The food was pretty average but the restaurant had a very nice ambiance. The service was also very efficient so we overall enjoyed our dinner. We got the kale salad which was very very good and the Ribeye Steak which was good but could have been cooked better. read more

Besa - Ribeye Steak Frites - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Amazing service! James was our waiter and very kind The owners are Albanian and I love that they input their culture into their restaurant. It's beautiful and everything tastes delicious read more

Besa - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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I never liked the food here due to the first time that I tried it. I did however like the dessert back then. Everything was closed for dessert so I suggested that my friend and I eat here. We came in 20 minutes before they closed and the hostess/waitress were nice. We were seated immediately and given drink/dessert menus. I passed on a drink, but I did order the vanilla bean shortcake. The vanilla bean shortcake was not at all what I expected. I thought that it would be cake with vanilla bean ice cream. It was actually a cookie with cream cheese ice cream. The cookie tasted like a snickerdoodle cookie, it was very odd. It was also hard. I did think the ice cream was interestingly good. It had the texture of ice cream, but at the same time it did not. In the lavender berry compote you couldn't taste the lavender at all, it just tasted like blueberries (although it was called STRAWBERRY shortcake). It was ok, I wouldn't order it again. 2.5/5 My friend ordered the chocolate mousse, I guess this restaurant is infamous for misleading dishes. I guess it is their fault for not knowing what feulletine means, but this dish should not be called chocolate mousse. It did not taste like chocolate mousse at all, instead it tasted like cocoa powder. It was very dry and flavorless. The total opposite of chocolate mousse. So disappointing. My friend did not eat it at all. The waitress offered to switch it out with another dessert, promising that the lemon bar is good. They weren't going to take her up on the offer, but did. 1/5 The lemon bar too was an odd dish, not what we expected. My friend thought that it looked like sushi. What we expected was a long cake-like lemon flavored bar. It was small squares. This dessert was actually really good, I agree with the waitress 4/5. The water here was disgusting. We decided to get still water because we were in a hurry and only there for dessert, this was a big mistake, always opt for bottle or sparkling. We did not drink the water, it tasted how I would imagine toilet water to taste. So gross, they need to install a filtration system. I would not return. It seems that the dessert is no longer good. I assured my friend that they had amazing dessert here, but clearly I was wrong. The water is disgraceful. It's so sad that such a beautiful restaurant would have such disappointing food and more surprisingly, such disgusting water. read more

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Birthday dinner here at Besa. We ordered the calamari, filet mignon (creekstone halal), fries, sable fish and tres leches. The calamari and the marinara sauce that went with it was fantastic. I enjoyed the spice level of the calamari and would definitely order it again. Oddly enough the highlight of the dinner was the dessert. Probably the best tres leces i've had and it was a decent serving size. the filet mignon was good but a little underwhelming for $60. The potato that the steak was served with was probably better than the steak itself. For such a high school me restaurant I would expect them to do a better job with the fries. they were under salted and over fried. I would have loved truffle fries or something of the equivalent to order as a side. Over all the service was great and so was the general ambiance of the restaurant. read more

Besa - calamari - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Wonderful restaurant! Visiting Detroit from Boston and couldn't have asked for a more welcoming restaurant experience. The entire staff was incredibly attentive and informative - top notch service. And the food was great!! The scallops wrapped in bacon were an entree highlight and the french fries were some of the best the dining world has to offer (be sure to order some for the table). All the seafood was fresh and tender and we all loved the apps (eggplant toast, calamari, and zucchini fritters). Not a lick of food was left, down to the shared dark chocolate fudge torte. Five stars with zero hesitation. read more

Went to Besa for date night. The restaurant called to confirm reservations since it was the middle of a snowstorm - we love going out to eat so of course we were going. We got seated right away, our service was amazing and so was the food. We got the Octopus (SO good, I've had more tender, but not in Michigan), chicken lemon rice soup (hands down one of the BEST soups I've ever had, no joke you have to get this), sable fish (so flavorful and cooked amazingly well) and a side of sweet potato fries because duh. Overall everything was amazing, the decor, staff, ambiance, location. Definitely recommend and definitely going back. read more

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Food was excellent. We had the calamari, focaccia bread with olive oil, lamb chops and filet mignon + a side of fingerling potatoes. Portions were pretty big, a side was not necessary but we were hungry and ordered one nonetheless lol. Service was excellent too! read more

Besa - Lamb chops - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Our experience at Besa was absolutely perfect from start to finish. The setting is beautiful and the staff is very attentive and hospitable. Everything we ordered was impeccable. My filet mignon was cooked perfectly and had a wonderful balance of flavors. For dessert we tried the trilece cake which was phenomenal and it's now my favorite dessert! It was so good that we ordered an extra to go. Highly recommend! read more

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Fantastic Mediterranean in Detroit. Highly recommend! Get the scallops - I subbed asparagus for the pork belly. Fantastic!

