40 restaurants that opened in metro Detroit suburbs this year

It's been a tough year for the restaurant industry. Due to the pandemic, more than one-third of Michigan restaurants may not be able to keep their doors or kitchens open. But there are those who, pandemic be damned, managed to make their restaurant dreams come true by opening new eateries, bakeries, coffee shops, and gastropubs despite a crisis, many of which are in the suburbs. Some opened just before COVID-19 hit, others forged ahead with impossible timelines, and some said, fuck it — build it and feed the people and they will come. The only way these new ballsy businesses will thrive in 2021 is if we give them a shot via their curbside, takeout, and delivery options. Who knows, your new favorite restaurant might just be nestled in this list of all the restaurants (that we know of) that opened in metro Detroit suburbs in 2020.

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Bucharest Grill Express
30955 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 313-965-3111; bucharestgrill.com
Popular shawarma chain Bucharest Grill opened in Royal Oak after months of delays, marking the fast-casual restaurant’s first location outside of Detroit. 
Photo by Lee DeVito

Bucharest Grill Express

30955 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 313-965-3111; bucharestgrill.com
Popular shawarma chain Bucharest Grill opened in Royal Oak after months of delays, marking the fast-casual restaurant’s first location outside of Detroit.

Photo by Lee DeVito
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Oak Park Social
14691 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Oak Park; 248-808-6365; oakparksocial.com
New American eatery and Bar, Oak Park Social opened for takeout and delivery in December, offering classic takes on American favorites like hand battered chicken tenders, tenderloin tips, fried bologna sandwiches, and baked flatbreads. 
Photo via Google Maps

Oak Park Social

14691 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Oak Park; 248-808-6365; oakparksocial.com
New American eatery and Bar, Oak Park Social opened for takeout and delivery in December, offering classic takes on American favorites like hand battered chicken tenders, tenderloin tips, fried bologna sandwiches, and baked flatbreads.

Photo via Google Maps
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Alma Kitchen
15402 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-771-0771; mialmakitchen.com
This highly anticipated Mexican and Chinese-influenced eatery opened for takeout in Grosse Pointe Park offering unique American-fusion dishes such as honey tamarind chicken lollipops, pepper beef lomo saltado, crab rangoons, and Michigan cherry BBQ pulled pork. 
Photo via Alma Kitchen/Facebook

Alma Kitchen

15402 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-771-0771; mialmakitchen.com
This highly anticipated Mexican and Chinese-influenced eatery opened for takeout in Grosse Pointe Park offering unique American-fusion dishes such as honey tamarind chicken lollipops, pepper beef lomo saltado, crab rangoons, and Michigan cherry BBQ pulled pork.

Photo via Alma Kitchen/Facebook
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H2O Seafood
3233 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-556-3202; facebook.com/H20Seafood
Mac n’ cheese, fish and chips, and Maui shrimp are on the menu at Wyandotte’s newest seafood spot via H20 Seafood, which opened in November. 
Photo via H20 Seafood/Facebook

H2O Seafood

3233 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-556-3202; facebook.com/H20Seafood
Mac n’ cheese, fish and chips, and Maui shrimp are on the menu at Wyandotte’s newest seafood spot via H20 Seafood, which opened in November.

Photo via H20 Seafood/Facebook
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Mad Crab
13351 W. 10 Mile Rd., Oak Park; 248-965-2120; madcraboakparkmi.com
Seafood boil places are cropping up all over metro Detroit like, well, mad crabs, which is exactly what Mad Crab is all about. Opened in September, Oak Park’s Mad Crab invites seafood lovers to combine their choice of seafood (lobster, snow crab, mussels, shrimp, crawfish, and more) with Cajun spices, garlic butter, and lemon pepper. 
Photo via Mad Crab/Facebook

Mad Crab

13351 W. 10 Mile Rd., Oak Park; 248-965-2120; madcraboakparkmi.com
Seafood boil places are cropping up all over metro Detroit like, well, mad crabs, which is exactly what Mad Crab is all about. Opened in September, Oak Park’s Mad Crab invites seafood lovers to combine their choice of seafood (lobster, snow crab, mussels, shrimp, crawfish, and more) with Cajun spices, garlic butter, and lemon pepper.

