Second metro-Detroit Portillo’s opens to long lines, rave reviews
People wait in a line to enter Portillo’s, which opened Tuesday in Livonia.
Longtime fans of Portillo’s’ deliciousness, Livonia residents Robert and Ann Brumar couldn’t wait for the home of chocolate cake shakes and beef-and-cheddar croissants to open in their hometown.
“My sister lives in Chicago, so we would eat at Portillo’s a lot when we’d visit her,” said Ann Brumar. “We love everything about it — the food is fresh, the service is amazing and it’s priced right.”
The Brumars shared their first dining experience at the Livonia Portillo’s Tuesday afternoon as they walked to their car after a satisfying meal (Robert enjoyed the before-mentioned beef-and-cheddar croissant, while Ann loved every bite of her chopped salad).
“We’d drive by the location (13004 Middlebelt Road) occasionally, hoping it would finally be open,” Robert Brumar said, smiling.
The Brumars — and thousands of other Portillo’s loyalists — got their wish Tuesday when the 61-year-old franchise founded in suburban Chicago opened its second Michigan location in Livonia (its first Michigan restaurant is located in Sterling Heights with a third planned for Canton in the near future).
At approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Chik-fil-A-esque lines of cars could be seen stacking in the freshly-opened restaurant’s drive-thru — and a decent-sized line of patrons waited in a line that snaked outside.
Lines move briskly
When asked about the lines, the Brumars assured first-time future diners at Portillo’s not to worry.
“The lines moved at a very good pace; they have a great system worked out,” said Ann Brumar.
The section of Livonia where Portillo’s sits — just south of the I-96 expressway — is to comfort-food restaurants what Cedar Point is to rollercoasters. Located within a short walk from the gleaming new Portillo’s is an Outback Steakhouse, Culver’s, Hook and Reel, and Panda Express.
“There are a lot of good comfort-food restaurants in this area, but Portillo’s is the best in my opinion,” said Ann Brumar, who was (like her husband) still working on finishing off a chocolate cake shake. “It’s a combination of the great service, fresh food and amazing menu.”
To check out Portillo’s vast menu, click here.
Canton Portillo’s on the horizon?
Details are still being worked out in terms of the Canton Portillo’s, which — if developers’ plans come to fruition — will be neighbors with a Chik-fil-A, a Topgolf indoor/outdoor recreation facility and a four-story hotel on 55 acres of property located between I-275 and Lotz Road (the property is bordered to the north and south by Warren and Ford roads, respectively).
While that Portillo’s location may be several months from opening, the Brumars are ecstatic the Livonia location has finally opened for business.
“We don’t have to drive to Chicago anymore to enjoy eating at Portillo’s,” Robert added.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
