Wow! This place was amazing. We had the tasting menu and a couple of other items. Thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and all of the food was 10/10 phenomenal. Our server explained all of the items and made excellent suggestions. We enjoyed how everything was plated. Most importantly the flavor was 10/10 read more

One of the absolute best meals we've ever had (and definitely the best seafood meal, which we were not expecting to happen in Detroit!). Every dish was unique and flavorful with the highest attention to detail and quality ingredients. Best oysters we've had anywhere. And the wine pairings were on point, with quality selections. Sit at the bar for an up close view of the magic that happens in this 10 ft bar kitchen! This unassuming spot is delivering something special, on par with Michelin star restaurants that we've dined at. read more

Mink - Seafood Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Came here for my birthday looking forward to some awesome seafood dishes. Love the interior -- very cool, clean vibe and they had some awesome tunes going. We did the tasting menu with beverage pairing and were very happy. After some tasty oysters on the half shell, we had some amazing smoked salmon on a housemade bialy - such delicious caramelized onion flavor. The best course was the seafood gnudi - absolutely insane pea and creme fraiche broth that I could eat every day of my life. The roasted cobia fish was also excellent with a lot of different textures. We got a choice of birthday treat which is always appreciated, I believe it was birthday cake cookie ice cream. We also enjoyed several unique flavors of (other) ice cream. Excited to try this place again with a different menu! We may skip the tasting menu and go for a more economical choice since this place is a bit spendy, but we weren't upset by the cost at all. read more

The menu is creative and delicious. Excellent service. The vibe is low key and casual, but you feel you're treated as you would be in a restaurant of the highest quality. Small intimate setting so easy to have a conversation and feels like you're truly a guest. read more

Wow wow wow! Have been wanting to try Mink since visiting the sister restaurant Marrow which has become a favorite. Mink is seafood focused which I was quite excited about. Starting off, the interior and ambiance were absolutely impeccable. The space was intimate and inviting, nestled in the heart of Corktown. We dined in at the bar with the tasting menu. The chefs and servers were extremely friendly and guided us through the various dishes, each somehow impossibly better then the last. Some favorites for our group were the Spanish mackerel - the way the fruits complemented the fresh fish was amazing, the oishii shrimp, and the pupusa. I do wish they had at least one mocktail option. Can't wait to come back again and try out their new menus! read more

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This is a place for foodies! Highly recommend the tasting menu. We ended up bringing home some tinned fish (mackerel) at a discount because we didn't get the sides that goes with it if you ordered it at the restaurant. We will definitely be back! read more

Your first visit: Try the tasting menu. You'll be blown away by most of it. The only miss I've ever had from it was donut holes. Everything else has been spectacular every time. Second visit: Try one of every oyster. Figure out your favorite oyster. Order more oysters. Third visit: Get some of your favorite oysters and the lobster roll. Mink is proof that a super simple refined menu executed to perfection is the best way to run a restaurant. read more

Wonderful ambiance, super friendly staff and great seafood. The wife and I celebrated an early Valentines Day and we were impressed.

Mink has long been on the "to try" list, my friend and I had plans to go the weekend after COVID shut everything down. Thankfully Mink survived and my friend and I were able to have a memorable dinner in a Saturday night (with planned out reservations of course). Mink is tiny. With only three tables and around six seats at the bar, intimate is the best way to describe the seafood restaurant. We were seated at the bar, which in this situation we really enjoyed. We were able to watch the prep in the small bar area and were seated next to some interesting people. Currently, only the Chefs tasting menu is offered, as well as a couple "add ons", featured oysters. This menu constantly changes, so going into details of each dish does not help the next diner (but added photos to drool over). The entire meal, each course, was wonderful. Seafood was fresh, interestingly preparation and flavors. From the beginning oysters (I believe the tastings start with oysters), the one bite umami bomb, to dessert. Attentive service, each course was well paced. They also offer a wine/sake pairing ($50) or a short wine list. Mink is certainly pricey, for the overall experience (the meal lasted almost two hours) and freshness, I was able to justify it. It does make it difficult to go back to, besides getting in. Mink is worth consideration for a beautiful meal. On a fun note, co-founder Sarah Welch, also of Marrow, will be on the next season of Top Chef! read more

