Olin Bar & Kitchen

The food here is undeniably good, and that’s what makes this review a mixed bag. We ordered the burger, which they are known for, and it was a solid 8/10. The quality of the burger itself, paired with the caramelized onion, made it rich and decadent—a real standout. The roasted chicken and roasted vegetable soup, which had a mushroom-forward flavor, was truly incredible. The roasting of both the chicken and vegetables brought depth and richness without feeling heavy. It was unlike anything I’ve ever had before. Our only dislike was the kale Caesar salad. While it was a big portion and beautifully presented, the flavor was a bit too anchovy-forward for our taste. Where this restaurant falters, however, is the service. Dining in, the service was fine—not remarkable, but nothing to complain about either. Unfortunately, an experience with their take-away service left a bad taste in our mouths. I arrived during a rainstorm with my small dog and was told I had to wait outside on the sidewalk in the pouring rain, despite there being an enclosed vestibule where I could have stayed dry. I understand that dogs aren’t allowed inside restaurants, but this felt unnecessarily inhospitable. Forcing a customer to stand in the rain because the owner “hates dogs” is the opposite of welcoming hospitality. While the food is fantastic, the lack of understanding and flexibility in that moment makes me hesitant to return. Food might bring people in, but hospitality is what keeps them coming back.

Now I hate to do this but the waitress messed up the experience for me. This is not the 1st time any of us have been to Olin’s but it almost makes me not want to go back again. Last night was cousins night. Everyone was hungry and we chose a great place to eat. The short rib burger with fries was huge moist and delicious. Oysters were small but delicious and oh my good I dreamt about the mussels. The lamb meatballs were nasty though. But our waitress attitude said she didn’t want us there. Maybe she knew we were going to have to split the bill and didn’t want to but a good waitress would know the POS system and had already did it. 1. She didn’t check on us after bringing our drinks and food, didn’t make sure we had silverware. 2. then when she brought the silverware she slammed it on the table with an attitude like we were asking to much. 3. She spoke in a very condescending manner “I just bring the food, I don’t know what you expect”. 4. Her face, tone and mannerisms said I wish y’all weren’t here. I was so mad I had to leave the table. I want to go back for mussels and oysters but I can’t because of the waitress. We spent over $400, with auto gratuity and she would have gotten way more had she split the checks before hand, which we all had no problem with because we all have been waitresses before.

We had our anniversary dinner here and Wow! Definitely a treat. We the charcuterie platter and pork belly gnocchi. The entree arrived fresh and hot to the table , flavorful, tender, and delicious. The waiter had too many tables so he appeared frantic during our dining experience. He didn’t miss anything it wasn’t very personable. Highly recommend checking them out.

A really great spot in Detroit! Only knock from me is the service was a tad slow on a not crowded night, but our waitress was super friendly. Get the short rib burger it’s one of the best burgers I’ve had in Detroit. Also the Potatoes & Artichoke Bravas are delicious!

Great place in the heart of downtown Detroit! Tasty food, friendly service and lovely atmosphere inside! Big glass windows, comfy seats. The first thing we saw on the menu was the hamburger 🍔 and we went for it. It was fresh and juicy with a pickle 🥒 at the top. French fries was delicious 😋. And their mocktails are great! Will be coming back and recommend trying!

Went for a birthday party. Service was great- couldn’t believe how tiny the oysters were (didn’t get a picture as it wasn’t worth posting to social media.) other than that cute.

Service and food decent but a little pretentious in my opinion. See my attached image of the salad. I had to cut the pear with my butter knife since it's sliced for presentation only. The bathroom was also a little odd. The soap dispenser is placed on a tray that slides around on the bathroom counter when you press down to dispense soap- why even put it on a tray at all? Because it looks nice? The entire place just seemed pretentious.

Cute little spot close to the Filmore (which was perfect because we had a show!). Would recommend the ricotta, potatoes, and gnocchi!!

