Friday, June 10, 2011
"Handmade" extends to food at Ferndale marketplace open only on Saturdays and Sundays.
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Joe Hakim
-
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Rust Belt Market has been open for about a month now. Basically, it is a place for purveyors of handmade and/or vintage goods to set up shop and sell to the public each Saturday and Sunday. As its website says, "Ever wish that Etsy existed offline? So did we." Etsy, of course, is an online marketplace where people can buy handmade and vintage goods from around the world. The fundamental problem with Etsy is you have no idea who you're buying from. No matter how dolled up a virtual storefront may be, it is still virtual. Rust Belt Market brings the sellers from behind the keyboard into a public space where buyers can discuss any issues they may have before purchasing an item. When we talk about handmade goods, foods are sometimes …
42.46077
-83.13498
22801 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, MI
Rust Belt Market
/articles/bites-nearby-rust-belt-market
/locations/4562287
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Breakfast and lunch spot in Birmingham focuses on locally sourced ingredients.
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Joe Hakim
-
Thursday, May 19, 2011
It's easy to get bored with diners, coffeeshops and coney islands. How many times can you eat a ham and cheese omelette or a bacon cheeseburger and be completely satisfied? Don't even get me started on the acridness that is diner coffee with its overly acidic lack of flavor. It isn't totally fair to lump Commonwealth in with these places, but that's only because Commonwealth is so unique. Places like Commonwealth are few and far between. Open from 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. every day of the week, it is possible to have high quality coffee and made-to-order food focused on locally sourced ingredients almost any time of day. Coffee options change fairly often (sometimes daily, in fact). Commonwealth's website (gocommonwealth.com) is updated with …
42.54752
-83.21334
Commonwealth Cafe
300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-commonwealth
1718371
/locations/4357975
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Well-known part of the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group offers exciting, healthy options in addition to classic deli staples.
Nestled in the same strip mall on Orchard Lake Road just south of Maple Road since 1987, one might think that Deli Unique has little reason to deviate from its menu. It remains successful with its loyal base of fans of Jewish cuisine, while reeling in new customers with classic American favorites done in interesting, affordable ways, such as French toast rolled in Corn Flakes. However, what seems to make Deli Unique special is that it has grown into a fine place for a traditional deli favorites such as pastrami on rye bread or meatloaf on challah bread, as well a home for lean sandwich wraps and delicious salad. It seems like catering will always been an important part of the Deli Unique tradition and indeed, many area residents drop by to…
42.539952
-83.360602
6724 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI
Deli Unique
/articles/bites-nearby-deli-unique-2
/locations/4028262
Thursday, April 7, 2011
This week's Bites takes us to the Forest Grill, where the focus is rustic fine dining.
- RESTAURANT REVIEWS
- Joe Hakim
-
Thursday, April 7, 2011
"Cooking what nature provides" is Forest Grill's motto. James Beard award nominee Chef David Gilbert elegantly creates rustic, impeccably prepared dishes. Focusing primarily on seasonal, local and sustainable foods, Forest Grill's menu remains accessible and a joy to behold. Always on critics' best-of lists at the end of the year, the attitude and focus of the restaurant remains the same — good food prepared well. There's no pretension here — it's all about the food. An extensive, well thought-out wine list means there is a pairing for every course, even dessert. Ask the sommelier for suggestions. Menu changes occur multiple times throughout the year, so check for new, exciting items. Recommended dishes: Forest Grill burger, charcuterie…
42.545485
-83.209955
Forest Grill Restaurant
735 Forest Ave, Birmingham, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-forest-grill
711988
/locations/4030161
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Ferndale restaurant offers as good an interpretation of Lebanese dishes as can be found around town.
Anita's Kitchen, 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale (248) 548-0680 Anita's Kitchen, the contemporary successor to Anita Farah's popular restaurants (now closed) is run by her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Joe Wegrzyn, and it very much reflects their outgoing personalities. That's certainly a plus. The fare, from chicken shawarma to shish kafta, fattoush salad and the trio of taboulee, hummus and baba ganouge, all from Anita's recipes, is just about as good an interpretation of Lebanese fare as can be found around town. Another plus is the small but well-chosen wine list, and so is the heated, covered patio, which is open most of the year. It's amazing how many people are willing to sit outside even in very cold weather, and it's a …
42.459512
-83.134108
22651 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, MI
Anita's Kitchen
/articles/bites-nearby-anitas-kitchen-3
/locations/3766641
Thursday, March 17, 2011
This rail district staple is known for serving breakfast all day long.
With the look of a classic diner, the Whistle Stop Restaurant is a rail district staple. Unassuming on the outside and small inside, the dishes are full of homemade flavor. Though Whistle Stop has dozens of lunch and dinner entries — including BLTs, and homemade chicken noodle soup — the café is known for its breakfast selection. From pancakes, to eggs, to the cinnamon French toast — with whole pieces of cinnamon swirl bread — the wait can be long on the weekends but luckily, Whistle Stop serves breakfast all day long. The restaurant has an active carry-out service during the day and service is fast. Plus, if you have a sweet tooth, check out the rack of pies and cakes behind the homey-looking counter. They bake them fresh every day and …
42.54429
-83.19577
Whistle Stop Restaurant
501 S Eton St, Birmingham, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-whistle-stop-restaurant
711084
/locations/3714272
Thursday, February 24, 2011
With an Italian flair in its dishes, 220 is a classy downtown Birmingham dining spot that celebrates the area's history.
The downtown Birmingham restaurant named for its address on Merrill Street recalls the era when the well-preserved 1932 brick building was a Detroit Edison office. The decor, which appropriately includes a portrait of Thomas Edison, also features antique chandeliers and wall sconces, as well as light bulbs of all shapes and sizes, including the exposed filiment bulb that was Edison's first. But it's far from a museum. 220 has a lively atmosphere with lots of action at the marble-topped bar. In July, the restaurant will celebrate its 17th anniversary and it is still one of Birmingham's most popular spots. Executive Luis Reyes is in charge of an appealing menu that has an Italian spin in such dishes as veal piccata, risotto and seafood …
42.54534
-83.21413
220
220 E Merrill St, Birmingham, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-220
711668
/locations/3477395
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Salads, sandwiches, burgers and daily specials make this downtown Birmingham spot more than a routine bar & grill.
Luxe Bar & Grill, 525 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, (248) 792-6051 A hit since it opened in September, this Ron Rea-designed spot is tiny, but the space is used to full advantage from the bar tucked into a corner at the entrance, to the mirrored dining room that parallels the open kitchen. Founding family of Luxe Bar & Grill is the Bongiovanni clan, whose Salvatore Scallopini restaurants—one of which is a near neighbor of Luxe—are scattered through the local landscape. Luxe has a complete different approach, however. No pastas here. Menu standouts include sandwiches, salads and prime beef burgers in varieties including the house special with cheese, chopped lettuce, pickles and creamy white sauce on brioche; another combines haystack …
42.550838
-83.217709
Luxe Bar & Grill
525 N Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-luxe-bar-grill
1855471
/locations/3267495
Jennifer Giroux
8:32 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2011
Just ate here for the first time on Saturday. Loved the foie gras and lobster and gnocchi appetizers! Great drinks, great atmosphere, great food! more ›