Reviews of Central Kitchen + Bar (Restaurant)

Jinah Kim

fried chicken sandwich was delicious and my drank was nice & strong! definitely want to go back to try other items. outside seating was nice- jazz festival was going on, which was cool but it was very loud.

Robert Mitchener

A fantastic spot to stop for a more relaxing bite with comfy covered outside seating and a big central bar inside. I personally wanted to be outside and I was very satisfied with my experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and there was no wait for lunch. The portions were a good size, and when I ordered my burger they actually cooked it to the degree I requested, medium rare. That is very rare to find in burgers, most the time they ask and it comes back well done. Food was delicious and brought it in a timely manner. Would definitely recommend stopping in if you want to have a quieter lunch.

Meg Thomas

Really nice restaurant. Lovely and new. Good prices for the food you get. Really flavourful dishes

Anton Lulgjuraj

Downtown Detroit has come to life. What a wonderful time the energy is here. My wife and I had dinner at the Central Kitchen. We enjoyed dinner with a few drinks. The staff and service was exceptional. I will be back. I recommend you visit Central Kitchen and enjoy a great restaurant.

Jacob O'Connell

One of the good places in Detroit.

J Rich

Great food and atmosphere

b H

We were headed to Townhouse but it seemed too loud and crowded on a Friday night. As we were coming from a play, we just wanted a place for conversation, snacks and drinks. So we revisited this place after a less than stellar experience 9 months ago. Experience was wayyyy better this time around. The staff were attentive, friendly and fun and had perfectly timed visits to the table to check on us for food and drinks. The menu has great options, and for a late evening visit had great sharables for the table: calamari, cheese board, beet salad, rosemary fries... all delicious. The rosemary fries are what brought us back after the last visit (when we had pretty much been ignored by our waiter and the food was slow and too salty). This time was SO much better! Good music playing, loud enough to enjoy but not blaring music like some places have on weekends. They had a good sized clientele on the night we were there, accomodating a larger group easily, but with booth options for smaller groups. Definitely glad we gave this place a second chance, thanks to our host and wait staff (shout out to Marvin) and great food we would now consider it our 'go to' choice for the area.

Crystal Baskin

We had a blast for my 40th birthday celebration

Annum

The ambiance is phenomenal! The food is amazing. A little on the pricier side though.. about $14 for 2 fish tacos that came with nachos and freshly made salsa and that was the lunch special. If you ever end up here during a happy hour their rosemary fries are amazing and they give you a very nice portion!

Luc Poenaru

Amazing tacos and string fries!

Susan Browne

Love this place, great food, good service, fun atmosphere

Frank H

Great food and atmosphere

Jeffrey A.

The food was tasty, but didn't blow my mind. I had a "vegetable poutine", but as a Canadian, was sadly disappointed in it. The selection here was a little bit lacking overall.

Bennie Smith

The food is always been consistent nothing really spectacular on the menu. Wings, burgers and your average downtown brunch.

Charles Martin

Good food. But the chicken wings are fried great..but not seasoned well at all!!! And the wet truffle butter was not coating the chicken!

Chris Wright

Filet was not that great. Just thought I would try this place but not impressed

Bryan Waldron

Great atmosphere in the CBD of Detroit.

Brenda Simpkins

Great place to go to after work. Food is amazing

Average Hefe's Adventures

Food was excellent. Great selection of drinks. The service was great. Lots of people around, but no one really bugged me. Nice place worth a return visit, but is a bit pricey.

Rochele Stack

I would recommend this place to anyone. Lance, the manager, was amazing! Best customer service I’ve ever experienced in the food industry. He made a wrong situation not only right but went above and beyond! Good was great, atmosphere was great... 5 stars!

Megan

Great drinks, dishes and friendly faces!

Oliver Weilandt

Meh "central" Burger and old fashioned cocktail. This place doesn't know whether it wants to be a fine food and lounge bar or half a star above a mediocre pub. For not it is the latter with prices of the former

Andrea Boarman

Service was incredible and the food was awesome. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 only because my steak came out well instead of med-well.

Wilson Prekelezaj

Great atmosphere and service! Dinner was amazing also!

Dee Dee P.

