Le Petit Zinc
French restaurant · Poletown East ·
French cafe serving light fare, sweet & savory crepes, & giant bowls
French cafe serving light fare, sweet & savory crepes, & giant bowls
"The creperie and cafe abruptly closed over Easter weekend a little more than a year after relocating to Midtown; the team said “Le Petit has exciting changes in the making,” suggesting the concept may reemerge elsewhere." - Brenna Houck
"Le Petit Zinc, a popular French cafe and creperie in Detroit, is closing after just over a year in Midtown. Initially founded in Corktown in 2009, it became known for its sweet and savory crepes and big bowls of coffee and hot chocolate. The restaurant relocated to the Strathmore Apartment building in February 2018 but is now shutting down operations on Sunday, April 21, 2019. Owner Karima Sorel, who splits her time between Detroit and Paris, had to move from the original location in 2017 due to a landlord-tenant dispute. Despite the closure, there are hints that Le Petit Zinc may return in the future." - Brenna Houck
"As part of a Midtown 'Love, Midtown' celebration on May 12 (noon–8 p.m., free and open to the public), this restaurant will run a champagne-and-crepes promotion as one of several daytime food specials." - Eater Staff
"Gradually reopening at a new Alexandrine location in preparation for a grand opening, Le Petit Zinc has taken over the former Dangerously Delicious Pies spot and will serve coffee, crepes, quiche, and other French-style breakfast and lunch items." - Brenna Houck
"I learned it reopened last week on the ground floor of the Strathmore Apartment building in Midtown, returning to its distinctly French style while working in close quarters. Owner Karima Sorel says she looked to the streets of Paris—where she now resides part-time—for inspiration on how to better utilize the limited kitchen and storage space: “The Europeans are doing very well with limited space,” and she’s been “literally snapping photos, taking notes” to recreate what she sees. Open shelving and storage cabinets now line the dark blue subway tile along the open kitchen walls, and the new restaurant seats around 30 patrons at black iron tables topped with brown squares of butcher paper; the room is softened by dark blue floor-to-ceiling curtains, green walls, gold accents, and hand-painted details by Sorel, including a large mural near the cash register. A pastry case now features desserts from French pastry chef Matt Knio of Cannelle Patisserie. Aside from the addition of two new dishes, regulars will still find the same hits from the original menu—sweet and savory crepes, ratatouille sandwiches, and lattes served in gloriously large bowls." - Brenna Houck