Inside Prime + Proper, Detroit’s New Steak Fortress

With a larder packed with dry-aged meats and the final touches on the interior completed, Detroit’s bold, new steakhouse Prime + Proper opened its doors to the public on Friday at the intersections of Griswold and State Street.

The high-end, destination is the latest establishment from restaurateur Jeremy Sasson’s Heirloom Hospitality Group — known for incorporating interesting architecture and design into big, splashy projects such as Townhouse Detroit. Prime + Proper, located in downtown’s rapidly redeveloping Capitol Park area, follows in those footsteps. The restaurant is attempting to build upon the well-established steakhouse culture that’s already ingrained into the dining scene and history of Detroit.

Sasson brought back Townhouse Detroit architects and collaborators McIntosh Poris Associates to bring a polish to the interior of Prime + Proper. The reported $3 million restaurant features a rectangular, 20-seat bar, a 144-seat dining room, and a basement private dining room.

Designers drew from a monochrome palette with brass accents for the interior. Different combinations of patterns and textured fabrics add additional elements to the space such as the black cowhide on the host station. Round-backed chairs mirror the large curved booths that fill the majority of the dining room.

Dry-aged beef in a variety of cuts — prepared by in-house butcher Walter Apfelbaum — is showcased prominently inside the restaurant at a special meat case. The butcher area also offers a prime view of the kitchen’s massive wood-fired grill.

In addition to the meaty main events, chef Ryan Prentiss’ menu features a large raw bar, a caviar service, and an extensive selection of sides such as fire-roasted maitake mushrooms and ash-roasted potatoes. Customers can wash it down with the restaurant’s extensive list of wines assembled by sommelier Liz Martinez.

Photographers Michelle and Chris Gerard got a peek inside the downtown newcomer ahead of its first night of service. Take a tour of the restaurant in the gallery below.

The Dining Room

Michelle and Chris Gerard

Michelle and Chris Gerard

The Butcher’s Counter and Kitchen

Michelle and Chris Gerard

The Food

Michelle and Chris Gerard

Michelle and Chris Gerard

The Dry-Aging Room

Prime + Proper is located at 1145 Griswold St. in Detroit; opens from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday; and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday; bar opens daily at 4 p.m. with happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday though Friday; reservations are recommended.

• Detroit’s Ultra-Luxe Steakhouse Prime + Proper Debuts Tonight [ED]
• Prime + Proper Starts Grilling Steaks Downtown in July [ED]
• Detroit's Wildly Ambitious New Steakhouse Prime + Proper Debuts Friday [Freep]
• All Prime + Proper Coverage [ED]
• All Openings Coverage [ED]