All dressed up and no place to eat.

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?

Yogi Berra - "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

Price of success. As New Yorkers say - "Damn tourists!"

not sure of an answer but had a similar experience last Saturday

tried GoldCashGold saturday night, was told it was a 2 hour wait for dinner for 2.... NOT....

so just walked to slows and ate at the bar, not what we wanted but werent willing to wait 2 hours...

anyway, went back to gold after for drinks and desert, checked the menu, and glad we didn't wait, nothing on the menu looked good for my date, ordered the cookies desert at the bar... wasn't too impressed... probably won't be going back to gcg......

There are a ton of places that are great and don't draw huge crowds, even in the greater downtown area. If you want BBQ and can't get into Slow's, head over to Greektown and get some Redsmoke. Ottava Via never seems to be too crowded, when I've been there. Cutter's in Eastern Market has great burgers, and Sweetwater has awesome wings. I could name tons of places I enjoy going that aren't always packed. It's really only the new and super-publicized places [[Slow's, Selden, Wright & Co, Hudson Cafe, Gold Cash Gold, Hopcat, Green Dot, Bucharest, etc) that have insane waits. Of course, places with waits like that are usually for good reason. Not many people wait two hours for an average meal experience.

LOL I hope that everyone that's used to a empty Detroit is consistently disappointed for a very long time.

Can't wait for Guns+Butter!!! Of course, that will have a line too.

Observations: more Detroit restaurants need to accept reservations and use open table. That said, Detroit restaurant-goers need to pack their patience and plan their evening with bar + restaurant pairings. Locate your restaurant of choice and an uncrowded bar nearby, go to restaurant and put in your name, and then walk a few blocks and enjoy the cocktail of your choice while you wait.

Other observation: sounds like a perfect hour to return to some of the old faves, lest they fall inexplicably out of style: hello Roma Cafe, Vicente's Cuban, Chop House, Tom's Oyster, the list goes on.

The improved food scene goes a long way in speaking about the course the city is on. Chicago is the clear midwestern leader but Detroit can tag along right behind if we demand excellence. The talent and money is certainly willing to invest here. Twin Cities has gotten GOBS of good press for having a few big name chefs emerge and rescue said cities from the white bread cuisine of its former self...frankly Detroit is having almost comparable recent success and it is all built upon a more diverse and interesting foundation. Can't wait to receive our national credit for having great food.

Also, 45 minutes isn't that long of a wait for dinner on a Saturday. Hell, people wait that long at places like Olive Garden.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spartan

Also, 45 minutes isn't that long of a wait for dinner on a Saturday. Hell, people wait that long at places like Olive Garden.

---

You are kidding, right????

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sumas

You are kidding, right????

---

Absolutely!

Do you know how many fat people there are in Sterling Heights? There's a reason why they have 'endless soup, salad and bread sticks" on the menu.

In general, I've seen many restaurants, mostly in the suburbs, absolutely full on the weekends since the start of the new year. It might be all the people saving money on gas going out to eat. Or maybe the economy actually is improving. Either way, people seem to be back to spending money again.

Olive Garden has a corporate culture of taking names and making people wait unnecessarily. They try to portray the image that they are absolutely busy, overwhelmed. Then when you're finally taken to a table or booth, you see that the place is 3/4 empty. No matter what city the franchise is in.

If it wasn't for their bread sticks, I'd never go there again.

45 minutes - 1 hour is not a long wait for a good restaurant. 2 hours is considered a long wait, so instead call ahead prior to arrival. Some restaurants will request permission for your number and send you a text when your table will become available 15 minutes prior. Think of the elapsed time on your original restaurant selection while instead spent searching for a new place. By the time you would have been handed a menu, you would been done eating at the first place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

In general, I've seen many restaurants, mostly in the suburbs, absolutely full on the weekends since the start of the new year. It might be all the people saving money on gas going out to eat. Or maybe the economy actually is improving. Either way, people seem to be back to spending money again.

---

This is true. The restaurant industry, especially causal sit-down restaurants are reliant on customers with disposable income.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Olive Garden has a corporate culture of taking names and making people wait unnecessarily. They try to portray the image that they are absolutely busy, overwhelmed. Then when you're finally taken to a table or booth, you see that the place is 3/4 empty. No matter what city the franchise is in.

If it wasn't for their bread sticks, I'd never go there again.

---

My sister and I went to Chicago, booked in a pricey hotel. Set a date/time for a local restaurant. Didn't set our watches and showed to early. They freaked.

Place was dead empty!