Nice ambience, service and food

Anthony Fisch

If you are looking for a hidden gem brunch spot and don't want to wait for dime shop please give central kitchen a try. The patio backs up to a park and is great for people watching over mimosas. I ordered the tacos pictured above and enjoyed the earthy flavor. The chef is a bit heavy handed with the cheese but if that's your thing you will not be disappointed.

Adam Harrison

Central Kitchen + Bar was an incredible experience! Ashley was an amazing bartender (with very strong drinks) for a reasonable price. We had the steak tacos, chicken sandwich, and burger but BY FAR the burger was the best! Our waitress Nicole was hilarious and fun! Atmosphere is family friendly and chic. We will be back :)

Nick di cresce

Calamari and flatbread where fantastic. Even better then the food was the service by our waiter. Best in a long time! Very knowledgeable about the food, and pleasant and happy. Made my wife, daughter, and I feel very welcomed.

Monae Small

I had the fried ice cream and it was so delicious. I would go back again. I'm curious to try the weekend brunch.

Amber Briscoe

I was over charged on my bill and when I called them to get it corrected I was told that the manager that handles that would call me back they never did. I had to call 3 more times before I spoke to the manager in charge of refunds. They told me that there accounting department was going to mail me a refund check after I gave them all my information and I have still yet to receive the check after 3 weeks. They needed a copy of my bank statement and everything. I will tell everyone I know to never visit this place unless you are paying with cash. They are unorganized and don't know how to properly fix there mistakes. I will never do business with this place again.

Mike Bennett

Special was just ok. Loved the environment and service was very good.

Jeff Niemi

Great service great food Great environment.

Christina Warren

Good food, a bit pricey but worth it

Jim Sarti

Cosy little place in the heart of Detroit. Decent selection of beer on tap.

John Koza

The waiter was very rude.would not evan smile.i ordered a whiskey sour and it was very bad .ask the waiters name and he told his name is imad.i was curious which country he's from and he got very mad and told he's Arabic and 100% muslem. Then angrily asked me where I'm from. I told him I am also arbic.but left the Religion out of the conversation .over all service was bad food was o k.will not go back .there's more to the story. But Enough said

Maggie Sheedy

Waited for 25 minutes for a table on a Friday night, so it was very accessible. Our server was attentive, and our water was filled by a server assistant every 15 minutes, which was nice because it was a hot summer evening. I had the shrimp and grits and can confidently say they were the best grits I have ever had... and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend had the steak and fries, and those were also wonderful. The music was a bit loud for us, but hey, that's just our preference. The food and service were excellent and we will return.

Stetson Blake

I dined here with a few friends over the weekend of the Detroit auto show. I will argue that the weekend we came was maybe extra busy than normal and I will also acknowledge that mistakes do happen. The decor in the restaurant is very nice and it's a comfy place to eat and hangout. Having said that, service was some of the worst I've received anywhere. Our food took almost an hour to come, some items did not come, and a burger that was ordered looked as if it had been seared for a minute -- the inside was red. After many experiences with management, our meal was comped. I can't say they didn't make things right, but I'd rather pay double for somewhere that does things right. I'm not out to get a free meal. Management spoke with us and seemed sincere, but really did not deliver on making things okay until further prodding. I wish I could send a bill for my time.

Diane Gibson

What a pleasant place to meet friends and eat! I was so happy to see some of the rebirth of Detroit in that building! Really tasty, interesting fare and good wines in a convenient location downtown. I love going there now with family when I come back to visit my Motown.

Jessica Wiegand

Great find! Vegetarian tacos were amazing! Super-flavorful, great texture, and I really have never had anything like them. It was busy, but we were seated quickly and had friendly, prompt service. Would love to go back next time I'm in the area!

Von Hogan

A truly OUTSTANDING Experience :-) I was actually working here on some short notice type of stuff, which is why I was there.....which was My first time. Enjoyed tbe people and the staff. I had their signature burger and am in LOVE

Richard Metzler

Industrial vibe restaurant with goodmenu of traditional items with a little spin. Nice bar in the center with a view to the street is a nice spot for a drink. Menu lists all bottles of wines at a discount on Thursday but if you order before 4:30pm they will charge you full price which is a little misleading. Fries for the appetizer were really good. Table was served the tuna and brussel sprout salad which were both very good. Hamburgers came out cooked as ordered and brioche buns were very fresh.

