8 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 summer opening report for an archive of the newcomers from roughly June 2019 through September 2019.

December 30

MADISON HEIGHTS — The first expansion for Clawson’s Woodpile BBQ Shack is here, smoking a host of meats in a former VFW hall. Status: Certified open. 630 E 11 Mile Rd.

NOVI — Maker of edible cookie dough Detroit Dough has now got its own brick-and-mortar location, serving a range of dough and dough-adjacent creations. Status: Certified open. Inside the Twelve Oaks Mall, 27500 Novi Rd.

EAST VILLAGE — A fusiony option for comforting food is the newly arrived Ivy’s Kitchen + Cocktails. Status: Certified open. 9215 E Jefferson St.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Expect tradition Jewish deli offerings at new arrival Val’s Delicatessen, courtesy of a former chef at Steve’s Deli. Status: Certified open. 4301 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 195.

WYANDOTTE — Dishing up al pastor, carnitas, chorizo and more (in taco, burrito, and torta form) is downtown Wyandotte’s Taco Bros. Status: Certified open. 128 Sycamore St.

RIVERVIEW — Frying up Nashville hot chicken, waffles, and more is Fat Daddy’s Chicken and Waffles. Status: Certified open. 18283 M-85.

DEARBORN — Billing itself as Dearborn’s first committed brunch restaurant, Avenue Brunch House is dishing up everything from pancakes to fried chicken. Status: Certified open. 22075 Michigan Ave.

WOODHAVEN — World of Sports has morphed into the more family-friendly sports bar Maverick’s, serving all the staples (burgers, mac and cheese). Status: Certified open. 20970 West Rd.

December 16

CASS CORRIDOR — Eater Award-winning Japanese-influenced noodle bar Ima opened its third location near Wayne State on December 10. The big, new location features a bar and some slight tweaks to the menu including a much-hyped fried chicken and tofu sandwich section. A few other dishes such as ramen are available in place of some of the udon dishes served at the Corktown location. Status: Certified open. 4870 Cass Ave.

MADISON HEIGHTS — A restaurant devoted to Chinese hot pot debuted in Madison Heights at the beginning of December. Lao Pot, owned by the same people behind 168 Asian Mart, features a trendy interior and a full bar. Expect a wait. Status: Certified open. 32707 John R Rd.

CASS CORRIDOR — Cold Truth completed its expansion to a new storefront in Cass Corridor during Noel Night. The shop features four different flavors of dairy and vegan soft serve as well as vegan hot cocoa, doughnuts, and coffee. Status: Certified open. 240 Cass Ave #100.

ROYAL OAK — New Order Coffee debuted a new location in the Woodward Corners development over the weekend. Another satellite shop also recently debuted at Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market. Status: Certified open. 30955 Woodward Ave.

NEW CENTER — Plum Market recently added another city-sized location in New Center at the base of the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. Status: Soft open. 670 Amsterdam St.

CASS CORRIDOR — Fast-casual restaurant chain Poke Burri opened its first Detroit location in Cass Corridor on December 11. The restaurant serves mainly poke bowls and sushi burritos, but also offers more Instagram-friendly specials such as sushi pizza and sushi doughnuts. Status: Certified open. 70 W Alexandrine St.

DOWNTOWN — Detroit original, Buddy’s Pizza, is now peddling square slices in downtown Detroit near Grand Circus Park. The restaurant features a full bar and dine-in seating but also offers a by-the-slice counter for customers on the go. Status: Certified open. 1565 Broadway St.

ROYAL OAK — A German and French restaurant called Essen recently debuted at the former Shawarma 205 and Beirut Palace address in Royal Oak. Chef Brian Kraemer, formerly of the Carpathia Club, created a menu that features crepes, German pancakes, thin-crust pizza, and currywurst among other dishes suitable for breakfast and lunch. Status: Certified open. 205 Main St.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Col’s Place, a coney island in Madison Heights, has been revived following a 2018 fire. Status: Certified open. 29022 Stephenson Hwy.