I agree that on the weekends in many suburbs a wait of 45 minutes is not unusual for chain restaurants, but growing up in Detroit [[1990s and early 2000s), outside of Greektown, I don't recall ever waiting very long with my family at the city's nicer restaurants. When I've been back to visit in the past year I've had multiple occasions of 45 minute to 2 hour waits [[Wright & Co, Selden Standard, Ottava Via, GCG, Dime Store) or just experiences where the place is jammed [[Punch Bowl Social, Sugar House). That simply wasn't happening 5-10 years ago. That being said, there are still some good new places [[like Craft Work and Grille Midtown) that have been open for just over a year now, but on most days I'm pretty sure you can be seated pretty easily.
The change in the dining scene in the city is undeniable and it's definitely picking up momentum.

Life is too short to wait. I do not wait in Dr offices either. Reservation/appointments don't seem to be significant.

On the dining end, lots of great choices with no waits.

These new restaurants are getting swarmed! I'm thankful to have weekdays off so I can try during off nights or lunch hours.

My limit for waiting is an hour. That's simple self preservation for me. I usually am hungry when I go out so waiting too long gets me HANGRY!! Theres always slows to go when plans fall through.

maybe people should forget trendy and just look for good food, good service and good prices. My limit for waiting is zero.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sumas

maybe people should forget trendy and just look for good food, good service and good prices. My limit for waiting is zero.

---

Usually, the reason a place is trendy is because people, by word of mouth, have heard about their trifecta of good food, good service and good prices.

Chances are if a place isn't trendy, it's lacking at least one of the three aforementioned things. Sure, I can go to a "hole-in-the-wall" to get good food perhaps at good prices in just minutes, but I don't expect to receive "good service" either...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 313WX

Usually, the reason a place is trendy is because people, by word of mouth, have heard about their trifecta of good food, good service and good prices.

Chances are if a place isn't trendy, it's lacking at least one of the three aforementioned things. Sure, I can go to a "hole-in-the-wall" to get good food perhaps at good prices in just minutes, but I don't expect to receive "good service" either...

---

Hey i like hole in wall places but those are for drinks. I don't generally eat out but lately have, Mexican town, Pole town. Sinbads on the water and a few coney places. No wait, good food, good service, good prices.

Mostly i like my own cooking. Company coming today for dinner. Dry rub baked chicken, mashed potatos, homemade gravy, an awesome salad [[my mom's recipe) veggies steamed and homemade biscuits. A home made cherry pie for desert. Borsin cheese with crackers for an appetizer. Mostly friends complained I made too many appetizers, so I keep it small now.

Still firm on the no wait. We go out enough that if an establishment can't meet standards just don't go back.

Sometimes I just like to not do dishes hence eating out.

:DAGREED!! 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. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ABetterDetroit

LOL I hope that everyone that's used to a empty Detroit is consistently disappointed for a very long time.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sumas

You are kidding, right????

---

Try getting into the Cheesecake Factory on a Saturday evening, lol.

I don't know if long waits are the sign of a bubble in the Detroit dining scene. It's probably more a sign of health...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spartan

There are a ton of places that are great and don't draw huge crowds, even in the greater downtown area. If you want BBQ and can't get into Slow's, head over to Greektown and get some Redsmoke. Ottava Via never seems to be too crowded, when I've been there. Cutter's in Eastern Market has great burgers, and Sweetwater has awesome wings. I could name tons of places I enjoy going that aren't always packed. It's really only the new and super-publicized places [[Slow's, Selden, Wright & Co, Hudson Cafe, Gold Cash Gold, Hopcat, Green Dot, Bucharest, etc) that have insane waits. Of course, places with waits like that are usually for good reason. Not many people wait two hours for an average meal experience.

---

Shocking to hear that nobody on here has mentioned Craft Work. Hands down my favorite restaurant, the menu is a little small but the food and ambience of the space makes it the most underrated restaurant in the city. Definitely off the beat and path, but the fact that it is in a safe neighborhood with accessible parking, makes this restaurant worth the drive.

Craft Work is on our radar for a place to check out. My only issue, I don't wait. I'll call in advance, no problem. The money is green. I don't need trendy, mostly those are just places to be seen or say you have been. Too old, too grumpy, pay our bill, tip well.

Any wait over 45 minutes is excruciating when you have a blood sugar condition that requires you eat by the clock. No matter how you time it, you can hold off a glycogenic reaction from your liver with the fiber from crackers or sunflower seeds only for so long. One of many aspects that sabotages the "dining out" ritual with me when I try to take a woman out on a date.

