Oak & Reel

Fantastic dining experience. Incredible atmosphere, fantastic food and top notch service. Pastas are made fresh every morning and seafood is flown in daily. Our server knew every detail about the menu and was able to make appropriate reccomodations based on our preferences. Highly recommend.

Got to the restaurant about 15 minutes early. Had a few drinks at bar while we waited. Bartender was extremely friendly, recommended the prefect drinks and talked through the entire menu. Our waitress was equally friendly and very attentive. We ordered the octopus, a pasta plate, the swordfish and a chicken dish. All were very good. Paired perfectly with the garnishes. Overall great dinning experience.

I thought the food exceeded expectations with unexpected flavours and reasonable Portions. We did the 6 course chefs tasting and would do it again 5 x over. The staff were efficient, polite, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend the steak and scallops along with the espresso martini. Willl be coming again.

We came here with my family for an early dinner (5:00 pm on a Friday night) and we were able to have a window seat. We were celebrating a special occasion and the staff surprised our table with a glass of Prosecco for each of us. That was unexpected and very nice! All of the food tasted amazing! My partner and I shared the octopus appetizer and each had the halibut entree. It was a perfect amount for us! The flavors were very unique and not too filling. They also served fresh complimentary bread, which tasted great! Will definitely come back!

Just wow. The husband and I went for our 10 year anniversary. We did a four course menu plus oysters. The mignonette was rich and peppery and oysters were briny and delicious. Hubby did the squid pasta and I did this bucatini, both were fabulous. Nothing but good things to say about the food. It was thoughtfully prepared and presented. The octopus was so tender and delicious - like a steak - definitely the best octopus we have ever had!

Although not cheap, Oak and Reel is worth every penny! It truly is one of those restaurants where “you cant go wrong” with anything you order. We had the asparagus and focaccia bread to start. Best focaccia ever! Then we had the caramelle, swordfish and the tartaleta. Everything was to die for! We also enjoyed an inexpensive bottle of very tasty white wine recommended by our waiter. The waitstaff and knowledgable, friendly and attentive and give 10/10 service. We will be back here!

Get that tasting menu, it was incredible!!! With Lauren giving us some great service. Entire FOH team was amazing, helpful and knowledgeable. One of my favorite dining experiences

Feel bad it took me so long to write a review. This place was delicious. It had awesome homemade pasta. It had super good fresh oysters, from the coast. I normally take tons of pictures. I don’t know what my problem was that night lol everything was homemade the drinks were delicious. We had a cappuccino at the end of the night with our dessert. I loved what they gave our check on. It was super cute. Very good spot and fun place to go!

Patrick was such an attentive server. His descriptions were so on point, we wanted to order everything. The octopus, brussel sprouts and the lamb shoulder was delicious. I was looking forward to the oysters, but they only had raw. I like them grilled. Other than that, I have no complaints. Very cute decor and the seats were very comfortable.

What a fantastic restaurant. Interior design is very on point. LOVED our round table. Our group was able to chat all together adding to our experience. Service was amazing. Our server (I think her name was Lauren) was very knowledgeable of the menu and was kind and patient to my friends who changed their orders. None of us had dietary restrictions, but Lauren was on top of it and asked each one of us when we were ordering. We all did the 4 course option, so we could sample the menu. I had the octopus, squid ink pasta, scallops and chocolate dessert. Everything was exceptional and cooked perfectly. I can’t wait to bring more friends to show off this wonder treasure of a restaurant.

We were dining before the theater. The service and food were excellent. The waiter reviewed the menu and addressed our questions regarding our possible meal choice. She keep track of our dinning time to decrease the risk of us being late for the theater. We all loved the experience.

Little pricey (honestly the prix fixe or whatever for $89 is the way to go, way more bang for your buck) but they've easily got the best octopus around. If you think you don't like octopus, I implore you to try theirs and reconsider. The Casarecce and bucatini are top tier as well. Service is always good; they know how to break down the menu and dishes well. They also went out of their way to help me play a fun joke on my fantasy football league buddy who was in from Pittsburgh. That was a nice touch. I also had a surprise b-day party thrown for me here which was great as well.

