Host is one of our favorites and we were excited to try Chef David Parker's new menu. The fried oysters were amazing, as were the Alaskan halibut and herbed potato gnocchi! Ashley was a fantastic server and super friendly! read more

Visited a very special place this morning that left us longing to return... "Host" of Utica! We saw their 4.8-star Google review out of 1,124 people and had to swing by and check it out. Well, I'll raise you 1.2 for 5 stars for Host!! Ample street parking on a Wednesday morning in Utica (also public on south side), hubby & I walked past a few businesses and into Host and immediately somehow felt we'd been elevated! The ambience is edgy and elegant giving off an elite vibe matched by the informative attentive staff and everything that was set before us. The barista approached us immediately taking our latte orders from a versatile coffee menu, and our lovely waitress Bailey didn't miss a beat welcoming us, fielding questions and sharing the restaurant's cool concept of "Host"-ing new chefs bimonthly representing freshly-curated menus of palate delights. She later informed us of classes held on 2nd floor for making cocktails and sushi! While enjoying our lovely lattes, we quickly ordered veggie omelets with mushroom and bacon additions that were timely served and clearly plated with care. My husband noticed there were no salt & pepper shakers anywhere, signifying the chef's confidence in his dishes! And indeed our meals needed no help, as we savored each bite of perfectly cooked omelets bursting with flavor complimented by crisp sliced potatoes dressed in a lemon drizzle. Easily the best omelet I've had in my hometown, probably in my state! I made sure to compliment the chef through the open pass-through kitchen on our way out after lingering after our meals not wanting to rush out of this lovely place. What a beautiful start to the day; we can't wait to return with more family!! Thank you for "Host"-ing us!! read more

We dined at the bar tonight due to a long wait list on a Friday night, the bartenders were attentive and timely. We had lots of questions that were happily answered. Chef Logan Robb for the Thai Menu was AMAZINGGGGGG. We had the fried egg rolls, chicken satay, and pad Thai. Great flavors! Would love to experience a Thai menu again! read more

Came here for our wedding anniversary brunch since we tried to come here last year for our anniversary dinner, but they were super busy. I was craving a good French toast and they had a Hong Kong French Toast. Our waitress was friendly. We were seated quickly on a Monday around 9am and was not busy. She said they were out of the Hong Kong French Toast. It was the Monday after Father's Day. So, I assume that's why... Understandable. The waitress suggested the Croissant so I went with it. My husband ordered the Country Chicken and Waffles. Country Chicken and Waffles - 3/5. Chicken was cooked well. The gravy they put over the waffles was a bit too tangy. Croissant - 1/5. Croissant was hard and stale. I cut into it and it felt hard. My first bite confirmed it was stale. I asked my husband to try it and he confirmed too. I sent it back right away. The waitress asked if we wanted to box it up because it would still remain on our bill. I told her: "No, it's not good. We aren't going to eat it." And we said it was fine about the bill (we didn't want to cause any issues). She left and came back and apologized and then said they'll remove the croissant from the bill. That was nice. But I guys I may have missed a rule that we have to pay for the food even if we didn't eat it. I'll have to check. Overall - cute place inside. But, won't be returning. read more

Host Utica - Chicken and Waffles - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

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This was my second time in Host. The first time I was satisfied with my food. This time I had the Thai Fish and it was extremely over salted.. The appetizers felt like out of a freezer and not made from scratch. Vibe its cute..Would not be back read more

Welcoming, warm interior and very attentive staff. The menu offers a wide variety of items in addition to many coffee offerings. I had the French omelette and it was fantastic. Can't wait to go back. read more

Host Utica - French Omelet - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

