Restaurant Week at Cliff Bells; Dakota Inn Rathskeller Turns 80

Cliff Bell's is a fixture of not only the bar but also the Downtown restaurant scene, and this week Sylvia Rector wrote about the roasted branzino on their Detroit Restaurant Week menu, with nothing but good things to say. She says of executive chef Matt Baldridge, "He plates the silvery fish with marinated stemmed artichoke hearts, assorted olives and a handful of almonds to create a dish that looks almost like a still-life painting." Her endorsement doesn't stop there, she also claims that the Restaurant Week special, three courses for $30, is a pretty good deal. [Freep]

Olivia Vizachero over at Strictly Detroit shares her opinion on the city's best Monte Cristo sandwich-the one served at The Hudson Cafe to be specific. She describes it as perfect for any time of day, and asserts that "the mixture of the salty ham, the swiss cheese and the egg-battered bread is perfectly balanced by the addition of the strawberry sauce." which to her, makes the sandwich, so don't go without it. [Strictly Detroit]

Molly Abraham reviews the Dakota Inn Rathskeller this week in honor of Oktoberfest and their 80th birthday. She likes the authenticity of the heavy German food, the solidly German decor, and the fact that none of this has really changed much since it opened in the 1930's. Her review gives it three of four stars, but it's not because this week's experience was extraordinary, but rather because it was what she expected. As she explains, "Dakota Inn gets an extra star for its admirable consistency over the years." [Detroit News]

Reviews of Torino have been consistently beyond positive, but Sylvia Rector's review definitely sets a new standard. The food is extraordinary, she exclaims, and the amuse bouche (tiny first bite teaser before a meal) elicits a very food-porny description; "In my mouth, the foam dissolved into the pure essence of sweet-corn flavor, balanced against the lime's juicy acidity and the salty richness of the cheese. Then came the crackle of the caramel corn, with an entirely different sweetness and an opposite texture from the foam but, somehow, still tasting of corn." She claims to still remember the exact taste and feel weeks later, and says of the restaurant, "Try it. Whether you love it or not, you won't soon forget it." [Freep]
· Roasted Branzino at Cliff Bell's [Freep]
· Monte Cristo @ The Hudson Cafe [Strictly Detroit]
· Dakota Inn Rathskeller celebrates 80th year [Detroit News]
· Tasting Menu at Ferndale's Torino [Freep]