Adrian S

Nadia, the manager, is horribly rude and should be fired. I go to downtown all the time and have never had a worse service with management. But we called 2 hours in advance for call ahead and was promised a corner table but when we got there and waited for over an hour Nadia, the rude manager, was being a smart with us asking us to go check people's tables to see if they paid their bill and told us to ask them to leave in a smart reply. Extremely rude manager. We were extremely nice and patient the entire wait time, but Nadia does not belong in customer service. She needs to go. She gives this great place a very bad reputation. I saw many people upset with her service. You applied to this job, you walk into work everyday knowing it's going to be busy, you need to control your attitude to your customer who pay your salary. Your choice to work there not mine, so shape up.

Leslie

Cute place. Nice setting. Had the fish taco, right amount of food. Would go again

Scott Burgess

Nice happy hour! Enjoyed the open space, will return again.

Jaye Bass

Great Place for Brunch and the music is good

Nate Vance

Great food and service! I had the buttermilk fried chicken and it was as good as I anticipated. The fries seemed a bit over seasoned, but we're still great!

Justin May

A very fashionable and trendy restaurant in downtown. The food was quite good and the prices are modest considering portion size. I recommend their herb Seasoned Fries and Bistro Onion Soup. Wasn't a big fan of the Roasted Cauliflower Salad, but overall I would recommend Central Kitchen + Bar; we'll be going there again!

Gretchen Bennett

Very cool spot in dt Detroit. Beautiful food, drinks, people, and decor. Flew to Detroit from Boston to have my birthday there last year - that's how good it is. Dennis is a perfect host and his restaurant is always buzzing.

Leeanne Salins

Stiff drinks and great fish tacos. Fries are amazing

Ron

A little over-priced but it's a cool spot for a few drinks when downtown. Need to expand bar and finger food selections and not be so..blah.

Steve Bruce

Stopped in on a late Friday evening and we were seated right away. I really enjoyed the music that a young man was playing. Our waiter was friendly and courteous. We ordered drinks and told him to delay our dinner for a few minutes and to use his discretion, the meal arrived with perfect timing. The fish tacos were good and the burger was also good however it was ordered medium and came very rare. I would have sent it back however in the past at other places they just microwave it instead of redoing it. (Not that I know they would do that here) Overall I would come again but would emphasize "medium".

Pineapple Kisses

This place has a wonderful glow and a happy hour feel with a upscale twist. We brought our 1 year old out on the heated patio which was a splendid place for a family moment ( They olnt have 1 night chair *insider scoop). By the bar was full of a happy go crowd enjoying mimosa's and drinks specials. Love the place will visit again

Mahnoor Tariq

Everything on the menus is so good. Especially tacos! Service was amazing

Khayyam Wilson

Insanely busy place but I can see why since they have superb food and staff, on top of this the atmosphere and decor is nice as well

Mark Williams

Central Kitchen is a pretty good upscale burger place! The menu is diverse enough and the food cutomized enough that you can find something to fit your need regardless of your food tastes. That being said, the tables are small (and so is the dining space) and the burgers have a tendency to come out more on the rare side of what you order. If you know that going in and order appropriately, you'll get exactly what you want. The service has always been fantastic, the atmosphere is energetic, patio dining is great in the summet and this place really is "central" to downtown.

E Stewart

If I could give 0 stars I would, for the prices charged for food and drinks I would except toilet paper to be in the bathrooms, maybe I was being too ambitious. The Manager sat two tables away chatting with 2 other coworkers, when we gave her a heads up she got up to look at the bathroom. Upon reviewing she replied the person who does bathrooms left for the night and it was not her job to clean bathrooms. In a dismissive tone she said "Thank you" while walking away. I assume good customer service is not her job either as she returned to her table and continued chatting. Food and drinks were just okay, with so many other options downtown you would think Management would know better. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE.

Multi Vendi

Its an ok place. Location is great. Food so so. Very tight place. We sat out very cold draft. Not insulated properly. Service is slow.

Cindy U

Came here during jazz fest. It was busy but not crazy busy. Staff was friendly and attentive. I ordered a burger... It was overly salty and just plain bad.

Zachary Houchin

Service 1 -minimal attention as an afterthought Salmon 1 -served undercooked with bones Martinis- no point in ordering a specific drink when the details are ignored Price- this place should be ashamed. I’ve paid 3x the price for a better meal in many other cities.

