Four Detroit Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know

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 or email detroit@eater.com and we’ll consider it for the next update. FERNDALE — The highly anticipated haven for dreamy sandwiches, Tall Trees Cafe, opened its doors on Saturday, December 21 in Ferndale. The bright, cozy spot comes from the talents of hospitality industry veteran Mike Finsilver to a petite space in Ferndale. The cafe already has a dedicated following, thanks to a series of pop-ups, and has fans of its spicy mortadella sandwich — made with crunchy semolina batards and filled with thinly sliced mortadella, a fiery house-made bomba calabrese spread, and chopped iceberg lettuce salad in a preserved lemon buttermilk dressing. Also be sure to try the Clong — a thick-cut turkey sandwich featuring turkey raised on the west side of the state, provolone cheese, an herby mayo, a roasted cherry tomato spread, and pickled shallots with dressed greens on focaccia bread. In addition, the menu includes a rotation of soups and seasonal salads. SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The savory, flaky Balkan pastry burek gets the star treatment at House of Burek in Shelby Township. Get burek in pie, roll, or slice form with fillings like spinach, cheese, beef, and leeks — all made fresh to order. 48850 Van Dyke Avenue, Shelby Township. BIRMINGHAM — Formerly occupied by Mad Hatter Bistro in downtown Birmingham, this 3,000-square-foot space has been reimagined into Bell Bistro, self-described as a modern American eatery. Behind the menu is chef Gabriel Botezan, a familiar name in the region’s culinary scene, who most recently helped to open Adelina in downtown Detroit, along with his wife, Gabriela, who also serves as the spot’s pastry chef. Cicero Hospitality Group, based in Bloomfield Hills, owns Bell and Adelina. Highlights include a wagyu meatball, rigatoni alla gricia, steak frites, and more. Desserts include a parliament walnut cake, an olive oil cake bar, and a raspberry chocolate tart. The name of the restaurant is a nod to the building’s original owner, Samuel Oliver Wylie Bell. 185 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham. GARDEN CITY — What started as a beloved food truck featuring generous sandwiches filled with döner kebab and beef or chicken shawarma has expanded with a casual physical space in Garden City called Döner Shawarma. Fans of the Dearborn-based truck should be on the lookout, as that outpost will soon relocate. 27638 Ford Road, Garden City.