Also, Romas---had a bad experience on a Wednesday clocking well over an hour wait [[with reservation) with mother and brother. We watched as occasional pairs of young Russians and Italians walk in in the same kind of European style leather jackets, greet each other, talk like "made men", and get priority treatment.

No restaurant is worth waiting two hours for.

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

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!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jayp213

:DAGREED!! 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."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lowell

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lowell

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sumas

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wolverine

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.

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 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.

---

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.

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.

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.).

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...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 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...

---

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.

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 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

---

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.

[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.

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hamtown mike

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.

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".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MAcc

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MAcc

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? :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 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 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;)

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.

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

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

---

That's true - they listed Top of the Pontch, Johnny Noodle King, Antietam, Selden Standard, Wright & Co., and Gold Cash Gold.

Here's another one opening next week [[Republic). Can't wait to check out the GAR building next time I'm in Detroit, hope the food is good too:

http://www.freep.com/story/entertain...week/23241315/

Also mentions Parks & Rec diner which will be in the same building but no news on an opening date for that one.

Be nice now. Please.

RE: REPUBLIC at the GAR Building---the press info on the Free Press blurb says a kitchen crew of 25...with the initial seating capacity of 50 in the "Republic" part of the restaurant. Amazing. Doesn't sound like a sustainable cost, even when both rooms are open. They had better be at capacity every hour they are open. I've seen...well, time will tell.

I thought I read that Republic and Parks & Rec, which will be the other restaurant in the GAR building, will share a kitchen. If they share a kitchen i'm guessing they will share much of the staff so that's probably why the numbers seem off. They aren't really accurate when talking about just one of the restaurants.

A kitchen crew of 25 is insane for 50 people. Something isn't right.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MAcc

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.

---

As an owner/operator of one of the new places to which you're referring, and specifically from my perspective, you couldn't be more wrong with the exception of point #1.

as I indicated, even with both rooms open, it doesn't seem sustainable...I,ve seen this before, but the ratio is off. Chefs dream the ideal vs the pratical. Remember Rodin.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MAcc

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.

---

Folks, if you don't know by now, MAcc is a troll. The very definition of a troll. Makes disparaging remarks about the city of Detroit to get a rise out of people. You can just ignore this person - he or she doesn't have anything better to do than to denigrate Detroit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cliffy

A kitchen crew of 25 is insane for 50 people. Something isn't right.

---

Is that for a shift, or is that the entire kitchen staff?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by old guy

Is that for a shift, or is that the entire kitchen staff?

---

That was the quoted number of the entire kitchen crew, however, even allowing for kitchen prep before opening, pastry and sous chef functions, line cooks etc. plus garde manger position to order and manage inventory based on the size that staffing seems way out of line. I doubt ROAST has that number, and if they do, it is a much larger operation than this. It just doesn't seem correct. Opps, forgot dish and utility which may or may not be condisered kitchen. Even if total seating for both rooms with a shared kitchen enviroment tops out at 100-110 for both rooms, 20 to 25% ratio seems way too high.

Too many cooks in the kitchen! They'll soon need a visit from Gordon Ramsey ala Kitchen Disasters show....:eek:....!

If people are out and about during the day Milano Bakery on Russel is great and I adore the On the Rise bakery a Caputian innitiative, on Gratiot. Super sandwiches from both and Milanos has great soups too, their cannolis to die for.

Sadly I've made myself hungry. Homemade individual pizzas and a greek salad sound really good right now. Staff of one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuere

I thought I read that Republic and Parks & Rec, which will be the other restaurant in the GAR building, will share a kitchen. If they share a kitchen i'm guessing they will share much of the staff so that's probably why the numbers seem off. They aren't really accurate when talking about just one of the restaurants.

---

I believe it was indicated that not only with they share a kitchen and staff, but also that her three sous-chefs will oversee Parks and Rec when it opens. So yeah, I think there's going to be a lot of overlap. In this old Eater write up it mentions the the diner will hold 15-20 people.


http://detroit.eater.com/2014/6/16/6...-to-gar-castle


Interesting note, in that article it also says that Republic would seat 85. I wonder if the Freep number is wrong or if something changed during the build-out to cause them to have to cut back capacity.

^^^ Welcome to Detyes catalogofoddities. I love your screen name!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zacha341

^^^ Welcome to Detyes catalogofoddities. I love your screen name!

