Serena Maria Daniels

This Hazel Park restaurant celebrates Romanian-inspired cooking the way it deserves to be celebrated: shared among friends over a long dinner. So prepare to pass around exceptional plates of garlicky Transylvanian goulash with rich, velvety braised beef, baseball glove-sized tomahawk schnitzel, and olive-oil-and-salt-kissed focaccia served with tangy whipped feta, perfect for sopping up leftover sauce from a short rib rigatoni, or smearing with chicken paté. And just when you think the family-style party is over, housemade gnocchetti brightened up with seasonal spring peas and asparagus, and another round of the European-influenced cocktails, like the rhubarb-forward gimlet, will land on your table, inspiring you to keep going. The oversized corner booth is the best seat in the house, and spacious enough to squeeze in a half a dozen friends, making it all too easy to keep passing plates until you’re lulled into satisfaction.

There’s an understated thrill that comes from a meal at Mabel Gray, the cult-favorite Hazel Park restaurant located in a former diner. For one, the menu changes constantly, meaning no two dinners are exactly alike. It might begin with oysters served two ways: one raw, brightened with meyer lemon mignonette and chive, alongside a baked version topped with smoky pub cheese and pretzel crumbs. Their superpower lies in deceptively simple dishes, like a velvety mushroom bisque, or fresh squid ink linguini with Gulf shrimp that layers briny depth, spicy arrabbiata, and a crunch of garlic breadcrumbs into a dish that feels both comforting yet surprising. Even the wine pairing is win-win, with a sommelier overseeing a collection that stretches from Champagne and Burgundy to lesser-known producers from Austria and the Loire Valley.

Upscale Freya makes ambitious cooking feel within reach. The daily changing tasting menu starts at $95—an uncommon price for a restaurant experience of this caliber (à la carte ordering is an option on weekdays). A meal may include asparagus accented with meyer lemon, or a delicate pierogi stuffed with smoked carrot, dressed with dots of tomato jam and carrot mustard, and topped with relish—a playful hat tip to the Detroit Coney Island and to the region’s sizable Polish American community. Sustainably made wines from lesser-known regions and seasonal cocktails from the adjoining Dragonfly bar match the care that goes into each dish. The energy of the room feels as approachable as the food—ask for the binder containing a catalog of the owner’s vinyl collection and cue up Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” to celebrate the mood.

Before Marrow opened, dining options within Detroit's Eastern Market Historic District were largely limited to daytime diner food. That's no longer the case. This polished, modern restaurant and deli, housed in a former poultry processing plant, welcomes you, whether your arms are full of market groceries or you’ve just strolled through nearby Dequindre Cut. At Marrow, whole animal butchery meets the farmers market, resulting in knockout dishes like date-glazed Market Bacon, grilled cauliflower layers with apricot salsa and prosciutto XO sauce, or a bone-in short rib served with tallow-fried sweet potatoes. Two moody bar areas fill with a mix of day-drinking market shoppers and locals seeking an elegant place to catch up over cocktails made with Detroit spirits and a wine list that stretches from Leelanau Peninsula sparklers to Lebanese whites. Weekend brunch is reason enough to stop by, particularly for the Marrow Cakes topped with whipped bone marrow.

Noori Pocha/Chicken is for anyone chasing generously portioned Korean fried chicken that keeps you wanting more. Their soy garlic version delivers the audibly crisp skin, lacquered in a sweet-savory glaze that clings to every ridge without turning soft. Or go dry with their signature Magic Sprinkle seasoning, a sweet-savory, slightly funky blend of cheese, garlic, and a dash of sugar. The supporting cast of sides deserves as much love, like a rose tteokbokki that leans richer with its creamy, spicy sauce. Their dining room is designed to resemble a Seoul street scene with more than enough visual details to keep your eyes busy between bites, like faux storefronts, glowing neon signs, and paper lanterns, making this spot good for late-night groups who are happy to get a little messy together.

What a long weekend of morels, ramps, pea shoots, and blue-corn corn dogs reveals about the forces in the Cherry Capital reshaping northern Michigan’s food scene

Here are Hour Detroit's best new casual eateries for 2026, including cafes in Ferndale, Detroit, and Birmingham, and a Hazel Park pizzeria.

Tacos Wuey, a taqueria in Detroit, is one of 10 establishments named to Hour Detroit's 2026 Best New Restaurants list.

Here's the story of how a family from Arandas, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, built a restaurant legacy that changed Detroit’s dining scene

The Michigan Senate candidate talks to BA about his Egyptian American upbringing, his fight to make groceries affordable, and his go-to restaurants.