Metro Detroit: Commerce’s Zerbo’s Market & Bistro

Originally Zerbo’s Market on Plymouth Rd in Livonia opened in 1958 by Harry Zerbo. Harry wasn’t always into nutrition. He actually raised and sold Chinchillas. He was always trying to find a way to get their coats shiner and softer, so he started giving them nutritional supplements. As the story has it, Harry’s Chinchillas had nicer coats and were more well behaved and sold first for the most money. Of course this was great for Harry Zerbo, not necessarily the Chinchillas, and it sparked Harry’s interest into nutritional supplements. Harry consulted a biochemist from Detroit and began having regular meetings at his home to talk about health products. As interest grew, the meetings grew in size and Zerbo’s was born as a tiny vitamin shop.

Harry worked at the store until 2001, when he was 84. He passed away in 2005, at the age of 88. Today his daughter, Clara Adams (a licensed massage therapist and certified bio-feedback technician) and grandchildren, Ryan Adams and Shannon Adams Faunt, now run the family business.

While Zerbo’s started as a small vitamin and supplement store, it quickly grew into a specialty market selling organic groceries, gluten-free and vegan products as well as specialty supplements. If you live in Livonia, you have probably driven by Zerbo’s a thousand times. Even if you have never gone there, you know where it is at on Plymouth Rd just before Stark. For years we never knew it was more than just a vitamin and supplement store, until we went there and found it to be much more than that.

In 2021 Zerbo’s in Commerce opened. We figured it was just another market, like the Livonia location . . . and boy were we mistaken. It is actually called Zerbo’s Market and Bistro. Did someone say Bistro? Now we have to get there to check it out. Our first impression was WOW! The market is enormous and yes it is similar to the Livonia location, but on a much grander scale. They have a bit of everything. Of course there are vitamins and supplements, but they also have some of the nicest looking produce, prepared grab and go food, breads, beer and wine, fresh flowers, sushi. The list goes on and on.

If the market doesn’t do it for you, the Bistro should. It was a pleasant surprise. Large and spacious with a huge bar area, as well as 2 huge dining areas and outdoor dining when the weather permits.

They also have event rooms upstairs which can be rented out.

We were quite impressed with their happy hour which runs everyday from 3:30 to 5:30, even on the weekends. They offer $3 Zerbo Light draft beer, which is made by Short’s so how could it be bad? $4 glasses of house wines, $4 well cocktails and $6 Zerbo’s Margaritas. They also offer many of their appetizers at a discounted price.

The atmosphere is upscale, relaxed casual. A place where you could have a date night, take the family for dinner or meet with work colleagues. The décor is modern with high ceilings, visible steel beams and exposed ductwork all add to the cool vibe. Then there’s the bar. We have seen so many bars in our ventures and this one is in the top 10. It is visually stunning with a 2 story liquor display which is backlit with accent lighting. The center is all bourbon, which they had somewhere between 70 and 80 to choose from. They offer over 20 draft beer selections, mostly Michigan made, over 40 different wines, most with reasonable full bottle prices, and around 15 signature cocktails.

Time to talk about the food. We have been here a couple of times for happy hour and everything has been awesome. As you know, we love happy hour and love being in the bar where happy hour is usually offered. However, happy hour here is served in the entire restaurant. When we sat at the bar, we were in awe of the vast selection of liquor to choose from. Hundreds of bottles. The shelves are so tall they have a ladder they use to get the “top shelf” bottles when ordered.

Their menu is vast and has something for everyone’s taste and dietary needs, with lots of vegan and gluten free options. On top of the nearly dozen appetizers, they offer a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos and flatbreads if you are not looking for a full blown meal. On the entrée side of the menu there are tons of great options. 7 different pasta dishes, 18 main course chicken, seafood and vegan dishes and a nice selection of steaks and chops.

First time we tried their Greek salad and the Mediterranean Dip Platter. We really liked both a lot. The salad was a chopped salad which made it a lot easier to eat than having big chunks of lettuce. There was the perfect amount of each component and the Greek dressing was really good. The Mediterranean Dip Platter was a nice plate with fresh veggies, warm naan bread, hummus and a roaster red pepper dip, similar to Muhammara both were very light and refreshing.

The next time we were with our neighbor and tried the Steak Bites, Mussels, the Trio of Chicken Tacos and their Meat & Cheese Platter.

The Steak Bites were grilled chunks of filet that are served in a pool of their zip sauce with cheezy garlic bread. My only complaint is I wanted more of the bread.

The Mussels were in a delicious garlicy, buttery wine sauce, just the way Muscles should be cooked, and were served grilled focaccia. Look at the size of these things!!

The Trio of Tacos (chicken, pork or black beans and chorizo) are served with a citrus slaw, Pico de Gallo, chipotle aioli and guacamole. We got the chicken and they came out with just the tortilla and chicken and you topped them yourself which I thought was a nice presentation.

Lastly the meat and cheese plate. A nice selection of meats and cheeses with plenty of crackers. It had mortadella, peperoni, 2 salamis, and 4 cheeses. We highly recommend this for a group to share if you have a party of 4 or more.