Metro Detroit’s Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of 2025 #DetroitFood
These 10 restaurants are what we’re looking forward to the most
It’s the new year and with that, a chance for metro Detroit’s dining scene to be redefined once again. Among the new food and drink establishments in the works for 2025 include an intimate natural wine bar within the Siren Hotel downtown, a regionally inspired taqueria in Hubbard Farms, the expansion of a beloved sandwich shop into the suburbs of Oakland County, just to name a few.
Note that an opening date is a moving target for any restaurant so don’t be surprised if that day changes. For now, here are a few of the most exciting restaurants expected to open their doors in the next few months.
Echelon Kitchen & Bar
Project Opening: February 6
Key players: Joseph VanWagner, Taylor Schmidt Johnson, Ben Robison
Ann Arbor will soon welcome Echelon Kitchen & Bar into the fold of its dining scene, offering visitors a taste of Michigan’s bounty. The 7,000-square-foot space with seating for 150 is set in a 100-year-old building, designed by Anne Faherty of Chicago-based Faherty Interiors. Chef Joseph VanWagner, who’s held stints at the shuttered Blackbird and Alinea in Chicago, and at Daniel in New York City is helming the project. He’s joined by pastry chef Ben Robison (formerly of Le Suprême, Freya, and the now closed Bacco Ristorante), and sommelier Taylor Schmidt Johnson, who’s also worked at the Royce Detroit and the defunct Michael Symon’s Roast. The focus will be to source as many seasonal ingredients as possible from local farms and to cook using a wood-fired oven. 200 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor.
Chenin
Project Opening: Mid-February
Key players: Nick Arone
The Siren Hotel will welcome an intimate bar called Chenin, a wine bar from local beverage industry professional, Nick Arone. He tells Eater that the bar will emphasize natural and biodynamic wines, and will feature a cocktail menu and light food options such as olives, tomato pies, and a rotation of ice cream. This is Arone’s first solo project. He previously worked as a bartender as part of the opening team at the Eater Award-winning Vecino and held a stint at the Candy Bar (also within the Siren) and as a barista at the former Astro Coffee and Strange Matter Coffee in Lansing. 1509 Broadway.
Tacos Wuey
Project Opening: March
Key players: Eddie Vargas
Restaurant industry veteran Eddie Vargas and his father, Jose, have been renovating a space formerly occupied by a Central American restaurant called El Comal to give the interior a subtle Tulum aesthetic with woven rattan lighting and neutral tones and seating for about 40 people. The rotating taco menu will take cues from Mexico’s vast culinary landscape, with specialties including Sinaloa-style tacos gobernador (a griddled taco-quesadilla combo filled with grilled shrimp and melted cheese), Baja-inspired fried fish tacos, and tacos de chile relleno, to name a few. Vargas also plans to incorporate ingredients not often found locally, including flor de calabaza and huitlacoche — a Mexican delicacy. 3970 West Vernor Highway.
Dirty Shake
Project Opening: Spring
Key players: Sandy Levine, Doug Hewitt, Kamalani Overall
Sandy Levine and Doug Hewitt — the pair behind the award-winning Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails and Freya — are going for a throwback feel with their latest project. Dirty Shake, is inside an empty ivy-covered and red-brick building on the corner of Forest at Second Avenue with a sprawling wraparound patio. Dirty Shake promises neighborhood bar feels, with a retractable garage door window, indoor seating for 80, and additional capacity outside. The interior features a long bar, two-top table seating, and a lounge area with upholstered seating surrounding a fireplace. Kamalani Overall, from the Oakland Art Novelty Company, will serve as the spot’s beverage program manager, designing a menu of nostalgic drinks, boozy slushies, and fun takes on classic Detroit cocktails like the Hummer milkshake. Non-alcoholic options will also be available. Hewitt’s food menu will include affordable options like burgers and wings. 4642 Second Avenue.
Detroit 75 Kitchen
Project Opening: Mid-2025
Key players: Ahmad and Mike Nassar
The beloved Southwest Detroit sandwich eatery at a trailer parked outside a gas station on Fort Street alongside I-75 is opening a permanent location in Oakland County in mid-2025. Renovations inside the former Madison Club Bar and Grill began earlier in January, with build-out being handled by Siwek Construction. In the interim, Detroit 75 is operating a truck in the parking lot. Once construction is complete, the spot will include ample indoor seating and patio space. Fans of the viral sensation sandwich-makers will get to indulge in its all-halal menu of cheesesteaks, seafood po-boys, and shawarma wraps, as well as its popular garlic cilantro fries served with the eatery’s jalapeño ketchup. Wash everything down with homemade strawberry lemonade. 32275 Stephenson Highway in Madison Heights.
