Casual Shinola options

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 “a basic call bar.” So don’t expect anything fancy. Inside there are two tap tables, where you can pour your own drink, they can be rented out (there’s a time and drink limit so guests don’t go too crazy), beer pong, and shuffleboard. During the summer, the alleyway will open and guests can order beer through a side window in the beer hall, like a drive-through. Penny Red’s – the food can be brought into The Brakeman – will also have a quick and casual feel, and a menu from Chef Carmellini, with buckets of fried chicken, five different sauces, sandwiches, and sides like coconut carrots and honey butter biscuits. “These honey, butter biscuits he makes are killer,” Pickard said.

­Metro Intelligencer is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening on the restaurant scene in the metro Detroit area. Metro Intelligencer is reported/created each month by Dana Casadei who can be reached at DanaCasadei@DowntownPublications.com with news items or tips, on or off the record.