Lex Appeal: The Unabridged Version…read more In Jack Finney's short story "Of Missing Persons" (bear with me here), a man stumbles into an unassuming travel agency and is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to emigrate to a mysterious, otherworldly paradise called Verna. It's beautiful, modest, and almost too good to be real. The Lexington is Detroit's Verna. It's the kind of place you hear about from someone who looks both thrilled and reluctant to even tell you, like they're giving away a secret they shouldn't. And when you finally step inside, you get it: the low glow of the lights, the soundtrack of animated, half-drunken conversations zig-zagging across the room, the melange of whiskey and possibility hanging in the air just so. You'll wonder how it's even allowed to exist. The Lexington isn't just a bar; it's a cast of characters you somehow already care about by the time the first drink sweats in your hand. Dave and Jen, the proprietors, are the Gen X power couple we all secretly hoped we'd grow up to be...or at least hoped would adopt us when our own parents fell short. Dave is the textbook definition of avuncular. His hugs cured my cancer. True story. Jen is understanding, astute, and has a memory sharp enough to make you feel seen, even if you don't quite remember who you are that night. She seems to genuinely look out for everyone, guests included, which feels rarer than it should. And then there's guest star bartender, J. Rho (aka Detroit's best friend). Just look at him. He's the type of guy you could bring with you to the ER waiting room, and somehow it ends up being the most fun you've ever had. J. Rho also hosts JRHO-KE Karaoke Night on the last Friday of every month. Many Lex participants were clearly trained at Interlochen or The Juilliard, or maybe just blessed by the gods of pitch and phrasing, because they're shockingly good. But don't worry; they still leave room for mere mortals on occasion. Then there's Open Mic Night, every other Tuesday. At most bars, "Open Mic" is your cue to grab your coat and bolt, like you just spotted an ugly, suburban bachelorette party coming your way, screeching in matching sashes and wigs. Not here. At The Lex, the talent isn't just polished, it's intimidating. Again: what is this place? Even the little details feel personal here. The bathroom is so well-stocked and spotless you might decide to camp out for a bit. I'm pretty sure I spotted a Fabergé egg toilet paper holder and what may or may not be a Chihuly glass sculpture. On live music nights, they'll even hand you complimentary earplugs if you ask nicely. The patio's been recently upgraded with cement pavers and, inexplicably, a wholesome little fleet of toy trucks waiting for the one-in-a-million toddler who might somehow make it into a 21+ establishment. Oh, and there's a pixelated lo-fi screen behind the bar quietly letting you know what song is playing on the Spotify playlist. (Spoiler: it will never be ska. Sorry, ska fans.) The Regulars' Section is its own ecosystem. If you unknowingly sit in one of their spots, no one will ask you to move. But they will talk to you for the next three hours, staring gently into your soul and asking, "Are you OK? No, but are you *really* OK?" True, they'll make a lot of weird inside jokes you won't understand at first (big hats seem to be a recurring theme?), but sooner or later someone will loop you in. You won't feel left out here, or like you have to survive some hazing ritual just to belong, unlike some other cities. These regulars might actually want to be your friend. More than once, I've considered moving across time zones just to be closer. Not that anyone needs to know just how far Verna's magic really goes, but I've heard it told that The Lex has even been known to save lives on occasion. That, however, is a story for another night.

This is the second time I've been to this bar, both times for live music being played there. The…read moreonly issue I see for it as a venue is that the stage is just as dark as the rest of the bar. They do have a nice selection of whiskey and tequila, the bathrooms are unisex and clean, and they have cute outdoor area out back, through the pea gravel isn't the best for standing.

I love the drinks! Anytime I visit I make sure to stop by. They sometimes have almonds in duck…read morefat... amazing

Came in for dinner and drinks before a concert at Caesar's last night and had an absolutely divine…read moretime. This is such a hip little spot in a lovely little European courtyard right downtown with a sort of cocktail-casual atmosphere. True to form, we ordered a charcuterie spread, as well as a duck pate sort of dish (forgetting the name, forgive me!) which were delicious. The duck was rich and scrumptious, and all the offerings on the charcuterie board were incredibly tasty with a really nice variety. Paired that with a red blend from a quite interesting wine list, and the bartender also prepared a delicious shot for my birthday! Our service was very friendly and engaging, and truly we had a great time. Can't wait to come back when I have a little more time to savor the experience!

