It’s always been tough out there for bars and restaurants, but especially so these days with an unpredictable economy and diners tightening their belts. Nevertheless, many restaurateurs are following their dreams, and the Detroit dining scene is all the better for their efforts. Here are some of the latest spots to open this year.

A.M. Buzz 600 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; ambuzzdetroit.com Named after the Cambia Hotel building’s past life as the headquarters for WWJ-AM, this coffee shop menu serves breakfast sandwiches, acai bowls, salads, and more to the downtown crowd. Credit: Koucar Management
Bev’s Bagels 4884 Grand River Ave., Detroit; bevsbagels.com After launching Bev’s Bagels as an Ann Arbor pop-up, Max Sussman brought his breakfast spot to the former Detroit Institute of Bagels space in Detroit’s Core City. The menu is made up of classic bagels with rotating seasonal flavors, creative cream cheese spreads, wild-caught fish, and more. Credit: Mark Kurlyandchik / Booth One Creative
Big Rock Italian Chophouse 245 S. Eton St., Birmingham; bigrockitalianchophouse.com This new restaurant and cigar club opened in Birmingham’s former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot, where Big Rock Chophouse served for nearly 40 years until it closed in 2021. Its Ohio-based parent company also operates Ocean Prime in Troy, among dozens of others, with a menu highlighting steaks, Italian-inspired fare, seafood, and wines. Credit: Courtesy photo
Cava 43450 Ford Rd., Canton; cava.com This growing fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain opened its first Michigan location, with a second coming soon to downtown Detroit. The chain was launched in 2006 by first-generation Greek Americans in Maryland, and in 2018, it bought the Zoës Kitchen chain, becoming the largest Mediterranean restaurant operator in the U.S. Credit: Courtesy photo
Chenin 1509 Broadway St., Detroit; barchenin.com Opened in Detroit’s Siren Hotel, this small bar aims for an intimate experience reminiscent of Parisian wine caves, with a menu featuring cocktails, small plates, and ice cream. Credit: Joe Portelli
The Chicken Coupe 700 Inselruhe Ave., Detroit; chickencoupedetroit.com This fried chicken joint went viral on social media when people mistakenly believed it opened inside the notorious toilets on Belle Isle. (Not true! It opened in a separate building that shares an awning with the bathrooms.) It serves up juicy chicken tenders, loaded fries, chicken and waffles, and more to park-goers. Credit: Steve Neavling
Dakota Inn Rathskeller 17324 John R St., Detroit; dakota-inn.com Not a new establishment by any means — it first opened in 1933! — but this year the longstanding Kurz family handed the keys of this German-style beer hall to Paddy Lynch, a developer who has also acquired The Schvitz, Convent Detroit, and Dutch Girl Donuts in recent years. You can come say “Prost!” at its 92nd birthday celebration on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Credit: Courtesy photo
Dirty Shake 4642 2nd Ave., Detroit; dirtyshake.com The latest project from the team behind Freya & Dragonfly, Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails, and The Oakland, Dirty Shake has a more relaxed concept. Its menu includes bar fare like burgers and wings, and drinks like Detroit’s famous Hummer cocktail. Credit: Courtesy photo
Echelon Kitchen & Bar 200 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; echelonkitchenandbar.com Formerly home to a BD’s Mongolian Grill, this 100-year-old building has been reborn as a wood-fired, seasonal, vegetable-forward restaurant. Its menu features dishes like horseradish crème fraîche, roasted‑beet flatbread with preserved lemon and pistachio gremolata, bucatini with lobster and squash, and dry‑aged duck breast. Credit: Courtesy photo
Effin Egg 4160 Cass Ave., Detroit; effineggdetroit.com This national breakfast sandwich chain opened its first Michigan location earlier this year, a fast-casual option geared toward WSU students and Midtown workers. Credit: Steve Neavling
Father Forgive Me 1265 Parkview St., Detroit; fatherforgiveme.com Located in a former garage on the grounds of The Shepherd cultural arts center, this bar from the team behind downtown’s Standby and the Skip features cocktails and small plates. Credit: Instagram, @fatherforgivemedet, @thehannnn
Ford’s Garage 12575 Hall Rd., Utica; fordsgarageusa.com This national chain, named after Ford Motor Co., has opened its third Michigan location in Macomb County. The menu boasts an auto theme with items like the Model “A” burger and Jumbo Piston Onion Rings, and the decor even includes a vintage car suspended above its central bar. Credit: Courtesy photo
Franklin Oyster Bar 32760 Franklin Rd., Franklin; thefranklinmi.com Ex-Rocket Companies CEO Jay Farner opened this new seafood restaurant in the 1848 carriage house that held the former Franklin Grill. With a kitchen led by executive chef Nick Geftos and Gerti Begaj (BESA Detroit), its menu features premium steaks, pasta, burgers, and weekend brunch. Credit: Courtesy photo
HopCat Southgate 15231 Trenton Rd., Southgate; hopcat.com This Michigan-based beer bar chain opened its 11th location in a former Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom, its first Downriver location. The chain is known for having dozens of craft beers on tap and for its Cosmik Fries. Credit: Courtesy photo
