Old Saloon Charm

This weekend I decided to dine at Union Street Saloon, after an unfortunate issue with another restaurant who shall remain nameless at this time.  Union Street is located on Woodward Avenue near Downtown Detroit.

Union Street Saloon was extremely accommodating from the very start.  I decided for my birthday I would find a restaurant and invite a group of my friends to help me try it out.  The restaurant that I originally chose decided they could not accommodate my party. This decision was relayed to me 3 hours before my guests were due to arrive.  This unfortunate incident left me scrambling to find a new restaurant at the last minute, on a Saturday afternoon for that could accommodate a party of at least 12 people.  After a hand full of calls and no luck, my mother suggested Union Street.  At this point I was willing to give it a try.

The host that answered the phone took our reservation with no qualms.  Since there was such an issue with the previous restaurant my husband and I decided to arrive at Union Street a little earlier than our reservation time.   When we arrived the host was familiar with our party and assured us that our tables would be ready by the time of our reservation.  As I looked around, I noticed that the restaurant was rather full and I could not imagine that our tables would be ready at the time we were told.

The host directed us to the bar to wait for our tables.  The bartenders were awesome; very personable and attentive, even though the bar was rather busy.   We explained to the bartender that this was our first time dining at Union Street; this opened the floodgates of food information.  He then took the time to explain the menu and he also gave us his recommendations.

The host came to the bar to inform us that our table was ready and we could be seated whenever we were ready.  I looked at the time and to my surprised the tables were ready right on time.  After the majority of my party arrived we went over to our table which was nestled in the back corner of the restaurant, perfect for a party of 12.

The waitress came over right away to take our drink orders, and returned promptly to take our meal orders.  She was so prompt that I didn’t make a great decision for my dinner.  I ended up ordering a burger of all things!

The Meal

Overall the consensus at the table was, the meal was mediocre at best.  A few of my guests ordered things that stood out above the others.  The one item I thought was incredibly unique was the Dragon Eggs.  Dragon Eggs are palliard chicken (chicken pounded flat), wrapped around Gorgonzola cheese, dipped in batter, deep fried and coated with a spicy hot sauce.  These Dragon Eggs were served with a spicy Caesar salad topped with sweet mandarin oranges.  Weird combination, but every ingredient complemented the others, making this dish one of a kind.  If you are not a connoisseur of spicy foods, this dish is probably not for you.  Another dish that was excellent was the Jumbo Lump Crab au Gratin; this dish consisted of sweet crab served in a white wine béchamel sauce topped with a cheese blend of Spanish Manchango, Swiss Emmentaler and Asiago.  This creamy delight was served with toasted sourdough bread.

The best part about dining at Union Street Saloon was the atmosphere and service.  This was the perfect place to host a large group dinner.  The restaurant was already noisy, so there were no evil looks toward our extra loud table.  The service was great, there were no attitudes among the serving staff and everyone was personable.   The hosts and management staff were very accommodating at the last minute with such a large group.  While the food didn’t make me jump out of my seat, I would still return purely for the atmosphere and the appetizers. I would  give Union Street Saloon 7 out of 10.

 

Eating Around the D’s Tip of the Week

Throughout the year my family and I dine at a number of restaurants, some more often than others.  Within the last few years I have started signing up for restaurant clubs, especially the ones that I spend a lot of time at.  Many restaurant clubs will send you emails throughout the year with different deals, coupons and events; many with special pricing for their “VIP” guests.

The deals and coupons are great for us when we are trying to eat on a budget.  I make sure to check my emails for any special deals for that day before making a final decision.  While the deals are great, the best part about signing up for these restaurant clubs is the birthday surprises.  Most restaurant clubs will send you a special gift for your birthday; these gifts may range from a coupon with a percentage off of your meal to a full meal for free.

I currently belong to about 10 restaurant clubs; there are more but I have kept my list down to the ones I dine at most frequently or would love to dine at more frequently.  Two of my favorite restaurant clubs are Benihana and Texas de Brazil; both restaurants will send you a voucher for a free meal for your birthday!  Many times there are other costs associated with these types of vouchers but they still end up being a great deal.

