I've lived downtown Detroit a very long time. Standby until present day is hard to get into. Today's there's a bit more flexibility on a weekday but I still recommend a reservation. Dress up if you come or cool swag. Lights are dim and the music makes you feel better. Drinks are yummy and beers are welcome. The staff is lovely. Brandy is a doll. I did come alone and was treated right. I ordered the pasta and calamari! I love the deviled eggs. I love the carrots and honestly y'all the food is great. Doris approved. 4.6 Only because in order the deviled eggs a lot and a few times they have been cold even tho deep fried- and still yummy. I do like them better a bit warmer also sometimes when empty the food still takes a long time to come ourt- not that I am in a rush! Other than that- it's beautiful and I completely recommend for a date night, team thing for work, or a girls night out. Food: Tonight I got the calamari and the pasta. Calamari is a good mix of pieces. Soft but deep fried. It's in a coconut spicy pineapple white sauce. It's good but I didn't finish the plate. I also got the pasta. The cream sauce isn't special- taste out of the can. The sage would have been better fried. The stuffing is beautiful: really yummy and the shells would cooked al dente. Just lovely, Great amount of food for the price. And some crunch on top. I would recommend. I just wish the white sauce had some bite and there was just one slice of bread. I was offered fresh silverware that matters to me: and my waitress wasn't annoying I didn't feel rushed out. She was very nice and kind to me. Highly recommend! read more

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Delicious new flavors, smashing drinks and loved the birthday shot instead of a dessert. Pork belly was divine, soy cured egg on the cuke salad was unique and those wings... how are those "grilled"?? Truly tasty and the texture was really great. Will be back! read more

Standby - Sazerac and the Bai Mai (one spicy tequila drink!) with a thai basil rim. - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

We had a great night cap on a busy Saturday night - the bar is open until 2 and has a fun vibe and great music. Top-notch cocktails - it's fun to sit at the bar and watch - the bartenders are cool and friendly. They made me the nicest mocktail - I told them what I like, and they made me something. Delicious and pretty - I don't usually spend $12 on a mocktail, but it's nice to sit at the bar with a pretty drink while your friends have cocktails. It's a great spot to stop on your downtown tour. read more

Service was great from start to finish! Creative cocktails and everything we tried was fantastic!

Outstanding Drinks! What a great bar. Nestled in an alley way that is directly next to a beautiful parking structure. Standby is serving up my absolute favorite drink, the Cucumber Minty Boi along with delicious food! Parking is limited on the street but plentiful next door at the structure. The best part is, when you dine at Standby, you can receive a 2-hour parking validation you can use towards your total parking costs. Service is good, food is amazing! I tried the Tostados with shrimp - excellent choice. The plates are small but the food is out of this world. Delicious flavors including savory from the pickled radish from the tart limes and the juicy grilled shrimp. The music is loud but doable. The interior is dark, rustic, and romantic. The perfect date night spot or an evening out with close friends. I will definitely be back! read more

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OMG THIS PLACE!!! This was one of our favorite places when visiting Detroit. The food was so good. The drinks were so delicious, but, the service was out of this world! Sky, Ibrahim, Angie & Miguel were probably my most favorite people they made our night so memorable we went back a second day! we then got to meet the wonderful manager, Liz , also Taylor & Marquez along with the other fabulous people! I will come back to Detroit just to hang out with these amazing people. If there's anything you do in Detroit, it must be going to the standby. but one time here will not be enough! read more

Drinks were pretty good- I would give the place 4.5/5 for drinks. Slightly expensive but they pride themselves on using high quality spirits. The food was not worth it at all. No one at my table liked their food, except my food was okay. I got the mushroom tostadas, which I would get again if I had to come back here for whatever reason. Our waitress went and took a lunch break right before we got our food, and didn't talk to us once until our food was done. This would've been fine except two of the people absolutely hated their food. (The spicy fettuchini) - it was seriously the blandest pasta dish I've ever had. There wasn't a single grain of salt in it. For 5 people the bill was about $350. read more

Standby - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Come here for the best drinks in DT Detroit. The food is great too except the fries. If I Must - comes in pretty coconut. Very boozy complex cocktail. Love! Benton's old fashioned- has bacon washed bourbon. Unique and excellent old fashioned. Black Berretta- perfect, not too sweet and unique. It does taste a bit like clementine sherbet. I think I like this drink the best! Fried deviled eggs- amazing, best deviled eggs I've ever had! (& I get devilled eggs everywhere) Burger & fries- burger was great! Really flavorful & yummy toasted bun. Unfortunately it came with very soggy fries :( none were crispy- all soggy. read more

