569. Motor City Wine – July 23, 2022 – Detroit, MI

Motor City Wine is many things: a wine shop, a wine bar, a host of live music . . . and the site of one of the most gorgeous patios in Detroit!

Motor City Wine’s offerings have obviously been thoughtfully curated. There are more than just the usual varieties from the usually-featured winemaking regions. Stroll through its Instagram account (motorcitywine) to see wines from all over the world: the Czech Republic, South Africa, the country of Georgia. Buy a bottle from the shop and drink it in the bar by paying a $10 corkage fee. Or purchase a glass featured on the bar’s menu. Wine not your thing? Motor City Wine also serves beer.

Live music is another regular offering at Motor City Wine. Its website’s September calendar shows DJs and musicians playing sets Thursdays through Sundays. Restaurant pop-ups are also a regular occurrence.

And that patio! It’s a pretty, greenery-infused retreat – the perfect place to savor a glass of Motor City Wine’s wares.

1949 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.motorcitywine.com

546. Momento Gelato & Coffee – January 30, 2022 – Detroit, MI

As if I needed another reason to love Corktown, here comes Momento Gelato & Coffee, really making me swoon!

The coffee house plus gelato joint resides on Trumbull Street, just a stone’s throw from 100 Places in the D favorite Ottava Via. And it’s not to be missed; its gelato is exceptional.

You’d think a frigid January’s morn wouldn’t lend itself well to gelato eating. But I’m here to attest that any day of the year is the perfect one to consume Momento’s gelato. I got a scoop each of its butter pecan and pistachio flavors, and WOW! They were so rich and creamy and flat-out wonderful. Gelato flavors featured throughout the year, according to Momento’s website, include Michigan Fresh Peach (a seasonal offering), Salted Caramel, and Italian Hazelnut Honey (a WOW-worthy flavor if there ever was one!). The Michigan-based business also makes several fruit sorbets.

And then there’s the caffeinated aspect of the menu. Momento offers espresso-, coffee-, and tea-based beverages (which include decaffeinated options). And you know there’s an affogato (espresso and vanilla gelato)! I sampled this portion of the menu via Momento’s cappuccino, which was the ideal rich-and-tasty treat to take with me on a brief stroll about Corktown, being as it was warming (I ate the not-so-warming gelato later in the car).

If you’re looking to make an ice cream, coffee, and meal run all in one, Momento’s got you! Its menu includes soup, pastries, a caprese salad, and several types of paninis. A lunch special combines all the goodies: a drip coffee, cup of soup, panini, and a small gelato. Now my heart is REALLY going pitter-patter for Momento Gelato & Coffee!

2120 Trumbull St.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.momentogelatoandcoffee.com

544. James Oliver Coffee Company – January 18, 2022 – Detroit, MI

A visit to James Oliver Coffee Company’s Corktown café made for a sweet Tuesday morning!

I visited the indie coffee shop for some work-from-home-away-from-home time. This was my first time working in a coffee shop since I got a 100%-remote job two years ago, and it was an absolute delight!

It wasn’t my first time inside the Detroit-based building’s interior. James Oliver opened this café in the building that once housed Detroit Institute of Bagels (R.I.P.!). While I’m sad that the locally-owned bagel shop is no more, I’m happy that the business taking its place is just as wonderful. James Oliver’s coffee- and tea-based drinks are delicious, and the staff is lovely. Plenty of seating options are available in the bright, cozy café, including barista-counter seating and my favorite: window-facing counter seats that look out on Michigan Avenue. There’s a food menu, too, showcasing soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, and bagels. Vegan options are available.

James Oliver roasts its own beans, offering multiple varietals, from Tanzania Peaberry to Costa Rican to the decadent Cinnamon Hazelnut Chocolate Blend. Check out its website for its current offerings and to order online.

For two hours, I worked in a pleasant flow of coffee shop camaraderie and caffeine (supplied by James Oliver’s cappuccino and matcha latte). It was exactly what I needed that day, the perfect home-away-from-home, with atmosphere and amenities that beckon me to return for another sojourn.

1236 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48226

www.jamesolivercoffee.com

524. Supergeil – September 24, 2021 – Detroit, MI

Friday night in Detroit: my heart thrills at the thought! Though of course, I love Detroit any day of the week – and I know I would love visiting Supergeil any day of the week, too. With its fantastic food, drink, and ambiance, there was no way I wasn’t going to fall in love with it.

