Creative, imaginative dining

“Today is showtime,” said Omar Mitchell in early February about the opening of his new restaurant, Imaginate, inside the Ramada by Wyndham Southfield, 28100 Franklin, Southfield. While the modern American restaurant is new, Mitchell said he came up with the concept years ago and described it as fun and interactive. What does interactive mean? Well, all of the food comes with props. What does that mean? For example, the popcorn shrimp comes in a popcorn machine, the cowboy steak is served with a giant dinner fork, and the salmon is smoked right at the table. The ice cream cart, full of different flavors and toppings, comes directly to your table. “We’re putting the fun in fine dining,” said Mitchell, who also owns Table No. 2, 18925 Livernois, Detroit. There are plans to launch a weekend buffet in March, and Mitchell’s Great Lakes Burger Bar has opened inside the courtyard of the hotel as a companion to the fine dining locale. 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.