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    Besa

    4.3 (311 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Besa Photos

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    BESA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Besa

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    Reviews With Photos

    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!
    Carrie G.

    We stopped here for appetizers and cocktails, and had a great experience! The food and drinks we tried were all unique and delicious, and Sebastian was attentive and friendly. We tried the Short Rib Arancini, Herb Marinated Chicken Kabob, and Broccoli Frito... all were so tasty! The "Toast to the Coast" cocktail was so unique and flavorful, I loved it! "Hard Day's Night" was also great, very refreshing. Highly recommend a visit!

    Lamb shoulder with hummus

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    8 months ago

    Worth the hype, very upscale restaurant with great quality, great ambiance and tasty food

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    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 4 Questions

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    4.7(131 reviews)
    1.1 miCorktown

    I could not be happier with my experience at Mink. I came with my son for mother's day and didn't…read morereally know what to expect. When I walked in and saw the tiny space I was charmed. There was a 2 top table at the back that we were seated at - we could have sat at the bar also - and it was a great spot. We ordered the tasting menu and WOW, every course was amazing. I'll post pics because the presentation was gorgeous for each item. They have a small cocktail and wine and beer selection, but that was fine. My son got their Shrub Mocktail and I got the Shrub with Sake. Both were delicious and so interesting. I can't pick a favorite item because they were all so good, but the Torched Mackerel and Poached Bosc Pear were tied for #1, followed by the Salmon, Oysters and the crazy good Blood Orange dessert. The shrimp toast was just ok for me, not bad, just not as good as everything else. Additionally the service was outstanding. For a tiny place they did everything right. They explained each course, brought out fresh utensils for every course - YEA! - and made sure we had good pacing. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly and enhanced our meal. I really want to come back and try the oysters and some of the tinned items. I'm so excited I found Mink and will be back for sure.

    Went to Mink for our anniversary dinner. What a treat if you like seafood. We got the tasting…read moremenu, which did not disappoint, and added on the lobster roll since we were celebrating. Everything was perfectly cooked and thoughtfully presented with wine pairings. What a treat! The service was very attentive, and I always enjoy sitting at the bar to watch the action. Highly recommended.

    Photos
    Mink - Mink interior - bar area

    Mink interior - bar area

    Mink - East Coast and West coast oysters

    East Coast and West coast oysters

    Mink - Wine Pairing

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    Wine Pairing

    Oak & Reel - Crostini- FABULOUS!

    Oak & Reel

    4.5(319 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$$

    Decided to go back for dinner last week and had a nice experience. However, even though we were…read morecelebrating a birthday we did not receive a candle with our dessert and we saw other tables getting candles which was a little disappointing. Most of our dishes were very tasty however I would not recommend the walleye panino. It was just ok and thought they were going to reinvent the fish sandwich but there is definitely other items that were very good. We also decided to go back yesterday for happy hour and sat at the bar and Brynn and Kelsey provided the best service I have had in a long time. They made the best martinis and were so fun and friendly! Our friends were celebrating their anniversary and we all had such a great time talking with them. I mentioned that we didn't a candle with our dessert the week before and they surprised us with pistachio gelato with a candle! It was so thoughtful and we were so thankful for the surprise! We definitely will be back for the happy and the great bar service!

    Yelp considers 3-Stars to be Okay. This visit was a bit better than just okay, but not worthy of…read morefour stars. We arrived at 6:24 for a 6:30 resv and were immediately seated. My first impression: Noisy! Lots of hard surfaces. Difficult to hear the hostess, server and my wife. The tables were appropriately spaced for diners and servers to work with no bump & grind. We started by sharing a dozen oysters and the pear/walnuts salad. The oysters were a bit small-ish; but otherwise, excellent. Server took a drink order from my wife, but skipped me. Eh? I flagged down another server to order a Pino. It took a surprisingly long time to arrive. On the plus side, I was offered a taste to insure it was satisfactory - it was. The pear salad w/walnuts was excellent. The pears were sliced paper-thin. One of the joys of eating a properly ripened pear is the juicy explosion and thinly sliced pears defeat the juicy explosion. If the pears were fully ripe, perhaps cube them? Weirdly; the two sides (mushrooms, potatoes) were served before the entrees. The server noticed, seemed surprised and withdrew the sides, returning with our entrees (lamb shoulder, steak). Then the side returned. Both entrees were warm-ish and the sides were hot. The 14-day, dry-aged steak was ordered medium-rare and was seasoned and prepared as ordered. Again; warm-ish, not hot. I expected better beefy flavor for a dry-aged steak. One end was a bit chewy. Tenderness improved as I got to the other end of the steak. I ordered it with horseradish. I will admit to being a weirdo who loves spicy horseradish (and wasabi) that will clean the sinuses - this was "Ohio-spice'd" horseradish ... not creamy, but less spicy than Arby's Horsey sauce. The mushroom and the potato sides were served hot from the kitchen. Both were excellent, no complaints. The presentation of the steak needs improvement. It was a properly prepared, lonely lump of brown, served on a white plate with cracked ceramic glaze. The lamb shoulder was the better entree. For some reason, my wife was expecting Middle Eastern seasoning. The menu did not mention Middle Eastern seasoning and she did not ask, so that's on her, not the kitchen. I thought it was excellent. Gripe: After the entrees arrived, our server did not return to ask if the entrees were satisfactory. She did return later to ask if we wanted a second round of drinks. We did ... We were offered dessert and ordered, but never asked if we wanted coffee or an after dinner drink. Both desserts were excellent. Will we return? Probably ... not. With tip; dinner for two was $286. At this price point I expect better: Less noise, better beef and flawless service.

    Photos
    Oak & Reel - Oak & Reel interior

    Oak & Reel interior

    Oak & Reel - Rosemary focaccia

    Rosemary focaccia

    Oak & Reel - Octopus

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    Octopus

    Besa - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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