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.