European-inspired restaurant replacing Lady of the House in Detroit's Corktown

Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press
·1 min read
Alpino, a new European cuisine-inspired restaurant expect to open this winter in Corktown.
Alpino, a new European cuisine-inspired restaurant expect to open this winter in Corktown.

A former Detroiter and hospitality industry veteran is breathing new life into a space in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.

David Richter, who spent the last two decades in New York, moved back to Michigan last year to open Alpino, a "wine-inspired, regional" restaurant.

“I’m thrilled to be back in Detroit, opening a restaurant in the city my heart never left," Richter said in a news release. "The culinary scene was being talked about in the cities I was living in, inspiring me to come home and be part of the growth.”

A winter opening is expected in the space at 1426 Bagley, which was formerly award-winning chef Kate Williams' much-lauded The Lady of the House restaurant. Williams permanently closed the highly acclaimed restaurant in February 2021.

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Inside the 3,200-square-foot space, the design will be inspired by "European country-side farmhouses and cabins" in a communal setting, according to a news release.

Its menu concept, rooted in "heritage, tradition and simplicity" is inspired by traditional dishes from countries along the Alpine mountains along with a curated beverage and cocktail program with wines and beers also from those regions.

Before returning to Detroit, Richter spent the last two decades working in the New York restaurant scene. Richter worked with restaurateurs Joe Bastianich and Cesare Casella. Most recently, he worked with Michael Dorf of City Winery as vice president of operations.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Alpino restaurant replacing Lady of the House in Detroit