10-25-2024 Came for my son's 34th bday. It was a huge success! We were a party of 7 and the starred items are: 1)short rib burger 2) Caesar 3) Poached pear salad 4)steak frites The service was excellent and the night time Detroit vibes toasted our son and the entire party. Highly recommend

The food here is undeniably good, and that's what makes this review a mixed bag. We ordered the burger, which they are known for, and it was a solid 8/10. The quality of the burger itself, paired with the caramelized onion, made it rich and decadent--a real standout. The roasted chicken and roasted vegetable soup, which had a mushroom-forward flavor, was truly incredible. The roasting of both the chicken and vegetables brought depth and richness without feeling heavy. It was unlike anything I've ever had before. Our only dislike was the kale Caesar salad. While it was a big portion and beautifully presented, the flavor was a bit too anchovy-forward for our taste. Where this restaurant falters, however, is the service. Dining in, the service was fine--not remarkable, but nothing to complain about either. Unfortunately, an experience with their take-away service left a bad taste in our mouths. I arrived during a rainstorm with my small dog and was told I had to wait outside on the sidewalk in the pouring rain, despite there being an enclosed vestibule where I could have stayed dry. I understand that dogs aren't allowed inside restaurants, but this felt unnecessarily inhospitable. Forcing a customer to stand in the rain because the owner "hates dogs" is the opposite of welcoming hospitality. While the food is fantastic, the lack of understanding and flexibility in that moment makes me hesitant to return. Food might bring people in, but hospitality is what keeps them coming back.

My group and I have tried most things here. For appetizers the meatballs and the fish dip are the superior winners. For main dishes, you can't go wrong with the swordfish, burger, or shrimp pasta. Swordfish was the best anyone has ever had, but it's needs something with it. It's a very small portion on a huge plate. Service is always great and friendly. Place is always clean. Only down side is the prices and portions of things. The price of their steak is laughable for a strip. Their "cheese board" is 3 little things of cheese. Skip it. There are other things as well. If they upped their plate portions with something, and lowered their prices by about 15-30% on some things, it's an easy 5 star.

Update: 2024, Oct I go here a lot for brunch. I do think it's one of the better deals in the city, The food is fresh and homemade. Jesse, "waiter" is outstanding. I always go with girlfriends, I sit outside with being next to the hotel pick up/drop off If you want a hot spot it's here. Anyways yummy. I highly recommend. Unbelievable. I love this restaurant. Upscale. I come here a lot with friends, dinner, brunch, reviewed this restaurant before. Extremely disappointed today. Waited about 20 minutes for drinks. I had to go inside and ask if the table was forgotten about. The hostess took our order. Jesse was wonderful just completely overworked and unbelievably busy. Our experience was horrible because the staff are overworked and not supported. There wasn't enough people here today and I'm hearing from other customers that's a theme. Holly and Sean- are the owners here. 20 top had a reservation, we did (two to) the bar was completely full. The restaurant was packed and completely under staffed. The three people working, took care of us but this isn't fair. Rona is over. People are eating out. Staff restaurants correc Food posted below.

I enjoyed the ambiance of Olin and the service was great. The food was also good but not much different from what is expected from most New American restaurants. I would come back to try more dishes and spend a casual dinner out here.

Imagine that I am clapping between these words. THE. BEST. BURGER. I'VE. EVER. HAD. Period. The food, the drinks, the service, the ambiance. It is all above and beyond any expectation. First of all, the service. My server, Samantha, was patient with my questions in trying to figure out what I wanted to order. She was attentive and friendly throughout the meal. She gave me some recommendations and I ended up really wanting the potatoes appetizer but the burger came with French fries. Concerned that it would be too much potatoes, she was able to make it possible to sub my fries for the potatoes. I also ordered the "Don't Touch Mai Drink" which was extremely tasty as well. So the potatoes bravas. Amazing. They're crispy and buttery, packed with flavor and a generous portion. And the short rib burger... mmm... just thinking about it is making me mouth water. It is so juicy, the only thing I left behind was a plate of leftover juices. It may have been a touch too greasy but that's what a good burger is supposed to be. It most definitely has that smashburger texture and taste. You 100% need to come here and try it yourself. This will forever be the meal I will crave for years to come.