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What a great little peek a boo place! the atmosphere here is quiet, and low, but the food here is out of this world. Staff was wonderful and kind. And on top of things. only negative i have is how far the bathroom is. lol ( its quite comical) read more

We LOVED Standby! We went for drinks with friends and stumbled on the Baker's Dozen pop-up menu. We were hesitant at first, but every drink genuinely tasted like the desert that inspired it. Our favorite was the lemon bar. The vibe was great for a late night cocktail with a cozy table. The service was awesome, they even talked us thru finding the entrance when we got turned around. If you get a chance, walk downstairs to the restrooms and look at the art on the walls. Such a fun touch to the decor! read more

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Great cocktails and conversation with the bar staff. Relaxing mood for a Thursday night. On our must-do list next time in Detroit! read more

I wish I took pictures. We tried most of the food menu. Arancini, fries, and chicken thighs. Lol those were the best options. I've had the burger before but not tonight and it's great. The drinks always solid! I'm a Mezcal girl. Great service! Music and ambiance was just what we needed! Music was excellent! read more

We appreciated the Standby and will be back! It's a perfect date night spot, located in the same building as Brome, downstairs tucked away in the basement! It's super cool, it was an old bank. We sat right outside the vault, which had seating inside as well! The cocktails were amazing. My coffee martini was perfection. It wasn't too sweet, it had more of a coffee vibe, like a spiked gourmet coffee. I loved it!! We came here for a night cap, or I think I would've ordered an additional coffee martini (very unlike me.) I prefer to try an array of cocktails from a good menu like the Standby! We can't wait to come back for some appetizers! read more

Standby - Negroni - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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This place is so cool. The drinks are amazing. I also love how the drink menu tells you if it's booze or flavor forward, that's so helpful. They do have a few pricey drinks, like the one that comes in a coconut, but it's worth ordering at least one because it's just fun! The coconut one was pretty good too. Also I didn't get a meal, but their side of fries was way bigger than I expected. I was not disappointed. read more

Standby - Fries - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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It's my husband's favorite speakeasy. Amazing drinks, great service and tasty food options, too! It's not a big place so try and get a reso when you can. It's dark and can get noisy at times but it certainly is a great spot for a good cocktail or date night. Recommendation: get the chicken wings! read more

Beautiful spot! We were able to saddle up to the bar after work on a Friday. No wait! The bar was like a well oiled machine. Employees were prepping, mixing, tending. The tables were full with twosomes talking and drinking. It's an intimate bar with high ceilings, low lighting, and incredible drinks. We ordered the mushroom tostadas and veganized them. They were delicious. Very hard to choose a drink from the menu. I went with the Obsidian Moonrise. I love green chartreuse, but couldn't taste it in the drink. No doubt it was in there in taking a back seat to the other spirits. Prices are high, but so is the quality of the food and drink. This is not a dive bar and you do get what you pay for. We were casually dressed to head to the game afterwards. Patrons were in both suits and casual attire, so we felt comfortable in the mix. Will definitely come back to this lovely spot. read more

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Tucked at the edge of the Belt, Standby is one of the coolest bars in downtown. Lighting is always a little dim, and every table is graced with a candle as amazing music is played. The drinks are super creative, and you know exactly what to get because the menu is insanely detailed to exactly which kind of glass you get served in. The food is also really good, I had a burger and loved every bite. Later nights can be more busy but the staff never forgets about you as it is a smaller space. If you're a gin fan like me, I would highly recommend the Hurache Lights as that could be the one cocktail, I drink for the rest of my life. I would make a reservation if you have the chance just to guarantee you don't have to wait and have a lovely experience. read more

Standby - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Had couple of cocktails and everything tasted great and loved the ambiance. Would love to visit again and taste other cocktails read more

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The anticipation was all over this place! Many recommended, I can see the appeal of it, but if you are looking for great cocktails I would look for another spot. While the bar was a definite vibe with an eclectic ambiance and sweet music playlist the drinks were WAY TO SWEET for anyone that likes traditional cocktails. This was also a very busy place, so u would not go on a weekend unless you are okay fighting a crowd. read more

