Pumpkin Perfection: Best Seasonal Dishes & Drinks

By: Carolyn Hall | October 22, 2024
Cold Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream with Cinnamon Spice

Pumpkin season is in full swing, and Metro Detroit is bursting with delicious pumpkin dishes and drinks. Whether you’re craving something savory, sweet, or boozy, local cafes, breweries, and restaurants have plenty of options to get your pumpkin fix. Here’s a roundup of some of the best pumpkin creations in Metro Detroit that you won’t want to miss this fall…

SEVA

66 East Forest Avenue, Detroit

2541 Jackson Avenue, Ann Arbor

Silverado by lighthouse

Discover new horizons with the confidence of the Chevy Silverado, from busy streets to scenic views.

Seva, a vegetarian favorite in the Metro Detroit area, offers a variety of creative pumpkin dishes. Both locations offer the ever-popular Taco Salad, with pumpkin seeds along with salsa, avocado, sweet potatoes, and corn chips, and for dessert, Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake with candied pecans and whipped coconut cream. In Ann Arbor, the Pumpkin Lasagna is a highlight, with pumpkin puree and mascarpone cheese seasoned to perfection before being baked with mozzarella and goat cheese-cream sauce. Paired with balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts and garlic bread, this is the ultimate comfort meal. In Detroit, the Thai Tofu Buddha Bowl is supper filling, with brown rice, sauteed tofu, beans, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and more. Whether you’re a vegetarian or just looking for something different, Seva’s pumpkin dishes are sure to impress.

GRIFFIN CLAW BREWING COMPANY

575 South Eton Street, Birmingham

2265 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills

Griffin Claw Brewing Company is a local brewery with delicious food to pair with its brews and hard cider. Marketing Director Christopher Lasher shares, “We have two taprooms with full food menus and all of our alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings which range from craft beer, distilled spirits and cocktails, hard cider, nonalcoholic hop water, and more all made on-site. Right now and through the fall season we have our annually brewed Screamin’ Pumpkin Ale, which is Michigan’s most popular pumpkin beer. Additionally, we have a whiskey version of Screamin’ Pumpkin, aged in barrels with spices.” Pair these with the steak bites, totchos, an excellent burger, or anything else that catches your eye. 

screamin pumpkin whiskey from griffin claw brewing company
Photo courtesy of Griffin Claw Brewing Company

DRIFTER COFFEE

770 Woodward Heights, Ferndale

Drifter Coffee brings a cozy touch to pumpkin season with its Pumpkin Pie Latte. This drink blends the perfect balance of espresso, pumpkin pie spice, and your choice of milk, offering a warm and comforting beverage perfect for cooler days. There’s also a pumpkin pie syrup if you’d prefer to add it to your go-to beverage. Pair it with one of their freshly baked pumpkin apple cider or maple glazed donuts for a delightful fall treat. Drifter Coffee’s laid-back, welcoming vibe makes it a great place to sip and savor these autumnal delights.

THE DIXBORO PROJECT

5400 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor

The Dixboro Project is a quaint hundred-plus-year-old barn known for its wood-fired pizzas, seasonal mains, and more. At The Dixboro House, you’ll find a delightful Squash Tahini Brulee on the dessert menu, made from a pumpkin oat milk custard, spiced pumpkin cake, and squash ‘butter’. At The Boro, the pizzeria and cafe, order a pumpkin cheesecake cruffin or a pumpkin white chocolate scone from the bakery. The pumpkin cruffin is a flaky, buttery croissant-muffin hybrid filled with spiced pumpkin cream cheese, while the white chocolate pumpkin scone is full of rich pumpkin flavor. Both bakery treats pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or PSL, making for a cozy and satisfying autumn treat.

BROWNDOG BARLOR

120 East Main Street, Northville

12930 Capital Street, Oak Park (Browndog Creamery)

For pumpkin fans with a sweet tooth, Browndog Barlor is serving Pumpkin Spiced Latte ice cream which is a must-try. This seasonal offering blends rich coffee, pumpkin, and spice flavors with creamy ice cream, making it the perfect fall dessert. Browndog Barlor, known for its inventive ice cream flavors from its Michigan dairy company Browndog Creamery and boozy ice cream cocktails, brings a fun twist to the pumpkin dessert game. Be sure to swing by and try this indulgent treat while it lasts, or pick up a pint or two at their Oak Park location.

JOLLY PUMPKIN

441 West Canfield Street, Detroit

2319 Bishop Circle East, Dexter

Jolly Pumpkin is a go-to for craft beer enthusiasts, and its seasonal offerings bring the flavors of autumn to life. In Dexter, the Butternut Squash Pizza is an excellent choice, with grilled escarole, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds, and parmesan cheese. In Detroit, their harvest salad is a perfect fall meal, featuring garlic pumpkin seeds, roasted beets, carrot, kale, goat cheese, and dried cranberries, all with a cilantro vinaigrette. Pair it with a glass of La Parcela, a beer packed with pumpkins, spices, and notes of cacao for the perfect seasonal accompaniment. Jolly Pumpkin’s unique brews and delicious dishes make for a great gathering. 

RELATED STORIES