Pequeño Cantina

Pequeño means “little,” and the cantina lives up to the name — 42 seats inside, a sliver of sidewalk patio, and an outsized presence on the Avenue of Fashion. Chef Frank Blackman, a Detroit fine-dining veteran (the London Chop House, the old 24Grille), opened it in 2021 with his wife and co-owner Tara Hrobowski-Blackman, aiming for a spot that’s good enough for date night but casual enough to hit weekly.

The draw: creative tacos, street corn, sangria, and a serious high-end tequila program, all in a stylish, intimate room. It was one of the first signs that the Ave’s revival could mean elevated dining, not just nostalgia — and it’s grown enough to add a second location downtown on Broadway.