So if you like dining out frequently, make sure you sign up with your favorite restaurants for great deals and birthday surprises!  Check the chain restaurants as well as the independent ones.  I have found that more independent restaurants are offering restaurant clubs and sometimes have better deals than the chains.  A good rule of thumb is to check out the restaurants that you love to dine at, so not to waste you time and email space.

 

Hand Over the Hand Pies!

One afternoon while driving through the Livonia/Northville area, I was extremely hungry; but I refused to settle for the run of the mill fast food offerings.  I didn’t know what I wanted; all I knew was that I wanted something out of the ordinary.  Driving down Haggerty Rd. heading toward 8 mile Rd., I pulled into a small strip mall thinking I would get some Thai food.  I decided to drive to the end of that strip mall and noticed a small restaurant named Piepers Pies.  I had never heard of this place so I decided to check it out.

When I walked into the restaurant the smell of freshly baked bread almost brought tears to my eyes (yes, I am a little dramatic).  I informed the attendant behind the counter that this was my first time in the restaurant and asked for her suggestions.  She took the time to explain the entire menu.  I later found out that the attendant who assisted me is one of the masterminds behind this whole operation.  What stood out the most was the fact that they only use all natural, fresh ingredients; no MSG and no Trans Fats!  Many families today are quite busy and eating on the run has become a common occurrence, sometimes causing a sacrifice of quality for convenience.  Piepers Pies offers convenience for the health conscious family on the run.

The focus of their menu is their freshly baked hand pies.  These pies are filled with a variety of high quality ingredients.  In addition to the variety of hand pies, Piepers offers fresh salads and soups that are made daily, also with all natural ingredients.  As for the pies, there are two categories, breakfast pies and all day pies.   I have had the pleasure of trying one of the breakfast pies and three of the all day pies.

The Taste

On my first visit I ordered the Beef and Jalapeño pie with a Greek Isle salad.  From the very first bite I knew that I would be back.  The crust of the pie had a slight crunch, and the inside was moist but not doughy.  The pie was filled with beef, onion, jalapeño curry and other spices. There was no shortage of flavor.   I only ordered one pie, and once I finished it I wanted another.  I didn’t want to look greedy by going back up to the counter right after I finished my order, so I went home and told Geoff (my husband) about it, and I was back in time for a dinner snack.  On this visit we tried the Gourmet Turkey Burger pie.  While completely different from the Beef and Jalapeño pie, it was full of favor as well.  This pie was filled with ground turkey, onion, spinach, parsley, roasted red bell pepper, sun dried tomato, parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar and other spices.  Just as amazing as the first pie that I had tried.  On other visits I tried the Bacon, Eggs and Cheese breakfast pie and the Ham and Cheese pie.

The pies are wonderful, but I haven’t told you the best part.  You may be thinking that these pies carry a hefty price tag considering the fact that they are made fresh daily with all natural, quality ingredients.  Well you would be wrong.  All of their pies are less than $4.  You can get an entire meal, adding a salad (generously sized) or soup to your pie for less than $8. Prices are sometimes less than with their daily lunch specials, which are Monday – Friday, 11am – 3pm.

Piepers Pies has great tasting food, with quality ingredient, at an affordable price, all with the convenience of fast food.  If you are in the Livonia/Northville area and are in the mood for something flavorful and unique, you should stop into Piepers Pies.  I give Piepers Pies 9 out of 10!

 

Sick with Schmicks

On Friday, my sister and I decided to dine at McCormick and Schmicks, since neither of us had ever been.  McCormick and Schmicks is a seafood and chop house located in Troy, MI.  As much as I wanted to like this restaurant, it just did not live up to my expectations.

The level of service was exceptional from the time we entered the restaurant.  We arrived early for our reservation, and were seated immediately.  The restaurant’s décor had an upscale pub feel.  There was a lot of dark wood with dark drapery that hung in front of the booths.  I really liked the fact that the booths were adorned with drapery to make your dining experience a little more private and intimate.