Supergeil is located in Corktown, just a stone’s throw from Two James. And that’s probably not a coincidence, considering that the owner of that magical bar/distillery also owns Supergeil.

According to its website, Supergeil is “inspired by the energy and food of Berlin’s Kreuzberg district,” where a prominent Turkish population resides. What does that mean for us here in Detroit? Delicious döner sandwiches and cocktails inspired by the flavors of that vibrant German neighborhood.

Even if Supergeil’s cocktails weren’t inspired by Kreuzberg, I know they’d be great, because Supergeil’s bar manager is amazingly talented. He served my friend and I during our visit, as we sat at the bar. When my friend couldn’t figure out what drink she wanted from the menu, he offered to surprise her with off-menu offerings based on her preferences; both drinks he made for her were phenomenal. I loved the drink I ordered from the menu, too, the I’ll Halva Mai Tai. It’s a dreamy concoction of Two James’ Grass Widow Bourbon and Dr. Bird Rum, orange liqueur, a tahini-and-pistachio orgeat, lime juice, a cardamom-and-vanilla tincture, angostura bitters, and baharat spice.

“Well-balanced” was the phrase that kept coming to mind as I sipped these drinks. Some craft cocktails are more a pile-on of liquor than expressions of flavor. But not Supergeil’s. They are potent, yes, but they don’t just taste like booze; they’re beautifully nuanced, a kaleidoscope of discernable flavors that play off and complement each other. They are wonderful! Though because they feature Two James’ spirits, they would likely still be wonderful even if they were all booze.

The food at Supergeil is just as delightful as those carefully crafted cocktails. Of course I had to have a döner during my visit. Having been introduced to that enticing sandwich by my visit to Balkan House in 2019, there was no way I was going to pass one up.

Supergeil offers three different kinds of döner: a lamb-and-beef, a chicken, and an eggplant. I got the lamb-and-beef version and relished its tender shaved meat stuffed in a pocket of fluffy pide flatbread and topped with crunchy cucumber, tomato, lettuce, purple cabbage, garlic sauce, and wonderfully spicy hot sauce. It was SO good!

Even more tasty were Supergeil’s fries, a basketful of which I totally crushed. Wonderfully crunchy, flecked with chilies and drizzled with aoili and scharf sauce (which, I gather from the internet, is a type of German hot sauce), they were utterly delicious and almost impossible for me to stop eating.

Can we talk about Supergeil’s ambiance, too? With its warm lighting illuminating the space of brick walls and peeling sage-green paint, profusion of hanging plants, and vibrantly tiled bar, it feels cozy yet contemporary. The young, hip-looking clientele populating the place on the night of my visit made it seem like the kind of bar where all the cool kids go – the cool cool kids, not the snotty ones. The vibes were good; the employees I encountered were friendly and welcoming. Supergeil is most definitely the kind of place you want to make your neighborhood hang – even if you don’t live in the neighborhood.

2442 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.supergeildetroit.com

489. Brooklyn Street Local – November 29, 2020 – Detroit, MI

A jaunt to Brooklyn Street Local on a sunny Sunday in late November had my heart bursting with happiness!

I’m not a winter person; the transition to frigid, light-deprived days is never an easy one for me. Choosing to deliberately infuse my days with joy – à la visits to new places! – helps, as does the occasional sunny day. So when my visit to Brooklyn Street Local lined up with gorgeous blue skies, it felt especially auspicious.

The restaurant based in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit is a cozy, hipster-retro diner I would’ve loved to dine inside in normal times. And was I tempted to plunk down at a seat on its inviting brick-paved patio with its profusion of planters overflowing with still-green vines? Absolutely, even in those chilly November temps!

I’d planned on eating my carryout order at home, but as it were, I ended up scarfing part of it in my car parked behind Brooklyn Street Local. Self-discipline went right out the window with one glimpse of the Poutine I’d ordered! With its rich beef gravy and creamy organic cheese curds, it was utterly delicious – and I felt wholly justified in shoveling half of it into my mouth right then and there.