Just tried Besa for the first time! Really beautiful restaurant with lovely lighting. A perfect spot to check out for date night or a girls night out! They had really great service as well! Our waiter was very attentive and gave great recommendations without being overwhelming. I ordered the "fall for you" cocktail and loved this unique drink - highly recommend! They start off with freshly baked focaccia and oil/balsamic dip. The bread was absolutely delicious and so fluffy! We also ordered the calamari and eggplant toast for our appetizers. I think these were both lovely starters, especially the eggplant toast! For entrees we ordered the roasted maitake mushroom and sea scallop entrees. The mushroom was delicious, but I found the side salad served with it to be underwhelming. The sea scallops were also cooked great but didn't have as much flavor as I had hoped. The scallops were served with bacon and a very tasty and flavorful bed of mashed potatoes (this was one of my favorite parts of the meal). We ended the night with the labneh cheesecake which was also very lovely. Overall I was very pleased with my dining experience and definitely plan to return! read more

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The food was fantastic! The pulled lamb shoulder app was amazing. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5* was a bad lobster tail on the side. The service was great! It's definitely a great atmosphere I will definitely return. read more

The experience: I ate at Besa in July and have to say they did an amazing job making me and my friends feel safe. The restaurant has dividers between booths and tables are spaced out appropriately. I noticed they were light on staff (which is not surprise given COVID) but our waitress Taylor still took such great care of us. The ambience is beautiful - it's very chic and sophisticated and definitely a great spot for a date or dinner with parents. The drinks: Absolutely fantastic. From the presentation to the types of alcohol used - these were by far the standouts in my mind. I hade the Dose of Rose and my fiancé had the 300 Manhattan. Both were fantastic. One of my friends had the Floral Invitation which was their take on a margarita. I can't speak to taste but it was a beautifully crafted cocktail. The food: I want to caveat all of this with the fact that due to COVID, menus in general are limited so take that for what it's worth. As far as food, the salads and oysters were really great but the sizes could have been larger (I'm still hungry). I personally thought the entree was better (really great chicken papillary). I'd recommend a couple of salads and then head to straight to the entrees and throw in the sides if you're feeling hungry but otherwise I thought the appetizers were good but not "knock your socks off" Overall: I'll definitely be returning to Besa - the dining experience was really solid and I enjoyed my meal and cocktail there. I definitely recommend for a date night or more intimate dinner (ie dinner with a close friend or if your parents are in town, etc) read more

Besa - Watermelon salad - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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PHENOMENAL! Loved everything about this restaurant, from start to finish! First, they have late dining hours which I love due to my husbands work schedule, so it's nice that they had late reservations, made them at 1030 , the kitchen closes at 11, but we were not rushed at all. Our waitress,Samantha, was great. Very informative. Every item we ordered was amazing! The restaurant is more like a small plates/shareable type. We started off with East and west coast oysters, they were perfect, not fishy, probably one of the best oysters we've had. We also ordered the shrimp, delicious but it came with 4 pieces, Brussels sprouts were SO GOOD! The octopus was great but not shareable, the portion was small, we had two orders of fries because that's how good the fries were. For entrees we ordered the 8oz filet, and the red snapper, both were cooked to perfection. Over all, it is a bit on the pricey side, but you pay for quality and not quantity lol, we will definitely be back, we loved the location, the atmosphere and the food. read more

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This is the 2nd time I've been to this restaurant while traveling to Detroit and I'm consistently impressed. This time I had the smoked eggplant appetizer which was TO DIE FOR. Holy garlic, lemon, eggplant, olive oil goodness all in my mouth! They even topped it with some micro greens so I could feel like it was healthy. For my main, I opted for the Amish chicken because it's the cheapest thing on the menu at $23. I feel like I won the food lottery so now I'm curious to try the $59 dish (the lamb). Too bad I leave out tomorrow. This is a must visit restaurant as evidenced by me and all of the business travelers sitting at the bar chowing down. This one gets too thumbs up! read more

