Dining Along the Detroit River in Detroit is Still Lacking

[royce]

Despite all of the developments going on around the city, dining along the Detroit River in Detroit is still lacking. In the city proper, I can list three restaurants that are along the river where you can see the river. They are: Joe Muer, Andiamo, and Sindbad's. In a city with so much river shoreline, it should be a given that there would be more than three riverfront restaurants. I could see the property GM owns along the RiverWalk between St. Antoine and Rivard/Cullen Plaza as an ideal spot for some riverfront restaurants. There are many other spots along the river that could support restaurants. So, what is the problem?

[Richard]

Water front is pricey rent wise,unless it is taxpayer subsidized.

They will probably figure in some kind of food court in the soon to be demolished Ren Cen but if there is an empty parking lot along there a food truck court would be cool with different options.

[K-slice]

I've definitley noticed this, and it's not just a thing in the city proper, but all along Lake St. Claire and the Detroit River in general. The waterfront dining options we do have, like Sinbads, arent even really what I woulc all waterfront. More like "marina front" where your view is a bunch of docks and boats.

I'd love to see some true waterfront dining go up as part of larger developments at the vacant lot next to the Riverfront Towers, old Ford Auditorium [[and they terrible DPD parking lot), and the Uniroyal site.

[jcole]

It's hard to find many all along Lake Huron up to Rogers City at least. Might be land cost and zoning

[401don]

When that rest/bar with the patio opened in the Ren Cen a few yrs. ago I assumed it was going to be on the river. Instead it was overlooking the tunnel exit. Nice mix of noise and exhaust.
Whoever designed Hart Plaza decided an underground restaurant was a good idea. It boggles the mind.
We ate at Mike's on the Water, St. Clair Shores, a few wks ago. Really nice spot with a friendly bar and very reasonable prices.

[JBMcB]

There is also The Highlands, which gives you a view of everything. And you can kinda-sorta see the river from the Rattlesnake Club, but it closed :[[

You're right, there is a dearth of riverside dining in Detroit. The most obvious would be to convert one of the dining room in The Roostertail to serve as a restaurant. The next step would be to refurbish the old Omni [[which is now a terribly run hotel) and put a restaurant in there.

[djtomt]

There is also The Highlands, which gives you a view of everything. And you can kinda-sorta see the river from the Rattlesnake Club, but it closed :[[

You're right, there is a dearth of riverside dining in Detroit. The most obvious would be to convert one of the dining room in The Roostertail to serve as a restaurant. The next step would be to refurbish the old Omni [[which is now a terribly run hotel) and put a restaurant in there.

That terribly run hotel is long gone FYI. Building is empty. Property includes an out lot building that used to house a gym. Not sure what the plans are for any of it.

[mtburb]

Even Downriver, restaurant options directly along the Detroit River are lacking. The only current ones where you can see the river are The Waterfront in Wyandotte and JP's Waterfront in Gibraltar.

There were two other places in Wyandotte where you could see the river, Smuggler's Run and Portofino's, but both closed earlier this year.

[Richard]

It's hard to find many all along Lake Huron up to Rogers City at least. Might be land cost and zoning

They are redoing the riverfront by me and what they did was use shipping containers to create a board walk of eateries of sorts with a common seating area,it stays packed with a lot of different options all run by small independent businesses,no franchises.

Weekends they throw in arts and crafts vendors and music events.

You have to figure if you want to buy a building lot on the river,it’s close to $1 million just for the lot.

So the city developed this concept for really not a lot of money and it does not look like a bunch of shipping stuck together.

Its neat though because it’s all different international foods so it’s never the same foods all the time and all age groups go there.

Another section,and useing the good old boy system,they gave what used to be a massive power plant on the river a $1 per year lease to a long established restaurant,who then developed it into multiple higher end restaurants and small shops inside.

So you have 2 different options,one is for the budget minded then if you want to upscale and sit in a finer establishment you can and they both have docks where you can motor up and go in and eat.

The problem with waterfront is there are a couple of companies that are backed by hedge funds,they are buying up all of the independent marinas across the country and paying top dollar,so unless one has very deep pockets the average Joe or Jane is not going to be able to establish a waterfront restaurant and if they do it will have to be a high end experience for the diners.

The city here owns several venues where they have either restored large buildings for public use or in the case of the river front created venues that they collect the rents and fees from the events,it’s an initial up front taxpayer expense that actually pays for itself,it’s better that way when the city does not have to wait for or depend on a developer to come in and do it.

[royce]

That terribly run hotel is long gone FYI. Building is empty. Property includes an out lot building that used to house a gym. Not sure what the plans are for any of it.

Where was this Highlands?

[djtomt]

Where was this Highlands?

No. Further east. Used to be the Omni hotel. I believe the last incarnation was Roberts River Walk Hotel or something to that effect. 1 block east of Rattlesnake Club [[RIP).

[GPCharles]

You want public parks or commercial facilities [[restaurants)?

