Dear reader, We stopped into Parlay Detroit after the baseball game and to escape the rain, and it turned out to be a very solid move. The place has plenty of TVs, which made it easy to keep watching games and keep the sports-bar spirit alive a bit longer. The staff was pleasant and friendly, and everything felt easygoing in a way that suited the evening nicely. We got a few pitchers of beer at a great price, which certainly helped morale, and the French fries were an excellent bar bite option. From what others seem to enjoy as well, Parlay does a good job delivering that lively downtown game-day atmosphere without losing the simple pleasures of drinks, solid snacks, and a comfortable place to land. Overall, good postgame stop. read more

Wow... what a BEAUTIFUL restaurant. At first glance, as I arrived at valet, I was genuinely proud to see this Black-owned brick-and-mortar in person for the first time. Unfortunately, I did not anticipate that it would also be the last. The valet attendant was attentive and professional, and the host staff greeted me as I walked in. So far, so good! The bar wasn't busy, but I figured it was still kind of early and things could liven up. I was meeting friends for a birthday toast, and they were already seated at the bar. When I approached, we were very excited to see one another, so naturally, we took a moment to catch up. I noticed there was one bartender in the service well who was busy making drinks and therefore understandably unable to greet me. There was another bartender conversing with patrons standing next to my barstool and another bartender on the far end. Now, as someone with a background in food & beverage, I naturally exercise patience in casual dining atmospheres because service can be a little laxed--which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm not expecting the bartender to teleport across the room because I walked in. However, in this case, after greeting my friends, we wanted to do a round of shots in honor of the birthday girl. After several minutes, we still had not been approached by a bartender. Not to mention, the bartender conversing just to my right was STILL carrying on with the same gentlemen patrons. After a continued wait, the birthday girl decided to flag down the bartender, who acknowledged us with eye contact... ...and then continued her conversation. Ma'am. That was very unprofessional, but we were in such great spirits that we decided to overlook it and try to get the attention of a different bartender. Now, hindsight being 20/20, we should've left right then. This same bartender, standing not even 3 feet away from us, eventually finished her conversation and walked away. She actually ended up standing at the service well in plain sight of us, where she then pulled out her cellphone to devote some obviously much-needed quality screen time. We were in utter shock. Within a few moments, the bartender originally on the far end of the bar had made her way to our side to take a new set of patrons' order who had just appeared to my right. Once again, the birthday girl calls out and asks if it would be possible for her to assist us when she was done. To our dismay, the lady looks at us with absolutely ZERO emotion and simply states, "Yea." Not exactly the response we expected, but hey... it's Detroit. We are natives, although I no longer live locally, so we know customer service isn't necessarily the city's strongest suit. ‍ After Ms. Dead Emotions prepared drinks for the new set of patrons, she followed suit with the previous bartender and walked over to the service well for some R&R with Screen Time Girl. And THAT was the moment we realized these bartenders did not come to work... They came to clock in. At this point, I decided to ask for a manager. The nice woman I approached asked me what it was regarding, and I explained what we had experienced and told her it was disappointing, to say the least. She seemed rational and understanding and offered to send a waitress to the bar to serve us. I thanked her and went back to my seat. It was obvious that the bartenders had been made aware of my grievances because their demeanors and facial expressions suddenly had a LOT to say. At that point, we realized training, support, and customer service may be an unrecognized area of opportunity by upper management. The server was busy with tables but eventually made her way over. She seemed very nice. However, by that point, we had decided we would leave. As we sat there conversing about this unbelievable experience and discussing other bars we could go to instead, a few patrons walked up to our side of the bar to introduce themselves and ask about our plans and whether we would stick around to have a drink with them. When we informed them we were leaving, they asked why. We gave them the short version as we prepared to leave. Sadly, they weren't surprised--but they offered AGAIN to make it right. Imagine customers offering to make it right. ‍ Just before leaving, one of our group stepped away to the restroom. At that point, Screen Time finally walked up and, exasperatedly, asked if we wanted anything. IKYFL. The birthday girl, who is sweet-natured, was understandably disappointed, so I decided, you know what? We'll take a shot for the road. A simple Don Julio Repo shot took longer than it should have... ...but the bill came IMMEDIATELY. And, of course, an automatic 20% gratuity was the cherry on top. At this point, all I could do was laugh. Beautiful restaurant. Great first impression. Unfortunately, the actual experience was a completely different story. WE WILL NOT BE BACK. read more

