Motor City Munchies: The Food and Drink Spots in Detroit You Can’t Miss I didn’t go to Detroit just for the food. But after this trip, I kind of wish I had. From iconic square pizza to unique coffee brews to meticulously crafted cocktails, Detroit delivered big flavor. Here's everything I ate and drank (and what I’d go back for in a heartbeat). Meals That Hit the Spot Buddy's Pizza You can’t go to Detroit and skip the pizza, especially not the square kind. Legend has it Detroit-style pan pizza owes its shape to steel automotive pans, because apparently in mid-century Detroit, car parts beat cookware any day.

Detroit fed me really well 🍕🥐🍸 From pizza to pastries to cocktails, here’s where I ate and drank on my quick trip. #Detroit #DetroitEats #MiniGetaways

Sno Biz is a sweet new staple for Detroiters of all ages. Let’s show some love and support for this hometown business! #DetroitEats #SupportLocal #SnoBizDetroit

Fenton Fire Hall becomes Honcho Fuego as owners pivot In tandem with warmer weather and the blooming of downtown Fenton's many flowerbeds, changes are happening at the city's former firehouse-turned-restaurant. Known for more than a decade as the Fenton Fire Hall, owners Curt Catallo and Amy Stevenson recently updated the concept to Latin-influenced Honcho Fuego and relaunched casual lower-level bar as Leroy's Lounge. The rebranding means moving away from traditional barbecue cuisine and toward Latin flavors, including salads, tacos, rice bowls and pizzas with a Mexican twist. "When we opened the Fire Hall in 2013, it was about woodfired meats on our Grillworks grill and about leaning into barbecue and having fun with the proteins," said restaurateur Curt Catallo. "Really, the way the climate has changed, commodity costs have changed and appetites have changed, we thought it was time to kind of give it a little dimension and add some vibrancy." Catallo owns Union Joints restaurants with designer Ann Stevenson; these include Vinsetta Garage in Berkley, Union Assembly in downtown Detroit and Union Woodshop in Clarkston, among others. They started the changes at 201 S. Leroy in downtown Fenton by rebranding the lower-level Leroy's Lounge, which serves burgers, hot dogs, wings, grilled cheese and other no-frills food. "We thought it was time to give Fenton a little bit of love and we started with the lower level. We changed the lower level, which was always a great little bar, to Leroy's Lounge," said Catallo, adding that the burger joint is a partnership with Flint music venue Machine Shop. It's got kind of a polished "dad bar" vibe with stained glass light fixtures, wood paneling, a pool table, throwback American beer signage and low, neon-style lighting. As for Honcho Fuego, Stevenson and her design team updated that in short order to fit the new name, theme and menus. While the Fire Hall had barbecue platters, sandwiches, chili, pizza and the restaurant group's famous macaroni and cheese, Honcho Fuego's menu has chicken tortilla soup, salads, tacos, rice bowls, enchiladas and fusion pizza. Barbecued proteins are still part of the operation, but in a different form. Those familiar with sister restaurants Honcho in Clarkston and Gran Castor in Troy will notice similar menu items like chicken tinga tostadas and the "elote especial," a pizza with roasted garlic butter, grilled sweet corn, cheese blend, queso fresco, Peruvian green chili sauce, cilantro and a chili-dusted crust. Stevenson and Catallo said they did the rebrand quickly. Besides being seasoned restaurateurs, they were able to send the Fire Hall staff to their Honcho Latin Street Food & Coffee in Clarkston for training on their Latin-influenced menu. More: 12 restaurants and bars that opened in Metro Detroit in March, plus 7 that closed "We liked the idea of referring to the origin of the space itself," said Stevenson about to the brick building's former life as a fire station. "We wanted to take just exactly seven days to do a complete redo and conversion to Honcho Fuego. That just happened, so we're still working on it while we threw open the doors. "It is like Honcho but we have the pizzas at Honcho Fuego so we have the ability to do these interesting pizzas that lean into the Latin element, so it really is this great amalgamation of these flavors that are interesting to us," said Stevenson. Both she and Catallo pointed out that Honcho Fuego's rooftop space will be a great perch for sipping frozen margaritas and enjoying some chips and salsa this spring and summer. "Barbecue is fantastic, but, you know, now we're just giving the crew a greater license to play with it, and that's what made Honcho (in Clarkston) work so well," said Catallo, adding that he thinks Fenton "has an appetite for adventure." More: Slows Bar BQ to open second full-service restaurant in the suburbs "It's our same smoked meats that we're doing in the back lot but now it's on vessels like a rice bowl, or a taco or burritos or nachos, it's having more fun with the vehicles, the delivery and the options," he said. Honcho Fuego and Leroy's are open now at 201 S. Leroy in Fenton. Honcho's hours are 3-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 3-10 p.m. Fri., noon-10 p.m. Sat. and noon-9 p.m. Sun. Call (810) 936-0442 or visit honchofuego.com for reservations or more information. Leroy’s Lounge is open 4-10 p.m. Wed.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun. mbaetens@detroitnews.com This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Fenton Fire Hall becomes Honcho Fuego as owners pivot

