Detroit, MI
What’s Cooking? Metro Detroit Dining News for January 2026
Coming to the Table
Rock & Brews
- Where: Royal Oak
- Slated to Open: Spring
Rock & Brews — the national restaurant concept founded by KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley — plans to make its Michigan debut in downtown Royal Oak this spring in the former HopCat space. As Simmons is fond of saying, “I like being part of a rock and roll band, but I love being part of a rock and roll brand.”
The restaurant will feature three levels: a first-floor dining room; second floor bar with a live concert stage; and third floor open-air rooftop sky lounge with DJing. Beers, “rocktails,” and American fare will make up the menu. Notably, several locations serve a dish named after a Detroit native: Alice Cooper’s Poison Burger. KISS itself has numerous ties to Detroit and Michigan. “Detroit really embraced us before any other city,” Stanley told Howard Stern in 2023, when explaining the inspiration behind the band’s 1976 hit “Detroit Rock City.” 208 West Fifth Ave., Royal Oak; rockandbrews.com
Cardoon
- Where: Sylvan Lake
- Slated to Open: Spring
From the team behind Sylvan Table comes an all-in-one European-inspired bakery, all-day café, deli, and provisions market highlighting local and seasonal ingredients. Cardoon is designed to be “a place where you can grab everything needed for your upcoming dinner party and also enjoy a glass of wine and bowl of pasta before hurrying home after work,” according to a statement from the business.
The café will serve coffee, beer, wine, and cocktails all day. In the morning, it will feature breakfast plates and pastries. Its full-service deli will have sliced-to-order meats and cheeses. The food menu will include schiacciata and panuozzo sandwiches, fresh pastas, pizzas, rustic breads, and viennoiserie. Other selections include porchetta schiacciata, a Danish-style hot dog, mortadella and pesto panuozzo, Swedish cardamom buns, as well as house-made sausages and cured-in-house charcuterie. Cardoon will be owned by Sylvan Table owners Nicole and Tim Ryan and helmed by Scott Martinelli, the opening executive sous chef at Sylvan Table. 2190 Orchard Lake Road, Sylvan Lake; (website coming soon).
Hunã Bar
- Where: Ann Arbor
- Slated to Open: February
A new tiki bar is coming to the space below Echelon Kitchen & Bar with eats and drinks from the same staff. Hunã Bar will feature tiki drinks and pu pus prepared by Chef Joseph VanWagner. Additionally, memberships to the bar will be available offering perks like access to events, members-only days, priority reservations, merchandise, and more. 200 S Main St, Ann Arbor; huna.bar
For a list of more openings, see our article Metro Detroit Restaurants on Our Radar for 2026
New Metro Detroit Restaurants, Bars, and Cafés
Lola’s Taco Bar
- Where: Grosse Pointe Woods
Lola’s Taco Bar celebrated its grand opening on Monday, Jan. 12. It serves tacos, burritos, bowls, queso, rotisserie chicken, margaritas, beers and more in a fast-casual setting. One of its owners, Brandon McRill, founded Rebelle, a Michelin star-winning restaurant in New York City. 20195 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods; lolastacobar.com
Read our full article on Lola’s Taco Bar here.
Medusa Cucina Siciliana
This Sicily-inspired eatery is the second Detroit restaurant from SheWolf chef-owner Anthony Lombardo — a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist. Medusa officially debuted on Thursday, Jan. 15 in Midtown Detroit. The menu features wine, cocktails, Sicilian street food, pastas, couscous, and small seafood bites like Insalata di Mare (grilled octopus, shrimp, calamari, banana pepper, potato, caper dressing). 644 Selden St., Detroit; medusa-detroit.com
Read our full article on Medusa here.
Slows Bar BQ Berkley
Founded in Corktown, Slows Bar BQ is known for staples like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, mac ’n cheese, and signature sandwiches like The Yardbird. Its new Berkley location finally opened in late December inside the former Berkley Common building. Weeks before that, it opened another location in downtown Ann Arbor. 3087 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; slowsbarbq.com
Recent Food & Beverage Headlines
Motor City Brewing Works is pausing operations on Feb. 8
A Cass Corridor staple for pizzas and house-brewed beers is taking a leave of absence, WXYZ reports. Motor City Brewing Works is the oldest operating microbrewery in Michigan The brewery’s steam line (which operates on Detroit’s 100-year-old thermal steam grid) has corroded, making brewing an impossibility, owner John Linardos tells WXYZ. While closed, the brewery will look for solutions to become independent from the grid and options for the future of the location.
Hygrade Deli has closed and is currently in receivership
The future of a historic deli on Michigan Avenue in Detroit remains uncertain. Hygrade Deli closed in late December and is in receivership after defaulting on two business loans, the Detroit Free Press reports. Hygrade first opened in 1955, over 70 years ago.
Upcoming Dining and Drinks Events
The Fed Community Wine Dinner
- When: Wednesday, Jan. 28
- Where: The Fed, Clarkston
- Cost: Starts at $185 per ticket, available on Tock.
