The hospitality team that includes partners Kenny Koza and Clint Mansour, with Executive Chef Lloyd Roberts, have plans for an early May opening of their new restaurant, Zao Jun, 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township. Unlike their other restaurant, the Japanese-focused Adachi – 325 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham – Zao Jun will be Pan Asian, and have a more casual, family-friendly feel. The price point will be less expensive and the large, open space ideal for large parties. General Manager David Kraus said the menu is about 50 to 60 percent Chinese, with Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and yes, Japanese flavors, including sushi. Most of the sushi at Zao Jun will be simpler than Adachi – think shr

On May 6, a Ferndale staple, Como’s, will re-open its doors, this time with new ownership, Peas & Carrots Hospitality. The company bought the restaurant at 22812 Woodward Avenue last summer after it closed due to health code violations in 2017. Peas & Carrot’s head of business development Ramza Saruna said that very little will be the same about the restaurant. “The only thing that’s going to remain the same is that the concept is pizza, it’s at the corner of Nine Mile and Woodward, and it’s Como’s,” she said. Chef Zack Sklar’s pizza will be Detroit-style, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and won’t use commercial yeast. There will be other Italian dishes as well, along with the build-yo

Mark Zarkin’s latest restaurant endeavor – he owns Steven Lelli’s Inn on the Green in Farmington Hills – is going to have some unconventional hours. Open from 6 a.m. until 4 a.m. the circus-themed restaurant, Grand Circus Diner, at 1570 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, will be ideal for those looking for a late-night option. Open since mid-April, the menu includes steaks, burgers, spaghetti, soups, salads, vegan options, and homemade desserts. Then there’s the bar, with five liter mules, fish bowls, craft cocktails (described as circus meets tiki), and a few frozen selections. There’s also a kiosk with coffee and doughnuts made-to-order. As for the name, that was inspired by their location in Gran

While on vacation from his job at Detroit Diesel, Esteban Castro, the owner of popular pop-up Esto’s Garage, went for coffee when he came upon it – a space for his next adventure, a brick-and-mortar by Sister Pie and Red Hook in Detroit's West Village. “The biggest question I’ve had in this business for the past seven years is, where can I come to your space? And I finally have an answer for that,” he said. Located at 1811 Parker Street in Detroit’s West Village, the space is small, about 750-square-feet, but the flavors will be big and complex, especially in the sauces. His simple menu will include tacos, tostadas, rice bowls, stew, and nachos. Even though the fast-casual restaurant won’t o

Chef Nick Erven – who helped shape the menu at Ferndale’s Antihero, 231 W. Nine Mile Road — has launched a brand new menu at another Working Class Outlaws restaurant, Public House, 241 W. Nine Mile Road. What have guests thought so far? “People have been really stoked on it. It’s been really positive.” Erven said. Inspired by his Los Angeles roots, Erven wanted the menu to evolve, grow, and become more focused. Now there are more seasonal dishes with locally-grown produce, like the Beet Salad. Other new items include bacon-wrapped dates – Erven said those are flying out the kitchen – and a burger Erven compared to those at In-N-Out Burger. Going forward Erven hopes to keep the menu more seas

Open since late March, Penny Red’s and The Brakeman (named after one of the first watches Shinola made), are bringing fried chicken and an American beer hall to the Shinola Hotel Annex at 22 John R Street, Detroit. “I really love this corner now,” said Josh Pickard, one of NoHo Hospitality Group’s partners, along with chef Andrew Carmellini and Luke Ostrom. “It’s kind of fun to be coming off the Woodward track and doing this here.” Pickard said guests can expect a very casual environment at both places, which are connected. The Brakeman has, for the most part, Midwest central beers, which will rotate and be paid for via tokens (guests can buy tokens at the entrance) and what Pickard called “

Flint-based Tenacity Brewing is expanding to Virginia Park, at 8517 Second Avenue, Detroit. Co-founder and partner Jason Caya said they hope to open mid-summer, and this location will not only focus on their beer – they will offer at least nine beers on tap, mixed in with a few ciders – but coffee as well, roasted on site. If all goes well Tenacity will also expand to wine and cocktails, currently pending state licensing approval. “We know a little bit about a lot, and plan to offer a lot,” Caya said. “We’re really excited about that.” Tenacity will have pastries and a similar food menu to their Flint location for lunch and dinner, with tacos, burritos, and nachos. Another element they will

Proving Coffee Grounds co-owner James Courtney said once he and fellow owner Daman Auvenshine found the space in Royal Oak at 417 S. Washington Avenue, they jumped all in. It was the perfect spot for their second location of the ice cream/coffee/pastry shop. The 6,000 square foot space – three times their Milford shop – is shooting for a summer opening. Big renovations are planned, including a giant ocean-themed kids structure going in the second floor, which will have only one point of entry and exit for safety purposes. Party and conference rooms are available to rent in the space. Their main focus, naturally, is the coffee, which will be roasted on site. “We really focus on producing a cu