More seafood, custard and dining options open in metro Detroit

A host of new restaurants opened, including and several restaurants and custard spots reopened for the spring. Here's the list.

Balam Coffee and Wine

The siblings behind Ferndale’s Mezcal Mexican Bar and Grill expanded the family business on March 16 with the opening of Balam Coffee and Wine. Located three doors down from Mezcal, Balam sources its coffee from Mexico and South America, and has a rotating selection of red and white wines from Latin America. The menu offers hot and iced coffee, Mexican pastries and food.

207 E. 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale; 248-206-7280 orbalamcoffeeandwine

Chick-fil-A

TheChick-fil-A expansion in Michigancontinued with two new locations:one in Royal Oak– located on Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile Road – and the other inLincoln Parkat the intersection of Southfield Road and Dix Road. The Royal Oak location held its grand opening on March 26 and on April 2 for the Lincoln Park location. As part of the grand opening, both establishments donated $25,000 to local hunger relief charities.Chick-fil-A announced in 2024that it planned to open between 25 and 30 restaurants across the state by the end of 2028 and create more than 2,500 jobs.

30955 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak

2060 Southfield Road, Lincoln Park

More:From Caribou Coffee to Jolly Pumpkin, metro Detroit closures in April

Little Bella's Pizza and Wine

If you’re in the mood for brick-oven pizzas, charcutiers and cocktails, then Little Bella’s Pizza may be on your list of places to check out.

Located at 100 S. Main St., the newest establishment from restaurateur Adam Merkel opened its doors to the public in late March. The restaurant’s pizza menu offers classic pies, including pepperoni and margherita, along with garlic lovers, shrimp scampi and more.

Sean May is the mixologist and beverage director behind Little Bella’s drink menu. His cocktails include a trio of martinis and the lemon drop Italiano, along with a curated wine program.

100 Main St.;littlebellasroyaloak.com

Motz's Burgers

Motz’s Burgers opened a location in Southgate, its third in metro Detroit, with a soft opening March 14, serving its classic hamburger and cheeseburger sliders, plus chicken sandwiches, along with shoestring fries and onion rings as sides. Motz's hails from the former Mott's Hamburgers that opened its first location more than 90 years ago in southwest Detroit on Fort Street at the corner of Green. New owners took the Detroit location over in 1996, changing its name to Motz's. In 2023, Motz opened its second location in Redford on Plymouth Avenue.

8714 Eureka Road., Southgate; 734-288-0587 ormotzs.com

Patty and Press Smash Burger

Goran Dimic and Brandon Gorgies, owners of Naked Burger in Clinton Township, held a grand opening event of their second establishment together, Patty and Press Smash Burgers, on March 21 in Shelby Township.

The restaurant’s burgers are a signature blend from Fairway Packing Co. in Fraser and use beef tallow for all its fried side dishes. The Patty & Press Classic Smash meal includes a burger, hand-cut fries and a pop and costs $12.90.

52300 Van Dyke, Shelby Township;pattyandpress.com

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Rock and Brews

Founded by two members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Kiss,Rock and Brews held a grand opening event on April 9in Royal Oak. Co-founder and Kiss band member Gene Simmons was in attendance for the festivities.

The Royal Oak location is the 20thfranchise in the national chain, which began 14 years ago. It is also the biggest street-side location to date, located inside a 12,000-square-foot, three-level establishment.

Rock and Brews pays homage to some of Detroit’s greats in the form of artwork and installations, including Bob Seger, the White Stripes, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Eminem. The menu features American comfort food such as burgers, chicken wings, tacos and salads.

208 W. Fifth St., Royal Oak;rockandbrews.com

Smith & Williams

Popular social media influencer Starex Smith, well known as The Hungry Black Man on his Facebook page, is planning a May 1 grand opening of his new Detroit restaurant, Smith & Williams. Smith, who hails from Miami, and business partner Deavante Williams opened the restaurant Easter weekend at 1428 Gratiot Ave. in the Eastern Market area. Menu highlights include roasted turkey wings on top of cornbread dressing, oxtail lasagna and colossal braised oxtails. These items, all made from scratch, involve days of prep work. Hours are 4-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday for happy hour. Dinner hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Brunch service is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call or text 567-970-9059 for reservations.