Cool place with marvelous drinks. Great service, and the food was excellent also. We split a burger, had the fried deviled eggs, and arcinia. read more

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Music is on point! Cozy soul vibe! Small intimate setting and cute for a celebration! Now, the pretzel I did not like. Taste like wheat bread with salt. Yep I said it. Not my favorite choice. If you're looking for cocktails- this is where you should be. read more

Standby - Pretzel - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Every drop was worth visiting here. We savored everything, from the ricotta toast to the burger to the English Pea Martini. We stopped here on a whim and were thankful they could squeeze us in. The cocktails were beautiful and even more delicious. The food was very good. My husband didn't love the burger but said it was good. The toast and pork skewers were amazing! The interior is small and reservations are recommended before 9. It's also quite dark inside, perfect for cooler weather. The service was great as well and even though they got very busy, we were always attended to and able to leave on time for our show. It's right next to the Z parking garage and they will comp 2 hours of parking for guests. It's within walking distance to Ford Field and Comerica Park as well as several museums and galleries. read more

Detroit is a foodie's paradise. We always enjoy trying new restaurants. The Standby is a hip cocktail lounge with a short menu of tasty plates. Fantastic waitstaff and ideally located off the Belt. We enjoyed the burger, shrimp tostados, and chili coconut calamari. Pricey yet flavorful and well-plated. The place is small, the music is thunderous, and it fills to the brim quickly on a Friday night. Probably because we don't drink (and the cocktails looked adorable, coming in all shapes, sizes and colors) and have embraced our introverts during the pandemic, it wouldn't be our vibe. Or maybe we are simply too "senior" to enjoy the hipster . read more

Standby - Sights in and around the Standby. Look at that front door! Ideal location off the Belt. - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Came here after dinner one night for some cocktails before heading home. We ordered: Raspberry milk punch - Too syrupy sweet. Hard to drink and I didn't finish it. La Joya - We both enjoyed this one. Kingston Negroni- Really liked the Jamaican rum funk. Tick of the clock- This was my favorite one. Not too sweet and very balanced with high acid notes. Middleton cup- nice cucumber/aloe flavor but again had the overly syrupy sweetness. Didn't finish this one. Even though 2 of my 3 drinks were too sweet, I did end up getting comped for 1 when the waiter noticed. I just didn't want to fuss for the last one. The flavors were really good, just too sweet. If you don't like sweet drinks I would just ask that they don't use too much syrup/sweetener. They also do a break even bottle which meant we were able to get a really tasty whiskey for just a few dollars for an ounce pour. read more

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if I could give this place a higher rating I would. hidden gem with the best small plate & handcrafted cocktail menu! read more

Standby - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Great drinks and romantic type environment. We only stopped for drinks. The drinks were definitely made with love as we sat at the bar and the bartender took his time ensuring he sent out beautiful drinks that taste good. read more

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Standby was far and away the best bar, restaurant and hangout I visited while in Detroit. To be honest. .. it wasn't even close. New restaurants and bars are popping up everywhere. Construction crews seem to be working on every road. The quality of the competition isn't quite there, but I trust it's just a matter of time. It's cool to see the recent investments in the city's infrastructure, food scene, housing and education system. Hopefully the long lasting residents aren't priced out and are able to enjoy the resurgence. We often see the communities that established the rich culture of various neighborhoods and cities pushed out to make way for opportunistic culture vultures. We'll see if Detroit falls victim to this unfortunate trend. Standby is a fairly small, but popular craft cocktail bar that serves restaurant quality food. Apparently they serve one of the best burgers in the city, but I didn't get an opportunity to try. I can say the BISON BOLOGNESE was exceptional. Maybe my expectations were low considering my other dining experiences in the city and Standby being a bar, but wow! The bolognese was perfectly seasoned and flavorful. I believe the pasta is handmade too. I didn't see a DJ the few nights I visited, but I need someone to send me their playlists, lbvs. Awesome vibes and the staff isn't pretentious. Standby knows what it's doing, both in terms of the bar and kitchen. Excellent service and overall experience. I strongly recommend and it's worth a special trip if you're in the Detroit area. read more

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SO many varieties of poutine! Generous portions. We loved the food ! The ambience is artsy college, dark. Good help. We'd like to try so many more of the choices! read more

