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    Besa

    4.3 (312 reviews)
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    Recommended Reviews - Besa

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    Carrot salad
    Jenna C.

    Exceptional restaurant with 5 star service. We made reservations and were seated at a nice table next to the huge windows letting in lots of natural light. Decor is modern and classy with the white tablecloths. To start, I decided on the Garden of Amalfi cocktail, which was very enjoyable - nice balance of flavors and very refreshing. Complimentary focaccia bread service was offered and absolutely delicious. For food, we tried a bunch of appetizers: the mini gyros were 10/10 as was the pulled lamb shoulder (phenomenal!). While the carrot salad was good, I would skip next time in favor of trying something else. Similarly, for my main, I ordered the crab and saffron risotto but did not really like it. Our waiter noticed and asked me about it, so I was honest and said it was probably my personal taste so no worries but he insisted on taking it off our bill. Like I said before, service was 5 stars - Carter was very attentive without being intrusive, water glasses were never empty, plates switched out between courses, crumbs brushed from table, etc. They do a really good job here!

    Menu
    Kyle H.

    One of the best experiences I've had in a while. I visited Besa as a part of a Date Night and it did not disappoint. It was absolutely beautiful inside. The wait staff and hostesses were very kinds and knowledgeable. I'm a big sparkling water fan and their house offering was exceptional. I don't think I can go back to anything else. The house bread was really good. We wound up ordering the Octopus and Risotto as appetizers and the Rack of lamb for a shared entrée. The waiter told us that they only sold 4 Racks of Lamb per day and we go were able to grab the last one. The Risotto was technically a main entrée but the chef portioned it out into two bowls for us. All these dishes were so flavorful and continued to get better and better with each dish. This was the second time I had octopus and it was amazing. Probably one of my tops seafoods. All in all, this was a great experience.

    Lamb shoulder
    Kai L.

    We visited during happy hour and sat at the bar, and the experience was lovely from the moment we walked in until the very last bite. The service was attentive and our server was both personable and knowledgeable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Everything we ordered was well-seasoned and well prepared. The standout dish was easily the lamb shoulder appetizer, extremely tender and perfectly paired with the creamy hummus. Hands down, the best lamb shoulder I've had to date. The half chicken was also very good, tasting fresh off the grill, and paired nicely with the light, fluffy rice and grilled asparagus. The ambiance deserves a mention as well. The space feels modern and classy with romantic undertones, while still being warm and inviting. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, and I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

    Citrus Cheesecake
    Ranyia T.

    The staff is so fun and talkative. Not just our server but everyone would pass by and ask how we were doing and chat with us. The place is so nice, clean and very modern. I like that the booths are kind of private with the party you are with. For starters we had the pulled lamb shoulder hummus. The lamb was well seasoned and so tender the hummus was great but the combination was amazing. The mini gyros were really good too. They should make them as an entree with a bigger portion. They were so much flavor in the two bites I had since we split them in half. The branzino was good I have had better and the sides that it came with were a little on the small side it was Swiss chard and there was suppose to be romesco in it but I didn't see any and just a few pieces of fingerling potatoes. The ribeye was cooked to perfection and came sliced already the sides were plentiful and flavorful. The lamb chops were very small and not a lot of pieces and didn't really come with any sides. For dessert we split the Citrus Cheesecake and Trilece Cake. The cheesecake was very creamy and light the citrus taste was very pronounced and so fresh there wasn't any kind of artificial taste to it at all. The cake was delicious the cream on top was light and fluffy, cake was soft and moist, the sauce at the bottom gave it that extra touch that made it one of the best things I ate that night.

    Ribeye dinner - split for 2 people, plated separately - delicious!
    Lorie C.

    Elegant but comfortable restaurant. Relaxing atmosphere, not rushed with exceptional service. We came on a Tuesday night. We had reservations but it was not busy. There was 3 of us and we started with cocktails and wine - all good. They provided us complimentary bread with herb and oil for dipping, very good. We ordered 3 different appetizers to share - mini gyros (favorite), pulled lamb (good) and carrot salad (not great). My daughter and I decided to split the rib eye dinner and it was phenomenal. They plated 2 separate dishes for us with the sides which was nice. It was one of the best ribeyes I've tasted. We decided on after dinner drinks instead of dessert as we were just too full. One ordered a latte, another ordered Spanish coffee. I asked for a chocolate martini but they didn't have the ingredients and offered a hazelnut martini. I decided to try that and I now have a new favorite, delicious! First class service from serving correctly, refilling water, clearing dishes including suttle crumb clearing of tablecloth. Delicious, relaxing, pleasant dinner out.

    Half chicken
    Katie K.

    We loved the ambiance and entrees here. The entrees in particular were delicious and presented very well, and we also loved our mocktails that went with them. However, the service was pretty slow- we were there for almost 2 hours and ran out of time for dessert, even though it didn't seem very busy. Additionally, I felt like the appetizers options were all out of left field, but we found some that we liked enough. I would certainly return, but would factor more time into my plans.

