New menu and chef at Grand Trunk Pub: A longstanding favorite for food and drink downtown, Grand Trunk Pub has a new food and beverage director, Petro Drakopoulos, who has rolled out new menu items and a revamped wine program that includes half-off specials at certain times and the addition of bottles from House of Brown, a woman-owned, Black-owned estate winery in the Napa Valley. New menu items at GTP to get excited about include curry poutine, fried-to-order chicken and waffles, Cajun salmon and more. Grand Trunk Pub is open for lunch and dinner daily, except Mondays. 612 Woodward, Detroit. (313) 961-3043. Grandtrunk.pub.
New brunch menu at Ford’s Garage: Breakfast burritos, chicken and waffles, giant cinnamon rolls, skillets and sandwiches are all on the new brunch menu at Ford’s Garage, which has two locations in Metro Detroit. Brunch is served 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, and at some locations, Saturday as well. Visit fordsgarageusa.com for more details.
Live music at Coriander Kitchen and Farm: A popular, east side restaurant will host a diverse lineup of live music in its pergola this fall. Highlights of the Thursday night series include Olivia Van Goor on Oct. 26, Audra Kubat on Nov. 16 and the Zach Walters Trio on Dec. 14. 14601 Riverside Blvd., Detroit. (313) 338-9466. Corianderkitchenandfarm.com.
Lobster celebration at Joe Muer: This fall, both Joe Muer locations will offer a four-course lobster meal with the restaurant’s famous lobster corn dog, your choice of salad or lobster bisque, a choice between three lobster entrees and a sweet dessert of mini carrot or coconut cake. The package is available for $95 per person through Nov. 30. Locations in the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit and in Bloomfield Hills. Visit joemuer.com.
Detroit Fall Beer Festival in Eastern Market: Sample from hundreds of craft beers and other beverages from more than 100 participating breweries at this 14th annual fall beer festival. Tickets include 15 tokens good for a 3-ounce sample, and more can be purchased at the event. 1-6 p.m. Sat. $55 in advance, $65 at the gate. Eastern Market, Detroit. mibeer.com/Events/detroit-fall-beer-festival.
Uncork for a Cure at M1 Concourse: This 8th annual fundraiser features cuisine from some of the area’s best-known chefs, plus wine, music, art and more, all to benefit cancer research. More than a dozen restaurants are on board, including Apparatus Room, Barda, Brine Oyster House, Chartreuse, Grey Ghost, Marrow, Selden Standard and SheWolf. 6 p.m. Nov. 4. $375 and up. 1 Concourse, Pontiac. dynamifoundation.org/uncork-for-a-cure.
Truffles & Barolo wine dinner at Oak & Reel: This five-course dinner from chef and owner Jared Gadbaw is paired with wines from Elio Altare and features seasonal white truffles. 6 p.m. Nov. 6. $285 per person, all inclusive. 2921 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit. exploretock.com/oakandreel/event/441121/barolo-truffles-wine-dinner-featuring-elio-altare.
Half-off large pizza for striking auto workers at Shield’s Restaurant and Pizzeria: Show your auto plant I.D. and get 50% off a large pizza with two or more toppings at Shield’s in Troy, Southfield and Detroit. Deal is only valid for dine-in guests 5-8 p.m. Nov. 7. shieldspizza.com.
Polish Bar at Frame Bar: November’s chef in residency at Frame Bar in Hazel Park is award-winning documentary filmmaker Mark Kurlyandchik, who also recently served as the restaurant’s editorial director. He will serve a Polish-inspired, a la carte menu featuring potato and cheddar fried pierogi, beet carpaccio, schnitzel with house-made sauerkraut and his family recipe of stuffed cabbage. Expect an Eastern European-inspired bar menu to match. The residency is Nov. 8-Dec. 3. Reservations suggested. 23839 John R, Hazel Park. (248) 291-5711. Framehazelpark.com.
First anniversary dinner at Basan: To celebrate its first 12 months of business, downtown restaurant Basan is offering a five-course, family-style feast featuring dishes cooked on its robata grill. There will be a shellfish course, a sous vide half chicken with kimchee, short rib and leek dumplings, vegetable skewers and more. 5:30 and 8 p.m. Nov. 15. $90 per person, $45 additional for beverage pairings. 2703 Park, Detroit. resy.com/cities/det/venues/basan/events/basan-birthday-bash-2023-11-15.
More:Metro Detroit’s Best New Restaurants of 2022
“Dough Dynasty” podcast from Michigan Radio: As Detroit-style pizza continues to grow in popularity worldwide, Michigan Radio has launched a limited-run podcast series on the topic. Hosts April Baer, Laura Weber-Davis and Mike Blank will talk to chefs, pizza historians and others about the history and future of Detroit’s square slices. Listen at michiganradio.org/pizza.
Melody Baetens