Came to Olin yesterday for my birthday. The restaurant is open, modern and comfortable. We were sat in a booth which was huge, could have easier sat 6-8 people. We ordered drinks and apps. We got the don't touch mai drink, and the strawberry margarita. Both were very tasty. For apps we ordered the house made foccocia bread, mushroom pate, smoked whitefish dip, grilled bok choy, and the potato / artichoke app. The pate, fish dip, bread and potatoes were great! All had great flavor. The bok choy was bleh, didn't really have any flavor. Wouldn't recommend that, and I love bok choy. For entrees we got the burger and shrimp pasta. Burger was good, and had good flavor. The fries were confusing. They were COVERED in something white. Looked like either salt or Parmesan cheese but when you ate one it tasted like nothing was on it. Very strange, but I think it was parm that had no flavor. The pasta wasn't great, there was barely any sauce on it and the sauce that was in there had little to no flavor. We got creme brûlée for dessert which was amazing. Overall service, drinks, apps and the restaurant itself is great. Entrees we got were kind of lack luster. I would come back for a happy hour, or for drinks and apps.

I loved the focaccia bread as a starter here! I didn't think that the rest of the food was worth the price but the wait staff was very good. The gnocchi was just ok as well as the beet salad. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and was fairly easy to get into on the weekend so that is a plus.

Went to Olin during Grand prix weekend because i had family in town and was able to get a reservation same day so that was great. We were seated quickly and our waitress was very nice. It was very loud inside so I felt like I had to yell everything but she was patient. I got the Strawberry marg and it was deeeelicious, very much recommend. For apps we got the oysters which were very fresh and tasty and whitefish tartine it was good but nothing to write home about. For my entree I got the Mahi which was very good when you had a bite of everything on the plate, the sauce, capers, and grapes but unfortunately by itself it was very under seasoned. I'd definitely give it another try and maybe get something more flavorful next time.

Great food! Great service! Ambience is cute and cozy and sophisticated. The food was amazing. It's a simple burger, but the best burger I've ever had! The half chicken was so moist, and had so much flavor!

Stop waiting 45+ minutes at other places for brunch and get your booty to Olin! We were seated on their cute patio with zero wait on a Sunday morning and we had a fabulous experience! Service: Phenomenal. Everyone was friendly, helpful and their descriptions were on point. Drinks: -"Magically Delicious" cocktail - fun, playful, and not too sweet! -mimosa - we got a fun flavor and I can't remember what it was but it was good Food: - Carrot soufflé: SO GOOD - get it! I'd never had a carrot soufflés before but it's like carrot cake except more dense, better and served warm! - Fried paella rice: delicious!!! And despite how it sounds, it's not greasy or super heavy. - short rib burger and fries: Chicagoans have tons of amazing burger options so our standards are high and this burger definitely passed the test! It was so well seasoned and the sauce was great!

Olin Bar & Kitchen was a great experience. Our waiter was the stand out of the night. He was very friendly and good at his job. My partner loved his burger. My steak was good, though was lime forward. We will be back!

I have been trying to get in here for a while without a reservation and finally did it! The server was friendly and attentive. The food was amazing! We started with the lamb meatballs and they were so flavorful and the sauce that come with it was amazing. I ordered the shrimp rotini and it was perfect. The noodles weren't overcooked, the shrimp was perfectly cooked and large, and it was tossed in a slightly spicy oil. It was great and I would get it again. The place was really nice and for a date night or small group and I loved the modern design.

The food was AMAZING!!! I had the pear salad and chicken and mushroom soup and crème brûlée to finish off. I LOVE for seasonal menus like these. Such rich flavors. Every bite offered a warmness. Just so delicious. Don't be worried about them calling them tapas, they were very nice size portions. The wait staff was very nice and a very upscale but relaxed atmosphere. We will definitely be back.

I've walked by this restaurant many times but rarely noted its name. So, when we made brunch plans, I had no idea where I was headed, despite being very familiar with the area. Before heading out, I had already checked out the "sample" menu and was impressed by the limited but different offerings: fried paella rice, shakshuka, and chorizo-wrapped dates in curry. The restaurant is beautiful, with intimate booth seating, old-fashioned leather love seats, cool tile work and lighting, and an eye-catching mural at the back. We nabbed a wonderful table, although I don't think there is a bad one in the entire restaurant. One of my friends dropped out due to a family emergency and while we both missed her, we took advantage of the time to really catch up. My friend was interested in the French Toast with cinnamon apples while I went with the short-rib burger. I thought it was going to be short ribs piled onto a bun instead of a patty made with short ribs - my mistake. It was delicious nonetheless, smashed, juicy and flavorful. The table next to ours ordered much of the menu and everything looked wonderful. I might come back for brunch but will definitely return for dinner - that menu looked too interesting to pass up. Service was friendly and helpful.