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If you haven't tried the lobster roll, you might be missing out on life! Sunday is the perfect day to head down for Happy Hour drinks and oysters. They also are serving a pre fixe menu that is phenomenal. Make sure to make a resy or head down early as those rolls will be rolling out the door!!!! read more

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Mink is an intimate 24-seat restaurant with oyster bar style seating and a few additional tables in a charming area of Corktown. The staff is friendly, welcoming and unpretentious. We really enjoyed the casual atmosphere while observing the cooks prepare our prix fixe meals. The dishes are expedited in a well orchestrated manner. We thoroughly enjoyed the scallop ambrosia with coconut and orange flavors, and the shumai stuffed mushrooms, but thought the rest of the dishes were just ok. The flavors of the swordfish casserole with butternut squash rotolo, bechamel and a delicious piece of uni seemed a little too much. The dish was heavy, sweet and bitter at the same time. The pineapple upside down cake was tasty, but we thought something more innovative could have been a better route. Next time we might pop in for a couple dozen oysters. read more

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Went here years ago and pleased to see it's still open. Only been here once when I stumbled in randomly during a business trip. One of the most unforgettable foodie experiences I've ever had. read more

Had reservations for a Friday night. Loved that there was free street parking and we found a spot right in front of the restaurant. The restaurant was small with a bar and a few tables. I really liked how it looked and it felt very homey in there with the decor. We were seated right away and it didn't seem too busy for a Friday night. We had the tasting menu and I also ordered a manhattan on the rocks as my drink. The menu changes every few weeks but I enjoyed everything that I had for my menu. Some of the standout dishes for me were the oysters, boquerones, and the golden corvina. I am also not as big of a dessert person but our waitress recommended the ube ice cream and it was so delicious. Really enjoyed my experience here! read more

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Couple nights out Amazing food Waited too long for our reservation Place is tiny , feels uncomfortable sometimes read more

What an amazing experience. The staff were amazing. I left it in their hands to decide what food and drink pairing to give us. I could eat here every day. Will definitely be back. read more

Amazing food. Impeccable service. I loved it so much. My husband doesn't eat seafood, but he enjoyed the whole tasting menu.

We came here for dinner to try the tasting menu. Aside from the tasting menu we also ordered the oysters which were top notch. All were tasty and worth the money. The duo that came with the tasting was also good. For the tasting we got: Cold tomato soup - I was not a fan of this. I didn't like the cold temperature and just found it off putting. BF thought it had a good texture and like that the whitefish was smoked. Asparagus - really really tasty. My favorite of everything we tried. Sauces were on point, the texture bits were excellent and the asparagus was so fresh and perfectly cooked. Street food bun with mustard aioli - This had pickles, crab and cilantro. It was probably 3rd best compared to the asparagus and oysters for me. The bun was like pretzel bread. The crab was tasty. Salmon and seaweed with fiddleheads - This was my least favorite. My BF liked the blood sausage with the salmon. I thought the apple sauce and cream sauce on the bottom was fine. Overall I didn't like the texture or flavor of this. Coffee mousse and lemon curd dessert - My lemon curd had a metallic taste and the cup smelled like a wet dog. It was absolutely disgusting. The cookies served with the curd were good but we ended up ordering ice cream. Prune custard and chestnut ice creams - Prune was the best. The chestnut flavor was also good. Overall I do have to say I was disappointed. Me and my BF were pretty opposite in what we thought of this tasting menu so I tried to consider that. He didn't think things tasted as off as I did but he did agree with some points. I really didn't like this meal as a whole but there were plates that I did enjoy. read more

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Service was immaculate! Our waitress was so helpful throughout our first experience at Mink. The caviar and oysters were excellent. Our waitress suggested the cherrystone clam dish and it did not disappoint. The lobster roll was good but the bread over powered it. I tried the "Pearls of Wisdom" cocktail and it made me change my mind about sake. My husband's only complaint would be the lack of whiskey selection. Overall we loved and will definitely be back! read more

