Walking into Detroit 75 Kitchen in Madison Heights for a quick lunch, my expectations were high!…read moreFrom a visual standpoint, the food looks simply irresistible on social.
Before I even got to the food, the restaurant itself made a great first impression. The property is incredibly well maintained inside and out. There's a spacious outdoor patio for Michigan summer days, along with plenty of indoor seating ranging from communal tables for larger groups to individual booths if you're flying solo. It's a thoughtfully designed space that feels welcoming no matter why you're there.
Now, let's talk about the food.
I'll admit something that surprised me. I've been to Detroit probably 50 times, and I honestly can't remember ever hearing about a Detroit-style cheesesteak. Judging by the walls covered in awards and accolades, though, it's clearly something they're known for.
The sandwich certainly sounds like a winner on paper: ribeye and sirloin, provolone and Swiss cheeses, roasted mushrooms and peppers, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, sweet pickled jalapeños, aioli, house-made vinaigrette, all served on a freshly baked sesame roll. I mean... what's not to love?
Unfortunately, this is where my experience took a turn.
The ingredients themselves are good. The flavors are there. The problem is the execution. The ratios are simply off. The freshly baked roll completely dominates the sandwich, overwhelming everything inside it. The steak gets lost between all that bread, and instead of each bite showcasing the beef, cheese, and vegetables working together, the bread becomes the star--and that's not what you want from a cheesesteak.
I do want to give credit where it's due. The portions are generous, and I especially appreciated that they take the time to make their own dipping sauces for the fries. Little details like that don't go unnoticed.
There are plenty of positives here, and it's easy to see why Detroit 75 Kitchen has earned such a loyal following. But as someone who takes sandwiches seriously, I think this one is technically flawed. A great sandwich is all about balance, and for me, this one never found it. I genuinely wanted to love it. This sandwich lover just couldn't get behind the way it was built.