I wouldn't normally post a new review 4 months after my previous one, but Host is different from other restaurants: every 6-8 weeks, there's a new head chef, and effectively a new restaurant. Chef Jared Bobkin - who you may have seen (twice) on Hell's Kitchen - doesn't have a specific cuisine. Instead, what he delivers are beautifully crafted, hearty plates with surprisingly generous portions. My wife and my daughter both ordered the flat iron steak...superb quality cuts with a nice char. The steak was served with chef Bobkin's version of A1 sauce, which made my wife and daughter happy. The potatoes were advertised as "crispy duck fat potatoes", but they weren't the least bit crispy, and I doubt they were near any duck fat. Still tasty enough that not a scrap remained, but dang. The "not a scrap remained" theme held through my dish as well. The Pork Ragout Pappardelle was a substantial plate of perfectly cooked ribbons weaving through glorious chunks of wine braised pork. The pangrattato - a dusting of seasoned breadcrumbs - added a herby pop to every bite. The food isn't designed to be shared, per se, but we kept looking at each other's plates. There was no way we weren't going to want to try some....and keep asking for another bite. Host Utica has a heck of a great thing going here. In 3 trips here, I've been blown away by the quality each time. Even with a limited menu, I still want to return and try everything before the next chef takes the reins. I also know the next chef will be amazing. But now, I'm happy to know that I have until the end of November to enjoy Chef Bobkin's cooking. read more

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Great food and atmosphere as always. Ashley was amazing, had great energy and great suggestions.

Bartenders on their A game as usual. Collin makes the perfect Last Word every time I go off menu. Didn't eat this visit, but enjoyed perfectly crafted cocktails, cool AC, and good company. Host is the best cocktail bar north of Ferndale in my opinion. Their guest chef concept produces unique menus and delicious offerings seasonally. The interior design is gorgeous and it's a pleasure to relax inside this space. If you haven't been here yet, what are you waiting for? read more

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Food was great and so was the coffee and Chai. We had a cozy little seat in the window. read more

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my friend and I came in for her birthday brunch. Ashley and Danica were helping us and were absolutely fantastic. Ashley was our direct waitress and was so friendly, bubbly, truly a ray of sunshine, and answered all of our question. Danica was also so sweet and helpful, making sure we were all set and had what we needed. It was my first time here and will DEFINITELY be back read more

Second time here. Excellent food and service. Ambience is so fun. My only minus is that the hostess lets you know you have 1 1/2 hours time at your table. There are many restaurants like this so I have experienced this before. It was enough time really but I felt a bit under the gun once announced. Anyway, our server was very good and did not make us feel rushed. I had the lemon chicken pasta and my friend had the tenderloin. Both were excellent! Drinks were good also. I will be back. read more

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I came for brunch today with a friend and we really enjoyed it! The Christmas decor was stunning! The restaurant was lovely and our server was friendly and attentive. They had a bunch of different options for coffee - I had the gingerbread latte and my friend had the cranberry white mocha. For brunch, I had the all American breakfast and she had an egg white omelette. They were filling and tasty. We left very satisfied :) highly recommend! read more

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3 is pushing it. This is a really cool concept. Our dining experience this month was just ok. Prices are pretty high. They seem to always offer their wood fire pizzas $26.00 for a wood fire pizza(variety-party store pizza) which was made with the most minimal amount of pepperoni and banana peppers. I did not mention cheese because it was hardly visible at all. Would say a med size pizza at best if not small. Minimal topping not even to the edges. The more I think about it the more disappointed I get. Probably will not make this a return visit. Please know that we typically dine at Brazil Steak Houses,Morton's or Hyde Park. Nice dining experiences. When the food is good we return. Note: This is a rotating chief experience and the next rotation will be someone different ,however, the pizza may remain the same. Appetizers were small,each arriving spaced enough that we finished one and the next came. Thankfully we shared or folks would have been eating their apps alone. Calamari and wings were ok. Salmon was not tasty, appeared poached in dill and other rather u recooked green veggies floating in a watery green sauce; Rigatoni with spicy palamono was ok; NY steak was very good with fingerling potatoes; Star of the night was the breaded pork chop ( Schnitzel )with Spätzle, kraut very sour though. Decor is nicely done. It was very warm inside , multiple ceiling fans were running and it is possible the ventilation system in the kitchen could be improved as the steam/smoke did enter the dining area. Service was good. read more

