Oak & Reel’s Cocktail Bar, Mai Tiki, & More Metro Detroit Dining News

Here are a few of the latest food and drink headlines you need to know this November.
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The Upright, Oak & Reel’s stylish subterranean bar, is serving creative cocktails and small plates by chef Jared Gadbaw. // Photograph courtesy of The Upright.

Oak & Reel’s cocktail bar debuts

Italian seafood hot spot Oak & Reel, Hour Detroit’s 2022 restaurant of the year, in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood recently unveiled The Upright cocktail bar.

Located below the restaurant, the underground bar is stylish and intimate. The cocktail menu includes classic drinks as well as unique Upright libations such as the Beach Derby, a refreshing drink featuring Elijah Craig bourbon, cinnamon orgeat, honey, grapefruit juice, Cappelletti Aperitivo, and lemon juice.

There’s also a selection of Italian snacks and small plates by chef and owner Jared Gadbaw, such as Bolognese arancini and Cacio e Pepe Pasta Fritti, crispy pasta bites with Parmesan and pepper.

Mai Tiki bar offers a hidden tropical escape in Ferndale

Located inside sushi restaurant Tiger Lily, the speakeasy Mai Tiki recently debuted, featuring classic drinks like the rum runner.

While it’s inside the Ferndale eatery, which has a stacked lineup of makimono sushi rolls, robatayaki cooked on a charcoal grill, noodles, and more, Mai Tiki also dishes up snacks that pair well with the drinks, such as salmon or hamachi tacos served with soy, avocado mousse, and cherry tomato.

Tiger Lily took over the former Antihero restaurant space, and it’s part of the Hometown Restaurant Group, which also owns One-Eyed Betty’s, Pop’s for Italian, and Public House.

Belly Up to Jojo’s Shake Bar

The Illinois-based Jojo’s Shake Bar has branched out to the Motor City with a location in downtown Detroit, bringing with it plenty of nostalgic vibes for kids and the young at heart alike. In addition to its signature Biggie Shakes, like the over-the-top Wonder Years, a blueberry shake with marshmallow, gummy candy ribbon, and cotton candy (plus, all shakes can be made boozy), there’s a full menu boasting classic comfort food fare ranging from burgers to mac and cheese to lasagna.

And since Jojo’s hails from the Windy City, there’s the Chicago Handshake featuring the classic combo of Old Style beer and a shot of Malört, the love-it-or-hate-it bitter liqueur.

The Apparatus Room now open for lunch

Downtown Detroit workers and dwellers now have a new lunch option. The Detroit Foundation Hotel’s The Apparatus Room recently unveiled a new menu with dishes like Harissa BLT Deviled Eggs with smoked bacon, pickled shallot, and tomato; summer squash and saffron risotto with marigold butter, ricotta salata, pumpkin seed, and parsley; and bumpy cake with devil’s food cake, French buttercream, and Valrhona chocolate glaze.


This story is from the November 2022 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. Read more in our digital edition.