LAKE ORION — Lebanese restaurant Anita’s Kitchen’s fast-casual offshoot, AK Takeaway, has a new outpost in Lake Orion. Status: Soft open. 45 E Flint St.

CASS CORRIDOR — Faye’s Coffee Convenience Store opened inside the Cass Plaza Apartment building on December 12 with coffee, bagels, and more. Status: Certified open. 3550 Cass Ave.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Dragonmead expanded to a second taproom along the Nautical Mile in the former Shipwreck Brewing Co. building. The new spot, dubbed Dragon’s Landing, features 10 beers on tap and will eventually serve wine, cider, and mead. The bar is also finalizing a pub menu. Status: Soft open. 24409 Jefferson Ave.

December 3

CORKTOWN — A new wine bar and seafood spot Mink debuted on November 27 in Corktown next to Mama Coo’s and Folk. Helmed by chef Cameron Rolka, the pint-sized restaurant features a raw bar and a handful of dishes ranging from steamed clams to beef tartare in miso dressing. Status: Certified open. 1701 Trumbull Ave. Suite D.

DOWNTOWN — Celebrity chef Shawn McClain and partners Holly McClain, Sarah Camarota, and Richard Camarota opened a trio of new restaurants and bars at the top of the GM RenCen ahead of Thanksgiving. Highlands, Hearth 71, and High Bar encircle floor 71, offering slightly different atmospheres. Highlands is a slightly more high-end steakhouse, for customers who want a nice dinner and wine with a view while Hearth 71 is a less-fussy neighbor with a wood-fire grill and lots of beer. High Bar specializes in whiskeys of the world and cocktails. Status: Certified open. 71st floor of the GM RenCen.

SHERWOOD FOREST — Good Times on the Ave. celebrated its opening alongside Skin Bar VII and clothing store Krispy Addicts in November on the Avenue of Fashion. Status: Certified open. 19416 Livernois.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Popular food truck Pita Post has officially planted its flag in the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Hills. Owner Tal Sasson and chef Imery Warfman specialize in Israeli cuisine with items like vegan falafel sandwiches, veggie schnitzel, and beef kebabs. Ron Bonislawski of Ron and Roman designed the Maple Cafe restaurant, which serves as concessions for the theater. The cafe seats 50 customers. Status: Certified open. 4135 W. Maple Rd.

DEARBORN — The team behind Jolly Pumpkin is now hanging 10 with a new surfing-inspired restaurant in Dearborn called the Longboard. Diners can expect options like Hawaiian pizza, poke bowls, and fish tacos with plenty of beer and tiki cocktails to wash it down. Status: Certified open. 21931 Michigan Ave. Ste. 100.

FERNDALE — Alechemy Room recently debuted at the base of the Woodward Avenue Brewers building in Ferndale. Alechemy serves as a coffee shop and taproom with WAB beers, espresso drinks, and a small selection of sandwiches. Status: Certified open. 22646 Woodward Ave.

November 15

FERNDALE — Balkan House has completed its lightning fast expansion to Ferndale, opening on Wednesday, November 13 with döner kebab, cevapi, Turkish coffee, and more. The restaurant will focus more on late-night crowds on 9 Mile by staying open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Status: Certified open. 314 W. 9 Mile Rd.

CASS CORRIDOR — The owners of Poke Poke Sushi Unrolled debuted a new bubble tea shop called Boba Bar inside the company’s Detroit poke restaurant on Tuesday, November 12. Boba Bar will now be featured at all future locations of Poke Poke including in Dearborn and Grand Rapids. Status: Certified open. 4501 Woodward Ave.

GREEKTOWN — Short-lived restaurant Friend & Associate has reopened as Delmar Kitchen & Bar, tying into its clubby rooftop lounge sibling. Status: Certified open. 501 Monroe St.

