One of the absolute best, not only in the city, but anywhere I have been. Wonderful staff and…read moremanagement. Grateful for this place.

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.

Father Forgive Me was high on my Detroit list after hearing so much hype about it, both online and…read morefrom friends. Nate and I stopped in on our most recent visit to Detroit and had a lovely experience. The space is tucked away but had a surprising amount of outdoor space--we were there in January but I'd love to come back in the summer. We were greeted right away and given a spot near the bar. The menu includes cocktails, lots of wine, and several tasty food options. It was quite busy inside, so it took a bit of time for our server to come over to us, but we weren't in a rush. They had ten cocktails on their list and I tried the bullet proof soul and Nate got the negroni alla perra. The ingredients list for some of the cocktails include things I've never heard of, but at a place like this, I just know it's going to be good. Our drinks were perfectly balanced and very tasty. We also ordered the mortadella sandwich to split--this was delicious. It was pretty messy, but worth it. It was perfectly toasted and full of mortadella. Everything on the menu sounded delicious and I would love to try more of the food options. Can't wait to visit again!

This place is a whole vibe! I loved every minute of it! Love the wine selections. Didn't get a…read morechance to try the food because it was a special event going on where they had 2 food trucks. The bartender was cool though. And the music selection was top notch! It really set the tone. I will definitely be back all summer long!

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!

Ambiance. Wow. Really relaxing and interesting. Decor and colors are retro throwback. Had a DJ…read morein there! The party was going to start at 6 and we arrived around 530pm Fri night. Started filling up after 6. Service. EXCELLENT, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Super friendly. F&B. Find menu on QR code. Delicious cocktail and snacks. Captions say more. Of note. Street parking. Seemed safe. Loos clean and stocked. Overall, liked this place a lot mostly because the atmosphere was great and wanted to support small business.

We wandered in here on a Sunday afternoon and we're quite delighted…read more They have an excellent curated wine list as well as a few cocktails. I loved that they had wines from across the world but also from Michigan. THey are also a wine store so if you like something you can buy to take home. THe staff was very attentive and helpful at making selections. The vibe is both hip and cosy. great place to stop.

Hairy Steely Dan behind the bar is a rude MF. See bottles of whisky and ask for a Whisky Sour…read more "This is a wine bar". "On the rocks, then." Absence of ingredients, I don't need your attitude when I am the one paying.

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.

For my birthday, my brother gave me a gift card to Mink, so we decided to ring in the new year by…read morefinally giving it a try--and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. As others have mentioned, seating is somewhat limited, but that only adds to the excellent service and intimate experience. I wish I remembered the names of our server and the manager because they were incredibly kind, accommodating, and helpful throughout the evening. One example of the thoughtful service: I was torn between two white wines, and since my partner ordered one of them, our server offered to bring a small sample of the other so I could compare and choose what I liked best. We also mentioned that we had never tried caviar before but didn't want to commit to a larger portion. They suggested a "bump" for $5 each, walked us through how to enjoy it properly (on the hand, letting it warm slightly), and made the experience feel fun and approachable. We were seated at the bar, which gave us the opportunity to chat more with the server and manager and watch the team prepare dishes for other tables. It genuinely felt like sitting at the chef's table. We both opted for the tasting menu, which changes from time to time, and we were very happy with the selection. We also added the lobster roll, and our server thoughtfully timed it so we could enjoy it alongside the warmer course. The meal began with two different oysters, one topped with caviar, giving us another chance to enjoy it. Next was the shrimp cocktail, which included wasabi--but not in an overpowering way. The flavor was present yet balanced, allowing everything else to shine. The escargot course was especially creative and delicious, paired with basil oil, pepper jelly, and hints of balsamic. While it might sound unusual, the flavors blended beautifully. I expected the pepper jelly to dominate, but it was surprisingly subtle. Next was the potato pavé served with a scallop. The textures were remarkably similar, and the scallop was cooked perfectly. The lobster roll was very good, though I personally found the bread a bit denser than I prefer--I usually like a more buttery, Texas-toast style--but my partner loved it. The turbot followed, accompanied by a chestnut beurre blanc that was incredibly silky and flavorful. It paired wonderfully with the king trumpet mushrooms, black truffle and the fish. The final tasting course was the petit fours: three small cakes--matcha, red velvet, and ginger molasses. They were slightly dense, but still a nice way to end the meal. We also added the house-made basil ice cream (because the basil oil earlier was so good), and that was an excellent decision. Although my birthday had been a few months earlier, once the staff heard we were using a birthday gift card, they surprised me with vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, and a candle--such a thoughtful and unexpected touch. They also treated us to a small glass of dessert wine. By the end of the night, we knew we had found our new favorite place to celebrate. The overall experience is absolutely worth the price point, and I only wish more places were like Mink. We can't wait to return.

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

The bar space isn't my vibe but I came to Two Birds for the pop up restaurant. I like that Two…read moreBirds frequently hosts different pop-ups regularly so I'll be returning just for the food. While I waited for my food I ordered a non-alcoholic drink. I like that non-alcoholic drinks are cheaper than alcoholic drinks. Some places want to charge the same amount for both and that's ridiculous to spend over $12-15 for a drink with no alcohol. Service is so-so. I ordered the Imagine non-alcoholic cocktail. The menu states that it is made of guava, lemon, cherry, dulce de leche. Unfortunately, I didn't notice any guava, lemon, or dulce de leche. It was just a cherry drink. I assumed they didn't have the ingredients to make the cocktail I ordered.

We stopped in here for drinks while waiting for our reservation down the street. The staff is super…read moresweet and they have a nice cocktail menu. I would definitely stop in here again! They have limited seating inside but we sat in a nook and were comfortable.