Awesome awesome awesome! Best place in Detroit for cocktails and pork belly. Terrific service, and…read morecannot recommend them enough!

If you're looking for a spot that truly elevates the downtown Detroit experience, Standby…read moreabsolutely lives up to the hype. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere pulls you in. It's sleek, intimate, and effortlessly cool without feeling pretentious. The lighting, the music, the overall aesthetic -- everything feels intentional. It's the kind of place that works just as well for date night as it does for a night out with friends. Now let's talk about the drinks -- because that's where Standby really shines. The cocktails are creative, beautifully presented, and perfectly balanced. You can tell there's serious thought behind every ingredient. Whether you're into something bold and spirit-forward or smooth and refreshing, they nail it. The food matches the energy of the bar. Every dish feels curated, flavorful, and plated with care. It's not just "bar food" -- it's thoughtfully crafted and pairs perfectly with whatever you're sipping. Service has always been attentive and knowledgeable. The staff knows the menu inside and out and makes great recommendations without making you feel rushed. Standby is one of those places that feels like a hidden gem even though everyone knows about it. If you want craft cocktails, elevated bites, and a true downtown Detroit vibe, this is your spot. I'll definitely be back.

MARRROOWWWW!!! Yes, yes, yes, if you are looking for the perfect brunch or dinner spot Marrow…read morethrows it down for both. Immediate service with the most attentive staff, dishes on dishes that just ATE. Finest, freshest ingredients... must try the steak, short ribs, and the legendary pull apart brioche . Marrow's vibe is cozy, elevated and low-key sexy without trying too hard. This is the spot in Michi for sure, will definitely be back!

Marrow is a locally female owned butcher shop and restaurant. They specialize in locally owned…read moreingredients. They are really conscious of where they get their ingredients and try to stick to local Michigan farms. A great dining experience from start to finish. We sat outside on a chilly night but don't let that deter you. They have plenty of heaters outside to keep you warm. The menu was fantastic. Everything was really delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend getting the bone marrow and you can't go wrong with any of the steaks. They are locally sourced which makes them that much better. The steak was cooked just how I want it. Also the drinks were just as delicious as well. I got an old fashioned and it was mixed perfectly. This is a great new, unique, delicious restaurant that needs to be checked out while you are in Detroit.

This has been my favorite restaurant in Detroit for years now The food is always outstanding and…read morethe service is perfection. It is still certainly in my top 10, and the service remains perfect, but we had a few dishes that missed the mark, the wine pairing just wasn't worth it and this was even more true for my husband who went for the upgraded wine pairing (mine beat his every time, but for 1 glass). That and the slightly smaller portion sizes and that they no longer do an amuse bouche or salad with the bread as they used to, brought them down to a 4. Note that they do add a 22% service charge to the bill, which usually pushes my buttons... But the service is so perfect, and they very directly call it out, so it didn't bother me that much. All that said this is still a fabulous place to go, even more so, if you are with a vegetarian or a pescatarian, because all can enjoy!

We dined at Freya and opted for the nine-course chef's tasting menu. Overall, it was a thoughtful…read moreexperience, but at $155 per person, there were several misses that made this feel like a one-and-done for us--especially when compared to other tasting menus in the Detroit area at a similar (or lower) price point. One small but meaningful improvement would be providing a printed menu. With nine courses, it's hard to remember every dish and its components, and a takeaway menu would elevate the experience. While this was the omnivore-only option, a surprising number of courses leaned vegetarian. The mushroom tacos were interesting, but the celery root tortilla was very chewy. The spaghetti squash "pasta" course had good flavor, paired with a spicy marinara, though the squash could have been a bit more tender. The cheese course (Camembert) opened the meal and was good, but I would've liked a bit more nuttiness or complexity. The cobia fish course was nicely prepared but needed more salt, and both the fish and sauce could have been served warmer. The sausage course was a highlight--excellent flavor with a subtle fennel note, and the temperature was spot on. Unfortunately, the strip steak was a major letdown. It was served with noticeable gristle and had to be sent back. For this price point, that should never leave the kitchen. Dessert was just okay. The grapefruit and tequila sorbet was challenging for us since we opted for non-alcoholic beverages--the tequila flavor was very strong, making us wonder how much alcohol remained. A chocolate dessert option would have been a welcome alternative. The palate cleanser was a warm ginger, lemon, and lime shot. Personally, I prefer something icy or granita-style here; serving this cold would've made a big difference. The timing of the courses felt unnecessarily drawn out. The meal lasted about three hours, with close to 20 minutes between courses. Tighter pacing--closer to 10-12 minutes--would greatly improve the flow and overall enjoyment. One final note: a 22% gratuity was automatically included and then taxed, even for a party of two. Forced gratuity at this size feels unnecessary, particularly given some of the service and execution issues throughout the evening. At this price point, gratuity should be left to the diners' discretion, not mandated--especially when the experience doesn't fully meet expectations. We've had excellent tasting menus elsewhere at similar or lower price points that felt more cohesive and refined. While there were some strong moments, Freya is likely a one-time visit for us.