Rudolph Arnold

Good food and good service.

Adam Bishop

First thing I noticed when I walked in the door was the great customer service! Very respectful and responsive to your needs to the point of anticipating your needs before you ask. The food was well prepared and they have some really delicious signature drinks. The building used to be a bank so look for one of the original bank vaults when you first walk in!

Jimmy Moceri

Came for brunch on a Saturday. Pork Belly Hash and Mimosas were great!

Becky Webster

The staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was really good. Goo place i recommend going there.

Ken Brennan

Awesome building and great food.

Brooke Horton

Really good fries and the aioli was amazing as well. We always try the calamari everywhere we go and this place was one of the better ones I’ve had! We only came for happy hour but we will be back, the food and drinks look delicious and were hard to choose between!

Jennifer Mietz

Great atmosphere. Interesting drinks.

Terence Mack

Absolutely horrible went there for a back to the 90's brunch The Establishment had no clue of the event had to show them the flyer showing their location and date they didn't honor any of the specials listed on the flyer for the event. There service was horrible their menu is non-descriptive and doesn't equal what is served to you absolute waste of time... I've had better service out of self-serve gas station.

Jordan Grnak

Great location in Campus Martius. Trendy place with a cool vibe but overpriced food. Fish tacos are definitely best thing on the menu.

Nikole Clarke

It's decent but not amazing.

Keya's Murray

Very nice place to dine and have drinks

Victoria Goldberg

Visited here before the fireworks last night. Overall a positive experience, our waitress was friendly and tentative. My fiance and I shared the mussels (which took a little long to get) but overall worth the wait. I had the ceviche as my main dish- which I personally wasn't a huge fan of possibly because of the tomato base - and my fiance had the chicken sandwich, which was good but nothing to brag about. To sum it up, this is the perfect place to share an appetizer and have a few drinks. Cool atmosphere and a great location.

George Karpathios

Nothing to brag about. Nice place though but food is not special

Amy Neal

Delicious food, great service, fun and lively atmosphere- I had the filet and fries, tasty wine sauce and I enjoyed the sauce that accompanied the fries.

Sandra James

We had a great time the service was very good!! And the food was very good as well, we will be going back again soon!!!

Benjamin Wolfe

Their menu is fantastic. I love every dish I've ever had or seen there.

Karyn Craw

Central burger and roasted cauliflower salad were cooked properly and the salad was particularly good. Our waitress was delightful, checked on us often but wasn't obtrusive. I've been here before for brunch and the music actually forced us to leave, it was much more comfortable this time so I'm hoping that was a singular incident.

Yonikka Tinsley

Great staff and food always. The food is hot and fresh. Try the rosemary fries and the Ahi Tuna. Lamont is my favorite cook! Please bring back the Lemonade stand.

Killian

Very modern, comfortable restaurant. They have different menus for the different meal times of the day, but nearly all of the options look and sound fantastic. I had the chicken and waffles, which to my surprise came with gravy as opposed to syrup, and jalapeno honey, but man it was delicious. We also had their cheesecake which was phenomenal. Service was great and friendly. That being said, some of the meals' portions are a bit small for the price, but very delicious nonetheless. I very much enjoyed my time, would highly recommend checking it out!

Deva Te

I absolutely Love Central City Kitchen I am a vegetarian and often find it hard to find a restaurant that have dishes that I can order from the menu usually I have to create my own dish. I ordered the vegetarian tacos which have plenty of flavor and filling. Also we were able to listen to the live music from the restaurant while we ate!!! I highly recommend this place and definitely will be back

Robert Reeves

GREAT veggie tacos and red wine

Jeffrey Walsh

Never going here again. Service is a joke

Steve Crell

Food was amazing and eating outside was very nice.

Steven Vickers

Quality, good tasting burger, with just the right amount of mushrooms, lettice and sauce to add extra taste without overwhelming it. Come with potato chip, have to order fries extra. Good surroundings. Service a little slow.

Elizabeth DB

The chorizo tacos and huevos rancheros were in point! But nothing compares to the bottomless mimosas for $12. Our service was slow and non attentive but we killed 3 hours throwing back mimosas. Can’t wait to go back!

