All dressed up and no place to eat.

[Hypestyles]

No restaurant is worth waiting two hours for.

[Cliffy]

45 mins on a Saturday night is typical for most restaurants that don't have .99 Coney Tuesday specials. No way I would wait 2 hours though.

[sumas]

No restaurant is worth waiting two hours for.

Got that right.

My husband is a super charmer. He is great at remembering names. We get treated so nice when we go out. He knows the servers names, the cooks name, the owners name, etc. Notice I didn't say chef.

Father, Son and Holy Ghost who eats the fastest gets the most. Obviously we are plebian. Russian Polack, Russian German Jew. So many silly prayers like that. Just funning.

We do pray before meals. Bless us, oh Lord for these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty

He did spend a lot of time in younger days at high end places. He remembers their names too including the chefs. Sucks, they remember him also.

I just like not waiting!

[Lowell]

AGREED!! Because those same people would be sad that sowntown is still empty and wondering why nobody is coming down to the city and staying in the suburbs and not enjoying these new restaurants. lol. The American mindset: "I wanta change for the city but I want priority seating when this change happens because I don't have time in my life to wait for anything." If you guys think the waits are bad now, wait until about 4 years from now when the red wings district opens; I'm sure EVERYWHERE will have a wait. Welcome to what people in nyc have to deal with in certain places. Welcome to big city characteristics.

You forgot to add, "...and I want to park within ten feet of the entrance."

[Llama]

You forgot to add, "...and I want to park within ten feet of the entrance."

I've so far been able to get into any of the new places just by going at slightly off hours-- when they first open for dinner, or later on. With Selden Standard I've phoned ahead, even on day-of, and gotten in that way. Parking is also easier then!

A few words about Selden Standard and Wright & Co, for anyone intending to go. Those two places have identical chairs, which look to be the appropriate size for a middle school and are designed in such a way as to act as torture chambers for anyone over about 5' 5" or 100 pounds. Negative reaction to them is starting to show up in some reviews, so it's not just me. Both also have some bench seating and SS's bar stools are okay, but don't plan on a comfortable dinner if you get a chair! As for ordering wine and lingering-- you won't want to!

Last evening I was at Al Karar [[no wait!), so right across the street from Punch Bowl Social. There was a line halfway up the block of people waiting to get in there. I spotted in that line a couple of women with 5 kids, all looking to be under age 10! That place is a bar-- with some food and games, yes, but its a bar! And busy, and with a wait! I can't believe they'd be let in. What were those gals thinking? I'm pretty much expecting an angry review somewhere online from them, about how big bad Punch Bowl Social wouldn't let their babies play. Ugh.

Other than that, though, Downtown last evening was very nice-- bustling and happy or so it seemed.

[sumas]

You forgot to add, "...and I want to park within ten feet of the entrance."

How dare you Lowell. My husband and I are Detroit born and raised. DPS grads, WSU grads, city homeowners'. Chroniclers of Detroit history... Helped keep the city residentials and city downtown afloat before, you were a twinkle to your parents.

Damn straight I want to park right in front knowing I'll pay parking fees for valet.

My husband has Parkinsons, serious mobility issues. So keep making cracks like that.

Don't get old dear. No time to waste. Happens! Sumas

[wolverine]

How dare you Lowell. My husband and I are Detroit born and raised. DPS grads, WSU grads, city homeowners'. Chroniclers of Detroit history... Helped keep the city residentials and city downtown afloat before, you were a twinkle to your parents.

Damn straight I want to park right in front knowing I'll pay parking fees for valet.

My husband has Parkinsons, serious mobility issues. So keep making cracks like that.

Don't get old dear. No time to waste. Happens! Sumas

Please be respectful. What you do also affects others. For every parking space or first priority treatment there's always going to be someone else that has a similar condition or possibly worse. Lowell's comment was totally not directed at you. Convenient parking is perceived to be an inalienable right of most drivers. But if you want to take offense and stir up the thread a bit, it's no surprise in the tradition of DetroitYes.

And....there's always going to be some inconvenience for everyone. I can't read menus in dim light that most restaurants have. You get through it, or create a list of restaurants that meet your needs and time constraints.

