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As summer heats up in Metro Detroit, local eateries are crafting delightful melon-based dishes and drinks that promise to cool you down and tantalize your taste buds. Chefs around Metro Detroit tend to favor honeydew or watermelon, but you can find a few brave souls who opt for bitter melon, offering something new to discover in every bite, including one on this list. Usually, the dishes are seasonal, but some bartenders and bakers add melon to their menus in ways that work year-round. Here’s a look at some must-try melon offerings from five standout spots…
CAFE SOUS TERRE
445 West Forest Avenue, Detroit
Cafe Sous Terre has introduced a new cocktail that’s quickly becoming a summer favorite. The Stella by Starlight cocktail is a sophisticated blend that, “combines the crisp complexity of a white Negroni with the earthy, vegetal flavor of watermelon radish,” shares owner Reimer Priester. This drink, shaken as a sour with lemon and egg white, is a great seasonal apéritif. Key ingredients are Banhez Mezcal, Dolin Blanc, Saler’s Apéritif, and watermelon radish. Check out the sweet and savory creations from house olives (twice-pickled) to tarte tatin pastries while you’re there!
DETROIT WATER ICE FACTORY
1014 Woodward Avenue, Detroit
For a refreshing dessert, head to Detroit Water Ice Factory. Known for its version of Italian ice, deliciously unique flavors, and cleverly named menu items, this downtown hotspot offers a Woodward Watermelon Water Ice that’s both thirst-quenching and flavorful. Other fun options include Corvette Cherry, Riverfront Rootbeer, and Cabrera Cotton Candy. These icy treats are the perfect way to beat the heat! This shop also offers bubble waffles, handcrafted popcorn, Philly pretzels, and more.
SHORES INN
23410 Greater Mack Avenue, St. Clair Shores
A St. Clair Shores staple, Shores Inn is a beloved spot known for its welcoming atmosphere and diverse menu. Beyond the delicious food, the drinks deserve a shout-out too! If you’re looking for something summery and sweet, there are a couple of signature shots on the menu. Pink Starburst, for one, combines vanilla vodka, watermelon pucker, and sour mix that reminds you of the iconic candy it is aptly named after. Another option is the Johnny Vegas, with tequila, watermelon schnapps, and an energy drink. Pair either on your night out, and order up a burger, Detroit-style pizza, or anything else that catches your eye on the extensive menu.
VECINO
4100 3rd Avenue, Detroit
Vecino is a newer addition to the Detroit dining scene, but they are also embracing the melon craze. This modern Mexican restaurant combines traditional recipes with unexpected ingredients, like the red-fluke aguachile. At Vecino, this meal adds in watermelon, grapefruit, blood orange, and radish to elevate the seafood dish to new levels. Try it with the verde salsa and totopos (similar to tortilla chips) or the tomatoes with avocado, hoja santa, and onion.
CHAO ZHOU
31682 John R Road, Madison Heights
Now, you might want to prepare yourself for the taste of bitter melon–it is every bit as bitter as the name implies. But it adds a burst of flavor to any dish if the chefs know how to use it, which is the case at Chao Zhou. This restaurant makes great dishes with bitter melon that also include a host of other fresh ingredients. The Bitter Melon Bean Soup, for example, has a savory broth, pork slices, tofu, and garlic. For a vegetable, the Golden Pumpkin Melon takes crispy pumpkin chunks and covers them in salted egg whites and cheddar cheese. If you’re looking for a beef entree, the stir-fried beef with Chinese bitter melon is drizzled in black bean garlic sauce for a savory combination.
This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on May 25, 2022, and was authored by Karen Dybis.