We had a fantastic dinner the other night from guest Chef Jessica Phillips. I would describe our entire meal as deliciously satisfying and it was well worth it. These dishes will make you want to try everything else on her menu. - The Ricotta Dumpling dish was generous and very delicious. The sauce, herb oil, arugula, along with the freshly harvested Maitake mushrooms created the perfect bite with each forkful - best vegetarian plate I've had thus far. - The Farmhouse Pot Roast was no ordinary classic, but rather a generous dish that kept us eating until the plate was clean. The potato gratin, the crispy shallots, and that demi-glacé! - The Meat & Cheese plate consisted of balanced, delicious flavors as well as good quality ingredients, Of note are the chutneys/preserves on the plate - fresh, not too sweet, small bits of fruit which paired excellently with the assorted meats and cheeses. Next time I may order this plate with the fresh bread service along with a nice glass of wine - an elegant and delicious happy hour for myself. We're going to try to make it in one more time this month to try other dishes before the Chef changes the menu for May, but we're also looking forward to what she has in store next. read more

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Fantastic food with great atmosphere. I've only been for brunch and have been blown away each time! Everything tastes super fresh and like it was made by someone who really cares about what they're putting out. Service is great, very attentive and informed about the menu. I love how they decorate for each season/holiday. Valentine's Day decor was too cute. Can't wait to be back for dinner and handcrafted cocktails! read more

Host Utica - Matcha Latte - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

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Quite disappointed...I won't lie. I had high hopes for this experience. We saved this location on Yelp because we saw espresso martini flights...which was not an option when i got here. I made a reservation (which I also suggest everyone do) since I was going to be in there area for business. Sad to say I wasn't greeted with much of a smile. Sat at the table for about 10 minutes until someone other than a waitress took my drink order. Unsure if there was some sort of emergency with the indented wait staff (hopefully not!) but I felt very unimportant during this experience. I ordered an espresso martini and side of crispy potatoes. Nobody asked how things were once I got my food, had to flag someone down for the check, and just didn't have the greatest time. The decor was adorable and very inviting once you walked through this odd Wizard of Oz-type curtain entrance. It was their last weekend having valentines decorations up, so that was cute to see read more

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Interesting concept of ever-changing menu with different chefs every few weeks/month. My friends and I decided to have a girl's night here; did not disappoint! The restaurant was decorated beautifully for February/Valentine's Day. Lots of thoughts were used to make the environment warm and relaxing. Our waitress was attentive and had a lot of patience with us which we truly appreciate. One of my friend is vegan and our waitress was helpful with helping her decide on what to order. She ended up going with Mushroom Mole, another friend of mine went with Costilla De Res (rib), and I went with Lomo Saltaso (strip steak). We weren't super impressed with our dishes. Over seasoned to the point where it's on the salty side; I couldn't finish the stir fry. But all of our dishes were beautiful made and displayed. We're just a bit pickier with taste because of the price point. There's a 1.5 hour dining time limit. Which is fair, this place got busy! Since we were here to celebrate a friend's birthday, we were hoping our waitress would come back so we could ask her to snap a photo of us before we leave; especially with how beautiful the environment was. We were probably 3 minutes past the time limit when the hostess came up to us to (very) nicely let us know that our time is up. We took the chance to ask her to help us with the photo which she kindly did. Definitely a neat experience. Will definitely find a reason to come back. read more

Host Utica - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

Ordered lunch today from newly opened Host To Go on 23 Mile Rd in Shelby Township. I picked the roast beef sandwich and it was good. Very flavorful. The sandwich came on a thin flat bread and had think slices of roast beef topped with carrot pesto, cucumber, avocado and arugula. It was really good. This To Go location is located inside a fitness studio. A very good quick lunch option to have in the area. read more

Host Utica - Roast Beef Sandwich - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

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What a gem! I can't believe it took me so long to give this place a try. Perfect atmosphere and delicious food. Came for their brunch. The potatoes are soo good, and my husband said the coffee was some of the best he's ever had. read more

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Well done chef ! We loved it Open a restaurant and we will be there! Great value, fresh and tasty Enjoyed the taco selections since it was Tuesday, hope to be back again to try some of the main courses read more