I love the staff, the jukebox has an incredible selection, and it has a pool table... Everyone,…read moreincluding the regulars are really friendly and helpful... They play classic movies all the time too. It's a great place to meet artists, musicians, and just cool local people.

Favorite bar ever. In the entire world. Can't believe I haven't written a review for here yet. I…read moreloveee taking people here, the atmosphere is just fantastic and the crowd is so nice. The patio area is perfect when it's warm. Also I love that you can bring outside food in, I'll order coney and eat it here with my pickle beer and it's awesome. My fav thing is probably the pickle beer. Tried it for the first time here and it's opened a whole new world of beers for me.

The service and food is always great. The pub itself gives old Scottish pub vibes with a laidback…read morefeeling. Its deco has weather tables and chairs to sit at and antique items/pictures to look at. They have a happy hour menu that offers you a really good valued late lunch or early dinner. We always enjoy our time dining at the O'Maggio's Kildare House!

Good food and great service…read more The wings were good and crunchy, excellent for a breaded wing. We selected the medium and honey garlic sauces. I would say the medium wasn't very spicy so if you're looking for spicy I would maybe go with something stronger. All the food was excellent. The portions were very generous.

This wasn't my first time here, but it was my first time here when it wasn't super busy. We had a…read morefabulous time talking to the owner, Danielle, and learning the full history of the bar! This is a classic dive bar in all it's glory and I truly hope they don't change a thing! There is no food so keep that in mind when you come. Street parking is also free which is nice!

We went here for the historic adventure and ended up having some pretty good drinks and…read moreconversation with our bartender. There was parking in the back and you ring the front bell to get in. Bring a group of friends, it's spacious inside.

Today is the last day for this place apparently which is probably not fair raiting the place so…read morelow... but drink was subpar. I got a Painkiller. Son got a Mai Tai. No where near a Trader Vic's... most patrons there were rude.

I loved this place....took so many people here and wanted to have a final hooray with some of the…read morepeople who also appreciated this place. However, that night I recognize why stop coming. The employees. The place has the tiki vibe but the heart was ripped out when they hired a group of people who don't have that spirit of what tiki is about. To me it represents a way of life focused on kindness, unity, humility, patience, and mutual regard. It felt more exclusionary and lack of kindness almost an irritation to be in the service industry. I do hope great things for the owner in the future because he did have something special there. Wish his vision was seen by the employees.

What an old, but cool place and historic place. We were in the Walkerville area for food around…read morethe corner and wanted to stop for another drink someplace close. I wasn't sure at first as it had some interesting signage and it seemed empty, but we decided to take chance on it. We just stopped for drinks, but the bartender was super friendly and helpful. Even helped us locate some pastries that were on our list. Overall a great little stop while we were in town for lunch and a drink

The Victoria Tavern has been an establishment in the Walkerville area longer than any place in the…read morecurrent neighborhood. The ambiance is pub style with old tin ceilings and a large scotch selection behind the old bar. There is even a large area outside in the backyard to enjoy a cold beverage or two. The food is consistently good -- with burgers, sandwiches, salads, apps and daily specials, they even have some pretty good fish & chips. Everyone is friendly, lots of locals, and some type of entertainment or activity every night except Sundays. Friday night is Karaoke, and live entertainment starts in the early evening on Saturdays. A good casual place to grab a beer and a bite to eat while watching the game. Check it out! it's a hidden gem!

Took my 19 year old nephew across the border for his MI birthright trip to Windsor and happened…read moreacross this place during our pub crawl. The place was bumping during lunch. Just ordered snacks, but all delicious and definitely better than the typical bar fare. They a nice assortment of glassware that I would probably have nicked in my youth. The bartender was super friendly and the vibe was lively, but not too hipster. Just a solid bar with solid food and I would be a regular if I lived closer to this place.

My husband and I decided to take a drive over the new Gordie Howe international Bridge and have…read morelunch in Windsor. I really didn't have any idea where to go to eat when we happened upon The Loose Goose on Chilver Rd. Our server was so nice and friendly. We felt very welcome. We were considering the perch basket so I asked her about it and she said it was one of their more popular items. The perch was so good and their fries were excellent. My husband had sweet potato fries, also excellent. I had iced tea and I didn't know that in Canada it comes sweetened, as the server said. It was really good and refreshing. One more thing that always counts for me in a restaurant is the restroom. It was clean and well stocked. All in all, we would definitely go back and try their poutine which has a vegetarian gravy. We both highly recommend.The Loose Goose!