Sadly Boodles missed the mark on almost every level. We made reservations for Saturday night in mid January. Since this was our first visit we didn't know what to expect but the reviews looked good. We arrived to a packed house and I was surprised how small and crammed it was inside. Dumpy is tree he word is use to describe the inside. Peeling paint and stained ceilings. Ventilation system look like it was straight out of the 70s and never maintained since then. I never thought I'd have to worry about Legionnaires disease but this is the place that stuff like that starts in. Tired, old and dingy inside. I'm not opposed to dive bars and restaurants, in fact I love them but Boodles paints themselves as upscale dining with prices to support that. It's anything but. The tables are crammed very close together and you can't help but bump into the people dining next to you to get to your table. I've been in small, intimate restaurants before with the same type of tight configurations but this was almost ridiculous. We ordered a round of drinks. A Cosmopolitan for me and an Old Fashioned for the boyfriend. The people next to us had a group of 6 and they mentioned they have been waiting for almost 2 1/2 hours for their main course. That was another bad sign. Our drinks arrived and were very lackluster. All you could taste was booze which isn't a bad thing if you were ordering it straight or just on the rocks but a steakhouse like Boodles should know how to make a quality Cosmo and Old Fashioned. We ordered the bread service which doesn't come with dinner and was an additional $6. Nothing to write home about even though they claim it's their homemade sourdough. Personally I didn't feel it was worth six dollars. We each got a Caesar salad and while the salad was a nice portion it was lacking in flavor and very little dressing. We waited for our waitress to come and check on us to ask for a side of additional dressing but she never came around. We ate the salad and finished our round of drinks. I was already skeptical on ordering a main course because everything up until this point had been a miss. Against my better judgment I ordered their signature item: Steak Diane prepared table side. My boyfriend ordered the 16 ounce ribeye. Both entrées come with a side of their lyonnaise potatoes. While we waited for our entrées we each ordered a glass of the house Cabernet. They do give a generous pour so that was a plus. After waiting almost an hour they started to prepare the Steak Diane. It was cool to watch them prepare it table side and after waiting almost an hour I was happily hungry with anticipation. I wish I could say it was halfway decent but it was overcooked. I ordered my steak medium rare in hopes that if it does come out a little more than medium rare it's still pink and flavorful. It was grey inside with no pink at all. Even the sauce it was cooked and was devoid of flavor. How is it possible with all the butter and the garlic they were using it was still lackluster? My boyfriend did say his steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and was excellent. The lyonnaise potatoes were also tasty. This was the best part of the entire dining experience other than leaving. After our waitress came back to check on us I told her I was not happy with my main course and that I would like to send it back. She asked if I wanted something else and I said no thank you I'll just take the check. They did take my steak off the bill since I had only tried one bite. My boyfriend had his steak packaged up to go. We just wanted to get out of there at that point. What was surprising is nobody seemed to care or even inquire what they could do better to improve the situation. Every staff member we encountered was very nonplus which makes me think this is not an isolated incident. After paying our bill we walked by a group of people coming in for dinner. They asked us how everything was and I said well we are leaving and if you leave now you can save yourself three hours of your time only to be disappointed. read more

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This place is really great. It's an old main stay on Detroit East side. We have not come here very often, but we found it when we moved back to the east side. The steak is very good. Perhaps the best saganaki I've ever had. Great waitstaff. The owner's name is Bruno. He's an old Italian guy and a character to say the least. We always order the ribeye. New York strip. Lamb chops. All very good top-notch. Drink portions are good and not crazy price. The ambience is super retro. It feels like an old mountain pop restaurant. I really love it read more