1428 Gratiot, Detroit.

Restaurant reopenings in metro Detroit

Along with new restaurants there are a host of spots that opened for the spring.

Downtown Street Eats

For those in downtown Detroit, spring signals the return of the Downtown Street Eats food truck season at Cadillac Square. Now in its 14thyear, 80 food trucks and carts are ready to serve more than 2,500 people every weekday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Downtown Street Eats season runs through mid-October. For information and lineup of this season's food trucks, go todowntowndetroit.org.

Cadillac Square, east of Campus Martius, in downtown Detroit

Bob Jo's Frozen Custard

Warm weather and ice cream are synonymous with one another. Bob Jo’s Frozen Custard in Wyandotte reopened on April 10 for its 79thyear and is open daily from noon to 10 p.m. Find current flavors onBob Jo's Frozen Custard Facebook page.

4071 Fort St., Wyandotte.

Gino's Surf

This lakefront restaurant, bar and entertainment spot is now open for the season in Harrison Township under new management, according to its Facebook page. Located on Jefferson Avenue with views of Lake St. Clair, Gino's Surf boasts a new chef and a new menu, plus live bands.

37400 Jefferson Ave., Harrison Township; 586-999-9201 orginossurfmi.com

Mike's on the Water

Located on the Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores, Mike’s on the Water is now open. Now in its 16thseason,, Mike’s menu offers various seafood dishes, including weekly specials on swordfish, catfish, sockeye salmon, cod and tilapia. The establishment is also known for its lobster rolls, which have served more than 117,000 to date, according to its website.

24530 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores. 586-872-2630 ormikesonthewater.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press:Metro Detroit gets seafood spots, custard shops, new dining options

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 09, 2026

More seafood, custard and dining options open in metro Detroit

A host of new restaurants opened, including and several restaurants and custard spots reopened for the spring. Here's the list. ...

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Kesha Was Dumped by Ex Over a Taylor Swift Party

Kesha’sexbecame the rare breakup footnote tied to aTaylor Swiftparty. The “Die Young” singer’s former boyfriend allegedly ended things after the pop star went to an Eras Tour afterparty without him. Kesha said the move was intentional because she wanted to test one dating suspicion. The story landed as a gossip grenade on the Call Her Daddy podcast. The next day, he returned the “keys.”

Kesha reveals her ex dumped her after she didn’t bring him to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour afterparty

On the On Call Her Daddy podcast episode released May 6, 2026, Alex Cooper asked Kesha about dating. The “Tik Tok” singer said, “I’ve only gotten dumped, actually, one time.” Then, she named the reason without identifying the Kesha ex. She said she “kind of thought he was probably a star f**ker.” So, after attending a Taylor Swift Eras Tour stop, she chose her girlfriend for the party. Kesha explained, “I’m not gonna take the boyfriend.” She did not name the man during the exchange.

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However, the Call Her Daddy podcast story turned sharper when Kesha described the aftermath. She said the relationship had lasted “a year and a half.” Even so,Kesha’s ex came over the next day. He also “dropped the keys off.” Kesha recalled thinking, “Have you no shame?” She joked that he could have waited “11 days.” The punchline stayed friendly but messy. The singer said if anyone could cause that breakup, “Taylor Swift is the one.”

Beyond the afterparty drama, the “We R Who We R” singer said she was now “very single.” She also tied the story to her current dating reset. Kesha said, “I am celibate because I’m calling in a f**king king.” Also, while discussing her song “Red Flag,” she said she had been avoiding old patterns. The Call Her Daddy podcast episode framed the split as less heartbreak than a very public red-flag audit.

The postKesha Was Dumped by Ex Over a Taylor Swift Partyappeared first onReality Tea.

