Detroit’s 2026 Restaurant of the Year Program Launches with Charitable Dining Series

The Detroit Free Press and Chevy Detroit announced their Top 10 Takeover dinner series returns in 2026. It starts April 14 at Blue Goat. This marks the 12th year for the series, which connects to the annual Restaurant of the Year program.

Tickets went on sale Friday, March 27 at noon through freep.com/top10. Subscribers got first dibs on Thursday.

Each ticket runs $78 per person. The price covers tax, tip, and a $3 donation going to Keep Growing Detroit. Add $40 per person for wine pairings. Chevy Detroit runs a contest at chevydetroit.com/top10 where one winner scores two free tickets.

Blue Goat grabbed the No. 4 spot on the Top 10 Best New Restaurants and Dining Experiences list. This Royal Oak restaurant puts a modern spin on Greek food.

The dinner series lets guests try curated dishes at award-winning restaurants. Each event creates an exclusive experience at the restaurant.

The Free Press and Chevy Detroit built a giveback component into the dining series. This year, every ticket sends $3 to Keep Growing Detroit, a group working to make Detroit food-sovereign.

Keep Growing Detroit hands out seeds, transplants, and soil to members for a small fee. They run classes and community dinners. They offer Community Supported Agriculture. 

Blue Goat plans a four-course meal with choices at each course. The menu starts with lamb bacon spanakopita as an amuse. Mezedes options include spring vegetables or saganaki. For pasta, diners pick braised lamb giouvetsi, crab raviolo, or spring pea and ricotta raviolo.

Main courses offer grilled branzino roulade, confit lamb shank, or cauliflower souvlaki. Dessert is greek frozen yogurt or chocolate budino.

Seating runs from 5 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Tickets for other events in the series go on sale every other Friday.