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e Fiori opens in Birmingham
Chef Luciano DelSignore has opened e Fiori, a new Italian restaurant in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the cuisine of all 20 regions of Italy while pairing fine dining with an artisan retail concept. Located at 115 Willits Street, the 6,800-square-foot restaurant was co-founded by DelSignore and managing partner Nicole Antakli DelSignore. Guests enter through a boutique offering flowers and gifts before arriving at the gathering bar and dining room, where the focus is fi
Lincoln Yard and Little Yard to close
Birmingham’s Lincoln Yard and its casual takeout restaurant, Little Yard, will close July 29 after a little more than two years in business. The restaurant is owned and operated by Union Joints Restaurant Group, which also operates nine Metro Detroit restaurants: Clarkston Union, Union Woodshop, Bunkhouse Burgers, Hon Cho, Union Mac Shack, Vinsetta Garage, Union Assembly, Union Rec, and Mom’s Spaghetti. Lincoln Yard built its reputation on cleaner, greener comfort food, featu
Joe Muer Seafood Restaurant coming to Detroit
Joe Vicari Restaurant Group announced that its flagship Joe Muer Seafood brand will open inside the upcoming JW Marriott Detroit Water Square, with a debut planned alongside the hotel’s January 2027 opening. Originally announced as an Andiamo location, Joe Vicari Restaurant Group later reimagined the concept as Joe Muer Seafood as part of its commitment to keeping the iconic brand rooted in the city of Detroit. The new restaurant, Joe Muer Seafood + Chops at Water Square, wil
Local restaurants honored by Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator, a leading authority on wine, has unveiled the winners of the 2026 Restaurant Awards, which honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. “The restaurant industry is rapidly transforming as diners become more selective about when, how and what they drink,” Marvin R. Shanken, chairman and CEO of Wine Spectator, said in the announcement. “As wine drinkers grow more mindful, restaurants are adapting with creative wine programs.” Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awa
Spotlight on Detroit Chef
The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2026–27 TasteTwenty cohort, an annual list of rising culinary stars selected to represent their cities’ independent restaurant communities during the national Taste America series, which begins in September. Through the TasteTwenty program, the Foundation recognizes chefs who exemplify its “Good Food for Good” mission. Honorees are selected not only for their culinary excellence but also for their leadership and impact beyond the k
Accolades for Griffin Claw
Griffin Claw Brewing Company’s Claw Potato Vodka earned a Silver Medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most prestigious and respected spirits competitions in the world. The award places Claw Potato Vodka among an elite group of internationally recognized spirits and highlights Griffin Claw’s growing reputation for producing exceptional distilled products in addition to its award-winning craft beer. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition at
Forest has reopened
At the end of March, Samy Eid, owner of Chickpea Hospitality, announced the temporary closure of Birmingham’s Forest. The restaurant has officially reopened and is embracing its Italian identity, unveiling a revamped menu, expanded pasta program, and redesigned dining room. Although Forest has long incorporated managing partner and Chef Nick Janutol’s Italian-American roots— serving handmade pasta for the past decade, the restaurant was never fully perceived as Italian cuisin
Grey Ghost Celebrates a decade in Detroit
Grey Ghost, the flagship restaurant of Four Man Ladder Hospitality, is marking 10 years in Detroit with a special anniversary celebration. From July 18–27, the acclaimed Midtown/Brush Park restaurant will host 10 Days of Greatest Hits, featuring favorite dishes and cocktails from the past decade. Returning menu items include Fried Bologna, Chicago-Style Oysters, Smoked Whitefish Dip, and Jerk Wings, alongside popular cocktails such as Grandma’s Garden, Pretty Magic, and Effen
Rooftop bar opens in Brush Park
Topa, a new Mediterranean-inspired rooftop cocktail bar atop the AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle in Brush Park, has officially opened, bringing coastal cocktails, shareable small plates and skyline views to one of Detroit’s fastest-growing neighborhoods. Developed by Roxbury Group and managed by Azul Hospitality, Topa is named after the Basque word meaning “to toast” or “to clink glasses,” Topa was designed to evoke the relaxed energy of the California coast while embracing
New chef, new dining experiences at BESA
BESA, downtown Detroit’s Adriatic-inspired dining destination, has named Chef Brady Kelley as its new Executive Chef, marking a new chapter for the restaurant’s culinary program. The announcement comes alongside several new guest experiences, including a Thursday Date Night prix-fixe dinner for couples, monthly Sunday tasting events, and an ongoing weekly happy hour. A graduate of Schoolcraft College’s Culinary Arts program, Kelley brings experience from some of Michigan’s mo
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