January - 2019

Delayed Morrie opening

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 l

South American panache

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

Unique ethnic mix

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 It

Vegan food in retro air

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, wh

The Green Return

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 f

Jamaican Pot

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, wh

Cannelle expands to Detroit

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

Vegetarian Veg-O-Ram

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 ye

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