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.

One of my favorite places! Great service, food and drinks. Great vibe and visually stunning.read more

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.

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.

This place is really fun on the patio! Don't let the inside fool you. The bartender is SUPER…read morecranky. The guests on the patio are a riot. So much fun. The wine isn't fabulous. I'm told the sangria is pretty good. There's no food menu. However, there are revolving food trucks outside. The last time I was there people were ordering the oxtail like crazy. I like the fact that they have different genres of music on different nights. Love reggae night. There's table seating outside, but it gets very busy. Be Old, Make-A friend, if somebody has two people at a 4 top ask if you can sit with them.

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.

This is a very unique spot that I'm so glad I got to experience! This is a wine bar and a…read morebookstore. But they also have cocktails and food! We didn't eat, as we were just stopping in for a drink but the food sounded good. We enjoyed chatting with the staff. I could have sat there all day to be honest. I would definitely recommend checking it out!

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

We stumbled across Two Birds completely by accident while driving through Indian Village checking…read moreout all the beautiful houses, and I'm so glad we did. I can't believe I'd never heard of this place before! This little cocktail bar is small, cozy, and has such a fun vibe inside. It feels intimate and the service was warm and friendly. The craft cocktails were excellent! We'll definitely be back. Love finding hidden gems like this!

I just loved this whole area and this cute location. It reminded me of a small town vacation…read moredestination located in the middle of a big city. It was fantastic. We ordered a couple of delicious cocktails and then a slice of pizza and some ice cream. What a gorgeous day and a perfect time!

Pretty good spot met some lovely people here and the bartender Lucas was great will be going back…read morein the near future his service was spot on. My girlfriend and I have a new favorite spot for a quick bite before game day

I stopped by Cata Vino with my parents last week, when we were visiting Detroit together. Cata Vino…read moreis a Spanish wine bar and market. We were just stopping by for some wine, but it also looked like a great place to have a bite. They were busy around 5pm on a Saturday night, but there were plenty of seats at the bar, which was perfect for us, since we were just going to have a glass of wine or two. They had a great wine list, and we enjoyed the wines we tried. But the service made our visit even better. The staff - bartender and staff at the host stand - were wonderful - friendly, helpful. If I lived in Detroit, I'm sure I'd be a regular. I'd love to return. Detroit is lucky to have so many great places to drink wine!