Photo via Mad Crab/Facebook
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Motown Philly Cheesesteaks and Fries
23631 Farmington Rd., Farmington; 248-285-9000; motownphillys.com
No need to head to the City of Brotherly Love to get your cheesesteak fix. Motown Philly Cheesesteaks and Fries opened in August with a selection of made-to-order seasoned steak, grilled onions, and cheese. Oh, and fries. Don’t forget the fries. 
Photo via Motown Philly Cheesesteaks and Fries/Facebook

Motown Philly Cheesesteaks and Fries

23631 Farmington Rd., Farmington; 248-285-9000; motownphillys.com
No need to head to the City of Brotherly Love to get your cheesesteak fix. Motown Philly Cheesesteaks and Fries opened in August with a selection of made-to-order seasoned steak, grilled onions, and cheese. Oh, and fries. Don’t forget the fries.

Photo via Motown Philly Cheesesteaks and Fries/Facebook
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Pumachug
1 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson; 248-632-1117; pumachug.com
Taking over the former Black Lotus Brewing Company building in Clawson, casual gastropub Pumachug is slinging pulled pork poutine, French Dip sandwiches pizzas, and mains, like pasta primavera, sirloin steak, and rice bowls. They’ve got vegan options, too, and massive desserts. 
Photo via Pumachug/Facebook

Pumachug

1 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson; 248-632-1117; pumachug.com
Taking over the former Black Lotus Brewing Company building in Clawson, casual gastropub Pumachug is slinging pulled pork poutine, French Dip sandwiches pizzas, and mains, like pasta primavera, sirloin steak, and rice bowls. They’ve got vegan options, too, and massive desserts.

Photo via Pumachug/Facebook
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Whiskey Taco Foxtrot 
28 S. Main St., Clawson; 248-629-7067; whiskeytacofoxtrotclawson.com
No, Whiskey Taco Foxtrot is not a Wilco album. It’s a new spot in Clawson that serves craft cocktails and unique tacos, including the WTF Taco of the Week, Chimichurri steak, Cajun shrimp, fried avocado, and roasted poblano pepper, as well as burritos, botana nachos, enchiladas, and, for dessert, an apple pie taco. 
Photo via Whiskey Taco Foxtrot/Facebook

Whiskey Taco Foxtrot

28 S. Main St., Clawson; 248-629-7067; whiskeytacofoxtrotclawson.com
No, Whiskey Taco Foxtrot is not a Wilco album. It’s a new spot in Clawson that serves craft cocktails and unique tacos, including the WTF Taco of the Week, Chimichurri steak, Cajun shrimp, fried avocado, and roasted poblano pepper, as well as burritos, botana nachos, enchiladas, and, for dessert, an apple pie taco.

Photo via Whiskey Taco Foxtrot/Facebook
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Fresh Collective
2752 Coolidge Hwy., Berkley; 248-907-0767; freshcollectivekitchen.com
Part market, part grab-and-go food spot, Fresh Collective in Berkley offers sandwiches, soups, quiches, and other bites for those with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free needs. 
Photo via Fresh Collective/Facebook

Fresh Collective

2752 Coolidge Hwy., Berkley; 248-907-0767; freshcollectivekitchen.com
Part market, part grab-and-go food spot, Fresh Collective in Berkley offers sandwiches, soups, quiches, and other bites for those with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free needs.

Photo via Fresh Collective/Facebook
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Starters Bar & Grille
25242 Evergreen Rd., Southfield; 248-281-4538; facebook.com/startersbarandgrill.com
Billed as Detroit’s original steakhouse and bar,family-owned Starters Bar & Grille opened the doors to their Southfield outpost in December, offering their massive meat-heavy menu to the suburbs. 
Photo by Lee DeVito

Starters Bar & Grille

25242 Evergreen Rd., Southfield; 248-281-4538; facebook.com/startersbarandgrill.com
Billed as Detroit’s original steakhouse and bar,family-owned Starters Bar & Grille opened the doors to their Southfield outpost in December, offering their massive meat-heavy menu to the suburbs.

Photo by Lee DeVito
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Seven Daughters Coffee
163 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-617-7776; svndau.com
“Coffee, coffee, coffee!” said everyone who overdosed on screen time in 2020 and/or is hoping to caffeinate themselves awake from this nightmare. The chic Seven Daughters coffee shop opened in July and is serving high-end coffee and tea drinks, like lavender honey lattes, cardamom lattes made with spicy goat milk, and rose-infused cold drip coffee. 
Photo via Seven Daughters /Facebook

Seven Daughters Coffee

163 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-617-7776; svndau.com
“Coffee, coffee, coffee!” said everyone who overdosed on screen time in 2020 and/or is hoping to caffeinate themselves awake from this nightmare. The chic Seven Daughters coffee shop opened in July and is serving high-end coffee and tea drinks, like lavender honey lattes, cardamom lattes made with spicy goat milk, and rose-infused cold drip coffee.

