How Good Reviews Can Help Other Nearby Dearborn Businesses 

We’ve written before on these pages about what a gem of a restaurant Michael Chamas has in his Bistro 222 here in Dearborn. With Ciao still not reopened, Mr. Chamas has quietly filled that void offering a great selection of food with a wine list to now match.

We only mention Bistro 222 here again because of a review the restaurant received in the latest issue of the Metro Times. The headline of the story says it all: “A west side winner”.

The restaurant reviewer closes his story about Bistro 222 with this paragraph:

“Dearborn is off the radar for many local gourmands who, when dining in the burbs, tend to concentrate on the culinarily rich and diverse northwest or to some degree in recent years, Grosse Pointe and environs. The stylish Bistro 222 provides a reason, as a Michelin guide might recommend, to make a special journey to Dearborn. It is difficult to find such a satisfying — and affordable — dining experience in our area these days.”

That paragraph got us thinking about how a favorable review about one business can help other businesses in the area, as well. Steven Bernard Jewelers is one such place as he is located in the same building as Bistro 222. New visitors to the restaurant might then poke their head into Bernard’s jewelry store, which is also very stylish and filled with many one-of-a-kind gifts.

But where else could a couple new to Dearborn walk to after eating at Bistro 222? Village Picture Frame and Art Gallery is now just across the street and a good place to shop for something unique. Other businesses in the West Village Commons one might include in their night out: The Well bar, La Cigar and Cold Stone Creamery. Joining these businesses is a new martini bar coming into the location that once housed Caribou Coffee (we will have more about the new owners of the martini bar later).

We’ll be the first to admit there is a lot more that needs to be done in downtown West Dearborn so it isn’t just a one-stop destination. But if restaurants like Bistro 222 can at least put Dearborn on the consideration list of new visitors, it is a building-block step in the right direction.