Coming to the Table:

The Dirty Shake in the Cass Corridor

A new bar said to feature reasonably-priced drinks and eats is planned to open next month just south of Wayne State University. The Dirty Shake — named for a shaken drink when the ice is poured directly into the cocktail versus strained — is the latest concept from Sandy Levine and chef Doug Hewitt, the award-winning hospitality partners behind Freya, Chartreuse, Dragonfly, and The Oakland. The drinks menu will feature slushies and riffs on Detroit classics like the Hummer, plus beer and non-alcoholic drinks. The food menu will include burgers and wings. It will be located at 4642 Second Ave.

Lady of the House in Core City

Chef Kate Williams’ critically acclaimed restaurant plans to open again in Detroit on Wednesday, Oct. 23 after closing in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, read our writer Michelle Kobernick’s conversation with Williams.

Norm’s Diner in West Village

A new daytime dining spot is set to open in Detroit’s West Village neighborhood next week. Norm’s Diner, a new concept from local culinary professionals Elise Gallant and Danielle Norman, will be located at 8029 Agnes Street (the former address of Detroit Vegan Soul). The breakfast menu features twists on classics like the Biscuits and Gravy, served with a homemade biscuit, chorizo gravy, pickled chilis, and an over-medium egg. The lunch menu includes sandwiches and salads — plus shakes and malts garnished with fries. It plans to open on Thursday, Oct. 24, and will be open for dine in and carry out Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit normsdiner.com.

Hugo Kitchen & Cocktails in Birmingham

Birmingham’s Màre Mediterranean is closing on Oct. 20 for a rebrand. The name of the new restaurant is Hugo Kitchen & Cocktails, and more details will be announced soon, the restaurant’s publicist tells Hour Detroit.

Hot and Fresh:

JP Makes & Bakes in New Center

JP Makes & Bakes, a new bakery and eatery in Detroit’s New Center district, sells coffee and scratch-made Filipino treats such as ube cookies — owner/baker Jonathan Peregrino’s signature take on the classic purple yam-based pastry — plus a rotation of breakfast and lunch foods. Its current soft opening hours are Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. until 3 p.m (or until supplies run out). Peregrino was a competitor on Season 7 of the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship; and has been a pastry chef in notable Detroit kitchens including those of Warda Patisserie, Tapped Coffee, Oak & Reel, and Le Supreme. For more information and updates, visit jpmakesandbakes.com.

 

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Taqueria el Rey

The beloved Mexican eatery Taqueria el Rey has returned to Southwest Detroit at a new address, 3400 Bagley Street, about two and a half years after its Vernor Highway location was lost in a fire. The new location shares another concept called Tres Leches n’ Snacks. After opening last Friday, Oct. 18 with limited hours last weekend; it plans a grand reopening ceremony on Nov. 1, according to a social media post from the restaurant. For updates, follow @taqueriaelrey on Instagram.

Big Chicken in Livonia

The third Shaquille O’Neil-owned Big Chicken franchise location in Michigan opened its doors Oct. 15 in Livonia at 30130 Plymouth Rd. The restaurant’s offerings include traditional wings and “Dunks,” (boneless fried chicken bites that are larger than nuggets but smaller than tenders) — both served with sauces like buffalo, lemon pepper, Memphis BBQ, and Thai chili. The Ultimate is a chicken sandwich topped with mac & cheese, crispy fried onions, and its signature Big Chicken sauce. The franchise says it plans to open a total of 20 locations in Michigan — including more in the Detroit area, as well as Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw and Mount Pleasant.  For more information, visit bigchicken.com/livonia-mi.

Get it While It’s Hot:

Matty Matheson’s Sandwiches at The Skip

A food cart called Detroit City Beef is serving two sandwiches created by The Bear star Matty Matheson at The Skip, an open-air bar in downtown Detroit located at 1234 The Belt. Through the end of October, you can order Matheson’s take on the hot Italian beef sandwich, or a vegetarian fried eggplant sandwich. Earlier this year, Matheson unveiled a new menu and became a partner at Standby, which is the sister bar to The Skip.

Detroit Coney Chicago Style Pizza at Uno Pizzeria and Grill in Farmington Hills

Could this be the fusion dish of the month? The Detroit Coney Chicago-style pizza — a combination of hot dog, chili, mustard, and diced white onions on Chicago deep dish crust — is available through the end of October (which is National Pizza Month) only at the Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Farmington Hills. A portion of the proceeds from each pizza will go to Oakland County Foster Closet, a nonprofit that supports children in the foster system. The Farmington Hills franchise location is inside the Delta Hotel Marriott at 37529 Grand River Ave.

Hungry Happenings

Corktown’s Momento Gelato and Coffee Obtains Liquor License

Momento Gelato and Coffee, known for its scratch-made gelatos, sorbets, coffee, and light Italian fare such as soups and sandwiches, announced in late September that it had obtained a liquor license. The Trumbull Street parlor’s new drink menu gives guests the option to spike their cappuccinos, lattes, or gelatos with liqueurs like Drambuie, Frangelico, or Disaronno. Beer, wine, and amaro (Italian herbal liqueur) are also now on the menu, along with an espresso martini.

Griffin Claw’s TRI-21 Brews Raise Funds for Nonprofit Supporting Individuals with Down Syndrome

For the fourth year in a row, Birmingham-based Griffin Claw Brewing Company has launched its TRI-21 Project. From October (Down Syndrome Awareness Month) through March 21 (Down Syndrome Awareness Day), Griffin Claw is calling on beer professionals from around the world to brew their own TRI-21-branded beers using its modifiable recipe. Proceeds from the sales will benefit GiGi’s Playhouse, a nonprofit which has opened Down syndrome achievement centers in over 60 locations in the U.S. and Mexico; including one in Southfield. For more information, visit tri21project.com.

The New York Times Names Noori Pocha One of 2024’s Best Restaurants in America

Clawson’s Noori Pocha, one of Hour Detroit’s Best New Restaurants of 2024, was the only Michigan restaurant to make The New York Times’ 2024 Restaurant List, which consists of 50 restaurants. Editor Sara Bonisteel praised Noori’s atmosphere and signature dishes from chef Bak Sang-hwan, writing, “It’s rare for a restaurant to be this transporting, and rarer still to have a meal that’s this much fun.”