We were visiting from California and I wanted a special place to take my son for a belated 18th birthday present. We were recommended Mabel Gray by a University of Michigan alum who took his son here for his son's U of M graduation. Best restaurant recommendation ever. We made reservations weeks in advance, as you must do, and I informed them of my wheat and soy allergies. We paid a reservation deposit - not something I was familiar with, but I totally get it. The day of the reservation, staff reached out via text to clarify some questions regarding my allergies and confirm our arrival time. They offered a grace period since they knew we were driving in from Indiana. I really appreciated that since I get very stressed out when I'm trying to keep to a schedule. The restaurant has a really cool vibe and a totally random Patrick Swayze poster on the wall. We ordered a lot - oysters, salad, duck wings, steak frites, olive oil cake, and panna cotta - everything was exceptional. The wines they chose for me were top notch, and our server didn't seem irritated at all when I asked her to bring the wine bottle so I could take a picture of it. Our server, Kylie, was outstanding. Not only did she walk us through the menu and the wines, but she also gave us ideas of places to visit while in town. She went above and beyond and wrote down Ann Arbor and Detroit restaurant recommendations for the rest of the trip. Way above and beyond. One of a kind experience. Highly recommend. read more

Mabel Gray - Steak frites - New American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

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We've been wanting to come here for awhile, but you need to book a reservation well in advance, probably bc this spot is tiny as well as fireeeee. We sat at the bar which we love to do because it's way more fun and you get a more personal experience- plus the vibe is just better! We shared the tasting menu and ordered another dish as well since we were sharing. It turned out to be the perfect things for us bc we got to try basically the entire menu! Since this is a rotating menu, I'm excited to come back for round 2. I only took a few pics bc I was busy eating, but everything was good, literally everything. Oh and I can't forget to mention the cocktails - we did the Hazel Park & Parcel, Japanese 99 ( this was so good I ordered it twice and also bought the ingredients to make it myself later that week) and we also asked the mixologist to create one of his one which I HIGHLY recommend- he killed it with this awesome dill inspired drink which sounds kinda weird but was delicious! Hats off to everyone at this establishment. Can't wait to go back! read more

Mabel Gray - Lamb...which I've never enjoyed until I ate this - freaking amazing - New American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

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Mabel Gray has started to offer brunch on Sundays and it is a must! Seatings sell out quickly so make sure you snag them fast if you want to attend! Everything was Mabel Gray standards. When we arrived to table there was a coffee cake waiting which was so delicious! we then received a welcome beverage which was a Vietnamese iced coffee with Elijah Craig. Each course had beautiful presentation and every staff member is very knowledgeable about each course. So glad we got to try! read more

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What a wonderful restaurant. From the time I entered until the time I left, I was comfortable and happy - almost like eating at a friend's house. (A friend who can REALLY cook!) The patio is just lovely with torches and candles lit and the food was a-maze-ing. We went for their vegan month tasting menu and I will now never miss it! My mind was actually blown with what they made without animal products. Things like smoked tofu yogurt sauce and cumin scented lentil pancakes. This perfect mushroom dumpling, blistered shishito peppers and gluten free pineapple upside down cake. Wow. This was such a fun experience and I can't wait to try another of their tasting menus! Well worth it with excellent service. read more

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I've had the tasting menu and pairing before, and thought that the food was not AMAZING for the price. Obviously, it wasn't bad at all, but I don't remember anything from it, and for such a special dinner, I'd expect to. There are a few other places I would rather go nearby. However, a lot of friends love this spot, so I stopped in for a gift certificate over the weekend. Kylie was in the middle of a busy dinner service but helped me with a gift certificate and was SO friendly (as was the hostess on Oct 2, 7:30ish) I would come back just to have her as my server! read more

Best dinner I've ever had. Atmosphere is incredible and service is top notch. We were blown away by the knowledge the staff had about every drink and dish. read more

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My wife and I lucked out. No reservation and someone had cancelled.The service and ambience are top notch. We Started with bowl garlic fries (but the recipe was more intricate) then shared a fettuccine garlic cream sauce with chicken on the side. (I thought the noodles were a bit over cooked) then we had the Charcoal gold head on shrimp, which were amazing. Then best part was the chocolate cheese cake with peanut butter cups and caramel... Amazing!!!! I had to beers and my wife had rose. The 4 stars because of cost but mainly because I wish they had more vegetarian options. All in all this was an amazing restaurant and I will be returning again. Side note warm up the fries next day in air fryer and they were still great!! read more

