The first thing that comes to mind about this place is WOW! If you don't want to keep reading, just go. This was one of the best evenings we have had in some time. I've wanted to try this place ever since it got such raved reviews in "Hour Detroit" magazine. With the girl at camp, Jeanne and I decided yesterday to go try it out and see what all the buzz was about. We were not disappointed, we had a blast.
Think cool jazz club meets fine dining. They have two seatings, a 6pm and 8:30pm. This is due to the performance during dinner. If you go to the early show you have to be out by 8:15pm for the next seating. The late show goes an hour and then there's a 10:30pm encore performance that you can sit through. We went to the 8:30 seating. You want to show up early as there are no reserved tables, first come first served. I liked this (I'm always early), as you're rewarded for being one of the first to arrive. We got to choose our table and picked a super spot right up front close to the musicians. When you book your reservation they charge a $10 per person cover charge for the show.
So, we pulled up and were met by the complimentary valet right in front. Dropped the car and walked in through a beautiful, massive carved wood door and instantly the decor says, Rat Pack hip. Very hip, man. You almost expected to see Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. at one of the tables. It's not a large space, but also it doesn't feel small. It's like I said, it gives you that very cool jazz club feel. The place is immaculate, very clean. The bar is straight back, the tables are covered in white linen, staff in pressed black dress. The area where the musicians will be is set up by the front off to your right. A very intimate feel. The space is dimly lit, not too dark, with colored accent lights illuminating the ceiling. When we arrived it was this cool blue and later morphed to an amber to give the room a totally different vibe while the show was going on. It's the kind of place that makes you feel welcome and there's an air of "somethings going on" and you want to be a part of it. It also helped that as the 8:30pm crowd started to show everyone was dressed to impress, no kids, and there were many beautiful people.
Let's get to the service and food. We started at the bar. The bartender was attentive and mixed some killer cocktails. J had a Cosmo, in her expert view it was flawless. I started with a Belvedere, very cold with a twist of lemon. You can't screw it up and he didn't. In front of you was a never ending white bowl of freshly popped, popcorn. A great counterpoint to the drinks. Simple and perfectly seasoned. The hostess approached us and we were invited to choose our table, we settled the bar tab, took our drinks and went to our two top.
From here the evening just got better and better. It's always a good sign when you see multiple items on the menu you want to try. When presented with this quandary, I usually fantasize about getting one of each and I guess I could, but would quickly need a new wardrobe. We started with an order of the Flash fried Calamari with Roasted Pepper Tomato Sauce. The squid was done perfectly; crisp on the outside and tender to the bite. The sauce was very flavorful, good acidity and had a slight zing, but not overwhelming. The presentation was inviting and sophisticated being served in a simple white deep bowl. A great dish.
The performance started just before our appetizer hit the table. The Johnny Trudell Quintet was awesome. Admittedly, I am not the biggest Jazz fan, but they were great, I enjoyed the music and would happily see them again. They were very lively, super entertainers and fun to watch. The show made the dining experience a even more memorable event.
For her entree, Jeanne ordered the Prime Flat Iron Steak. It was pan roasted with Oregon black truffle butter and came with Duck-fat fries. I rarely do steak out, unless at an exceptional place that specializes, but the Prime Filet just spoke to me. It was also pan roasted, served with forest mushrooms and hericot verts. It was accompained by a sauce foyote, a variation on classic Bearnaise. We both ordered our beef medium-rare and they nailed it, perfect. I too got a side of the Duck-fat fries, had to do it; they were crisp, expertly done, and addictive. The thing dreams are made of. I would give both dishes a solid "A". With dinner we got a bottle of '07 California Cabernet, a great match for our steaks. Dessert, was a shared Warm Apple "Betty" served in filo with caramel ice cream. Talk about gilding the lily! This was over the top, but without being too complicated. Just simple ingredients done extremely well. A great ending to a great meal.
Needless to say, we will be going back. Next time we'll be bring friends and share this gem!
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