[sumas]

Please be respectful. What you do also affects others. For every parking space or first priority treatment there's always going to be someone else that has a similar condition or possibly worse. Lowell's comment was totally not directed at you. Convenient parking is perceived to be an inalienable right of most drivers. But if you want to take offense and stir up the thread a bit, it's no surprise in the tradition of DetroitYes.

And....there's always going to be some inconvenience for everyone. I can't read menus in dim light that most restaurants have. You get through it, or create a list of restaurants that meet your needs and time constraints.

I know it was not personal. I simply do not get why when paying should I be inconvenienced.

Want sympathy, been legally blind for years.

Thought we would order a piazza from Jets @ harbour town, never ordered from there before, told a 2 hr wait for delivery. Serious, if you think that is acceptable, I want to sell you that bridge in Brooklyn.

[Llama]

Sumas, I'm thinking the point of this thread turns out to be that we're now seeing shortages, even with all the new places. The entire area [[in-town) is just getting more popular and apparently more prosperous.

It's not so much a question of what wait time would be "acceptable" as what's now become available-- at all. Sounds like the Harbortown area could use more pizza delivery capacity, but someone's going to have to invest in a new [[or expanded) outlet before that will happen.

[DetroitBoy]

Sumas, I'm thinking the point of this thread turns out to be that we're now seeing shortages, even with all the new places. The entire area [[in-town) is just getting more popular and apparently more prosperous.

It's not so much a question of what wait time would be "acceptable" as what's now become available-- at all. Sounds like the Harbortown area could use more pizza delivery capacity, but someone's going to have to invest in a new [[or expanded) outlet before that will happen.

Yes like when I am in NYC part of the adventure of eating someplace trendy is actually getting in. Some people plan it days in advance. We are starting to see some of that in Detroit. I think it will fill in with lower tier good places as well that you don't have an excessive wait time. Once there is a critical mass of good places, chefs move around and crowds with them. This leaves openings for new people coming up to start places. Overall, it will be a lot more and better food for everyone.

[sumas]

Now I am amused. Give me "lower tier places" anyday which understands service counts.

Which one of you all remember TIPS means "To insure prompt service".

Accept shoddy, get shoddy.

Stand in line, just means trendy, not excellence.

[Malcove Magnesia]

I'll offer another vote for OpenTable. I use it very often when I'm out on the Left Coast and it's a relief to know there's a reservation in place and that we won't have to wait hours for a semi-decent meal.

They need to get a couple sales peeps to drive around the restaurant zones in Detroit & the Woodward corridor.

The downside to OpenTable is that it does cost the restaurants semi-big money to use the system [[$1,300 to start up, $200 a month, 25 cents to $1 per reservation, etc.).

[Mackinaw]

Sumas, presumably you have a handicap parking tag [[or I would hope), which would make you 100% exempt in both law and spirit from Lowell's otherwise well-informed quip. If the shoe fits...

Back on topic, I keep an enormous list of restaurant websites bookmarked, in a bookmark folder called "Detroit Restaurants" on my safari browser in some sort of logical order with neighborhood listed too, i.e. "Wright & Co.- Downtown," "Addison Eatery-Brush Park," "Antietam-Eastern Market." This is then easily searchable upon opening Safari on my phone. So I can choose a destination at home, and then target a couple of nearby backups just in case. Google, moreover, makes it easier than ever to know a place's phone number and hours. Of course, the ideal scenario is a place that accepts reservations. Some do, too many don't. OpenTable doesn't even have a front-page hyperlink to Detroit yet, which is sad. Time for us to get to work on that...

[sumas]

Sumas, presumably you have a handicap parking tag [[or I would hope), which would make you 100% exempt in both law and spirit from Lowell's otherwise well-informed quip. If the shoe fits...

Back on topic, I keep an enormous list of restaurant websites bookmarked, in a bookmark folder called "Detroit Restaurants" on my safari browser in some sort of logical order with neighborhood listed too, i.e. "Wright & Co.- Downtown," "Addison Eatery-Brush Park," "Antietam-Eastern Market." This is then easily searchable upon opening Safari on my phone. So I can choose a destination at home, and then target a couple of nearby backups just in case. Google, moreover, makes it easier than ever to know a place's phone number and hours. Of course, the ideal scenario is a place that accepts reservations. Some do, too many don't. OpenTable doesn't even have a front-page hyperlink to Detroit yet, which is sad. Time for us to get to work on that...