I'm really in awe of this quaint little treasure. To me it was like finding a little gem in a pile of rocks. I had heard so many things about this place, and was so excited it was finally the moment I check this place out. It was my friends birthday so we made a reso which landed us on the patio. It was a wee bit chilly but they did have heaters and cute Christmas lights and such to set the ambiance for us. We chose the chefs table which is 8 small plates of chefs choice to show us his unique talent in the kitchen, which created our masterpieces for our palate. I honestly couldn't repeat exactly what all his talented staff told us course by course. What an amazing staff they have in there by the way! All so warm and welcoming. Each time they laid a dish down they told us a story about what it entailed. So much fun. We could have did a wine pairing with each but we chose not to, and went straight for a cocktail that made our hearts happy. At the end our belly's we're full, hearts we're happy, and I honestly can't wait to return and try another oral adventure there. Attached are the pics of all the wonderful complex dishes, enjoy! read more

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We came here for our anniversary. The food was excellent as were the cocktails. We sat on the covered porch, which has heaters, so it was perfectly comfortable. Our server was very friendly and attentive. You do need to plan ahead because they fill up quickly. We had to settle for a 9pm reservation, but we were very happy to try the place. We look forward to returning. read more

This place is absolutely incredible! We came here for a date night and reserved a table on the heated patio. We arrived and were escorted to an enclosed patio with multiple heaters. I was very comfortable in a sweater and jeans. We decided to make it easy and order the chefs tasting menu with the drink pairing, and also started with a half dozen baked oysters. The tasting menu was 8 absolutely stunning courses and were mostly paired with different white/rose/red wines with 1 course paired with sake. Everything was delicious and we were the perfect amount of full following the meal. The service was excellent and we really enjoyed our waitress. She was really knowledgeable of all the wines we were trying and an overall very friendly person. If you are looking for something different with very fresh local food/wine this is definitely your place! The tasting menu is a must! read more

Mabel Gray - Half Dozen Baked Oysters - New American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

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I don't know what happened to my old review from here, but this is the best restaurant. It maybe only competes with Selden for that spot locally. Most things you try will knock your socks off. I can't hype this place enough. read more

Everything are great. It will last a lasting impression. Enjoy life! Great selection of foods and drinks.

WOAH went for vegan week and was blown away. Definitely recommend doing the drink pairing. Had combinations that I would never imagine. The service is spectacular. I look forward to trying another themed month! read more

My party of four enjoyed the tasting menu on a weekday evening. I made our reservations a month in advance on the morning they were released (at approximately 8:00 am). They do require a $25/pp deposit which is eventually applied against your check. We had an early evening seating and upon arrival, were immediately brought to our table, the furthest from the entrance. Not the choicest view or table in the house, directly across from the busy servers' entrance to the kitchen. I would request a different spot if we returned. The tasting menu courses in order: watermelon salad w/ radicchio, feta, hot honey; bay scallop crudo w/ seranno, cucumber, coconut milk; ham & seafood dumpling in smoky broth; chicken arancini w/ Sunday sauce; seared veal w/ green tomato sauce, pickled cabbage, smoked yogurt, dill; brûléed goat cheese w/ jam & endive; lemon cake w/ almond & pink peppercorn. All four of us decided on the tasting menu, but you aren't obligated to have everyone in your party order it. The kitchen was accommodating of a food allergy, which was a simple omission of a stand alone ingredient. Definitely ask in advance if you have dietary concerns. The pacing and delivery of the food service was excellent. The beverage service was less so- drinks took longer than expected to arrive, even with less than 1/2 capacity. Overall standouts from the tasting were the watermelon salad, scallop crudo, veal, & lemon cake. Also the lime sorbet intermezzo! The arancini in particular seemed out of place in this menu- much heavier and far less evocative of summer than the rest of the courses. Our overall dining experience was just over two hours, which is longer than the 90 minute parameter that the restaurant requests (and printed on a silly strip of paper that sat unceremoniously on the center of the table-- just add it on the menu!) An hour and a half seems insufficient for their 7 course tasting, particularly with a party larger than two. After our tab was closed out, it took about 5 minutes for the host to approach our table and inform us that another party was waiting for our specific spot. I accept this chiding as part of the social contract in a small restaurant, but I'm not in love with it at this price point. Overall met our high expectations for a special occasion experience. Would be interested in returning for one of their residency events. read more