Andrew Manningham

Marvin is the absolute best server I have had for a long, long time. His service was exceptional, to say the least. On top of that, I ordered the chicken paillard and it was fantastic. HIGHLY recommend this place.

JC Leiser

The food was not worth the price. Seems you're paying for the locale. Cheap refills on brunch cocktails was a plus. Would you again and try something different

Sondra Jenkins

LOVE the menu offerings and the quality of the food! It's clear that other people love it too, because it's ALWAYS packed and you ALWAYS wait for your table, with or without reservations. So adjust your attitude, bring your patience, and prepare for a great meal in a hip environment that makes you feel like you're one of the "cool kids!"

Jovan Morgan

Normally I would give this spit a 5 star but after my experience tonight not sure if I'll return. I frequent the restaurant due to its smooth, grown and sexy atmosphere. Today was a different experience in service and it was most off- putting. The bar tender did not offer me water, after she finally notice me at the bar after waiting 15 mins, she took 7 mins to pour my drink and still did not bother to ask me for water. I finished my 1st drink and waited to order another for nearly 20 mins. As a business person myself I would question how many customer may experience this and say nothing but take their dollars elsewhere.

Sierra S

I had an overall good experience here. I loved the decor and ambiance. Had a view of the street which was good for prior watching. Service was great. Our waitress was friendly, loved her earrings! My favorite dish was the picked beets salad. I love ceviche, but i was not a fan of the tomatoes in their version. Homemade chips were good. Tacos on flour is weird to me. The spicy cocktail was great!

Dona Coleman

Too crowded and noisy. I might try it again.

Andrea M

Really good food beautiful patio and awesome cake!

Liana Lemke

Great Shrimp and Grits! Extensive wine list and delicious craft cocktails.

Taras Sv

While the food was great, the after effects weren't so pleasant... I experienced nausea for about three hours. Therefore, I could not recommend this restaurant.

Heather H

Beautiful ambience, amazing server Ashley. We had the best time here before our concert. Highly recommend!

Anya Phillips

Elegant food with a laid back feel.

adam BIROTH

Food was good. Just over priced for what you get

Matthew Zager

Everytime I come into the Central Kitchen it's a refreshing experience filled with an open atmosphere, attentive waitresses and excellent food at reasonable prices. The Central Kitchen is near Campus Martius Park, but feels as if you are not in the heart of a busy city, takes a step back so you can relax and enjoy some downtime and good conversation with those your with.

Ben Scott

The food is decent but the beer selection sucks. Everything is expensive and the atmosphere is way over the top and pretentious. Go somewhere else.

Kayla Reaves

Very good calamari and fries. I had the Detroit burger which was good, but a tad salty

Gabriella Starr

Was on my food list to try and was very good actually.

RocKN JB InDaD

The owners are great guys that care about the customers and staff. Food and drink is sublime.

mil patrick

Good location. Nice vibe. Tasty fries and wings

Rhiannon Clifton

Great service and even better cocktails

Tonya Moor

I had a great time. It was my first time hear but my service was wonderful. The bartender Angie was great. She provided great customer service and always asked me what I needed. I would highly recommend this restaurant

Ayman Husain

Great restaurant. Great food and excellent service. Nice bar area.

Nathan Kempinski

Good food, great location, and a good staff.

Erica Sims

Really good drink specials. I love the hamburger, turkey burger, fish tacos and CALAMARI!!!! Their fries are AMAZING! Cool vibes and really good music....it's not too loud. They have a few tvs and with a request they'll turn to whatever you want to watch. Happy Hour is 5 dollars for certain martini's and mules along with food specials. The wait staff is awesome and friendly. Not Kid Friendly at all..

Larissa Jones

This is the 1st time I've been disappointed. The only thing I order are the Fish tacos, normally they are on point...but today.....UGH, how am I supposed to even satisfy my hunger with this itty bitty piece of burnt looking fish. Sorry you lost a weekly customer......

Dan Buck

This was an amazing place for lunch! The atmosphere is very inviting, warm, and modern. The workers were very sweet and polite. I ordered the fish tacos which were delicious! The tacos were fresh the cole slaw was really good, you could really taste each flavor from the different ingredients. They came with a side of chips. I would definitely recommend it! Hopefully I'll be back to visit again

Jeff Coates

Excellent food. A little expensive. Relaxed atmosphere.