    Sunil A.

    I have to say, I'm really surprised this spot doesn't get included in more best of Detroit lists, and not even hearing more about it, I went in with very little expectations. I will tell you this, I left nothing but glowing reviews. First of all, what a beautiful restaurant. Visually and aestheticlly and tonally and go ahead an pick another sense because those were also wowed too. Modern style but yet still stunningly elegant, I was absolutely stunned the moment I walked in. Sitting down, you have views of Woodward and the bustle of Saturday night which I have to say was a very nice big city feel that I was missing here. But onto the food and drinks. The cocktails were well made, full of punch. My old fashioned was perfect, boozy right to the point of too much but still could taste the lovely orange. The crown jewels is of course the food. While the menu is not experinmental by any means, every dish was perfectly made. The lambchops were so tender I didn't even need a steak knife to slice them, a butter knife would have sufficed. The pasta (which is usually the least favorite part of any meal unless it's a ragu OMG!!! it was a ragu) was a shareable delight. As far as the service goes it was impeccable. We had a big group and we were left wanting for nothing. They were friendly and attentive and just so knowledgeable about any question we might have had. I am going to start a campaign to get Besa more recognized because it's a crime it's not talked about more.

    Leslie C.

    Lovely, relaxed atmosphere. Excellent service. Beautiful decor. Glad I finally got to come here. My friend and I ordered almost everything on the happy hour menu. The chicken kebab was very tender and the best thing we had, and the hummus with it was great too. The fries were underwhelming and too salty for us. The short rib arancini was very bland. The sauce didn't help and it looked so good. Such a bummer because the plating was beautiful too. The beef cevapi slider was okay. Not super tender or flavorful. We really enjoyed the butter lettuce salad. If you like truffles, this is the salad for you. I ordered a few mocktails. Golden Hour tasted like a lemonade and wasn't too exciting. I couldn't taste any cardamom. I loved that Ruby Hive drink. The grapefruit and honey combo was delicious. I overheard the man sitting next to me at the bar say that the scallops are the best scallops he's ever had so maybe I should order off the main menu next time.

    Drinks were so different and delightful
    Mary O.

    I would give this place 10 stars if I could. Impeccable service, cool vibe, and amazing food and drink.

    Raagini Y.

    We had an exceptional time here. The bread is complimentary with delicious olive oil. Lions mane mushroom kebab has phenomenal flavor. Eggplant toast is good but could be skipped. The cheese appetizer was delicious. For two people we were so full after those 3 apps that we skipped entrees entirely and went to desserts. We got the tres leches which is phenomenal and some pistachio raspberry which was good but not mandatory to get. Ambiance is lovely. It's in such a nice area of Detroit. Our server was also super nice. He actually told us the plates were small but we were pleasantly surprised by the size.

    Bar
    Ree T.

    Located right downtown, this is a must visit place. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. It is more of an upscale vibe. A glass of wine is $25. The service is impeccable. The food is so good, and portioned exceptionally well.

    Tim T.

    Excellent cuisine and atmosphere - their chicken breast entree, with fragrant rice, mushroom, asparagus, and avgolemono sauce was amazing. Also their bread with olive oil was excellent as well. The Filette sparkling water I ordered was also great, but $9 for a bottle. Service was exceptional, very prompt, attentive and accommodating. There are upstairs and downstairs dining areas too - highly recommended if you are looking for a nice fine dining place in downtown Detroit!

    Crab risotto

    My wife and I think the food was amazing and the attention to detail from our server was great! It's in a beautiful location downtown and we would be more than happy to return!

    Toast to the Coast - Albanian raki, zaatar simple syrup, lemon...unique and delicious!

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Your host was digging in his rear end while facing the window @ 2:45 pm 2/9/19 and he didn't even wash his hands afterwards.!!!!!

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    6 years ago

    Got appetizers, mains, and dessert. All of them exceeded expectations! The veal pasta is a must (amazing sauce)!

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    7 years ago

    Great atmosphere and food is delicious. Presentation and service were beyond what we expected. We will definitely be back here.

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    7 years ago

    This restaurant was delicious and I would recommend to anyone. The lamb shank was one of the best and the pappardelle was devine.

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    8 years ago

    The scallops & egg plant are delicious, make sure to try! What made my visit there a 5/5 was our waiter Ride, he did an incredible job!

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    8 years ago

    Great environment. Amazing food. Beautiful design. My favorite restaurant in downtown Detroit

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    Page 8 of 8

    Besa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Besa

    Is this place kids friendly? Do they have a kids menu?

    Not kid friendly. Very adult vibe. No kids menu.

    Is there parking or valet?

