Standby

Aptly named, Standby is still the best restaurant + cocktail bar in Detroit. Whenever I'm downtown, I'm hard pressed to choose to go elsewhere because I just honestly would prefer to be here.

The cocktails are consistently spectacular, and the rotating food menu is always enticing and delicious. I also consistently receive exceptional service. Top this off with an immaculate vibe, and you've got the makings of, well, a standby. I've come with family to celebrate birthdays, with friends to toast to a promotion, with my husband for an intimate date night, and solo when I just wanted to treat myself.

Because of the seasonal menu rotations, there is always something new and interesting to sip or bite. A constant cocktail on the menu that I highly recommend is called the Snake in the Grass. But the best cocktail I had here was called the Black Beretta and was made with clementine sherbet and black sesame - outstanding! I also love that they have a rotating "break-even bottle" - where you can get a taste of typically pricey pours of whiskey, tequila, etc. for just as much money as it costs for them to break even on the bottle.

I've lived downtown Detroit a very long time.

Standby until present day is hard to get into. Today's there's a bit more flexibility on a weekday but I still recommend a reservation.

Dress up if you come or cool swag. Lights are dim and the music makes you feel better.

Drinks are yummy and beers are welcome.

The staff is lovely. Brandy is a doll. I did come alone and was treated right.

I ordered the pasta and calamari!

I love the deviled eggs. I love the carrots and honestly y'all the food is great.

Doris approved. 4.6

Only because in order the deviled eggs a lot and a few times they have been cold even tho deep fried- and still yummy. I do like them better a bit warmer also sometimes when empty the food still takes a long time to come ourt- not that I am in a rush!

Other than that- it's beautiful and I completely recommend for a date night, team thing for work, or a girls night out.

Food:
Tonight I got the calamari and the pasta.
Calamari is a good mix of pieces. Soft but deep fried. It's in a coconut spicy pineapple white sauce. It's good but I didn't finish the plate.

I also got the pasta.
The cream sauce isn't special- taste out of the can. The sage would have been better fried.
The stuffing is beautiful: really yummy and the shells would cooked al dente. Just lovely,
Great amount of food for the price. And some crunch on top.

I would recommend. I just wish the white sauce had some bite and there was just one slice of bread.

I was offered fresh silverware that matters to me: and my waitress wasn't annoying I didn't feel rushed out. She was very nice and kind to me.

Highly recommend!

Come here for the best drinks in DT Detroit. The food is great too except the fries.

If I Must - comes in pretty coconut. Very boozy complex cocktail. Love!

Benton's old fashioned- has bacon washed bourbon. Unique and excellent old fashioned.

Black Berretta- perfect, not too sweet and unique. It does taste a bit like clementine sherbet. I think I like this drink the best!

Fried deviled eggs- amazing, best deviled eggs I've ever had! (& I get devilled eggs everywhere)

Burger & fries- burger was great! Really flavorful & yummy toasted bun. Unfortunately it came with very soggy fries :( none were crispy- all soggy.

Love this place!!! Happy hour on Sunday? Wow !! Favorite place in Detroit for a drink and always great service. They have a large drink menu and give great suggestions. It's a smaller restaurant but has a decent size bar. It gets very crowded in the evenings so plan ahead.

Had a reservation for standby on Saturday night. We arrived at 5pm and were seated quickly. I was surprised how small it was inside, but it was a nice vibe. We ordered drinks which took awhile, but to be expected since they are specialty cocktails and everyone orders them at once when they open. We got a few apps, and some entrees for the table, some things that were good: fried deviled eggs, beet salad, kaarage
(Spelling?) , soft pretzels.

Not good: burger, flavor was lacking and fries had SOOOO much salt on them it was inedible. Coconut calamari - good but had so much chili oil ( or some kind of oil) that they were soggy.

We ordered all of our food at once, a couple things came out first, then it was almost an hour later before the rest came out. Thought it was strange, I think the waiter forgot to ring it in tbh.

Overall the trip was pricey, I wouldn't come back for food. Maybe for a drink but likely will go with other options.

We LOVED Standby! We went for drinks with friends and stumbled on the Baker's Dozen pop-up menu. We were hesitant at first, but every drink genuinely tasted like the desert that inspired it. Our favorite was the lemon bar.
The vibe was great for a late night cocktail with a cozy table. The service was awesome, they even talked us thru finding the entrance when we got turned around. If you get a chance, walk downstairs to the restrooms and look at the art on the walls. Such a fun touch to the decor!

The drinks were fantastic but the fettuccine that I ordered was awful. The fettuccine itself was just only spicy - no other flavor itself.

Ambiance was cute but service was kinda bad. Every time i needed water, I had to wait 20 minutes in between each service.

*** Perhaps my fave chilled place in Detroit. ***

I find myself here almost every time I'm in town.
Loungey, soulful vibes connect this artsy lil spot.
Space is small so always make a reservation first.

The 5-star dishes that I prefer the most include:
Arancini ... a decadent starter that oozes comfort
Beet Salad ... so good that I'm always craving more
Short Rib ... tangy entrée filled with balanced flavor.

Even the bartenders mix exceptionally well. #trifecta

*** Speakeasy vibe w/ good drinks & great food. ***

Very unassuming from the outside. Gorgeous inside and delicious cocktails. Highly recommend stopping in.

This place is so cool. The drinks are amazing. I also love how the drink menu tells you if it's booze or flavor forward, that's so helpful.

They do have a few pricey drinks, like the one that comes in a coconut, but it's worth ordering at least one because it's just fun! The coconut one was pretty good too.

Also I didn't get a meal, but their side of fries was way bigger than I expected. I was not disappointed.