SOUTHGATE — Longtime food truck Buffy’s Mexi-Casian Grill opened a new stationary restaurant in Downriver on Friday, November 15. The restaurant serves tacos, burritos, loaded fries, burgers, and more. Status: Soft open. 13312 Fort St.

November 4

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn’s wildly popular halal burger gas station restaurant Taystee’s Burgers has finally expanded to a second dedicated outpost in Dearborn Heights. The restaurant features a full dining room with a walk-up counter similar to the original restaurant. Status: Certified open. 26350 Ford Rd.

DOWNTOWN — Find all the favorite egg topped chorizo burgers, tropical milkshakes, and fishbowl-sized cocktails at Frita Batido’s new restaurant in Detroit. Status: Certified open. 66 W. Columbia St.

CASS CORRIDOR — Chocolate shop Bon Bon Bon grew to a new location in Midtown in October. The Canfield tasting room and retail shop features dog-friendly treats supporting animal rescue charities. Status: Certified open. 441 W. Canfield.

MIDTOWN — Hammer & Nail, a mid-century styled cocktail lounge with an era-specific snack menu, opened on October 18 inside the Plaza. The bar features drinks like the Moonwalk and the Pink Squirrel as well as shrimp cocktail. Status: Certified open. 3800 Woodward Ave.

DOWNTOWN — Moneyline Sports Lounge is now pouring drinks near the hotel valet entrance at the MGM Grand Detroit casino. The venue features bar top video poker, a full bar with a cocktails and local beer, lounge seating, and three VIP areas. Status: Certified open. 1777 3rd Ave.

ANN ARBOR — BeanBerry Cafe debuted in downtown Ann Arbor with “selfieccinos,” bubble waffles, and boba. Status: Certified open. 305 S. Main St.

OAK PARK — Burgerim has opened a new outpost in Oak Park. The burger franchise was originally founded in Israel and has drawn criticism from groups supporting the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement supporting Palestinians.

ISLANDVIEW — A huge new taproom, Brewery Faisan, opened in late-October on Detroit’s east side specializing in Belgian-style beers. There are currently seven beers on tap. Status: Certified open. 1087 Beaufait St.

DOWNTOWN — Leila came to life inside the renovated Farwell Building in Capitol Park in late-October serving a modern Lebanese menu with a focus on mezze. Lunch service is expected to begin in December. Status: Certified open. 1249 Griswold St.

ROYAL OAK — City Ramen opened to the public on Monday, October 28 in Royal Oak. The owner, Bill Keros, is the son of Lafayette Coney Island’s late proprietor George Keros. A chef from one of Tokyo’s Michelin-recommended ramen shops consulted on City Ramen’s menu. Status: Certified open. 321 S Main St.

NOVI — No. VI Chophouse, has reopened as No. Six Prime under the new management of Tony Amann with a refreshed menu from Bryan Pencola. Look out for options like steak, braised short ribs, and an extensive list of wine. Status: Certified open. 27000 S Karevich Dr.

HAMTRAMCK — A new microcinema and cocktail bar called the Film Lab debuted in the former Post 1 P.L.A.V. building in October. Customers pay admission to watch movies and can sip beer, wine, and movie-themed cocktails with their popcorn. Status: Certified open. 3105 Holbrook St.

CASS CORRIDOR — Windsor’s Motorburger is revving up service inside the Detroit Shipping Company food hall in October, filling out the food hall’s lineup. Status: Soft open. 474 Peterboro St.

YPSILANTI — Bobcat Bonnie’s expanded to a fourth location in downtown Ypsilanti on October 21. The restaurant features an identical menu to the locations in Detroit, Ferndale, and Wyandotte with an arcade area. Status: Certified open. 200 Michigan Ave.

September 30

BRUSH PARK — Brush Street Stadium Deli replaced the shuttered Visions clubstaurant in Brush Park. The restaurant opened in late-September serving Lousiana-style dishes including po’boys, catfish beignets, gumbo, and red beans and rice. Location: 2458 Brush St.

