Bites

FOOD

RANDIAH CAMILLE GREEN

Detroit brunch spot See You Tomorrow is finally open

FOR THE PAST three years, a glowing “See You Tomorrow” sign has enticed passersby on Woodward Avenue in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood.

We’d always drive by and wonder who are you, and what makes you think you’ll see us tomorrow? It turns out it’s a fast-casual brunch cafe, and after several delays, See ou Tomorrow finally opened on Nov. 1. gg scrambles, chicken and wa es, salmon croquettes, salads, sandwiches, and rotating soups make up its no-frills menu.

“It’s a soul-warming food concept,” says See You Tomorrow general manager Suzette Daye. “There was a need for a fast-casual breakfast place in the area so that’s how the idea came about. We wanted to make it simple and not anything outrageous so people can pick up some breakfast while they’re going to work or school.”

Daye says See You Tomorrow aims to offer some slightly healthier options like breakfast potatoes and chicken wings that are broiled instead of fried. The menu also has vegetarian options like a veggie scramble (though vegans are pretty much out of luck).

The buzz around See You Tomorrow began when the restaurant was awarded a Motor City Match grant to rent the space in 2018. The opening has been delayed three times: originally it was to open in July of 2022 but got pushed back to September, then October, and now Nov. 1 is the “forreal, forreal” opening date.

“The number one delay was COVID and after that finding workers wasn’t easy,” Daye says. “It was just one thing after another, especially when you get into remodeling these older buildings, there’s always something extra you’re gonna find. ou have a plan but guess what, it’s gonna take an additional month because there’s something else you have to fi . e also wanted to make sure we had a good team in place.”

The space can technically accommodate around 30 people, but it’s a tight squeeze in the former gas station with just a few tables and chairs. Daye says they’re planning for mostly carryout orders with some grab-and-go sandwiches and salads also on offer.

Inside, the restaurant features a mural of a blazing phoenix by local artist Cameron enkins aka Camflage .

“The phoenix represents strength and rebirth and redemption, which reminds us every day that we have a purpose and can achieve our goals,” Daye says. “This has been a dream and it’s finally happening. t took longer than we wanted, but we are finally achieving it.”

See You Tomorrow also has a liquor license and hopes to eventually offer a boozy brunch and an outdoor patio in the spring. A building expansion is planned for much later once the restaurant gets its bearings.

“We’re gonna have a Sunday brunch so I’m sure we’re gonna have mimosas and all that stuff, but as we open and are tweaking things we want to make sure everything is perfect with our food and service first,” aye says. “The first few months are gonna be seeing what people ask us for and figuring out what we need to change.”

For now, the “Q-Line Scramble” with turkey sausage, spinach, swiss cheese, and sundried tomatoes, and “Kale Quinoa Toss” are menu highlights. Breakfast will be served on Tuesdays through Sundays from 8-11 a.m. and brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The restaurant is closed Mondays.

See You Tomorrow is located at 7740 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

—R andiah C am ille G reen

Detroit City Council strikes down food grading ordinance

IS DETROIT READY for a colorcoded system alerting potential diners whether restaurants are up to code with the health department? The answer is a resounding “nope.”

Detroit City Council rejected council member Scott Benson’s proposed food grade ordinance 6-3 on Tuesday last week.

During the public comment period, more than two dozen residents and restaurant owners spoke against the ordinance, which many felt would hurt local businesses and serve as a sort of “scarlet letter.”

If it had passed, Detroit restaurants and food trucks would have been required to place a placard in their window showing the results of their most recent health inspection. The idea was something similar to New York’s food grading system with color-coded signs replacing A-B-C grades.

A green card would indicate a restaurant passed, yellow would mean the business had some issues, and red is for when they’ve been ordered to shut down by the city.

Benson trashed Lafayette Coney Island as an example of why the ordinance should have been passed.

The coney failed an inspection when rat poop was found onsite, but quietly continued service without resolving the infestation and was ordered to shut down. They’ve since cleaned the place up and passed a follow-up inspection which allowed them to resume business.

“They shut down for three hours, opened right back up to sell chili and other items on their menu knowing they had a rodent infestation, which means you’re serving people rodent urine, urine feces, and rodent hair,” Benson said. “I know that there are dozens, hundreds, and thousands who take great pride in the food that they serve, but not everybody does and when they don’t, then the residents are the victim… This ordinance is one thing that ensures transparency.”

Benson said those opposing the ordinance are sending the message “that Black restaurants can’t handle serving food safely.”

Council member Gabriela SantiagoRomero stood with concerned restaurant owners who are still recovering from the effects CO had on the food industry.

“While I think this ordinance has the right intentions, I believe it’s not the right time,” she said. “Restaurant owners say they need support from funding to [food handling] training, to better and easier licensing and permitting processes… . This is still the ecosystem that they work under. I want us to focus on what they need before we ask for additional pressure from this ordinance.”

The council stalled voting on the food safety proposal for nearly two months and it was revised before they finally struck it down.

The revision included the addition of a QR code that potential diners could scan to get more information on why the restaurant received a particular rating.

—R andiah C am ille G reen