Restaurant morsels: 5 notable restaurants were in the news recently, here's what to know

It was another busy week for restaurants in metro Detroit, especially downtown, with new spots opening, in the works, or current places expanding.

As the NFL Draft nears, we expect the restaurant scene to heat up. Here’s what know about restaurants recently in the news.

Sexy Steak

On the ground floor of Detroit’s castle-like, historic Grand Army of the Republic Building, also commonly called the GAR building, Sexy Steak is now open. Here the cut of beef, of course, is one of the notable highlights. All the beef and poultry served here is halal. A highlight in the dining room is the display of premium beef cuts in a Himalayan salt-lined case. Steaks offered include a filet mignon and prime rib-eye sourced from the famed Creekstone farms. Seafood entrees are on the menu, along with oysters, salads and sharables. Inside, the ground-floor restaurant is spacious with curved, high-back, blush-hued booths that can comfortably seat four. High-top tables on the Grand River side. The bar is spacious, making up a big part of the dining area.

Presley’s Kitchen opens

Restaurants opening inside hotels have been an overarching trend in Detroit's dining scene since last year. Presley’s Kitchen is one of those places. The restaurant from New Hudson-based Davis Hospitality is now open at the corner of Park and Woodward on the ground floor of the historic David Whitney Building and the Autograph Collection Hotel. Expect a menu of American fare along with a curated cocktail menu. Presley’s Kitchen is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. Brandon and Karissa Davis are the husband-and-wife owners and operators behind the new concept from Davis Hospitality with co-owner Jason Perras, a South Lyon native.

Albena chef moves west

After announcing his highly lauded Detroit restaurant would close, Albena chef and owner Garrett Lipar is moving on. Lipar is heading to the Dixboro Project in the Village of Dixboro in Washtenaw County. Joining the Pulpo Gorup’s Dixboro Project on April 1, Lipar is the executive chef and partner.  Long-time Ann Arbor restaurateur Sava Farah owns and operates The Dixboro Project and is the CEO and founder of the Pulpo Group, which also owns and operates Sava's and Aventura restaurants, both in Ann Arbor. Earlier this month, Lipar and his wife, Tiffany, announced that Albena will close on March 16 after a six-year run tucked inside downtown Detroit's Siren Hotel. Albena is known for its distinctive multicourse chef's tasting-style menu.

Marrow expanding

Marrow, a popular West Village neighborhood butcher shop and restaurant, is expanding to Birmingham with another Marrow Detroit Provisions location. A second location for its Marrow Detroit Provisions butcher shop will open at 283 Hamilton Row, in Birmingham. Expect a spring opening, according to the owners. The new spot will carry a full line of fresh meats, aged steaks, sausage, deli items, and gourmet sundries. This first location outside of Detroit will also offer a casual menu that includes hot and cold sandwiches, sausage rolls, salads, soups, snacks, and coffee.

Marrow got its start in 2018 in West Village on Kercheval near Van Dyke. It's known as two culinary halves that meld together nicely featuring a small neighborhood restaurant that focuses on nose-to-tail butchery and farm-to-table and a butcher shop.

Buddy’s Pizza opens 23rd location

The expansion of hometown Detroit-style pizza originator Buddy Pizza continues. Canton is the new home for a Buddy’s Pizza carryout-only location. This is the 23rd location for the chain founded more than 75 years ago at Six Mile and Conant in Detroit. The new location, 42911 Ford Rd., is Buddy's Pizza's seventh carryout-only spot.

Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New and notable Metro Detroit restaurants now open