Besa - Eggplant crostini - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Had dinner last weekend with another couple Initial thoughts were great decor and nice lighting. We decided to sit at the bar first for a glass of wine. We were presented with the iPad menu and waited about 10 minutes for the bartender to take our selection. First wine chosen wasn't great but they happily changed to something else. We sat at our table and and again, waited about 10 minutes for our waiter to appear. Once we got going, it was good service after that. We ordered 5 apps to share and tried the lamb heart pasta entree as that sounded intriguing. We ordered the spinach pie (good), seared octopus (overcooked and chewy), lamb shoulder & manouri cheese (ok). The lamb heart and mushroom ragu was fine. This isn't a favorite place of mine but would suggest you try it if you're looking for something different. read more

Ate at Besa for a rehearsal dinner last Friday night. I am vegan and am always pleasantly surprised when I get a delicious meal. Besa was exceptional! Started with the kale salad, entree was a mushroom dish and dessert was a raspberry tart made with coconut milk. It was one of the best vegan meals I have EVER had. Our server was equally exceptional, friendly and so attentive...I wish I remembered her name. If I lived in Detroit Besa would be my new favorite. Thank you! read more

This place has a rating of $$$, and yes it is costly for food that is not worth it. The octopus was burnt and a little to crispy for my desire, and none of the dishes really hit spot on. They all needed an extra something or was over cooked. I say save your money, grab drinks instead. read more

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Great service (Danielle). Great food. One couple vegan and had good choices and well explained by Danielle. Open Mondays unlike a lot of other restaurants in Detroit read more

Our friends and I came for dinner. We heard alot of good things about Besa. The drinks were spot on. The management and server were very attentive. They go the extra mile to make sure you are satisfied with your experience. read more

This gorgeous and mouth watering meal from Besa in Detroit was something worth writing a long caption for. I had the pleasure of dining at Besa a few weeks ago and have not stopped thinking about it. . To start I want to talk about the service. My server was lovely, well educated on the menu, and the most accommodating person i've dealt with. She made wonderful recommendations and without asking split each dish for sharing. . But not only was the service phenomenal, the food made the drive worthwhile and I cannot wait to return. I started with the eggplant toast and lamb appetizer. Both featured breathtaking flavors and the lamb had me licking the plate. I then had the pleasure of trying two of the salad both filled with flavor and creativity. After that I enjoyed the beautiful Branzino and a lovely greek style potato. It was refreshing and a perfect entree to split. Lastly I closed out with a twist on the middle eastern dessert; Knafeh. I have always wanted to try this dessert and was overwhelmed by the flavors and textures. read more

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Excellent food quality and taste. And service was very good. The atmosphere was very welcoming and friendly. Had a really good time there. Very much recommended. read more

I want to give this place one star but the manager was nice and the food is decent! But my friends and I were treated like TRASH. We came in with no reservations but the hostess let us know the bar was available. We attempted to sit down and the bar tender told us we couldn't sit down until it was clean (which was fine) but did not even clean the space for which seemed like 10 mins! Did EVERYTHING but clean this tiny space that would've take a hot second. We attempted to sit down again before it was clean (because my friends feet were hurting) and the male bartender rolled his eyes and got upset before he allowed us to stay. After we were finally allowed to sit, they pretty much ignored us until we asked to be helped. We asked for menus and they gave us ONE and it was 4 of us!! Then they barely wanted to help us after that!! I don't know if it was because it was a group of black people Or because their attitudes were just horrible... either way I won't be going back! And I'm a food blogger! My entire group was upset. And we still left them an amazing tip although we were treated like trash. read more

AMAZING experience! I am impressed by Besa in Detroit. Our server was Daniel and he was phenomenal. Try the sable fish entree. I can't wait to return and visit this establishment again. read more

Besa - Labneh cheese cake - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Was visiting family and wanted to take my parents out for their anniversary and so glad I chose this place! My dad and brother are omnivores and my mom and I are vegan (and I have other allergies). My dad and brother got the calamari as an appetizer and loved it! My mom and I got the gazpacho (vegan) and my gosh was it vibrant and fresh and packed so much flavor. For dinner my brother got the lamb chops and said that it was some of the best lamb he's ever had while my dad got the lamb heart pasta which he apparently loved. My mom got the Maitake mushrooms and was impressed how flavorful the mushrooms were and loved the beets. I got the kale salad (vegan and gf) again fresh, vibrant and overall delicious with a side of the okra. For dessert my family chose the raspberry pie-EVERYONE loved this dessert they can't stop talking about how good it was. My brother was uncertain while ordering because it is coconut based but loved it! And then the service-Carter was wonderful. So helpful and knowledgeable and was able to walk me through the entire menu to accommodate my allergies. Very thankful....needless to say we'll be back! I wish I got pics but only remembered when the dessert came. read more

