Bucharest Grill’s Corktown Restaurant Is Closed

Bucharest Grill, one of Detroit’s favorite spots for shawarma, has closed its Corktown restaurant.

The former site on Michigan Avenue is making way for a mid-rise apartment building with retail space, Bucharest owner Bogdan Tarsov tells Eater. The sandwich chain will reopen at a new Corktown location, at Trumbull and Church in 2023, he says.

The restaurant has four remaining locations in Detroit, including one downtown at 436 W. Columbia Street and a restaurant in Royal Oak. Bucharest Grill launched as a walk-up window more than a decade ago inside the Park Bar in downtown Detroit. In 2016, that location relocated to its current site on East Jefferson in Rivertown.

Michigan’s most extreme milkshake is on the menu in Novi

M Street Baking Co.’s extreme mega milkshakes are now sold at Twelve Oaks Mall. The downtown Howell bakery opened a second parlor, Shakes by M Street inside the Novi mall on Monday, June 14.

You can get a sugar high from one of its Instagrammable shakes: strawberry shortcake, cookies ’n’ creme, cosmic brownie, birthday party, or cookie dough. Classic vanilla and chocolate ones are great but for $12, why not go for broke: These are stuffed with Oreos, Hershey bars, Kit Kats, mini cupcakes, chocolate drizzle, and a whole lot more.

M Street last made a splash when it put a Bernie Sanders meme on cupcakes.

RIP Warda Patisserie’s Russian Honey Cake

Warda Bouguettaya opened a second location of her nationally acclaimed Warda Patisserie on the ground floor of the Strathmore Apartments in Cass Corridor on June 12, with a menu of Greek and mushroom tortas, a seasonal quiche, and a lemon mascarpone tart.

But the pastry chef didn’t take the delectable Russian honey cake along to the new 20-seat shop. In a lengthy May 27 Instagram post, Bouguettaya explained why things weren’t working out with the dessert, also known as Medovik cake, which is loved by anyone who’s ever had it, she admits.

“Thank you for making SO many people in Detroit happy. We won’t miss you in the kitchen!”

RIP, RHC! You WILL be sorely missed.

A familiar face on the screen

If you tuned into the Food Network on Monday, you may have noticed Detroit chef Maxcel Hardy competing on the season opener of BBQ Brawl.

“It was fun to really just be able to get out there and… showcase my talents [and] skills with some of the top barbecue guys in the country. It was truly an honor,” Hardy told Metro Times.

On the show, chefs Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, and Eddie Jackson mentor and coach 12 barbecue masters who will compete to win the coveted title of “Master of Cue” and become the Food Network’s resident barbecue expert of the year.

Hardy, owner of the Caribbean restaurant Coop inside Detroit Shipping Company and Jed’s Detroit, has two other restaurants set to open this year.

In other news:

— The Beer Exchange, a popular stock market-based bar originated in Kalamazoo, has opened a space on the ground floor of the historic Stevens Building at 1258 Washington Blvd. in Detroit. Just like in a stock market, prices of beer will rise and fall based on demand. The Exchange currently features 10 draft beer options, three nonalcoholic beverages, and a selection of wine.

— Aratham Gourmet To Go, a vegan, organic deli and market has opened on Rochester Road in Troy, with grab-and-go food all sold in biodegradable packaging. The shop also sells desserts, sides, juices, superfoods, produce and spices, and expands on owners Gabriel and Tiffanie Vera’s ready-to-eat vegan meal delivery service.

— Tenacity Craft is now open at 8517 Second Ave. in the Virginia Park neighborhood of Detroit. The cafe and taproom site is part of an expansion for a Flint-based brewpub. The building was home to seafood restaurant Fishnook.

• Best Day Ever: Bucharest Grill Opens Corktown Location [ED]
• Bucharest Grill Commences Corktown Outpost Expansion [ED]
• Detroit chef Max Hardy to star in season two of ‘BBQ Brawl’ [Detroit Metro Times]