Instead of a winter opening it’s looking like guests will have to wait until this summer to enjoy food and drinks at the Birmingham version of The Morrie. According to Aaron Belen, owner of AFB Hospitality, construction hasn’t started yet at 260 N. Old Woodward in Birmingham. They are waiting to finalize a few more decisions before they submit for their full building permit. When construction does begin, the space will look as it did when they presented the plan to the city last year. “We’re just making sure everything is exactly the way that we want it and taking our time,” said Belen when asked about the pushed back opening. They do have their dance permit ready to go, though, so get ready

If you’re looking to play arcade games or enjoy a Jones soda at Joebar – 23839 John R, Hazel Park – you’ll have to go elsewhere. At the end of January, Joebar officially transformed into Latido at Joebar, a Central and South American restaurant which will move into the space for the next year, and is led by Executive Chef Michael Barrera and Chef de Cuisine Moses Fishman. Joe and Cari Vaughn still own the space, and Frame, the weekend-only supper club will continue to operate in the space. “I think there are a lot of things people have tried that they don’t know come from these countries that they’ll recognize when they’re here,” Fishman said. “I think people will enjoy new flavors as well.”

One of Detroit’s most hotly anticipated restaurants, Cork & Gabel, finally opened its doors in mid-December after originally being slated for last spring. “Honestly, for an opening of a brand new restaurant, it went perfect...I don’t think it could have gone better for us,” said chef Matthew McGrail, who collaborated on the restaurant with building owner Joe Mifsud. Inside its 4,450 square feet at 2415 Michigan Avenue, guests will find a menu filled with German, Irish, and Italian food. They’ve only been open a few weeks, but there are already some popular menu items, including the Guinness Stew (which McGrail said they are still tweaking), Schnitzel BLT, Lamb Bolognese, and a half-pound be

Come late January, the inside of Shimmy Shack’s first brick-and-mortar – located at 1440 Sheldon Road, Plymouth – will be filled with rooms similar to a house in the 1950s, complete with the TV trays and record player to match, and food that probably wasn’t made much in the era. “Our whole mission is to dispel the myth that vegan and gluten-free food is boring and bland,” said owner Debra Levantrosser. They’ve done that for the last six years already with their food truck, which will still be used for larger events. Everything offered on the food truck will be at the restaurant – with a few additions. Levantrosser said they will offer rotating soups, new desserts, and are going to do Freaky

The Green Room is coming back! After losing its longtime lease in the Ford Building last year (they opened there in 1996), the popular Detroit lunchtime spot will be setting up shop in the Guardian Building at 500 Griswold Street come spring. Owner Steve Zuccaro – who also owns Lunch Box Deli and Burrito Mundo – said at one point last year they were thinking about throwing in the towel and going in another direction before fate intervened. He said the new space will offer a few new healthier options for guests, and have online ordering, but the salad bar, much like its predecessor, will be the main draw. Coming in at 12-feet-long, the salad bar will have over 70 options and 12 different soup

Joining the increasingly popular New Center area of Detroit will be the Jamaican Pot at the New Center One building, 3031 W. Grand Boulevard, which plans to open in the next few months. This will be the popular carryout restaurant’s second location in Detroit – the other is at 14615 W. 8 Mile Road. “When we cook, we cook with love,” said co-owner Rose Forrest. “It just makes me feel so good when people say how good it is.” They’ll continue doing that at their new location, which will have a very similar menu to the original, with the addition of a vegetarian menu of eight to 10 items, including vegetarian jerk chicken and curry chicken. For owners Forrest and Bruce Cunningham – who are also

On February 1st, Cannelle will open in Detroit and Chef Matt Knio said it will look nothing like its Birmingham patisserie at 159 N. Eton Street in the Rail District, known for delicious French croissants, strawberry tarts, macarons and other goodies created from flour, butter, sugar and eggs. Located in Capitol Park at 45 W. Grand River, the new space will have an updated menu with the addition of a few sandwiches and four more desserts. So why open a second location of the French-style patisserie and coffee shop in Detroit? “I love what’s happening down there and I love what’s happening to the city. I want to be part of it,” he said. This isn’t the only addition he has planned, either. Kni

Heading to Ikea or a soccer game in Canton and looking for a tasty treat? The vegetarian fast casual restaurant Veg-O-Rama will open a second location in Canton at 44930 Ford Road in late February. Owner Prafulla Kharkar said this location will have a slightly smaller space but bigger menu compared to their Ypsilanti location, and guests can expect to see more sides, like different types of tofu and green bean tempura. Veg-O-Rama will also expand to two more locations next year, in Ferndale and Detroit. With a clientele that’s almost 70 percent meat eaters, Kharkar thinks Veg-O-Rama could turn into something even bigger in the future. “We want to make this a nationwide food chain for vegans

The Mr. B’s Bar & Grill in downtown Rochester now has new owners – 24th Street Tavern. On December 22, Ferndale’s The Conserva closed, which was announced on the restaurant’s Facebook page from partners Matt Baldridge and Jarrod Kassis. The Woodbridge block in Detroit has another restaurant to add to its every-growing list, Katsu Detroit, a new Japanese spot.