One of the best dining experiences we've ever had! The food was phenomenal and the service was very kind and attentive! Would definitely come here again! I took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner and it was truly a wonderful experience! 10/10 read more

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Such an experience at Mabel Gray. Always have different menu items each time I return. Great food as always. Would recommend getting the chefs tasting if you do go. read more

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This has been a must try for while. It exceeded expectations. Our waiter was beyond attentive, even telling us we're not to lift a finger when my partner attempted to pour his own water lol. The courses came out perfectly timed. Everything down to the grapefruit palette cleanser was just beyond anything I've ever had. We opted for the tasting menu which was the perfect variety to get a taste of different items on the menu. We will definitely be back. The menu changes weekly which gives patrons a chance to try something new. read more

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I just came back from Mabel Gray this evening. I truly believe that I ate at the finest culinary establishment the state of Michigan has to offer. From the moment I stepped foot in, to the last bite I took, this was the closest thing to a perfect dinner I have ever had (the only one that comes remotely close was Doris Metropolitan in New Orleans, which I've never reviewed ironically enough). Let's start with first impressions. We had a dinner reservation for 9 pm. While not ideal, it was the best time we could get. Given the reputation of this restaurant you sorta have to take what you are given, because you will wait for days (if not weeks) to be seated. Right away, I could tell this place was truly something special. It was quite busy, but it wasn't obnoxiously loud. The atmosphere was so inviting, but the various smells/aromas that I was picking up were even more so. The dining area itself isn't large at all, but it works to it's advantage. You can literally see the entire kitchen and the staff working inside it within arms reach, which is why all the wonderful fragrances were so strong. As soon as we got seated, we were greeted by a courteous gentleman by the name of Max. My wife and I had the pleasure of being taken care of by multiple servers, but we were blessed to have Max majority of the evening. He was so kind, charismatic, and most of all passionate about delivering to us only the best possible dinner we could have asked for. Given that we haven't been here before, he recommended the tasting menu (priced at $65 per person). Now that is quite a steep price, and I was a little skeptical at first, but I promise you this is the way to go when you come to Mabel Gray. It's also important to know that the menu changes daily, so its not predictable and therefore adds to the anticipation of what you may get. I cannot even begin to wrap my head around all the various ingredients, flavors and textures that I experienced. The entire 8 course journey was so balanced, so vibrant, and most importantly, thoughtful. I never seen so much love put into food. I have never even heard of some of the ingredients that we sampled this evening, and chances are I probably won't have many opportunities to eat them again. I will describe each item in more detail when I post the pictures. But the point I want to drive home with this review is that I came into Mabel Gray with no real expectations other than to have a satisfying dinner. What I ended up getting was a well orchestrated meal (which was almost entirely improvised mind you) that kept me excited between each plate, made me incredibly sad when it was all over, and left me happy without making me feel too full. I know when I come back I will have a fantastic and memorable time. But it's just so hard to imagine them doing better than what they did on this ordinary Tuesday night. On a final note, have one of the employees explain to you what the inspiration for the restaurant's name is. You will be delighted by the response. read more

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I have no words. This was the best meal I have had by far in my life. Absolutely incredible from start to finish. We had a 4 pm rez because we couldn't get anything later and after this meal I learned why. Everything was absolutely spectacular. The service, wait staff, cleanliness and obviously food. We did the tasting menu and each dish lit up my taste buds like the 4th of July. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Probably my favorite restaurant in the metro Detroit area. The rotating menu gives you something different to try every month or so. The staff is super nice and always willing to have a conversation about the food. It's always a good place to celebrate something special. read more

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Service was excellent! We had a main server but the entire wait staff, including the chefs, assisted with every table. We did the chef tasting menu and I was blown away from most of the dishes! We had 8 courses and each was unique and some had complex layers of flavor. Atmosphere was pretty solid and intimate. They do have a rotating menu, so your dining experience may be unique each visit. Thanks for the awesome time! read more

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The service at Mable Gray was excellent, our waitress was very attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. I have only one complaint the Bison Burger on the English Muffin was not a good easy to handle. The flavors were good but it was to much to eat with your hands. The English Muffin does not have the consistency to hold all of the sauces and condiments. I had to eat it south a fork and knife. I would definitely go back for the watermelon salad. read more