I was able to compose myself enough to wait to eat the rest of the Poutine and the main of my meal, the Pork Belly Sandwich, at home. With its fatty pork belly piled with peppery arugula, apple cabbage slaw, and spicy gochujang sauce nestled in a fresh-made brioche bun from Avalon, the sandwich was a flavorful treat.

It wasn’t solely the tasty food and sunny skies that made my heart a happy one that day. The staff I interacted with during my visit to Brooklyn Street Local were so welcoming, I felt a jolt of joy from my interactions with them. How we’re treated by a business colors our experience of it – and the good vibes of the Brooklyn Street Local staff colored my experience of that establishment in rainbow sparkles. Warmth goes a long way – especially in these days of limited in-person interaction!

Brooklyn Street Local’s menu includes an array of breakfast items (examples are the Banana Walnut Pancakes, Spinach and Feta Omelette, and Smoked Trout Benny), plus a selection of soup, salads, sandwiches, sides, and baked goodies. Many options are vegan or vegetarian, such as my almost-choice of the Kale Quinoa with its roasted beets, apple slices, shredded carrot, and toasted almonds.

While I didn’t pay attention to the Sozai Pan on Brooklyn Street Local’s menu when I perused it prior to my visit, now I’m wishing I did; it’s described as a “Japanese deli bread . . . a soft bun with sweet, savory and vegan filling options.” One of those filling options? Miso Coney. I need to know what that tastes like. And Beef Curry and Bacon and Gouda are also choices? OK, if I wasn’t already convinced, a revisit to Brooklyn Street Local is definitely in order!

1266 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.brooklynstreetlocal.com

458. Cork and Gabel – January 17, 2020 – Detroit, MI

Detroit jaunts warm my heart, even on the coldest of days. And a jaunt to Corktown’s Cork and Gabel on a Friday night in mid-January was no exception to this rule.

On ambiance alone, I was captivated with this place from the get-go. Opening Cork and Gabel’s big metal door (which is made from a recycled oil tank, BTW; the whole of the tank makes up a lobby area) and stepping over the threshold, I was greeted by a vibrant display of super-cool graffiti art – and THAT was just in the lobby!

The interior of Cork and Gabel is warm and inviting, a mash-up of industrial-chic and antique vibes with its minimalist light fixtures, brick walls, distressed-wood bar front, and repurposed elements such as the aforementioned oil tank.

According to a FAQ sheet put on the tables at Cork and Gabel, several of the elements that comprise the restaurant are recycled ones getting a new lease on life (which I LOVE). There’s a bell hanging above the bar from around the turn of the 20th century that used to belong to a Detroit business called Fulton Engine and Iron Works that is rung any time a round of at least twelve drinks is bought at the bar. We got to hear it rung while we were there! There’s fencing from Mt. Elliott Cemetery, and brick pavers that used to line the streets of Detroit now line the Cork and Gabel patio. There are former gas carriage lights from the mid-1800s that have been converted to electric lights. History reinvigorated!

The creativity and ingenuity doesn’t end with Cork and Gabel’s ambiance. The restaurant practices a type of repurposing with its food menu, too, melding Irish, Italian, and German cooking to form its cuisine, which is heavy on comfort fare (making it especially ideal at this time of year). Its dinner menu offers hearty salads, appetizers, and meat-centric dishes such as the Bangers and Mash, Schnitzel BLT, and Prosciutto Tortellini. A brunch menu is also offered on Saturday and Sundays and includes a most gargantuan Bloody Mary (the Ultimate Bloody Mary), a quart-sized portion loaded with foodstuffs (including meat, cheese, and a full-blown breakfast sandwich) that makes me wish I liked Bloody Marys (I love the whimsy of these loaded ones!).

But it’s not all meat-and-dairy-laden goodness at Cork and Gabel: vegetarian and vegan options such as the Mushroom Risotto (made with vegetable stock) and Meatless Sausage Pasta are available, too. It’s always good to be able to support veg friends!

After perusing Cork and Gabel’s craft cocktail menu and ordering a drink from our awesome server (the fantastic The Southwest, which was right up my alley with its ancho-jalapeño-infused tequila, lime juice, and honey-habanero simple syrup), I studied that food menu and opted for the dish that I’d kept coming back to: the C&G Burger. Based off of the ingredients listed on the menu – lettuce, tomato, bacon, Guinness-caramelized onions, and TWO kinds of cheese: a black pepper-infused mozzarella and what was described as a “crispy Dubliner cheese” – I suspected this was going to be one hefty burger.

