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Coach Insignia
Rating Details »
Categories: American (New), Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Downtown Detroit200 Renaissance Ctr
Detroit, MI 48243
(313) 567-2622
Three4Thirty+One
Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert from the Three4Thirty+One Menu plus a glass of wine for only $30.
Monday-Friday until the end of 2009.
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
20 reviews for Coach Insignia
Defiantly my favorite restaurant. Whenever planning a big event or something important my friends and I always have a nice dinner here.
First off you might want to really consider about going to Coach Insignia with the intention on spending money. I have had people ask me if I can compare it to Andiamo's and I just can't give them a restaurant to compare.
Second, it is very beautiful inside and I would recommend coming dressed up. A very nice button down shirt, pants, and shoes for men and a nice cocktail dress and heals for ladies.
The food is incomparable and is cooked to perfection all around. Portions are equally measured out as they should be for us Americans. You leave feeling full but not stuffed and ready to vomit like you would at a regular restaurant. Their wine page is over 20 pages and the drinks are very good.
The atmosphere is very nice and you have a magnificent view of all of Detroit from the top. The restaurant used to turn to allow a full 360 view but that was stopped. If there is a strong wind however you do feel like you are moving due to the top still being on rollers.
[3.5 stars]
At the top of the Ren-Cen, there stands a lounge called Coach Insignia. It should be called Couch-Insanity... I want to speak with mr. bright idea who made private enclosed couch booths in a lounge that has floor to ceiling windows...lunacy for a local economy run by engineers...
I will say the female bartender was just superb - she gave the best recommendations and hooked us up with some great snacks. We tried the salmon, samosas and french fries!!! Her recommendation on the Merlot was excellent.
Where was all the bling, you ask? Studded on the Windsor skyline...wurd.
Nice place to go. Hard building to navigate. If you're not familiar with local parking I recommend the valet near the wintergarden (the side of the building facing the Detroit River). From there, walk toward the center of the building and take "up" escalators (on the east side), then walk to the west side to take another "up" escalator, then walk toward the center and take the staircase up to the elevator. At the top of that stairs, you will walk around the cylindrical elevator shaft to the elevator 'hostess' who will have your reservation. Go into the elevator and ride willy wonka style all the way to the top of the rencen. Walk out the elevator and check in with the hostess and you'll be all set (until you need to try to find your way back... bring breadcrumbs).
During my visit I had mediocre service, nice fellow (but nothing special) like being served by a polite cousin who is just collecting a paycheck.
Food/app: I really enjoyed the cream of broccoli soup, my dining partner found the Caesar salad just ok.
Food/main course: struck out on two fronts here. I had a vegetable fettuccine that was quite bland (the pasta itself was ok in texture, just tasteless) like eating pasta in pasta water with some squash mixed in. My partner had a chicken dish that she did not like either. The chicken was very dry/ overcoooked. We were kinda shocked at how disappointing the main course was given all the great things we had read about the chef (maybe he was on vacation).
Food/des: awesome dessert ( kind of a chocolate torte) that led us to believe they're pastry chef works somewhere else. It was really delicious. Help end the night on a good note.
The view amazing.
I might go back someday, but I'd just stick to the soup and desert.
Is Insignia a euphemism for Insignificant?
I agree a caesar salad isn't exactly memorable, but when I can't remember how my pasta, wine or chocolate dessert tasted - it points to a rather ordinary experience, and not a memory lapse on my part.
The restaurant I believe has only two real differentiators to boast of - sitting on the highest floor of the tallest building in downtown Detroit overlooking real estate of USA and Canada is quite unique indeed.
And I have to say seeing samosas and tostadas on the appetizer menu of a fancy American dining destination was a first for me! That doesn't make the menu eclectic, but I appreciate the attempt.
The nice interiors and acceptable service are table stakes for high end restaurants operating in that category and they were just that.
I am glad I made a trip here for Detroit Restaurant week but I think a rave review of this place is just much ado about nothing.
Fine dining at it's best. I've gone here for my 18th & 21st birthday and each time it was a treat. The servers take care of your every whim & are some of the friendliest to come across. The view is spectacular, unlike any other in...all of Michigan, really. The dishes are just as great as the view. Each time I went, it seemed like the dish was made especially for me, like the chef knew me personally. As I said earlier, I went on 2 birthdays and each time the server was extra nice to me, and each time I ordered desert they didn't hesitate to pop a candle on whatever I ordered and write "Happy Birthday" in chocolate on the plate, and even sing to me along with my family. If you visited Detroit only once, make this a must-stop. If you live in Detroit, make sure you dine here at least once, even if it's just for a drink.
The elevator ride to and from the restaurant was excellent as there was a mini-presentation given on the ride. The food was good but I did have to wait longer than expected as I believe my New York Strip wasn't prepared correctly the first time. My dining partner had the filet mignon and while it was good, it certainly wasn't the best.
