Time for deals, Detroit — In case you didn't realize, Detroit Restaurant Week is in full swing again. That means that 17 Detroit restaurants are offering $30 fixed-price meals, a deal that means you can enjoy the outsized flavors with an appreciably smaller bill.
No sense listing them all here, but some of the hotter, hipper participants include Ottava Via, Roast, Top of the Pontch, and PRISM (the eatery inside Greektown Casino Hotel formerly known as Brizola). The promotion continues through May 10, and full details are available online at detroitrestaurantweek.com.
Anniversario Italiano — Restaurants don't last long if they phone it in, and one of the longest-lasting restaurants in Southfield is Bacco Ristorante, well-known for all the features that make an Italian eatery work: an appealing interior, a 5,000-bottle wine cellar, knowledgeable service, and excellent food. What's more, it's been a regular winner of our readers' poll for Best Italian Cuisine in Oakland County. The restaurant marks 13 years in business with an unusual promotion this month, offering a special $13 entrée menu. At lunch and dinner, on weekdays until May 15, diners can pay this remarkably low price for gnocchi, flank steak, pollo Milanese, salmon, and more. If you've been a longtime customer, this is their way of thanking you. If you haven't been to Bacco yet, this is all the urging you need. Bacco Ristorante is at 29410 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-356-6600; baccoristorante.com.
Surf, turf, and Mom — Did Mother's Day catch you unawares? Steer Mom over to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar for their Mother's Day brunch. They'll give you a three-course meal that includes such choices as a lobster bisque appetizer, blue crab omelet, and walnut turtle pie, for $39.95. Too steep? Did we mention Mom gets a $25 dining card for a future visit? See flemingssteakhouse.com for locations in Birmingham and Livonia.
More at Mudgie's — How does Greg Mudge pack so much flavor into his cozy Corktown deli and café? Every time we check the offerings, they've grown! Last week, the beer menu ballooned again, adding four bottles from Stillwater Contemporary Works: Projector, Vacuum, Of Love & Regret, and Cellar Door. Another addition is bottles of Greenbush Sunspot bottles. Call the boss. Lunch just turned into happy hour! Mudgie's is at 1300 Porter St., Detroit; 313-961-2000; mudgiesdeli.com.
Pig farm's plea — For almost five years, the husband-and-wife team behind Yale's Melo Farms has endeavored to produce great-tasting pork, all while sticking to some pretty exacting ideals: "natural farming practices — including rotational grazing, grass-based animal husbandry, and humane handling." Adhering to these principles isn't easy, of course, but the real trouble came when the couple's long-ailing tractor died. That's why they've put out a funding appeal to help keep their operation up and running. Not sure why it matters to you? Well, having this sort of operation — the largest heritage pastured pork farm in the region — near metro Detroit means our restaurants have access to a culinary resource beyond compare. As the eat-local movement continues to gain more steam, and as local appreciation for humanely raised meat grows apace, Melo just needs a temporary boost to turn that corner. Please give generously. See gofundme.com/melofarms for more information.
