Lumen Detroit readies to open next month in Beacon Park

Serving an approachable, beer-friendly menu, the al fresco dining destination can seat more than 200 guests inside and out

Melody Baetens
The Detroit News

Like the name implies, new Detroit restaurant Lumen is all about light.

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant’s main dining area is completely surrounded by glass doors that shower the 125-seat area with natural lighting. There’s room for another 200 seats outside the restaurant and on a rooftop patio — with a seeded, sustainable green space — that overlooks DTE Energy’s Beacon Park at Grand River and Cass. 

When Lumen Detroit opens within the first two weeks of April at 1903 Grand River  it will serve as the anchoring business for the park, which was added to the downtown landscape in summer. The newly-constructed building stands alone from the park at the corner of Cass and and Grand River.

Lumen Detroit’s main dining room is surrounded by glass doors that open.

Lumen is owned and operated by Norm and Bonnie LePage and their son and daughter-in-law Scott and Susan LePage. The LePages also own Big Rock Chophouse and Griffin Claw Brewing Company in Birmingham and Clubhouse BFD in Rochester Hills.

Both Bonnie and Norm have Detroit roots, though.

“My wife and I grew up here and when we were kids we used to hang out both of us in Detroit,” said Norm LePage. He said they’ve come close to opening a Detroit restaurant, even as long as 30 years ago, but didn’t find the right opportunity until Lumen.

“Some how nothing really fit until this came along,” he said. “I love the park, I love the attitude of DTE and what they wanted to do with the area. They want to see this grow just as well as some of the other pockets that are growing.”

LePage said that one of his objectives with Lumen is to cater to Detroit residents as well as folks visiting Beacon Park and the nearby stadiums. He also says his investment in the city isn’t over and thinks he may have “at least one more” restaurant in him.

Lumen will offer a full bar and has a beer-friendly menu developed by chef Gabby Milton, who is also the executive chef at Big Rock Chophouse and Reserve.

Milton said she wanted to serve dishes that would make sense with the family-friendly park setting nearby.

“We’re trying to do approachable foods,” she said. “There’s a lot of (businesses) around here doing very eclectic menus and we wanted to do more classic foods with a twist.”

Lumen Detroit opens next month in DTE Energy’s Beacon Park with a beer-centric menu that’s also approachable and family-friendly.

One of those twists are the everything bagel wings, which are small chicken wings fried and seasoned like an everything bagel would be, and served with a dill-lemon sauce that’s like a sophisticated ranch dressing.

Other items on the snack menu ($7-$18) include a charcuterie plate, mac and cheese with prosciutto and peas, crab cakes and a farmer’s market bowl with hummus tabbouleh, local veggies, olives and naan bread.

Lumen will also serve a menu of soups and salads ($6-$12) and entrees like PEI mussels, steak and frites, a house burger and a Michigan pork chop with schnitzel, red cabbage, potatoes and whole grain mustard. Entrees run $11-$27.

The bar will offer cocktails and wines by the glass and bottle, and will focus on Michigan craft beer, including several taps dedicated to Griffin Claw, naturally.

When Lumen Detroit opens,  hours will be open 3-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 3-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 3-9 p.m. Sunday. Lunch and brunch service will be added later in the year. Visit lumendetroit.com

mbaetens@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @melodybaetens

Lumen Detroit opens next month with indoor and outdoor seating for more than 200 at DTE Energy’s Beacon Park in Detroit.