The Brakeman, which is referred to as a “Beer Hall” on their website, was opened in March of 2019 by the NOHO Hospitality group. They operate many successful restaurants in New York and have cornered the market here with The Brakeman, also owning Penny Reds, Mister Dips and San Morello in the Shinola Hotel. 

While it feels more like a sports bar than a beer hall, it’s a cool place to stop in for a refreshing cold beverage and maybe play a game of shuffleboard, beer pong, foosball . . . or just watch your favorite team play on one of their many TVs. 

After nearly 2 years of anticipation, earlier this week was the official opening of Portillo’s Livonia location. Portillo’s original Michigan location was opened 3 years ago in Sterling Heights. The Livonia location is quite spacious (7900 square feet) but is actually a bit smaller than their Sterling Heights location. But, it still offers seating for 175 plus 50 on their outdoor patio. And of course their food is just as delicious! You may also have seen the Portillo’s Beef Bus around which rolled into the area earlier this year.

In 1994, Dave Anderson opened the First Famous Dave’s restaurant in Hayward Wisconsin, and its popularity quickly grew! Today, they have over 180  locations in 30 states and 3 international locations in Winnipeg, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  There are 7 locations in Michigan: Saginaw, Flint, Roseville, Novi, Westland, Taylor and Troy.

In 2013 Bob & Dorothy Ostendorf, and their business partners Jim & Kathy Sulllivan, took over a pub located at 860 Fralick in Downtown Plymouth.  It was an old Irish Pub  and the Ostendorf’s and Sullivan’s were not crazy about what the place was, even though they frequented it regularly.  They changed the name to Stella’s Black Dog Tavern. The name comes from the Ostendorf’s Bernese Mountain Dog Stella. 

This weeks adventure takes us to Wayne, to a locally owned establishment that is serving up some creative scratch-made-to-order food.  It is a bistro, but some refer to it as a sports bar in the sense they have tv’s and they usually have sports playing.  The Avenue American Bistro is not new, but it is new to us.  We were told about it by some friends that told us we would love it, and we did.

Located in the Heart of Downtown Wayne, it is a culinary delight! They opened their doors in 2010 and are still going strong today.  The inside is wide open with lots of space.  There are murals painted on the cinderblock walls depicting the blue collar workers the Detroit and surrounding communities were built on. The atmosphere, food and the service are exactly what we look for when we go out. 

On March 3rd of this year, brothers Eric and Ryan Sokolowsi, along with their business partner John Skrbal, opened Great White Buffalo Brewing Company in Downtown Northville.  They secured a prime location, right at the corner of Center and Main Streets. The space was previously occupied by Yogurt Palooza a few years back.

It all started in 1995, when Curt Catallo and his wife Ann Stevenson opened up the Clarkston Union.  Curt’s parents had bought the old church, to save it from disrepair, and were not sure what to do with the place. Curt and Ann had an idea, and together with their opening chef Bill Fortin, they opened the Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen. 

The Craft Grill, at Schoolcraft College, is a new and exciting Brew Pub featuring beers made in house by the Schoolcraft Brewing and Distilling program at the college.  The Brew Pub has been there for a few years, but their recent multi-million dollar renovation has allowed them to expand from being open 1 day a week for 3 hours to being open 5 days a week for 10-12 hours 5 days a week. They now offer food as well.  This is a great hidden gem in Livonia since no one would think to go to a school for lunch or dinner.  The brew pub is located at the north end of campus in the Vista Tech Center and is attached to the American Harvest Restaurant.