[MikeM]

You want public parks or commercial facilities [[restaurants)?

How about commercial facilities overlooking both the park and river?

[expatriate]

The Belle Isle Boat Club would make a great restaurant for anyone with pockets deep enough to take it on. City parks in major cities often have good ones.

[401don]

You want public parks or commercial facilities [[restaurants)?

Seriously? You think all those acres of empty parking next to the Ren Cen is attractive? You think the two restaurants in CMart detract and don't add to the park?

[Zacha341]

Does Sindbad's count? Pricey but love the paintings, and the outer deck.

Even Downriver, restaurant options directly along the Detroit River are lacking. The only current ones where you can see the river are The Waterfront in Wyandotte and JP's Waterfront in Gibraltar.

[GPCharles]

Just trying to point out that from Belle Isle to the Ambassador Bridge you can't be on the riverfront itself. You would have to be behind or across the street from the Riverwalk. I am in no way opposed to a restaurant in such a location but in this town you would also have to provide parking. Detroit River-Riverwalk-street [[Atwater, where it exists)-restaurant-parking lot. You could see the river but not be on it.

There are also a number of larger parks - Valade Park, Milliken Park, Centennial Park, etc.

[Richard]

That’s a hold over from cities that were established because of their riverfront as a means to move commence,so the commercial aspect was on the river front as a rule.

It’s still like that in most urban cities the ones that have adapted either have a riverfront band that is development free and is strictly public use.

Ours was like everywhere else,the river,the commercial development,then the road that ran alongside the commercial development in order to move goods back then.

We just converted the industrial/commercial that sits directly on the river and the parking is across the road.

Different senários create different obstacles,but the whole point is in overcoming them and being enable to exploit an asset that benefits the public good and brings people together.

Although no cats are actually physically harmed,like they say ,there are 100 different ways to skin a cat.

[jcole]

A friend of mine's mom painted the one of the flaming ship in the ocean back in the 60's and donated it to them and it's been there ever since. Gorgeous painting

Does Sindbad's count? Pricey but love the paintings, and the outer deck.

[jcole]

Not a city park; State park, but I think a few state parks do have restaurants or at least gift shops with some food concessions.

The Belle Isle Boat Club would make a great restaurant for anyone with pockets deep enough to take it on. City parks in major cities often have good ones.

[Zacha341]

I'll look for it next time I'm there. I adore nautical/ historic ship paintings!

A friend of mine's mom painted the one of the flaming ship in the ocean back in the 60's and donated it to them and it's been there ever since. Gorgeous painting

[royce]

GPCharles, from Beaubien to Rivard, south of Atwater, you could build a row of restaurants that come right up to the RiverWalk. Those restaurants should be elevated like Joe Muer's, where you could see the river without interference from people walking by along the RiverWalk. Another spot where you could do the same thing would be on the land next to the parking lot for Rivard/Cullen Plaza. That could never happen because the State, even though they haven't done anything with the property [[basketball, pickle ball, and tennis courts could go there), won't allow any commercial or residential development south of Atwater. As someone mentioned earlier, restaurants could go along the RiverWalk on the Uniroyal site. Also, there's a spot south of the Whittier where you could put a restaurant or two.

[Lowell]

I think Coriander down by Harbor Island down in Detroit's Little Venice should qualify. It is on a canal and I think one can see the Detroit River from the upper deck, in winter for sure. Food was good.

More broadly across the Metro there is a lack of waterside dining. I've always found that surprising. One would think that with the hundreds of lakes we have there would be many.

The best I have found is the awkwardly-named The Beach Tiki Bar & Boil on Walled Lake. It's my favorite as the it is right on the water and has a giant window enclosed area, opened in the summer, enclosed and heated for cold weather dining. A touch pricy, but lunch is very reasonable. Food excellent.

About a mile away is the Driftwood but its water view is across the road from Walled Lake so not as nearly as nice. I haven't been there is ages when the food sucked and they had no outdoor deck. Been meaning to give the a try again since they have renovated, built a nice deck, and have new management.

Similar but more expensive is It's A Matter Of Taste on Union Lake. It is pricy but the food is excellent and the summer outdoor dining area view is spectacular. They also have a great carryout deli.

Highlands Detroit, atop the RenCen, is by far the most sensational but the price of dinner there could feed a third world family few months. When I had an apartment across the street in the mid-teens they [different management] had a happy hour with reasonably priced small plates and drinks. Wonder if they still have something like that.

[Genesyxx]

Is there a floating barge restaurant in our future? I think it would look great

[Gistok]

I think Coriander down by Harbor Island down in Detroit's Little Venice should qualify. It is on a canal and I think one can see the Detroit River from the upper deck, in winter for sure. Food was good.

That used to be Paul's Marina when I was little... gone quite upscale since... in a good way!

I wonder if it is because we are NOT a 4 season waterfront? The November to April timeframe probably doesn't garner a lot of riparian entertainments and food.