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Having a tough time keeping up with all the new dining options? Welcome to the Opening Report, a curated roundup of recent restaurant openings big and small across metro Detroit.
Did we miss a spot? Drop a note at the tipline and we’ll consider it for the next update.
GREEKTOWN — Situated in the space once occupied by the shuttered Le Culture Cafe, Javier’s Downtown celebrated a grand opening on Thursday, November 14. The spot offers live music and a menu that blends steakhouse flavors with a subtly Latin twist. Items include a 16-ounce, slow-roasted prime rib served with mole, charred jalapeños, and avocado crema; blackened salmon and shrimp with Gulf shrimp and mango salsa; and enchiladas made with roasted chipotle pork. To drink, expect an array of agave-based cocktails, like the Smokey Mule, made with mezcal instead of vodka. 1452 Brush Street.
DOWNTOWN — Former Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell makes up part of the ownership behind Parlay Detroit, a sprawling sports bar and restaurant within walking distance to Ford Field, Comerica Park, and Little Caesar’s Arena that opened its doors to the public on Friday, November 15. Details about the menu weren’t immediately published on its website, but, according to the spot’s social media posts thus far, visitors can expect bar food classics like chicken tenders or entrees like whole red snapper. Located at Washington and Grand River in the address that until January 2024 housed Detroit Beer Exchange, the 11,000-plus square-foot space offers a cigar lounge with a humidor and VIP areas and features a sports ticker with all the latest scores, as well as recurring Lions viewing parties. In 2025, a speakeasy and lounge is expected to open in the lower level. 1260 Washington Boulevard.
DOWNTOWN — As of Friday, November 15, the closed Maru Sushi within Federal Reserve Building officially transitioned into a modern Japanese American destination called Soraya, under the helm of Harold Kim, the owner behind the recently shuttered and short-lived Korean American restaurant, Corktown’s Black Ginger. According to the Detroit Free Press, the word “sora” translates to the Japanese word for sky and has Korean origins that translate to seashell. Expect starters like tempura broccolini or takoyaki — octopus with pickled ginger, scallion, and dashi broth; an offering of noodles like udon with thinly sliced ribeye; deep-fried entrees like citrus-brined pork katsu with yuzu wasabi aioli; and a variety of sushi rolls. To drink, find cocktails made with Japanese spirits, such as the Tokidoki with Suntory Toki Whisky, walnut, lemon, banana, and brown sugar, in addition to a brief menu of nonalcoholic mocktails. 160 W Fort Street.