OF course we do, legitimently, a handicapped tag doesn't exemt from fees. Can't park in front, we don't go. Pay for play is ok. So do not attempt to patronize us. Don't get old or have a handicap. Guess we might embarass those trendy spots. A walker is so not cool.

[Detroitdave]

I was going to start a thread like this after this past weekend.
I went to the winter blast with a friend and every place had an hour wait, however it was the winter blast and busy, which is good for the city.
We can back the next day and got a table right away at Hopcat :-)
I agree with Kraftwork , it's a good go to spot out side the downtown, midtown loop.
I'm looking forward to Guns and butter , Parks and Rec and Kuzzo's
The food scene in Detroit has def picking up

[bailey]

I was going to start a thread like this after this past weekend.
I went to the winter blast with a friend and every place had an hour wait, however it was the winter blast and busy, which is good for the city.
We can back the next day and got a table right away at Hopcat :-)
I agree with Kraftwork , it's a good go to spot out side the downtown, midtown loop.
I'm looking forward to Guns and butter , Parks and Rec and Kuzzo's
The food scene in Detroit has def picking up

I think the issue is this is an actual city and it sometimes, usually Thursday through Sunday brunch, actually acts like a real city, with people and things to do. If waiting for a table or a drink at place that is popular is such a problem...well, there are Coney's all over and no shortage of Applebees/Logans/Outback/joes crab shacks in the burbs that all take call ahead seating and have parking two feet from the front door.

Of all the things to complain about in Detroit I never would have thought people would be complaining about restaurants being too popular.

[Towne Cluber]

[QUOTE=bailey;469971 Of all the things to complain about in Detroit I never would have thought people would be complaining about restaurants being too popular.[/QUOTE]

I'm not the least bit surprised...regardless of whether it's coming from the anti-mainstream types, the status quo types, or the pseudo-elite wannabees that want things to stay artificially depressed so that they stay on top.

[detroitbob]

At most restaurants, including the new trendy places its easier to get in at opening or the beginning of dnner service or towards the end of the evening...a two hour wait at 6:45 pm when the dining room has just been seated to capacity is common. It's about adjusting your dining time. I'll take a 5:45 pm dinner with a fresh waiter and kitchen crew over being in the midst of a mad rush at 7:15pm any day partcularily on nighs when many diners may be trying to make a 8:00 or 8:30 curtain at the Fisher, Orchestra Hall, Opera House, Fox, etc. Tuesday, Wesnesday nights also make for a more relaxed dining experience.

[MAcc]

With a whole host of new restaurants, gastro pubs, and bars opening up in the city, I am left wondering where the hell are all these people coming from? This Saturday, My partner and I had enough of our cabin fever and decided to start trying spots on our list. We bundled up and made our way to Selden Standard. A 45-minute wait for 2. [[Congrats to the Selden Standard folks) Seeing that there was no room at the bar we walked. Apparently this is not uncommon among the top 10 in the area. [[Sorry Sugar House, not waiting for an hour behind the curtain.)

With all the new establishments, is there a gastro-bubble that is about to pop?

What place, in your opinion, is underrated and equally under-attended?

1.) "Host of new restaurants"...like 5 or 6? Serving a few million people within a 15 mile radius of downtown.
2.) Michigan is a flyover state. It's winter. Money that was earmarked for gas and tax returns are burning a hole in peoples pockets. Schmucks have nothing better to do to occupy their time, so they gladly drive 30 minutes from the suburbs to check out a new restaurant and happily wait an hour to fill up their evening, and feel trendy.
3.) FYI: the wait times are phony.
4.) The owners and staff are laughing at how gullible you are, the pictures of the Sysco food you're taking, and how you think the plate you're eating was worth 5 hours of your life and $25 from your wallet.
5.) The new places put the old places out of business. All of the old staples are struggling to stay open.

By late spring all of these "hot" places will be half empty.

[sumas]

Not all of the old staples are gone. Valet is nice/service is nice. have a coney we go to on occaision. The owner is there at the door to escort us in' They are doing well. Great hand battered cod. As always my husband knows every ones name.
'
I don't want to give an impression we go out often, we don't. Don't and will not wait, keep the trendy places. Several places mentioned we have been in, no wait, so don't get it. Our kids get us out and about on occaision.

