The Royce offers free wine tastings on Wednesday from 6-730pm. They pours during the tasting are a…read moretrue "taste" lol don't expect full pours like you get at Cooper's hawk. However, the tastings are in small groups of about 8 people at a time so you can hear the wine descriptions and interact with the group easily. I ran into a college classmate that I haven't seen in 8 years because we were both running our mouths about how we liked the wine we were tasting. I wasn't a fan of the wines we tasted but I loved the Chardonnay I purchased as we sat around and talked. Conner was a great server and gave excellent recommendations. There are plenty of seating options, including a few couches upstairs. I will be back just to enjoy the atmosphere and have a glass or 2 of the Chardonnay.

Early evening bottle of champagne and charcuterie. Decor is a vibe. Love the selections, music and…read morevibe.

My wife saw a posting on FB for this venue and based on comments, thought it would definitely be…read moreworth exploring, which we are so happy we did. If you could not tell by their name, this is an old Detroit Fire house, located back in a residential/ industrial like area. As you drive to it, you might think, you're lost or going the wrong way....keep going a pleasant surprise awaits your arrival. The interior design and renovations are really, really impressive and pay homage to the years of service as a firehouse, while creating a new vibrant, cozy atmosphere for diners to enjoy. This is a wine bar, no cocktails. And, you will not find any mass produced wines on their extensive list of options. Most all of the wines they offer are estate bottled, French style wines where growers control everything from the planting of the grapes to the bottle. It's an education, and one their staff seems so well versed on, helping you find something you will enjoy. they allowed us to sample a couple before ending on a really good Rose. We ordered a number of small plates which included: Sourdough with beillevaire butter, a generous portion of bread, served warm, soft inside, crunchy outside and the butter was the best tasting butter we have ever had! We also had the shrimp cocktail with horseradish sauce, 6 nice sized shrimp, firm, cold, fresh and very flavorful. Lastly whet they called a "tiny salad" it's basically a Caesar. This was also amazing with breadcrumbs mixed into the dressing, so flavorful. We would do all of these dishes over again. No Meal is complete without dessert; we chose the burnt basque cheesecake with Pedro ximenex sherry. This hands down is the best cheesecake we have ever had, and we love cheesecake. Our server was very cordial, helpful and so knowledgeable not just educating us about their wine selections, but also about their sourcing and philosophy on food. So glad we had the experience. We will definitely be back again.

Ladder 4 provided a unique venue to start a night out in Detroit recently. Set in an old fire…read morestation, the high ceilings and large windows in the front gave the place an open feel. We grabbed a spot immediately at the bar and perused the wine list. Our server was generous with letting us sample before committing to a glass. I tried orange wine for the first time and decided to stick with whites. A Riesling from Saarland hit all the right notes. For food, we ordered shrimp cocktail. 3 plump shrimp over ice with a side of cocktail sauce and shavings of fresh horseradish arrived. We savored every bite. Next up was the venison tartare. It was a unique take on the meat, mild in flavor. I would absolutely order again and recommend. If ladder 4 is on your list to check out, do not hesitate to go. I think you'll find that it's a very satisfying place to visit on a night out.

This whole place is such a summer vibe. There is a little something for everyone…read more It was a bit confusing when we first arrived. Here is the lay of the land: Check in at the little red table in the center of the outdoor courtyard if you want "full service". - which means eating and drinking at a table with wait staff. It is not seat yourself at the outdoor tables, like we originally thought. There is a nice sized bar indoors and seating at the bar is first come first served. We ordered several of the small plate "snacks" and I can tell you that the hummus is not to be missed. It is served with (homemade?) tortilla chips that are absolutely addictive. They have lots of choices for wine, beer, and cocktails. Towards the back entrance of the property, there is a drink truck where you can also order "walkaway" food and drinks. Not entirely sure where you sit with the food/drinks you order, as most of the seating seemed reserved for full service. Additionally, there is a photo booth for pics (long line) and Warda Patisserie is right next door and accessible through a garden walkway.

Father Forgive Me was named #83 on North America's 50 Best Bars list. It's located in a…read more110-year-old church garage, and there's a beautiful courtyard outside for guests to either sit on the grass or their picnic tables. Just an overall beautiful space. The inside restaurant area is also beautiful. We wanted to sit inside at the bar, so we waited for some seats to open up. If you want to sit outside, all you have to do is order at the bar and they'll serve your drinks in plastic cups for you to take outside. The rhubarb pie punch was so delicious I had to order it twice! Probably one of my favorite cocktails I've ever had. I also ordered the maurixio cattelan, which tasted like ginger ale. For a snack before dinner, we chose to get the burrata and it was so refreshing. The service was great and our bartender was super friendly! The logo with the little lamb is adorable. I bought one of their wine glasses with their logo on it too for just $10.

This is the best wine bar I have ever been to. Thoughtful, welcoming, modern and stylish design and…read moredecor. Great customer service and the owner has such a great spirit. Thanks for the experience. Good wine selection.

Brix Wine is phenomenal! It's really exceptional escape…read more It's a great place to enjoy solo with a date or with a group of girlfriends. The wines, spirits, and cocktails are exceptional. The bartenders do a phenomenal job with crafting the best libations. The food menu is tiny but mighty. Please check out the smoked salmon grilled cheese. So delish! The owner has a warm welcoming personality and the staff offers exemplary customer service. The decor is quaint and chic with lots of show stopping art on the wall. There are beautiful large windows which provide lots of light and also opportunities to people watch. It's located in a beautiful area of the city with apartment homes, condos, and trendy businesses surrounding. This Black woman owned business deserves all the shine!

I came down on a Sunday evening to listen to house music with my good friend for her birthday and…read morethe venue did not disappoint. We enjoyed the DJ spinning on the patio, chatting with new folks, and playing a game of Sorry! They had a vendor serving up tacos on the patio as well. The wait was about twenty-five minutes for the best street tacos you will have in your life. If you want a good time with awesome music and a gorgeous view... look no further and treat yourself to a stop.

The perfect hidden wine grotto in Corktown. The unassuming front hides a rockin' patio out back and…read morea wine cellar vibe inside. Dj's throughout the week and Reggae Sundays on the patio. They sport a wide variety of wines, sangria slushies and tequilas. Motor City Wine is a great spot to chill.

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.

Vesper is a fun little spot in Core City. Want to have a drink while you peruse through their vast…read moreselection of cookbooks and chef oriented literature. Their food menu is mostly lighter dishes, and while I didn't eat anything, I did watch them bring out the mussels to the couple next to me and they looked really amazing. While I was there I got a chance to meet and talk to the owners and they were really nice and attentive. They have a nice drink menu with a wide choice of wine (obviously) but also some interesting liquor and beer options. Their cocktail program is actually quite unique. If you want to buy bottles though, I think this is where they excel, because they have some really nice bottles available for sale, which of course you can drink on the spot, but they do charge a $20 corkage fee, which is why I knocked them down a star. I can understand if you're bringing your own bottle, but if you're buying the bottle there, I think it's kind of crazy to have that high of a fee. Just my opinion though. Other than that, the experience is great and definitely a great spot to go before or after dinner at Barda or Puma.

Stopped here for a drink after Barda. All the books are cooking themed. There are a few comfy…read moreseating options including the old bank vault. We had a few tasting before making our selection. My favorite was the Barbera. You can also purchase a bottle of wine to go. They have a $20 corking fee.

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