We did wait a little bit before the waiter came over to take our drink orders.  My sister decided on a traditional favorite, the Dirty Goose Martini.  Though I usually don’t drink alcohol, I did have a taste of her drink because I love the taste of olives.  The drink was fabulously smooth.  The waiter brought out 2 choices of olives; the traditional green olives with pimento and green olives stuffed with blue cheese.  My sister dumped all of them into her glass, since she loves olives as well.

Since this was my first time dining at McCormick and Schmicks I decided to order a variety of things.  To start, I ordered the Buttermilk Fried Oysters with Horseradish Slaw and Lemon Tabasco Aioli.  For dinner I ordered a wedge salad, and the Chef’s Recommendation, Sizzling Atlantic Salmon with Swiss chard and Mushroom Truffle Broth.  I also ordered a side of Lobster Mashed Potatoes.  My sister ordered the Stuffed Atlantic Salmon stuffed with Lump Blue Crab, Bay Shrimp and Brie Cheese, served with Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Vegetables.

The Verdict

The appetizer was exceptional, because it had two wonderful components: Fried buttermilk batter and Oysters.  The Horseradish Slaw and Lemon Tabasco Aioli complimented the tender Oysters perfectly.  The only recommendation that I have for this dish is to increase the amount of Oysters!  The wedge salad was just a wedge salad with nothing setting it apart from that of any neighborhood bar and grill; it was ok at best.

Then out came our entrees.  My sister’s Stuffed Atlantic Salmon looked wonderful.  I had a taste and it was good; very rich and cooked perfectly.  My entrée was served “tableside.” The Salmon and Swiss chard came out on a sizzling iron skillet; the waiter poured the Mushroom Truffle Broth onto the dish “tableside.”  Such a wonderful presentation (sarcastic font)!  The Salmon did not have very much flavor, and the Swiss chard had even less.  The cut of salmon was not ideal for this type of dish.  It was the end piece of a fillet, pretty thin. One saving grace for the meal was the Lobster mashed potatoes. These potatoes were thick and buttery, topped with what seemed like lobster bisque and large pieces of lobster claws; they were delicious.

While this meal wasn’t the worst thing that I’ve ever tasted, it was the worst for the price.  I personally do not have any problem spending good money for an excellent meal, but I do have a problem spending good money for a mediocre one.  The flavor quality of the overall meal was comparable to that of a 2-star chain restaurant.  Needless to say, I will not be returning, it’s just not worth the money.  I would give this restaurant 5 out of 10.

 

Say Hello to the Beast

This weekend Geoff and I had the pleasure of dining at Michael Symon’s Roast in downtown Detroit for the second time; it is located in the Westin Book Cadillac hotel.  Michael Symon is one of the Iron Chef’s that stars on Iron Chef America.  His restaurants are known for their delicate treatment of the BEASTS.  The beasts are the meats that he prepares, which could be pig, lamb, duck, etc.

On this occasion Geoff and I sat at the bar since we didn’t make reservations.  From the moment we walked into the restaurant to time we exited the service was exceptional.  We gave our name to the hostess; she suggested that instead of waiting for a table we could sit at the bar and have our entire meal there.  Since it was already late we thought this was a perfect idea.  The hostess even found Geoff and I a space at the bar.

Once situated at the bar Geoff was on a mission for a really good cocktail.  He asked to see the drink menu and bartender Joe, our bartender for the night, brought out a tablet. This was a first for us. The entire drink menu was on a touch screen tablet, including their extensive beer and wine collection.   Geoff decided on the Ciapirinha, which is made with Brazilian Rum.  He liked the drink so much that he asked Joe for the recipe; leave it to Geoff!

Since we were sitting at the bar we were able to order from the bar menu as well as the regular dinner menu.  I decided to order an appetizer from the bar menu because they were fun and interesting.  I ordered the Pork Crackling with sea salt, lime and chili powder, and my greedy husband ordered a side order of Mac & Cheese as an appetizer.  This was the start to a fabulous night of indulgence.  The pork crackling was gourmet pork rinds.  It was presented in a tall metal cup garnished with limes.  They were much more fabulous than any pork rinds that I have ever had.  The crackling was dusted with the salt and chili powder, giving them just a hint of heat.  When I added the fresh lime juice the crackling started crackling, and it also complimented the chili powder.   Geoff’s Mac & Cheese was amazing.  It was the perfect Mac & Cheese, rich and creamy with a slight crunch on top.