Consistently great, would recommend ordering a la carte over the tasting menus. Definetly get the hamachi and octopus. Best pasta is the lemon bucatini. They also offer affogatos off menu which was very good

We had a birthday dinner here, my husband reserved table last minute, they are very accomodating. We had a 6 course meal with wine pairing and it was amazing. The food are great, the service, our server is very nice and helpful, Kariann the sommelier is so accomodating answering our questions. It was such a great birthday night we enjoyed our experience here. Recommended 100%!

Fantastic experience! Each plate was prepared with clear intention and thoughtfulness. They were simple and yet elegant, letting the ingredients shine through. And the plating was absolutely beautiful. Definitely put this one on the list of places to go for a special occasion. Service was professional. The pace of the food was perfect. An overall fantastic experience!

On Thursday I attended a birthday dinner here. It was a wonderful experience. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Our waiter name was Christopher he was phenomenal. He catered to a party of twelve. Their attentiveness and friendly demeanor enhanced our meal and made us feel valued guests. I definitely looking forward to going back.

Oak and Reel has delicious cocktails and a wide variety of food including seafood, pasta and steak. They have a nice open space with elegant decor and offer a large parking lot that is free and fenced in. They also have a speakeasy downstairs we weren't able to visit because it opens at 6 on Saturday. Highly recommend!

This restaurant has high ceilings, is spacious and visually appealing. My husband and I went here to celebrate a wedding anniversary and had a great time! We were thoroughly impressed throughout our whole dining experience - from the service, drinks and food! We started with two cocktails. I am not a drinker but I am telling you; you cannot go here without trying these two drinks. We were blown away by the flavour combinations. As you take your first sip the drink is changing flavour in your mouth the whole way through. We had the: Serpenti: so refreshing but a bit of spice but perfectly spiced as the passionfruit cuts the heat. Simply magnificent! Milan: so fresh and honestly just made me give a pleasant sigh afterwards. It somehow just makes you comfortable and relax. It was stunning! Reading the ingredients it makes perfect sense. This should be a staple everywhere. Cucumber and some Prosecco then a cut to ginger with the subtle hint of rosemary. Phenomenal! The meal starts with rosemary focaccia with olive oil that was a bit lemony? Really tasty! We then ordered the appetizers of octopus and tuna tartare. The octopus which was so tender / and although we don’t care for radicchio the stracciatella cheese with grapes and octopus was MOUTH WATERING GOOD! The tuna tartare - the potato crisps ontop were so fun! Just like a potato chip! Perfectly cooked and crunched! The dish had olives,, peppers, carrots and pickled cauliflower which were a great accompaniment to the dish to elevate the favours! For mains we had the raddichio salad with ORATA: large fish avoid the spine and tail - it’s butterflied and full of flavour. Super fresh and light! Stunning fish paired with a cheesy, nutty radicchio salad with clementines. Flavours mesh so well! Beware - the inside of this fish’s mouth gave me the Heebie Jeebies - take a peek if you’re brave! We also had the BUCATINI PASTA : cheesy creamy lemony - fresh noodles made in house each morning! This was a bit heavier as a dish - be sure to eat it all in one go because the next day when I heated it up it was extra oily and just didn’t have that same hold on me as it did the day prior. Honestly, a perfect meal. I am upset I get full so quickly because I would have loved to add in dessert! Everything here was outstanding. My husband and I will GLADLY cross the border to eat here again - and next time, we will have to bring friends so we can sample even more of the wonderful food. Thanks for an awesome dinner celebration :)

Overall it was a very good place to visit. We did the chefs tasting and surprisingly they didn't ask if there were any dietary restrictions due to food allergies. Well one of us is allergic to eel and a dish had eel as part of it, thankfully it was isolated to the side of the dish so the rest could still be enjoyed. I felt the total portions were a little on the 'too much' size when one is a heavy pasta dish and a couple of our group weren't able to eat all of the main dish as they said "I hope to get any of the dessert in me", but maybe that's a good problem to have for some. The ravioli was probably my favorite of the evening, so much so that I'd be happy with that were it still on the menu the next time we go there. So yes, we would for sure go back, everything tasted great, our server was amazing except for what was noted above, and even though it was a little loud it was a very nice evening.

