May was a busy month for smashburgers, chicken and ownership changes.
Smashburgers are burgers that are “smashed” down, typically on a flat-top grill, and known for crispy edges. A new spot for smashburgers opened in Berkley, offering late-night hours, and another place known for smashburgers announced a second location. Chicken tenders and pizzas from a metro Detroit chain typically housed in gas stations now have a non-gas station location.
Here are May’s restaurant happenings:
Besos
Plant-based restaurant Besos is now open in downtown Birmingham after a nearly monthlong soft opening. Promising plant-forward cuisines as “clean indulgence” and a “whole-food concept,” Besos means “kisses” in Spanish. Besos is from celebrity chef Matthew Kenney, founder of more than 60 restaurants and a dozen cookbooks, and a leading figure in plant-based cuisine. Kenney teamed up with Dana Weeks, a Birmingham entrepreneur. Boasting globally inspired and one-of-a-kind cuisine, Besos’ all-vegan menu includes brunch, lunch and dinner options.
Besos, 239 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham; besosbirmingham.com
Buns & Patties, Berkley
A new late-night burger joint opened its doors to the Berkley community on Friday, May 15.
Childhood friends David Pinkhasov, Mark Isakov and Vlad Shamayev debuted Buns & Patties in a former Tubby’s sub shop on Coolidge Highway. Hours of operation are 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m.-3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Buns & Patties aims to fill a void for a high-quality, late-night burger joint. Smashburgers will be the main feature on the menu, but other commodities include chicken sandwiches, short-rib grilled cheese and hand-battered chicken tenders.
2375 Coolidge Highway, Berkley; bunsandpatties.com
Hook, St. Clair Shores
The Joe Vicari Restaurant Group — known for its Andiamo and Joe Muer Seafood restaurants — announced it will manage Hook in St. Clair Shores.
Jim Oppat, the restaurant group’s longtime corporate executive chef, crafted a new menu from appetizers to main dishes. The new dinner menu highlights entrees of fish from the Great Lakes, including “Yellow Belly” perch and walleye. Premium steaks, soups and salads are also part of the revamped menu. Appetizers feature wild-caught Rhode Island calamari served with shishito peppers and remoulade and beef tenderloin tips.
Hook is along what’s known as the Nautical Mile, featuring views of Lake St. Clair. The establishment has a large space, at 9,000 square feet, with indoor and outdoor seating, boat dockage available and valet parking.
24214 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; hookscs.com
HopCat, Auburn Hills
The Gastropub chain, known for its Cosmik Fries and immense selection of craft beers, opened its 12th Michigan location at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets on May 4.
HopCat’s newest Oakland County location occupies the space that previously housed Bar Louie, which abruptly closed its doors in March 2025. The 8,000-square-foot establishment is located between entry 6 and the AMC Star Theater and accommodates up to 300 people. It also features a full-service bar, TVs, a private dining space and an outdoor patio.
Project Barfly, the west Michigan hospitality group behind the chain, has expanded across metro Detroit over the past three years. Other locations across the region include Detroit, Royal Oak, Livonia, Partridge Creek and Southgate.
4390 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills.
Mr. Paul’s Chophouse
A longtime Roseville restaurant often called an old-school steakhouse is changing hands. The owners of Mr. Paul’s Chophouse on Groesbeck Highway confirmed in a Thursday, May 21, Facebook post that the restaurant will come under new ownership. It did not reveal the name of the new owners in the post or in a follow-up interview. For weeks, speculation about a sale or new owners has been swirling on social media. In making the announcement, the owners called it “a difficult process.” Mr. Paul’s Chophouse, which got its start in 1968, announced that its owners are “preparing for a well-earned retirement.” The restaurant remains open while transitioning to new owners.
Mr. Paul’s Chophouse, 29850 Groesbeck Highway, Roseville. 586-777-7770; mrpaulschophouse.com
Patty & Press Smashburgers
After a recent grand opening celebration of Patty & Press Smashburgers in Shelby Township, the burger joint’s owners announced an expansion with another – and larger – metro Detroit location.A Patty & Press flagship store is scheduled to open later this year at 42983 Woodward Ave. in Bloomfield Township. This location is a former Zoup! spot. At more than 1,700 square feet, this new spot will accommodate 24 seats for dining in, compared with eight seats at its carryout-heavy Shelby Township location.
