The March Hit List: Christine’s Cuisine, Daebak, Grey Ghost, and More

Though Ukrainian-owned, calling this Ferndale strip mall stalwart a Ukrainian restaurant isn’t quite accurate. Harkening back to the scrappier days of Ferndale’s existence, Christine’s is both eclectic and homespun in its offerings. The menu features the favorite (and truly massive) bomb burrito, which shares space with Eastern European items like potato pancakes and pierogi, as well as a plethora of homestyle Italian options and a full page of burgers. But if a taste of Ukraine is what you’re after, spring for the Odessa platter, which comes loaded with pierogi, smoked sausage, baked sauerkraut, and dark rye bread.

Walk-ins and carryout only.

Though not a standalone restaurant, the banquet center at Warren’s Ukrainian Cultural Center is open to the public every Friday for a $13 lunch buffet. Offerings change weekly, but you can always expect homemade soups, salads, and semi-Americanized versions of Eastern European staples. Coffee, tea, and dessert are included in the price, but a cash bar is also available. Afterwards, hit The Center bar for a beer or two in the UCC’s unassuming watering hole.

Call 586-757-8130 for reservations.

The Yi family’s celebration of Korean food and culture that is Southfield’s New Seoul Plaza is undergoing some exciting changes that will eventually see anchor restaurant Daebak expand considerably to better meet the overwhelming demand for K-BBQ. In the meantime, guests now are greeted with a brand new outdoor art installation from Mike Han and Leon Speakers and the welcome sight of construction on the family’s neighboring Korean grocery store. On March 3 — the third day of the third month — Daebak celebrates Samgyupsal Day, Korean’s annual celebration of pork belly, with a $33 all-you-can-eat pork option. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Korean fried chicken continues its march into Michigan with the first outpost of Bonchon, a 20-year-old chain founded in Busan, South Korea. The double-fried chicken gets a coating of soy garlic or spicy sauce but still remains crispy, even in the carryout container after a drive home. Unlike some of the other “KFC” restaurants that have sprouted lately, Bonchon expands beyond the chicken to other Korean staples like japchae and bulgogi and bibimbap.

The big news out of camp Grey Ghost pertains to the hospitality group’s newly announced venture, Basan, which promises pan-Asian fare, an izakaya vibe, and a summer debut at the Eddystone Building across Woodward. But for now, Grey Ghost executive chef Anthony Patton is upping the ante at Four Man Ladder’s flagship restaurant with whimsical takes on steakhouse staples while Will Lee’s cocktail program continues to prove why he’s one of the city’s best mixologists.

Though the promise of spring beginning is a nice symbolic gesture, Michiganders know the reality of March as the second-to-last month of winter. And by this point in the season, most of us need to be transported somewhere warmer. Consider Olin, veteran restaurateur Holly McClain’s American brasserie, with not-so-subtle nods to Spain and the Mediterranean. They’re “small plates” here, not “tapas,” but the masterful paellas are large enough to share and reflect chef Andrew Shedden’s experience at Chicago Spanish mainstay Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

New to the Resy fold this month, Northville’s Lucy & The Wolf also leans into the American tapas genre, with an abbreviated selection of dishes either charred in the charcoal Josper oven — like patatas bravas and roasted broccolini with ‘nduja vinaigrette — or chilled snacks like marinated olives and deviled eggs. A similar hot-cold dichotomy organizes the cocktail selection, which also nods to the glory days of alternative radio rock with names like “Semi-Charmed Life” and “Stacy’s Mom.”

A few doors down from Lucy & The Wolf sits sister restaurant Table 5, another Resy newcomer. The self-described “casual upscale” restaurant serves dinner, only in a more traditional appetizer-soup-salad-entree cadence — no tapas here. Come for the veal chop or panko-crusted Alaskan halibut, but stay for the St. Louis butter cake with chantilly cream and Table 5’s selection of creamy dessert martinis.

After years of painstakingly restoring this century-old Detroit fire house, James Cadariu finally swung the doors open on his family’s natural wine bar and retail shop last month. Boasting roughly 300 bottles of natural wines from around the world, Ladder 4 pays homage to the Cadariu’s Romanian heritage with a strong focus on selections from Eastern Europe. This may be the only place in town to sip Romanian pet-nat, or orange wine from Serbia, or Hungarian Kovidinka. The bar is open Thursday through Saturday evenings only, but the bottle shop is available Tuesday and Wednesday. There are no reservations required, but plan accordingly, as proof of vaccination will be requested at the door.

With real estate prices in neighboring Ann Arbor rising faster than inflation, some of the more interesting dining establishments have begun to sprout in Ypsilanti, its more affordable neighbor. Don’t let the strip club next door to the Bellflower fool you. This Southern-inflected gem exudes a charming polish and thoughtful menu that would fit in on prime real estate of any buzzing metropolis. But it’s unique location means there are some serious wine deals to be had, both on the bubble-forward menu and in the small retail shop that doubles as a sandwich counter during the day. At dinner, Chef Dan Klenotic’s love for Southern cooking shines through across the abbreviated menu, from crusty milk bread and pimento cheese to chicken boudin served with Saltines, coleslaw, and Crystal hot sauce. Save yourself a trip to the bayou with a detour through Ypsilanti.

For reservations, visit bellflowerypsi.com