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    Downtown Louie's

    3.9 (352 reviews)
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    DOWNTOWN LOUIE'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Downtown Louie's

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    Corned Beef & Swiss
    Lily N.

    My husband and I came here for Valentine's Day and made a reservation a few weeks in advance. As expected, the restaurant was very busy, but the service was impressively fast! We started with the Saganaki, which was delicious--I just wish it came with more pita. For my main dish, I had the corned beef with Swiss sandwich and it was incredibly tender and fresh. The fries were perfectly seasoned and absolutely delicious. One unique touch I loved was the Detroit memorabilia downstairs near the bathroom. It added a fun, nostalgic element to the experience. Overall, it was a great meal at a good price. The food was tasty, and the service was efficient, even on a busy night. We'll definitely be back!

    Ed L.

    Jess was outstanding tending bar and entertaining Service was outstanding and food was even better. if you're in downtown Detroit, don't miss this gem!

    California Burger- dry and bland
    Jess L.

    We came here during happy hour. Pros: our server was friendly and attentive. Cons: The rest. The cocktail I got was not very good. The happy hour price was $10, and it definitely was not a $10 drink. I tried a beer next (brand which I've had many times) and it was skunky. On to the food. I got the California burger and fries. The burger was dry and bland. The fries were also bland. Also, it was $20 plus burger and fries, which is ridiculous as it was severely overpriced, underwhelming, and overall, not good.

    Lemon chicken confit
    Shannon B.

    It was a quiet and slow night for Downtown Louie's on the Friday we made it into town for a very fast stop to pay our respects to my husband's uncle. The restaurant was not far from our hotel and our server was attentive and sweet. The inside of the restaurant has original wood and an area overlooking the street and the restaurant right hovering over the entrance that my son wondered how people got up to sit at the table housed there. Our server informed us it was just for decoration. We noted it would be cool if people could sit there, as it would be a romantic and coveted seat to reserve. I had a chicken dish with mashed potatoes and spinach. The chicken was a bit overcooked but was saved by the potent lemon seasoning. The mashed potatoes were a bit chunky and had the right touch of garlic and butter, but I was unable to finish them after sharing an order of truffle fries as an appetizer with the table. If you are in the downtown Detroit area, I do suggest trying Downtown Louie's, as it is more affordable than other venues and is convenient to most hotels there.

    Greg B.

    This place was very deceiving. In a good way, but deceiving. If you look at the name if you kind of look at the menu but not really close you expect to walk into a neighborhood bar. The place is absolutely beautiful, the woodwork the table settings the balcony, everything about it is done so well. The marble top bar that extends along the side is very comfortable to sit at, the staff was extremely friendly and observant if you need a refill. Definitely a place to stop in and Capital Park on your way anywhere.

    View of downstairs from upstairs seating area
    Tracy R.

    Came here with a party of seven tonight. Ambience was great. Food was generally decent, nobody complained. We ordered macaroni and cheese, steak, salmon, fried calamari, various salads, a burger, the soup... they had French onion on the menu, but were out so gave us something else - same with the caprese salad. Everybody ate their food and thought it was good. Steak was a little tough but I thought it was OK. Cocktails were surprisingly good. House Pinot was totally undrinkable -- literally left it on the table. We ended up ordering the Duckhorn red blend which was delicious (but 90 bucks for the bottle!). Service was pretty junior league. Nice guys who were trying but were clearly inexperienced (tried to take the female orders first, but didn't walk around the table and made us shout, then, couldn't remember who had what, that sort of thing). Salad, soup, and entrées all came out at the same time, which is a little ridiculous. I had to walk downstairs to ask for wine to go with dinner as no one offered it up after our cocktails were depleted. The manager or owner or whoever he was came to apologize, but did nothing to make it right. He just made excuses about their crappy POS system. Almost $500 for the above. With so many choices in downtown Detroit, I'm not sure I'll come back.

    Brandi with some flaming cheese!  Yum!!!
    Barbara T.

    Walking to the Airbnb after a full day's work and followed Yelp here. Loving practicing for retirement! Starting with saganaki and roasted Brussels sprouts. We'll see if we want more. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach Brandi tells me the "seasonal veggies "'are FRESH and not cooked to mush. Excited to try them next time. Give Louie's a try!!

    Corn beef and fries
    Marc D.

    Ordered sliders; corn beef; any Strip steak sandwich; all with fries. Mozzarella cheese sticks and chicken strips as appetizers. The food was cooked exactly as ordered. The service was punctual and very attentive. The atmosphere was very warm and inviting.

    Lamb chops
    Tiffany Z.

    Great place for a group! Great service, good food and good drinks, good atmosphere and if you sit at the bar you can watch sports. The table ordered chicken wings - YUM and fried calamari. The calamari is a nice texture, fried to perfection and served with a dipping sauce. Most of the table ordered the filet mignon - a HUGE hit! I had the lamb chops that were cooked perfectly medium rare. We had a birthday in our group and during dessert that brought out a cool fire cracker fountain in the dish, it was so cool and she was so surprised.

    Cool ambiance and good food
    Rob M.

    Solid burger bar with a very cool ambiance in a great location. Service is good and bar and wine selection on point.

    Turkey burger with excellent skin-on fries.
    Rob P.