My partner and I recently went to Olin for a date night. He got an amber ale and I got a mezcal cocktail, both great! Then we waited about 50 minutes for our entrees, a burger and swordfish. The food was truly incredible but not at all timely. Also our bartender was quite rude to a set of patrons next to us and not super attentive. The space is beautiful. Only reason for the 4/5 was service//ticket time turnaround.

I'm always excited about a new place! Found Olin on Yelp when I was looking for a pre-show dinner option. I made reservations online... super easy! There were available tables and space at the bar, but since it was a Saturday night... better to be safe! We were seated an an intimate table for two. We started off with cocktails - I got the tequila spritz. The bar special of the night. So yummy! We started of with the Waygu beef tartare with homemade salt and vinegar chips. OMG! Tastebud explosion. I could eat a bag of those chips! For dinner, my husband got the Waygu steak special and I got the striped bass. The Waygu was my favorite. Hands down! The striped bass was good. I prefer the fish to be a little more cooked, but overall the place was great. We didn't have room, but I saw someone else get the flourless cake. I had to try it! The flourless chocolate cake had a s'mores twist with a graham cracker and marshmallow. Worth it! Great food and vibe!

Food - Very good. The beers were cold too! Service - We loved our waitress! Very pleasant and knew how to roll with our humor. Ambiance - Probably our favorite part.

I can't even begin to express how much I loved dining at Olin! My boyfriend and I stopped by before going a Broadway show at the Fisher Theatre (not exactly walking distance away, but a quick drive between the two). We weren't pressed for time, but since we wanted to make it to the show, we didn't want to take too much time dining. The staff was incredibly understanding of our schedule, even though they didn't have to be, and they were so friendly and helpful. After hearing amazing reviews, I decided to go for the shortrib burger, and we also tried the escargot as an appetizer. It was my first time trying escargot, and let me tell you, I was blown away! The burger was equally mind-blowing. The decor in this place is absolutely stunning. It has this fancy vibe, yet it's also incredibly inviting. They have plenty of seating options to accommodate groups of all sizes. I just can't get enough of this place and I'm already counting down the days until I can come back.

A friend and I went in for some drinks and apps and were very impressed! The restaurant is beautiful and the food/drinks were delicious!

This place was great. Probably the best meal I've had in a long time-service and food quality wise. Came to celebrate a birthday during a weeknight. Not too busy. A nice modern ambiance that still has some old styles to it including artwork. Open kitchen concept where you can see the prep work for your meal. Our table had the prime rib burgers and steak and frites. The burger was one of the best tasting burgers I have had in a long time and the steak was so tender!! Service was great, and although Olin has pricier items the portion sizes you get match the value. I would highly recommend this spot for date nights, double dates, post work drinks, and smaller celebrations!

Ok. I started another review stating that I'm not picky. Maybe it's not true, maybe I am lying to myself... I think what it is, is that food prices are going up, but the food is subpar at best at a lot of establishments. Ok. Decor was astounding, nice, warm, and comfortable. Our server was amazing, attentive, and had a pleasant demeanor our entire meal. So kudos on ambiance and service!! My husband loved his burgers and his frites!! He does not even like smash burgers but he rated this one a five out of five. My meal I didn't enjoy so much. SURPRISE, lol. I really am not picky but $48.00 for what I received was overpriced! The fries were cooked so hard I couldn't enjoy them. I checked other pictures to see if that's how they looked and they didn't look that color, or that tough. So that's a thing. I had the steak and frites which I mentioned was $$48.00. I feel like I was robbed just a bit. A gamey sliced peace of meat, with a gamey steak sauce. It was garlic.. it must have been a garlic I am not used to. I tried the signature cocktail. The menu overhyped it, so what I received for $16.00 was not what I thought I was getting in terms of size or in taste. This restaurant gets two more visits. Unfortunately visit number one not in their best favor.

Hmm. Burger is undeniably the best in the city. Ambiance is pretty cool young and hip. Service was pretty cold. Our server would walk away before we finished asking for what we needed. Also we ordered 2 bottles of bubbles and i watched as every other server would pour for their tables. Our server just opened the bottles and left it on the table for us to pour. A missed step of service if you ask me. I also watched other tables receive split checks but our party of 6 for some reason wasn't given that same opportunity when i asked. It Felt like she couldn't go any steps above an order taker. Nothing special for the birthday we were celebrating. No smiles. Cold and mediocre. The burger saved the day. I wish that burger could have been my server instead.

