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    Checker Bar

    3.5 (222 reviews)
    ModerateBars, American, Burgers
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Checker Bar Photos

    CHECKER BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Divey
    Casual
    Happy hour specials

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    Lexi M.

    This spot is at a great location and the smell will bring you in. The pizza - WOW the pizza. We come here to play pinball and the pizza always looks and smells amazing. The restaurant part is downstairs and the arcade is on the second level. You can still order food in the arcade though so that's a plus. Great spot for drinks, family fun or just an out spot for lunch or dinner.

    Bar
    Gary C.

    This place is hidden in middle of city. My wife went with the egg burger that comes with Checker fries. While I went with the home checker burger (tastes like bowling alley burger) that comes with fries (not like checkers or rally's fries). But this place has different drinks for days if that what you're into. This is not a Military friendly location.

    Fries
    Katy C.

    We came to Checker Bar on a recommendation from the bartender at Jacoby's. Nate and I snagged the last two seats at the bar and ordered a couple N/A drinks from their decent list. I was happy to see that they were priced very reasonably, at $5-$6. We also split a basket of fries, which were hot and fresh and very similar to McDonald's. It was nice to take a bit of a break from bar hopping with a snack. We didn't check out the arcade but I'd like to come back. The bartenders were on top of things but it started to get super slammed as the Red Wings game was finishing up as everyone has to order at the bar so there was a line forming for drink and food orders. We waited a bit to close out our tab but it seems like a really fun spot that I'd visit again in the future!

    Greg B.

    Granted we went on NFL draft Friday, but we had burgers. They were really good but I can't say that they were the best that I've had I've had much better in Detroit. The buns are soft which is a bonus but that's about all that stands out about them. The atmosphere in that bar is awesome, you can't beat the location and the ambiance. The young lady that waited on us was sufficient I wouldn't say that she was totally outstanding but then again like I said we went on a very busy day. I would go back I would probably go during the week. But I'll let you make your own choice.

    Nachos and drink
    Donna O.

    Honestly I'd tried to go to another bar I'd only seen that turned out to be closed on Sundays. When we got there though, everything else was closing up, so checkers was recommended to to us. I texted the rest of the group to meet us there. They serve food till they close, which is normally 2, but Sunday it was midnight. We still had plenty of time to unwind and relax wth good food. My nachos were delicious and the screwdriver and cranberry vodka were also great!

    Pulled pork sandwich with fries
    De Saltino D.

    Food was mediocre. Wife had potatoes skins and they were burnt. I had pulled pork sandwich with fries which were decent. Daughter had side salad which was ok with nachos covered with beef, it was ok. Other daughter had cheeseburger with fries which was ok. Had to seat ourselves and pick up a menu and wait for someone to come and take our order. We saw quite a few flies which was also a turnoff. Don't recommend this place

    Pinball
    Kitty K.

    Cool little dive bar with an arcade attached! The Checker Bar is known for it's tasty burgers! It's super close to all the sports and downtown happenings. Very close to Greektown, Campus Martius, Ford Field, Comerica. Parents bring their kids here. There is an outside patio. Vintage games upstairs. Great date night or family outing.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Checker Bar

    Do they have their own parking lot? What are the parking options for this bar?

    Checker Bar does not have its own parking lot, although they are located next to a paid parking lot. There's a garage across the street that costs a flat $10, or you can look for street parking and pay by the hour. Parking on the street is free on… Read more

    When is happy hour I saw 4-7, 5-7 and 2-4 which is right?

    Monday-Friday 4P-7P Saturday and Sunday 12P-3P… Read more

    View All 3 Questions

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    Standby

    Standby

    4.4
    (717 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

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

    Had such an amazing experience at Standby!! The food and especially the drinks were outstanding…read more The cocktail menu was organized into three parts: Opening, Principals, and Finish. The theme was "Yes, Chef: An exploration of culinary icons through a cocktail lens." Each drink was inspired by or dedicated to a famous culinary icon, and you can read about each one in the index. We each ordered one drink from each section. From the Opening, I chose the Diaspora Club, which was so refreshing and delicious. Then from the Principals, I chose the Chingona, which was a little bit spicy and savory but still so refreshing. To Finish, I chose the Chocolatier Cosmo, which came with a tiny house-made salted dark chocolate. I loved all three cocktails I ordered, especially the chocolatier cosmo because it was perfectly sweet and went so well with the small piece of chocolate. For food, we started off with the crispy pork belly milk bread. For my entree, I ordered the miso butter gnocchi. It was kind of on the salty side but I still really liked it. The apple sofrito added a bit of sweetness to it. For dessert, we had to get the rhubarb coffee cake, which came with strawberry ice cream. Omg one of the best desserts I've ever had!! I never thought of combining cinnamon coffee cake with rhubarb or strawberry but it's perfect, and I might have to make something like that soon. Service was great and we were seated right away at 8pm on a Saturday despite not having a reservation. Food and drinks came out promptly and timed perfectly. We spent about 1.5 hours here and we never felt rushed.