    This is one of my favorite places in the city, and I'm happy they survived. But, surviving is not the same thing as thriving. I understand how spreading the tables apart limits the number of guests. They seem to have done everything they need to do to be safe. But, issues I had here were not related to distancing or safety. We started with the fried Brussels sprouts. They topped them with Parmesan cheese, which it didn't need. The portion size was good, but they were greasy. One of my favorite things here was the Reuben. It's packed with quality corned beef, and a decent value for $16. But, a cold Reuben is no fun. It seems that they were waiting to bake the mac and cheese we ordered and let the Reuben get cold. But, that doesn't explain all of it. The Swiss wasn't melted at all. The bread looked like it might have been lightly toasted, but that's it. All 3 of us who got Reubens got them cold with unmelted cheese. They remade the Reubens, and did them properly this time. But, it seems the cook doesn't like to use butter on the bread: it was crispy the second time around, but otherwise nothing else. The fries were a different story. They were lukewarm, but still amazing. Now about the mac and cheese that caused all this trouble. They're a 5 cheese with crouton crumbles and garlic. The whole effect was...good, but not great. It's creamy, but the flavor was overtaken by the garlic. Service was very good, and the drinks were about the same price as before. But, the food was a little bit more than before, and there's now a mandatory 20% gratuity. I'm bummed that the salmon sandwich is no longer on the menu, but I understand that places need to slim down their menu. I'm still glad they're open, but there are a few things they need to fix before they get back to the lofty heights they achieved before.

    Brussel Sprouts

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    7 months ago

    Several menu options (food and beverages) were out of stock, dirty bar and salmon tasted fishy.

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    Ask the Community - Downtown Louie's

    If you've ever been with a larger party (like 14-15) for an event, like a birthday or other celebration, how did you handle the check? Was everyone cool with splitting it evenly, or did you do something else?

    If I was hosting I picked up the tab. If it was a large group of friends we split the check evenly. This works only if everyone drinks about the same number of cocktails and you don't have non-drinkers. If it was a mixed group with drinkers and… Read more

    Anyone ever book a large group event here? How was service and food? Needing someplace for about 30-35 people.

    The food is great! Service is outstanding. It looks like it would be a great place for an event! Call them, and give them a chance!

    Do they have outdoor/patio dining?

    No. Indoor only

    View All 4 Questions

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    Standby - Big Eye Tuna

    Standby

    4.4(712 reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown Detroit
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    If you're looking for a spot that truly elevates the downtown Detroit experience, Standby…read moreabsolutely lives up to the hype. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere pulls you in. It's sleek, intimate, and effortlessly cool without feeling pretentious. The lighting, the music, the overall aesthetic -- everything feels intentional. It's the kind of place that works just as well for date night as it does for a night out with friends. Now let's talk about the drinks -- because that's where Standby really shines. The cocktails are creative, beautifully presented, and perfectly balanced. You can tell there's serious thought behind every ingredient. Whether you're into something bold and spirit-forward or smooth and refreshing, they nail it. The food matches the energy of the bar. Every dish feels curated, flavorful, and plated with care. It's not just "bar food" -- it's thoughtfully crafted and pairs perfectly with whatever you're sipping. Service has always been attentive and knowledgeable. The staff knows the menu inside and out and makes great recommendations without making you feel rushed. Standby is one of those places that feels like a hidden gem even though everyone knows about it. If you want craft cocktails, elevated bites, and a true downtown Detroit vibe, this is your spot. I'll definitely be back.

    I hadn't been home in three years, and I probably hadn't been to The Standby in five or six years…read more. and let me tell you, it's still just as amazing as I remember. Downtown Detroit definitely feels different now, and the crowd has shifted a bit, but none of that took away from what The Standby is. That alleyway magic is still there. Walking in honestly felt like a little blast from the past, and it made me really happy. It ended up being a highlight of my trip home. The food was phenomenal. The crab was so buttery, the waffle situation was amazing, and the overall execution across the menu was impressive. We ordered a lot, basically half the menu and everything hit. * Short rib plate: delicious, rich, and comforting * Chicken schnitzel with curry mustard: WOW. Juicy, crunchy, fresh, perfectly seasoned. The curry mustard was everything, and that little pepper on top? 10/10. This was hands down my favorite dish. * Drinks: They had brand ambassadors for Wild Turkey, giving out free Old Fashioneds, which was honestly the perfect touch. We also had a small ounce pour of a mezcal that was beautifully smoked, super aromatic and smoky in the best way. Service was great too, we had two different servers, and both were attentive and kind. The only miss for me personally was the pastrami salmon toast. I wanted to love it so badly because I love salmon and I love smoked fish, but it just wasn't for me. I actually sent it back (which I felt bad about). I think the slight sweetness, (possibly from the tomato jam)threw it off for my palate. I was craving something fully savory with a bit of acidity. I think a thicker, crunchier toast and a more umami-forward, citrusy or pickled element might have taken it where it needed to go. That said, I know pastrami-style salmon is a thing right now, it just didn't work for me. Everything else? Truly amazing. The Standby will forever be a place I come back to when I'm home. I'm excited to return, see what's new on the menu, and relive that magic again. Highly recommend. 10 out of 10. Will absolutely be back.

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    Seating area

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    Smashed Cucumber Salad

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    Downtown Louie's - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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