Besa - Raspberry pie - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Great ambiance, drinks and food for a date night or a night out with friends. They start off with a focaccia and olive oil. For our appetizers we had the lamb shoulder hummus and east west oysters. Both were delicious. The hummus was on the smaller side and came without bread but honestly didn't need it. It had a tangy pomegranate sauce that really brought the lamb and hummus together. The oysters are 4 dollars each and you can order individually. For our main course we shared a beet salad and steak which they split in back and brought out for us. Finally for the dessert we had the Nutella crunch bar. The best way to describe this dessert is a waffer covered in hazelnut ice cream and chocolate. read more

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Food was just ok service also was just ok ambiance is nice and beautiful they need to work on there food .

Love the food, love the atmosphere! Never disappointed, service is also exquisite! Great for any occasion!

Enjoyed a girls Friday Night Out at Besa. Food and service was good. Beautiful decor. read more

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Hubby and I visited BESA for Detroit Restaurant Week and we were not disappointed. The ambiance, the service, and the food are all top notch. BESA is located on the first floor and basement of the Vinton building on the NE corner of Woodward and Congress. It is a long, narrow space, with the front third of the first floor devoted to a bar and the rest of the space given over to tables and booths. The basement houses a lounge area, more tables, the chef's table, the wine cellar and the kitchen. The spare, modern decor is relaxing, with excellent ambient and spot lighting. The basement features the original tile floor from 1917; it's beautiful. Our server, James, was everything you want in a server, knowledgeable, friendly, efficient. One of the owners stopped by our table twice to ensure we were enjoying our experience, and the other offered to show us the wine cellar. Touches like these set a restaurant apart from its competition by making patrons feel truly welcome as guests. As is the case with any restaurant, the ambiance and service only matter if the food is good. And in BESA's case, the food is exceptional. For appetizers, Hubby got the butter lettuce herb salad, which is BESA's version of a Caesar, and I got the Vichyssoise, which was reimagined as a leek waffle with an under layer of potato and leek soup. The waffle was delicately crisp, and the flavor was spot on. For entrees, Hubby got the bavette steak and I got the trout. Both were top-notch. The steak came out perfectly medium rare and was both flavorful and tender. The accompanying celery root rajas was strongly flavored and an excellent counterpoint to the meat. The trout (line caught in Idaho) was beautifully seared with the skin on, served on a silky smooth bed of pureed butternut squash. For dessert, we both ordered the marshmallow semifreddo, which was light as a feather, served on a bed of crushed speculoos with macadamia nuts, sorrel leaves (slightly tangy), and dots of dried strawberry paste (very intense). It was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. read more

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So, I like to do the sweet and the sour. The sweet: This restaurant is beautiful and the staff is very kind. In fact this was one of the best service experiences I've ever had! Great Brussels sprouts! The Sour: the food suffered from doing too much! White chocolate and scallops, chicken with creamy corn bread aka cornmeal porridge that tastes like wet jiffy mix, and very salty buckwheat pasta and short ribs. All of which tasted awful! I think cooking competitions have forced chefs to be innovative and creative. Why a white chocolate sauce on fish...I dunno? In my opinion sometimes less is more! Like why would anyone put aloe chunks on a dessert not the aloe you get in fruity drinks but straight up aloe chopped fresh from leaf. I have to reiterate the management and staff are top notch and I don't mean to bag on the chef. I was really disappointed in the food! Full disclosure the management worked with us , but we sent so much back we were embarrassed to send the remainder back. We still ended up spending $125 and I'm kind a suffering from diner's remorse because I get wasn't pleased but didn't want to be a jerk to people who showed nothing but kindness to our party. read more

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Very very nice restaurant. The ambience was awesome. The food was very fresh and healthy I enjoyed the experience. Heather and Sean our waitresses are the bomb!!!! Gerti, thanks so much for the awesome experience.... We will be back!!!! read more

