Buddy’s Pizza

various locations; buddyspizza.com Let’s be real. We would absolutely endure insane weather conditions to eat just one slice of Buddy’s Detroit-style pizza because it is better than good. It’s iconic. Thankfully, though, we don’t have to because Buddy’s is offering heated outdoor dining — tents and shanties — at locations in Downtown Detroit, Dearborn, Lansing, Portage, Troy, and Woodhaven.

Photo via Buddy’s Pizza/Facebook

Honest John’s

488 Selden St., Detroit; 313-832-5646; honestjohnsdetroit Men might lie (as suggested by this bar’s popular neon decor) but Honest John’s has got us covered with personal heated dining tents within one big heated tent. Where else would you want to chase your hangover with Butterfinger pancakes and hair of the dog?

Photo via Honest John’s/Facebook

Black Pearl

302 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-222-0400; blackpearlannarbor.com This Ann Arbor eatery has nothing to do with Pirates of the Caribbean but it is a treasure in its own right with an eclectic menu with items like blackened swordfish, Cajun pasta, and beef tips. Instead of igloos, though, Black Pearl has constructed sturdy, heated, and aesthetically pleasing greenhouses for private dining experiences.

Photo via Black Pearl Ann Arbor/Facebook

Champ’s Pub

140 E. Grand River, Brighton; 810-227-4443; champspub.com If you can deep fry it, you can eat it at Champ’s in Brighton, where bar fare reigns supreme and where you can drink pitchers of beer in a heated igloo like a real champ. Though they only have two available for reservations, there is no minimum spending requirement and guests can dine for an hour and 45 minutes with 4-6 guests.

Photo via Champ’s Pub/Facebook

Mint 29 Dearborn

22000 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-438-0507; mint29.com Korean BBQ glazed salmon, anyone? This upscale fusion steakhouse and seafood spot in Dearborn is offering igloo dining, each with their own heater and a $150 minimum requirement.

Photo via Mint 29/Facebook

Royal Oak Brewery

215 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-544-1141; royaloakbrewery.com
A brew in an igloo? Don’t mind if we do! Royal Oak Brewery has a frosty, yet toasty, selection of igloos available for reservation and, when reserved on Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday, there is no minimum.

Photo via Royal Oak Brewery/Facebook

Watermark Bar and Grille

24420 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-777-3677; watermarkbarandgrille.com
Eating char-grilled octopus in a clear plastic igloo might seem like something from a dream that a therapist would absolutely link to unresolved fear cephalopods, but at St. Clair Shores' Watermark Bar and Grille, it's a reality. Igloos, which can be reserved online for up to six guests, do not require a deposit, but they will have to put your card on file in case you fail to cancel your reso outside of the 48 hour cancellation period. Better call your therapist in advance, as they also have calamari.

Photo via Watermark Bar and Grille/Facebook

Amici’s Kitchen and Living Room

3249 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-544-4100; amiciskitchenandlivingroom.com
You can take the tent out of the pizza, you know, those little plastic circle things, but at Amici’s Kitchen and Living Room in Berkley, the pizza doesn’t leave the tent. Though Amici’s cozy patio atmosphere may not seat a ton of people, which is, obviously, a good thing, they do have plenty of room far martinis (also a good thing.)

Photo via Amici’s Kitchen and Living Room/Facebook

Tavern at Tina’s

50870 North Ave., Macomb; 586-949-2288; thetavernattinas.com
We don’t know who Tina is but we want to eat at her Tavern or, at the very least, igloos at Tina’s Tavern. Offering elevated bar fare like fish and chips, pizza, and chicken strips, Tina’s has four spacious, carpeted, and climate controlled igloos available for reservation for parties of up to eight people. Each reservation has a three hour dining limit and a $300 minimum with a $25 gratuity and a $50 deposit on Friday and Saturday. However, on kids night, aka Monday, there are no minimum spend requirements and kids under 10 get a free ice cream sundae.

Photo via Tavern at Tina’s/Facebook

Lake Inn Lapeer

3711 Hunt Rd., Lapeer; 810-667-09411; lakeinnlapeer.com
It’s a little like eating a burger in front of a cow but at Lake Inn Lapeer, which has a seafood-focused menu, they’ve got igloos on the deck overlooking the lake, you know, home to pre-cooked sea creatures. All that is required to reserve a waterfront igloo is a willingness to spend $150 minimum on food and drinks Monday-Thursday or $200 minimum Friday through Sunday.

Photo via Lake Inn Lapeer/Facebook

Motor City Brewing Works

470 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-832-2700; motorcitybeer.com
It might be too cold to camp in a tent (unless, you know, you’re actually insane) but it’s never too cold to eat a jumbo hot pretzel or a pizza pie called “The Godfather 2“ with a pint of brew in a tent, which is what Motor City Brewing Works has erected to ensure safe and warm dining.