Olin is a great date night or special occasion spot located in the heart of downtown Detroit. The menu is a small, curated selection of entrees and apps that changes from time to time. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. There's a good selection of seafood, meat, and non meat options which made it perfect for ordering a splitting a few different things (we always want to try it all!) The walkability to other places down is a huge plus. Parking in the area can be very tight (especially on weekends) so if you're bringing you're car park at the Z - it's not too far away.

Such a fun atmosphere and good food. Highly recommend for a date night, or come with family (saw a few kids) or even after a game (saw quite a few with jerseys on) or just even a night out with the girls. Everything we got was a favorite but in order for me: braised lamb, potatoes bravas, smoked whitefish, cauliflower, and short rib burger. Our drinks and dessert was excellent too. Will definitely retur.

We stopped in for a small bite and a cocktail. The bartender was great with suggestions for both. The wings with a dry rub and homemade ranch, tots and slider hit the spot. Service was excellent. Highly recommended if you are going down for a game.

Best burger I've had in the city! Ingredients, presentation, etc. a little pricey but 100% worth every penny.

I like this place, only major issue is parking smh. It is in the heart of downtown, right off Woodward so parking street parking is hard to come by. Very dark, sexy vibe. They have a huge array of spirits and the menu is filled with a lot of delectable items. I came on a Thursday and they had happy hour going from 5-630 PM. They have a rotating cocktail for $10 and the selection for that day was a Pimms and lemonade. I ordered oysters, bacon wrapped dates and the smoked whitefish crostini for snacks . My pimms was delicious, a little on the sweet side but reminded me of an Arnold Palmer...with liquor lol! Oysters were good but tiny, I slurped them before I could get a pic. The dates were amazing, but I wish the bacon wrapped around it was a little bit crisper. It was soggy and I noticed that seems to be the texture they work with because the guy next to me had a bacon burger and his bacon looked the same. The whitefish crostini was good but reminded me of a tuna melt, when I think of crostini I think crunchy/crusty so I was expecting the bread to be more like that. The whole place is beautiful, I don't recommend sitting at the part of bar we were at though, this is the prep area for the bartendars and where they mix up their drinks so it's very wet and not a lot of room. But if you are interested in bar craft it may be the perfect spot to see some experts at play. For my second round I ordered the rose sangria, which was also on the happy hour menu. It was amazing and so refreshing. My girl got the bravas tots and they were very delicious; they gave you a huge portion but after a while the truffle sauce became a little overwhelming/tiring so I think think these would be good at half the size or less saucy. Service was A1, our bartender was super nice and informative

Of I could give 10 stars, I would. The service was great, the food was exquisite, and it was walking distance to my hotel (added bonus). Escargot - 4/5. The sauce could have had a little more seasoning to it. But those toast points were so buttery and delicious Oysters - 5/5 Wid Mushroom Pate - 5/5 so creative and delicious Beef tartare - 5/5 Pumpkin soup - 5/5 Green goddess salad - 4/5 loved the peas in it, but not much to it for the price. Craft gin cocktail (don't remember rhe name) - it was was seasonal one on the menu was was light and refreshing but packed a punch! 5/5 I highly recommend going and will definitely be back myself!

Great place in the heart of downtown Detroit! Tasty food, friendly service and lovely atmosphere inside! Big glass windows, comfy seats. The first thing we saw on the menu was the hamburger and we went for it. It was fresh and juicy with a pickle at the top. French fries was delicious . And their mocktails are great! Will be coming back and recommend trying!

Took my mom and grandma here a few days ago. The food was really good as well as the service. Really enjoyed the waitress we had. We ordered the sweet pepper shrimp fritters, smoked whitefish spread, and the braised lamb as appetizers. The lamb and the shrimp fritters were really amazing, I didn't care for the whitefish spread - it was served with these fried buttery crackers, which were too overpowering and buttery. I ordered the rabbit gnocchi -- highly recommend. My mom and grandmother ordered the steak Frites, which was also very good. The restaurant is located right downtown so it's easy to get out and do other things after eating.