Our entire visit to Parlay Detroit was amazing! My husband and I were in town from ATL to celebrate a birthday and anniversary. We chose the Parlay Steak for dinner. They were perfectly cooked. Our server Dorian was great and continued to make sure our evening was perfect. We also got to visit with Joique...our BH hometown guy! We are proud of you! Sharon and Ken Bunting BHATL read more

Parlay Detroit - Parlay Steak - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Went in on kind of early (maybe around 8pm) on a Friday night. Not too busy, DJ playing, relatively quiet. Bartenders were quick. Lots of empty taps and other tap handles that they were out of. Had pizza and a couple drinks. The pizza was middle of the road - nothing out of the ordinary but not bad. They don't skimp on the cheese, so it definitely sits heavy. I'd go back, especially if staying at one of the hotels in the area again. read more

The food was good actually. I love the space. The vault downstairs on the way to the bathrooms (seen in quite a few spots downtown in the old business district) is cool. The service? A bunch of listless young people who move like they just smoked a blunt and are gonna get a tip anyway. And they do. Twenty percent is baked in. You shouldn't have to direct the staff in a sports bar to navigate the way to the Pistons game on TV. Booo. read more

The restaurant is gorgeous and we appreciated the valet service in the rain. Waitstaff were lovely and attentive. We ordered lemon pepper wings (slightly too salty IMO), then the chicken sandwich and smash burger. The fries were also slightly too salty IMO (and I like salt!). The burger and sandwich were good, but seemed maybe a little small for dinner. read more

Parlay Detroit - Chicken Sandwich - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Has potential but not there yet. Pros- pretty interior, nice menu with good pricing, lots of TVs, amazing bang bang shrimp Cons- SLOWWWW service, 20% "service fee" added to your bill plus they ask for a tip on top of that, ok "Philly cheesesteak" that was really a French dip sandwich. We went on a Saturday night and it was not busy but the service was veryyyyy slow. When we got our bill there was a 20% service fee and they wanted us to tip on top of this. In my opinion, our service wasn't even worth 20% but we couldn't tip lower. Bang bang shrimp was very good! *editing my review to reply to the business* My tab was $60 so I'm not sure why the 20% gratuity was applied to our bill. read more

The decor is really nice on the inside. The host was very nice and well dressed. The Buffalo wontons were tasty. I tried the chicken asparagus soup and it was tasty. My friend enjoyed her parlay burger. The pasta was good. The fish was well coated but needed to be cooked another 3 minutes and it would have been better. Someone ordered a pork less meat lovers pizza and it looked so good. I'm trying that next time!! Gratuity is included with your bill and there is plenty of street parking. read more

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Prices were high and food didn't match. However food came fast & service was nice. The vibe of the restaurant is fun and a good time.

The place is definitely a sports bar. It is nice on the inside and the ambience is quite loud. The staff is very friendly. So we were going to another restaurant that disappointed us right off the rip so we just walked in here. I ordered the Salmon and the wife ordered the Fish & Chips. The Asparagus that came with the Salmon tasted like it came straight from the ground, it had no flavor at all. It had a charcoal taste but other than that, nothing. The mashed potatoes were really good and thick tasting. Very good. The salmon had a very delicious taste to it and had a very good crust and crisp on it. The wife's Fish and chips were okay, we noticed that the catfish was undercooked and raw. It was very fishy tasting and the French fries were really good. Because of the fish being undercooked and raw the waitress was able to remove it from the bill which was very nice of her. The customer service here is phenomenal, Brooke, our waitress, was such a great person. So another downside of this place that I didn't even notice until after I paid is they charge you a 20% service charge on top of your tip. So basically you're paying to just even be there so know this before you go. Other than the catfish, the asparagus and the service charge everything was good. read more

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This place was amazing the vibe was great. Management was very accommodating. The food was absolutely delicious. I will return I encourage everyone who wants to have a good time and listen to good music to say bye and experience this restaurant. The manager Chelsea, very professional thank you very much for the experience. read more

This is a redemption review! I came in this evening and ordered catfish, spicy collard greens, macaroni &cheese, and bang bang shrimp. It was absolutely amazing! The fish fried perfectly, the greens were perfect with a nice amount of spice ( I usually add hot sauce), and the macaroni was delicious too. The bang bang shrimp I'd rate a 6/10. I had a strawberry margarita which was perfect with a sugar rim. The waiter this evening was also very nice! He was attentive and efficient. The restaurant vibes all in all were nice, house music was playing not too loud. read more