An exclusive wine dinner is happening in The Gold Bar, a “speakeasy”-style bar in the basement of The Fed. The event is open to current and prospective wine locker holders, or simply those who are interested in experiencing a multi-course meal with wine pairings. The evening will feature an afterglow with music from John Arnold.
Vodka Fest 2026
Sample vodkas and meet brand ambassadors from all over the world, who can provide insight on their products. Food is available for purchase, and the evening will feature DJs and dancing. Proceeds from the evening will benefit K9 Charities.
Galentine Night’s Out
Sip champagne and enjoy strolling bites at the hotel’s third annual Galentine Night’s Out Celebration. The night will include a cash bar, live DJ, DIY bath salt making station, bingo, and shopping booths from local vendors.
Super Bowl Sunday Brunch
- When: Feb. 8
- Where: Grey Ghost, Detroit
- Cost: $55 per guest, reserve on Resy.
Get ready for the big game with a multi-course brunch of Super Bowl-inspired fare, with drinks available at additional cost.
Detroit, MI
Metro Detroit veterans charity pleads for end to donation bin vandalism across metro area
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — Officials with the Veterans and America First Foundation are speaking out after for their donation bins were vandalized.
The organization, based in Clinton Township, collects clothing donations through bins placed throughout metro Detroit to support veterans and others in need with clothes, food and housing.
Bins located on West Vernor Highway near Military Street in Detroit were among the latest to be hit.
Paul Dehem, director and founder of Veterans and America First Foundation, learned about the damage on Saturday after Aiman Kawas, who is in charge of servicing the bins, discovered they had been damaged.
Dehem said the vandalism occurred within a narrow window.
“It happened sometime between Wednesday and Friday,” Dehem said.
WXYZ
“It’s just disheartening,” Dehem said.
Kawas said the West Vernor Highway incident is far from isolated.
“I was disappointed, of course this is not our first time being vandalized,” Kawas said.
WXYZ
“We have lost over 70 bins to vandalism or theft, the actual bin disappears… they take it completely,” Kawas said.
Jason Beddow, director of development for Veterans and America First Foundation, said each bin costs about $1,000 to replace.
“The vets are missing out on their charity and donations from those bins and it’s just a real shame,” Beddow said.
WXYZ
Meanwhile, Dehem said he hopes those responsible will consider who is truly harmed by the destruction.
“We have a mission and it’s for the veterans,” Dehem said. “It’s not for profit, we’re just trying to make things work and help people.”
Anyone with information about who is vandalizing the bins, or surveillance video, is asked to contact Detroit police.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
A 17-year-old has been charged in a nonfatal ‘teen takeover’ shooting.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged 17‑year‑old Ramon Javon Perez Smith of Detroit in connection with the non‑fatal shooting of a 14‑year‑old Detroit male. Prosecutor Kym Worthy confirmed that Smith will be tried as an adult.
Smith is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and three counts of felony firearm.
He was arraigned Saturday and given a $500,000 cash bond, along with a GPS tether, house arrest, and an order barring contact with the victim or any witnesses. A bond re‑determination hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026, before Judge McConico.
Another teen was also charged in the shooting that happened in downtown Detroit during the “teen takeover” event.
The preliminary hearing for a 16-year old from Detroit was held Tuesday on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. He received a $4,000 bond with house arrest.
He was also ordered not to possess any firearms or illegal substances. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for July 2.
Detroit police were called to the 1300 block of Farmer Street around 9:37 p.m. on May 17, after reports of a shooting. Officers arrived to find the teenage victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Medics transported him to a nearby hospital where he received emergency treatment and is expected to survive.
According to investigators, Smith was involved in a physical altercation with a group that included the victim. Prosecutors allege that Smith pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots into the group, hitting the 14‑year‑old before fleeing the scene. Detroit police arrested Smith shortly afterward.
“We are thankful that the 14‑year‑old victim received immediate medical care and will survive this traumatic event,” Prosecutor Worthy said in the release.
mjohnson@detroitnews.com
At least three people are injured after separate weekend shootings across Detroit as of Saturday night.
According to police, a man on the 20600 block of West Eight Mile Road assaulted another man before firing shots on Saturday around 3:04 p.m. Officials said the man shot was grazed by at least one bullet and the suspected shooter was arrested. A weapon was recovered by law enforcement at the scene.
Roughly 40 minutes after the shooting on Eight Mile Road, a man was shot and had his vehicle stolen on the 19300 block of Rosemont Avenue, according to police. The man was sitting inside his gray Chevrolet Equinox when an unknown individual approached with a gun and demanded money.
Officials said the man in the Chevrolet was shot after he exited his vehicle. He was taken to the hospital and, as of Saturday night, is in stable condition. The individual who approached the man left the scene in the Equinox, according to police.
Just before 6 p.m. Saturday, a male teenager was shot while driving in the area of Woodward and West Hildale avenues, near Palmer Park, police said. According to officials, the teen, whose exact age has yet to be disclosed, was traveling in the area when an individual in another vehicle pulled alongside him and fired shots.
The teen was taken to the hospital. As of Saturday night, he is also in stable condition, officials said.
Police have yet to disclose whether an arrest has been made in the shootings on Rosemont Avenue or near Palmer Park.
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