The service was great and the waiter very attentive. Incredible view!
This is by far the coolest restaurant in Detroit! The views are incredible and the glass elevator with a recording that tells you what you are looking at is a nice touch. I am terrified of heights, yet the restaurant and even the elevator made me feel perfectly safe high atop the Ren Cen.
The food was spectacular, though I was surprised that there wasn't more on the plate. This is ok with me, since most restaurants give you enough food for 3 people/meals. I had salmon and my husband had steak. Both were melt in your mouth delicious and prepared to perfection. Our waiter was attentive on a busy night, and we actually were in and out more quickly than we thought possible.
The only cons: despite the 25 page wine list, there are only a handful that you can enjoy by the glass. Also, the Ren Cen is very difficult to navigate. Whatever you figure for drive time, add at least 15-20 min if not more for parking and finding your way through the Ren Cen.
2 entrees, one glass of wine: $100. Spendy but worth it every now and then.
Elevator ride up was fun as its a glass elevator so nice views. The employee eating potato chips while friendly kind of ruined the ambience in the elevator by adding a potatoe chip smell and his chewing noise in the background. Employees should not be eating in public elevators with guests. Call me a snob but really.
The place just feels like it needs an uplift. In general the glass and tables including decoration were up to date. The carpet looked brown but I am told it was purple but who can tell in the light. It needs changing as mixed with the whitewalls it feels very retro withough it doing it on purpose. I am not saying it was bad as it was all very well kept but it felt a tad tired.
The place seriously moves as it was quite windy. Apparantly the whole building is on rollers and I felt it. On sitting down there was a rumbling vibration for the entire time I was in the restaurant. I asked the waitress and she said it was because the building was on rollers. It did not make me feel comfortable and you could tell we were moving because the long metal beaded curtain was swaying quite vigourously from side to side.
I ordered the lobster corn dogs which sounded great. I fell in love with regular corn dogs on a business trip to CT many years ago. However the portion was obscene for an appetizer. And of course I ate it which meant I was seriously over stuffed after my entree. 1 corn dog would have been perfectly portioned for an appetizer. Why do restaurants feel they have to feed a 300lb fat person NO NO NO It is an APPETIZER not a freaking main and if I was worried about the price point I would have gone for something cheaper. Anyway it was tasty but after 2 it was meh.
I then had the filet and scallops she said it came with this and that roasted veg. I couldn't find the veg as the 7oz filet was hiding it. I like my vegetables and why you say I wont need to order any sides as it comes with veg I expect vegetables not something that could have been added with a teaspoon. Luckily as I had eaten so much of my appetizer it ended up being fine but I keep telling myself I really should never order appetizers in America as it's just not necessary. Perhaps a new years resolition. The additoinal 2 scallops added nothing to the meal, the steak was good but the scallops had no flavor and could have done with some lemon butter or something. Skip this combo and just have the filet and save yourselves $9 on the scallops.
We ordered a bottle of White Chardonnay at $45. Nice enough but probably a $9 bottle retail which is to be expected. Overall including tip it was $225. Our waitress was superb Dawn her name was and she was appropriately attentive. It certainly wasn't cheap but I have spent more in chicago for a lot less.
I would recommend it but skip the appetizer and buy a nice bottle of wine instead.
I've been here once with my husband, a friend and another couple for dinner. It was fabulous, although I could have eaten more. I suppose I'm just used to the huge portions at coney islands instead of excellent food. But I'm not afraid to mix it up and try something different. My steak almost melted in my mouth, and the truffle mashed potatoes were the smoothest imaginable. Our service was good, and I didn't feel intimidated being in a super fancy restaurant. This is something that's important to me!
We've also stopped by the Coach Insignia a few times just to enjoy the view and have drinks when we were in the Renaissance Center for other events. Although it no longer rotates, you can still look down and see all the major streets through Detroit with amazing perspective.
I was taken here for some sort of holiday as a surprise... and I was really excited when I realized I was going to be eating here. Unfortunately, the experience didn't start off too good for me... The ride up the elevator I noticed that my ears had popped like on an airplane! I was afraid to talk too loudly because everything was muffled, I didn't want to yell. Sooo I could hardly hear a word of the specials and basically every question the server had asked me was answered with a simple "yes" ha ha... That being said, the place is really nice and I enjoyed my food. My pork was kinda dry, but that is a risk you run when you order pork. His fillet was really good, very very very tender-A perfect medium rare. I have to echo some of the other reviews...the truffle mashed potatoes are very tasty. All in all, I liked it here, and the view was really nice.
This is almost your typical fancy schmancy restaurant. You have to be transported about 7 million feet up into the sky to get to this restaurant (it's way up there on the umptieth floor of the Ren Cen), but that way you are guaranteed an excellent view.
