Amelia Street Pizza Co.
What: Thin-crust sourdough pizzas, cheese bread, and quarter pound cookies from a viral chef with financial backing from Mabel Gray’s James Rigato
Where: Hazel Park
Slated to Open: Late spring
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After scoring props from top chefs James Rigato and Doug Hewitt with weekend pop-ups throughout last year at Detroit’s Dragonfly, self-taught chef Matt Arb has found a permanent home for his crispy thin-crust sourdough pizzas. The Royal Oak resident signed a lease for a place in Hazel Park late November. Per a Jan 7 press release, Rigato has joined the project as an investor, and the buildout for the restaurant is being done by the same team as Mabel Gray, which includes partner Ed Mamou, architectural designer Jeremiah Armstrong of Mexico Mexico, and general contractor Bryan Lampkins of Black Diamond Construction. 951 E. 9 Mile Road, @ameliastpizzaco on Instagram
Balam Café
What: Mexican wine bar and coffee shop from the owners of Mezcal
Where: Ferndale
Slated to Open: Winter 2026
From sibling restaurateurs Sandra Haro and José Granados (owners of Mezcal) comes a totally different concept: a wine bar and coffee shop. Balam, which is the Mayan word for jaguar, will feature wines sourced from Latin American countries like Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. Mexican coffee, fresh juices, and Mexican pastries and wraps will also be on the menu. The café will seat about 30 guests, and it will also house a hidden speakeasy. 207 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale
The Balkan House
What: A new location for the Bosnian restaurant that ignited metro Detroit’s döner kebab infatuation
Where: Midtown Detroit
Slated to Open: Summer (between June and August)
For those in Wayne County who were sad when The Balkan House’s original Hamtramck restaurant closed last September — fear not. In addition to its existing downtown Ferndale location, The Balkan House is planning on opening a new shop in Detroit proper this summer, Axios Detroit reported in December. It will be located inside The Five and Dime building — which Detroit Rising (the developer behind the Detroit Shipping Co.) is planning to renovate. The developer plans on turning the first floor into a food court with spaces for three additional restaurant tenants and one bar. The second floor will be reserved for apartment units. 3700 Third Ave., Detroit; thebalkanhouse.com
Bev’s Bagels Ann Arbor
What: Organic sourdough bagel sandwiches, schmears, and more
Where: Ann Arbor
Slated to Open: Summer 2026
In late November, Bev’s Bagels chef-owner Max Sussman signed a lease for the space between Spencer and RoosRoast in downtown Ann Arbor. It will be the second location for the Core City Detroit-based bagel shop, known for its unique schmears and sandwiches. The new spot will be nearly double the size of the original location and is likely to feature a larger menu with pastries and more. 115 E Liberty St., Ann Arbor; bevsbagels.com
The Beverly
What: New American comfort food and premium cocktails from the team behind Bar Pigalle
Where: Downtown Berkley
Slated to Open: January
Originally slated to open last fall, The Beverly is now targeting a mid-January opening. Owned by award-winning mixologist Travis Fourmont with a kitchen helmed by Chef Norman Valenti, the menu will feature steaks, cured meats, seafood, charcuterie boards, salads and more. Drinks-wise, expect classic cocktails made with premium ingredients and liquors. 3180 Coolidge Highway, Berkley; beverlyrestaurant.com
Calamansi
What: Filipino-inspired cocktails and food in the former PizzaPlex space
Where: Southwest Detroit
Slated to Open: Winter 2026
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This cocktail bar and kitchen is targeting an early 2026 opening. It is named after the calamansi fruit — sometimes called Philippine lime — which is used frequently in Philippine cooking. The owners are husband-and-wife team Tyler Olivier (beverage director of Detroit’s shelby) and Marcee Sobredilla, a longtime team member at Katherine’s Catering in Ann Arbor. Tarun Kajeepeta of Piquette Hospitality (shelby, Leña) also has a small stake in the business and owns the building. The menu will draw inspiration from Sobredilla’s Filipino heritage and Olivier’s beverage background. Offerings will include contemporary Filipino-inspired cocktails and dishes. Located in the former PizzaPlex space, Calamansi will feature indoor bar seating and an outdoor patio. 4458 Vernor W, Detroit; calamansidetroit.com
Clover & Creek
What: Burgers, tenders, and wood-fired pizza; plus craft beers and cocktails
Where: Downtown Lake Orion
Slated to Open: Early 2026