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We came to Host Utica for the first time during the DeutschTroit residency. It's a cute space inside, cozy but not tight at all. Service was very attentive, making sure throughout the meal that everything was good, but not hovering. We started with the sausage plate, everything was delicious, especially the red cabbage. All of the sausages were very tasty, including the sauces. We both got schnitzels,I had the chicken. The potato salad was a great touch. Everything was so good with very generous portions. We'll definitely be checking out the upcoming events and chefs to see what's coming, and the pizzas look tasty, so hopefully we can check those out. read more

I am becoming instantly wary of any new(ish) restaurants with cursive neon signs and chic interiors that my wife thinks look 'cute' (see our visit to Mad Nice in Detroit https://www.yelp.com/biz/mad-nice-detroit-3?hrid=bT5HYx1Bk8qDs-HjRBUx7g&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) Host is located in the surprising location of Utica, Michigan (if you have been to Utica you know) and presents as modern, hip places do. Various styles of furniture and decoration that add aesthetic cool-factor to appease the Instagram crowd. A big, solid looking bar running off the fumes of the hipster-revival craft cocktail wave of the late 2010s to early 2020s. It's all pleasing to the eyes. Fortunately, unlike our visit to Made Nice the service presented no issues and our server was attentive and the whole experience was paced well. The concept of rotating chefs is interesting and could certainly be a positive point to keep your experience fresh if you desire to return. Double edged sword there though if your first experience does not warrant it. We were seated at a table that felt like an afterthought, immediately behind the bar up against what felt like the natural seating area. I believe we were in line with the columns holding the ceiling up? I hesitated to ever move my arms too much as I risked taking down a server in flight. My wife ordered one of the 'cute' cocktails (like a snow globe with a Christmas tree in the middle) that made a perfect photo, but upon her first sip made a face that indicated the taste did not match the aesthetic. We switched to off-menu standard cocktails after that which met expectations. I am not a professional food critic so I will not go in depth on that. We had calamari, one of the pastas, and the scallops. It was all good (perhaps a little salty on the seafood for our tastes) but the prices certainly did not match the meal considering our proximity to extremely great food downtown (Detroit) or a little further west. If this is your scene (looking at you table of GenZ girls who sat on their phones your whole meal) or do not want to travel too far from this part of Metro Detroit I would not recommend against you planning a visit to Host. With the rotating chefs you may find something you like. I am not blameless in this scenario for ordering $55 scallops in Utica, Michigan. read more

Enjoyed the atmosphere, the space is nice. We had pizza, sausage w/polenta and the burrata. All very very good but the pizza was the shinning star. Had manhattans and they were excellently prepared. They have the large, clear ice cubes which is a huge plus. We sat at the bar and our bartender/server was top notch. Will definitely be back. read more

In downtown Utica, this is a restaurant with a beautifully designed interior that exudes character. The second floor can be used as an office space. The coffee is excellent, and the dishes are uniquely crafted. It's definitely a place worth experiencing. read more

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Good food & a very cute place. Our sever was very sweet & accommodating. Will return for brunch cocktails

I had a warm gingerbread oat milk latte and it was spectacular. All the portions were huge and we were happy with not only the taste but also for the presentation. Everyone was nice and our drinks came right away. We loved the decorations and it was such a nice vibe in the restaurant and in the town. Parking was available in front so we were happy about that. Overall a good experience and we will definitely be back. read more

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Such a great night! Made reservations ahead of time, and didn't have to wait. The hostess was very pleasant and greeted us with a smile. Once at our table, our server was so helpful with helping us decide on what we wanted to drink. We ordered the salmon tartare as an appetizer and we couldn't have enjoyed it more. Our entrees were the chicken calabrese and the brisket & polenta. Both were fantastic. Ended with an espresso martini with the most adorable print of a vintage Christmas scene. We can't wait to go back to try other items. Also, there are many close public parking options which is a major bonus! read more

Host Utica - Espresso martini - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

