Every great meal tells a story, and at this celebrated Hazel Park restaurant, that story changes every single time you visit. Mabel Gray opened in September of 2015 and continues to exceed expectations by pushing boundaries with globally inspired seasonal menus, keeping its staff creative, happy, and fulfilled — and never getting stale. What started as a bold culinary bet on a quiet Detroit suburb has since become one of the most talked-about dining destinations in all of southeast Michigan.
Mabel Gray is Chef James Rigato’s take on the renaissance of the Michigan food scene. Mabel Gray is a stalwart in metro Detroit and a marker of restaurant excellence not just in Michigan but across America — earning the title of Hour Detroit’s 2025 Restaurant of the Year. The name itself carries a fascinating backstory: Chef Rigato fell for the idea of a Midwest legend — Alice Mabel Gray (1881–1925), who led a reclusive life in an abandoned cottage near the beach on the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Her ghost, it is said, still haunts the park’s sandy, dune-covered shores and is the basis of the folklore figure known as Diana of the Dunes.
What Makes Mabel Gray Truly Special
A menu that never stands still. Mabel Gray does not have a set menu, meaning each experience has the possibility to be a new and exciting meal you’ve never had before. While you may not find your average steak-and-potato dinner here, you will discover a unique dining experience that rotates with the seasons and is based on the availability of the freshest ingredients from local farms — with everything made from scratch and ethically sourced through Chef James’ extensive network of farms, butchers, and foragers.
The Chef’s Tasting Menu. The crown jewel of the Mabel Gray experience is undoubtedly the tasting menu. The Chef’s Tasting Menu is arranged as an eight-course series with specific menu items selected to curate unique dining experiences for the table based on the choices and decisions of the kitchen. Past tasting menus have featured everything from Island Creek oysters prepared two ways, chilled cucumber soup, scallops, and petit filet cooked to perfection, capped off with inventive desserts. It doesn’t seem like a lot of food, but by the end of the night you are full.
À la carte dining. Not in the mood for a full tasting experience? Mabel Gray offers tasting menus as well as à la carte dining — just specify which option you prefer in your reservation notes. The à la carte menu has produced memorable standouts over the years, including pork belly accompanied by a smoked apple butter sauce and apple radish salad, mushrooms with whipped goat cheese and smoked tomato purée, and a dessert dubbed “Almond Joy” — a dark chocolate coconut cream served over an almond cake.
World-class cocktails and wine pairings. The food here is fresh, seasonal, creative, and ridiculously delicious — and the cocktails are exceptional and always on point. The restaurant’s sommelier-curated wine pairings are a consistent highlight, with knowledgeable staff who can match each course with precision. Some menu items are inspired by Chef Rigato’s travels abroad, like recent trips to Italy, featuring classic recipes with personal flair added to them.
A chef with serious credentials. Chef James began his tenure in the restaurant industry at the age of 14, working as a dishwasher at a local diner. His love for food was forged by his Italian grandparents, and he went on to attend Schoolcraft College’s Culinary program before opening his first restaurant at the age of 26, following eight-plus years working at some of Detroit’s finest dining establishments. He’s been a James Beard Semifinalist in the Best Chefs category five times and has garnered top awards from Food & Wine, HOUR Detroit, and the Detroit Free Press — and he’s even spent time with Chef Gordon Ramsay, guiding him around the Keweenaw Peninsula for an episode of his National Geographic show “Uncharted.”
Atmosphere & Décor
Mabel Gray is a nearly 50-seat restaurant packed into 1,600 square feet of Hazel Park space that was once a diner called Ham Heaven. The shotgun-style space remains, at its core, an old Coney shop turned upside down. A relaxing, glowing orange light envelops the room, which features plenty of vintage tiling and coloring. Along the side wall rests a long leather bench, complete with rows of wooden tables and chairs, and the open kitchen protrudes into the dining space in such a way that it makes you feel as if you’re part of the team.
The Mabel Gray dining room is a repurposed shotgun diner with an exposed kitchen and a lively bar. Attached to the main dining room is a wine cave that can be made private — reminiscent of old world wine bars and the chalk cellars of Champagne, moody and candlelit. It’s the kind of intimate, layered space that feels special on a first visit and even more comfortable on a fifth.
Cozy and intimate, a seat at the bar remains one of the best ways to experience Mabel Gray. The music is always a great mix, and the whole place has a very cool vibe. The long rectangular layout features bench seating running the length of one side, opposite the kitchen and bar areas, with tables set small and fairly close together but with enough room to be comfortable.
Other Considerations
How much should I expect to spend? Mabel Gray falls in the mid-to-upper price range for metro Detroit dining. The tasting menu offers a remarkable value for the caliber and creativity of the food, though à la carte ordering can add up depending on how many courses you choose. Overall, the meal is on the pricier side, but most who’ve dined here agree that the quality more than justifies the tab. Think of it as a special-occasion splurge that genuinely delivers.
Do I need a reservation? Yes — and ideally well in advance. Mabel Gray accepts reservations up to 30 days in advance with each new day becoming available at 8 AM EST, and accepts online reservations for parties of 1–6 guests. A few bar seats and tables are held back for walk-in guests, though it’s common to be on a wait during peak dining times — so reservations are strongly encouraged to guarantee a seat.
Is it good for a special occasion? Absolutely. Mabel Gray has a long history of hosting special birthday parties, business dinners, interactive cooking classes, and weddings. With a private dining area, there is increased capacity and multiple dining zones to accommodate medium to large-scale events. The wine cave, in particular, makes for a memorably intimate private dining experience.
What about parking? There is a small parking lot adjacent to Mabel Gray on its south side and another one about a hundred feet to the north, toward the back alley. Street parking along nearby side streets is also an option, and the restaurant is easy to access from Detroit and the surrounding suburbs — located in a quiet suburb just 10 miles north of downtown Detroit.
Any heads-up for sensitive diners? Since the space is so small, the smell of grilled meat hits you when you walk in the door — something worth knowing if anyone in your group is particularly sensitive to those aromas. Additionally, the rotating menu means there’s no guarantee a specific dish will be available, so come with an open mind and let the kitchen guide you.
Mabel Gray
📍 23825 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030
Website: https://www.mabelgraykitchen.com