Starting from the convenience of on line "reserve a table" which I did 2 days prior, received confirmation of reservation & on the day a friendly text reminder (December 13th) to walking into the steakhouse after a decade it was so lovely to return. The moment my husband & I stepped into the steakhouse we were greeted by staff into an inviting atmosphere that strikes a perfect balance between elegance and comfort. The warm lighting and tasteful decor create a cozy, yet upscale vibe, making it an ideal setting for both intimate dinners and large gatherings that we noticed as two, especially during the festive season of Christmas. It was lovely to find out they most recently celebrated their 40th anniversary of business which is no surprise given the exceptional service and outstanding cuisine. The service was outstanding. Our server (Dana) was attentive without being overbearing, which strikes the right balance to ensure we felt taken care of especially given the time of season with holiday gatherings. Throughout the evening, the staff demonstrated a professionalism and a genuine passion for hospitality. The star of the evening, of course, was the food. Every dish we ordered was a testament to culinary excellence in addition to the spirits from the mixologist behind the bar. A delightful surprise was a talented piano player who added an enchanting touch to the evening. Her performance was simply amazing, providing a beautiful backdrop without overpowering conversation. In summary, our experience was nothing short of fabulous. The combination of exceptional food, attentive service, charming ambience, and the enchanting music made for an unforgettable evening. If I could give 10 stars I would give 20 and look forward to returning next month for date night !! read more

Delicious Artic Char topped worth 3 grilled shrimp, sautéed spinach, rice. Great cocktails! read more

Boodles Restaurant - Arctic Char dinner - American Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Gordon Ramsey ruined this gem of a place by turning it into a bland, ordinary food provider. I met a friend for dinner but realized all my favorites were removed from the menu. I ordered the fish, but they covered it in some slimy pink sauce and put grainy mashed potatoes on the plate. Food was bad. As for the atmosphere, well, the green walls look like something from a horse stable. The new tables look like portable cardboard stands. The lighting is over-done and way too bright and illuminates the ugly ceiling tiles I had previously not noticed. The menu with specials on the wall is gone. The only good thing that remains is the piano music and some of the staff. Everything that made this place special is gone and Boodles might just be losing all their long-time customers and not attracting any new ones. There were ways to have updated this place, but they really missed the mark. read more

I'm not really sure what the renovation did to this classic bistro? I'm sorry to say the menu has been stripped. I can only hope that there are specials menu will reflect a little bit of old style Bruno. I really don't see where sourdough bread and butter with a little bit of Parmesan cheese on top is considered an $8 appetizer. It will be a shame if Gordon Ramsay's influence closes this place down. I am giving them three stars only because I don't want to bury them. I have hopes that they will come to their senses and change things back somewhat. read more

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I always loved Boodles and I know it can return to greatness if they just forget everything Gordon Ramsey told them to do. There's a grear reason the failure rate for these restaurant rescues is terrible, they don't understand the local market. Firenze, the other restaurant he did while in town has already shuttered. Destroyed by Ramsey. The menu was amazing, beautiful steaks, escargot, tomahawk specials...old school charm and a classic institution. It was neutered to a simplistic bland menu. The day I went, there was a set menu and we were not told. Absolutely no choice at all on food and left with a "take it or leave it" decision. As we had guests and going somewhere else would be awkward, we took the "take it" option. Every thing was basic and fairly bland. No salad table side, done up front and dropped off. The charm of the decor was removed and replaced with basic items. As a positive, the great staff was retained and the pianist was playing as per usual. It's just sad that I am now really unlikely to return to what was a wonderful night out and a dash of vintage steakhouse in a city of new cookie cutter places. If I hear the menu changes are dumped and the old menu returned, so would I. For now, I am just sad as I can't see them growing or successful with the awful Ramsey advice. read more

The staff were attentive and very friendly. The food was tasty and fresh. My favorite part was the guy singing and playing the piano . I will be back and recommend to others. read more

old school charm--bruno, the owner, has owned this place since 1962--does not open until 4pm-- they do excellent business here--merideth was our server at the bar--they had fresh roses all around--food was good & not too expensive--handy off of I-75 & 696--parking is close.... read more

