Greengos

Dining out should be an enjoyable experience; one in which deciding what to order is easy and pleasant. Grosse Pointe Park’s new restaurant, Greengos, makes this possible for individuals on special or restricted diets, as well as their dining companions who may enjoy more traditional menu options.

“We describe our menu as ‘flexitarian,’” says James Folden, who co-owns the restaurant with partner Michell Danel. “It can be vegetarian or vegan, and we have lots of gluten free offerings, but we also have plenty of choices for those who eat eggs and dairy.”

Regardless of what type of food items restaurant-goers choose, everything is home-cooked, from scratch. Explains Danel, “Folden and I met at the Grosse Pointe Park Farmers Market several years ago. We’re both followers of the slow food movement and we really value a ‘farm to the fork’ model of cooking.” As avid community gardeners in the Woodbridge area of Detroit, the pair has been actively promoting the efforts of urban gardeners for years. When they moved to Grosse Pointe and saw the vacant storefront, they both decided it was time to take a leap of faith and open the restaurant of their dreams. “We felt that eating local and supporting community gardening was important on a personal level, and it only made sense to carry that through to the way we run our restaurant,” says Danel. In addition to sourcing local ingredients, the pair brew fresh kombucha, make rejuvelac, grow their own organic sprouts and wheatgrass and grind their own flour on-site.

At Greengos, the emphasis on ecologically sound practices and community awareness doesn’t stop once the food is plated. Folden says proudly, “We are truly a ‘full circle’ kitchen. We recycle everything and we use biodegradable cups, bowls and cutlery for our carryout service.” He adds, “We compost our food scraps too. I actually bike them over to the farm at the Catherine Ferguson Academy, where we do volunteer farm work.”

Whether it’s the desire to dine where there’s truly something for everyone, support local, organic farming or simply sample the wide variety of raw juices, whole fruit smoothies, creative entrees and delicious gluten free desserts, a meal at Greengos is sure to leave guests with a smile.