Photo via Seven Daughters /Facebook
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Go! Sy Thai Livonia
19710 Haggerty Rd., Northville; 734-550-9601; gosythai.com
Go! Sy Thai has added a third location, this time, in the Livonia/Northville area. The popular fast-casual made-t0-order Thai restaurant offers Thai favorites, many of which can be made halal, gluten-free, meat-free, or vegan. 
Photo via Sy Thai Detroit/Facebook

Go! Sy Thai Livonia

19710 Haggerty Rd., Northville; 734-550-9601; gosythai.com
Go! Sy Thai has added a third location, this time, in the Livonia/Northville area. The popular fast-casual made-t0-order Thai restaurant offers Thai favorites, many of which can be made halal, gluten-free, meat-free, or vegan.

Photo via Sy Thai Detroit/Facebook
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The French Lady
768 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-480-0571; facebook.com/zefrenchlady
A velvety veggie  bisque, stuffed Cornish hen, ratatouille, and, black cherry clafoutis?  Oui s'il vous plaît! French lady Claud Pellerin opened The French Lady in October as a way to bring a taste of her home, well, home. The menu, which spans lunch, dinner, and dessert, changes daily but is, as always, très French. 
Photo via The French Lady/Facebook

The French Lady

768 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-480-0571; facebook.com/zefrenchlady
A velvety veggie bisque, stuffed Cornish hen, ratatouille, and, black cherry clafoutis? Oui s'il vous plaît! French lady Claud Pellerin opened The French Lady in October as a way to bring a taste of her home, well, home. The menu, which spans lunch, dinner, and dessert, changes daily but is, as always, très French.

Photo via The French Lady/Facebook
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Spun Sugar Detroit 
10630 Rushton Rd. #6, South Lyon; 248-506-7265; spunsugardetroit.com
Willy Wonka who? At Spun Sugar Detroit — which is not in Detroit —  you can live out your childhood dreams and your adult nightmare of having to go to the dentist. Specializing in cotton candy made from organic sugar and plant based dyes, Spun Sugar Detroit offers an array of unique flavors like coconut curry, amaretto cappuccino, cherry cola, Rock 'n' Rye, S'mores, and honey lavender.
Photo via Spun Sugar Detroit/Facebook

Spun Sugar Detroit

10630 Rushton Rd. #6, South Lyon; 248-506-7265; spunsugardetroit.com
Willy Wonka who? At Spun Sugar Detroit — which is not in Detroit — you can live out your childhood dreams and your adult nightmare of having to go to the dentist. Specializing in cotton candy made from organic sugar and plant based dyes, Spun Sugar Detroit offers an array of unique flavors like coconut curry, amaretto cappuccino, cherry cola, Rock 'n' Rye, S'mores, and honey lavender.

Photo via Spun Sugar Detroit/Facebook
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Sabbath Coffee Roasters
24 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson; 309-722-2284; sabbathcoffeeroasters.com
Some people like their coffee black. Clawson's Sabbath Coffee Roasters is taking the idea really far: the new spot opened on Halloween. The store is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Trevor and Miranda Graham, who met over coffee in 2012. The two are such coffee freaks that they began planning family vacations around must-see coffee shops, according to a press release. The new store occupies an 800-square-foot storefront designed by Grand Rapids-based Megan Weidman. In addition to coffee, the spot serves up cider and slushies. It also features pastries from Cannelle by Matt Knio and dairy from Guernsey Farms.
Photo courtesy of Sabbath Coffee Roasters

Sabbath Coffee Roasters

24 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson; 309-722-2284; sabbathcoffeeroasters.com
Some people like their coffee black. Clawson's Sabbath Coffee Roasters is taking the idea really far: the new spot opened on Halloween. The store is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Trevor and Miranda Graham, who met over coffee in 2012. The two are such coffee freaks that they began planning family vacations around must-see coffee shops, according to a press release. The new store occupies an 800-square-foot storefront designed by Grand Rapids-based Megan Weidman. In addition to coffee, the spot serves up cider and slushies. It also features pastries from Cannelle by Matt Knio and dairy from Guernsey Farms.