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Heartbroken! What was a 35+ year tradition has now turned into a huge disappointment. It has been stripped of its charm and the menu is a 1-page flier of nothing special food. What a shame. Clearly, when this restaurant was re-designed they didn't know the market. We won't be back. read more

Don't bother. Gordon Ramsey redid this restaurant and ruined it. There used to be a 4 page menu of such wonderful selections. Now, if you don't want a tasty lukewarm steak Dianne, made table side, there is nothing left. Ended up wit hamburger and fries read more

I was extremely disappointed with my meal. I ordered the filet mignon. It was burnt on the edges and a little over cooked for med/rare, also dry despite having a pat or butter on the top. More importantly, the cost was outrageous. 5 star restaurant prices for 3 star food. Furthermore, the restaurant needs some updating, I thought the drop ceiling was going to just spontaneously fall. I will say the service was pretty good, certainly friendly except we had a party of 7 and our entree's weren't served at the same time, 2 orders came out well after the rest. I would not recommend this restaurant unless they seriously adjust their prices. read more

All of the above!!!music always the best as is the food and the service.. the wine selections ate outstanding and the service is always above and beyond!!! read more

So we did a last minute decision to stop here on the way home from an event in Detroit. It was just after nine and they close at 11 on Fridays so that may have been the source of some of the observations. The highlight - we very much enjoyed our server. She was helpful and entertaining. Maybe forgot a few requests which required repeated asks but not earth shattering. The food - it was a definite "ok". The French Onion soup was solid, the bread sticks were not warm which was odd, and the mains were fine. Some opportunity areas. Greet us upon arrival - We had no idea if we should seat ourselves or wait to be seated. We tried to get the attention of bartenders and staff to ask them, my husband finally walked through the restaurant to find someone to ask. Sweeping - if there's a guest eating please do not start sweeping around the surrounding tables and stirring up dust. It's just gross, I get that you close in an hour and want to go home. Please see above, plan, and seat me where you can vacate an area and begin cleaning without disturbing guests The entertainment- It makes for conversation at your table. When tipsy patrons get up to sing - maybe help them? I have no guidance on how to control that bit, a tough one. I feel this place could be awesome and maybe they are getting kinks out after four months closed for repairs. It was fine, really, but not exceptional. We've checked this box. Probably will not return. read more

Came here with my husband to try out some of their happy hour bites and we were not disappointed! Their happy hour is 4-6pm Tuesday-Friday. We arrived promptly at 4pm and were the only people inside. We like to sit at the bar for better service. We tried some of their $10 small plates, wings and chicken Parmesan. The wings were good, very tasty. The voodoo sauce that the wings were tossed in was also good, but we got a very large amount, they were drowning in sauce. The chicken Parmesan over pasta was delicious and I'm still thinking about it to this day!! For drinks we got beer and wine and they were good happy hour prices. We can't wait to go back and try more items from their happy hour menu, as well as their regular menu! read more

Boodles Restaurant - Happy hour menu - American Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Just OK. Went with another couple based on good reviews and recommendations. "Tableside Caesar" NOT prepared by YOUR table, but at a table by the door. Salads were HUGE but the cost for four was $48, and were all floating in dressing. Not sure if the piano accompanist ditched at the last minute, but Dana, an apparently popular local singer, had to sing to canned accompaniment tracks. My wife & I ordered perch towers, advertised as "lightly battered & flash fried" by our friend server. We were surprised when deep friend perch a la fish & chips style arrived. Pretty tasty but not what we expected. Our friend said his pork chop was just ok, but his wife thoroughly enjoyed her tenderloin. Decent drink pours & wine list & friendly people, but wouldn't race back. read more

