Rock City Eatery, the new restaurant from Rock City
Pies' Nikita Santches, is opening for business on Monday, September 23, 11:30
a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Rock City
Eatery is a concept several years in the making for Santches. After making a
name for himself as the "Pie
Guy" of Rust Belt Market in Ferndale, then becoming a top four
finalist in the 2012 Hatch Detroit small business competition, Santches is
finally able to realize his dream of opening his own restaurant.
The Eatery
is located at 11411 Joseph Campau just
north of Caniff in the former location of Maria's Comida. Santches, with
the help of family and friends, has completely renovated the interior. The
finished result is a mix of vintage and antique pieces from Detroit Picker and
Vogue Vintage, custom-made furniture by David Moroz Art Furniture made with
reclaimed materials, original artwork featuring 1960s and '70s Detroit Rock
City icons, and details such as exposed brick walls original to the 1918
building and an iron door made for the basement bomb shelter dating back to
WWII.
The menu is
a work of personal passion for Santches. As an immigrant Russian, he has long
wanted to make the kinds of foods he remembers growing up with, which includes
a lot of "offal." Part of what drew him to Hatmtramck to open his
restaurant is the large immigrant Eastern European population that he feels a
kinship with. His menu is a reflection of his passions as a chef (who admires
other adventurous chefs like Anthony Bourdain) and his own nostalgia for the
foods he ate growing up.
Everything
on the menu is made in house from scratch, from the breads and sauces to the foie
gras whipped butters and hand-cut potato chips. The lunch and dinner menus
feature items like duck rilette sandwiches, charcoal-grilled beef tongue
skewers, pork "fries" with togarashi, and bone marrow fritters, with
plenty of vegetarian options like roasted brussels sprouts with Thai basil and
smoked tomatoes, and grilled heirloom carrots with fast-pickled apples and goat
cheese. What he doesn't make himself Santches gets from other local producers, like
the chocolate truffles on the dessert menu from Pete's Chocolate Company. And
for dessert, yes, there will be pie…lots of pie. Menu items will change based
on the season and availability.
Rock City
Eatery has a full liquor license and will serve a selection of Michigan-made
beers, wines, and spirits from popular brands like Founders, Bell's, Black Star
Farms, M Lawrence, New Holland, Valentine, Two James, and Grand Traverse
Distilling. There is also a selection of craft cocktails and "lushies"
– booze-blended slushies.
Rock City
Eatery will be open Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
For all media requests, contact Nikita
Santches | nsatches@yahoo.com |
248-633-3072