Everything about this place was amazing. I was skeptical at first thinking the food looks fancy, but is it good? Oh, it was SOO good. I happened to go during the white truffle season. I went on November 2nd. I had never had truffle in my life and honestly didn't think it would be THAT good. My favorite dish was the "tajarin al tartufo" AMAZINGGG 👏🏼. Everything was VERY good! Wait staff was AMAZING as well! Definitely definitely going back!!

One of the best dining experiences I’ve had. Highly recommend the Chef’s tasting, with the wine pairing. Great place for a romantic date.

Worth the visit and money. Oak & Reel has a nice vibe (although some music to the room might improve this), easy and safe fenced in parking, prompt comfortable seating (where you are not on top of the other table), great service (Christopher was excellent and the food and beverage runners were very good as well), and the food was very good. Chef has a very well curated menu including drinks and food and has guided/trained the servers well on formalities, including formal place settings (a dying function of dining). Highly recommended. The brussels were excellent, the bucatini highly recommended (fresh house made pasta), the halibut was very good, and both the coffee and rich, creamy fresh-made pistachio gelato were superb.

We visited Oak & Reel primarily because it’s part of the Chase Sapphire Exclusive Tables program, and we’re really glad we did. Our dinner was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The space is beautiful and spacious, but still has a cozy vibe that makes it perfect for a date night. The service was exceptional, and everything we ordered was delicious and well presented. I especially loved the bucatini and the baccala (fish sandwich). Onsite parking was also a huge bonus.

6 of us had dinner together here. We ordered pretty much everything from the menu and we shared. I don't know much about Italian cuisine, but I enjoyed a lot. I was most impressed by the halibut and the strip steak. The deserts were unique and good too. Patrick served us well. I am thankful for the night.

My husband and I found this place while searching for a new place to try before a candle lit concert. Tati was our server and she did amazing. I have 7 years experience serving and bartending, and can genuinely say she is amazing and so professional. The food was outstanding and we will be so happy to return.

We had an amazing pre-theater experience here before seeing a show at the Fisher Theater. We had about 90 minutes to eat before we needed to head to the venue and the staff did an amazing job of coursing our meal and creating a really delightful experience without making us feel rushed. Everything we ordered was delicious, beautifully cooked, and expertly presented. The squid ink pasta and halibut were favorites of our table. Prices were also very reasonable given the portions and quality. We’ll be back!!

What an incredible find! This is a fantastic restaurant where every detail is considered. The interior design is very on point—chic and modern. We especially loved our round table, which was perfect for letting our entire group chat and share in the fun. The service, led by Lauren (I believe!), was truly amazing. She was not only knowledgeable about the extensive menu but also incredibly kind and patient as my friends made last-minute changes to their orders. I was highly impressed that she proactively addressed dietary restrictions with each of us, even though we had none. We opted for the 4-course option to sample widely. My sequence—octopus, squid ink pasta, scallops, and chocolate dessert—was exceptional. Everything was cooked perfectly. I cannot wait to bring more friends here to show off this wonderful treasure!

I’m not sure if this is a 3.5 or a 4 given the price point, because there were so many wins and some critical errors. I guess I’ll start with my big beef: I spent a year living in Italy. I know my Italian food. I know what Al dente pasta is like. The paccheri I was served were so hard, I could not cut them. After sending them back, they still arrived 1-2 minutes underdone. I ate them so my table would not be stuck waiting for me. It’s such a dumb mistake for this kind of money. They need to taste their pasta before pulling it from the water. Service also was shaky with the size of gaps between courses. Idk if it was a kitchen backup issue, or a server issue, but it was a good 40 minutes between the appetizers and pastas, and then the mains came out immediately. Very weird pacing. I will give them major credit for the appetizers and main dishes. My crudo was some of the best I’ve had in recent memory. The oysters were fresh. Orata and octopus were delicious. Those who ordered stuffed pasta with chanterelles were much happier and said the texture was appropriate. All in all, I would come back for appetizers and maybe a fish dish. And I’d probably try to sit at the bar with a view of the grill.