A restaurant this nice just needs a tad more clean-up, I think.
My food was well-prepared and tasty, however, it was unmemorable and just like any other pricey restuarant. Nothing except the view really stands out.
Are you kidding me?
Do you expect me to return when your establishment WREAKS of smoke, when I waited 70 minutes for a salad, when our entrees were so cold and so tasteless that we left our food mostly untouched and filled up on mediocre bread? Truffle mashed potatoes were cold, crab cakes tasted funky as hell, fillet was actually tough. Please refrain from wasting your money here.
I am appalled.
You get a star because the view was great. That is the only reason. This restaurant is clearly riding on the fact that there isn't much in the way of first-class dining down in the D. They need to step it up, in both quality of food and service.
The drinks were fine. Nothing special, but perhaps this place is useful if only to have a drink and enjoy the view.
Something about COACH Insignia... cannot place finger exactly upon it but I close. Hmm... I will say that it is tastefully decorated. Wife-san and I left a late dinner to have late late drink.. night cap! Ah... good drink, even though bar tender a little slow. You enjoy this place... food was tasty but different. Not sure if they try too hard... but it pass the taste-worthy test for Boodah... even if I wanted more. I won't talk bad about the COACH... but you go for yourself... tell me if I right.
Must admit that first time was nervous with me not knowing if I not dressed enough. But no problem jump up in the COACH... that was a good night.
This upscale restaurant is at the top of the Renaissance Center. Has a dedicated elevator all the way to the 72th floor. The restaurant does not rotate anymore, but you can take a loop walk to enjoy the 360 degree view of the Detroit/Windsor cityscape.
Even if you don't have the $$$$ to eat here, you can comere here for a drink at the bar, which the prices are reasonable.
So I feel like this one is kinda obvious. Obvious in the sense that it is a well known, fancy-pants restaurant, so there are certain things you expect. It definitely lives up to expectations, but not really in any surprising or unusual way. It was exactly what I thought it would be.
So here goes the obvious: the food is very good. I had a filet topped with crab and it was fantastic, although that is what I expected as their steaks are prepared in a similar way to the steaks at Shiraz (my favorite). The service was impressive. We had the sommelier over to the table just as we sat down to help with wine selection. The waiter was helpful and answered our many questions. Even though I'm probably on the younger side of diners, I did not feel snubbed or ignored in any way.
Those things being said, the real reason to dine at Coach Insignia is the setting. The Renaissance Center is just so DETROIT, as is the entire Coach Insignia experience. Walking through the Ren Cen to get to the restaurant, there are all the GM displays and you are constantly reminded that you're in the Motor City. The restaurant has a dedicated elevator to the 72nd floor, with views overlooking the river and Windsor on the way up. It's Canada! Right there! We could swim! This ride can be exhilarating (or in my case, terrifying) but it is an experience in itself. Of course the views from the dining room are fantastic, and since it is circular, every table has a great view. Apparently the dining room used to rotate, but I'm kinda relieved that it doesn't anymore. That just sounds nauseating.
Go for the food but take in the Detroit experience. And stare at Canada for a while.
I love this palce and want to visit every time I hit Detroit. The views are amazing, the pods for friends to hang, the staff is so frieindly, the cocktails were very strong and tasted great.....I love the ambiance and the design.
You enter into a exposed, glass elevator that carries you to the top of the Ren Cen (over 700ft high). This is one of the coolest restaurants in Detroit. Right by the elevator is the bar / lounge area. A nice place to relax and have a drink before dinner. I highly recommend the tables by the window that overlook the Detroit River. The views are unbelievable. The food is expensive, but very tasty and made with top quality ingredients. I recommend the filet as it is very well prepared and flavorfull. The wine list is extensive (literally a full book). To me Coach Insignia is more of a date restaurant then a place to have a business lunch. Go check it out!
We don't make a huge point of celebrating Hallmark holidays such as Valentine's Day, but for some reason I felt the urge to get all dolled up for a night on D-town this year. I booked our reservations less than a week out and got prime 8:00 seating.
Taking a walk through the RenCen is like a field trip through time; I hadn't been there since I was in grade school, and the place looked almost exactly the same to me. Nostalgic, perhaps, but I tend to think of it as more anachronistic. A symbol of a time since passed for this town. Crumbling cement, it was a dark and stormy night...
Okay back to the topic at hand. Getting to the restaurant's elevator is somewhat like a treasure hunt, but once we got there, we were greeted by a maitre d' who confirmed our reservations before letting us proceed. The other patrons who waited for the elevator seemed a touch...homecoming-bound, if you catch my drift...and I half-expected to see a few boutonnieres once the coats came off. No matter - we all oohed and ahhed like little kids once we got on the elevator and were transported 70+ stories to the restaurant. Even after nightfall, the view is spectacular. Of course, it's Canada, but still nice.
