Open just a few days, Hudson Cafe already drawing rave reviews

An interior view of the new Hudson Cafe.
Early first impressions of Northville Township’s newly-opened Hudson Cafe can be summed up in one word: delicious.
On Monday, 10 days after the much-anticipated debut of the brunch-focused eatery located at 17101 Haggerty Road, the coolly-decorated interior of the former Applebee’s was buzzing with customers, many of whom were enjoying hearty salads, omelets and a variety of flavors of french toast, pancakes and waffles.
“The reception so far has been amazing,” said co-owner Johnny Mourtos “We’ve been serving customers who’ve enjoyed our downtown-Detroit location, but the first-time customers we’re getting from Northville, Livonia, Novi, Farmington Hills — this entire area, really — are ecstatic we’re here. Everybody is really happy with what we’ve done with this place.
“Myself, my brother Pete, Tom (Teknos) and my cousin Yannie have been looking out here for four, five years. When this property popped up, it was right where we wanted to be. We’re fortunate.”
Raised in restaurant industry
The four owners of Northville’s Hudson Cafe have all grown up in restaurant-centric families — and the brothers/cousins have known each other for as long as they can remember, Mourtos said.

“The most important things we’ve learned from our parents is you need to offer great food, a clean restaurant and a nice atmosphere — everything we’ve tried to deliver here,” Mourtos said. “I think it’s important, too, for people to know that at least two of the four owners will be on-site every day we’re open. At a lot of restaurants, there’s a manager walking around, but not the owners. That’s not the case here.
“We did a complete remodel of the space. You’d never know this used to be an Applebee’s. We felt there was a demand in this area for more of an upscale brunch restaurant. We put a lot of time and thought into the design and so far people love it. A lot of customers are shocked that our service, food and atmosphere is outstanding even though we’ve been open less than two weeks. That makes us feel good.”
Green goodness
Mourtos said the restaurant’s salads have been a huge hit so far. Hudson’s all-star salad line-up is topped by the Hudson salad, which is identical to the old downtown Hudson’s’ Maurice salads.
“Our Chipotle Southwest salad and our BLT salad our also among our customers’ favorites,” Mourtos said, “although, honestly, they like them all.”

With a goal to please everyone’s tastebuds and diet restrictions, the cafe offers healthy choice menu items, two vegan and vegetarian entrees, and gluten-free meals.
“We’re already getting a lot of repeat customers, which is exciting,” Mourtos said.
The original Hudson Cafe was founded in downtown Detroit in 2011 by Teknos, who came up with the name due in part to its proximity to the old Hudson’s building on Woodward.
The Detroit location is currently being renovated and scheduled to reopen in April.
Event space is very welcoming
An amenity the Northville Hudson Cafe includes that the Detroit site doesn’t is a closed off banquet room with a separate entrance. The space — which can accommodate parties of up to 60 people for plated meals and 50 for buffet-style meals — is equipped with high-tech (and easy-to-use) audio and visual systems that make business meetings possible.
Hudson Cafe Director of Catering and Events Evelyn Argirokastritis said the restaurant has already secured deposits for events for once the banquet room opens in early-April.
“We had numerous requests from people looking for event space in our Detroit location, but we simply didn’t have the room,” Argirokastritis said. “When this location was being designed, we realized we’d have the space for a room like this and it’s already turned into a popular option for people who are planning for bridal and baby showers, business meetings — really any private event with up to 50 to 60 people.”

The west wall of the banquet room is decorated with a sprawling old-school map of Detroit and the east side of the room is all windows, allowing for waves of natural light to stream in.
Argirokastritis said the addition of an outdoor patio is also in the works.
To check into reserving the banquet space, send an email to: eventsnv@hudson-cafe.com.
The Hudson Cafe will also cater events as well, she added.
The Hudson Cafe is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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