Great food and excellent venue. I have been there twice and both times I have been impressed by the food and cocktails. My only complaint is the seating arrangement. The tables are a bit tight. There is a public parking lot nearby so if you can't find street parking there is no issue getting a spot. This restaurant has rotating chefs so the menu is always changing. We went while they had a Spanish themed menu and were very impressed. read more

Host Utica - Lamb Empanadas - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

I've heard so many good things prior to coming here, that I couldn't wait until I was able to see what this place was all about. My friend and I went to check this place out and it is mostly worth the hype. It's a restaurant that literally "hosts" different chefs and menus. They rotate for basically up and coming chefs who want to show their skills off. The current chef, according to their menu is Andrew Stevick. Anyway, the place is pretty cool, but man, the parkings tough here. If I had circled one more time I was about to park somewhere else and take an Uber! Anyway, I love the decor here and despite it being busy on a Sunday afternoon, we got a table shortly after arriving. My friend had wanted breakfast, but I wanted lunch. Fortunately, they serve both on a Sunday afternoon. (some places are brunch only on Sundays no matter what time you show up.) I got the Dom smash burger and my friend got an omelet. We were going to order pour over coffee, but they were out of cream. I docked a star for this because that should be a crime. How do you run out of cream! UGH. (there's another reason I dropped down a star, but that's bill related. Please continue reading.) Our server was fabulous and was always checking in on us. Since they ran out of cream, I went with tea, which was actually quite good. My friend got an espresso and we both enjoyed ourselves. I could've gotten a mimosa, but not for $11 and I love them and would need like a million mimosas, so no. The other reason I docked a star, is because they pass on the credit card fee of 3% to the customer if you're paying with a card. Fortunately, I brought enough cash with me, but not really excited about that. I've seen this done at other places here and there, and it seems to be a rising trend. I know it's a business decision but in this day of Apple/Google pay, QR codes and so much more, it just feels weird to pay the 3%. It really isn't that much but still. Anyway, I'd gladly return and visit every so often to see the rotating chefs that they have. I would also like to try dinner here, and will probably take an uber here so I can drink Mimosas and not deal with the parking. And probably smuggle in coffee cream, but ssshh don't tell. read more

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Great experience! Friendly staff, knowledgeable bartender, and delicious menu options. The cocktail list and Absinthe dispenser were a fun bonus. Can't wait to come back with my wife next time! read more

Host Utica - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

Perfect 10! Host is absolutely amazing!! Friendly knowledgeable staff with a great low key atmosphere with AMAZING food and mixology cocktails that will dazzle you! NOTE: Keep an eye out for the tiki light .... This is a great value add to Utica for wonderful new vibe for Utica, MI!! read more

Host Utica - Martini Expresso!! YUM!! - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

Not sure if they had a bad night, were understaffed, or this is how they operate, but I WAS NOT impressed, whatsoever with the food or service, however, the ambiance of the place is stellar. We had 5:45 reservations for 3 on a Friday evening, and they hammered home the policy that our reservation was only good for 1.5 hours when we called ahead, and when we arrived. 1.5 hours should be enough time to have dinner & drinks, no problem, right? Wrong. At the table for 5 minutes before we got water. She didn't take our order for drinks at that time either, she said she'd be right back. Another 10 minutes before our server came back to take our Drink orders. Took 15 minutes to get our drinks, and mine was filled to the brim that it was spilled on me when brought to the table. I made sure she took our appetizer/shareable order at that time. We ordered brussels sprouts, chicken lollipops & fried green tomato caprese salad. Our brussels came 30 minutes later! Burnt but not crispy, fine, we ate them. Our fried green tomato caprese salad, another 20 minutes after that. Fine, but not great or memorable. Chicken lollipops, another 15 minutes after that. Deep fried too long, burnt, and not enough sauce on the plate to make them edible. At this time, we've been there for 1.5 hrs, and only had 1 round of drinks and appetizers. There was no way they were going to kick us out, because the table next to us was eating their appetizers when we sat down, and they were still here! Our server came to the table 10 minutes after the chicken was served, and asked us if we wanted dessert, and how we'd like the bill split up. Um, lady, we haven't even had dinner yet! We ordered another round of drinks, and one more appetizer, fried shrimp. Another 15 minutes for our drinks to come, and 20 more after that for the shrimp. Took one shrimp out, and it was raw on the bottom! I tried fervently to track someone down about this, because we saw friends waiting for their 7 pm reservation, who had been waiting almost an hour now. The replaced the shrimp, which took another 15 minutes. At that time, we had 2 rounds of drinks and 4 appetizers, we were pushing $170 bill, almost 3 hours there, and decided not to even try to order entrees. We just wanted out. I may give this place one more chance because of location, ambiance, and rotating menu, to see if they are truly this bad on a daily basis, or I just came during a murphy's law vortex of everything going wrong at once. read more