Fenton Fire Hall becomes Honcho Fuego as owners pivot #FentonFireHall #HonchoFuego #DetroitEats

Acclaimed Detroit diner plots a comeback: Rose's Fine Foods to reopen this spring Two years after closing Rose's Fine Foods and Wine, owner and co-founder Molly Mitchell has decided to reopen her flowery restaurant on Detroit's east side this spring. Mitchell says she plans to serve breakfast and lunch — including a lot of the farm-fresh dishes, pastries and breads that customers craved — and is hoping to be able to offer the space at night to aspiring restaurant owners and pop-up chefs for residencies. Mitchell opened Rose's Fine Foods with her cousin Lucy Carnaghi in 2014. It received much buzz locally and nationally, including mentions in the New York Times, Washington Post and Bon Appetit magazine, which called it the "ideal" diner. A lot of the media attention focused on the pioneering efforts of the owners to pay their staff a living wage and share the tips among front- and back-of-house workers. Rose's went up for sale in 2022, asking $600,000 for the building, furnishings, equipment and liquor license. The right buyer was never found, though, and Mitchell kept running it until 2023. "In '23 when I closed, it was really the confluence of all these different things that were happening. Part of it was the economics of it. We weren't making a profit, but that was kind of the least of the reasons. It was more that after pivoting from the pandemic over and over ... I realized it was the most exhausted and depleted I've ever been, which is saying a lot as a restaurant owner," she told The Detroit News. The chef and business owner said Rose's was reaching its 10-year anniversary and she didn't want the next decade to be a similar struggle. Taking a step back and doing other things, particularly food education and collaborations, was the right move for her at that time. She's hoping to reopen Rose's by the end of May, not only to get back into it, but to also capture some of those spring and summer ingredients that are starting to pop up. "Detroit summer produce is unparalleled," she said, adding that the menu will be straightforward diner cuisine with a focus on fresh, seasonal homemade food. For the past several months, Mitchell had been working with her community in a different capacity, as associate director of culinary arts for the Downtown Boxing Gym. Mitchell was cooking for and with the kids in the program, who are ages 8-18. Much more than a gym, the DBG is working toward a "closed-loop food system," which means the food they use is from their on-site chickens, gardens and beehives. "I loved working there ... they help so many kids and families," she said. As she was working at the DBG, Mitchell was also doing catering jobs and had use for Rose's kitchen space. Finally, when the last potential sale fell through in December, she realized she needed to change direction. The chef said she "fell back in love with the building." "I reconnected to what I was actually doing in the first place," Mitchell said. "I started writing a Substack article every week about why I love diners and what diners mean and I'm just like, you know what, I need to reopen this place. There's still so much more life here." Hosting a private birthday party for a friend solidified her decision once she saw the cozy space alive again with food, people and lights. She's also excited to share Rose's with budding small business owners. "In Detroit, we have so many amazing entrepreneurs and people who are working on food businesses ... and we have pop-up spaces and we have restaurants, but we don't really have a space in between. I wanted to provide a space where entrepreneurs can also practice opening their own business," she said. "I also want to do events at the space ... and also bring everything I learned at the Boxing Gym back to Rose's and provide some sort of educational aspect also." Rose's Fine Foods is set to reopen as soon as late May at 10551 E. Jefferson in Detroit. Mitchell plans to do some fundraising events between now and then. Follow the reopening progress on social media at instagram.com/rosesfinefood and facebook.com/rosesfinefood. mbaetens@detroitnews.com This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Acclaimed Detroit diner plots a comeback: Rose's Fine Foods to reopen this spring

Acclaimed Detroit diner plots a comeback: Rose's Fine Foods to reopen this spring #DetroitEats #DinerRevival #FarmFresh