Dear Bruno: At ONE point you may have had a successful restaurant. How in gods green earth y'all are still in business is beyond me. I've had the honor of working in hospitality for over 20 years. I know what "service" looks like. Not only is your restaurant disgustingly dirty, you lack anything remotely close to hospitality. Your staff knows nothing about wine, how to our a proper drink, and the kitchen was a nightmare. My favorite part of my experience tonight was when I witnessed the bartender (Chrissy) pouring grey goose to fill a pint glass 3/4 full. I said to my boyfriend, that's the strongest drink I've ever seen poured; they can't be making any money! Funnily enough, the bartender put the pint of GG on the service bar just for the chef/manager to come and fill the rest with whatever his choice of mixer was. I looked at him and said, "that'll get ya through the night." Yea, I've had a shot during my shift before. But to be this blatant about straight up boozing during service is absolutely unacceptable. I mean, if the food came out with any decent presentation or taste, I'd say, well, they're at least getting the job done. But quite the contrary. You should have taken Gordon's advice and set aside your ego. Your establishment is an embarrassment to hospitality. I'd say retire and let someone with some pride in what they do and knowledge come take the reins. And for god sakes, your chandeliers are hideous and too bright for dinner service. Also, start dating your fruit/olives. Aerate your wine, nightly and date that, too... read more

Last time we were there was 6 years ago. We loved it. We loved the table side service that was offered. We came back after Gordon Ramsey came to revamp the place. The menu didn't have much to offer. We ordered the oysters for an appetizer. One of the oysters was bad and our friend got sick after he ate it. They didn't take it off the bill. They gave us a bread basket for free due to the bad oyster!! The lamb chops were cooked perfectly. Our waitress told us that many patrons that have visited the restaurant after Ramsey came are not impressed. I second that! We won't be returning! read more

Well, all I can say is, it's cleaner. I use to enjoy Boodles, the only thing I didn't care for before Gordon Ramsay, was its cleanliness, but the food was always good. We finally went last night to see the changes. It is clean and fresh, but it stops there. To put it bluntly, the food was at best fair, but mostly poor. Definitely nowhere near as good as it use to be. Salmon, was overcooked, and not a good quality fish, chicken parm, was mostly dry, and had, ZERO TASTE, I needed to put salt on it , and I never use salt. Their take on the bumpy cake, is a dense dark brownie. Please, consider bringing back the old menu, this new one is gonna kill you. read more

five of us went tonight. Our main motivation was we wanted to have steak Diane. We also have heard that Gordon Ramsay came to the restaurant. So we were curious about the changes. Four of us had steak Diane one of us had a burger. Kevin cooked the Diane tableside for us. We all enjoyed our meal and members of this clean plate club. The atmosphere was great and we enjoyed the piano. people have forgotten about this restaurant, but I think you should give it a try. It's a little bit old school, but it's recently been refreshed. Both Ruthann and Ann are great waitresses. I have to mention they really need to trim the tree out front so when you are facing 11 mile you can see the name of the restaurant. It's very hidden unless you know it's there. You might miss it. But give this place a try or come back if it's been awhile. read more

I was taken to this place for the first time in July, loved it and looked forward to going back. A beloved old time neighborhood resturaunt in Madison Heights. We went back in August with another couple to celebrate birthdays. After Gordon Ramsay made it over. His drama festival turned a five star rating to one. The menu was 1/4 the size. My favorite was gone. No soup on the menu, one salad, ceasar, which was good. My lamb chops came well done and the waitress argued with me they were not. Three others had a scallop dish which was overcooked. I felt awful inflicting such a lousy meal on my friends. Don't go. read more

One of the best steaks I've ever had in a restaurant. Cooked and seasoned perfectly and the service was outstanding. The owner greets you as you enter and the servers are very friendly; just a lovely experience. I was disappointed in the menu change. The owner let me know that Gordon Ramsey was in for one of his shows and required the menu changes. Honestly, the old menu was MUCH better and I hope they revert back to it when they can (after the show airs). The steak was still amazing; the standard fried potato side was not. The wine list is also an A+. I'm not a local, but I like to come here when I'm in town. For locals--keep an eye out and try this place from time to time. If they revert their menu definitely would be a favorite! read more

what a disappointment... been to boodles before the whole Gordon Ramsey takeover & it was like Carls Chophouse or Mario's in Detroit, an authentic steakhouse.. we were the only people in the restaurant, no soups 1 salad to choose from, $5 for a few slices of sourdough bread not even warm. Food was subpar... won't be surprised if they close read more