Kudos to Sam and the entire staff for the gracious, knowledgable, professional service. The food…read moretiming was paced out perfectly, Sam made terrific menu recommendations and we did not feel rushed at all. They encourage ordering several plates to share. We tried the miso carrots, the walleye, and the summer pea pasta. All of the plates were artfully decorated and I loved all the combos of flavors and textures. For dessert, we could not pass up the banana cake. Similar flavor to banana bread, with some kind of magical caramel frosting and crunchy almonds. Chartreuse is very deserving of all of those Best of Detroit awards.

We were Welcomed by Perry, who had Chartreuse slacks on. Our party of 8 arrived about an hour…read moreahead of our Reservation...we were told no problem We were seated in a relaxed area and little tables were brought to serve us water. We were impressed as the table we were to have was extremely and thoroughly cleaned I would say these are small plates, AMAZING taste and Texture.... unfortunately for me I stepped away from the table and the Bread Service was basically devoured other than 1 small piece before I could have some that's how good it was. The setting the service the desire to give us an event of Tasty Food was meant 1 small challenge the restrooms could have had a tad more care Oh when, my dish ( Short ribs) were tooo spicy I traded with my husband and enjoyed his vegetarian Pea dish. WONDERFUL so many ingredients merged into bursts of flavor. Perhaps with the Short Ribs mention there's a tad of heat Am I going back ABSOLUTELY so many more dishes to experience. Prepare to be Welcomed

We had another incredible dinner at Selden Standard, which will always be our number one restaurant…read morein Detroit. We even got married here this summer!! So it holds a special place for us. Lauren took great care of us and encouraged us to order whatever we were craving. Dangerous advice, but we happily accepted . Warning - the ratings are real. They're not a mistake. We started with our usual cocktail, the Instant Karma (5/5). It is the perfect balance of citrus and salt with a light cucumber note. Clean, refreshing, and it pairs well with everything. The roasted sweet potato (6/5) is one of the best vegetable dishes in the city. The caramelized exterior gives way to a soft interior, and the crispy quinoa adds a subtle light crunch that plays against the creamy texture. The salsa macha brings a smoky, nutty depth without the heat, and the crema ties it all together. I had to physically stop myself from scraping the plate (actually they had to take it away ). The tagliatelle (5/5) with beef bolognese and parmesan was flawless. The pasta has that ideal handmade chew, and the bolognese is rich without being heavy. The parmesan blends perfectly into the sauce and stands out in every bite. The potato pierogi (10/5) were the star of the night. Soft potato-filled pillows with horseradish crema, apple, and crispy shallot pieces create this perfect sweet, tangy, creamy, and crunchy bite. Each forkful felt intentional and balanced. I felt guilty, because in my head, I didn't want to share with my wife, but I did anyways . The cruelty of having to split an odd number of pierogis...well played...we should have just ordered another one. We also ordered the smoked potatoes and the pan roasted half chicken with sauce au poivre (always 5/5 for both) The smoked potatoes, with raclette, and crème fraîche, are always a must. These winter variation was just as good! The chicken remains one of the most consistently well-executed mains in the city. I have tried recreating it at home with the cold pan method and it never comes close. Every time we dine here, it feels like four or five different dinner experiences in one evening. Selden Standard continues to set the bar for us in Detroit. We love the staff, the food, and the memories tied to this place. Cheers to many more amazing years to come!

