The hottest new metro Detroit restaurants to open in 2021

By on Fri, Dec 17, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Despite the pandemic, metro Detroit's dining scene is red hot. Between new restaurants, new locations of existing restaurants, new menus, new concepts, and reopening of familiar restaurants, there are a ton of options to try.

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Sylvan Table 1819 Inverness St, Sylvan Lake; 248-369-3360; sylvantable.com This new restaurant opened in a massive, 300-year-old barn that was moved in pieces from Maine. The spot says it's sustainable, with plans to grow its produce on the three acres of farmland it sits on. Photo courtesy of Sylvan Table/Facebook

Sylvan Table

1819 Inverness St, Sylvan Lake; 248-369-3360; sylvantable.com

This new restaurant opened in a massive, 300-year-old barn that was moved in pieces from Maine. The spot says it's sustainable, with plans to grow its produce on the three acres of farmland it sits on.

Photo courtesy of Sylvan Table/Facebook
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James Oliver Coffee 1236 Michigan Ave., Detroit; jamesolivercoffee.com James Oliver Coffee Co. took over the 3,400 square-foot corner building at the former Detroit Institute of Bagels spot, which will serve as the company’s flagship cafe. When it opens this fall, the cafe will offer coffee, espresso, cold brew, nitro, and tea, as well as a pour-over station, and New York-style bagels. The space will also get a facelift and will offer a drive-thru and walk-up window. Photo via James Oliver Coffee /Facebook

James Oliver Coffee

1236 Michigan Ave., Detroit; jamesolivercoffee.com

James Oliver Coffee Co. took over the 3,400 square-foot corner building at the former Detroit Institute of Bagels spot, which will serve as the company’s flagship cafe. When it opens this fall, the cafe will offer coffee, espresso, cold brew, nitro, and tea, as well as a pour-over station, and New York-style bagels. The space will also get a facelift and will offer a drive-thru and walk-up window.

Photo via James Oliver Coffee /Facebook
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Barcade 666 Selden St., Detroit; 313-285-9410; barcadedetroit.com We can finally level up thanks to the New York-based bar and arcade cleverly called Barcade. Touted as the first "arcade bar" hybrid, Barcade debuted in Brooklyn in 2004, with Barcade Detroit being the company’s third bar and arcade concept. Photo by Steve Neavling

Barcade

666 Selden St., Detroit; 313-285-9410; barcadedetroit.com

We can finally level up thanks to the New York-based bar and arcade cleverly called Barcade. Touted as the first "arcade bar" hybrid, Barcade debuted in Brooklyn in 2004, with Barcade Detroit being the company’s third bar and arcade concept.

Photo by Steve Neavling
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Dave’s Hot Chicken 22208 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; daveshotchicken.com A popular Los Angeles-based Nashville Hot Chicken-style chain has expanded to Michigan. The brand was founded in 2017 by chef Dave Kopushyan as a parking-lot pop-up and quickly caught on thanks to their spicy chicken tenders and seasoned fries. Photo via James Oliver Coffee /Facebook

Dave’s Hot Chicken

22208 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; daveshotchicken.com

A popular Los Angeles-based Nashville Hot Chicken-style chain has expanded to Michigan. The brand was founded in 2017 by chef Dave Kopushyan as a parking-lot pop-up and quickly caught on thanks to their spicy chicken tenders and seasoned fries.

Photo via James Oliver Coffee /Facebook
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Union Assembly 2131 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 248-795-2483; unionassembly.com Union Assembly is the latest outpost from Union Joints, the restaurant group behind popular eateries such as Vinsetta Garage (Royal Oak), Union Woodshop (Clarkston), and Gran Castor (Troy). The 500-seat, 14,800 square-foot restaurant with a three-season indoor/outdoor terrace occupies the first and second floors of the Little Caesars corporate headquarters. Photo courtesy of Union Assembly

Union Assembly

2131 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 248-795-2483; unionassembly.com

Union Assembly is the latest outpost from Union Joints, the restaurant group behind popular eateries such as Vinsetta Garage (Royal Oak), Union Woodshop (Clarkston), and Gran Castor (Troy). The 500-seat, 14,800 square-foot restaurant with a three-season indoor/outdoor terrace occupies the first and second floors of the Little Caesars corporate headquarters.

Photo courtesy of Union Assembly
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Sloppy Crab 519 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; sloppycrabdetroit.com There’s nothing sloppy about this crab. The restaurant takes the traditional seafood boil and ditches the buttery bag in favor of pricier items like Sloppy Crab Prawns, Lobster Crab Cakes, and something called the Sloppy Seafood Pot. Photo by Lee DeVito

Sloppy Crab

519 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; sloppycrabdetroit.com

There’s nothing sloppy about this crab. The restaurant takes the traditional seafood boil and ditches the buttery bag in favor of pricier items like Sloppy Crab Prawns, Lobster Crab Cakes, and something called the Sloppy Seafood Pot.