Worth every penny! Delicious,creative cocktails that evoke far off places and sketchy adventures. Make sure to pair your drinks with one or more of their small plates . Standby was just what I needed after a long shift in the ER. read more

Cute spot. Like the atmosphere. Could see it getting crowded. The parking garage is right there. Service was helpful, knowledgeable and very friendly Drinks- If I Must Green Hawaii Word Travels Quickly Snake in the Grass Tommy's Margarita Tick of the Clock Food- Wings Fries. Meh Pretzels Grilled French Onion read more

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Cool. Chic. Speak easy. Food was good. Drinks were great! Attentive service. Probs not a place for littles but def a great place pre concert! read more

Standby - Deep pocket & Red Wedding - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Absolutely love Standby Detroit. They have a variety of cocktail drinks and they are always adding new drinks and is very innovative. The drinks are delicious and the food is so good. They have small shareable plates so you can try multiple dishes. Highly recommend read more

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This little hideaway isn't so hidden as it always seems to be packed. We squeaked by one Saturday evening by getting there a little early and taking one of the lash tables available, but by the time we were done getting a drink, it was jammed to the hilt. It's a very cool little room, with a lot of great energy, and an extensive wine, beer, and cocktail list. The cocktails looked very inviting, but I went with wine because most bars around here have terrible wine lists. I like the buzz of this place, and would definitely go back to try some new drinks. read more

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Expensive but worth every penny. The beverages are delicious and the bites, though not a huge menu, are excellent. The space is chill but upscale and the bartenders are experts at what they do. Definitely a bit more formal in that they have a host that will seat you, but if you're lucky enough to get a table (which isn't challenging if you come early enough) then you'll have a really comfortable time sitting and sipping (vs being shoved into a bar standing next to someone with no concept of personal space). The beverage menu is seasonal and inventive. In January they had an entire menu based around ocean flavors like plankton, sea vegetables, etc. I've never seen anything like it some of the flavor combinations they've come up with. They've also started making "Spirit free" options of their beverages which is awesome if you're not a drinker but still want something more interesting than a club soda or diet coke. I've not done a lot of dining here, mostly snacks, but the black garlic chicken wings are *chef's kiss* and the charcuterie board is always a reliable choice. read more

Standby - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This place had a great vibe. The service by our waitress, Brittany, was excellent. I had the drink called the "Check Your Baggage". It was delicious . The wings were good and the Orchard Salad was great! read more

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To say we were pleasantly surprised would be an UNDERSTATEMENT! We made reservations to try before going to a Wings game and thought we would get a few drinks and a couple apps. Before we knew it we had ordered almost 1 of everything on the menu because each thing kept turning out better than the next! Would highly recommend trying the fried deviled eggs if possible, the mix of fried texture with the creamy deviled eggs was so different and amazing. Our server was great, the perfect balance of helpful but also left us alone to chat amongst ourselves. If you're on the line about trying this spot, go and come hungry & thirsty! read more

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Some time has passed since my visit so I will not be as descriptive as usual but I do remember everything being wonderful. I adored the veggie flatbread. One of the drinks I had was extremely strong but still pretty good. Service was good; I liked the overall vibe as well. The alley outside is a super cute area. Highly recommend read more

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Strongly recommend Standby! The vibe was fun and upscale without the pretentiousness. They were on a wait when we arrived (a weeknight at 9pm - GOOD SIGN!), and the service was great! If Brick Chicken or Sliders are on the menu ... you're in luck! read more

Early birthday dinner brought me to Standby for my very first time! I really enjoyed the food and the ambiance! The street corn sweet potato was amazing and so was the pork belly! I tried the infamous burger, and it lived up to the hype! Very tasty and juicy! I also tried the old fashioned and I can confidently say that it was the best that I've ever had. Very flavorful and not overpowering whatsoever! Our waiter was also very nice and attentive. I'm looking forward to coming back some time soon! read more

We had a great experience at this establishment We found it on Yelp - as this is our first time in Detroit It did not disappoint- we sat at the bar and got to watch Tyler work his manic as an artist making amazing cocktails! We each had the standby burger with bacon & egg on it, flavorful French Fries It was busy the whole time we were there - cool vibe And Tyler was informative and a true pleasure to meet, as an inspiring professional mix-master, honing his craft , right before our eyes........... read more

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