Detroit, MI
Some of Metro Detroit’s oldest restaurants share secrets to longevity
What’s the secret to lasting love between a restaurant and its customers?
To find out, I asked four restaurant owners whose businesses have been with them or their families for 50 years or more.
“Don’t cut corners” and “be consistent” are the phrases I heard repeated most often.
There’s also the advantage that long-lasting restaurants have over new ones. As years go by, more customers have special moments — first dates, engagements, baby’s first chicken parm — and that makes the restaurant part of their life story.
“You have to have perseverance, but most important is you have to be a romanticist,” said Rina Tonon. She opened Cafe Cortina 50 years ago this year — the anniversary is in December — with her husband, Adriano Tonon. The secluded Italian restaurant in Farmington Hills is one of our area’s most romantic destinations.
Tonon, who grew up at her Italian-born parents’ restaurant, said to keep a place going for this many decades requires “genuine warmth.”
“Genuine hospitality, warmth and love of people, love of food,” she said. It can’t just be the owners, either, the staff has to have a similar passion. “It’s not an easy business.”
Along with having a staff that treats customers as well as the owners would directly, it helps to have family as part of that staff. Many of the restaurants in the area that have lasted since the 1960s and ’70s could not have continued without the next generation stepping up.
That’s what happened at Troy’s Mon Jin Lau. A destination for Chinese cuisine, sushi, cocktails and its Lunar New Year party each winter, the Troy restaurant was founded in 1969 by Jin and Mon Chin. Their son Marshall Chin took it over years later, and today it is run by his sons Bryan and Brandon Chin.
Bryan Chin says, “Consistency is everything.”
“From the quality of our ingredients to the care we put into every dish, our guests know they can count on the same exceptional experience every time they walk through our doors,” he said. “By never cutting corners and always putting our guests first, we’ve built lasting relationships and earned the trust of our guests for so many years.”
Farther up north in Oakland County, Gino’s Pizzeria and Restaurant also opened in 1969. It’s more casual than Cafe Cortina or Mon Jin Lau, but they’re similar in they’ve been in the same family for decades and they offer space for special events.
Owner Gino Santia knows about the hardships of having a restaurant for so long. The family-style Italian restaurant has persevered through recessions, road construction and even a 2022 fire.
“We went through the hard times like everybody else does, but we endured,” said Santia. His sister and her husband started the business in 1969, naming it after Gino while he was in the service. When he returned home, he ran it with his family, and today his son is on board.
Santia says being part of a tight-knit family and community is one of the things that’s abled Gino’s to continue for so long.
“As far as our lounge goes, we’re very friendly. My son’s got a great personality, and we try to treat everybody kindly. And we try to be fair with our prices. Fair to the customers and fair for us.”
Service and personality will go a long way with customers, but the food must be a home run, too.
“The most common thing I’ve heard from so many people is: I’ve never had a bad meal,” said Nick Piunti, whose family has owned Sibley Gardens in Trenton since the 1930s. “In the rare occurrence that someone does have a bad meal — or more importantly, thinks they’ve had a bad meal — we’ll make it right.”
“I also think having some signature dishes that you can’t get anywhere else, like our steak sammy, for example,” he said. It’s sliced tenderloin from Fairway Packing that’s been sauteed in wine, garlic and beef stock. “Everyone has chicken parm or their version of chicken piccata, but our steak sammy is kind of a unique dish. It’s tough that our signature dish is one of our most expensive to make but people still order it.”
Piunti also echoed what other owners told me about the importance of an invested staff.
“It’s not just myself, or my dad or the managers doing it. It’s everybody that works here that has a lot of pride in what they’re doing. They stay here long, we have a very low turnover, and I think that’s rare for the restaurant industry,” he said, adding that his 93-year-old dad still comes into Sibley Gardens most mornings.
“It’s a real team, a real family feeling.”
Melody Baetens is The Detroit News restaurant critic
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Where to find the restaurants in this article
Cafe Cortina, 30715 W. 10 Mile, Farmington Hills. (248) 474-3033. cafecortina.com.
Gino’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, 1999 Cass Lake, Keego Harbor. (248) 682-6540. ginospizzakeego.com.
Mon Jin Lau, 1515 E. Maple, Troy. (248) 689-2332.
Sibley Gardens, 916 W. Jefferson, Trenton. (734) 285-1707. sibleygardens.com.
The Detroit People Mover is back up and running after being closed for the past two months for repairs following storm damage.
According to the Detroit Transportation Corporation, the People Mover reopened to the public at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
High winds on March 13 forced the People Mover to undergo a series of repairs, including undercarriage sheet metal removal, track cable communications and switch mechanisms.
Over the last 16 days, People Mover cars have been out for tests ahead of the reopening.
“Rider safety is always at the heart of what we do, and it is our responsibility as a public transit provider,” DTE CEO Melia Howard said in a statement. “The time was a necessary requirement to restore key, operational components and is an investment in the continued reliability of the system. We take pride in the role that the People Mover plays for residents, workers and visitors, and we look forward to being the go-to public transportation for both daily rides and special events which bring everyone together.”
