Standby

"I had recently heard Matty Matheson was collaborating with Standby on their summer menu so we grabbed a reservation for dinner. The service was awesome, incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the extensive cocktail list. We enjoyed the Anchovies and Olive, the whipper butter and baguette were great. Another standout dish was the Bluefin Tuna Aguachile, perfectly balanced, and fresh it's something I'd gladly eat again. From there we moved on to the Little Gem Caesar Salad that was good, nothing incredible but a well made Caesar. From there the food went downhill. The Spaghetti al Limone had nice brightness and acidity but was lacking the richness to balance it. This dish is a favorite of ours, and I think adding more Parmesan cheese would improve the dish greatly. As it currently stands it's fine if perhaps a bit too acidic. One of my favorite dishes of all time is Steak au Poivre, I'll always order it and I love making it at home. The first issue was the steak itself, it was perfectly cooked however the steak itself was low quality and completely lacking any semblance of tenderness. The Au Poivre sauce was a swing and a miss, needing more pepper, cream and reducing. It was very thin, totally devoid of the lush, decadence that makes it so addictive. The steak came along with Frites and my wife immediately asked if I thought they got them from McDonald's. They're dead ringer for McDonalds French fries, that may be a good thing for some and negative for others. Either way the exactness with which they achieved it, is if anything slightly eerie. All in all I was left mildly disappointed by the quality of the entrees after the appetizers. The cocktails were all really delicious, and the ambiance was fun with lively music. A few changes and it would be really awesome."

"This is currently my favorite cocktail bar in Detroit. The cocktails are so well balanced and thoughtfully created. Be sure to come ready to have a snack too - the new menu is mouthwatering."

"If you desire an elevated experience the standby is amazing. One knows it's open solely by the lit lamp above the door which is an antique metal banded barn like door with exquisite art beside it. As you step thru the door into the space you are greeted with beautiful mandala art on the walls and comfy booth seating. The cocktail offerings begin with the non alcoholic and low alcohol items spa water is so refreshing on a hot day, then goes into the serious beverages. Can't go wrong with a Middleton cup or a black Beretta. The food is amazing the steak au poivre, the burger, and the coconut shrimp with jerk mayo are outstanding. The bartenders are masters of theor craft and can make anything you desire, the servers are knowledgeable and helpful and can make a birthday or a date truly special. This is where I would bring a date I wanted to impress, my friends from out of town, anytime I needed to get away from it all I would go to the standby. Make a reservation, and go."

"I stopped in to have dinner by myself at the bar, I enjoyed the atmosphere, the bartenders were very friendly, it was fun, watching them make drinks. I ordered the house Standby Burger, it was OK just a little thick for my taste, the fries were amazing! The restaurant is small, the entryway is down an alley so you might have an issue finding it right away. There is a parking garage right next to the restaurant so it is easy to park."

"I highly recommend the brisket, the gnocchi, and especially the amaretto sour! Service was impeccable. I loved showing this hidden gem to my friend who was in from Boston. He loved it!"