These Detroit restaurants are opening just in time for spring. What's new?
Spring is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts, and that’s no different for the restaurant industry across Michigan.
Across metro Detroit, several seasonal favorites reopen. In late March, longtime pizza chain Buddy's changed hands and is now under new ownership. A group of local investors bought the chain from private investment firm CapitalSpring. While other new restaurants and bars debuted across metro Detroit, some establishments shuttered in the wake of rising costs or concept changes.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants will open March 2 at 17115 N. Laurel Park Drive in Livonia, marking the brand’s third Detroit-area location and fifth in Michigan.
Here’s a list of metro Detroit restaurants that recently reopened, debuted or said goodbye.
Reopenings
Downtown Street Eats
For those in downtown Detroit, spring signals the return of the Downtown Street Eats food truck season at Cadillac Square. Now in its 14th year, 80 food trucks and carts are ready to serve more than 2,500 people every weekday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Downtown Street Eats season runs through mid-October. For information and lineup of this season's food trucks, go to downtowndetroit.org.
Bob Jo's Frozen Custard
Warm weather and ice cream are synonymous with one another. Bob Jo’s Frozen Custard in Wyandotte reopened on April 10 for its 79th year and is open daily from noon to 10 p.m. Find current flavors on Bob Jo's Frozen Custard Facebook page.
4071 Fort St., Wyandotte.
Gino's Surf
This lakefront restaurant, bar and entertainment spot is now open for the season in Harrison Township under new management, according to its Facebook page. Located on Jefferson Avenue with views of Lake St. Clair, Gino's Surf boasts a new chef and a new menu, plus live bands.
Mike's on the Water
Located on the Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores, Mike’s on the Water is now open. Now in its 16th season,, Mike’s menu offers various seafood dishes, including weekly specials on swordfish, catfish, sockeye salmon, cod and tilapia. The establishment is also known for its lobster rolls, which have served more than 117,000 to date, according to its website.
Openings
Balam Coffee and Wine
The siblings behind Ferndale’s Mezcal Mexican Bar and Grill expanded the family business on March 16 with the opening of Balam Coffee and Wine. Located three doors down from Mezcal, Balam sources its coffee from Mexico and South America, and has a rotating selection of red and white wines from Latin America. The menu offers hot and iced coffee, Mexican pastries and food.
Chick-fil-A
The Chick-fil-A expansion in Michigan continued with two new locations: one in Royal Oak – located on Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile Road – and the other in Lincoln Park at the intersection of Southfield Road and Dix Road. The Royal Oak location held its grand opening on March 26 and on April 2 for the Lincoln Park location. As part of the grand opening, both establishments donated $25,000 to local hunger relief charities. Chick-fil-A announced in 2024 that it planned to open between 25 and 30 restaurants across the state by the end of 2028 and create more than 2,500 jobs.
Little Bella's Pizza and Wine
If you’re in the mood for brick-oven pizzas, charcutiers and cocktails, then Little Bella’s Pizza may be on your list of places to check out.
Located at 100 S. Main St, the newest establishment from restaurateur Adam Merkel opened its doors to the public in late March. The restaurant’s pizza menu offers classic pies, including pepperoni and margherita, along with garlic lovers, shrimp scampi and more.
Sean May is the mixologist and beverage director behind Little Bella’s drink menu. His cocktails include a trio of martinis and the lemon drop Italiano, along with a curated wine program.
Motz's Burgers
Motz’s Burgers opened a location in Southgate, its third in metro Detroit, with a soft opening on March 14, serving its classic hamburger and cheeseburger sliders, plus chicken sandwiches, along with shoestring fries and onion rings as sides. Motz's hails from the former Mott's Hamburgers that opened its first location more than 90 years ago in southwest Detroit on Fort Street at the corner of Green. New owners took the Detroit location over in 1996, changing its name to Motz's. In 2023, Motz opened its second location in Redford on Plymouth Avenue.
Patty and Press Smash Burger
Goran Dimic and Brandon Gorgies, owners of Naked Burger in Clinton Township, held a grand opening event of their second establishment together, Patty and Press Smash Burgers, on March 21 in Shelby Township.
The restaurant’s burgers are a signature blend from Fairway Packing Co. in Fraser and use beef tallow for all its fried side dishes. The Patty & Press Classic Smash meal includes a burger, hand-cut fries and a pop and costs $12.90.
Patty and Press Smash Burgers is located at 52300 Van Dyke, Shelby Township
Rock and Brews
Founded by two members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Kiss, Rock and Brews held a grand opening event on April 9 in Royal Oak. Co-founder and Kiss band member Gene Simmons was in attendance for the festivities.
The Royal Oak location is the 20th franchise in the national chain, which began 14 years ago. It is also the biggest street-side location to date, located inside a 12,000-square-foot, three-level establishment.
Rock and Brews pays homage to some of Detroit’s greats in the form of artwork and installations, including Bob Seger, the White Stripes, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Eminem. The menu features American comfort food such as burgers, chicken wings, tacos and salads.
Smith & Williams
Popular social media influencer Starex Smith, well known as The Hungry Black Man on his Facebook page, is planning a May 1 grand opening of his new Detroit restaurant, Smith & Williams. Smith, who hails from Miami, and business partner Deavante Williams opened the restaurant Easter weekend at 1428 Gratiot Ave. in the Eastern Market area. Menu highlights include roasted turkey wings on top of cornbread dressing, oxtail lasagna and colossal braised oxtails. These items, all made from scratch, involve days of prep work. Smith & Williams is set to have a grand opening on the first weekend in May. Hours are 4-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday for happy hour. Dinner hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Brunch service is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call or text 567-970-9059 for reservations.
1428 Gratiot, Detroit.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SusanMariecooks. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.