For dinner Geoff decided to stick with the bar menu and ordered the Roast Burger which was a 5 oz burger topped with bacon, cheddar, fried egg and pickled onions.  He opted out of the fried egg.  He also ordered roasted cauliflower, and rosemary fries to accompany his burger.  As for me, I decided to order form the main dinner menu.  Normally whenever I eat at a restaurant that is known for their steaks, I order steak.  Since I had already experienced the Roast Porterhouse for two, I decided to step completely outside of the box.  First I asked about the “Beast of the Day,” which is whatever animal they decided to premier each day.  On this day the “Beast of the Day” was the suckling pig which is slow roasted for hours and served with their special barbecue sauce.   I wasn’t really wowed by the way it was presented so I decided on the Smoked Pork Chop with polenta, pickled chilies, and bbq onions.  I also ordered Fried Brussel Sprouts, because they are the top selling side item.

The Meal

The meal, oh the meal!!!!  Hands down, by far one of the best meals I have ever had!!!!  Geoff’s meal was good. Burger was good, cauliflower was very good, and rosemary fries were really good too.  Now for my food… I might need a minute!  I have had my fair share of pork chops in my lifetime, but this pork chop was better than any that I have ever had.  The pork chop was perfectly cooked, with as salty, crispy crust that coated entire surface of the chop.  You could tell that the pork chop was smoked but the smoky flavor wasn’t overpowering.  The chop sat atop a puddle of creamy sweet polenta.  The salty crust of the pork chop paired perfectly with the creamy sweet polenta.  The icing on the cake was the Fried Brussel Sprouts!  Anyone that can make brussel sprouts taste that good is a genius.  Geoff hates brussel sprouts, but he definitely indulged in these.

I am so glad I stepped outside of my box, because this was one of the best meals that I have ever had.  Michael Symon’s Roast gets Eating Around the D’s first 10 out of 10.  If you are looking for a superb meal, I would highly recommend you try Roast.

 

Unique Ice Cream

As you may already know, my family loves food.  Generally, I prefer savory foods over sweet desserts, but Treat Dreams is the exception to my rule.  Treat Dreams is a bakehouse and micro-creamery, located in Ferndale, MI.  If you are looking for a dessert that will challenge your taste buds, you should to try Treat Dreams.

Treat Dreams is known for its unique flavor combinations in ice cream.  They make their ice cream daily, and you never know what tricks they have up their sleeves until you actually walk into the place.  They take traditionally savory ingredients and mix them with sweet ones to create a flavor explosion in your mouth.  I have tried a couple of flavors, but I never have enough room to try as many as I would like to try.

Recently, my husband (Geoff) and I hosted our daughter’s 3^rd birthday party at Treat Dreams. They allowed us to reserve enough space to house about 25 guests.  We chose to have a sundae bar, equipped with 10 different toppings for the children and adult guests to create their own sundaes.  Each person had the option of choosing from any of that day’s flavors.  My daughter’s birthday party just happened to be on St. Patrick’s Day, so in honor of this fun Irish holiday, Treat Dreams offered four flavors that were infused with alcohol.  I had the pleasure of trying a dark chocolate and whiskey ice cream.  Absolutely AMAZING!!!  I am not an alcohol drinker, but the taste of this particular ice cream was simply genius. There was just a hint of spice from the whiskey, which complemented the dark chocolate perfectly.  Although, the dark chocolate whiskey ice cream was my favorite, the salted caramel was the common favorite among adults, the cookie monster ice cream seemed to be the favorite among the children, aside from the traditional  vanilla bean.

Treat Dreams has something to appeal to everyone.  Along with the dairy ice cream options, there are also vegan options which always include a sorbet of some sort.   For the right price you can have Treat Dreams create the ice cream of your dreams.  They will make an ice cream with whatever flavors you want in it, then package it up for you to take home and indulge.