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The drinks and food were excelled. Service was pretty good. The atmosphere was nice, clean read more

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Loved the food, the drinks & my waiter! I'll be back here. It was a great experience w/ friends & family. This was my second time coming and my first time was great too with my partner. read more

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As a woman who's not that into sports, this is a place I truly don't mind going to. The food is good and the place is very clean. The service is considerate and it's family -friendly. Last time I was there, they had live music by a saxophonist, which was a nice touch. Think elevated sports bar for everyone. read more

Parlay is truly a gem in Detroit! From the moment I walked in, the energy was vibrant, welcoming, and classy all at the same time. The sports bar side had a great atmosphere!! Perfect for game day with friends. And hidden speakeasy was such a cool surprise, giving off an intimate and stylish vibe that made the night feel special. A huge thank you to Mr. Bell for the outstanding hospitality. It's rare these days to feel like an owner genuinely cares about every guest's experience, but Mr. Bell went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Between the top-notch service, great drinks, and the unique vibe of both spaces, Parlay is easily one of the best spots in the city. Highly recommend checking it out!!! whether you're there for the game or for a night out, you won't be disappointed. read more

Parlay Detroit - Hidden speakeasy - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Absolutely enjoyed everything about Parlay. I attended with some close friends and I couldn't be happier. From the food to the atmosphere, it was perfect for game day. The server was amazing and made sure that we all were taken care of. Can't wait to go back. read more

Parlay Detroit - Salmon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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We had a really good time with our group of 7 on Friday night. Service was really good even though they were packed, music was good all night, food is decent and there are millions of screens! A super sporty sports bar with tickers and screens everywhere. Drinks are strong and come out fast. The food also came out quickly, but maybe a little too quickly as the wings and pizza both could have used a bit more cooking time. I'd for sure return though. read more

My review is 3 months late..I know I know lol so some things may have changed BUT hear me out! It was my first visit. Food: I can't remember exactly if I got the exact item as is or if I substituted but it was The Brown Sugar Miso Salmon and it was good! It's pan seared salmon glazed with a rich brown sugar miso sauce served with your choice of broccolini or asparagus and Furikake. Drinks: I had a Layup which is Cognac, lavender and lemonade. It was good! Service/Ambiance: The server (at the time) was Melinda. She was great! The ambiance was great. The restaurant was clean. I'd definitely return and recommend it. read more

Parlay Detroit - Brown Sugar Miso Salmon - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This is a vibe spot! Bartenders were not friendly or attentive. Service was definitely lackluster. But it's still a vibe because of the music, people, and food. Food and drinks are average/high. Ideal spot to watch sports. There's wall to wall TV and scrollings sports scores across the wall. read more

Amazing! Great, kind staff. Good ambiance the lighting isn't to dark so i can still read. The food was amazing. My mac and cheese is definitely my favorite. I recommend!! read more

Parlay Detroit - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I go a flavorful Burger and fries the wife got a huge catfish dinner. Laid back casual dress vibe.

I really enjoyed my experience here. The inside is beautifully decorated and clean. Service was friendly. We started with apps and drinks for happy hour. I got the buffalo chicken wontons and a cocktail. The wontons were crispy and flavorful. The cocktail (I can't remember the name) was very good. My dining companions got the wings and all enjoyed them. For my main course, I got the burger. It was a true smash burger and had great flavor. I also really enjoyed the parlay sauce. The bun had been buttered and toasted to perfection. The fries were a little too on the soggy side for me, and next time I'll request them crispy. If you're looking to go out in downtown for a happy hour, this is a great option. read more

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Came here on a Saturday night with my girls. Valet was $30 as is the surrounding parking lots. Carpooling is highly recommended. Reservations are also highly recommended and they do give you a 15 minute grace period. Once we arrived we were seated at a booth. The booth was nice and seats at least 6 people. The music was ON POINT the entire night. Our waitress was so nice. Unfortunately there were crowds of people standing at the bar and in the walkway, so not only could people not get through, but the entrance of our booth was filled with peoples backs. Ugh. We all ordered drinks, which were okay, yet very weak and overpriced. For appetizers we shared truffle fries and the buffalo chicken wontons. Those wontons were pretty yummy. The truffle fries were personally disappointing to me strictly because the fries were not cooked in truffle oil. That makes all the difference on my opinion. For entrees we all ordered something different. Nobody was impressed with their meal. Even the mac&cheese was undesirable! But those spicy greens! My goodness! How perfectly delicious they were! My lamb chops were cooked perfectly, BUT my ginger fried rice was hard like it wasn't cooked thoroughly. So my waitress placed another order for the rice but returned 30 mins later saying the kitchen couldn't make it due to some type of kitchen malfunction. So they adjusted my bill, but it was still very disappointing. So I ate my lamb chops by themselves. For dessert, I ordered the bread pudding with berry compote and vanilla ice cream. No regrets about that whatsoever! I would definitely order that again! Overall if I'm in the area, I would come back just for the ambiance, the collards, and the bread pudding. read more