Photo courtesy of Sabbath Coffee Roasters
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Koja Sushi
14245 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-914-5071; kojisushi.com
Dearborn scored a new casual sushi spot in July. Koja Sushi offers kooky rolls like the White Caste Roll which is baked with white tuna, avocado, tamago, and crab meat topped with scallop, eel, masago, scallion, and white sauce or the Mexican Roll made with tempura shrimp, crab meat, avocado, cucumber, and jalapeño topped with spice sauce, hot sauce, and Koja sauce. They also offer combos and a selection of nigiri, sashimi, noodle dishes, bibimbap, and bento boxes.  
GoogleMaps

Koja Sushi

14245 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-914-5071; kojisushi.com
Dearborn scored a new casual sushi spot in July. Koja Sushi offers kooky rolls like the White Caste Roll which is baked with white tuna, avocado, tamago, and crab meat topped with scallop, eel, masago, scallion, and white sauce or the Mexican Roll made with tempura shrimp, crab meat, avocado, cucumber, and jalapeño topped with spice sauce, hot sauce, and Koja sauce. They also offer combos and a selection of nigiri, sashimi, noodle dishes, bibimbap, and bento boxes.
GoogleMaps
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Lala’s 
5827 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-263-2543; lalasannarbor.com
Chef Allie Lyttle launched her comfort food pop-up at Standard Bistro & Larder in Ann Arbor back in July, offering weekend dinners and brunches, including BBQ chicken, poutine, walking tacos, and funfetti pancakes.  
Photo via Lala’s at the Standard/Facebook

Lala’s

5827 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-263-2543; lalasannarbor.com
Chef Allie Lyttle launched her comfort food pop-up at Standard Bistro & Larder in Ann Arbor back in July, offering weekend dinners and brunches, including BBQ chicken, poutine, walking tacos, and funfetti pancakes.
Photo via Lala’s at the Standard/Facebook
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Chapala
211 N. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-996-1456; getchapala.com
Casual Mexican eatery Chapala, which opened in Ann Arbor during the summer with lunch and dinner specials, offers familiar dishes with Latin-inspired flavors and festive drinks. 
Photo via Chapala/Facebook

Chapala

211 N. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-996-1456; getchapala.com
Casual Mexican eatery Chapala, which opened in Ann Arbor during the summer with lunch and dinner specials, offers familiar dishes with Latin-inspired flavors and festive drinks.

Photo via Chapala/Facebook
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Cucina Lab Torino
3960 Crooks Rd. Ste. 200, Troy; 248-525-9098; cucina-lab.com
No set menu? No problem. Cucina Lab Torino in Troy opened this year with Italian chef and caterer Elisabetta Balzola, who moved from Italy with her family to bring eclectic Italian fare to metro Detroit. The restaurant prides itself on using local, fresh, and organic produce and meats, as well as importing Italian ingredients. 
Photo via Cucina Lab Torino/Facebook

Cucina Lab Torino

3960 Crooks Rd. Ste. 200, Troy; 248-525-9098; cucina-lab.com
No set menu? No problem. Cucina Lab Torino in Troy opened this year with Italian chef and caterer Elisabetta Balzola, who moved from Italy with her family to bring eclectic Italian fare to metro Detroit. The restaurant prides itself on using local, fresh, and organic produce and meats, as well as importing Italian ingredients.

Photo via Cucina Lab Torino/Facebook
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Bao Boys
1928 Packard St., Ann Arbor;734-802-1811; facebook.com/baoboysaa
From Los Angeles to Ann Arbor, Steven Choi and Brian Kim opened a bao bun-focused food truck in July. The truck offers a curated selection of bao buns, fried rice, and something called a Don Belly, which features Chashu pork belly, Japanese-style poached egg, dashi broth, and white rice. 
Photo via Bao Boys/Facebook

Bao Boys

1928 Packard St., Ann Arbor;734-802-1811; facebook.com/baoboysaa
From Los Angeles to Ann Arbor, Steven Choi and Brian Kim opened a bao bun-focused food truck in July. The truck offers a curated selection of bao buns, fried rice, and something called a Don Belly, which features Chashu pork belly, Japanese-style poached egg, dashi broth, and white rice.

Photo via Bao Boys/Facebook
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