---

Thank you! I've been lurking for some time now and finally decided to get in on all the wonderful conversations.

http://modeldmedia.com/features/Detr...efs021015.aspx

Anyone else notice this line: "Justin Vaiciunas, Top of the Pontch...Vaiciunas isn't resting on his laurels. This Sunday he flies out to Los Angeles to compete on a popular cooking competition show for national TV [[which can't be named for confidentiality reasons), where he hopes to…well, win, obviously, but also gain some national recognition for himself and Top of the Pontch."

Would be amazing if he was on 'Best New Restaurant.' Or perhaps he did Iron Chef?

In a related vein, we need to draft this year's Top Chef, a Dearborn native, to come back home and open something stellar in Detroit!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sumas

If people are out and about during the day Milano Bakery on Russel is great and I adore the On the Rise bakery a Caputian innitiative, on Gratiot. Super sandwiches from both and Milanos has great soups too, their cannolis to die for.

---

I love getting Milano's Italian Bread from Kroger.

It makes for the best deli sandwiches IMO.

And considering how much you get, it's very reasonably priced

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 313WX

I love getting Milano's Italian Bread from Kroger.

It makes for the best deli sandwiches IMO.

And considering how much you get, it's very reasonably priced

---

No clue what kroger charges but it is $1.75 @ the bakery. I don't always get there but will buy at our local grocery for $3. All of Milanos products are great.

OK, now I am hungry again, will make fresh coffee, Milano toast with Detroit honey.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sumas

No clue what kroger charges but it is $1.75 @ the bakery. I don't always get there but will buy at our local grocery for $3. All of Milanos products are great.

OK, now I am hungry again, will make fresh coffee, Milano toast with Detroit honey.

---

I belive it's just a little over $3 at Kroger.

I expect to pay more for the convenience of not having to go all of the way down to the Eastern Market. I work in Macomb Xounty and live in NE Detroit, so regular trips to the bakery would be out of the way.

Cool. The treads about food and restaurants are my favorites. I've learned so much from following and posting on them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by catalogofoddities

Thank you! I've been lurking for some time now and finally decided to get in on all the wonderful conversations.

---

The bride and I had a lovely evening at the Wright or Wright and Company. Pretty swanky crowd although we were dressed for bowling. It was Friday evening about 8ish, had a couple of drinks at the bar and maybe after :30 - 40 minutes we had our table.

Great service. Tasty food. Pricey but worth it.

However, they really need a coat check. This time of year with everyone bundled up, the atmosphere of swank suffers with heavy coats hanging off the backs of chairs.

parked at the Opera House garage for 2 bucks plus a tip.

Great tip Gnome. I'd been wanting to try them out eventually. Sounds like you did great for parking too. Awesome!

Zacha, while waiting for our table I asked the bartender if he knew how to make aBlue Blazer. He said he did and proceeded to make this drink for me. In short it involves a bunch of different liquors set aflame and tossed from one metal cup to another. In a darkened bar it looks like a blue tube of flame flying through the air.

it was invented by Jerry Thomas back before the Civil War and gained fame by being a large part of a book he wrote about being a professional maker of cocktails. I have a 2nd printing from 1893 I think. A very interesting read because of the language patterns and sentence construction. Also intresting because of his apparent rock-star status all across America.

anywa a Blue Blazer will set you back $14 bucks. Yikes!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 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.

---

We get it. You've made your opinion known...by reposting it over half a dozen times almost verbatim. You want good food and you want it cheap and you don't want to wait for it. You don't like "trendy." Message received, loud and clear.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aj3647

We get it. You've made your opinion known...by reposting it over half a dozen times almost verbatim. You want good food and you want it cheap and you don't want to wait for it. You don't like "trendy." Message received, loud and clear.

---

Thank you, your posts are boring too! Waiting to see some content. Guess I'll get older and more senile waiting.

How cool is that! Well you were paying for a grand experience well beyond a sip at home. I must try them out! I'll have to save this place as a special treat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gnome

...anyway a Blue Blazer will set you back $14 bucks. Yikes!

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gnome

Zacha, while waiting for our table I asked the bartender if he knew how to make aBlue Blazer. He said he did and proceeded to make this drink for me. In short it involves a bunch of different liquors set aflame and tossed from one metal cup to another. In a darkened bar it looks like a blue tube of flame flying through the air.

it was invented by Jerry Thomas back before the Civil War and gained fame by being a large part of a book he wrote about being a professional maker of cocktails. I have a 2nd printing from 1893 I think. A very interesting read because of the language patterns and sentence construction. Also intresting because of his apparent rock-star status all across America.

anywa a Blue Blazer will set you back $14 bucks. Yikes!

---

I used to watch guys do a similar presentation with Sterno, but I'll save that for another thread.