The food was pretty average, servings were very small. For the experience, not worth the money. Can think of so many places I could get this experience for way less. The service was fine. The ambiance was nice. read more

Nestled into the forever changing landscape of HazelPark, Mabel Gray creates more emotion than any musician or artist can evoke. They're playing with earths raw materials, and do so in such a serious, but kind way.... The ambiance is an old dive bar with almost a "Roister" in Chicago vibe. It's hard to describe, but everything fits together, as if it was curated from an upscale resale. The service was impeccable, making this birthday meal, in my top 10 meals of all time. I have literally nothing bad to say, it was worth the price, flying home to Michigan, and the waitlist. Oakland county foodies rejoice, you no longer have to fake the funk in Birmingham. When you trust a restaurant, especially the head chef... you don't care what's on the menu, you just trust their direction. Mabel Gray deserves a Michelin star. read more

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I have been wanting to try Mabel Gray for a long time and I finally made it there! I made my reservation many weeks in advance, which is a must. We did the tasting menu which added a fun element of surprise, and every dish was delicious. Each dish was very small, but after 7 dishes I was a good amount of full. Our server was very kind and kept all the dishes rolling. I loved the atmosphere and look of the restaurant. I will definitely be returning for a special occasion dinner. The only problem with Mabel Gray is the difficulty of getting a reservation, but it is worth making reservations far in advance! read more

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What a beautiful date night, very quaint, charming establishment. What a fantastic menu, if I didn't misunderstand they change up the menu monthly so it gives you a good reason to go back and try new items. The presentation of dishes STUNNING to say the least. I'm a huge fan of a server that knows the menu and can describe the dishes with ease and Natalie was most definitely that server, very knowledgeable with an outstanding personality. With my shellfish allergies I love feeling confident and safe where I eat and she made sure to take good care of me. If there's anything on the planet, you must try there it's their crème brûlée. To die for!! 5 stars well deserved. I will be back read more

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Fantastic experience! We did the tasting menu and had a great time. The food was amazing and portions were perfect. The ambiance is different that expected but we loved the decor and style. It was a bit loud which made it hard for us to even hear each other across the table but maybe the dining room would be better for that. Service was great, very attentive and excellent explanations of each dish. Look forward to dining there again on another special occasion, it is on the pricier side but I think we got our money's worth! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant! Totally worth the money for special events. You are made to feel like family. James Rigato is a culinary genius! read more

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Waited a month for reservations and it was completely worth it! This is hands down one of the best food spots in the metro-Detroit area. The ambience is unassuming but each dish was uniquely so flavorful. They have a rotating menu as well as tasting menus. My friends and I opted to order from the regular menu as there were a few pork options on the tasting menu making it not worth it for us. The menu is written in a beautiful cursive font but is a bit hard to read. The baked oysters and raw fish appetizers were some of the best I've had. The steak was incredibly tender and melted in our mouths, but based on the portion size was not worth it for us and I'd recommend trying other things on the menu instead. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed dining here and can't wait to be back! read more

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I have gone here twice and once on my birthday, first things first you will need to reserve ahead of time for any special occasions, but it is so worth it! My only complaint (and not a real one, they advertise the ever changing menu!) would have to be knowing that I had something amazing here and knowing it will possibly not be on the menu next time (their cacio e pepe was the best I ever had) but always a treat to be trying new things every time! A must go for adventurous eaters! read more

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I desperately want to go back again! It's soo good!! Wish I took pics of each dish! Super cool how each dish has a different chef. They keep it coming with the courses. I love their use of little jars for water cups and their miscellaneous plates and cutlery. read more

Mabel Gray - Tuna and cucumber, super good - New American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

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Every time I come here I love it more and more. The food and service are always of the highest caliber. The menu is always fresh with innovative ingredients and flavors. This cozy space makes me happy every time. Always delicious! read more

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Instead of posting some super thought-provoking review of yet another fantastic meal, I would much rather talk about the fact that there should be way more restaurants like this in the Detroit area that specifically in the north suburbs where there is a void of good food, I don't mind driving to Hazel Park at all because this place rocks and if I could afford it I would come down here every week But really it would be great pretty please with sugar on top to have a restaurant like this north of Troy just something anything that's not a cruise or a mirror that would be freaking awesome but the chef here does a fantastic job and is probably one of the best restaurants in the area thank you for your time read more

Disappointed with this place and Chef Rigato is overrated. Would not recommend if you're in the area, go somewhere else.