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Wanted to try a new seafood restaurant as part of our holiday celebrations and Mink did not disappoint. Dare I say that this was probably the best tasting menu I have ever experienced in my whole life? Oh yes, I dare. The restaurant is intimate and very warm and inviting. The staff was excellent--friendly and the courses were well-paced. And the food? Oh myyy. So delicious. We started off with the east and west coast oysters. I am a fan of the east coast brine so that one was my favorite. Next was the lobster salad. This is probably one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. The Tristan lobster was so sweet and tender. The presentation was gorgeous. If this was the only dish I'd eaten at Mink, I would be more than satisfied. Perfection. The ramen with uni was up next and there was so much rich flavor. Delicious. Next was a beautiful potato dish with vegetables from Afghanistan. Wonderful flavors and textures. Then we had the duck. I don't usually eat meat, but I wanted the full tasting menu so decided to try it. It was good, but I am not a fan of duck unless it's prepared with a crispy skin like at Asian restaurants. So this was my least favorite and I really should have gone for the salmon option instead. That decision was all on me. Afterward was the most delicious dessert. Happy belly. This meal will be one that others will be judged against. Looking forward to coming back to Mink. read more

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We were lucky as walk-ins; someone just left and we got a table. Service was great, friendly. Oysters were the highlight. We just don't 'get it' though: $18-$55 for a canned fish? Most are on the high end of this span. (You get small amount of crackers, cream cheese, egg and giardiniera with each). Lobster sandwich was very good, but small for $35. Not great enough for us to return to spend $$$$. 6 oysters, one lobster sandwich, water= $75 with tip. Yikes. (Service can't be the reason to return) read more

What the actual hell? I feel like I was punked... I heard at the end of the meal that the chef was out of town sooo... giving "some"grace. However, it was not good. I got the meal... my husband got oysters and the lobster roll. Oysters were good, lobster roll decent but soggy. The chefs meal was... a downward spiral. The puttanesca was funky and off putting. The sturgeon was yuck (polenta was yum)). Dessert was fine but at that point we were trying to cleanse our palette. So bummed... been looking forward to trying this place for awhile. Service was attentive, nice but really didn't asked or want to ask if we liked the course. read more

Doris recommended. 100% This is hands down the best restaurant in Detroit outside of Marrow. If you love seafood. Stop reading and book the reservation. Right now. Here's the skinny..... 1.70 dollars for a 7 course set menu. 2.Place only seats like 12, you need the resto. 3.This is the same owner as Marrow- except Sarah pretty sure is a co-owner and her Partner is owner. Not that these details like "matter" why I bring it up is the creative partnership Mink has and brings to the table! So pretty much I said all of THaT to say....If you love Marrow- you will LOvE Mink! 4. Walking distance from Cork Town 5. Parking street or a lot (limited) 6. Available for Dinner only There are add ons- what's NOT pictured below is... Oysters, Caviar and one of my photos sneaks a peek at the drinks. Our total bill rounded close to $500.00 for everything we had (Caviar was a big chuck- rightfully so) please don't let this scare you. It's worth it and everything was so delicious we made the choice to splurge. I want to say, our plates were returned to the kitchen as if they came out of the dishwasher... that's how absolutely impeccable our meal was.... The menu changes so you'll be in for a different handcrafted treat every time you go. Mink as mentioned only seats 12- it's an intimate experience but not intimidating! You'll feel warm welcome, leave full and happy. read more

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An absolute gem in Corktown. Every course in the tasting menu was excellent, perfectly balanced flavors and seasoning. The crab cake was the star of the show for me, the halibut for my wife. The intimate nature means the chefs are not creating meals for many all at once, they're creating plates for individuals and the care shows through. We can't wait to go back! read more

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I'll agree with all the rave reviews. Clearly trained and the tasting notes are perfect blah blah. The place is small and cozy and not pretentious and that's why I think it's better than most of these types of restaurants. Cozy diner-esque ambiance but the food at this place was superb. That said, both my friend and I (who ate the exact same meal) got sick when we got home. Too much vino? Bad oysters? Who knows. I assume it's a one off but once scorned, it sticks with you. read more