12 restaurants and bars that opened in Metro Detroit in March, plus 7 that closed Among the new bar, restaurant and specialty food shop that opened throughout March are a new hangout for the Cass Corridor, a tiny wine bar in downtown Detroit and new locations for well-known names around town. New York Deli, Johnny Blacks, Gather + Grounds, Ginza Ramen and La Pecora Nera all opened new locations this month, expanding their reach to new communities. Among March's closings are two breweries, another Bobcat Bonnie's location and local restaurants for national brands Mod Pizza and Bar Louie. Read on for more details about the openings and closings of March 2025. The Dirty Shake — Midtown Detroit Cool, hip, affordable and fun, the Dirty Shake debuted this month to the delight of hipsters, students and residents in the Cass Corridor. Located on the corner of Second and Forest, the brick bar's huge wrap-around deck is sure to be a top perch for people watching this summer, just like neighboring Bronx Bar down the street. There are cheap drink options, but because these are the same guys (Sandy Levine and chef Doug Hewitt) behind Chartreuse Kitchen + Cocktails and Freya, you know the food and drinks are also high quality. The cocktails are fun and kind of college-y: "strong" island iced tea, hummer ice cream drinks and $4 Pabst Blue Ribbons beers. I recommend the feta burger, a feta and chickpea patty that's fried and put on a bun with hummus, pickled onions, greens and chopped olives. You can have lunch or dinner here (cheeseburgers, smoked chicken wings, jerk chicken, vegan stuff) or just snack on Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Reese's Popcorn and other bagged treats. 11:30 a.m.-midnight Sun.-Thurs. and 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. Second and Forest, Detroit. (313) 279-8500. instagram.com/dirtyshakedetroit. Hosted Detroit — Midtown Detroit This specialty cheese and charcuterie shop opened where Mongers' Provisions Cass Corridor location was until it closed late last year. Hosted Detroit is one of only a small handful of Black-owned cheese shops in the nation. Detroiters will be able to find everything they need for parties including cheese, crackers, meats and more. Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 4240 Cass, Unit 111, Detroit. instagram.com/hosted.det. Chenin at the Siren Hotel — Downtown Detroit Nick Arone, who was most recently behind the bar at award-winning new Mexican restaurant Vecino, opened his postage stamp-sized new bar inside the Siren Hotel this month. Located where the tasting menu concept Albena was for many years, Chenin (or Bar Chenin as it's also called) serves wine, cocktails and some food, including ice cream. It's open late, too. Sounds like a perfect stop after dinner downtown or a show at the nearby Detroit Opera House or Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. No reservations taken. Open 5 p.m.-midnight Mon.-Tues. and Thurs. and 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. Closed Wednesdays. 1509 Broadway, Suite A-1, Detroit. barchenin.com. Enomah — Harmonie Park A Black-owned Asian-soul fusion restaurant, Enomah opened about a month ago with spicy sesame barbecue ribs, shrimp bao buns, jerk sea bass, pan-seared salmon and other house specialties. The upscale spot also has DJs and will soon be booking live entertainment, too. Reservations are booked through the OpenTable app. Open 4-10 p.m. Thurs., 4 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. and noon-5 p.m. Sun. 1508 Centre, Detroit. (313) 285-8943. enomahdetroit.com. Johnny Blacks Lakehouse — St. Clair Shores From the restaurant group that owns Johnny Black Public House, Taphouse and Lake House locations across town, as well as Juan Blanco’s Tacos & Tequila and other restaurants, comes Johnny Blacks Lake House in St. Clair Shores. Like the others, the menu is moderately priced and heavy on bar food with burgers and sliders, entrée-sized salads, pizza and appetizers, plus seafood like lake perch, crab cakes, lobster tails and seafood piccata. Other house features are surf-n-turf, chicken and waffles and steak frites. The interior bears no resemblance to the previous concepts hosted here: Dragon's Landing brewpub, Shipwreck Brewing and, long ago, a banquet hall. The Johnny Blacks brand has brought in an updated layout, modern touches, comfy barstools, large booths and brighter lighting. Open 11 a.m.-midnight Sun.