We had a great experience at Oak & Reel and will be back! That being said here is my breakdown below: Service - everyone was very kind, our waitress Lauren was super attentive and experienced. Overall I would say the service was above average. Ambiance - romantic and warm, would recommend for a date night or family dinner (tables were not on top of each other so easy to talk) Food - this was hit or miss for me. - To start we had oysters and the fritto misto. Fritto misto was disappointing, it was mostly fennel and maybe 30% calamari. Also instead of being able to squeeze a lemon over top, the lemon was fried as well which was kind of strange. Maybe we just got a bad batch. The sauce it came with was tasty. - for mains we shared the lamb and the gnocchi w truffle. Lamb was amazing, unique flavors and memorable - would definitely recommend/order again. Gnocchi was not good. For $38 I expected more depth of flavor and just more elements overall. It wasn’t hot and the pasta tasted overcooked. - for dessert we tried the zaba d’agrumi - WOW. Definitely one of the best / most interesting desserts we have ever had. Variety of textures and balance of flavors was on point. Please keep this on the menu!!! (Our waitress told us this was a new addition) - order this - you won’t be disappointed 100/10.

A beautiful and vibrant restaurant, and they genuinely care about the food! I dined in here twice. The first time I went there solo after a conference, I ordered oysters, octopus, squid ink pasta, followed by a pear salad and apple sorbet. I truly loved the food and experience. The octopus was cooked perfectly, tender yet juicy. The sauce was delicious, and the grapes on the side were a great finishing touch. I hoped to have a pasta with squid ink sauce, rather than squid ink pasta, but I imagine that is standard in the US. The service was a little slow, but the server was friendly and accommodating to my unusual request of having salad after an entree, and so on. I enjoyed the pace. (I spent 2+ hours solo, so I don’t recommend people to come in quick bites, though.) The second time, I brought my wife, as I was delighted with the experience the first time. We ordered the octopus and pear salad again, followed by stuffed calamari, bucatini, gnocchi, orata, and cheesecake. Unfortunately, the octopus was a bit more chewy this time, although it was still good, especially with the excellent sauce and sides. Bucatini was absolutely delicious; the texture of the handmade pasta was outstanding, and the sauce was creamy yet spicy. We hope they serve potato gnocchi instead of ricotta gnocchi, as the ricotta gnocchi was not flavorful enough and somewhat tedious and unappetizing to our taste buds, while the pesto was perfect. The fish was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. It tasted rich, and it was fresh. The size of the cheesecake was perfect for us, as we prefer smaller desserts. Again, the service was a bit slow, but overall, we had a great time there (3 + hours). It can get pricey, however, the food is worth the price, considering how much care and love they pour into the ingredients, in my opinion. We will definitely come back to experience the different menu they serve!

In summary: there’s nothing bad about this restaurant but it’s not necessarily impressive in any aspect. We tried the tasting menu and while it was good, it wouldn’t be something we’d go back for - especially compared to the tasting menu at Freya next door which had better flavours, presentation, and portions (and cheaper surprisingly). I can’t say the food was worth the $117 pp here. Service was good though and it was a nice atmosphere.

Solid restaurant in mid town Detroit. Steak was cooked perfectly and food came out fresh and well seasoned. Type of restaurant where the prices are high and the quantities are smaller. Overall we enjoyed it

The tasting menu was amazing. So many things I’d never think to pair together but definitely work— like braised leeks and hazelnuts. The duck wasn’t as tender or flavorful as I had hoped/ was used to.. kinda just dry and stringy. Ravioli was def one of my fave courses… brown butter was SO good I was eating spoonfuls of it even after I finished my pasta. Was a bit skeptical when I saw the last dessert course was pretty much a big cream puff but it was the VEST cream puff I’ve ever had… just a magical texture. Only marked down a star because of the service… waited 25minutss between each course so it ended up being a 2.5 hour plus dinner and I felt like I was being rushed out despite the long dinner not being my fault… when I went to the restroom someone completely cleared my table which was awkward as I was in the middle of dinner. And the email to confirm my reservation did ask me to keep it under two hours… but it was not my fault it was so slow despite it not being that busy in there. Even the couple who came and sat next to me halfway through my dinner was able to finish around the same time as me. I guess the waiting time was helpful in that it let me digest a bit between courses and actually finish all the food without feeling gross or too stuffed… perfect amount of satiated and I was still able to look forward to each course.