We had the BEST dinner here last weekend - the food is just so good. Super fresh oysters, everything cooked perfectly, so many yummy flavors! I think my absolute favorite thing of the night was the duck liver mousse toast. WOW. It melts in your mouth and the garnish is just perfect. Sweet and savory. Honestly, everything was so tasty, it's hard to come up with favorites! The other standout was the dessert, actually. This amazing stuffed pancake with fruit, and I added upside down cake ice cream - it was some of the best ice cream I've ever had - with actual cake mixed into the soft, creamy ice cream. So much yum. I also love that they always have decently priced ($5) mocktails or non-alcoholic beverages that aren't super sweet. It's very much a bonus to be able to order something other than water or sparkling water. I'm always looking forward to my next visit! Just be prepared to smell a bit smoky - ventilation isn't great and they're cooking right in the same little room. Worth it! read more

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What a charming little gem we found in Corktown area of Detroit! Small yet Mighty! Can't say enough about this restaurant. It's a botique casual atmosphere and the creativity that is on the ever changing (monthly) chefs menu surpassed all expectations. Due to its size you have a chef's table experience just by sitting at the bar - no additional fees for this! From the kitchen to the service staff, you could tell they were a close knit team tending and curating memorable experiences for each customer. We shared the chef's menu and also shared a lobster roll, oysters, canned clams served w sourdough crackers, crudités and smear of infused creamed cheese. Dessert came w our chef's menu but we also indulged in a selection of their homemade ice cream flavor white chocolate on top a bed of shortbread cookie crumbles with drizzled sesame oil topped with a bump of Great Lakes Sturgeon caviar! It was so different I had to try it. It was amazing. Highly recommend ! read more

Mink - Housemate ice cream - Seafood Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Excellent, inventive food. I'm not usually a fan of pate, but it was FANTASTIC and my FAVORITE course! Just wow. I could've easily eaten two more plates of it. The beverage pairings were lovely, and the time between courses was just right. Friendly service with easy street parking on a Friday night. read more

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WOW!!! I took my husband here for his birthday and the food blew our minds. We did the prefix menu and added the canned tuna belly based on our waitress's recommendation-a first for us and we had no clue canned meat could be so amazing (served like a fish charcuterie board). The oysters were the freshest we have ever had -anywhere! We are typically not huge tartare fans but this one left us wanting seconds or thirds. The prefix menu had a glutenated item so they made me homemade GF pasta (heavenly shock as this is a rare experience for us celiac folks). I could go on and on with each dish, but bottom line you have to go here if you like seafood! It is also important to note that the staff was great and accommodated my gluten free dietary requirement and made my husband's birthday special. We can't wait to go back!!! read more

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Tinned fish and oysters? What? Have I died and this was heaven or is this niche of a restaurant just simply the coolest most unique dining experience I have experienced in a while? Just in case you are still wondering, it was the latter. In a sea of restauranteurs on this planet each trying to be unique, I found Mink in Detroit genuinely unique and super specific in their offerings (which also happen to be what I love!) Maybe only 6 tables outside (I do not eat "inside" restaurants due to Covid, but am happy to dine "outside" anywhere) and because I did not actually step foot inside to even use the restroom, I document my experience having never actually having set foot inside. They do not take reservations and because eating indoors is not an option for me personally, me and my friend hung around out front with a glass of wine for about 20-30 minutes until one of the 6 tables became available. Life is different during the Covid reality we are all living and I want to support small spots like Mink, so I had no problem waiting. And WOW was it worth the wait to a tinned fish, oyster loving connoisseur like me. Located just a short drive outside the downtown Detroit area, this spot has a charming, small local eatery feel from the minute you see their little space while walking down the sidewalk (having had to park on the street just up the way). It is nestled across from an empty lot and next to residential houses. Staff was friendly (although the "host" was a bit stiff at first, but the very nice waitress made up for this while we enjoyed our meal). Their wine, sake, beer and cider menu is a small two sided thing (we did the sake sampler and it was a fun accompaniment to our meal...the Fukucho Seaside Sparking Sake was my personal favorite). Their menu is the same, being a small two sided "tapas-ish" listing of tinned fish containing sardines, octopus, mackerel, tuna and salmon from different areas of the world. Served with the accompaniment of oyster spread, marinated vegetables, boiled eggs and crackers, everything from presentation to taste was simply delicious and unique. The theme of this spot renders everything to be shared with the person you are dining with. An experience to enjoy together with someone you like to be in the company of. I loved every moment of this experience (short the stiff host upon arrival). I discovered that the owner is a Singaporean and this kind of reveals a lot to me about how this restaurant idea might have come about They have oysters from different regions and it is not that they were not good (although I have had better oysters elsewhere in the world, because I am equally a connoisseur of them too), but the tinned fish stole the show for me. Sitting outside in a local Detroit neighborhood, good wine and sake and a delicious, unique food offering, I am a fan and if you are like me in the realm of tinned fish and oysters....GO! YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT! read more