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Parlay is an absolute yes for me--once you manage to find a parking spot, that is! This spot is the place to be on weekends, and if you're hosting guests from out of town, a reservation here is a must. Trust me, they won't be disappointed. I've tried a little bit of everything on the menu. The oysters are decent, and while the pasta lacked flavor, the salmon was a standout--perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. The drinks are hit or miss, depending on the bartender, but when they're good, they're *really* good. My go-to recommendations? The wings and the buffalo chicken wontons. Both are absolutely delicious and worth ordering. read more

Came here on opening day! Our first waitress was awesome. I don't remember her name. I just know she had blonde braids, very sweet girl! We then moved to the bar were the look alike Chris brown was rude & not attentive. It's like we were annoying him. Sean, another bartender then came over and was very attentive & nice! He checked on us frequently asking if we needed anything else. I ordered the Rockefeller oysters which were good & my friend ordered the truffle fries which were good as well. I also ordered a Paloma which wasn't good, they don't have red grapefruit juice which I thought was odd so they ended up making it with white grapefruit juice, my homegirl had a strawberry margarita which she said she enjoyed. They had a DJ who was pretty good with the music selection. read more

Parlay Detroit - Oyster Rockefeller - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Visited last Sunday. Bye-week for the Lions, so it wasn't terribly crowded. We were a small party of two. We opted for a table instead of sitting at the bar because I wanted a good vantage point of everything. Our waiter, KC was very personable. He was as accommodating as he could be, but was definitely stretched thin. I didn't see many wait staff. The bartender, who was amazing as well, had to bring us our drinks. He was kind to do so and explained that our waiter was occupied. Speaking of the cocktails, I was super pleased with mine. If I return, which I doubt that I will, it will be for cocktails after work. Anyway, we each order french onion soup, which unfortunately was underwhelming. I loved the flavor of the savory soup, but the preparation was a complete let down. The bread, was just a sliver and the sprinkling of cheese was just that. I little splattering. It wasn't melty and lusciously overflowing like the many dishes that I've had at countless other restaurants. Actually, the cheese wasn't even quite melted, by the way. I also ordered a steak sandwich with fires. Again, a real disappointment. The meat was overcooked and crumbly. It wouldn't stay in the sandwich. I had to use my soup as au jus because none came with the plate. My fries were really dry. I don't know how dry fries happens, but I had to use ketchup to eat them. By the way, our waiter was busy when I discovered that I needed the condiment for my fries. We waited several minutes. By this time the fries were cold. Since we didn't see the waiter, my dinner companion asked who appeared to be a hostess to grab some. As she turned her nose up, she stated that she would find the waiter instead of her just grabbing the ketchup. By the way, she'd been standing there doing nothing the entire time we were there. After he asked her, she walked to the front of the establishment and never returned to the area she was manning. By the time I received ketchup, I didn't really even eat the unenjoyable fries, The esthetic matches the prices, but overall, the food didn't at all. I've had much better food at a Coney. Hopefully, they'll rock out as the place becomes more established, read more

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I ordered the bang bang shrimp for an appetizer. The entree that I enjoyed was fried catfish and greens. The food flavors were phenomenal. The fish was fried to perfection. The waiter did a great job explaining the options and was very attentive to every need. The environment was inviting and intimate. I'll definitely be back to try more on the menu. read more

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We had a great time hanging out and watching the lions game here. Initially, we only planned to stay for a couple of drinks. But as the night went on we ended up sticking around. I will recommend you get reservations if you're coming on a game day. This place was slammed!! As usual, we made lots of new friends. The bartenders were all awesome. They have a great happy hour too! I suggest trying the buffalo won ton wraps. Delicious. It looks like they are opening a speakeasy downstairs too. So that's a bonus. Check it out! read more