We have been going to Boodles for over 30 years. The last several years it had become a tradition to attend the 3:00 pm Trans Siberian Orchestra show in Detroit and head to Boodles for a highly anticipated great dining experience. This year became a complete shock when we got there and realized immediately that something had changed. The charming old school New York pub atmosphere was gone. The menu was stripped of many of the favorite dishes that they have had for all these years. We then asked the waitress what was going on and that's when we heard about the "Gordon Ramsay" visit. I have watched some of the shows that he did for restaurants that did need some help and advice, but in this case Gordon absolutely destroyed a 40 year old icon. The food and service has become very average at best (over an hour and a half wait for the food) and way way overpriced. Terrible remodel, the dining area now has simple basic tables and chairs. The charm is gone. I have recommended Boodles to many of my friends in the past that are into unique dining experiences and they absolutely loved Boodles. Unfortunately that is all in the past. read more

What is Boodles? A better question is what does the word Boodles mean? Essentially a "large sum" of something. In this case it's a large sum of really solid food! This non descriptive joint off 11 mile and 75 has been boodling people for generations. Now, is Boodling a verb? Don't know, but if you get the steak, I would consider that Boodling So get Boodled, get the steak, and BOODLE your way back home read more

Boodles is a hidden gem in Madison Heights! Don't let the unassuming exterior keep you from checking this place out, if you love a classic fine dining experience that's not stuck up, you will love Boodles. from their outstanding wine list to their specialty steaks, this is the perfect place for an intimate date. On the weekends expect live entertainment including live singers or piano players. Not too much for vegetarians on the regular menu but the times I have been here they have a fantastic eggplant parmesan on the specials menu. This place takes you back in time with its enjoyable ambiance and exceptional service. read more

The wings were fire 10/10! I had battered Fish, green beans and mashed potatoes. The chef can cook, this is gourmet food. I'd give the entree a 8.5/10 very solid. Good drinks too. This is a staple home cooked meal kind of spot. I was apprehensive at first but very pleased that I'm tried them out. Well done Boodles. read more

Love where East meets West since their inception! Was there when they first opened and sat and chatted with Bruno. Realized then that they were going to be around for a long time! Still have my baccarat Luis the 13th bottle that I finished and was graciously giving ! read more

Boodles is like taking a step back in time. This place is a CLASSIC. It has some serious 1960s Mad Men vibes going on, and I'm here for it. Great service, a classic menu, tableside Caesar salads, and live music in the evenings. A great place for a small celebration or a nice dinner date, if this type of place is your style. read more

Atmosphere Think old style cigar bar. Live pianist taking requests and singing. Customers were singing along! Service Incredibly friendly and attentive. Brought an ice bucket for the wine. Food and Beverage $40 for a bottle of Pinot Gris? It was good, from Italy. I-had the chicken piccata, my friends had the salmon and perch. The chicken had nice artichoke quarters cooked perfectly. The salmon was dry. The perch was very good. Summary Traditional eatery with good food. read more

I wanted to love this place. Maybe it was an off night. When we arrived we learned they had a limited menu. They blamed this on being short staffed. I was disappointed because it didn't have what I had hoped to order. The prices were also higher than what I had seen online. I suspect it was because of Valentine's weekend but that's not what they said. We were expecting tableside service but that was very limited. The Saganacki was done in the hallway by the kitchen. My husband's steak Diane was not done tableside which seemed to be the point of ordering it. The table next to us said their steak was cold and tough. We had one drink each and the total came to $100 before tip. We were paying for an experience that we really didn't get. I had chicken Piccata. It was ok. The piano player didn't start until 7 and it was too quiet. I suggest trying this place on a less busy day perhaps. read more

