Basan is the name of the 3rd restaurant concept from Grey Ghost owners
3 min read
Four Man Ladder, the restaurant group behind Midtown’s Grey Ghost and nearby Second Best, announced the name of its new dining concept at the Eddystone building redevelopment.
Called Basan, the restaurant is named after mythological fire-breathing, bird-like fowl. It’s slated to open next year. Basan’s kitchen will be centered around a Robata grill, according to a news release. The flavors and dishes are inspired by the Asian street food of izakaya, which are Japanese restaurants known as casual places for food and drink.
A sample of the Basan menu debuted at Grey Ghost in Midtown on Halloween night at a sold-out event. Guests got a first taste of dishes, including fried bologna bao (roasted jalapeño kewpie, cheddar crisp), shiitake chawanmushi (fried maitake, puffed black rice, egg yolk) and glazed short ribs with wasabi-potato dumplings.
“Given the historic Eddystone’s proximity to Little Caesars Arena, we knew this concept needed to match the incredible energy and vibrancy found within The District Detroit and appeal to a wide variety of guests. The Izakaya style of dining felt like a natural fit. Our guests will be able to craft their own experience, whether that’s a pre-game stop for cocktails and a quick bite or a more curated, multi-course dinner,” said chef John Vermiglio in a news release.
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Olympia Development of Michigan hotel redevelopment and restoration project of Eddystone, which is next to Little Caesars Arena, includes 92 apartments, with 20% set aside as affordable units.
“We are excited to add Basan to the enticing mix of dining and entertainment options in The District Detroit,” said Stefan Stration, vice president of Olympia Development of Michigan, in a news release. “This unique and welcoming concept from Four Man Ladder will be a great fit for residents and guests of the Eddystone residences.”
Four Man Ladder’s team includes chefs Vermiglio and Joe Giacomino, beverage director Will Lee and Michael Gray, the director of operations.
Basan will seat 85 in the indoor dining room. There will also be patio seating, a private dining space, a lounge, and a bar area. Its interior will feature an open kitchen concept.
Fine-dining Grey Ghost opened in 2016 in the Brush Park neighborhood. Its menu offers an array of craft cocktails and eclectic meat-centric dishes. In 2017, Grey Ghost was named the No. 2 Detroit Free Press Best New Restaurant.
The group opened Second Best in 2018. It’s a corner pub of sorts across the street from its sister restaurant at 42 E. Watson just off Woodward Avenue. There’s a full beer and cocktail menu along with snacks and bites.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Sue Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: 313-222-6872 or [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
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