I wasn’t mistaken in that assumption. The C&G Burger was indeed a hulking display of comfort-food decadence, comprised as it was of a big beef patty on a toasted brioche bun and loaded with that glut of toppings, accompanied by a slew of French fries.

The meal did not disappoint: it was rich, satisfying tastiness! My favorite part of the C&G Burger was that crispy Dubliner cheese, which turned out to be wedges of cheese that were breaded and deep-fried into extreme YUM-ness.

From ambiance to service, from food to drink, the whole of my visit to Cork and Gabel was a super satisfying one – one that warmed my heart on that chilly winter’s night, for sure.

2415 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

(Closed Tuesdays)

www.corkandgabel.com

452. Lucky Coffee – December 15, 2019 – Detroit, MI

On a Sunday afternoon back in mid-December, I visited (without consciously planning it) two establishments with the word “lucky” in their monikers: Pho Lucky and Lucky Coffee.

Probably I should have bought a lottery ticket that day, with all that coincidental emphasis on the word lucky hailing from the Universe. Well, I missed that opportunity, but I still feel like I hit the jackpot that day, because I discovered how lovely Lucky Coffee is!

The Corktown-based coffee shop is on the second floor of Detroit Barber Co. To get to Lucky Coffee, you enter the barber shop and go up a flight of stairs near the front door, then navigate through a suite of barber chairs on the second floor. The coffee house is beyond them, in its own room.

Once there, you feel like you are in another world, a cozy, bygone world. Lucky Coffee has an antique-saloon feel to it – except that coffee, tea, and espresso drinks are being slung instead of vodka, scotch, and whiskey. (Baked goodies are available, too.)

Speaking of booze, Lucky Coffee does offer a vanilla bourbon latte, which I ordered during my visit. It was rich and sweet, a delight to savor; it reminded me of toasted marshmallows. According to the barista on duty when I remarked on that to him, I was the only one to have theretofore made that flavor-profile comparison (I hope he knows I meant it as a compliment; it was tasty!). If you visit Lucky Coffee and get that vanilla bourbon latte, you’ll have to share in the comments section below whether you agree with my assessment!

Because I enjoyed hanging out so much at Lucky Coffee, soaking in its brick walls and plank floors and grand wood-fronted counter and crystal chandeliers and strings of bare lightbulbs and old-timey memorabilia (a mounted moose head; a striped barber’s pole; a rusted tin sign advertising prescriptions) and the sunshine streaming in from the window I perched near, I opted for another drink after I finished that vanilla bourbon latte. Consulting with the barista over tea lattes, I ordered the Earl Grey latte that he recommended; he said he’d concocted the syrup himself.

What beautifully nuanced flavor that latte had! I love Earl Grey tea, but I’ve noticed how the flavor profile varies from brand to brand; the bergamot flavor isn’t consistent, and sometimes I find it to be too weak. This latte had the perfect amount of bergamot flavor, in my opinion, as well as a nice sweetness.

My visit to Lucky Coffee left me buoyed by caffeine and contentment – and certainly feeling fortunate that I’d discovered another awesome indie coffee shop in the area (no lottery win required for those good vibes!).

2000 Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.luckydetroit.com

402. Grandma Bob’s – March 28, 2019 – Detroit, MI

Grandma Bob’s is serving up some delicious pizza in the D!

This I discovered on a Thursday night in late March, after happy-hour drinks with a friend at beloved 100 Places in the D alumni member Two James Spirits. Starving after our adult-beverage imbibing, we continued the revelry at the then newly-opened Corktown-based pizzeria.

Is there any food that tastes better after you’ve had a few drinks than pizza? Of course, pizza tastes just as amazing stone-cold-sober as it does when you’re tipsy, but you know what I mean. We had worked up an appetite and were excited to taste-test Grandma Bob’s wares.

Walking into Grandma Bob’s, I admired its fun, funky vibe. Bare lightbulbs hung amidst a tangle of cording from the ceiling. The walls were dark, and the prominent artwork they showcased was a striking ceramic-tile mural of a piece of pizza. A bar along one wall provided seat options, as did long communal tables.