Photo via Motor City Brewing Words/Facebook

Brown Iron Brewhouse

30955 Woodward Ave., Ste. 510, Royal Oak; 248-951-2659; 57695 Van Dyke Rd., Washington; 586-697-3300; browniron.com
Give us honey Sriracha chicken wings or give us death. OK — we may have gone too far, but Brown Iron Brewhouse of Royal Oak and Washington Township have an eclectic comfort food-heavy menu and, now, they have igloos where we can eat said comfort food. Igloos are by reservation only with a $25 reservation fee and a $150 minimum. That's a lot of honey Sriracha chicken wings.

Photo via Brown Iron Brewhouse/Facebook

Berkley Common

3087 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-677-0795; berkleycommon.com
Dining igloos are becoming pretty common, specifically at Berkley Common where you can fill up on comfort food like buttermilk fried chicken, tofu chorizo stew, and pork shank. Igloos fit six guests and are available for timed reservations. Oh, there’s a $50-$200 deposit required and a 20% gratuity added to the bill or deposit, depending on which is higher.

Photo via Berkley Common/Facebook

INDO Indonesian Restaurant

1535 Cass Lake Rd., Keego Harbor; 248-622-4408; indo.res
The outdoor dining hustle is real at Keego Harbor’s Indonesian eatery INDO, where they creatively pivoted to the tent/igloo life by erecting a couple of private outdoor pods. But don’t go to INDO just for their modest pods. Go for the menu, which is made up of “delicate and fiery” traditional family recipes from Central Java.

Photo via INDO Indonesian Restaurant/Facebook

Lockhart’s BBQ

202 E. Third St., Royal Oak; 248-584-4227; lockhartsbbq.com
Nothing warms a cold heart quite like a rack of ribs and, well, a heated igloo, both of which Lockhart’s BBQ in Royal Oak has in spades. They’re offering their dining igloos for a non-refundable $10 booking fee and a $150 minimum Friday and Saturdays with no minimum spend on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

Photo via Lockhart’s BBQ/Facebook

East Eats

1018 Navahoe St., Detroit; easteats.us

It’s no secret that tiny things are just cuter than non-tiny things. Kittens? Cute. Hamsters eating tiny tacos? Very cute. A brand spanking new restaurant composed of tiny geodesic domes for intimate and COVID-friendly dining? The cutest! East Eats opened in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers area thanks to U-M research fellow Lloyd Talley and Howard University grad and co-founder of Detroit Black Restaurant Week, Kwaku Osei-Bonsu, along with chef Nygel Fyvie. Described as being “vegan forward,” East Eats offers tacos and bao, as well as soups and desserts. The space is made up of 10 domes that fit eight guests each, and each reservation allows stays of two hours. Though East Eats doesn't offer alcohol, you’re welcome to bring your own for a corking fee and the staff will provide cups, mixers, and juices upon request.

Photo via EastEats: A Tiny Dining Experience/Facebook

KouZina Greek Street Food

121 N. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-629-6500 | 332 Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-997-5155; gokouzina.com

If you’ve ever dreamed of chowing down on a piping hot gyro covered in tzatziki while sitting outside in an illuminated igloo on Main Streets in Royal Oak or Ann Arbor, casual Greek street food spot KouZina has you covered — literally. Though they only have one igloo per location, it’s worth the wait.

Photo courtesy of KouZina Greek Street Food

Casa Pernoi

310 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-940-0000; facebook.com/CasaPernoiBirmingham

Earlier this year, Pernoi — the fine-dining restaurant launched by acclaimed chef Luciano DelSignore in 2019 — rebranded as the casual Italian spot, “Casa Pernoi.” It offers Italian favorites like Ricotta Ravioli, Charred Octopus, Baked Orata, and Veal Chop Parmigiano, all of which can be enjoyed in the great outdoors, covered by a tent and warmed by fireplaces, of course.

Photo courtesy of Casa Pernoi

Detroit Fleat

1820 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-607-7611; detroitfleat.com

Move your feet and get to Detroit Fleat because they’ve got igloos, baby. The casual Ferndale rotating food truck stop — meaning you can have local and mobile Mexican, Meditteranean, and/or Italian fare — has transformed its patio to accommodate igloo experiences for up to six guests per igloo. In order to snag one of these heated spots, though it’s recommended guests wear layers depending on just how cruel the weather is, and you have to make a reservation at which point you will have to put some cash toward holding your spot.

Photo via Detroit Fleat/Facebook

Blake’s Tasting Room

17985 Armada Center Rd., Armada; 586-784-9463 | 5600 Van Dyke, Almont; blakeshardcider.com/tasting room

Craft beer, apple cider, and something called a “donut flight”? Where do we sign up? Apparently, Blake’s Tasting Room is where we can live out our autumnal Michigan dreams, even if winter creeps up on us, because they’ve got igloos, folks. Each heated and holiday-decorated igloo seats up to 10 guests for two hours with a $50 deposit plus a minimum of $200 spent on food and drinks. This year, the igloos are also being offered at Blake’s Backyard in Almont.

Photo courtesy of Blake’s Tasting Room