40 Detroit area restaurants with igloos, tents, and heated outdoor seating

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Nov 6, 2020 at 5:41 pm

We Michiganders know one thing to be true: winter is inevitable. No longer how many unseasonably warm days November may hold, winter is on its way, which, during a global pandemic, will make quarantining all the more difficult. But fear not, brave people who wish to dine in public, as there are some creative solutions to socially distant dining in metro Detroit. While many restaurants will winterize existing patios and rooftops to better accommodate guests this winter, others are taking it a step further by offering private igloos, tents, and in some cases, yurts. (Just beware of a false sense of security.)

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Bobcat Bonnie’s

1800 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-1383 | 118 Sycamore St., Wyandotte; 734-530-1806 | 240 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-677-0158 | 200 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-879-0663; 17330 Hall Rd., Ste. 195, Clinton Twp.; bobcatbonnies.com

Local gastro pub chain Bobcat Bonnie’s is getting in on the outdoor dining fun with heated igloos at their Detroit, Clinton Township, and Wyandotte locations, and a covered and heated patio at their Ferndale spot, which includes an additional tent to keep people spread out, safe, and loaded up with drinks and tater tots.

Photo via Bobcat Bonnie’s/Facebook

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Clarkston Union

54 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston; 248-620-6200; clarkstonunion.com

Once home to the best mac and cheese in the country (and, it may as well still be, because damn is it good), Clarkston Union and all of the Union Joint-owned spots have heated igloos for added comfort. A repurposed church in Clarkston, the Union is offering igloos for no additional charge, but they are asking guests to limit their time to an hour and a half. Each igloo is sprayed with disinfectant after each visit. Now back to the mac and cheese ...

Photo courtesy of Clarkston Union

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Deadwood Bar and Grill

18730 Northville Rd., Northville; 248-347-4353; deadwoodbarandgrill.com

It’s igloo season at Deadwood Bar and Grill. Described as a rustic retreat offering mountain-inspired decor meets hearty, adventurous, cuisine, Deadwood Bar and Grill knows a thing or two about cozy. The restaurant, a log cabin, has created an igloo wonderland to help parties of up to 10 to social distance while eating homemade BBQ sandwiches, burgers, and more.

Photo via Deadwood Bar and Grill/Facebook

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Detroit Shipping Company

474 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-462-4973; detroitshippingcompany.com

If you’re like us and are an indecisive eater that cannot choose between tacos, fried chicken, or a Pad Thai sushi roll, there's Detroit Shipping Company. Located in Midtown, Detroit Shipping Co. is a multi-tiered shipping container food hall and beer garden that is offering food and bar service in a giant heated tent, in addition to indoor dining.

Photo courtesy of Detroit Shipping Company

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Fenton Fire Hall

201 S. Leroy St., Fenton; 810-936-0442; fentonfirehall.com

In keeping with Union Joints' penchant for restoring historic buildings and converting them into comfort food havens, Fenton Fire Hall is all the cheesy, meaty goodness you’ve come to expect from the restaurant group — and they’re offering igloos for outdoor dining.

Photo courtesy of Fenton Fire Hall

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Flowers of Vietnam

4440 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-2085; flowersofvietnam.com

A former Coney Island diner in Southwest Detroit was flipped into a high-end Vietnamese street food eatery in 2016. Enter Flowers of Vietnam, a destination restaurant that has some of the most mind-blowing chicken wings on the planet (sorry, B-dubs). It also offers unique cocktails, inspired entrees, and steamed desserts and they’ve got a heated, soon-to-be covered patio.

Photo courtesy of Flowers of Vietnam

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Grey Ghost

47 Watson St., Detroit; 313-262-6534; greyghostdetroit.com

Midtown has some prime people-watching and, to be honest, some killer food. In the case of Grey Ghost, the food is spooky good. Though their outdoor patio offering is modest in size, it is heated and will soon be covered as soon as the sunshine takes a months-long vacation.

Photo courtesy of Grey Ghost

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Honcho Latin Street Food and Coffee

3 E. Church St., Village of Clarkston; 248-707-3793; eathoncho.com

Described as “Latin food that speaks in an Asian accent but lives on Main street,” Honcho in Clarkston offers everything from burritos stuffed with caramelized garam masala, capers, griddle-seared queso, and spiced pepitas to miso refried black beans and Korean pork tacos, all of which can be enjoyed in the restaurant’s outdoor mess tents.

Photo courtesy of Honco Latin Street Food and Coffee

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The White Horse Inn

1 E. High St, Metamora; 810-678-2276; thewhitehorseinn.com

Giddy up, y’all, Metamora’s The White Horse Inn is worth the trip on account of its friggin’ igloo village. That’s right. The historic White Horse Inn, which was built in 1848 as a stagecoach stop and inn, is serving up outdoor dining realness this season. There are three to choose from, Boho Base Camp, Icelyn Aviary, or the Llama Lounge. All are heated, all can fit 10 guests, and all are available via advance reservations. These are not your run of the mill igloos, either. Each one is festooned in festive garlands, birdcages, and unique light fixtures, like the Llama Lounge, illuminated in blue light at night and features a handsome portrait of some llamas.