Diane H

Really good burgers!

Michelle Robbins

Service was excellent, our server(s) were accommodating and genuine. All of the staff we worked with were great with our larger group - and both drink and menu selections were described by our server with ease. I wish I could remember the names of the people that took care of us, but our "main" server was a younger gentleman with a great smile.

sophia fossett

Great food & ambience.

KINGZACK White

Nice atmosphere and good food

K Holtz

Very cool atmosphere

Sandy Connor

The shrimp and grits were some of the best I've had! The fig flatbread was absolutely delicious!

Martha Hill

This place was by far, the best. Doug, our server was the best. This was my first time here, celebrating a birthday, he (Doug) and the waitresses made our night a great night!!

Mom Of Power

Thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance. We were seated outside. We had the mussels and calamari for apps, which were flavorful and plentiful. I also had the shrimp and grits for my entree -- very tasty.

VioLENT prEEchR

Great food and cocktails but service was really slow although the waitress was very sweet and talkative. It seemed less like she was unable to keep up but that we weren't a priority for her. I'm not sure. Either way, we had chicken and waffles and it was amazing. I'd never had it before and very glad this was my first introduction to the dish. They made a great Okd Fashioned as well. I would recommend people coming in hopes your service is better

Rituja Marathe

Good food, good location and great ambience. The cheese plate was amazing. One of the best blue cheeses I've had. The chicken paillard was well flavoured. Good portion size. Their system to track your position in waiting line is super helpful too.

Dean Politis

I really enjoyed this place. I ordered the turkey burger and it was very good. The waitstaff were very pleasant and attentive. They filled my water regularly. I asked to have Dijon mustard instead of their bistro sauce and they were very accommodating. The potato chips that came with the turkey burger were delicious and I have the impression that they were freshly made. The only complaints I had were with their prices and with the lack of healthy options instead of potato chips.

Anessa Kertesz

Great spot in the heart of Campus Martius❤️

Delores Lyons

Great food, great atmosphere, great people.

Jon A

Solid place. Had a Thursday night dinner here, our server Joel R. was phenomenal he really made our first experience a true great one! Very knowledgeable and respectful man. Burger and wings were great!

John M. Sier

Interesting selections, but time it correctly to avoid a long wait

Reg Mciver02

The food was good. Service was excellent. The atmosphere was positive.

Leslie Maeder-Knopf

Moderately busy on a Friday at lunch. Sat at the bar to get a seat quickly. Ordered, waited an hour, bartender attentive, but needed to also attend to waitstaff drink orders. We and bartender were unsure why our burger order was taking an hour. She took care of us. We finally received our meals, on the house due to the wacky delay. Unfortunate that our meal took so long. The Detroit Burger was delicious and would definitely go back.

Preston Abadie

The food, the atmosphere, the service, and the staff are amazing. This is a great place to take mom, a date, or meet up for drinks and food for a date.

MarkandMel Fusani

Delish rice bowl, but we'll done burger was dry. Great service and atmosphere. Around the corner from the Godfry. Would definitely return.

BRI'AN DAVIS

Solid food. Calamari, fries, and edamame were great. Came here for brunch as well. Mimosa refills are 25 cents. My friends and I got like 4 refills each but our waiter did not charge us for the refills. Bottomless mimosas! I got the central burger, which came with chips. It was solid. I tried my friend's french toast. It was sweet and doughy--very good. All of my friends and I enjoyed their dishes!

Angi Mock

Love the ambiance. Bruce Bailey is an awesome addition to the Sunday brunch. The food is decent

Sydney B

Unique menu with familiar favorites. I absolutely love their vegetarian tacos and the fries!! Everyone here is extremely friendly too

Portia Barnes

Great drinks... Salmon was delicious!

Dale Mcintosh

Nice environment, food is tasty but spicey. Also thought the food was over price for what it is.

Roxanne Hargis

Very good food. Decent service. A little pricey for the portion size.

Dale Brown

Wow! The atmosphere and service here is spectacular! Reccomend to all ages!! A little bit pricey but well worth it!

Sammie Rogers

Prices are too high for ok food.

Jarrod Washington

Great atmosphere and you can't beat 25 cent refills on mimosas on Sunday mornings