Patty & Press owners tout their smashburgers’ 100% grass-fed custom beef blend as “better-for-you.” From the owners of Naked Burger in Clinton Township, Goran Dimic and Brandon Gorgies, founders of G&B Hospitality, Naked Burger is known for its award-winning truffle burger. The first Patty & Press at 52300 Van Dyke in Shelby Township softly opened in late December and celebrated its grand opening in March.
Patty & Press, 52300 Van Dyke in Shelby Township; pattyandpress.com
Saroki’s
Saroki’s chicken and pizza opened its first Detroit location and its first location not in a gas station. At 735 Griswold St. (between Fort and Lafayette streets) Saroki’s will offer the chain’s popular chicken and brick-oven New York-style pizza and other menu items. It’s located inside Griswold Market & Spirits, a specialty market owned and operated by first-time Saroki franchisees Yousif Kashat and Bahir Mikha.Founded in 2012, Saroki’s is known for its chicken, including hand-breaded chicken tenders and pizzas. Saroki’s operates inside many gas stations throughout Michigan, and more locations are planned. This location marks Saroki’s 23rd in southeast Michigan.
Saroki’s, 735 Griswold St. , Detroit; sarokis.com
Topa
This new rooftop bar and eatery venue in Detroit is open in time for al fresco dining season. Called Topa, the rooftop bar with spectacular views of Detroit is on the 11th floor of Brush Park’s AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle on Woodward Avenue.
At Topa, which is the Basque word meaning “to toast” or “to clink glasses,” guests can enjoy a variety of cocktails to pair with a menu of shareables while enjoying a rooftop terrace that wraps around an indoor lounge and bar. Views from Topa are unobstructed and span Woodward Avenue in all directions. You can see Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena, the Ambassador Bridge in the distance, and other city highlights. Topa’s outdoor rooftop lounge is spacious and mostly covered with comfy sofas and table seating. Along the Woodward side of the building, the area is not roof-covered for those who want to enjoy an open-air atmosphere, with high-top tables and seating around a fire pit that zaps any chill in the air.
Topa, atop the AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle, is at 10 Eliot St. and Woodward Avenue in Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood.
The Seven
This Ferndale sleek new event space promises a strong focus on elevated cuisine, curated experiences and a distinctly modern approach. A two-level, 21,000-square-foot venue from culinary industry veterans, the Seven will offer curated, ticketed events, plus private and corporate events. The design and vibe of The Seven are built around providing an experience, making meaningful connections and serving beautiful, elevated food.From Tom Violante Jr., former co-owner of Holiday Market in Royal Oak, and Patrick Van Lehn, business partners in Sushi Kabar, a company that puts sushi in grocery stores, hospitals and other venues, The Seven centers on its multiple bar and lounge areas over two levels, including a central one that anchors the main floor and is adjacent to the main ballroom.
The Seven, 915 E. Drayton St., Ferndale; thesevenevents.com
Wet Picnic
This new, intimate cocktail bar from hospitality industry veterans opened in late April in Midtown. Called “Wet Picnic,” the owner/operated bar is from Allison Everitt and Jonathan Brill, well known for stints at Milwaukee Junction’s Kiesling. Wet Picnic builds on the duo’s more than 30 years in the bar and hospitality industry in Detroit and elsewhere. In addition to Kiesling, Everitt and Brill are known in Detroit for their work at the cocktail pop-up Fast Friends, recognized by StarChefs in a 2025 feature on Detroit.
On Second Avenue in Midtown, Wet Picnic is a small place, taking up the lower-level space in an old Victorian home, previously occupied by Castalia at Sfumato, which closed at the end of last year.
Wet Picnic, 3980 2nd Ave., in Midtown Detroit. Follow @wetpicnic on Instagram.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SusanMariecooks. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.
Contact Eric Guzmán: eguzman@freepress.com; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X and Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit restaurant openings in May include Besos, Wet Picnic
Reporting by Susan Selasky and Eric Guzmán, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