    They validate for two hours in the One Detroit Center parking garage on Congress. I don't think they have valet.

    Is there coat check?

    Yes there is coat check available upon request if not offered upfront

    View All 5 Questions

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    Standby - Big Eye Tuna

    Standby

    4.4(726 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown Detroit
    $$

    Wonderful the staff was very polite and professional. They atmosphere was like no other.read more

    Had such an amazing experience at Standby!! The food and especially the drinks were outstanding…read more The cocktail menu was organized into three parts: Opening, Principals, and Finish. The theme was "Yes, Chef: An exploration of culinary icons through a cocktail lens." Each drink was inspired by or dedicated to a famous culinary icon, and you can read about each one in the index. We each ordered one drink from each section. From the Opening, I chose the Diaspora Club, which was so refreshing and delicious. Then from the Principals, I chose the Chingona, which was a little bit spicy and savory but still so refreshing. To Finish, I chose the Chocolatier Cosmo, which came with a tiny house-made salted dark chocolate. I loved all three cocktails I ordered, especially the chocolatier cosmo because it was perfectly sweet and went so well with the small piece of chocolate. For food, we started off with the crispy pork belly milk bread. For my entree, I ordered the miso butter gnocchi. It was kind of on the salty side but I still really liked it. The apple sofrito added a bit of sweetness to it. For dessert, we had to get the rhubarb coffee cake, which came with strawberry ice cream. Omg one of the best desserts I've ever had!! I never thought of combining cinnamon coffee cake with rhubarb or strawberry but it's perfect, and I might have to make something like that soon. Service was great and we were seated right away at 8pm on a Saturday despite not having a reservation. Food and drinks came out promptly and timed perfectly. We spent about 1.5 hours here and we never felt rushed.

    Photos
    Standby - Seating area

    Seating area

    Standby - Smashed Cucumber Salad

    Smashed Cucumber Salad

    Standby - Coconut Shrimp

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    Selden Standard - Flat Bread with Sweet Potato Baba Ganoush

    Selden Standard

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    1.6 miCass Corridor, Midtown
    $$

    What took me so long to get here? I've talked about coming here for what seems like a decade…read more Finally, I made it. We met another couple and were supposed to dine outside. Sadly, we got a message that they changed us to inside due to possible rain. I understand, but it didn't end up raining and the outside area looked incredible. I added a photo. Oh well. That was the only real bummer. The service was amazing - pacing out all of the small plate dishes in a sensible fashion. We ordered 7 different things, and one extra arrived that we didn't order. Every item was fresh and flavorful. We definitely will come back - though not all the time as that is cost prohibitive. While it definitely is on the pricey side, we are very happy to have dined here tonight.

    We went here before a show at the Masonic and it was great. We made a reservation which I…read moredefinitely recommend. I was worried about the communal seating , but it actually was okay. The waitress was great with suggestions and any questions we had. My friend didn't like any of the mocktail options, but the bartender was able to just create one that she loved. We started with the roasted mushrooms and the sweet corn agnolotti, both were delicious. I especially liked the mushrooms. Then we had the gnocchi and the seafood fideo. I loved the seafood fideo it was great. Overall it was a great experience that I do recommend.

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    Selden Standard - Main space

    Main space

    Selden Standard - Smoked Potato

    Smoked Potato

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    Parc - Biscuits & Gravy

    Parc

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    0.1 miDowntown Detroit
    $$$

    Parc has been one of my go-to spots in Detroit for a while now. I've been here many times for date…read morenights, dinners with family, and nights out with friends. This place has consistently been a great experience regardless of the occasion. For starters, the charred burrata and short-rib arancini are my favorites and usually hard for me to pass up. The burrata is a great shareable starter, while the short rib arancini are crispy and packed with flavor. For entrees, I'm a big fan of the grilled swordfish and the scampi nero. The swordfish is always a solid choice when I want something a little lighter. The scampi nero is probably one of the more memorable dishes I've had here. The cocktails deserve a mention too. I've tried different ones during my visits and have always enjoyed them, which is part of why Parc works so well for a date night or dinner with friends. Between the food, drinks, atmosphere, and location right in Campus Martius, Parc is one of those Detroit restaurants I keep coming back to. The service here is also incredible, both helpful and friendly. Highly recommend this spot!

    We were roaming around Detroit for breakfast before the baseball game and by luck, came by Parc…read morejust before they opened! This was an amazing find and we had SUCH a good time here - amazing food, service and vibes all around (especially with a cool fountain out front!). We sat on their patio as it was such a nice day and our server, Paris, was SO attentive throughout our meal. Being on vacation, we started off with a mimosa bubbly bar and shortly after ordered our meals including: - Proper Breakfast (my order - was just the right amount and delicious bacon/chicken sausage!) - Chicken Sausage + Swiss Omelette - Cast Iron Steak + Eggs - Biscuits & Gravy - Peach Cobbler Baked Pancake (MASSIVE) - Eggs Benedict Everyone really enjoyed the meal and it is such a nice spot with indoor & outdoor seating! Would definitely recommend a visit, this was an easy spot to walk to and close to all the sport stadiums.