My first visit to Olin was for brunch, and it was overall a good experience. It was only about half full, although I'm sure the construction right on their street wasn't helping. Ambiance was nice, and the music was at a good volume to have a conversation. The cocktails were good and actually reasonably priced. For food, I had the chilaquiles (which they misspelled on the menu as "chilEquiles" -- it took every ounce of restraint I have for me to not mention it haha), and they were good but not great... I think the salsa was a bit on the bland side. I'll probably be back to try their dinner menu sometime.

Our group of 5 had a reservation for a Saturday night to celebrate my brother's new job. They were able to seat us a little early at a big booth table next to the window. The restaurant was packed, lively, and noisy. Our waitress made sure to remind us they change tables over every 90 minutes so it's best to get food orders in early and all at once. Honestly, this is my only complaint for the night - even if they extended it to 2 hour turnovers, the dining experience wouldn't be so rushed. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the food experience - everything we ordered was delicious. But my favorites of the night were the corn fritters, crispy pork belly, and brussel sprout salad. For my drink, I tried the Late Bloom cocktail, which tasted to me like a nice twist on a negroni. Food and cocktails were a little expensive, but we were there for a special occasion. Overall, I'd recommend this spot for a nice dinner out in Detroit.

From the same owners of the fabulous Highlands in the Renaissance Center, Olin is one of the best restaurants in downtown Detroit for a sophisticated ambiance and delicious food. My friends and I arrived shortly after Olin opened at 5:00 pm and got a comfortable booth ahead of the after-work crowd. I love the interior decor and how it feels elegant but not stuffy. My entire dining experience was fantastic, from the drinks to the appetizers, soups, and entrees. I recommend the House Made Focaccia with honey butter and the Wild Mushroom Soup. I love when simple dishes surprise you with complex flavors from quality ingredients. And who doesn't love Crispy Pork Belly? I was just happy that it was on the menu and it was well cooked. I liked the food so much that I ordered the Eagle Creek Trout to take to my mom, and she also liked that it was a simple but well-made dish with fresh fish and seasoning like celery, fennel, and cumin-spiced dukkah. The menu changes, so I am eager to return to try the new entrees offered!

This is probs my 3rd time dining at Olin. This time, we popped in last minute for brunch on the Sunday of NFL draft weekend. It was surprisingly empty given the location and events happening this weekend. The vibe of the restaurant is elegant, modern and casual. I ordered the paella, deviled eggs, and breakfast potatoes. My husband got the burger. Food always comes out super fast which is a plus. I really enjoyed the rice dish as usual but my egg was overcooked so I didn't get to enjoy the runny yolk. The potatoes were underwhelming and different than what I've had there in the past. They were very oily and not seasoned. I enjoyed the bite of my husbands burger along with the mimosas ($12 with $5 for a refill). They had just the right amount of cava and orange juice. Our total ended up being reasonable for 2 people to enjoy a brunch in the heart of the city.

Food was top tier look good and tasted better Our service felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant. Our waiter made sure we were taken care of the whole time we were there! Can't say enough about that. The outside and inside of the restaurant was a feel like you were somewhere else. Would highly recommended

Came here for a little early birthday celebration on a weekday in December and it was positively delightful! The ambiance at Olin is so cozy, while being upscale and modern. You can create your own bubbles of atmosphere here and aren't distracted by any other parties around you, which I thoroughly enjoy. My friend and I sat at the bar, which serves their full food menu as well. All the food we ordered was so delicious and the service was truly top notch. The waiter and bartender were extremely helpful, everything arrived to us quickly, and we just truly had a wonderful experience here. I would highly recommend Olin for all your dining needs, whether it's a larger party, date night, group hang, business meeting - what have you! It's the perfect backdrop setting for all dinners and with such a prime location in downtown Detroit at the entrance to Parker's Alley (behind the Shinola Hotel), I couldn't think of a more ideal place. Olin easily tops the list for anyone in my community asking me for Detroit recs!