At the time of our visit, the pizzeria had some intriguing choices on its menu, including a Coney pizza loaded with all of the fixings of the iconic hot dog (the chili, the mustard, the onions, the hot dog itself – you name it!) and the Pear + Fig pie with its slices of pear, dried figs, honey, walnuts, blue cheese, and basil.

Usually I love to try a pizza loaded with intriguing topping options. Why wasn’t I going for Grandma Bob’s Taco pie with its roasted corn, jalapeños, onion, chorizo, radish, crushed corn chips, cilantro, and lime? For whatever reason, I was in a no-frills mood, and the classic Cheese pizza with its mozzarella, red sauce, and shredded basil was calling my name, so I heeded the call.

My friend went simple, too, opting for the Pepperoni pizza. We ordered at the counter at the front of Grandma Bob’s, procuring a round of drinks, as well; I enjoyed one of the bar’s tasty craft cocktails – though 4.5 months later, I can’t for the life of me remember what it was called or what it contained (here’s to taking real notes going forward instead of mental notes – and to catching up on the blog so I’m posting in real time!).

Our food came out promptly, and THESE PIZZAS, you guys. They were paragons of fresh, cheesy goodness!

Grandma Bob’s cheese pizza was a reminder of what cheese pizza should taste like: so richly flavorful, making my taste buds go “WOW!!!” Who needs all of the extra toppings when you’ve got cheese pizza like that to eat? It was seriously phenomenal.

My friend felt the same way about the pizza she ordered, that it was more flavorfully nuanced than your typical pepperoni pie. It had honey drizzled over it, giving it a subtle sweetness that she enjoyed.

I ate every slice of the twelve-inch round I ordered but one, opting to take it home so I could savor it later. I left Grandma Bob’s feeling full and satisfied, excited to have discovered yet another awesome locally-owned establishment in Detroit (the city is positively brimming with ’em!).

2135 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.grandmabobs.com

388. The Farmer’s Hand – February 3, 2019 – Detroit, MI

After lunch at Folk and shopping at Mama Coo’s Boutique on a sunny Sunday in early February, I stepped into The Farmer’s Hand, the Corktown grocer adjacent to the restaurant and vintage clothing store.

The tiny shop showcases a thoughtful curation of locally-produced fruits, veggies, cheeses, and other grocery goods, such as Mindo Chocolates (produced in Dexter) and my perennial obsession, Gus and Grey jams (one of Detroit’s finest exports, in my opinion!). Baked goods, salads, sandwiches, and other ready-made items are also available for purchase, as are coffee and tea. A window-facing counter allows patrons to eat, drink, and relax in-shop before heading out to face the rest of their day, foodie fuel in hand.

1701 Trumbull Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.thefarmershand.com

387. Mama Coo’s Boutique – February 3, 2019 – Detroit, MI

Mama Coo’s! I visited this cute shop back in early February and have lately been pondering a return jaunt. Considering that five months have elapsed since my first visit (!), I’m due!

The Corktown-based store is one of those thoughtfully-curated spaces around which you can rotate multiple times and find new items catching your eye with each revolution. It sells jewelry, magnets, candles, crystals, buttons, handmade greeting cards, vintage clothing, and other striking goodies.

Multiple items intrigued me, and I went for all four of them: a packet of soothing-scented incense sticks; a polished nugget of rose quartz; a magnet emblazoned with “The Patriarchy Isn’t Going to Smash Itself” and drawings of female historical figures and superheroes; and the best candle I have ever smelled, a concoction that included scents of peppermint and lavender – and was it eucalyptus? I burned it up long ago and don’t remember what it was called or who produced it, but it was AMAZING, the kind of candle you take a big whiff of before you head out the door for the day to give you a boost – and now I’m legit penning into my planner a return visit to Mama Coo’s at the remembrance of it!

The employee working the counter at Mama Coo’s that day was so friendly and lovely, too, chatting with me about the history of the shop and the building it is housed within (which she said the owner’s grandparents had lived in at one point years ago).

In short: Mama Coo’s Boutique is a gem, one worth a first visit, a return visit, and many more beyond that!

1701 Trumbull Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

www. mamacoosboutique.com