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 09, 2026

Kesha Was Dumped by Ex Over a Taylor Swift Party

Kesha’sexbecame the rare breakup footnote tied to aTaylor Swiftparty. The “Die Young” singer’s former boyfriend allegedly ended things ...

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Alexandra LeClerc Claps Back at Comment Claiming She’s ‘Nothing Without’ F1 Star Husband Charles

Alexandra Saint Mleux LeClerc clapped back at a comment criticizing her relationship

NEED TO KNOW

• The model responded to an Instagram user, who has since deleted their account, with a lengthy note in defense of herself and husband Charles Leclerc

• The Ferrari driver and Alexandra were married in Monaco in February

Alexandra Saint Mleux LeClercis speaking her mind.

The wife ofFormula 1starCharles Leclercdidn't hold back after a commenter told her that she's "nothing without" her pro driver husband on herInstagrampost from the 2026 Miami Grand Prix on Tuesday, May 5.

Alexandra, 23, wrote a lengthy note in response to the Instagram commenter, who seemingly deleted their account and comment after her clapback.

"Actually without my husband I'm a normal girl, with my normal hobbies, my normal interests, my normal passions, who tries to be as kind as she can. That's also what I love as his wife. And there's nothing wrong with that ❤️," she began her reply.

"That's probably what you are too, and that's great! 🫶🏻 We're not all meant to be singers, doctors, actresses or athletes, and that doesn't take away from someone's value. Who you are as a person, how you treat others and what you choose to do with your freetime does tho! Reflect 🌟," she wrote.

The confrontation went down on Alexandra's Instagram post recapping her time in Miami for the Grand Prix, where Charles finished eighth overall. She wore red leather pants in support of Ferrari's team color, a white t-shirt, tiny sunglasses and black pointed stilettos.

"Too much?? 🏎️," she simply captioned her Instagram carousel.

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The Ferrari driver and the model are still fresh off their nuptials, after the pairexchanged vowsin what he described as a "very small and secret" ceremony in Monaco on Feb. 28.

During an interview forFormula1 on March 4, Leclerc opened up about the special moment with Alexandra, describing it as "one of those days that I'll forever remember. And same for Alex. And same for our family."

"It was family only, and it was very small and secret in a way, which we really enjoyed," he said at the time.

The couple plans to celebrate their love story again with a second, bigger wedding. Leclerc — who's in the middle of a busy Formula 1 season, which started in March and ends in December — just knows that it might take them a while to organize it.

"We'll do another one with all of our closest friends in actually quite a bit of time," he said, noting it will "take some time to organize it properly."

Read the original article onPeople

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 09, 2026

Alexandra LeClerc Claps Back at Comment Claiming She’s ‘Nothing Without’ F1 Star Husband Charles

Alexandra Saint Mleux LeClerc clapped back at a comment criticizing her relationship NEED TO KNOW The model respon...

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Leonardo DiCaprio’s Girlfriend Breaks the Internet in a Wildly Plunging Dress

Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend,Vittoria Ceretti, has wowed fans with another jaw-dropping fashion moment, this time wearing a bold black dress. The Italian model showed off this exquisite look among several other OOTDs and memorable moments from recent outings in her latest Instagram photo dump. She also added the caption, “new york days and clear skies.”

Vittoria Ceretti stuns in black dress

Take a look at Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti’s, recent Instagram post below:

The photo dump features Ceretti rocking a series of stunning outfits. One of the most striking ensembles is the floor-length black dress with dark purple abstract designs. It features a dramatic plunging neckline and a light, flowy fabric, gathered as a wrap design. She opted for a casual chic aesthetic, wearing her hair down to complete the look.

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Most recently, Ceretti attended the 2026 Met Gala, wearing a customCarolina Herrera gown, designed by creative director Wes Gordon.

Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh onMandatory.

The postLeonardo DiCaprio’s Girlfriend Breaks the Internet in a Wildly Plunging Dressappeared first ontheFashionSpot.

