Best New Casual Eateries in Metro Detroit

Sometimes the most delicious food and most welcoming atmospheres are in caf茅s, bars, bookstores, and food halls. Here are some of our new favorites.
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听Cafe Sous Terre

the French-style bar at Cafe Sous Terre. // Photo courtesy of Cafe Sous Terre

With elegant green tile work, midcentury modern d茅cor, and beautiful art, this coffee shop/bar could be recognized for interior design alone (the polar opposite of what鈥檚 referenced in that Portl andia sketch about the agency that supplies only 鈥渂ad art鈥 to coffeeshops).

Located in the Cass Corridor underneath an old Forest Avenue apartment, offers superb espresso drinks with a rotation of unique house-made syrup flavors like 鈥渧anilla and French oak鈥 and 鈥渇loral.鈥

Its food selections have an authentic Parisian flair: delicate pastries; an ultrabuttery croque monsieur made with ham, Emmental and Gruy猫re cheeses, and B茅chamel sauce; and fluffy quiches that will brighten your morning. Open till 11 p.m. daily, the shop also serves superb cocktails, beer, and wine.

; 313-228-2880;


Flyleaf

Flyleaf鈥檚 bar, which includes cocktails and an extensive wine collection. // Photo by Sal Rodriguez

is a bookstore 鈥 but it鈥檚 also a bar and bistro. The menu, curated by Chef de Cuisine Andr茅 Fuentes, features seasonal small plates 鈥 cheese and charcuterie boards, lobster rolls, caviar, deviled eggs, and more.

鈥淲e wanted it to be a destination, or an experience,鈥 owner Lindsay Scallen told 香港六合彩图库资料 late last year, 鈥渁 home away from home, but also like a cool, cozy library.鈥

Inside, paneled rooms, original art, fireplaces, and, of course, lots of books give the space a clubby vibe. The classics-filled Reading Room on the second floor can be rented for book clubs or other small events. The building includes 3,500 square feet of customer space, including two sales floors and a third-floor open-air patio where you can relax with a glass of wine or bite to eat when weather allows.

; 313-771-5544;


尝耻颈蝉补鈥檚 Artisanal Street 香港六合彩图库资料

Chef Marquise Walker makes Mediterranean chicken piadina at 尝耻颈蝉补鈥檚 Artisanal Street 香港六合彩图库资料. // Photo courtesy of Idea39

Whether you鈥檙e enjoying your lunch hour or a weekend outing, will get you right with its from-scratch fare and friendly service.

A stone鈥檚 throw from Ferndale鈥檚 Rust Belt Market, the small restaurant offers a primarily Italian menu with a unique mishmash of influences from South America and the Middle East 鈥 all with the grab-and-go convenience of being 鈥渟treet food.鈥 Its sandwiches are stuffed in piadina, a rustic Italian flatbread that originates from the Romagna region. Its homemade soups are an essential side and can be ordered with corn dumplings; we recommend the smoky mole chili, made with roasted Chile peppers, green bell peppers, black beans, braised steak, and mozzarella.

Plus, the slushies 鈥 with rotating flavors like strawberry basil, mango, lavender lemonade, and Cherry Kool Aid 鈥 are to die for.

; 248-677-3331;


Noori Pocha

This retro Korean gastropub in Clawson will transport you to 鈥80s Seoul with its unmatchable aesthetic. There鈥檚 a lot to look at: neon lights and paper lamps, which cast a colorful reflection over vintage Korean barbecue tables; old Korean posters, advertisements, and street signs; a levitating toad; and a projector that plays strictly POV footage of a cameraperson walking around Seoul.

The meal begins with complimentary tteok-bokki, a rice cake cooked in a red, spicy broth. From there, you can choose from a fine selection of import beers and bang-for-your-buck entr茅es like the sharable buldak 鈥 spicy chicken with cheese served with jumeokbap rice balls, which feeds two. It can be quite a challenge to get a table there, but it鈥檚 absolutely worth it.

; 248-850-7512;


Oak Parker

Oak Parker鈥檚 pastrami chimi. // Photo courtesy of Oak Parker

Regularly packed even on a weeknight, this lively neighborhood bar features thoughtful cocktails with a forward-looking food menu to match. Simplicity and a great bun (potato, brioche, or onion roll) make its smashburgers the perfect answer to a cold pint. You can also kick it up a notch with Hungarian sausage, schnitzels, or pastrami 鈥 the last stuffed in deli-style sandwiches and deep-fried chimichangas, or mixed in pastrami hash for weekend brunch.

Other highlights include the comforting and hearty navy bean soup. Did we mention Oak Parker鈥檚 fabulous peanut butter cookies? Plus, enjoy dancing and DJs in the Vinyl Room, its basement venue.

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The Rind

charcuterie boards at The Rind. // Photograph by William Werner

Since its humble beginnings as a pop-up and small retail counter in Ferndale, Mongers鈥 Provisions has grown slowly and steadily over the seven years it鈥檚 been operating. Now the team behind the business has gone through another evolution with The Rind, a wine bar and restaurant attached to the business鈥檚 Berkley location.

The Rind serves signature cocktails from its full bar and offers wines by the glass and a selection of more than 150 bottles to choose from. In addition to snacks that pair well with wine, like marcona almonds, tinned razor clams, and (naturally) cheese and charcuterie, there鈥檚 heartier fare like a flat iron steak and littleneck clams, as featured on a recent menu.

Even as Mongers鈥 Provisions continues to grow and expand, one thing has remained constant: high-quality products selected with care and passion for food lovers to enjoy.

; 248-468-4487;


Whatcha Wanna Eat 香港六合彩图库资料 Hall

Featuring 10 restaurants serving everything from burgers and wings to tacos and hibachi bowls, Whatcha Wanna Eat is said to be the first Black-owned food hall in the city. A project two years in the making, it opened in September 2023 with little news coverage but got a big boost on social media and by word of mouth that attracted crowds eager to check out the dining destination on the city鈥檚 northwest side.

The owners say Whatcha Wanna Eat is more than just a food hall and are on a mission to help Black- and minority-owned businesses, especially those run by first-time restaurateurs, by creating a collaborative space where local residents and visitors can come together.

鈥淚n my opinion, Whatcha Wanna Eat 香港六合彩图库资料 Hall should be national news,鈥 popular TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee posted on the platform during its opening weekend.

While the food hall is still in its early stages, the early buzz indicates Whatcha Wanna Eat is on its way.

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This story originally appeared in the August 2024 issue of 香港六合彩图库资料 magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of 香港六合彩图库资料 at a local retail outlet. Our will be available on Aug. 6. Plus, click here to read our 2024 Best New Restaurants list.听