Host Utica - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

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We've spent way too much money over winter break going out to eat... but we skipped our vacation this time, so we're justifying it. Host Utica for brunch on Thursday. I had the peppermint hot tea (very minty ) & my Husband enjoyed his Mikey B cocktail. He had the classic breakfast and I had the breakfast burrito. The chorizo in it was soo flavorful. I highly recommend it! He may have ordered a "basic" breakfast, but there was nothing basic about it. Everything was high quality and delicious. We always enjoy this place... ambiance, food, drinks, service- all top notch!! We've been here a few times before so I'm including precious photos as well. read more

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Brunch Review We absolutely expected a wait, but were confused on arrival when asked if we had a reservation. On their website it says Brunch is walk-in only. Had we known, I would have tried to make reservations with two kiddos under 5 to avoid the 45 minute wait. Inside is pretty. Lots of faux greenery, modern lighting, with an airy feel despite being small and jam packed with people. Food was good. My littles loved the eggs, crispy potatoes, and waffle covered in strawberries and whipped cream. Out of everything on the table, I enjoyed the Brussels sprout hash the best. All our dishes were well made and delicious, though nothing blew me out of the water. I look forward to coming back for the evening rotating chef. read more

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I have been here 2 times. The menu periodically changes; in fact I think it is a monthly switch. Both tim3s,I was with a larger group and we had made reservations. This is the way to go for brunch. My most recent time was in early December. Right after they switch menus. Everything that I have had there has been great which is why i keep coming back. There is no real dividers between the tables beyond space so the place does get quite noisy with all of the tables filled. Our waitress this most recent time, was able to keep all of our orders straight. Please note that for parties of 6 or more, their website says that they will add a 20% gratuity. This is not bad. The food is definitely worth a return visit. It is easy to find parking at least on a Sunday morning. I will definitely come back read more

Host Utica - Corned Beef Hash - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan

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Service was top notch. Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable with infectious enthusiasm for the unique drink and gastronomy creations. Food was delicious with generous portion sizes for the price. Drink menu was unique & well curated, Wish I hadn't driven so I could have tried more Learned that the natural "wet-dog" smell that accompanies raw egg foam in a drink can be tempered with a lemon peel expression! **HIGHLY RECOMMEND** read more

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Experience photo-documented. Street parking. Menu was interesting. Avo Toast was overrated for the price. Brussels Sprouts were delicous. Coffee was OK. Thankfully they had half and half. Service was good. She seemed like she has done this her WHOLE life, but confused about what a Red Eye was. Ambiance. Beautiful loo and decor. Nice lighting and furniture. Space allows for working and study towards the front of the restaurant. Overall, good. But too pricey. Take friends here to impress. read more

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We went there last night and ordered the short rib, flat iron steak, halibut and the pork ragout pappardelle. We started off with the beet and ricotta salad delicious. Drinks were delicious and so was our bottle of wine. Service was top notch. I would highly recommend this place for dinner. read more

I was pleased with this dining experience although I think it was overpriced. The red snapper was delicious but very difficult to eat. I had bones in every bite. The skirt steak was good but not seasoned well. Carrot cake was average but the bread pudding was delicious. Drinks were pricy too. Service was good albeit a bit slow, especially on the backend of dinner but the server was very nice. Decor is pretty nondescript. All that being said, had the meal been $50 less, I'd give it 4 star rating. read more

Host Utica - Red snapper - American Near Me - Utica, Michigan