We had to wait for our table and chose to do so at the bar. I had a kir royale and hubby had a beer; both were reasonably priced. We were seated after 20 minutes or so and had a 90-to-180-degree tour of the dining room (and the view outside) as we were brought our table. I did confirm that adults also chose to dine out that night, not just high school sophomores.
Our server was wonderful and pleasant. We tried the always-mentioned lobster corn dogs and were not disappointed (I think Bourbon Steak has a similar starter), and also found the big eye tuna appetizer delicious. Hubby got the butternut squash soup and I had the roasted beet salad (I am such a sucker for roasted beets!), which we both loved. I always try to get the duck entree when we're "dining fancy," but horror of horrors to find that they were all out by the time we came around. I ended up with the roasted chicken, which was fine but was no duck breast, and hubby got the beef short ribs, which he loved. The wine list is E X T E N S I V E and deep, with small and large bottles, which is perfect for me since hubby drinks beer. I had a delightful pinot noir and hubby had a few beers that he really enjoyed (the name escapes me). Even the drinks server chatted with us on our drink selections. We also shared dessert - chocolate torte or something like that - and thoroughly enjoyed our decadent night out downtown.
Awesome - food and view.
The Man and I decided to go for a night out on the town while in Detroit. Everyone suggested Coach Insignia. After looking at reviews on other websites, we took the plunge.
We went on a Saturday, the atmosphere was mixed - young and old, families and couples. Some dressed, others not so. We were dressed (little black dress for me and suit w/tie for him). Service was prompt and our waitress was very knowledgeable about the wine and any questions we had about the menu. I ordered the Strip Steak and he ordered Fillet Mignon. I'd never had this Zip sauce so I gave a try. It was super. Made with canola oil, soy sauce, garlic and a few other spices. It also came with Bearnaise and some kind of horseradish sauce, all really good, but the zip was my favorite. And we ordered a salted baked potato, very tasty :) Big enough to share. The food came pretty quickly, but we just enjoyed the view into Canada while we waited.
Since the meal was so filling, we skipped desert, but the next time we're in town, I won't pass it up! After dinner we walked around the lounge to take in the view of downtown Detroit and had a seat in the oversized chairs
The view alone gives the Coach Insignia five stars in my book. But it doesn't hurt that the food, service, and lounge are also excellent.
The Coach Insignia is located on the 72nd floor of the Ren Cen with two levels, one which is a bar/lounge and another for dining. The atmosphere feels intimate, yet airy at the same time, probably helped by the circular balconies around the lounge that look down to the dining area, and the huge ceilings. The panoramic view of the city, the river, and Windsor probably helps as well. The decor is most definitely modern, but not going so far as to become uncomfortable. Attire would definitely be dressy to formal. They won't kick you out if you're not well dressed, but come now, you want to look good for the occasion, right?
This being the "crown jewel" of the Matt Prentice collection of restaurants I almost don't even need to discuss the quality of the food, but I will. It's fantastic. So far I haven't made a choice yet that disappointed me, but several of the standout dishes that I can easily recommend would be the Lobster Corn Dogs appetizer, Beef and Caramelized Onion soup, Morel & Black Trumpet Stuffed Chicken, and of course the New York Strip. The Braised Beef Short Ribs were also excellent.
If there is a downside to this place it is that it can be a bit on the expensive side. So, you might do as I often have and simply come up to the lounge after dinner for drinks and possibly some of their fantastic dessert. The bar staff is friendly and attentive, so you'll be treated like a million bucks without having to break the bank. Service is equally good if you're dining. Be sure to take advantage of their expert advise when it comes to wine. I'll be honest, I'm better at drinking wine than picking it, so the help is welcome.
While it's true that there are plenty of other excellent, high-end restaurants that offer similar cuisine for perhaps slightly less money this place has something that they don't. I already mentioned the view, but it deserves a bit more. I think it's just the whole process of even getting there and then leaving which also adds to the fun and definitely the uniqueness. Going through the Ren Cen these days (post-GM renovations) is a lot more fun than it used to be way back in the day. The dedicated glass elevator up to the 72nd floor offers a smooth, quiet ride up and a beautiful view to the South of the river and Windsor. I strongly recommend taking a lap or two around the lounge area (once you've got a beverage in hand that is) to get a 360 degree view of the city either after dinner or at some point while getting drinks at the bar. All of this adds up to an experience that is worth the small premium you pay on a steak compared to some of the other places.
This might not be a place to go very regularly because of the cost, but if you're looking to have a good night on the town then the Coach Insignia offers a unique experience that I'm sure you'll enjoy. If you're anything like me you'll end up coming back here more often than you should anyway.