While desserts aren’t usually my thing, I will definitely be returning to Treat Dreams, and I implore you to head there the next time you’re in the mood for an amazing dessert.  I would give Treat Dreams a 9 out of 10, on just their ice cream alone.

 

Brunch with Soul

Its late Sunday morning and you’re looking for some good home cooked food, but you don’t want to cook it. Try Beans & Cornbread in Southfield, MI.  Beans & Cornbread is a soul food restaurant, offering the traditional soul food items.

On Sundays Beans & Cornbread offers an affordable soul food brunch, with all of the necessary staples.  The hours of brunch are 11 am – 2 pm on Sundays, and the food is served buffet style. The price is only $12.95 per person, for all you can eat!!!!  We took the kids and they ate for free since they were under 5 years of age.

This food was very good, considering that it is buffet style.  Generally, I am not fond of food served buffet style; however all of my usual pet peeves were not an issue here.  The food was piping hot, because they refilled the buffet chafers on a regular basis.  The buffet was located in the next room on the bar, away from where everyone was dining, and the area was kept every clean.

The Food

The Sunday that we went, there was a good representation of soul food. There was fried chicken wings, barbecued chicken wings, fried catfish, meatballs, broasted potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese and pasta salad. Eggs, waffles and pancakes were made to order.  All of the food on the buffet was very good, but the pancakes and waffles left a little be desired.  The catfish was perfectly cooked, with just the right amount of seasoning.  My personal favorite dish that Beans & Cornbread serves is the macaroni and cheese.  I was a little disappointed in the fact that there were very little breakfast items, and the breakfast items that were served weren’t that impressive.

The Restaurant

The restaurant is small, but clean.  There are three separate areas, the bar, the dining area and a private dining area. The service is usually slow, especially on a Sunday.  We have gone for dinner, which is not buffet style, and for brunch.  Dinner was quite the wait, but the food was very good.  For brunch we went at the start of brunch time; there was no wait.  At times the wait staff and the hostesses although friendly, seemed a little disorganized, which could be the cause of the long wait times for seating and food.  Now if you decide to go to brunch or dinner after church on Sunday, you should expect that there will be a long wait time. This is there busiest time of the week.  While we were there for brunch there was a live jazz band performing.  While this seems like a nice addition to ambiance, the space is already too small, and the band only made the space seemed more cramped.

Recommendation

I would definitely recommend the brunch, because you can have a taste of all of their most popular items and an affordable price.  The brunch was lacking a little in breakfast items, but if you are not a huge breakfast eater then this could be perfect for you.  Overall I would give Beans & Cornbread a 7 out of 10.

 

Dollar Burgers, Really?

The Williams’ household is always hectic; with two working parents and two young children we are often scrambling for dinner.  By the time everyone makes it home, it is usually dinner time.  I do not pre-cook meals because honestly, we just won’t eat them.  Where does this leave us?  At a restaurant!  We are definitely not what you would think of as wealthy, but sometimes we overlook this very tiny fact.  This means, we are always looking for economic ways to continue our delusional lifestyle.

One Tuesday evening I made it home around six.  As usual I hadn’t taken anything out to cook for dinner and truthfully I really didn’t feel like cooking.  Then I remembered a while back, a friend told me about a bar in Laurel Park Place Mall called Bar Louie Tavern & Grill, which serves dollar burgers on Tuesdays.  First thought that was there has to be a catch, so I had Geoff call Bar Louie to get a little more information.

We were surprised to find out that Bar Louie has dollar burgers from 5pm to close!  The only catch was that you pay $.25 – $.50 per burger topping.  So we did the math and decided that it was definitely worth it.

We went with our children (yes, to a bar) and found that the bar was much like a nice restaurant.  The dining room was huge, and dimly lit.  The actual bar sat in the middle of the large dining room.   Overall the décor was attractive, very masculine looking.  There was lots of wood accented with black and televisions were visible from every area in the bar.  Everything was very clean, including the bathroom!

Our kids ordered their meals from the restaurant’s children’s menu, which ended up being more expensive than our burgers.  We of course ordered burgers.  The dollar burger menu included: beef burgers, turkey burgers, veggie burgers and portabella burgers.   Toppings included: cheeses, bacon, avocado, onions, tomatoes, pickles, and a few other things.  These toppings range from $.25 – $.50.