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A new bar and restaurant said to feature “industrial Americana and modern comfort” is coming to the space that once housed Oat Soda. The menu will include burgers, chicken tenders, salads, and wood-fired pizza — plus 30 different beers on tap and several signature cocktails, according to its website. Clover & Creek is owned by Keith Wadle, who is known for his other concepts Too Ra Loo and The Hemmingway Room (both in Rochester) and O’Toole’s (Royal Oak). 197 S Broadway St, Lake Orion; cloverandcreek.com
Coco’s Chop House
What: Steaks and seafood with in-house dry aging, sustainable practices, and over 700 wines
Where: Rochester Hills
Slated to Open: Spring 2026
Local chef and restaurateur Dean Cicala plans to bring a high-end steakhouse to Rochester Hills. Cicala’s business partners on the project are John DeAngelis and Iris Male, who own Filippa’s Italian Restaurant. Legendary chef and former Rattlesnake Club owner Jimmy Schmidt is consulting for the restaurant’s in-house dry-aging program. Additionally, Madam alum Clifton Booth will be joining the team as chef de cuisine. 6810 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills; cocoschophouse.com
Joe Louis Southern Kitchen
What: All-day breakfast/southern-inspired eatery named for the boxing legend himself
Where: Downtown Detroit
When: By Opening Day (April 3, 2026)
After branching out to the ‘burbs with its December opening in Southfield, the breakfast spot plans to open its third location on Woodward Avenue before the Detroit Tigers play their first home game of 2026. The eatery, with one other location in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood, is known for Southern-style breakfasts like bananas foster French toast, shrimp and grits, and The Brown Bomber: buttermilk biscuits with turkey gravy. 6549 Woodward Ave., Detroit; joelouissouthernkitchen.com
JD’s Stage Bistro
What: Actor Jeff Daniels’s debut restaurant in his hometown featuring food, drink, and live music
Where: Chelsea
Slated to Open: Spring 2026
Part music venue, part bistro, a new concept named after actor Jeff Daniels is opening in his hometown of Chelsea. Daniels and his family partnered with the local Tannin Property Group to bring the project to life. The owners envision “a world-class music venue” that will attract both local and national acts. The menu was crafted by Chef Nate Wegryn, previously of Ann Arbor’s Echelon Kitchen and Bar and The Dixboro Project. The menu will feature contemporary fare and will source heavily from local farmers. The restaurant will feature a wood-fired pizza oven, cocktail bar, patio, and several spaces for private events. 117-1/2 S. Main St., Chelsea; jdsstagebistro.com
Little Liberia
What: Michigan’s first Liberian brick and mortar restaurant
Where: Detroit’s East English Village
Slated to Open: TBA
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Little Liberia chef-owner Ameneh Marhaba has been sharing construction updates on Instagram of the Little Liberia space on Detroit’s east side, which was previously slated for a Fall 2025 opening when we included it in last year’s Restaurants on Our Radar list. With a self-described “Afro Fusion” menu drawing inspiration from African, Caribbean, and Southern traditions, Little Liberia has operated as a pop-up and catering company since 2016. 16530 E Warren Ave., Detroit; littleliberia.com
Lola’s Taco Bar
What: Tacos, margaritas, rotisserie, and more with a Michelin-starred owner
Where: Grosse Pointe Woods
Slated to Open: Jan. 12
Local chef Brandon Zarb partnered with Michelin-starred restaurateur and Grosse Pointe native Branden McRill and others (Mel Fuechtmann and Niko Moschouris) to bring a unique taco bar concept to Grosse Pointe Woods. The menu is said to include al pastor tacos topped with meat freshly cut from a rotisserie, pork belly, build-your-own bowls and burritos (veggie and vegan options available), and family-style rotisserie chicken meals for under $30. Plus, expect margaritas, beer, and plenty of spirit-free options to sip on. 20195 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods; lolastacobar.com
Medusa Cucina Siciliana
What: Sicily-inspired bar and restaurant from the chef-owner of SheWolf
Where: Midtown Detroit
Slated to Open: Mid-January
From two-time James Beard Award semifinalist Anthony Lombardo comes a modern Sicilian restaurant. Medusa (for short) will occupy the space that briefly housed Vigilante Kitchen + Bar, just a short walk away from Lombardo’s acclaimed SheWolf Pastificio & Bar on the same street. 644 Selden Street, Detroit; medusa-detroit.com
The Pavilion Street Market
What: Ferndale’s first food hall in the former Treat Dreams space
Where: Downtown Ferndale
Slated to Open: Early 2026