Sunda New Asian
Project Opening: Spring
Key players: Billy Dec, Rockit Ranch Productions
Sunda New Asian, a Chicago-born pan-Asian restaurant serving sushi, noodles, and small bites, with locations in Nashville and Tampa will arrive sometime this spring to the so-called District pedestrian-only entertainment corridor that sits adjacent to the Fox Theatre and across the street from Comerica Park. Former nightclub impresario Billy Dec founded the restaurant with a heavy Japanese and Chinese menu, but in later years he’s leaning more into his Filipino roots. Dec helped start Chicago’s Rockit Ranch Productions, known for clubs like Rockit and Underground. 33 W. Columbia.
Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery
Project Opening: First quarter 2025
Key Players: Ronin Capital Partners, Jay Farner
Franklin Grill, which shuttered at the start of 2024 after a 16-year run, is being reimagined by Detroit businessman and managing partner of Ronin Capital Partners, Jay Farner. The space will soon be renamed Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery. Details about the food and drink offerings weren’t immediately available following the announcement of the switch, however, executive chef Nick Geftos, who also heads the kitchen at BESA Detroit downtown (also owned by Ronin) has been tapped to lead the kitchen. Farner has also purchased the adjoining property, which will be joined to the new restaurant by a shared back patio and will become an as-of-yet unnamed casual cafe. The cafe will be led by pastry chef Christine Anschuetz. 32760 Franklin Road, Franklin.
Waka by Baobab Fare
Project Opening: Late 2025
Key players: Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba
What started as a food truck that first launched during Noel Night in 2022 is now well on its way to becoming a brick-and-mortar location in Eastern Market in the space formerly occupied by Russell Street Deli. Here, customers will get to enjoy dishes inspired by street food such as Burundian chapati, a flaky flatbread with South Indian origins, filled with stewed meats and vegetables. In addition, diners will find other East African-style delicacies like brochettes — skewered meat kabobs grilled over charcoal. Note that Baobab Fare is also looking to expand its footprint with a second location at 16900 E. Warren Avenue on the city’s east side. 3401-3445 Russell Street
Little Liberia
Project Opening: 2025
Key players: Ameneh Marhaba
Little Liberia may be the first Michigan restaurant serving Liberian food. It’s gearing up for its New Center debut. The forthcoming restaurant’s roots date back to 2016 under the name Kitchen Ramarj by Ameneh Marhaba, Little Liberia won $100,000 in the 2022 Comerica Hatch Detroit contest, and in the time since then, Marhaba has hosted pop-ups and ticketed dining events. When the space opens, diners can expect traditional dishes such as plantain chips, Liberian country dry rice, cassava leaves, groundnut stew, and palm butter. To drink, Little Liberia is planning to carry a variety of cocktails and mocktails. Little Liberia, which will serve halal food will become the third Afro-centric restaurant to open in recent years on the 6500 block of Woodward Avenue. The Afro-Caribbean spot Yum Village opened its doors in 2019, followed by the Burundi-owned Baobab Fare in 2021. Work continues to build out the space and a 2025 opening is in the works. Marhaba had previously been looking forward to opening the restaurant in New Center at 6513 Woodward Avenue, however, the location will now be in East English Village. 16530 East Warren Avenue.
Marrow Detroit Provisions
Project Opening: 2025
Key players: Ping Ho, Sarah Welch, Jonathan Opdyke
Marrow, the award-winning restaurant and butcher shop in Detroit’s West Village, is continuing its expansion efforts and has announced plans to convert the 14,000-square-foot former home of Capital Poultry in Eastern Market into Marrow Detroit Provisions. Purchased in 2021, the space will feature a USDA-inspected meat processing facility, restaurant, butcher shop, and bar, along with a spacious outdoor seating area. The ambitious renovation comes as Marrow is also planning to open a smaller, neighborhood butcher shop in Birmingham. 2442 Riopelle Street.
from Eater Detroit - All
Post a Comment