I ordered a beef burger topped with provolone, lettuce, onions and jalapenos and mayo; the total for this burger was $2.75.  Geoff of course ordered two burgers; both burgers totaled about $5.  We definitely considered this a deal because these were no mediocre burgers.  The beef burgers were quarter pound burgers, and the buns were toasted and buttered.  They didn’t skimp on the burgers just because they were $1; these are the same quality burgers that are on their everyday menu.

In addition to our burgers we ordered a plate of the Loaded Tots to share. Personally I could have done without these.  The dish might have been better with fries instead of tots. Geoff ordered a Lemon Drop Martini that looked very good.  He said that it was very strong, but had a good taste.  I could tell that is was made with fresh lemon juice, for all those Lemon Drop fans.

In the end we had a great dinner for a very reasonable price.  The bottom line would have been even better, if the kids would have ordered burgers.  Either way we had a great meal, quality family time, and best of all, I didn’t have to cook.

I would definitely recommend Bar Louie’s Dollar Burger night to anyone looking for a deal on a meal.  I would give this restaurant an 8 out of 10. We will definitely go back for Dollar Burger Night!

 

A Tribute to My Youth: Mexican Town Restaurant

I remember the first time I ventured to Mexicantown, Southwest Detroit without my mother.  I was with a good friend of mine and we really didn’t know how to get there; we just knew what we were looking for.  It seemed to take us an hour to get there, when it should have only taken us 25 minutes max.  Back then, our restaurant of choice in Mexicantown was Xochimilco.  The meal of choice for both of us was Beef and Cheese Enchiladas double rice no beans and a side of sour cream! This order was generally placed in one breath.  Once we got a little older Margaritas accompanied those orders.

Still, to this day I delight in going down to Mexicantown for REAL Mexican food.  Just last week Geoff (my husband), myself, and our 2 little ones drove down to Southwest Detroit for a late, cheap dinner.  Our restaurant of choice these days is Mexican Town Restaurant.  Whenever we are in the mood for some chips and salsa we head there.  The chips are fried fresh and the salsa is made daily.  I have yet to find salsa that tastes better than the salsa served at Mexican Town.  I prefer the hot, while the rest of the family prefers the mild.  On this occasion we all shared a large Super Nacho, except for the youngest child, Khloe; she wanted tacos.  We always order sour cream and fresh avocado slices with our nachos.  Let me tell you, there is NOTHING healthy about this meal, but by the end my taste buds were on fire and my stomach was full.  Everyone at the table was satisfied, including my oldest child, Gavyn, who’s a picky eater.  Geoff was the most satisfied because the entire bill including tip was under $25!

There aren’t many restaurants out there, where a family of four can eat for less than $25 dollars, and be happy with the outcome.  The service is always fast, and I personally have never been disappointed with the food.  I do admit, now that I am older I have to take an antacid after this meal, but I’m quite alright with that!  My children enjoy going because it’s something different from the norm, and for me its comfort food that reminds me of my youth.  So the next time you are near Southwest Detroit, stop by Mexican Town Restaurant for really good Mexican food!

 

Texas vs. Gaucho

Geoff (my husband) and I have recently dined at not one, but two Brazilian steakhouses in the Detroit area recently.  The first one we visited at was Texas de Brazil Churrascaria, located in Downtown Detroit. Then we tried Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse located in Northville, MI.  Both steakhouses have phenomenal components, but in our opinion one stood out above the other.

There was so much information to cover, so I took the advice of a one of my good friends to lay the key points out in a spread sheet.