With an ever changing menu, you never know what treat you're in for! We had the truffle fries, AHMAZING (actual shaved black truffle on the fries, not just an oil), the wagyu beef fingerling (yes, crispy fingerling potatoes not chips) nachos, octopus, oysters and the Buffalo mozzarella with crisp apple, omg! Everything was delicious! read more

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Mabel Gray has made its mark here. If you're new to be adventurous in the food scene this is a good place to break you in. Very friendly and knowledgeable service. Incredible tastey food without feeling uncomfortable if you're not up to par with incrowd. Laidback read more

Best place for food in metro Detroit. Menu is always changing, get the tasting menu and beverage pairing.

Wow. I was ready to write a scathing review after being seated an hour after our 9pm reservation time, but the staff was super gracious about it and even threw in a few free alcohol pairings! Also, seriously Mabel Gray walks the damn walk. The ambience is completely unexpected - given the look & feel of the website. It's actually a lively bar-like spot with an open kitchen! Really lively which made it a bit hard for people at the ends of our table to hear each other, but I'll take it over stuffy and pretentious! We were RAVENOUS so we started with the Truffle Fries (house cut fries, pecorino, Italian winter truffles, duck fat hollandaise - $15) - it was beautiful. I miss having REAL truffle fries - nonnadat truffle oil stuff please. It was beautiful salty and delicious. 6 people killed two orders in RECORD time. We all jumped on the $65 8-course tasting menu: *Lamb Tostada - as they had a lamb sloppy joe on the menu, they used that lamb on this tostada. I'm usually pretty apprehensive about lamb but colorado co-op lamb was superb. No weird gameyness at all. It was served on top of an avocado mousse. I was also impressed that the tostada stayed crispy and didn't break under the weight of all that topping. *Carrots - I loved that our server joked that it was a vegan hot dog. It was served with coconut milk and harissa. So it read like a really lovely Indian. I had better carrot side at Republic Tavern, so this is the only dish that I was "eh" about it. *MI Chestnut & Roasted Apple (honeycrisp and granny smith) soup with savory granola, spiced yogurt and chicken gizzard: I want to bathe in this soup. It had this acidity from the apple that reminded me of tomato bisque, but also this depth and comforting quality like butternut squash soup. It was paired with an exclusive cider from Angry Orchard that was PERFECT. The cider was so unique - it smelled exactly like bourbon as it's aged in bourbon barrels. This was one of my favorite dishes. *Crispy Octopus ("Greek Salad". Garlic Yogurt): Fancy pants octopus from Portugal! The octopus was perfectly cooked and the flavors were fantastic. The salad consisted of cucumber ribbons, tomato, beets as well as some jalapeno and grilled (then pickled) onions. Yum. I loved how tangy and refreshing this dish was because at this point we were pretty stuffed. *King Crab Dumpling & Dashi. Garlic butter. Chive: This reminded me more of a tortellini than a true dumpling, but I loved it. The dumpling itself consisted of scallop, shrimp and a bit of green curry. The delicate and beautiful dashi broth was made with sea bream & king crab. The garlic butter dollop added a nice richness to the dish. *Lamb Chop served with tonnato - Again, fantastic lamb that didn't have the gameyness. It was also PERFECTLY cooked. I've never had tonnato before but it's basically like tuna mayo). It added a nice brightness to the dish. This lamb was paired with a beautiful Northern Italian red. Perfecto! *White chocolate tart w/Oreo crust and a mint buttercream (micro shiso and cranberry): The PERFECT, festive way to end the meal. The tart itself was so luscious and tasty. When you go white and white and mint, it's really hard to get textures right without conjuring up "toothpaste" but it was seriously flawlessly executed. Love. It. The tasting menu is the way to go! Make sure you make a reservation on line & be prepared to wait past your reservation time BUT know that it's worth it. 285/365 read more

Ehh place is really overrated. Staff barely checked on us. . Food was bland. I would not recommend .

Mabel Gray's food is always amazing and wonderful. The service is fine and the price is right. Go as often as possible.