5-on-5 is our highly-subjective series of lists released on the 5th day of every month. Our goal is to have fun sharing some of our favorites in various categories. From fish to French fries, pizza to pasties, follow our foodie lists for monthly recommendations across Michigan.

Whew, it’s been a minute! As food and drink establishments begin to reopen in this new normal, we want to reflect on the things we’ve missed most over the last few months. Here’s what we’re looking forward to sooner rather than later. What are you looking forward to most?

Outdoor Drinks

What’s better than enjoying a few cocktails or craft beers under the Pure Michigan sun? Lazy afternoons and happy hours at The Shed or The Franklin in Traverse City, Lake Fx Grill in Port Huron, Reserve in Grand Rapids, and Lansing Brewing Company come to mind.

Breweries / Cideries / Wineries

Old standbys like Mawby (Traverse City) and Short’s Brewing (Bellaire) are sorely missed, while newer favorites like Townline Ciderworks (Traverse City) and Northern Latitudes Distillery (Lake Leelanau) are calling us back.

Downtown Detroit

The Detroit dining scene reached a fever pitch as of fall of 2019, but that came to a screeching halt with the pandemic. It’s been very concerning to think about how restaurants will survive; we can’t wait to get out and support their dining rooms once again.

Leila

Leila‘s Awarma Fettah was one of our favorite bites of 2019; we can’t wait to get back.

SheWolf

Shoulda. Woulda. Coulda. There are no excuses for not visiting Detroit’s SheWolf already, something we truly regret. Plates of fresh pasta will be savored even more after this long dining delay.

The Peterboro

The Peterboro‘s divine cocktails and refined Chinese fare are sorely missed. If you’ve never been to this Midtown Detroit eatery, here’s a photo gallery of what we’re talking about.

Traverse City

Traverse City is our favorite Michigan getaway. The wineries, the food, the scenery, the breweries, the bay — need we say more?

Exploring New Territory

To say that the coronavirus lockdown has hindered our intrastate food adventures would be an understatement. It’s been ages since we’ve been able to explore new dining establishments in areas we haven’t been to before. If you have recommendations for towns we should check out, feel free to drop a comment on this post or message us on Facebook.