This is going to be one of my favorite spots to come to in Downtown Detroit. I have to say I felt like I was in Chicago when i walked in this place. It just had a great vibe to it! Loved the decor and layout was in Besa. Super clean looking! Staff was very nice and knowledgeable on the menu and drinks. Very friendly we loved our waitress. I know they just got a new Chef and I have to say he did a great job on the food! Now when you look at the menu you think ok it's pretty simple food menu. But Besa but their own twist to it and it tasted amazing! I had the Steak Frites, which was seasoned and cooked perfectly, bearnaise mayo adds a nice kick to the steak and the fries were life! I also, had the Crispy Brussels sprouts which is a must to have (if you like Brussels sprouts) sweet chili, puffed rice(crackled and pop in your mouth), thai basil, mint... UNREAL! The Sea Scallops mouth watering! Cooked just right and also tasted great! And The Drinks were made just right! I highly recommend the bar even if you just go for drinks. Overall! I think this is what Downtown Detroit really needed. Besa definitely sets itself apart from everyone else. It's great atmosphere, drinks and food! read more

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We went for my birthday dinner and the food was so delicious. I had the sable fish and my husband had the pork steak. We were both very very happy with our choices. The desserts were amazing too. The service was very attentive and the restaurant itself was very modern. read more

#COVIDreview Masks required until you get to table and servers wearing them the whole time. Adequate spacing of tables and customers inside. Besa was very good and I hope to become somewhat of a regular because half of wine bottles Wednesday did not disappoint. The bottles range from regular price $40 on up to $150 (maybe higher), with most of the menu being around $65-80, which means $32.50 - 40 a bottle which is great for a nice place downtown. I have found it hard to find good wine lists and good wine at the stores here in general so even reading the extensive list was a treat. Lots of chardonnay I noticed, 2 Blanc bourdeoxs, only 4 rosés, and only a handful of bubbly and those were all top dollar which was sad, because sparkling wine is something that goes well with most things and suits most palates, alas. Good mix of interesting whites and various country-representation (Tokaji, Gruner Vetliner, etc.). Now if they got a rosé from Romanian, that would just tickle me. We got a Sancerre Sauv Blanc and it only tasted like 10% cat pee so that's a win in my book. The GV was good, it comes in a liter bottle so more bang for your buck. It was ok, maybe a little flabby and boring, but nothing off-putting about it. I think the Austrians keep the best Gruner for themselves. Food was excellent. We got friend okra, calamari, steak tartare, and the chicken pallard. Only thing I might swap is get the grilled octopus instead of the tartare (I'm more of a carpacio fan, myself). Oh, they have happy hour too, I thinks it's 4 to 6 or 6:30. Deals on house wines, apps, and cocktails. Def want to check that out sometime! read more

Besa - Chicken Pallard was incredible and I never order chicken at restaurants. - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Was so excited to come here for Detroit Restaurant Week with my friend and try this place out! The restaurant has a very chic, Chicago/nyc vibe and floor to ceiling windows which makes it feel very open. I used valet which was standard pricing ($8-$10) which I appreciated versus having to walk from the garage which was conveniently located/not too far from Besa. The drink menu is served on a tablet (fancy!) which I appreciated as it was a very upscale, modern touch. For my courses I selected the butter herb salad sooo good, steak and a marshmallow type dessert. Out of all I actually loved my salad; the dressing was on point. The actual dinner portion was VERY small, so if you had arrived hungry like most you most likely would have needed an appetizer in addition. The dessert flavor did taste great but did look a bit different than your typical dessert. All in all I appreciated the ambiance the most as it is a great place to catch up with a friend or bring a date, so I would come back for that alone! Other tips: there is a downstairs with a bigger room for big parties I'd suppose you can reserve. Wasn't sure if otherwise you can just chill downstairs as it has some comfy chairs but I'd assume so read more

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For our dinner party the manager suggested we allow the chef freedom to create our tasting menu. So glad we did! It was better than Acquavit, a Michelin 2 Star restaurant we ate at and for half the price. I would definitely host another dinner party again with the chef's suggestion. He was super accommodating to our friends with dietary restrictions. The wine selection was paired perfectly and the staff were super attentive. read more

The space is beautiful, our waitress was sweet but they forgot our appetizer, the bathrooms are located practically in the seating area and we just weren't wowed. For the price point, we would expect more. read more

The ambiance is great it's a super modern space and pretty big restaurant that has a downstairs too. We went for a nite cap and a dessert and wasn't disappointed. We will be back for dinner next time! read more

Besa - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Second time returning and would be back! The food was excellent and server was very attentive. They had delicious vegan options and the server was very accommodating and welcoming. We had a great experience. read more

Amazing service!! Second to none! This was my first time and menu items were explained very thoroughly. I enjoyed everything about this meal! And the place is so cute in beautiful downtown Detroit! read more

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