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Parlay Detroit sounds like a betting man's hideout, but there's no gambling and no sports hall--just a name that doesn't quite live up to its promise. Located a little off the main drag, it's at least an easy spot to slide into during peak madness, like Tigers opening day. We managed to grab a seat without much hassle, which earns it points for accessibility. The food? Meh. The towering hot dog stack looked like it meant business but tasted more like a sideshow--average at best, not worth a second bite. The place was packed, as expected, but by evening the vibe shifted noticeably. The crowd changed, and with it came a sense that not everyone was meant to stick around. It was subtle but present--like the party had turned exclusive and the energy invited certain folks in while quietly nudging others out. We watched the game, filled up on spectacle more than flavor, and made a smooth exit. read more

Parlay Detroit was an incredible experience! I wish we had something like this in St. Louis. I had the pleasure of watching the NBA Finals there, and the atmosphere was electric. It's a high-end, Black-owned sports bar that truly stood out. The space was well-staffed, our waitress was patient, super fun & helpful, and the food and drinks were both excellent. I really appreciated how the manager made rounds throughout the evening...it gave the whole place an elevated, welcoming feel like they genuinely care about their guest's experience. I didn't snap any pictures because it was just too lively and fun in the moment. I'm already planning to come back with my husband the next time I'm in Detroit just so we can come here! read more

Parlay Detroit - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Parlay was nice. Definitely a vibe. The space was upscale sports bar. Love the booths around the bar. Plenty of TVs and seating. Even the basement where the bathrooms were was nice. The employees were great; very helpful, funny and nice. The service was good with the exception that our food didn't come out together. My girl loved her burger and fries. I enjoyed my caesar with salmon. However to add salmon was $15; that was a bit steep. The wings were okay; the sauce wasn't my favorite. The wonton appetizer was yummy! Our drinks were good too. I definitely will return. Love to see a classy sports bar in the city! read more

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Ooo weeee! This is powerful old fashioned. And pretty tasty. Waitress were pleasant and unfortunately I did not tour this place to leave a solid review but I would return for drinks. read more

Parlay Detroit - Old fashioned - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

The drinks were decent we went for happy hour I was bummed out because they didn't have any cute happy hour drinks but the fries and drink were okay and a bit pricey but gentrification downtown is to blame. I don't like the auto grat because as a tipper why are yall forcing it ? Decent stop and grab a quick bite place . For two drinks and two fries we paid 45.99 which was insane but again downtown does that read more

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This Was My First Visit Here & We Went Early In the Day Left Around 4pm That Sunday before the Lions Game ( GO LIONSSS!) The Place Interior Is Very Classy it's Giving upscale Sportsbar downtown area. Food Was Good 8/10 on the Philly steak & starters buffalo wonton was 8/10 wish that orange sauce was in the inside more not plate lol Our server was great & Attentive he did good. read more

Parlay Detroit - Buffalo wontons ( STARTER) - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

The brunch was AMAZING! And the service even BETTER, shoutout to our server Sommer!!!

Did a happy hour time. No food, but the drinks were great. Atmosphere amazing. Friendly bar staff and manager visited. The person ordered the fish and chips( looked and smelled amazing). She comes in and orders it every week. I will definitely be back. read more

Parlay Detroit - Expresso martini, very tasty! - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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I recently visited Parlay and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. After purchasing a meal along with two drinks, I was informed that a manager had instructed the bartender not to allow a customer to buy me a drink. I was never approached directly about any issue, nor was anything explained to me at the time. I was told the manager had already left the premises, so I have no idea who she was. After I asked the bartender for clarification, less than five minutes later I was told that I could, in fact, receive the drink because the manager who had an issue was no longer there and they did not have to honor her request. The inconsistency and lack of clear communication were extremely frustrating. If there was a policy concern, it should have been addressed directly and professionally. Instead, the situation felt distasteful and unprofessional. I genuinely enjoy the ambiance and overall vibe of Parlay, which makes this even more disappointing. I've attempted to call and speak with a manager multiple times to address the situation but have not received a response. I believe in supporting businesses I enjoy, but this experience has left a bad impression. I hope management takes situations like this more seriously moving forward. read more

Bartender was trash as hell! Took him forever to help us, to get our cold fries, burger, and philly cheese steak, and to check us out. He never asked us if we wanted another drink, more water, or anything. It was our first time checking it out. I am from Indianapolis and heard great things about the bar. The service was horrible to say the least. Watching people get cashed out and he taking his time getting to us like we were his cousins or something. It was mad annoying. read more

Parlay Detroit - Waited forever for service - Sports Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

The food was good, service great, and the ambiance is just what you need! You can sit at bar or table! Inside or outside.