NORTHVILLE — After 37 years as a downtown staple, Joseph’s Coney Island has officially transformed into Joseph’s Brunch House, unveiling a $200,000 renovation and revamped breakfast-and-lunch fare designed to reflect changing tastes.
Patrons will first notice a full refresh of the eatery’s interior, renovated to a brighter, more modern look featuring sage green tufted booths, light wood tables and updated flooring. Additional light fixtures are expected to arrive soon.
Owner Nik Berisaj said the menu was refreshed as part of the shift away from the traditional Coney Island concept , but many of the tried-and-true customer favorites remain.
“We changed probably 35, 40% of the menu,” Berisaj said. “It is a little more updated.”
New breakfast menu items include banana split pancakes, for example, topped with strawberries, blueberries, banana, Nutella and whipped cream, along with two varieties of crepes.
Waffles have also been added to the lineup, with plain, berry and chocolate chip options available.
In the mood for something savory? New selections include avocado toast, topped with a sunny-side-up egg and balsamic glaze, or the salmon Benedict, with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce.
On the lunch side, diners will find a new spicy buffalo chicken sandwich, along with a smoked salmon salad featuring Kalamata olives, roasted peppers, strawberries and avocado.
The beverage menu also got a glow-up, and now includes fresh-squeezed orange juice, espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos, lattes and espresso, along with specialty drinks like the Tropical Sunrise and the Fizzy Berry.
Berisaj is also staying adaptable: Although he removed coney dogs from the regular menu as part of the rebrand, feedback from longtime customers prompted a change of course.
“I do have a lot of people, they ask for coneys,” he said, noting he’s decided to offer the dogs on select days each week.
Berisaj has been part of the Northville community for more than three decades, starting at the restaurant as a dishwasher after arriving in the United States from Montenegro in the 1990s. He later moved to cooking, before purchasing the business from his former employer.
Today, he recognizes nearly every customer who walks through the door.
“I meet thousands of people,” he said. “It’s pretty much like a family.”
The Northville renovation comes as Berisaj prepares to open a second brunch-focused restaurant, Brunch Berry, in Howell next month.
That location will feature a similar design and concept, he said, though it will be a brand-new space rather than a renovation.
Contact reporter Laura Colvin: lcolvin@hometownlife.com
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Joseph’s Brunch House opens in downtown Northville
Reporting by Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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