It was one of those meals that I enjoyed so much that I forgot to snap photos of all of our food…read more Selden Standard was the setting for an amazing date night recently in Detroit. My husband surprised me with a birthday dinner here, and I'm glad that we got to experience it. We arrived in advance of our reservation and grabbed a seat at the bar. The bartender brought us a glass of wine while we waited. It took about a half hour, but we were shown to our table for the night and promptly greeted by our server. All of the food looked amazing, both on the menu and with what people were ordering at other tables. We chose a variety of dishes - cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, squid ink orecchiette, octopus, mushrooms, and scallops. I would recommend all of them, but the standouts for me were the Brussels sprouts and the scallops. Flavors were unique and textures were especially on point with those dishes. Service was good, but we both felt like it was slow. There was a slight glitch in the beginning of the night where the host stand didn't mark that we had checked in when we actually had, which probably contributed to the half hour wait at the bar. Aside from those points, it was an impeccable night!

We dined at the Grey Ghost for a special dinner last week and it was outstanding. The service was…read moreabove reproach and they carefully accommodate allergies, walk you through the menu, and provide a stellar experience. Our server, James, was phenomenal. Atmosphere is nice, decor is very cool, and the setting is intimate, but when it fills up, it is quite loud. Regarding accommodations, for our teen daughter, the chef went WELL beyond normal accommodations to modify the Steelhead Trout dish to allow her to enjoy what she called "the best fish I've ever had". He absolutely made her night. We all shared the Brussel Sprouts (w/ honey, lime, & chicken skin) and Octopus appetizers. The Brussels were heavenly and the octopus was flavorful and tender (very nicely prepared). Aside from the Steelhead entrée, my wife and son both had the Ribeye Cap w/ yaji, peanut, & kiwi. They couldn't stop raving about it. The pairing of kiwi with steak was delicious and creative! I ordered the Lobster dish and honestly, it was better than many top tier seafood restaurants I've visited. It featured tail & claw meat atop a crab cake with a citrus beurre blanc and crispy wontons. I'd go back just for this dish. For dessert, we tried the PB&J Napoleon, and found the berry sorbet to be ridiculously fresh and bursting with flavor. Portion sizes were just right. Everyone left well satiated, but not overly full. We had a reservation, and I'd highly recommend if you're thinking of going, you get one as well. It was a full house the entire time we were there, and it was only midweek.

Visited on a Tuesday at 6:30pm without reservations and only bar seating was available. The…read morerestaurant is small but there were a lot of seats at the bar. We ordered a beer, the house rock and rye mocktail (good but VERY expensive for a small soda $7), cheeseburgers (also good- the bun was great, the flavor was good, it could've used more fixings and was $21 with no sides so again, very expensive. My husband added bacon for $6), and shared a fry (again, expensive $8, but very good and a charnel side for sure) $56 for 2 burgers and 1basket of fries is STEEP. Food was good, not $56 good! Service was good! Overall a good dinner and experience but I don't feel the need to visit again!

I am so sad this place is closing. I took my girlfriend here recently and we both agreed it's the…read moreabsolute perfect spot for what we have been looking for. Extensive wine list. Fantastic charcuterie board. All at a reasonable price for a downtown restaurant. We will try to visit again before they close the doors and we will be so sad.

Now this was not the typical vertical experience but was my first time here. A friend was excited…read moreover this Lingua Franca wine dinner here. And if course it was on a super cold post snowy day. But we tasted 8 wines paired with calamari,short ribs, tuna,pork belly,etc. And this was fun, not stuffy. Maybe not something you'd do everyday but good to experience. This was expensive but for once i felt the food and service were worth it. The food was paired with wines snd was good. I can see this for a special evening but I'd just come back for a good meal . Close to Opera House and Music Hall areas. There's limited street parking, lots on 2 corners,and the opera garage

Great service sitting at the bar for an early afternoon brunch on a Saturday! Drinks were…read morewell-made and the food was delicious. Good portion of shrimp in the appetizer spicy Shrimp and the dressing on the mixed greens served under the shrimp is to-die-for! I wanted a bowl to take home. Lol Great spot in downtown ferndale. Will be back!

I came here for brunch and ordered the berry French toast, and I'm being honest... this was the…read morebest French toast I've had in a very long time--maybe even the best ever, lol. It was perfectly sweet, fluffy, and loaded with flavor. My sister ordered a traditional breakfast and she enjoyed! The place itself is cute and chill, and the staff were definitely attentive and nice. I'm already planning to come back soon to check out their happy hour and Taco Tuesdays!