Six Recent Detroit Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know #DetroitFood

JINYA Ramen Bar has landed in Royal Oak. | JINYA Ramen Bar

Jinya Ramen’s first location in Michigan, a moody wine cave downtown, and more openings to know now

Having a tough time keeping up with all the new dining options? Welcome to the Opening Report, a curated roundup of recent restaurant openings big and small across metro Detroit.

Did we miss a spot? Drop a note at the tipline or email detroit@eater.com and we’ll consider it for the next update.

April

ROYAL OAK — A big bowl of ramen is always appreciated on a cold day in metro Detroit, and a new option has emerged in Royal Oak. Launching with an opening celebration at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, Jinya Ramen Bar — the California-based chain with more than 60 restaurants nationwide — will open its first Michigan location in Royal Oak in a space formerly occupied by Andiamo, which closed in 2018. As part of the opening festivities, the first 100 customers will receive a free order of ramen for their next visit.

Developer Michael Bailey and the living trusts of Kent Ward and James Carmody III are the local franchisees under the name Royal Oak Ramen LLC. According to Crain’s, Royal Oak Ramen LLC also has a stake in more than 50 Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, including the one in downtown Royal Oak. Bailey tells Eater that the group is searching for additional locations in metro Detroit, though he did not provide specifics on a timeframe or where expansion would take place. 129 Main Street in Royal Oak.

March

EASTERN MARKET — Pocket Change, a new cocktail bar situated in the space where Cøllect Beer Bar used to live before relocating further east, has opened as of Friday, March 28. Beverage industry veteran Nelson Kazan, who’s done stints at SheWolf Pastificio & Bar, Flowers of Vietnam, Apparatus Room, and the shuttered Republic Tavern, is behind the project alongside brothers Kris and Fred Lelcaj. Kris Lelcaj is the owner of daytime spot Babo in Midtown. Fred Lelcaj, formerly owned Ann Arbor cafe, Fred’s. Pocket Change is 1,200 square feet and has a capacity for up to 49 visitors. According to a press release, the aesthetic blends elements of Japanese hi-fi bars, with deep red walls, dim candlelight, and a red neon sign that reads “Cocktails.” Drinks include the tequila-based “Bingo Bango,” and a rotating wine list highlights wines from highlighting selections from Italy, France, Slovenia, and Austria. Customers can also expect live DJ sets, cocktails, and a lineup of various pop-up vendors serving food. When the weather permits, there’s rooftop access that offers sweeping views of the historic shopping district. The Lelcaj brothers plan to make use of the lower level, the former Bunny Bunny space, opening a new iteration of Fred’s. 1454 Gratiot Avenue.

Mark Kurlyandchik/Booth One Creative

Pocket Change is Eastern Market’s newest addition for cocktails and rooftop vibes.

CASS CORRIDOR — Dirty Shake opened on March 13 — Detroit’s own 313 Day — inside an empty ivy-covered and red-brick building on the corner of Forest at Second Avenue with a sprawling wraparound patio. From the team behind the award-winning Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails and Freya, Dirty Shake promises a neighborhood bar feel with a retractable garage door window that opens up to a spacious patio area, indoor seating for 80, plus a long bar, two-top table seating, and a lounge area with upholstered seating surrounding a fireplace. Beverage manager Kamalani Overall, from the Oakland Art Novelty Company, designeding a menu of nostalgic drinks, boozy slushies, and fun takes on classic Detroit cocktails like the Hummer milkshake. Non-alcoholic options are available. Hewitt’s food menu includes an impressive bar burger with two patties from a housemade blend of ground beef, sharp cheddar, and Martin’s potato rolls; and an incredibly flavorful serving of chicken wings, which are brined for 24 hours, then dry-cured for another 24 hours, then smoked for two hours, and fried to finish. 4642 2nd Avenue.

DOWNTOWN — The Siren Hotel welcomed the opening of Chenin on Thursday, March 6, a pocket-sized wine bar from local beverage industry professional Nick Arone. The bar emphasizes natural and biodynamic wines, including earthy Spanish varieties such as a funky glass of rose from the Catalan winemaker Joan Ramon Escoda. There’s also a brief cocktail menu and food options such as focaccia-like tomato pies, a mortadella sandwich, olives, tomato pies, and a rotation of ice cream made in-house. There are no reservations, and scoring a spot at the bar can be tricky with just 10 seats, but there’s a narrow bar surface on the wall opposite of the bar where folks can squeeze in and stand. 1509 Broadway Street.

February

HARMONIE PARK — Asian cuisine meets soul food at Enomah, one of the newest additions to hit Harmonie Park. The Black-owned fine dining restaurant and lounge opened toward the end of February and with dishes that blend Asian and Southern traditions. Specialties include tender braised short ribs or fried shrimp and pineapple salsa nestled in a fried bao bun, jerk seabass on jasmine rice, and lobster fried rice. Take in elevated clubby vibes and live DJ sets, along with live performances coming soon. 1508 Centre Street.

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