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 08, 2026

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Girlfriend Breaks the Internet in a Wildly Plunging Dress

Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend,Vittoria Ceretti, has wowed fans with another jaw-dropping fashion moment, this time wearing a bold blac...

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Farage under pressure to tackle racist Reform candidates who ‘spew hate online’

Reform UKcandidates standing in this week’s local elections appear to have posted racist and Islamophobic views onsocial media, as well as support for far-right figures likeTommy Robinsonand Nick Griffin,The Independentcan reveal.

The revelations about candidates standing for the party in seats in south-east England add to concerns thatNigel Farageis failing to tackleextremismin his party despite his claims that Reform’s vetting system is the best in British politics.

It also follows a failure byReform to deal with candidates in the north of Englandexposed byThe Independent, who espoused racist, misogynist and homophobic views on social media.

With Reform expected to win more than 1,500 seats next week, there are concerns that their failure to vet candidates properly will mean extremists will win seats across England.

Among the candidates accused of “spewing hate online” is Lynn Smith, the Reform UK candidate for Blackfen and Lamorbey ward who was previously a UKIP councillor in Bexley. She appears to have reposted a graphic containing a photo of a Muslim woman and the text “hates Jews, Christians, atheists, gays, dogs, bacon, wine, beer, your civilisation, your culture, your traditions, your country, and you. Complains aboutislamophobia”.

Then on X (formerly Twitter), she appears to have said: “Has the NHS become the new Islam, criticise at your own risk?”

Then again on X she appears to have said: “@GBNews I don’t think we should have the ‘word’ islamaphobia. Wherever I look abroad at Islamic countries as a woman I am fearful for them, and am fearful of the growth of Islam here.”

Ms Smith also appears to have posted a picture of herself using a scarf as a hijab on Facebook, stating: “Thinking of becoming a Muslim just as a reason to hide my pelican neck. Then again, I couldn’t give up alcohol.”

The Reform UK candidate seemingly expressed support forTommy Robinson, despite Mr Farage’s attempts to distance himself from the far right activist. Replying to a Nick Ferrari post about interviewing the friend of the Westminster terror attack suspect, she said: “I used to be against Tommy [Robinson]’s methods but when the MSM are too cowardly to dig deep into radical Islam he’s now a hero for sure.”

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Meanwhile Mike Ferro, the Reform UK candidate for Blendon and Penhill ward, appears to have posted a Facebook message saying: “Am I the only person who thinks that Uran Nabiev has been harshly treated by the law”.

Nabiev was sentenced to 14 years for killing a man in a “grotesque” overreaction to a broken wing-mirror by driving into two people after one of them punched his car. One of the victims received a fatal head injury when he was dragged 9 metres along the pavement on Bickley Road, Erith.

Also on Facebook he seems to have commented on the Black Lives Matter protests, saying: “They are delighted - overjoyed - at the shocking manner of his death, and the platform it has given them to promote their odious beliefs. The irony is, these groups themselves are the new totalitarians, heirs to the Nazis…”

Old Bexley and Sidcup Tory MP Louie French described the comments by the three Reform candidates as “truly shocking.”

He added: “Reform selected three candidates who are spewing hate online and sharing wild conspiracy theories. I urge Reform UK to do the right thing and disown these candidates now.”

Meanwhile in Chingford another Reform candidate, Matt Davis, who has been pictured with Mr Farage, has posted numerous hate messages on a now deleted X account about Islam.

He appeared to refer to Islam as “an evil death cult” and “evil” in dozens of messages, as well as making other unpublishable comments.

Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “Reform UK claimed they had professionalised and properly vetted their candidates. These comments show that simply isn’t true.

“Instead we’re seeing a pattern of offensive remarks, conspiracies, and poor judgment. These aren’t the high standards they promised; it’s the exact opposite.”

A Reform spokesman said: “We are looking into these posts.”

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 08, 2026

Farage under pressure to tackle racist Reform candidates who ‘spew hate online’

Reform UKcandidates standing in this week’s local elections appear to have posted racist and Islamophobic views onsocial media, as well...

Read More