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We were celebrating my husband's birthday, and everything about the evening was perfect. Mink is small and intimate. The staff is tremendously genial and knowledgeable. The FOOD is out of this world! We thoroughly enjoyed the tasting menu with the beverage pairing--delicious, interesting, thoughtful and creative. We will be back! read more

Such a quaint little venue makes you feel very personal and involved in the preparation of some amazing food. sitting up at the high top, watching the chefs work was very entertaining. Every course was a new adventure an experience for taste buds. read more

I had pretty high expectations going in - reading all the good reviews everyone else left, but to be honest I wasn't too impressed... there is however free street parking & decor was nice inside. Our server sounded like she didn't really want to be working - given the 20% service charge they automatically charge on the bill, I'd expect some better service.. to add, they don't really do anything special for the "special occasion" you pick online when you make the reservation - not expecting anything usually, but when they ask in the reservation you'd think they'd have something prepared for it. Maybe I'll give it some time and come back again as their set menu changes every so often and I just got unlucky - will update my review accordingly! For now, I don't recommend... Amuse Bouche - Duo of Oysters - east coast oyster ~ raw, smoked black radish [VERY salty] - west coast oyster ~ raw, strawberry mignonette [quite nice] First course - Halibut Cheek Nest - shredded cheek, Serrano vin, pea shoots, savory rhubarb curd, English peas [quite nice! one of the few dishes that wasn't too salty or flavorless! Halibut cheek kind of tasted like crab, delicious! The sauce was nice too - rich but not a taste you'd be sick of!] Second course - Lion's Mane - roasted mushroom, rapini romesco, sous vide egg yolk, croutons [mushrooms were too salty!! All the flavors in this dish didn't go very well together for me .. ] Third course - Fried Softshell Crab - black ramp ravioli, relish, chive flower [you can never go wrong with something fried, let alone fried softshell crab! But the sauce was kind of disappointing and lacking in flavor - or too runny??] Fourth Course - Pelmeni - potato and pastrami sablefish filling, Demi-glace, smetana, kraut powder, chives, and caramelized onions [these were also kinda bland for some reason ... the potato was overpowering the presence of the fish in the filling so most of the time all I could taste was the potato.] Final course - Donut holes - manchego pastry cream, macerated strawberries [YIKES... haha donut holes were so hard... like it was wayyyy too doughy and the manchego cheese chunks in the pastry cream were too chunky so it was too overpowering ... I didn't enjoy this dessert at all...] -------- Drinks: Tensei - endless summer (4oz pour) - tokubetsu honjozo: dry, coconut, cacao, mace, floral [not bad] read more

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Service, food, and ambiance were all amazing. We had a 5:30 reservation but ended up getting there a little earlier. No problem! Our server greeted us and sat us right away. Explained the menu, drinks, and what type of restaurant it is. Since we made a reservation we had the tasting menu, which has since changed, but was delightful. Each dish was better than the previous one. We also added a dozen oysters, and lobster rolls to our tasting menu. Honestly, we were blown away by the quality of food and just the sincerity of our server. Super friendly staff with super delicious food. Will be coming back often to see what the new menus will be like compared the prior ones! read more

Mink - Saki Flight - Seafood Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Yes it was delicious. We got the tasting menu and wine pairings. Great wines and food and good service. Lobster rolls were great as well. read more

