Red & The Wolf

Red & The Wolf might be the most ambitious cooking in Clawson right now. The husband-and-wife team behind it — Heaven and Aaron Cozadd, whose nicknames give the fairy-tale-themed restaurant its name — come from the acclaimed Vigilante Kitchen, and Aaron was named the Detroit Free Press’s 2024 Chef of the Year. What they’re doing here is “elevated Midwest” with a serious global streak: bao buns (the Peruvian Chicken and Szechuan Hot Chicken get raved about), smash burgers, Szechuan spare ribs, an Elote Caesar, and an Earl Grey crème brûlée that people specifically drive back for. The room leans into the story, all moody woods and romantic reds, with a granny’s-house nook for good measure.

It’s creative without being fussy, the vegan options are thoughtful and clearly labeled, and weekend brunch is a thing. It moved into the former Zeoli’s space and has quickly become a reason to point yourself downtown. We’ve got it high on our list as a chef-driven date-night standout and one of the best new tables in Clawson.