The venue is beautiful, there is very convenient parking, and the food was excellent! Best Brussels sprouts and octopus I've ever had. Home made pasta was phenomenal! Desserts were divine. Only 4 stars instead of 5 because: - Our waitress seemed quite annoyed that we wanted to order our appetizers before ordering our entrees. We were informed that it wasn't how "they" prefer we order. We were starving when we got there and wanted something quickly. They weren't very busy, so I can't imagine the kitchen flow exploding over it. Sorry 🤔 - I wish the pasta courses could be ordered as entrees. We came specifically for the fresh pasta and it was well worth the trip, but they're only offered as "primi" small plates.

Had a nice dinner at this upscale Italian spot in Detroit—elegant vibe, great service, but definitely on the expensive side. The calamari was good and well-cooked: tender inside, crispy outside, and nicely flavorful. The crudo was amazing—super fresh, bright flavors popping. Definitely a must-try if you go. The squid ink lumache (with shrimp and crab) was okay, but not amazing; the ink flavor wasn't as bold as I'd hoped. The bucatini (with preserved lemon and walnuts) was okay as well—solid, but nothing mind-blowing. The lamb shank was flavorful and really tender, a hearty highlight. Overall, everything tasted good and was well-prepared with fresh ingredients, but for the prices, it wasn't that great or memorable. Wouldn't rush back. The service was phenomenal, though. Could not have asked for better service.

Overall, I wasn’t very impressed. We started with oysters, ordering a dozen, but what we received was 6 small ones and 6 large ones. The small ones were tiny they looked like mussels, definitely not what I expected thought they would be all the same . Drinks were a mixed experience. The espresso martini was good, but despite asking for a filthy martini, it wasn’t well chilled, lacked the bold briny flavor I expected, and felt just average overall. For appetizers, we ordered the ratatouille and the jambon. Presentation was nice, but the portions were disappointing for the price. The ratatouille looked like two small dumplings, and the jambon was just a few thin slices of ham (though the bread was very good). For entrées, we had the chicken and the salmon. Again, presentation was good, but both dishes lacked any sides or accompaniment, no starch and wished there was more vegetables we left us feeling hungry. I had the salmon, and while the fish itself was cooked well, the sauce tasted odd and I wouldn’t order it again. On the positive side, the space is beautiful, and the dishes do look the part. However, the overall experience didn’t match the price point. Service was okay, someone did swap our utensils for the entrée, but our server seemed somewhat uninterested. It was fun to try, but I most likely wouldn’t return.

Food is always fantastic, service is always weird. I've hosted a couple private parties here and have had everything planned out perfectly with the planner on staff, then every time I end up actually getting there, it seems as though absolutely nothing has been communicated to the staff working the party and then they're not very kind about "making changes," ie using the plan that was previously discussed. Super disappointing because the private rooms are a great feature.

TL;DR: Great first visit, terrible second — over 30 minutes between courses, poor communication, and uneven service. Our first time here for my husband’s birthday was wonderful — great food, and the manager even helped coordinate celebratory champagne upon arrival. This date night visit was the opposite. My pear salad came out quickly but barely had any pears. The bucatini followed at a reasonable time — flavorful but firm. Then we waited over 30 minutes with no check-in, while our server focused on other tables who arrived later and received full three-course meals before us. When I finally got the server’s attention, I asked to cancel my entrée. She said my halibut was “ready, just waiting to cut the steak,” which didn’t make sense given it was a small med-rare skirt steak. A few minutes later, she ran back with just my halibut asking if I wanted it — without my husband’s meal. I declined. His steak arrived a little later without the potatoes. We had to track her down again to ask about these, which came out greasy about 10 minutes later, when he was nearly done with his steak. The restaurant wasn’t busy, so the delays and lack of attention were frustrating. For the price, you expect consistency and care. Really disappointing after such a great first experience.

Plan for ~2 hours, not because you're having a great time, but because service is SO slow. It took 45+ minutes between ordering and receiving our first plates. Additionally, we ordered a dozen oysters and only received six. Our waitress kept assuring us that "we're next up" but minutes would continue to tick by, causing us to be late to our show at the nearby Fisher theater. The food itself was acceptable, but very expensive. The atmosphere was attractive but very loud and tables too close together. We won't be going back.

The bartender acted like a snobby mean girl and the food was okay at best. I would barely know though since people who came in at the same time and AFTER us got served first. We ended up having to leave before even getting our food. They set everyone who didn’t have a reservation at the bar and the sanitation practices behind the bar were severely lacking.