Detroit's explosion of new restaurants in the past few years is starting to get some notice.
Zagat, the company that promotes itself as the arbiter of good and bad in the restaurant industry, ranks Detroit #3 on its list of 10 of America's Next Hot Food Cities.
Zagat writes:
Detroit’s dining scene, much like the city itself, is undergoing a period of rapid transformation. The food-obsessed from the suburbs and beyond are returning to the long-beleaguered downtown areas, with a new-found curiosity for exotic cuisines, flavors and ideas. Innovative pop-ups, homegrown distilleries, urban farms and a growing number of celebrity chefs (Michael Symon, Wolfgang Puck and soon, Roy Choi) have all helped to land the city at No. 3 on our ranking.
While New Yorkers or Angelenos might roll their eyes at the phrase “pop-up,” here it’s an incubator for some of the hottest chef talent. Revolver, a perma pop-up space of sorts in the Hamtramck neighborhood, is a training ground, having hosted chefs like Kate Williams and Andy Hallyday who use the space to test new menus. One of Detroit’s most famous pop-ups, Guns and Butter, plans on opening a permanent location in the future, bringing high-end, forward-thinking cuisine to Detroit. Motor City Wine, a newish wine bar located in Corktown has also been hosting pop-ups featuring some of the most innovative talent in town.
Zagat said it based its findings on nine criteria: It’s home to exceptional chefs; people dine out often there; it attracts young chefs starting their careers; there are diverse cultures inspiring varied cuisines; fresh local ingredients are highly accessible; it’s recognized by national media or industry groups; it’s a source for dining and cuisine innovation; there’s frequent industry coverage by local media; and local restaurant trends have a national influence.