James Oliver Coffee Co. 3042 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte | 3100 Woodward Ave., Detroit | jamesolivercoffee.com Following locations in Corktown and downtown’s Guardian Building, this local cafe chain opened a third Downriver and a fourth in Detroit’s Brush Park. Credit: Instagram, @jamesolivercoffee
Jinya Ramen Bar 129 S. Main St., Royal Oak; jinyaramenbar.com This international high-end ramen chain moved into the space last occupied by an Andiamo Italian restaurant in 2018; its first Michigan location. Aside from ramen bowls (made with broths simmered for 20 hours), the menu includes small plates and cocktails. Credit: Courtesy photo
Just Smash It 529 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; instagram.com/justsmashit_detroit Following its first location on Eight Mile Road in Warren, this local smashburger chain opened its second store in downtown Detroit. It has quickly become a hit: thanks to the connections of owner Matashia Dykes, it is popular with Detroit rappers. Credit: Instagram, @justsmashit_detroit
La Pecora Nera 135 Pierce St., Birmingham; lapecoraneradetroit.com Following locations in downtown Detroit in 2017 and Farmington in 2023, this local chain opened its third location in downtown Birmingham. Its menu features Italian deli-style sandwiches, salads, coffee, and gelato. Credit: Courtesy photo
La Serre 201 Glen Ave., Ann Arbor; vanguardannarbor.com/la-serre This French-inspired restaurant opened in Ann Arbor’s Vanguard Hotel, which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Credit: Instagram, @laserre_annarbor
Little Ghost 22305 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; eatlittleghost.com A sister restaurant to Detroit’s Grey Ghost, Little Ghost is a carry-out spot with a focus on burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, fries, and more — a kid-friendly menu with the Grey Ghost team’s culinary touch. Credit: Erica Crosby Photography
Little Kim 407 N. 5th Ave., Ann Arbor; littlekimannarbor.com Chef Ji Hye Kim earned a James Beard Award nomination for her acclaimed Korean eatery Miss Kim, and now she’s expanded across the street with a fast-casual, all-vegetarian menu centered on build-your-own bowls. The space also includes an Asian-themed mini-mart selling sauces and other grocery items. Credit: Gerard + Belevender
The Lost Outpost 37550 Cherry Hill Rd., Westland; lostoutpostbar.com This pop-up, which runs through Sept. 21., transforms the Legendary Axe into an immersive tiki bar. Tropical-themed cocktails and island-inspired fare are served alongside a stunning set that includes a smoking volcano and wise-cracking animatronic parrots. Guests can even solve riddles to earn prizes. Credit: Courtesy photo
Minnie’s Detroit 5221 Trumbull, Detroit; minniesdetroit.com
Helmed by Yvonne Byrd of the former Vondie’s On The River, Minnie’s opened in Woodbridge earlier this year. Its menu includes items like Lollipop Lamb Chops, Seafood Mac-N-Cheese, Catfish Nuggets, and more bar fare. Credit: Courtesy photo
Mockery Zero Proof 7400 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; mockeryzeroproof.com Billed as the first non-alcoholic bottle shop and cocktail lounge in the city, Mockery Zero Proof features dozens of meticulously crafted mocktails. Credit: Instagram, @mockeryzeroproof
Mr. Miguel’s Kitchen & Cantina 17330 Hall Rd., Suite 195, Clinton Twp.; mrmiguels.com This location chain opened its latest location, its fifth, in the former Bobcat Bonnie’s at the Mall at Partridge Creek. It serves Mexican favorites like fajitas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, and birria. Credit: Instagram, @mr_miguels
Pocket Change 1454 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; instagram.com/pocketchangedetroit Opened in the former Collect Beer Bar in Eastern Market, this cocktail spot is helmed by Nelson Kazan (of SheWolf, Flowers of Vietnam, and the Apparatus Room). Its menu includes hand-crafted cocktails and curated wines. Credit: Mark Kurlyandchik / Booth One Creative
The Rectory 1920 Atkinson St., Detroit; therectorydetroit.com From the owners of the Boston-Edition church-turned-coffee house the Congregation comes the Rectory (literally built in the church’s former rectory). It serves up Neapolitan-style pizzas, salads, and appetizers including lamb meatballs. Credit: Courtesy photo
Roar Brewing Co. 666 Selden St., Detroit; roar.beer Founded by U.S. Air Force vet Evan Fay, this is billed as Detroit’s first Black-owned brewery, opening in the former Nain Rouge Brewery space. Its menu is simple, with straightforward brews like the Honey Oat Stout, Roar Pilsner, Roar Wheat Beer, and Roar Saison. Credit: Courtesy photo
Sidecar Slider Bar 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; sidecarsliderbar.com After more than 12 years in business, Ferndale’s Public House restaurant closed earlier this year. Local chain Sidecar Slider Bar soon moved in, bringing its menu of burgers, hot dogs, tacos, and cocktails into the space. Credit: Courtesy photo
The Spice and Tea Exchange 17037 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe; spiceandtea.com A national brand, this chain stocks its shelves with all manner of teas, herbs, spices, and handcrafted signature blends mixed in-store, with teas that can be sampled at the in-store tea bar. Credit: Courtesy photo
Chef Ji Hye Kim, who earned a James Beard Award nomination for her Korean restaurant Miss Kim in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown, has opened a sister restaurant across the street called Little Kim. Credit: Gerard + Belevender

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Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City.