A few lucky fans got a special taste of Mom’s Spaghetti on Wednesday — hand-served by Eminem himself.
The Detroit rapper spent several minutes manning the alley window of the new eatery on Woodward Avenue, treating the first 10 fans in a blocks-long line to takeout boxes of spaghetti and selfie snaps as he inaugurated the new restaurant inspired by one of his hit lyrics.
Eminem and his entourage soon zoomed away in a pair of SUVs, chased Beatlemania-style down Woodward by packs of fans.
It was a rare public appearance by the generally reclusive star, part of a festive set of activities that included the Cass Tech Marching Band parading down Woodward playing Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”
Fans lined several blocks ahead of the restaurant’s official 5 p.m. opening. Many had camped out since early morning.
The spot from the Detroit rapper is within Union Assembly restaurant, a recently opened restaurant on the ground floor of Little Caesars world headquarters on Woodward Avenue across from Comerica Park.
The Mom’s Spaghetti walk-up window is in an alley between Union Assembly and the Fillmore. Above the window is a sign featuring a red heart, with a fork through it and a sash with the “Mom’s Spaghetti’ name.
As the name implies, the menu is all spaghetti, and it’s a simple menu with just a few items. There’s Mom’s Spaghetti for $9, Mom’s Spaghetti with Meatballs for $12 and a ‘Sghetti Sandwich for $11. A vegan option, according to momsspaghetti.com, is spaghetti with vegan balls for $14. The vegan balls are made with black beans, quinoa and sweet peppers. Pepsi product beverages and water are $3 each.
The project is a partnership with Union Joints Restaurant Group, co-owned by Curt Catallo; his wife, Ann Stevenson, and managing partner Erich Lines. Union Joints also owns long-standing suburban restaurant hot spots Clarkston Union, Union Woodshop, Vinsetta Garage and more.
The eatery is described as a “small bodega space” inside Union Assembly. Seating is limited.