Detroit Dining Scene Heats Up with New Openings

Four restaurants and bars have popped up across metro Detroit. Plant-based dishes, Southern breakfast plates, Italian fine dining, and rooftop meals now await diners, as per Hour Detroit. Street Beet launched its brick-and-mortar spot in Corktown on Dec. 11, while Joe Louis Southern Kitchen opened its second spot in Southfield on Dec. 9.

The plant-based eatery took over what used to be Bobcat Bonnies at 1800 Michigan Ave. in Detroit's Corktown. The storefront has a dining room, a bar with non-alcoholic drinks, and a game area with pinball machines and retro games from Offworld Arcade. A coffee counter will open soon.

Street Beet's menu has a smashburger, supreme crunchywrap, vegan Coney dog, braised green melt, and chicken sandwich. Fries? They come five ways. You can get them regular, chili cheese, animal style, hot, or nacho. Drink options run from mocktails to shakes to dirty sodas.

Joe Louis Southern Kitchen serves breakfast and brunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 29649 Northwestern Highway in Southfield. The menu has bananas Foster French toast, shrimp and grits, and the brown bomber—buttermilk biscuits with turkey gravy. A bar serving mimosas and bloody marys will launch in January, along with a gift shop selling Joe Louis merchandise.

"My father's legacy is so strong throughout Detroit and the surrounding communities, we're excited to feature commemorative items for purchase at our checkout counter—offering people the chance to take home a piece of that legacy after sharing a delicious meal together," said Joe Louis Barrow II in a press release, as reported by Hour Detroit. Louis Barrow II is co-CEO.

RH Rooftop Restaurant opened Nov. 21 on the fourth floor of RH Detroit, The Gallery in Birmingham at 300 S Old Woodward Avenue. The spot offers caviar carpaccio, lobster rolls, grilled branzino, Chilean sea bass, wagyu ribeye, rotisserie chicken, and Tuscan veal chops. Brunch happens on weekends.

Stella Bar and Restaurant celebrated its grand opening Nov. 23 in Troy at 2940 Rochester Rd. This Italian fine-dining spot serves house-made pastas, pizzas, steaks, seafood, and A5 wagyu burgers. Happy hour? Signature martinis and margaritas go for $9 and under.

Breadless announced plans for a nationwide franchise program. The gluten-free fast casual chain has more than 50 interested franchise owners, according to a press release. The brand opened its first spot in Detroit in 2022 and added a Rochester Hills site the next year.

The Mother Loaf will leave its Core City space at the end of the year after a dispute with the landlord. Owner Jeremiah Kouhia announced the move on Dec. 1. Bev's Bagels will take over the space in 2026, per a Dec. 16 press release.