Photo by Lee DeVito
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Crab Du Jour 18900 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; crabdujour.com Seafood boils have become increasingly popular in recent years, so a seafood boil restaurant opening in Dearborn is very much on trend. Courtesy photo via Crab Du Jour

Crab Du Jour

18900 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; crabdujour.com

Seafood boils have become increasingly popular in recent years, so a seafood boil restaurant opening in Dearborn is very much on trend.

Courtesy photo via Crab Du Jour
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ImaginATE 401 S. Lafayette St., Royal Oak; 248-633-8899; imaginaterestaurant.com Owned by Chef Omar Mitchell, ImaginATE uses technology and creativity to elevate the fine dining experience. ImaginATE makes dining entertaining with the addition of Le Petit, a digital dining experience that shows animated chefs and characters preparing your order digitally before the server presents your real plated meal. Photo via ImaginATE/Facebook

ImaginATE

401 S. Lafayette St., Royal Oak; 248-633-8899; imaginaterestaurant.com

Owned by Chef Omar Mitchell, ImaginATE uses technology and creativity to elevate the fine dining experience. ImaginATE makes dining entertaining with the addition of Le Petit, a digital dining experience that shows animated chefs and characters preparing your order digitally before the server presents your real plated meal.

Photo via ImaginATE/Facebook
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Metropolitan Bar + Kitchen 8047 Agnes St., Detroit; metropolitanvariety.com; 313-469-0976 Metropolitan Bar + Kitchen is a combination general store, bar, and restaurant located at the former site of Craft Work. The restaurant infuses Latin flavors into it’s American-style cuisine and cocktails, offering items such as Carne Asada Picanha Steak and a Detroit Double Cheeseburger. Photo via Metropolitan variety Store/Instagram

Metropolitan Bar + Kitchen

8047 Agnes St., Detroit; metropolitanvariety.com; 313-469-0976

Metropolitan Bar + Kitchen is a combination general store, bar, and restaurant located at the former site of Craft Work. The restaurant infuses Latin flavors into it’s American-style cuisine and cocktails, offering items such as Carne Asada Picanha Steak and a Detroit Double Cheeseburger.

Photo via Metropolitan variety Store/Instagram
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Pearl’s Deep Dive 100 S. Main St., Royal Oak; pearlsdeepdive.com; 248-268-2875 Pearl’s Deep Dive is described as having “an eclectic 1920’s dinner party vibe.” The menu predominantly features seafood dishes, like Oysters Rockefeller, New England Lobster Roll, Crispy Potatoes & Caviar, and Lobster Dumplings. Photo via Pearl’s Deep Dive

Pearl’s Deep Dive

100 S. Main St., Royal Oak; pearlsdeepdive.com; 248-268-2875

Pearl’s Deep Dive is described as having “an eclectic 1920’s dinner party vibe.” The menu predominantly features seafood dishes, like Oysters Rockefeller, New England Lobster Roll, Crispy Potatoes & Caviar, and Lobster Dumplings.

Photo via Pearl’s Deep Dive
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The Lobster Food Truck & Pitstop 10405 Ford Rd., Dearborn; thelobsterfoodtruck.com; 313-406-5854 Fans of The Lobster Food Truck’s lobster rolls, lobster mac and cheese, and lobster bisque gained a permanent place to get their seafood fix as the food truck opened a brick and mortar location in Dearborn. Photo via The Lobster Food Truck/Facebook

The Lobster Food Truck & Pitstop

10405 Ford Rd., Dearborn; thelobsterfoodtruck.com; 313-406-5854

Fans of The Lobster Food Truck’s lobster rolls, lobster mac and cheese, and lobster bisque gained a permanent place to get their seafood fix as the food truck opened a brick and mortar location in Dearborn.

Photo via The Lobster Food Truck/Facebook
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Statler Bistro and Market 313 Park Ave., Detroit; statlerdetroit.com; 313-463-7111 Statler Bistro is an upscale French-American restaurant located at the site of the former Statler Hotel. The restaurant and market acts as a one-stop shop where customers can purchase packaged meals and groceries, or take one of the 165 seats inside the restaurant. Photo Lee DeVito

Statler Bistro and Market

313 Park Ave., Detroit; statlerdetroit.com; 313-463-7111

Statler Bistro is an upscale French-American restaurant located at the site of the former Statler Hotel. The restaurant and market acts as a one-stop shop where customers can purchase packaged meals and groceries, or take one of the 165 seats inside the restaurant.

Photo Lee DeVito
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