Meeting new friends

“We’ve been working on it for quite some time and we’re eager to share with the visitors our passion about hospitality and food and beverage,” said Joel Barron, who serves as the bar manager and host of the dining room operations at Friend and Associate. The restaurant, located at 501 Monroe Street, Detroit – has plans to open by the end of July, accompanying a rooftop bar, Delmar Detroit, that opened in June. Replacing Greek restaurant Santorini Estiatorio, Friend and Associate’s menu draws inspiration from all corners of the world and will offer duck fat fried chicken and waffles, english pea pierogi, and barbecue quail, among other selections. There will also be multiple made-to-order cocktails, a few on draft – including their old fashioned – and two bottled options, such as their house martini. Behind the new restaurant are Christopher Johnson of The Meeting House in Rochester, who partnered with Anthony Mancini of Royal Oak’s Hamlin Corner and Pronto bar, for this latest adventure.

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.