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Photo courtesy of The Congregation
Shared boards have become a staple at gatherings, but many Metro Detroit spots are moving beyond the usual spread of cured meats and crackers. From pickle-packed platters and sausage-forward spreads to dessert boards piled high, these creative takes turn grazing into a full experience. These businesses show how a “board” can be a snack, a meal, or even a dessert, with no two looking quite the same.
The Congregation
9321 Rosa Parks Boulevard, Detroit
The Congregation uses boards as an easy way to bring people together inside its beautifully restored church-turned-café and bar. “The Congregation Detroit is more than just a café and bar—it’s a gathering place that fosters community, creativity, and connection,” shares The Congregation team. Their Hummus Board keeps things light and shareable with hummus, fresh vegetables, and pretzels, while the Charcuterie Board rotates through cheeses, salami, prosciutto, and seasonal compote alongside crackers, pretzels, and olives. Guests can round out the table with Burrata, Curry Chickpea Salad Sandwiches, or Turkey Melts, and pair it all with fresh local pastries and drinks like a Carrot Cake Chai, Detroit Fog, or Pandan Matcha. The result is a table that feels less like a formal charcuterie setup and more like a relaxed neighborhood spread designed for lingering.
La Gelati
Multiple locations in Metro Detroit
La Gelati takes the idea of a board into dessert territory with its party trays, turning sweets into shareable centerpieces. Special trays combine waffles, “sushi” crepes, brownies, mini pancakes, cream puffs, and chocolate-covered strawberries, arranged so guests can sample a bit of everything. Mini pancake trays and crepe sushi trays let you choose multiple toppings, ranging from Biscoff, pistachio, Kinder, fresh fruit, and Belgian chocolate, creating a build-your-own dessert board that’s just as interactive as any charcuterie spread. Gelato, Italian ice, sundaes, boba drinks, smoothies, and shakes round things out for guests who want to customize their own cup or cone, while specialty options take things to another level. With trays serving 6 to 8 people, you can create a grazing-style dessert bar that invites everyone to try something new.
What’s The Dill
4088 West McNichols Road, Detroit
What’s The Dill completely reimagines what a board can look like by swapping out bread for pickles and cucumbers. “At What’s The Dill, we wanted to create something that stands out — something healthy, bold, and full of Detroit flavor,” says founder Leona Milton. “Our stuffed pickle sandwiches and boards go beyond charcuterie — they spark conversation, bring people together, and show that you can enjoy good food without the bread.” Trays of cucumber rolls and pickles act like charcuterie boards with a crunchier, fresher base. Cucumber rolls take thinly sliced cucumbers and wrap them around vegetables, cream cheese, herbs, and more, while the Pickle Trays range from a mixed variety of pickles to a range of pickled vegetables. Another option is the Sampler Tray, which offers a mix of What’s The Dill favorites. Beyond the trays, you can find Stuffed Pickle Sandwiches, Egg Sammiches, and Pickle Rolls in a wide variety of flavor combinations, ranging from Spicy Italian to BLT. These handhelds provide options that gluten-free, keto, and plant-based eaters won’t have to compromise over.
Oak Parker
13621 West Eleven Mile Road, Oak Park
Oak Parker leans into savory, pub-style comfort with a Hungarian Sausage Board that feels like a heartier, more rustic answer to the usual charcuterie plate. Sliced sausage is served with crisp bread, sauces, sport peppers, sweet-and-spicy cucumbers, and marinated cherry tomatoes, making it easy to build bites that balance richness with acidity and crunch. The board pairs naturally with other starters like popcorn, wings, or Pastrami Chimis, and it also sits comfortably alongside larger plates, like the Fish Fry, Grilled Mortadella, Gravy Fries, and Schnitzel Sandwiches, plus weekend specials like Monte Cristos and Sunny-Side Pastrami Hash. It’s the kind of board that can anchor a casual night out, especially for groups who want to share something substantial rather than nibble delicately.
YORK
1928 Packard Street, Ann Arbor
At YORK, boards feel like a natural extension of a space that leans into wine, good bread, and simple ingredients done well. Cheese boards come with a trio of carefully selected cheeses, olives, and plenty of baguette, and can be paired with bar snacks such as Marcona Almonds, Castelvetrano Olives, melty Fromage, or Muhammara served with grilled naan. Other board choices include Bresaola or Pork Charcuterie with a cheese selection. The rest of the menu leans into European-style café fare: bagels dressed up with smoked salmon, bocatas layered with jamón serrano, roast beef and Taleggio, chèvre and roasted red peppers, or Mediterranean tuna salad, plus sandwiches like BLTs and egg salad on house breads. Order a cheese board for the center of the table, then mix in a few small plates, and it naturally turns into a grazing-style meal that’s more flexible and more interesting than a traditional tray.
Boards don’t have to be limited to salami, brie, and a handful of crackers. Across Metro Detroit, they’ve become a canvas for sweet and savory spreads. Whether you’re passing around a hummus board, digging into a sausage tray, or crowding around a mini pancake platter, these spots show that the best boards feel generous, playful, and perfectly suited to sharing.
