The most anticipated new restaurants coming to the Detroit area in 2021

By Metro Times Staff on Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 2:35 pm

We don't have to tell you that 2020, uh, was not all that it was cracked up to be. Not only did many metro Detroit restaurants shutter as a result of the pandemic, those restaurants that had planned to open, well, didn't. Though 2021 is shaping up to be 2020 2.0, these restaurants have put too much on the line and waited a long time to serve up their unique offerings to the always hungry metro Detroit public. Some of these entries are out-of-state favorites who are expanding to the Detroit area, others are locally-born ideas that we have been waiting years to sink our teeth into. Regardless, these are some of metro Detroit's most anticipated restaurant openings to keep an eye out for this year.

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Detroit Beer Exchange

1260 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 313-638-2361; thebeerexchange.com
Buy, sell, buy, sell — and drink! Beer Exchange is expanding their horizons to Detroit. This bar first opened in 2010 in Kalamazoo and they are now coming to Downtown Detroit. Known for their casual environment, pizza and beer combos, and, well, the fact that they operate like the stock market, with fluctuating beer prices and spontaneous market crashes. Similar to their Kalamazoo offerings, Detroit Beer Exchange is expected to feature somewhere around 28 beers, 10 ciders, as well as meads and nonalcoholic beverages.

Photo via Detroit Beer Exchange/Facebook

Ladder 4 Detroit

3396 Vinewood, Detroit; facebook.com/LadderDetroitSons
This wine bar project has been underway since 2020 but has picked back up this upcoming year. This project is underway and is being developed by the Sons of Banat in Southwest Detroit. There is no set date as to when the wine bar will open.

Photo via Ladder 4 Detroit/Facebook

Goblin Sushi Bar

2547 Bagley St., Detroit; goblinorder.com
There's some good news for Detroit sushi lovers and bad news for margarita drinkers: A Macomb County sushi spot is moving into the recently shuttered Peso Bar space in Detroit's Mexicantown. Goblin's 35925 S. Gratiot Ave. Clinton Twp. spot pivoted to take-out and delivery-only mid-pandemic and currently offers a selection of traditional rolls, as well as specialty rolls, sushi bowls, platters, nigiri, and sweets, like matcha cheesecake.

Photo via Goblin Sushi Bar/Facebook

Barda Detroit

4842 Grand River Ave., Detroit;248-949-0008 bardadetroit.com
Opening in the former Magnet space in Core City, Barda Detroit will offer Argentinian fare. Chef Javier Bardauil, who hails from Buenos Aires, will be making his Detroit debut 4842 Grand River Ave. when the restaurant opens in April. Barda Detroit will offer a simple bar program (think wines from Argentina and Italian Fernet) and a range of vegetable, meat, and seafood dishes at a variety of price points to avoid feeling too “exclusive” for the neighboring area.

Photo via GoogleMaps

Petty Cash

20050 Livernois Ave., Detroit pettycashdetroit.com
Details about this new small plates and cocktail lounge along Detroit's Avenue of Fashion have yet to be revealed but Petty Cash appears to be taking over the old O’quins Shrimp House spot.

Photo via GoogleMaps

Cafe Alto

30955 Woodward Ave., Detroitinstagram.com/altodetroit
Cafe Alto is a new café shop that plotted for Detroit's Brush Park in the former New Order Coffee space. In addition to roasting their own beans, Cafe Alto will be serving treats from White Wolf Patisserie and Cannelle.

Photo via Joe Louis Southern Kitchen/Facebook

Joe Louis Southern Kitchen

3100 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-788-8338; joelouissouthernkitchen.com
Giving New Center the ol' one-two punch is an ode to the legendary boxer, Joe Louis. The all-day brunch forward project comes from Johnny Cannon (owner of Sweet Magnolia's, former owner of New Center Eatery) in cooperation with Joe Louis II. The restaurant will seat 76 people and will feature southern breakfast staples like, buttermilk biscuits, croquettes and rice, shrimp and grits, country fried steak, pancakes, and chicken and waffles. The restaurant, which will also pay homage to Louis through its decor, is expected to celebrate its grand opening in May to coincide with the boxer's birthday.

Photo via Joe Louis Southern Kitchen/Facebook

Detroit's Louisiana Creole Gumbo

29216 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; detroitgumbo.com
An Eastern Market institution for decades, Detroit's Louisiana Creole Gumbo restaurant is set to open its first non-Detroit location this spring at 29216 Orchard Lake Rd., in Farmington Hills.

Photo via Detroit's Louisiana Creole Gumbo/Facebook

Sloppy Crab

519 E. Jefferson, Detroit;sloppycrabdetroit.com
The owners of Sloppy Chops are backing another sloppy restaurant with Sloppy Crab. Taking over the former Brigg's Detroit spot in downtown, Sloppy Crab will offer a variety of seafood dishes, including lobster, fried fish, and seafood boils.

Photo via Sloppy Crab/Facebook

Supergeil

2442 Michigan Ave., Detroit
Capitalizing on the döner kebab craze is David Landrum, owner of Two James Distillery. Supergeil, will offer Mediterranean fare in Corktown out of a 10,000 sq ft space across the street from Two James' tasting room.

Photo via Google Maps