restaurant set up shop inside the Maccabees building across from the Detroit Institute of Arts with dine-in seating and a lunchtime carryout area. Status: Certified open. 5057 Woodward Ave.

CORE CITY — Located in a sunny spot just off Grand River Avenue, Ochre Bakery is serving up fresh, naturally-leavened breads, stunning pastries, and some really inviting sandwiches. Status: Certified open. 4884 Grand River Ave.

HIGHLAND PARK — For the first time in roughly two decades, the city of Highland Park has a place to grab a cocktail. Woodward Ave. Bar & Grille opened its doors in April with beer, wine, mixed drinks, and bar food like chicken quesadillas and mozzarella sticks. There’s even a patio. Status: Certified open. 12000 Woodward Ave.

ROYAL OAK — A new cotton-candy colored bar and restaurant called Pinky’s is now open with views of Main Street in downtown Royal Oak. The menu features Instagrammy items like a cotton candy wig served on top of a mannequin and frozen popsicles in fizzy wine. Status: Certified open. 100 S. Main St.

HARPER WOODS — The Rivertown Warehouse District’s jazz restaurant favorite They Say expanded to a second restaurant in May. Located in Harper Woods near the Eastland Mall, it serves items like beef short ribs, Italian subs, and seafood. Status: Certified open. 17810 Vernier Rd.

DOWNTOWN — A circus-themed diner threw open its doors in April just off Grand Circus Park. Grand Circus Diner serves items like Cincinnati chili spaghetti, fried feta sandwiches, and burgers. It’s also open super late. Status: Certified open. 1570 Woodward Ave.

MIDTOWN — A Christian coffee shop called AWAKE Cafe opened its doors in March with locally-sourced pastries, as well as coffee and tea. Status: Certified open. 4224 3rd St.

SHERWOOD FOREST — A white tablecloth restaurant called Table No. 2 opened over Easter weekend on the Avenue of Fashion. Brothers Shimar Mitchell and chef Omar Mitchell are behind the venture, which features items like tableside caesar salad, steak, oysters Rockefeller, and lobster. Status: Certified open. 18925 Livernois Ave.

ANN ARBOR — A restaurant and jazz club called the Blue Llama opened in early April in Ann Arbor with a menu inspired by American musicians. Status: Certified open. 314 S Main St.

HAMTRAMCK — There’s a new restaurant called Balkan House serving Eastern European dishes in Hamtramck. The menu includes a rarity around these parts — döner kabob — as well as chevapi and crepes. Status: Certified open. 3028 Caniff St.

ROYAL OAK — Shawn Randazzo, the chef behind the Detroit-style Pizza Co., partnered with cousin Greg Cummings to open a Detroit-style pizzeria in April called Palazzo di Pizza. Status: Certified open. 1220 E. 11 Mile Rd.

FERNDALE — In other Detroit-style pizza news, Como’s Restaurant has reopened in Ferndale under new ownership with an updated menu devoted to the square slice. The crust is naturally leavened for three days and there’s also a rather pleasing option for gluten-free crust. Status: Certified open. 22812 Woodward Ave.

BLOOMFIELD — Adachi chef Lloyd Roberts has brought his talents to another menu, this time focused on “pan-Asian” dishes with the opening of Zao Jun. Expect options like Mandarin bang chicken served family-style as well as maki rolls, Thai mango salad, and tom gai soup. Status: Certified open. 6608 Telegraph Rd.

SOUTHWEST — Located inside an old party store, Bodega Cat offers homemade green chicken and red pork tamales served right from the steamer pot as well as tlacoyos. Status: Certified open. 2200 Scotten Ave.

April 5

HAMTRAMCK — Laid-back cocktail lounge Barter opened on Saturday, March 30, with a lineup of easy drinking beverages and a black box theater space. Owners Cait Pluto, Michigan native Jake Goodrich, bartender Jennifer Sandella partnered to develop Barter last year with the goal of creating a neighborhood hangout and self-sustaining community venue where artists and performers could trade their skills in exchange for things they needed such as free practice space Status: Certified open. 11601 Joseph Campau Ave.

ROYAL OAK — Check out Sake Sushi for classic Japanese and Korean dishes. There’s sushi, sashimi, bulgogi, and more. Status: Certified open. 410 S Main St.

ROYAL OAK — Popular restaurant Bar Louie took over the former Blackfinn space and offers plenty of adult beverages, flatbreads, fried food, burgers, and more. Status: Certified open. 510 South Main St.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Peso Bar is open. It is not.

• All Detroit Restaurant Openings Coverage [ED]
• All Eater Tracking Coverage [ED]