More seafood, custard and dining options open in metro Detroit

Eric Guzmán and Susan Selasky, Detroit Free PressWed, May 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC

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A host of new restaurants opened, including and several restaurants and custard spots reopened for the spring. Here's the list.

Balam Coffee and Wine

The siblings behind Ferndale’s Mezcal Mexican Bar and Grill expanded the family business on March 16 with the opening of Balam Coffee and Wine. Located three doors down from Mezcal, Balam sources its coffee from Mexico and South America, and has a rotating selection of red and white wines from Latin America. The menu offers hot and iced coffee, Mexican pastries and food.

207 E. 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale; 248-206-7280 or balamcoffeeandwine

Chick-fil-A

The Chick-fil-A expansion in Michigan continued with two new locations: one in Royal Oak – located on Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile Road – and the other in Lincoln Park at the intersection of Southfield Road and Dix Road. The Royal Oak location held its grand opening on March 26 and on April 2 for the Lincoln Park location. As part of the grand opening, both establishments donated $25,000 to local hunger relief charities. Chick-fil-A announced in 2024 that it planned to open between 25 and 30 restaurants across the state by the end of 2028 and create more than 2,500 jobs.

30955 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak

2060 Southfield Road, Lincoln Park

More: From Caribou Coffee to Jolly Pumpkin, metro Detroit closures in April

Little Bella's Pizza and Wine

If you’re in the mood for brick-oven pizzas, charcutiers and cocktails, then Little Bella’s Pizza may be on your list of places to check out.

Located at 100 S. Main St., the newest establishment from restaurateur Adam Merkel opened its doors to the public in late March. The restaurant’s pizza menu offers classic pies, including pepperoni and margherita, along with garlic lovers, shrimp scampi and more.

Sean May is the mixologist and beverage director behind Little Bella’s drink menu. His cocktails include a trio of martinis and the lemon drop Italiano, along with a curated wine program.

100 Main St.; littlebellasroyaloak.com

The menu board at Motz's Burgers new Southgate location.Motz's Burgers

Motz’s Burgers opened a location in Southgate, its third in metro Detroit, with a soft opening March 14, serving its classic hamburger and cheeseburger sliders, plus chicken sandwiches, along with shoestring fries and onion rings as sides. Motz's hails from the former Mott's Hamburgers that opened its first location more than 90 years ago in southwest Detroit on Fort Street at the corner of Green. New owners took the Detroit location over in 1996, changing its name to Motz's. In 2023, Motz opened its second location in Redford on Plymouth Avenue.

8714 Eureka Road., Southgate; 734-288-0587 or motzs.com

Patty and Press Smash Burger

Goran Dimic and Brandon Gorgies, owners of Naked Burger in Clinton Township, held a grand opening event of their second establishment together, Patty and Press Smash Burgers, on March 21 in Shelby Township.

The restaurant’s burgers are a signature blend from Fairway Packing Co. in Fraser and use beef tallow for all its fried side dishes. The Patty & Press Classic Smash meal includes a burger, hand-cut fries and a pop and costs $12.90.

52300 Van Dyke, Shelby Township; pattyandpress.com

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Rock and Brews

Founded by two members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Kiss, Rock and Brews held a grand opening event on April 9 in Royal Oak. Co-founder and Kiss band member Gene Simmons was in attendance for the festivities.

The Royal Oak location is the 20th franchise in the national chain, which began 14 years ago. It is also the biggest street-side location to date, located inside a 12,000-square-foot, three-level establishment.

Rock and Brews pays homage to some of Detroit’s greats in the form of artwork and installations, including Bob Seger, the White Stripes, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Eminem. The menu features American comfort food such as burgers, chicken wings, tacos and salads.

208 W. Fifth St., Royal Oak; rockandbrews.com

Smith & Williams

Popular social media influencer Starex Smith, well known as The Hungry Black Man on his Facebook page, is planning a May 1 grand opening of his new Detroit restaurant, Smith & Williams. Smith, who hails from Miami, and business partner Deavante Williams opened the restaurant Easter weekend at 1428 Gratiot Ave. in the Eastern Market area. Menu highlights include roasted turkey wings on top of cornbread dressing, oxtail lasagna and colossal braised oxtails. These items, all made from scratch, involve days of prep work. Hours are 4-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday for happy hour. Dinner hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Brunch service is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call or text 567-970-9059 for reservations.

1428 Gratiot, Detroit.

Restaurant reopenings in metro Detroit

Along with new restaurants there are a host of spots that opened for the spring.

Downtown Street Eats

For those in downtown Detroit, spring signals the return of the Downtown Street Eats food truck season at Cadillac Square. Now in its 14th year, 80 food trucks and carts are ready to serve more than 2,500 people every weekday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Downtown Street Eats season runs through mid-October. For information and lineup of this season's food trucks, go to downtowndetroit.org.

Cadillac Square, east of Campus Martius, in downtown Detroit

Bob Jo's Frozen Custard

Warm weather and ice cream are synonymous with one another. Bob Jo’s Frozen Custard in Wyandotte reopened on April 10 for its 79th year and is open daily from noon to 10 p.m. Find current flavors on Bob Jo's Frozen Custard Facebook page.

4071 Fort St., Wyandotte.

Gino's Surf

This lakefront restaurant, bar and entertainment spot is now open for the season in Harrison Township under new management, according to its Facebook page. Located on Jefferson Avenue with views of Lake St. Clair, Gino's Surf boasts a new chef and a new menu, plus live bands.

37400 Jefferson Ave., Harrison Township; 586-999-9201 or ginossurfmi.com

Mike's on the Water

Located on the Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores, Mike’s on the Water is now open. Now in its 16th season,, Mike’s menu offers various seafood dishes, including weekly specials on swordfish, catfish, sockeye salmon, cod and tilapia. The establishment is also known for its lobster rolls, which have served more than 117,000 to date, according to its website.

24530 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores. 586-872-2630 or mikesonthewater.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit gets seafood spots, custard shops, new dining options

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