The June Hit List: Basan, Leila, Alpino, and More

A Blink 182 concert in May at the neighboring Little Caesars Arena served as a fitting patio opener for this playful pan-Asian restaurant anchoring the Ilitches’ District Detroit development. To get a sense of the kitchen’s lighthearted approach, order all the small plates, but don’t miss the tornado potato — a spiralized, deep-fried spud slathered in sriracha mayo, pickled ginger, and bonito — or the Filet ‘O Fish-inspired tempura cod bun, complete with a slice of bright orange cheese.

After a transitional year hosting the Khana Detroit pop-up and private events, the original Ima location at 2015 Michigan Ave. has transformed yet again into the more permanent Summertown Fresh Bar. The new seven-day-a-week cafe from the Ima team serves coffee, tea, smoothies, and a tight menu of toasts, salads, power bowls, and other healthful snacks (think bruleed grapefruit and soba crepe wraps stuffed with veggies or marinated chicken). “Patio vibes for people of all ages,” is Summertown’s tagline, and come mid-June, those vibes are absolutely immaculate.

No reservations.

While the Eid family’s flagship Phoenicia restaurant has been closed for a much-needed kitchen renovation, the books have been full at its downtown little sister, Leila. Taking a page out of Beirut, its buzzing patio spills out on to Capitol Park, though Leila’s real energy comes from the charcoal grill, kissing the high-quality cuts of meats in the kebab, tawook, and kafta with that distinct char-grilled smoke. Bring a big group and do it up Lebanese-style. (The table should buckle under the weight of all the colorful mezze plates.) Lights out once the dry-aged Creekstone Farms rib eye with Lebanese zip sauce hits the table, though you should really stick around for one of Leila’s unique desserts. Try the Lebanese sundae: ashta ice cream adorned with cotton candy-like “fairy floss” and crushed pistachios.

The cobblestone-fronted building at Bagley & Trumbull has been home to a number of adored restaurants over the years, most recently the lauded Lady of the House. Though none could quite make it in the quirky corner spot, here’s hoping Michigan native and New York restaurant veteran David Richter has better luck with Alpino, a restaurant inspired by and dedicated to the culture and cuisines of the Alps. That means raclette cheese melted tableside over fingerling potatoes, crispy wiener schnitzel, creamy spaetzle, and a wine list that follows the Alpines’ arc through northern Italy, southern Germany, France, Austria, and Slovenia. Rising star bartender Andre Sykes of the Black on Both Sides pop-up collective runs the Alpino cocktail program, fusing bright botanical flavors with a homegrown Detroit perspective.

Call 313-524-0888 for reservations.

If you’re looking for a solid meal and an environment more conducive to date-night conversation, head one door down from Leila to Eatori Market, chef-owner Zak Yatim’s specialty market and crowd-pleasing bistro. Here, the craggy fried chicken (stacked extra high in sandwich form) is popular at dinner and brunch, but the Eatori burger (made from ground short rib beef) and the chicken wings (glazed in bourbon and black garlic barbecue) are the indisputable king and queen of happy hour, when all draft beers are just $5 and the $7 well drinks include Tito’s, Tanqueray, and Bulleit. They should have one of these in every park!

While it’s technically across the street from the park, eating brunch on the Prime + Proper patio can feel like the most luxurious picnic — especially if your idea of a picnic includes proper caviar service, fresh-shaved truffles, and Georgian khachapuri. Ball out with a big cut of beef from the house dry-aging room, grilled over wood fire on the custom-built Grillworks anchoring the open kitchen. Or opt for more brunchy fare, like an everything bagel and lox spread, or the truffled omelet with bitter greens. Don’t worry — the pancakes are considered an “accessory” here. They happen to pair perfectly no matter what direction you go.

The big news out of camp Parc pertains to owner Zaid Elia’s recent announcement of a forthcoming Las Vegas-style sushi restaurant and adjoining cocktail lounge in the 511 Woodward building a block away from the park. Promised to open sometime this summer, Experience Zuzu and Upstairs Bar join Elia’s growing restaurant roster at the Iconic Collection, along with 220 Merrill and Rose Room in Birmingham and the Anchor Bar in Detroit.

But the upscale bistro Parc, which opens onto Detroit’s historic beating heart, remains the hospitality group’s flagship. A deep wine cellar and wood-fire grill power the elevated but approachable American menu with Italian underpinnings. And in a downtown still operating at half of its pre-COVID energy, the seven-day-a-week morning-to-night service window makes Parc an easy choice for a power lunch or last-minute splurge.

Call 313-922-PARC for reservations.

If breezy parkside dining in a casual but classy environment is your desire, few places will scratch that itch like Lumen, where the forward-thinking, LEED-certified design is intentionally integrated with the always-active Beacon Park. The glass walls of the restaurant almost completely disappear in the summer months, when seating spills out on to one of the largest outdoor dining spaces in all of downtown. The LePage family, who operate the restaurant, looked to the brasseries of Belgium when conceptualizing what Lumen would be, and that muse can be found in straight-ahead dishes like pretzels with beer cheese and steak and frites. Don’t overthink it. Just grab some friends and enjoy the breeze. It goes down well with a beer from the LePage’s own Griffin Claw Brewing Company.

This old school Italian stalwart and beloved Detroit date-night spot is actually separated from Palmer Park by 10 hectic lanes of Woodward Avenue, but its garden oasis of a patio tucked in back will have you forgetting where you are anyway. The business casual dress code at this definitive “hidden gem” is taken seriously, so don your Sunday best for the popular jazz brunch on the patio. If you go at dinner, don’t miss the tableside Caesar salad for two. And while there’s plenty of Northern and Southern Italian classics to love on the menu, La Dolce Vita might be the only Italian place in town serving sauteed lake perch with lemon-caper cream sauce. La Dolce Vita knows exactly where it is, after all.

Call 313-865-0331 for reservations.

After three years of pandemic-induced closure, it didn’t look likely that this beloved watering hole in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood would ever return. But a Facebook post by owner Michael Solaka announcing its reopening for Memorial Day weekend was greeted with much local rejoicing. Since opening in 2004, Northern Lights set itself apart by catering to a diverse crowd with affordable (see: stiff) drinks, a lush outdoor patio, and nightly live music — not to mention one of the most talked-about bathrooms of the pre-selfie era.

No reservations.