Mink - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Quaint and tucked away off Trumbull St in Corktown - this place will not disappoint. If you're a fan of Marrow, head over to Mink to try the seafood equivalent. Additionally, if you're an oyster fanatic like myself, this place is a must for you. Full disclaimer, I am actually not a seafood person unless I'm eating at a place known for seafood - I'm really picky when it comes to quality of seafood (nothing more nauseating than the smell of fish) and Mink passes my test! The experience: Currently, Mink is seating smaller parties (think max 4) so if you can get a reservation, you're in luck! I recommend planning ahead. The restaurant is clean and they maintain the environment according to COVID safety standards. The service is great - there aren't many people in there after all. For future readers, I dined here in Feb 2021 so I can't really opine to the true ambience. However, the COVID-adjusted set-up was really quite charming perfect for a date or a dinner with friend. The drinks: I had wine - they do a great job offering a tasting if you're unsure of what you'd want to commit to. I opted for the Alabrino. In all honesty, I don't recall seeing cocktails on the menu (I'm sure they have them but I can't opine on the quality). For me, nothing beats a white wine with your oysters so that's the route I went and would recommend. The food: take a look at the photos and that's all you need to know. Besides being beautifully plated, the food here is fantastic and why this place deserves a 5 star review. the creativity coupled with the freshness and bursts of flavor made my experience here unforgettable. And in case you were wondering, they know how to prepare their veggies and non-seafood meats as well! While these items were not necessarily the focal point of the menu, they were paired perfectly with the seafood elements. Like I said, if you love Marrow, you need to check out Mink. If you haven't been to either, please book a reservation ASAP at both! You will not regret it! read more

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Braved the patio last night and it was surprisingly comfortable with their heaters on! I ordered al a carte times since I came as a walk in. Indoor seating is reserved for guests doing the chefs tasting menu. They had a fried oyster sandwich on special that was phenomenal and the shucked oysters were fresh. I ordered the sardines in lemon and olive oil tinned fish and it was very filling since it was served with a hard boiled egg, oyster cream cheese, and giardiniera. I'm excited to make a reservation for their tasting menu next time I go back! read more

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Had the tasting menu food & wine. It's really good and the servers are very knowledgeable.

Ping Ho and her team and partners did it again: a fantastic, unique restaurant and bar. Mink is great. Elegant yet understated design, and a small, intimate atmosphere where you can get some tasty grub and wine in a sweater, or dress up in a sport coat and go high end with caviar. We had a bit of everything and my favorite was the shrimp roll... yum! Oysters were amazing too. And don't forget to try a saki flight or two. Oh and ask for Patrick :) Congrats guys! We'll be back for sure :) read more

Mink - Seafood Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Super delicious prefixe meal. The drink paring was great and the service was fantastic. Challenging flavors and local ingredients are always good. Very small and intimate experience. I don't think I would like it as much without the pairing. read more

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Good experience at Mink. My wife and I had reservations for the prix fixe menu. Their menu changes every three week which is awesome. But the menu I'll be referring to is no more. Super small spot, but that makes it great. Everyone was friendly enough. I kinda of expected a little more interaction with the chefs being that they are preparing your food a foot and a half in front of you. I'm pretty sure they never said a single word to us. Not even thank you. The amuse bouche was a duo of east coast and west coast oysters. Delicious. Super fresh shucked right in front of you. So good we added a dozen more. A chefs choice variety of east and west coast. Next up was ocean trout tartare topped with a squid ink chip. This was also very good. Second course: Lobster pelmeni. In a seafood consommé with some chanterelle and maitake mushrooms. This was good but was much more consommé then lobster and mushrooms. Third course, and our favorite course. Roasted butternut squash, smoked eggplant, pomegranate, almond sofrito, mint and basil. This was so good. Fourth course was Black Sea bass and glass noodles. The fish was good but the glass noodles were so salty that I couldn't eat them. I'd say a heavy hand with salt was a theme throughout. The dessert was a baked rice pudding. Not our cup of tea. Overall, the menu was invented and flowed nicely. But the salt was way over the top. The oysters were amazing. We felt service was good but not great. It also felt rushed. I'm also not a fan of the latest trend of forcing me to tip 20%. Doing so left you less than I typically tip. While I understand the premise, if you want your crew to earn more, then pay them more. Great idea but lacking some experience. read more

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