Photo via White Horse Inn Metamora/Facebook

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Ima 2015 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-502-5959; imanoodles.com All hail udon! All hail golden curry! All hail sake! Ima in Corktown has become a neighborhood favorite since opening in 2016 thanks to its refined menu of customizable and traditional Asian noodle and rice dishes, along with things like smoked salmon potato salad, Asian-inspired tacos, and, in select locations, one of the best damn spicy chicken sandwiches in town. They may not have igloos, but their patio will soon be prepped with a full coverage and full heat-age so you can enjoy some lobster udon because, yeah, theyve got that, in the comfort of their socially-distanced outdoor tent. Photo courtesy of Ima

Ima

2015 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-502-5959; imanoodles.com

All hail udon! All hail golden curry! All hail sake! Ima in Corktown has become a neighborhood favorite since opening in 2016 thanks to its refined menu of customizable and traditional Asian noodle and rice dishes, along with things like smoked salmon potato salad, Asian-inspired tacos, and, in select locations, one of the best damn spicy chicken sandwiches in town. They may not have igloos, but their patio will soon be prepped with a full coverage and full heat-age so you can enjoy some lobster udon because, yeah, they’ve got that, in the comfort of their socially-distanced outdoor tent.

Photo courtesy of Ima

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Lumen

1903 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-626-5005; lumendetroit.com

Even a high-end downtown eatery like Lumen can’t resist the charm and thoughtful design of the igloo, winter dining’s newest best friend. Igloos must be reserved in advance and cost $30 per person as a deposit and a $300 food/drink minimum, which isn’t hard to do when you go ham on crab cakes, mussels, pork chops, Wagyu short ribs, and a $275 bottles of wine — we’re looking at you Crown Point 2016!

Photo via Lumen Detroit/Facebook

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Camp Ticonderoga

5725 Rochester Rd., Troy; 248-828-2825; campticonderoga.com

Summer might be over but that doesn’t mean we can’t still go to camp — Camp Ticonderoga in Troy, that is. Camp Ti as it is lovingly called offers a rustic atmosphere and a menu filled with comfort food favorites, from Certified Black Angus steaks and homemade chocolate chip cookies. This year marks the return of two heated and reservable dining igloos available for parties of up to 10 people who are willing to ensure a $200 food and beverage minimum.

Photo via Camp Ticonderoga/Facebook

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Green Dot Stables

2200 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-962-5588; greendotstables.com

Slide into colder temps with sliders from Green Dot Stables, all of which can be enjoyed from their social distance-friendly and heated patio. Normally that space would have served as a bar and waiting area for guests, but since COVID-19, they’ve taken advantage of the extra space to serve the community the one thing they really want: mystery meat sliders! Oh, and venison chili cheese fries.

Photo via Green Dot Stables/Facebook

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Marrow

8044 Kercheval Ave., Detroit; 313-652-0200; marrowdetroit.com

When a butcher shop meets a restaurant the results are, well, meaty. When it comes to two-time James Beard Award-nominated restaurant and whole animal butcher shop, Marrow, it’s all about community, and, obviously, local and sustainably sourced meat. And there’s good news for carnivores who want to eat outside because Marrow has a patio that is partially covered and heated so you can eat your meat without getting cold-blooded.

Photo courtesy of Marrow

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Moose Preserve

43034 N. Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-858-7688; moosepreserve.com

Shit’s getting cozy, y’all. At least that’s the case at Bloomfield Hills’ comfort food lodge, Moose Preserve. Not only can you eat BBQ Buffalo meatballs, perch sliders, shepherd’s pie, and mac and cheese loaded with BBQ pulled pork and candied bacon, but you eat all of those delicious things while in a cozy fully-decorated igloo. This year, Moose Preserve is offering reservations for two igloos, the Husky Hideaway or the Northern Lights. Each igloo can fit a party of 8 and costs $25 per person or $150 (whichever is greater) as a food and beverage minimum. Blah, blah, blah, just let us get a pile of jerk chicken pasta.

Photo via Moose Preserve/Facebook

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The Morrie

511 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-216-1112 | 260 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-940-3260; themorrie.com

The tents are up and they’re heated, at least this is the case at both locations for “creative, yet classic, American bar,” The Morrie. Located in Royal Oak and Birmingham, the Morrie has kept the party alive and is making it easier to enjoy with their heated tents where you can eat, drink, and watch live music.

Photo via The Morrie /Facebook

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Como’s

22812 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-677-4439; comosrestaurant.com

Though Como’s in Ferndale is one of the area’s best places to hang in the warmer months on account of their insane outdoor patio, it’s going to be a go-to spot when things get chilly because, good news, their patio is winterized and ready to keep you warm with heated seating and hot pizza, baby.

Photo via Como’s Ferndale/Facebook

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Vinsetta Garage

27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley; 248-548-7711; vinsettagarage.com

The only Union Joint-owned restaurant in metro Detroit, Vinsetta Garage is joining in the igloo game while offering its coveted selection of comfort food ranging from burgers, deep-fried cheese curds, and, yes, that mac and cheese.

Photo courtesy of Vinsetta Garage

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Pinky's Rooftop

100 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-291-6506; pinkysroyaloak.com

Pinky’s may sound like something you might search on WebMD, but for metro Detroiters, it means good food and a good view. Oh, did we mention the decor? Yeah. So, it looks like Instagram ads had sex with a Pinterest board and then baptized its spawn in rose gold. What we’re saying is, come for the food, stay for the Instagram opportunity, and then keep staying for the food, which you can eat on a heated rooftop patio.

Photo by Catherine Sareini

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Frame

23839 John R, Hazel Park; 313-962-5588; framehazelpark.com

Strike a pose at Frame in Hazel Park, where private specially-themed dinners in yurts are a reality. The yurt dining series will run through the month with three themed events, Swiss Alpine, sustainable, and Romanian fare. The exclusive dinner events allow parties of six per yurt with a $330 minimum.

Photo via Frame/Facebook

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