My wife and I had dinner following a show in Downtown Detroit on a Saturday night. Olin was lively, but we were seated right away. We started with a couple of small plates. I enjoyed the sweet corn fritter. The corn fritter was a restaurant dish with the presentation, the crisp on the fritter, and the sauce at the bottom. We also had the potatoes. The crisp on the potatoes was amazing. I don't think I have ever had better. We split a short rib burger based on Yelp reviews. My wife enjoyed the burger. It was flavorful and juicy. For me it was a bit salty. Also, I think I erred in ordering because everything was fried and brown. I needed a vegetable. The French fries were ok after the potatoes appetizer. (Of course I ate them). Of course, we left room for dessert, and had to have our favorite - crème brûlée. For me this was the star. I would come back just for the creme brûlée. It may have just been the night or me, but this was one of the best, if not the best, crème brûlée I have had. I loved the size (not too big). The custardy was light and fluffy. The sugar on the top was caramelized perfectly. Depth of flavor. And, the temperature was excellent. Super good. All of the food came out quickly and was hot from the kitchen. The atmosphere is vibrant and open. It is more updated compared with other Detroit locations which have an "industrial" feel (which I love). There is a variety of seating and tables. There are tables for 2 or 4. There is large high top tables for more communal, and a car counter long the open kitchen. There is a bar, and Olin is more about cocktails (which I did not have) rather than beer (which I did have). Service was super friendly and attentive. Lots of smiles from the staff. There was no mention of a time limit when we were seated, which was one of our fears after reading the reviews. I don't think we were there for 90 minutes. My wife and I agreed we would love to come back and try more dishes.

We had the Gnocchi, Grilled half chicken, Mushroom 'milanese', the Artisan cheese board with the pear salad, and the Mediterranean lamb meatballs along with a Caesar salad and everything was to die for! We were all so hungry none of us took pictures beforehand. My dad and I ended up sharing the mushroom risotto and the Gnocchi. We had three crème brûlées to share between 5 of us and those were also delicious! Service was great, atmosphere was great, food was fantastic!

Food is GREAT!! Service is the best experienced in restaurants in the area. The noise level are low to moderate. The atmosphere is very social and laid back. Perfect place to eat a very good meal and absorb the atmosphere.

I really enjoyed the food and the drinks at Olin, which can be a place where you can get some shared plates or a nice main plate for a price commensurate with eating downtown. My companion and I tried the corn fritters the pork belly and even got adventurous and tried the wild mushroom pate... not something I'd normally eat (looked like jelly and gray paste) but it actually turned out to be not bad at all! The drinks we had, "out of the woods" and the "Car(a)mel apple" were both really good... they do a good job here so I don't think you'd be disappointed with the main plates either. I'll have to come back. P.S. The creme brûlée was good as well! Solid spot.

Phenomenal place! You have to check it out! The decor inside is so pretty. From the lounge area, the bar, the seating to the decorations, everything are gorgeous. The color scheme is sleek and classy. The staff is extremely nice and welcoming. They were quick to help us get our table and then help with choosing dishes. The service was great from every aspect. The most important and best part was the food. Every single dish we had was amazing. I only remembered to get a few pictures because I was too busy and excited eating the delicious food. We had the escargot which instead of the tradition buttery garlic flavor it was in pesto light cream with prosciutto and toast. The spring salad was very fresh and light with lots of veggies in it. Then we had the braised lamb which was by far my favorite dish. The lamb was so flavorful and tender with a delicious white bean hummus. For the main we had the crab risotto which was cooked perfectly with fresh crab. Lastly we had two of the cocktails, Jamaican me happy and wildest dreams. Both were light, refreshing and flavorful. Amazing place and one of my favorites now!

Olin is the perfect place for a romantic date night. The interior is absolutely gorgeous! The kitchen is open so you can see the dedicated team preparing your meals while you eat. The team was super nice, explained everything on the menu and provided amazing suggestions. The service was above and beyond. We started our dinner with the potatoes bravas (ordered without the anchovies) and it was absolutely delicious! The potatoes are nice and crispy and the sauce that accompanied the potatoes was so good! We also had the Michigan goat cheese with the sourdough bread. If you're just going to have a few drinks and appetizers, I highly recommend ordering both of those. For drinks we started with the Will & Grace and the American Money. We then ordered the Smoke & Mirrors and the Getaway Car. The getaway car drink was stronger than I expected. The Smoke & Mirrors perfectly balanced sweet and Smokey flavors. The Will & Grace is light and sweet and the American Money was very refreshing. The Oxtail-Short rib pasta was okay. The steak in the Steak and Frites was cooked to perfection; I especially loved the chimichurri sauce on the steak. The crème brûlée was the perfect dessert to end the dinner. Note: Olin does get busy later on in the night (we visited on a Friday night) so I might recommend booking a reservation in advance. Another note, Olin does not serve the paella everyday so if you want to try the paella it's best to book during the weekdays (excludes Friday).