Friday we have a lunch date with a fellow forumer. Great Polish place with no ambience, just great food, great prices, great service. Not in Ham Town. Think I'll stay "low brow".

[ABetterDetroit]

1.) "Host of new restaurants"...like 5 or 6? Serving a few million people within a 15 mile radius of downtown.
2.) Michigan is a flyover state. It's winter. Money that was earmarked for gas and tax returns are burning a hole in peoples pockets. Schmucks have nothing better to do to occupy their time, so they gladly drive 30 minutes from the suburbs to check out a new restaurant and happily wait an hour to fill up their evening, and feel trendy.
3.) FYI: the wait times are phony.
4.) The owners and staff are laughing at how gullible you are, the pictures of the Sysco food you're taking, and how you think the plate you're eating was worth 5 hours of your life and $25 from your wallet.
5.) The new places put the old places out of business. All of the old staples are struggling to stay open.

By late spring all of these "hot" places will be half empty.

Wow, I bet nobody ever asks if you want to go out to get some lunch with them.

[Junjie]

1.) "Host of new restaurants"...like 5 or 6? Serving a few million people within a 15 mile radius of downtown.
2.) Michigan is a flyover state. It's winter. Money that was earmarked for gas and tax returns are burning a hole in peoples pockets. Schmucks have nothing better to do to occupy their time, so they gladly drive 30 minutes from the suburbs to check out a new restaurant and happily wait an hour to fill up their evening, and feel trendy.
3.) FYI: the wait times are phony.
4.) The owners and staff are laughing at how gullible you are, the pictures of the Sysco food you're taking, and how you think the plate you're eating was worth 5 hours of your life and $25 from your wallet.
5.) The new places put the old places out of business. All of the old staples are struggling to stay open.

By late spring all of these "hot" places will be half empty.

Yeah, I guess it could be a conspiracy layered on seasonal effects layered on vast misperception. Or maybe Detroit is simply moving a few degrees closer to normal, and like every other city in the nation will support some mix of both "trendy" and "low-brow" restaurants in its downtown area. Who can say?

[Vic01]

At most restaurants, including the new trendy places its easier to get in at opening or the beginning of dnner service or towards the end of the evening...a two hour wait at 6:45 pm when the dining room has just been seated to capacity is common. It's about adjusting your dining time. I'll take a 5:45 pm dinner with a fresh waiter and kitchen crew over being in the midst of a mad rush at 7:15pm any day particularly on nights when many diners may be trying to make a 8:00 or 8:30 curtain at the Fisher, Orchestra Hall, Opera House, Fox, etc. Tuesday, Wednesday nights also make for a more relaxed dining experience.

Stop it, you're making too much sense...

Personally, I go to great lengths to seek out the smaller, family run places. I very rarely have to wait, the food is often better, the prices are sometimes better, and they usually appreciate my business more. I'd rather help them stay open than go to a "trendy" place, but then again nobody has ever called me "trendy" either

[detroitbob]

At the risk of making sense again, those smaller family run places were once new, perhaps trendy and it is good to keep patronizing them, however, one can dine reasonably at some of the new trendy spots...liquor and wine markups are higher today than ever, as are, sadly, meat and poultry prices. I rarely have more than one cocktail or glass of wine today when dining out. For example, I think Selden Standard is outstanding, and the menu fairly priced for the high quality. But the bar at Honest John's is a great value and right around the corner. I'd rather spend a few extra dollars on menu choices and hit the bar round the corner. Just my opinion, and I spent some 20 plus years in the restaurant business and priced out many a menu, beer, wine and liquor lists over the years.

[Mackinaw]

MAcc, you are an f'ing idiot.

Off the top of my head there were about 20 new restaurants in central neighborhoods alone in the last year. I'd be happy to furnish a list. I believe 6 of the top 10 on the Free Press list last week were Detroit restaurants.

If you really think they are serving you sysco food you are a fool who either has never had an elevated meal or has never read the first word about trends in fine dining. You think they are getting their pork bellies, truffles, and oysters from such a source? You think they aren't in Eastern Market daily choosing their vegetable? You sound horribly unpleasant and unaware.