	Texas de Brazil Churrascaria	Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse	Preference
Meat	Wide array of meats. Beef including steak and ribs, pork, chicken, lamb chops and lamb shank, and Brazilian sausage. Favorite meat was the Flank Steak. However all of the beef was prepared and seasoned well. Not particular about the chicken	Wide array of meats. Beef including steak and ribs, pork, chicken, lamb chops and lamb shank, Brazilian sausage, and shrimp. Favorite meat was the garlic rib eye. However all of the beef was prepared and seasoned well. Not particular about the chicken.	If I were choosing one of these restaurants based solely on the taste of the meat, I would choose Gaucho.
Salad Bar	Extensive salad bar with 50-60 items, both cold and hot items. Some of my favorite items on the salad bar were the bacon (which comes in half strips), smoked salmon, the large variety of vegetable items, and the cured meats.	Modest salad bar with maybe 20-25 items. There was nothing outstanding about the salad bar. In fact I was rather disappointed.	If I were choosing one of these restaurants based solely on the salad bar, it would be Texas hands-down!
Ambiance	Spacious, and beautifully decorated. However, the bar area was small. Beautiful huge floral instillation hanging over the salad bar area was breath taking. Windows lined the restaurant allowing a great view of the downtown area.	Nicely ambiance. Spacious bar area. Dining area was tight. Felt cramped at our table. Nothing stood out about the ambiance.	If I were choosing one of these restaurants based solely on the Ambiance, I would have to choose Texas.
Parking	Definitely did not like the parking situation. No valet, and not much nearby parking. Closest parking is in a parking garage next to the Compuware building, or you could try to find a spot at a meter. Good luck with that though!	Easy parking. No valet was offered, but the parking lot was easily accessible.	If I were choosing one of these restaurants solely on Parking, I would have to choose Gaucho.
Price	$40 pp for dinner or $25 pp for a light dinner (salad bar only). Lunch is $20 or $18 for a lighter lunch. Children 3-5 are $5, and children 6-12 are half price.	$46 pp for dinner or $26 for lunch. Children 5 and under are free.	If I were choosing one of these restaurants based solely on price, I would choose Texas.
Service	Phenomenal Service	Good Service. At one point in the meal we were being ignored by the Gauchos (the meat servers). After we brought it to their attention it was ratified.	If I were choosing one of these restaurants based solely on service, I would choose Texas.
Overall Rating	9	7

It might be apparent by the table, but our personal preference is Texas de Brazil Churrascaria,

Texas de Brazil Churrascaria is located in the Compuware building adjacent to Campus Martius.  We were advised by friends to make reservations before going; and were glad that we did.  As we pulled up the restaurant we started searching for valet parking, but to no avail.  We circled the block at least 3 times until we called the restaurant, which advised us that there was no valet and that we should park in the parking garage located next to the Compuware building.  Although a little frustrated and disappointed, we complied. The restaurant was pretty booked when we arrived, but our table was ready before our actual reservation time.  The interior was beautiful. There was a small bar located in the front of the restaurant, equipped with a small lounge area.

Geoff particularly enjoyed “The Ciapirinha” drink, which is their signature cocktail.  The bartender explained that this drink was like a Brazilian version of the margarita.  Geoff said that it was one of the best cocktails he’s ever tasted.

After sitting at the bar for a while, we were led to our table. The hostesses were very pleasant and professional.  Once we reached our table, I could not keep my eyes off of the salad bar area.  Not only was the salad bar area massive, there was a huge floral instillation that hung from the ceiling like a chandelier.

The waiter came over immediately to explain the “rules” of the Churrascaria (Brazilian Steakhouse). Each guest receives a card that is red on one side and green on the other; red means stop and green means keep bringing the meat!!!  I decided to start with the salad bar; however Geoff was saving himself for the meat.  The salad bar had everything you could imagine. There were both cold and hot items included in the salad bar.  I was thoroughly impressed with the selection.

Included with the meal each table receives a basket of cheese bread and two side dishes; mashed potatoes and fried bananas (to cleanse the pallet).  I loved, loved, loved the fried bananas. It was like a little dessert between all of the different meats.

Then came the never ending array of meats! Our favorite was the flank steak. Geoff also enjoyed the signature , “Picanha.” The Picanha is a capped (fat on) top sirloin. It was tasty, but I personally thought that the flank steak was better.

We were much too full to partake of any dessert! So…… we just sat there a while, amazed by the quantity of food moving around the restaurant.  We had a great evening and we will definitely be returning.  As stated above we gave this Churrascaria a 9 out of 10!