Boodles Restaurant - Saganacki - American Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Boodles is a wonderful experience. The food and drinks are just top notch. The knowledgeable staff makes the perfect suggestions. While the decor is dated it is cozy and warm and makes for a delightful dining experience. And if you are there on Friday or Saturday night there is live music. Just a hidden gem that I truly enjoy! read more

Boodles Restaurant - It's a cozy dining experience! - American Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

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Overall great place. Longtime favorite that has been closed due to a kitchen fire in June 2024. Finally reopened in November. Celebrated our 52 year plus a month anniversary at Boodles with Bruno. Love this place. Love the food. Notice to all loyal customers, go and support Bruno and the staff so we don't lose this treasure. read more

Ok, I hate to be a Debby downer but this place is very mediocre. Very dated but that is not bother me if the food is great. I made a reservation for two the night before and they couldn't find it when we walked in but there were only 4 tables occupied. The host made a big deal and groaned about deciding if or where he was going to seat us. He explained that many people would be here soon (our reservation was for 6:30) and that he also likes to keep tables open for walk ins. So aren't we walk ins if he can't find our reservation? Not very good tableside manner. Our waitress was good. Food was very subpar. Mushroom app was good, bread was good but spinach salad with house garlic dressing was not good and the lobster bisque was globby paste. Perch dinner was huge. The lemon sauce served with it didn't have any taste. It could easily be split because of the portion but waitress didn't warn us of that. Way too much for one person. Then they have a huge grand piano taking up space but a singer came in with her music machine and sang. Might as well remove the piano and put a couple of extra tables in. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I think of the kitchen nightmares show and how the food could be improved. I guess I don't understand all the love of the food unless you are eating at an old folks home everyday. I know I sound very mean but I like to tell my truth. read more

Boodles Restaurant - Perch Tower - American Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

We had the table-side caesar we had heard about and it was good! I had the eight oz filet with zip sauce. The meal was great and my partner thought the zip sauce was the best she'd ever had. I personally thought it was different but not better. I will be returning to Boodles read more

Boodles Restaurant - So far so good! The table side Caesar was great and I'm just waiting on the entrees. From what I've heard, I won't be disappointed! - American Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Kevin is the worst assistant manager I've ever had an interaction with. He is extremely disrespectful and condescending, he will definitely make this business worse. I will be warning everyone I know to stay FAR AWAY from this place because of Kevin alone. If you want to be belittled and leave feeling like the scum of the earth (like he is) then go to this restaurant. Also the bathrooms are disgusting and felt like a sauna so you know for a fact that there is just bacteria brewing in there. I'll be filling a complaint with the BBB. Kevin needs to be let go. read more

It was a great ambiance and the music of Motown made it. Service was excellent. Great to have a local restaurant play Motown. Menu I felt was limited. Was hoping for prime rib, but had plenty of choices. The rice as a little watery for my taste but has the scallops were delicious. Drinks were excellent. Great time. Missed the table side Caesar salad but maybe some things are better retired. Will be back soon. Want to try the lamb chops. read more

Finally made it to Boodles Family restaurant. The happy hour Chicken Parmesan did not disappoint! read more

Boodles Restaurant - Finally made it to Boodles Family restaurant. The happy hour Chicken Parmesan did not disappoint! - American Near Me - Madison Heights, Michigan

Here on a Wednesday. Tiffany was an awesome server. Caesar was great, I got the steak sandwich and it was literally a NY strip steak on a roll. Just how I like it. Reefermen played a great set and I would come back in a minute. Hidden gem read more

Absolutely delicious and fantastic service! Been there before and wasn't too impressed but that was years ago, this time around it was perfect! read more