CORE CITY — Chef Brad Greenhill debuted his latest restaurant Magnet with the team from Takoi on Friday, September 20. Magnet features a Mediterranean menu comprised of wood-fire grilled, smoked, and baked dishes. Location: 4842 Grand River Ave.

DEARBORN — A restaurant called the Himalayan Flames debuted in West Dearborn in September serving a halal menu featuring Indian, Nepali, and Tibetan dishes. Location:

PALMER PARK — The partners behind Guerrilla Food just unveiled the carryout restaurant spinoff their popular Pink Flamingo food truck. Pink Flamingo To-Go offers soups such as black eyed peas and greens, rice balls, grab-and-go salads, yogurt cups, and Hawaiian coconut milk pudding known as haupia. Location: 7740 Woodward Ave.

TROY — Bangladeshi-American pizza mashup Amar Pizza opened an outpost in Troy in September. Find the Amar classics here including tandoori chicken pizza, dried fish pizza, and ghost pepper pizza. Location: 3728 Rochester Rd.

CASS CORRIDOR — A French-style restaurant and cocktail bar called Savant recently opened its doors in Midtown serving items like foie gras éclairs and gold-leaf garnished “caviar bumps.” Location: 51 W. Forest Ave.

DEARBORN — Growing Yemeni mini chain Sheeba Restaurant opened the doors at its newest location in West Dearborn at on Monday, September 23. This is the third outpost for Sheeba Restaurant in Dearborn, which is known for dishes like lamb haneeth and chicken ghallaba. Location: 22048 Michigan Ave.

ROCHESTER HILLS — A poke shop called Sushi San has taken over the former Sushi Coup space in Rochester Hills. The menu features build-your-own poke bowls as well as sushi rolls and poke tacos. Location: 147 W Auburn Rd.

CLAWSON — Japanese and French-influenced cafe White Wolf Patisserie has opened in downtown Clawson near Noble Fish. The shop specializes in baked goods like milk bread, red bean paste-filled anpan bread, and cakes such as strawberry shortcake. In addition to sweets, the shop will serve coffee and espresso drinks as well as savory items like egg sandwiches. Location: 31 E 14 Mile Rd.

FARMINGTON — Popular food truck the Rolling Stoves has parked its menu at a new restaurant. Diners can expect a fairly simple menu with options like smashed cheeseburgers with caramelized onions, pickles, and American cheese and Rodeo burgers with bacon, American cheese, onion rings, and barbecue sauce. Location: 20780 Farmington Rd.

WOODHAVEN — Buddy’s Pizza opened its latest outpost in Woodhaven. The restaurant seats for 200 and features a 25-seat patio. Location: 21611 Allen Rd.

BIRMINGHAM — Chefs Luciano DelSignore and Takashi Yagihashi opened a collaborative restaurant called Pernoi in September. The high-end establishment serves a globally-influenced menu with options like rabbit agnolotti, tuna sashimi, Jerusalem artichoke soup, and Moroccan glazed squab. Location: 310 E Maple Rd.

CASS CORRIDOR — Smith & Co., a beer hall from the owners of Northern United Brewing, opened on Friday, September 20 along Selden Street in Detroit. The restaurant serves a New American pub menu that runs the gamut from roasted carrots with honey harissa to carne asada bowls to the appropriative inclusion of frybread. Location: 644 Selden St.

WEST VILLAGE — A new snack shop and tea bar called Snack Camp is now serving Japanese-style onigiri (nori-wrapped rice balls filled with things like smoked salmon), German-style currywurst with french fries, and vegan sloppy joes in West Village. Location: 1464 Van Dyke.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A new fast-casual sushi bar called Goblin Sushi is serving an attractive assortment of nigiri, sushi rolls, and sushi bowl. Location: 35925 S Gratiot Ave.

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