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Smashed Cucumber Salad
    Smashed Cucumber Salad
    Coconut Shrimp

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    Coconut Shrimp
    The Eagle Detroit

    The Eagle Detroit

    4.2
    (163 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    We came here around 10pm on a Friday night after a very long day. It wasn't packed but there were…read morequite a few groups eating there. We sat at the bar to speed the food along because we were hungry. The bartender, Tristan, was nice and accommodating. I had the Fried Chicken BLT. Ya'll! This was an excellent sandwich. The tomato and lettuce was so fresh and the chicken was so well seasoned. It was absolutely delicious. The perfect sandwich. I'd go back for another one right now but will definitely be returning to this restaurant for that sandwich next time I'm in Detroit.

    This Food and Beer Hall is Fantastic! I ended up here twice in one week…read more The restaurant sits on a corner not far from Comerica Park-- great for eats prior to the game, if your feeling like some fried chicken. There is plenty street parking and I saw a sign that they validate parking (a plus for downtown). To note There is a Happy Hour! On arrival all staff are pretty attentive, there wasn't a wait to be greeted and seated by The Eagle team. The food is advertised as all Natural and I must say it was! Food came out pretty quick, nice and hot and crispy chicken that is lightly breaded. Both of my visits were top-notch. The ambiance is a modern beer/food restaurant. The group I was with we tried the 'snack' Burnt ends (B+), combo meal -3 piece drums and 3 piece dark (A+), Fried Chicken BLTsandwhich (A++)-- as mentioned the chicken was outstanding, the sandwich was shared for 2, the bread had a nice crisp too. For the sides sweet potato Crock, mac and cheese, green beans and collars greens-- no complaints! They offer multiple draft beer, cocktails and cocktails. I must say the prices and portions are very reasonable! Needless to say, highly recommend and I will return soon :)

    Photos
    The Eagle Detroit
    The Eagle Detroit
    The Eagle Detroit

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    Grey Ghost

    Grey Ghost

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$

    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!

    Photos
    Grey Ghost
    Ramen salad
    Ramen salad
    Inside lamps

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    Inside lamps
    Selden Standard

    Selden Standard

    4.3
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    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!

    Photos
    Main space
    Main space
    Smoked Potato
    Smoked Potato
    Cauliflower

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    Cauliflower
    Supergeil

    Supergeil

    4.4
    (268 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Supergeil translates to "Super cool", and this along with all the other super laxatives, is…read moreaccurate. The menu is Turkish and German fusion, which makes when you know how the doner kabob has become a German fast food staple. I've gone a few times now and had consistently great experiences. From the just the right level of eccentric inside, to the wide patio outside, the environment is comfortable and fun. Their food and cocktail menu changes often. There a few mainstays, including their doner options. Their lamb doner version is the only one I've found in the US I like (I have to remember to ask without peppers, not a traditional ingredient). Their cocktails are fresh, inventive, and interesting. I've tried a variety, and they do a consistently good cocktail. Supergeil is a reliable go to, good quality, reasonable prices, and great service. I'll be back for their patio season.

    This cool, industrial space was hopping at 7pm on a Friday night. We managed to find free street…read moreparking and get a table for walk ins, which was great. The menu is German/Turkish/Mediterranean fusion. Plenty of interesting items on the menu! We started with Lutenitza appetizer with pita. Very tasty with a pop of pomegranate. And we ordered the eggplant fries too, which were sweet and crazy good. We also had cocktails. I had to try the Snap Pea margarita... which tasted exactly like a snap pea margarita. Bizarre and not a taste combination I will repeat, but unique. My friend ordered the purple gang and it was sweeter and bubbly. We split cheese ravioli which was good. For dessert we had the chocolate brownie with cinnamon ice cream. The ice cream was the star of that dish. My only issue was the volume of this cool place. Music was loud and the patrons were louder. I will try it again with an eye toward a less busy time slot. A truly unusual and delicious menu!

    Photos
    Supergeil
    Georgian soup dumplings.
    Georgian soup dumplings.
    Humus

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    Humus

    Checker Bar - bars - Updated June 2026

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