-Thurs. and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 24409 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores. (586) 648-0700. johnnyblacks.com/lakehouse-east. More March openings Dearborn Inn: With the reopening of this upscale Marriott hotel comes the debut of two restaurants: Clara's Table, an American restaurant inspired by Clara Ford's gardens and Four Vagabonds, a private dining space. La Pecora Nera: Known for making awesome Italian sandwiches and other lunchtime fare, the third location of La Pecora Nera opened in Birmingham this month at 135 Pierce. Gather + Grounds: This coffeehouse run by students at Rising Stars Academy (a a post-secondary school for adults with special needs) has opened inside Treat Dreams, 22965 Woodward in Ferndale. New York Deli: A third location on this list, New York Deli opened where Al's Famous Deli was at 32906 Woodward in Royal Oak. Roar Brewery: This new, Black-owned brewpub had a soft opening on March 23 and will fully open with regular hours this summer at 666 Selden next to Barcade arcade and bar. Souled Out Soul Food: This new waterfront soul food restaurant recently opened at 26643 W. Huron River Drive in Flat Rock. Ginza Ramen: Known for super crispy katsu, ramen bowls and Japanese fusion cuisine, Ginza Ramen opened a second location this month at 43289 Garfield in Clinton Township. The original is in Rochester Hills. March closings Bar Louie: This national restaurant chain appears to have closed the locations at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills and Laurel Park Place in Livonia. A representative for the brand reached by The Detroit News could not comment on the closings. Bar Louie continues to have restaurants in downtown Royal Oak and at the Mall at Partridge Creek. Bobcat Bonnie's Corktown: The latest Bobcat Bonnie's location to close is the original, which opened on Michigan in Corktown in the summer of 2015. Just after owner Matthew Buskard announced the closing, vegan comfort food pop-up Street Beet announced it would be making that address its permanent home. They're still getting ready to open, but once they do, Street Beet will have breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week along with coffee beverages from Washed Up Coffee. Loaded Dice Brewery: A family owned brewpub, Loaded Dice opened in Troy in 2020, surviving through the pandemic and its aftermath. Owner Jef Smith made the tough decision to close, but not before he was able to host a few goodbye dates for mug club members, customers, friends and family. "It was very emotional, lots of memories were shared, lots of laughs," he told The Detroit News. "I couldn't help but just stand back and go, how did this not go right?" Rebuy Brewing Co.: A sister business to Loaded Dice Brewery, Rebuy Brewing Co. in Shelby Township closed this month. It was formerly Brooks Brewing. More: It's a 'rough time' for Michigan's craft beer industry, but how bad is it? Mod Pizza: The Canton location of build-your-own pizza chain Mod Pizza has closed its 41865 Ford Road location, but there are many others in the area. Find them in Troy, Northville, Livonia, Brighton and at Detroit Metro Airport.   Rice 'n Roll: Open for about eight years, this family owned, quick-service spot was one of the few places around town to get Filipino cuisine. The menu at Rice 'n Roll on Harper just north of 11 Mile in St. Clair Shores offered pork adobo, pancit, fried rice, butter fish, cassava cake, Hawaiian shaved ice and other treats. The business is going to a catering only model for the foreseeable future. Their last day at the brick-and-mortar was Friday. “So no worries, we will still be around, but not in our physical building any longer," reads a statement. A catering menu will be posted soon to their Facebook page, facebook.com/RicenRollrestuarant. Zeoli's Modern Italian: A casual, family-owned Italian restaurant in Clawson, Zeoli's closed on March 14. Owner Scott Brown did not elaborate on the reason for closing, but left a heartfelt message for customers on their Facebook page. "I have read so many posts of restaurants closing over the last 6.5 years and I’ve always wondered what I may say when the time comes," he wrote. "I will keep it simple. We hands down have had some of the best customers of any restaurant or bar I have ever worked at." He also thanked staff, friend and family. Melody Baetens is The Detroit News restaurant critic mbaetens@detroitnews.com More: 9 restaurants that opened in Metro Detroit in February 2025, plus 3 that closed This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 12 restaurants and bars that opened in Metro Detroit in March, plus 7 that closed

