On March 5, Host celebrated the grand opening of its second location — Host Romeo — in the heart of Downtown Romeo.
Following the success of Host Utica, which opened in 2022, the new Romeo restaurant features a seasonally-driven menu crafted by Executive Chef Jessica Phillips.
“People are excited to have a trendier place come into Romeo,” she says. “They’ve been really, really loving the food … A bunch of people say we’ve earned a regular customer from them.”
Unlike the Utica location, Host Romeo will not have rotating chefs; it will be the menu that rotates instead. Phillips tells Hour Detroit the menu will see about an 85% change every eight weeks, focusing on utilizing the produce that thrives depending on the time of year.
“I want to put out what I would like to receive,” Phillips says. “It’s the worst when you go to a place and something’s disappointing, or you can tell that it’s not fresh … For me, just being able to put my heart into it, and the little love. I feel like you can taste it when people cook with love versus when they’re just doing their jobs.”
Currently, it features thoughtfully curated dishes like the Chili Honey Shrimp — a choice Phillips recommends, as the honeycomb garnish is procured from a local beekeeper whose bees pollinate her family’s farm in Ray Township, which she plans to incorporate produce from later in the year.
“It’s kind of like a cool, full circle moment there, where we’re procuring honey from bees that pollinated the vegetables that will be on your table,” she says.
If you’re still hungry after your main course, browse the dessert menu and choose from a Gingersnap Molasses Cheesecake, made with preserved Michigan plum coulis, or a Seasonal Sundae with preserved peach jam straight from Romeo.
The restaurant also features a considerable alcohol selection, with customers already raving about the espresso martini. If cocktails aren’t your thing, they have beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drink selections as well.
About the Chef
Phillips first got to know Host Utica’s founder Michael Ivkov through his wife, Andrea, who was a regular at Phillips’ Washington-based food truck, Bird Dogz. Phillips has a wide range of experience that shaped her into the chef she is today, including her time living in Texas, where she got to experience the different culture and food scene.
Her connection to food began when she was little, though, visiting her grandparents on their farm and watching her grandmother make lunch for everyone. Her mom has also played a great role by supporting, motivating, and being an “absolute ride or die” for Phillips throughout her entire career.
Restaurant Hours
With weekend brunch to be added later this year, Host Romeo’s current hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
If you ever happen to be spending time in historic downtown Romeo, make sure to stop in to Host on the west side of main street for a comforting dish that you can taste was cooked with care.
“We’re really excited to be open and get started … Looking forward to feeding the community, meeting all the people, and hope we can really develop a good relationship with customers and have them coming back on a regular basis,” Phillips says.
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