    Photos
    Parc - Interior

    Interior

    Parc
    Parc

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    Union Assembly - Fried chicken sliders with the chicken tossed in triple pepper sauce.

    Union Assembly

    3.9(293 reviews)
    0.6 miDowntown Detroit
    $$

    Went here before a Tigers game and the wait for a table was not bad considering how busy it was for…read morea game got a table in less than 15 minutes, our server was very busy yet was always able to check on us and make sure we had refills and our food came out very fast! It was slightly loud in there due to the music but the decorations and seating options are very fun so it seemed to fit the vibes well, we ordered the detroit style traditional pepperoni pizza with a side of their ranch, the pizza was phenomenal, their ranch is seemingly homemade and has a strong dill flavor so be wary if you're not a fan of that, I love dill so I thought it was great, will definitely make a trip back here for the pizza again!

    I made a reservation for 6:15 on a Saturday night before a performance at the Fox Theater. They…read moresent me several reminder texts, probably because there were a lot of things going on in the area. We were seated at a nice booth in the back where it was a little quieter than in the front. Unfortunately, the table was very wide, so it was hard to reach the condiments and silverware that were in the basket at the edge of the table. Our server asked what we wanted to drink & we wanted iced tea, but they didn't have any. No iced tea? We were shocked. So, we just had water. The server brought 3 empty glasses and a carafe of water, and it was a little bit of a struggle to reach it. Two of us ordered the parmesan chicken and the other person ordered the whitefish. While the coating on the fish and chicken were good, neither the chicken nor the fish itself were seasoned, so the overall taste was kind of bland. The green beans were cooked nicely -- still had the nice snap, but not much flavor. On the other hand, the flavor of the mashed potatoes was very good, but they weren't particularly warm. When I made the reservation online, it asked if there was anything special that they should know. I mentioned that it was the birthday celebration for someone in our party. They didn't recognize it any way. Would I come back here? Maybe. But I would probably order a burger or pizza instead.

    Photos
    Union Assembly - Interior

    Interior

    Union Assembly - Chicken sliders & Fried and dip appetizer

    Chicken sliders & Fried and dip appetizer

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    Green Dot Stables - Fried Bread Pudding and Mystery Meat

    Green Dot Stables

    4.2(2.3k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    This place was fun! It's perfect for a group with adults and kids as everyone can easily pick the…read moreamount of food they need. Order your choice of sliders. The menu lists them all, and you select one by one, along with options for different types of french fries. There are a couple other options, too, including a cup of clam chowder. Some favourite sliders we tried: BCT, Fish Fry, Corned Beef, Fried Chicken, Cuban, and truffle fries. The Cuban and Fried Chicken (with syrup) were extra good. We were well taken care of, and our server came to check in to make sure we could order more food as needed. The horse themed decor was fun, too!

    Green Dot Stables, located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, was previously a dive bar from…read morethe 70's until 2011. After being closed a year the new owners opened it back up as a craft slider "bar". There is nothing fancy about this restaurant. Its decor is basic wood tables and chairs in the center with booths lining one side of the space and a bar on the other. The staff are casual about you being there - there is no fanfare. When we arrived, we checked in at the host stand to get our names on the wait list. They text you when your table is ready. The place was full when we got there but the turnover was quick. We didn't wait more than 10 minutes and were seated in a booth. The menu is all sliders on one side and fries, salads, and sweets on the other. Fairly simple and the prices are beyond reasonable. The server told us most people get 3 sliders and fries. I did that plus I got a Moscow Mule to drink - it was only $5! I chose the Double Cheeseburger, Spicy Crispy Chicken (with a slice of provolone added), Olive Burger, and the Truffle Fries. Everything is served as soon as it's made so your items arrive at different times, which was fine by me. Each slider was served in its own cardboard "dish". Again, nothing fancy. The Olive Burger was really good - served with green olives and cheese on top of a beef burger. I liked the saltiness of the olives - it added to the total taste in a positive way. The Double Cheeseburger was actually pretty big so I would just get the single next time. And the Spicy Crispy Chicken was recommended by our server. He suggested adding the provolone slice, which I did. That was basically a buffalo chicken sandwich. And it was good! The truffle fries were excellent - you could really taste the truffle seasoning/oil. I also liked that they were the skinny type of fries. This is the type of independent restaurant I'm always looking for - one that sticks to its theme and does an excellent job of it. I'll definitely be back!

    Photos
    Green Dot Stables
    Green Dot Stables
    Green Dot Stables - Seasonal caramel apple.

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    Seasonal caramel apple.

    Besa - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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