The July Hit List: Selden Standard, Weiss Distilling, Warda Patisserie, and More

The magic and mystery at the heart of this new Clawson distillery is on full display this month with the just-released Ježibaba absinthe. You may have heard of the Green Fairy before, but at first-generation Slovakian Dennis Weiss’ place, the fairy is replaced with a shifty forest witch straight from Slavic folklore. Instead of absinthe’s trademark pale green hue, Weiss’ absinthe comes out of the bottle a deep blue thanks to the addition of butterfly pea flower as part of its botanicals mix. Even cooler, it turns a bright milky pink when mixed with acid (like lemon juice), offering a new visual twist on an age-old liquor.

This just-opened speakeasy from the owners of SavannahBlue puts Black spirits and the Black community’s historical contributions to cocktail culture on full display. Look for the gold door in the alley behind the restaurant to enter the dimly lit lounge. The big willow at the center of the bar lets you know you’re in the right place, while expertly crafted cocktails will leave you weeping.

Find more info here.

The first James Beard Foundation Award winner from Detroit in nearly 30 years, Warda Bougettaya’s globally inspired patisserie has been swamped since the Algerian-born pastry chef took home the Best Pastry Chef award from the foundation last month. The line out the door forms well before opening, as a broader public has become aware of the immaculate financiers, tarts, and other goodies. If you’re lucky enough to make it before sellout, make sure to try the maritozzi, an Italian pastry bomb filled with heavenly whipped cream.

Find more info here.

This perennial farm-to-table favorite in the old Cass Corridor recently welcomed local beverage veteran Paul Fradeneck as general manager. The former Mabel Gray barman brings his operational prowess, most recently from the Shinola Hotel, to what is already a well-oiled machine, so it’ll be interesting to see what changes Fradeneck institutes at Selden. While Andy Hollyday’s kitchen isn’t quite back to its seven-day pre-COVID cadence, the restaurant now turns out its exemplary, Mediterranean-inflected plates of vegetable carpaccio and cacio e pepe Wednesday through Sunday. What’s more, the lush backyard patio is exactly the type of place you’d want to while away as many warm evenings as possible, making Selden Standard our must-visit summer pick.

After a long delay, Roast alums and beverage heavyweights Travis Fourmont and Joseph Allerton finally opened their French-style bistro in Brush Park in June. Named for the Quartier Pigalle neighborhood of Paris, Bar Pigalle is putting up whimsical takes on French fare out of a kitchen led by former Apparatus Room executive sous chef Nyle Flynn, alongside chef de cuisine Jake Osborn. (Of note: Both worked their way up the kitchen brigade at Selden Standard once upon a time.) And while Parisian staples like crudité and vichyssoise appear on the brief menu, Detroit shows up in both the frog legs and the steak and frites, served “coney-style.”

Call 313-497-9200 for reservations.

Detroit native and former NFL cornerback Ron Bartell continues to help enliven the revitalizing commercial strip of Livernois near 7 Mile with Petty Cash, a swanky new craft cocktail and small plates lounge — first announced in 2018 and finally opening early this month. Bartell has put together a strong hospitality team led by executive chef Dominic McCord (formerly of Leila), general manager Lee Campbell (formerly of SavannahBlue), and bar manager Lani Ingersoll (formerly of Flowers of Vietnam). With a trio like that at the helm, you can expect Petty Cash to quickly establish itself as a veritable dining destination on the city’s north side.

Opening July 7. Find more info here.

Though it may be overshadowed by the rooftop patio down the street (not to mention the new skyscraper being built next door), you can’t go wrong sitting indoors or out at the ground floor restaurant of Detroit’s Shinola Hotel. Operated by Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality, the menu reads a bit like Carmellini’s greatest hits — and we’re certainly not complaining. It means diners can tuck into AC’s famous sheep’s milk ricotta, served on sesame toast with hot honey and crunchy slices of toasted garlic, as well as Carmellini’s perhaps slightly more famous lamb meatballs. Pizzas and pastas are all solid here, too, but don’t overlook the impressive Italian wine list, curated by a certified master sommelier.

The sprawling rooftop patio at the Monarch Club, with its best-in-class views of downtown Detroit, is home to perhaps the most coveted seats in the city during summer. For better luck, come for a pre- or post-dinner drink rather than the main meal itself; the menu is designed more for bar snacking than filling your belly, though herb-crusted lamb chops will certainly do the trick. Cocktails are exceptional here, but bring your wallet if you plan to stay a while. At $20 apiece, the cost of the view is built into the menu.

While the view from the second-story rooftop patio of this Beacon Park anchor may not be as impressive as one atop a skyscraper, the futuristic, indoor-outdoor design of Lumen is a showstopper on its own. Patio tables are first-come, first-served, but there are plenty to go around. The food here is reasonably priced and won’t make you think too hard, though if you look closely you might notice some Belgian brasserie leanings. Think: soft pretzels with beer cheese and Dijon mustard, PEI mussels with white wine and chorizo, and frites served with house aioli.

Perched atop the busy corner of Main St. and 11 Mile in downtown Royal Oak, Pinky’s offers elevated bar food and showy, colorful cocktails that serve as photogenic centerpieces for the Instagrammable backdrop. Squint enough at the live palms on the rooftop patio and you might convince yourself for a moment that you’ve been transported to the heart of South Beach. Order the saganaki — flaming cheese, for the uninitiated — to remind yourself that you’re just a few miles from Detroit.