I had dinner here last night with a group of people and it was an overall great experience. I was the first to arrive of my dinner party so I sat down at the bar and waited until others arrived. The bartender was great even though I was just waiting. The first thing I noticed was the cool atmosphere. The decor, lighting, and overall vibe make you feel energized without distracting from your overall experience. I like that you can see the kitchen from the main dining area. The kitchen crew were buzzing turning out would be amazing dishes as the night went on for us. We started with six or seven small plates and my favorite was the mushrooms. It's actually a clump of mushrooms about the size of a head of cauliflower and you slice off your portion. What makes this appetizer so delicious was the sauce. It was terrific. Then came dinner. I ordered swordfish and I loved it. Sometimes it's easy to overcook it, but not here. And the plating was beautiful. A colleague order 1/2 a chicken, and it looked great too. Same for the ribeye and other dishes. Everyone enjoyed their meals, cocktails, and wine. Then it was time for dessert. They were out of the crumble berry so I got plain butter pecan ice cream. I did sample the cream brule and it was nice and silky. We had one server for our group and she was busy yet delivered great service to our group. It's a 5-star review from me. Can't wait to go back.

Fellow Yelpers! This is my very best eating experience year to date! Do not believe the hype about Detroit- go and see for yourself. The culinary scene is insane!!! This establishment is PERFECT from the host/Hostess, the decor, the servers, expediters, bussers, and cooks! This is a well oiled machine and a must try! The kitchen is open and they are turning out 7 star dishes!!!!! Everything is beyond amazing , fresh, technically perfect, innovative and the flavors will slap you in the face. There were only happy diners !!! Well done!!! Best oysters ever!!! The shrimp on top of the sweet pepper fritter was amazing!!!!! The Lion's Mane mushroom appetizer - Fucking delish!! You will never eat a short rib burger like this! Everything was succulent , delicious , beyond satisfying! We tried all the desserts - fantastic! They are not pictured as I hit my limit per the posting. Can't wait to go back!

Great great burger! The fries were good too. Did not expect to like this place as much as I did. Sat at the bar and the bartender was great! Great service! Good ambiance!

This is a 4 1/2 star review certainly. I tried Olin for the first time recently, and I was seriously impressed. Each dish they brought out was better than the last. I've been waiting a long time to have a restaurant of this caliber here in Detroit. Where everything is outstanding and delicious, not just 1/2 or 3/4 of the dishes. And the waitstaff is actually welcoming and friendly. So many of the restaurants downtown have this bizarre, disaffected hipster attitude that really turns me off the entire experience. Like somehow we are bothering them by being there. But here at Olin, it was like walking into an NYC restaurant, where the entire team from host to server to food runner is hospitable and warm. I don't know if it just comes down to starting with a good team, or it's just high expectations coupled with a high level of training. I'm sure it's a mixture of Column A and Column B. But either way, they get it right. The food is mostly small plates, with a few bigger entrees, which of course I love, as I can try a bunch of different dishes. The goat cheese with the harissa spiced vegetables was the stuff dreams are made of. And the carrot ginger soup was some of the best Ive had anywhere. And the steak frites was amazing. Everything we had was perfectly seasoned, plated, and executed. They know what they are doing here at Olin. I was honestly proud to have taken my British friend to this place for his last night in the States. He's still raving about the food, and he's been all over the world. I'm happy Detroit is throwing down.

Best burger in Detroit!! Short rib smash burger with Boursin cheese and shoestring Parmesan fries. Absolutely delicious!!

I think Olin is my favorite restaurant in Detroit. Came here tonight and ordered the short rib burger and a glass of the Pinot noir. The short rib burger was the best burger I've ever had. Juicy, perfectly cooked, and a huge portion with two patties. Additionally, you get a big side of shoestring fries which were fantastic and perfectly seasoned. Glass of Pinot noir was also fantastic. Will definitely be returning here when I'm back in town (which is hopefully soon).