12 restaurants and bars that opened in Metro Detroit in March, plus 7 that closed #DetroitEats #MetroDetroit #NewRestaurants

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The original Bobcat Bonnie's in Corktown has closed The latest Bobcat Bonnie’s location to shutter is the original contemporary bar and restaurant on Michigan in Corktown. Owner Matt Buskard confirmed the immediate closing in a statement Tuesday afternoon, adding that the two remaining locations in…

The latest Bobcat Bonnie’s location to shutter is the original contemporary bar and restaurant on Michigan in Corktown.


Owner Matt Buskard confirmed the immediate closing in a statement Tuesday afternoon, adding that the two remaining locations in Ferndale… #BobcatBonnie #Corktown #DetroitEats

Restaurant Review: Fixins Soul Kitchen adds Southern charm to downtown Detroit The man who founded Fixins Soul Kitchen may hail from California, but inside the restaurant on Randolph in Harmonie Park, it's all about Detroit. Opened in August, Fixins occupies the space formerly Detroit Seafood Market, a long-closed restaurant.…

The man who founded Fixins Soul Kitchen may hail from California, but inside the restaurant on Randolph in Harmonie Park, it's all about Detroit.


Opened in August, Fixins occupies the space formerly Detroit Seafood Market, a long-closed… #FixinsSoulKitchen #DetroitEats #SouthernCuisine

Metro Detroit guide to Valentine's Day: special menus, dinner and a show & new restaurants Brimming with high-expectations, Valentine's Day is back, and this year it's on a Friday. If you wanted to get reservations at one of the most popular destinations in town, you may be out of luck. Classic date-night spots like the Whitney and Selden…

Brimming with high-expectations, Valentine's Day is back, and this year it's on a Friday.


If you wanted to get reservations at one of the most popular destinations in town, you may be out of luck. Classic date-night spots like the Whitney and Selden… #ValentinesDay #GalentinesDay #DetroitEats

American Coney Island owner: Don't confuse us with our neighbor American Coney Island owner Grace Keros says a recent closure next door to her long-operating restaurant in downtown has customers confused about food quality, cleanliness − and rats. Lafayette Coney Island, which is adjacent to American Coney Island,…

American Coney Island owner Grace Keros says a recent closure next door to her long-operating restaurant in downtown has customers confused about food quality, cleanliness − and rats.


Lafayette Coney Island, which is adjacent to American Coney… #AmericanConeyIsland #DetroitEats #FoodSafety

Lafayette Coney Island closed again due to rat infestation: Health Department A beloved Detroit eatery is temporarily closing its doors due to a rat infestation for the second time in a little over two years. Lafayette Coney Island has voluntarily shut down following a recent inspection, the Detroit Health Department announced…

A beloved Detroit eatery is temporarily closing its doors due to a rat infestation for the second time in a little over two years.


Lafayette Coney Island has voluntarily shut down following a recent inspection, the Detroit Health Department… #DetroitEats #LafayetteConeyIsland #FoodSafety

Kimchi Fries - Nuevo Seoul in Detroit, MI

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#detroiteats

Looking for a new place to eat? Check out our recent restaurant reviews A fattoush salad with pomegranate dressing, wood-fired sea bream, a mushroom tart and a smoked turkey club sandwich were among some of the highlights during my eating adventures this year as The Detroit News' restaurant critic. Since January, we've…

A fattoush salad with pomegranate dressing, wood-fired sea bream, a mushroom tart and a smoked turkey club sandwich were among some of the highlights during my eating adventures this year as The Detroit News' restaurant critic.


Since January, we've… #DetroitEats #RestaurantReviews #Foodie

Restaurant Review: Believe the hype, Vecino is easily one of Detroit's best new spots Walking up to the rounded limestone entrance on Third Street, opening the towering wood front door and peeling back the heavy black curtains that follow is a dramatic way to enter a restaurant. It's fitting for Vecino, a Mexico City-inspired restaurant…

Walking up to the rounded limestone entrance on Third Street, opening the towering wood front door and peeling back the heavy black curtains that follow is a dramatic way to enter a restaurant.


It's fitting for Vecino, a Mexico City-inspired restaurant that… #DetroitEats #NewRestaurants #Foodie

My wife brought me home a shawarma from Bucharest Grill. I’d show a picture but I ate it already. #IYKYK #DetroitEats

Wake-N-Bakery to Open First Michigan Location in Corktown Wake-N-Bakery is opening its first Michigan location in Corktown, offering Delta-9 THC-infused beverages and pastries, along with CBD products and more.

Get ready, Corktown! Wake-N-Bakery is bringing its famous Delta-9 THC-infused treats to Detroit. From specialty coffees to delicious pastries, this new spot is set to be your go-to for all things cannabis-infused. 🌿🍰 #CorktownEats #WakeNBakery #THCinfused #DetroitEats
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