In the space that once housed Ferndale’s Treat Dreams comes a totally new concept from the same ownership called The Pavilion. It will feature a 40-person pop-up event space, with a “bustling street market vibe,” according to its website. Vendors will include two businesses from Hell’s Kitchen reality show alum — Josie Clemens (Zaddy’s) and Jared Bobkin (The Dump Truck), as well as St. Clair Shores-based Papelon Market Café. 22965 Woodward Ave, Ferndale; pavilionstreetmarket.com
Sunda New Asian
What: The first Michigan location for a restaurant serving modern Southeast Asian cuisine
Where: Downtown Detroit
Slated to Open: Early 2026
Soon, guests can feast on sushi, dim sum, noodles, and more at Sunda New Asian. The restaurant has four other locations across the U.S. and owned by Rockit Ranch CEO and occasional TV star Billy Dec. Initially slated for a Spring 2025 opening, Sunda New Asian now plans to open its doors early this year in the Olympia Development-owned District Detroit near Comerica Park. 33 W Columbia St., Detroit; sundanewasian.com/detroit
Tigris
What: Live grooves and Middle Eastern-influenced drinks/snacks from the owners of Green Dot Stables
Where: Southwest Detroit
Slated to Open: February or March
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Tigris, a café-by-day, bar-by-night will feature regularly scheduled DJs throughout the week, with a state-of-the-art sound system from Bing Audio, a Detroit-based manufacturer. Tigris is said to feature Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails and small bites, with plenty of non-alcoholic options. It’s the latest from In-Laws Hospitality, owners of Green Dot Stables, Johnny Noodle King, and The Goblin. On Tigris, the group partnered with music supervisor Fabian Halabou and DJ Kenan Juska, who is one half of the duo Chances with Wolves. It will occupy the space that previously held In-Laws’s Nightmare on Bagley/Blitzen’s on Bagley holiday pop-ups. 2545 Bagley, Detroit; tigrisdetroit.com
Unnamed Restaurant Project from The Hungry Black Man
What: Rumored restaurant project from food journalist Starex Smith, AKA The Hungry Black Man
Where: Detroit, on Livernois
Slated to Open: Spring 2026
Look — we don’t like to spread rumors. But when they come from the official source, there might be something to them. Miami native Starex Smith has been dedicated to reviewing Black-owned restaurants since 2016. He’s praised numerous Detroit establishments, and has also hosted multiple events here, including, last summer, the 3rd Annual Hungry Black Man Detroit Food Festival.
On Dec. 7, a post made by the official Hungry Black Man Facebook page read, “Somebody Said Hungry Black Man Opening a Restaurant Over Here Spring 2026,” with the caption “They said something about it being on the Avenue of Fashion.” Smith, who recently opened a restaurant in Toledo called Smith & Williams, also wrote in the comments, “I heard something bout he gonna be driving back and forth between Toledo and Detroit Cooking and shit.” While Hour Detroit did not hear back immediately from Smith for comment, we’ll be keeping an eye out for updates on this project.
Unnamed Restaurant Project in Hudson’s Detroit
What: Mysterious restaurant project from a famed New York-based hospitality group
Where: Downtown Detroit
Slated to Open: TBA
Union Square Hospitality Group announced in late October that it was planning its first “Detroit project” in the newly completed Hudson’s Detroit building. It’s still not clear what that project will be. USHG was started in 1985 by restaurateur Danny Meyer. Since then, it has earned 28 James Beard awards and earned two Michelin stars at The Modern, located inside New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. 1240 Woodward Ave., Detroit; hudsons-detroit.com
Waka
What: East African street food from the owners of Baobab Fare
Where: Detroit’s Eastern Market
Slated to Open: Early 2026
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Originally slated for 2025 (and it made Hour Detroit’s Restaurants on our Radar list for last year), this long-anticipated eatery from James Beard Award finalists Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere plans to open soon in the former Russell Street Deli space. The concept — which originally debuted as a food truck — will include a menu of authentic Burundian street food including chapati, brochettes, and skewered kebabs cooked over coals. Guests can expect a fast-casual style counter service; prepared meals to go; and curated selections of coffee, chocolate, beverages, and more from the couple’s retail line, Soko. Be on the lookout for an eventual second Baobab Fare location on 16900 E. Warren Avenue in Detroit as well, which the couple purchased in 2024. 2465 Russell Street, Detroit; baobabfare.com/waka
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