Scott Harris introduces Framber Valdez to Detroit Tigers after signing
President of baseball operations Scott Harris introduced left-hander Framber Valdez to the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 11, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.
Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez was ejected from his start Tuesday, May 5, against the Boston Red Sox before recording an out in the fourth inning.
The 32-year-old was ejected by third-base umpire and crew chief Dan Iassogna for hitting Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story with a first-pitch 94.4 mph four-seam fastball – immediately after giving up back-to-back home runs.
The hit-by-pitch appeared to be intentional, especially because the pitch registered as the only four-seam fastball that Valdez has thrown in the 2026 season.
The Red Sox scored 10 runs off Valdez, including two in the fourth inning on home runs from Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu, both with bat flips. That’s when Valdez hit Story, who absorbed the pitch with his back.
Players and coaches from both teams’ benches and bullpens poured onto the field at Comerica Park.
Valdez stood near the mound during the skirmish, all while his teammates and coaches exchanged words with players and coaches from the Red Sox.
There was no brawl.
Before benches and bullpens cleared, Story stared down Valdez from near home plate, and Valdez took several steps in front of the pitching mound.
The two never came close to a fight.
Afterward, the umpires gathered, discussed what had happened and ejected Valdez. He didn’t protest the ejection, simply walking off the mound and into the clubhouse.
Both teams were warned not to retaliate.
Valdez – a two-time All-Star in his nine-year MLB career – allowed 10 runs (seven earned runs) on nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts across three-plus innings, throwing 45 of 60 pitches for strikes.
He generated six misses on 34 swings for a below-average 17.6% whiff rate, while the Red Sox averaged an above-average 93.3 mph exit velocity on 16 balls in play.
Valdez has a 4.57 ERA in eight starts.
The Tigers – led by president of baseball operations Scott Harris – signed Valdez in early February to a lucrative contract that will be worth three years, $115 million if he exercises his player option for the third season.
The deal set the MLB record for the highest average annual value guaranteed to a left-handed pitcher, at $38.3 million.
So far, the results have been disappointing.
The hit-by-pitch in Tuesday’s meltdown didn’t help.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
For generations of Detroiters, the Dakota Inn Rathskeller has been more than a bar—it’s been a ritual. A place where communal tables, steins raised high, and the familiar sound of German folk songs have created a sense of belonging that transcends time. Now, as the city continues its cultural resurgence, the Dakota Inn is entering a bold new chapter—one that honors its storied past while opening the doors to an entirely new kind of experience.
This summer, the transformation is unmistakable.
At the heart of the revival is a sprawling outdoor Biergarten—an ambitious expansion that reimagines the Dakota Inn as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination venue. Designed to evoke the charm of traditional European beer gardens while embracing Detroit’s gritty, creative energy, the space invites guests to linger. Long wooden tables stretch beneath open skies, string lights glow into the evening, and the hum of conversation blends with live music and clinking glasses. It’s communal, celebratory, and distinctly Detroit.
But the evolution doesn’t stop with beer.
The Dakota Inn is broadening its cultural reach with a thoughtfully curated lineup of events that extend far beyond its traditional roots. Jazz & Film Nights promise to turn warm evenings into immersive experiences, pairing live performances with classic and contemporary cinema. The concept feels both nostalgic and fresh—an echo of Detroit’s rich musical heritage layered with a modern, cinematic sensibility.
Wine tastings, too, are joining the calendar, signaling a more expansive approach to hospitality. These events aim to attract a wider audience while maintaining the venue’s approachable, convivial spirit. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or simply curious, the goal is the same: bring people together around shared experiences.
And then there’s soccer.
With World Cup excitement on the horizon, the Dakota Inn is positioning itself as one of the city’s premier gathering spots for international watch parties. The Biergarten will come alive with fans from all backgrounds, united by the universal language of the game. Large screens, cold drinks, and a festival-like atmosphere will transform match days into something closer to a civic celebration than a simple viewing.
What makes this moment particularly compelling is the balance being struck. The Dakota Inn isn’t abandoning its identity—it’s expanding it. The familiar sing-alongs, the old-world décor, the sense of history etched into the walls—all of that remains. But now, it exists alongside new programming that reflects the diversity and dynamism of Detroit itself.
This is not a reinvention for reinvention’s sake. It’s a thoughtful evolution, rooted in the belief that historic spaces can—and should—adapt to the communities they serve.
On any given summer night, you might find a table of old friends singing a German drinking song, a couple discovering the space for the first time over a glass of wine, or a crowd gathered around a screen, erupting in cheers as a goal is scored thousands of miles away. Different scenes, different energies—but all part of the same story.
A new day has arrived at the Dakota Inn Rathskeller, and if this summer is any indication, its next chapter may be its most vibrant yet.
The Dakota Inn
17324 John R St, Detroit, MI 48203
(313) 867-9722
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