Olin Bar & Kitchen - Detroit (MI)

4 /5 Dave Whitman: We were looking for someplace new to try before a show at the Fox and this place popped up in Yelp. We were able to get a reservation pretty easily on a busy Friday night downtown, but we were there early, which was good, because it filled up pretty quickly. The seasonal menu was a bit different from what we saw online, but a lot of the same choices were still there. We decided to focus on sharing several of the small plates offerings: Caesar salad, homemade focaccia, whipped ricotta and crab cakes. The salad was pretty bland, plus we ordered it with shrimp, which they forgot, but later brought over (and deducted it from the bill, which was nice). The focaccia was excellent, as was the whipped ricotta. The crab cakes were fine - it seems like they are the same at most places. Gabby was a great server and did an awesome job taking care of us and many other tables. I also enjoyed the overall vibe of the place - it has the cool, urban vibe that Detroit needs to have more of.

4 /5 Deetra Robinson: My husband and I had reservations and we still had to wait. We finally were seated and ordered, the staff was friendly. You could tell they were short on staff. We waited an hour before our food came out. I ordered the Olin burger with bacon and, it comes with fries. It’s also a smash burger. I don’t drink so I asked for a mocktail. I ordered the strawberry mocktail, I’m not a fan on mocktails, but I don’t drink. It’s either water or sprite and wanted to try something different. The atmosphere was loud and busy. It’s a vibe, but my overall experience was a 9 out 10. The wait time was the only issue that I had. I must say the bacon was really good the best bacon that I have ever had. The burger was very delicious. So, yeah I will be back, but it will be a while.

5 /5 Robert Jones: My wife and I went here for lunch...we absolutely love the ambiance inside...such a vibe! Luckily it was not busy at all so we were seated right away...I would recommend putting in reservations though. The service was amazing...everyone was so friendly and nice and our waitress got our food and drinks out right away. The drinks were creative and poured to perfection! I highly recommend the bathtub drink which is not listed on the menu. The food was cooked to perfection and packed with flavor. Highly recommend this spot especially for a date night. We cannot wait to come back!

4 /5 Paul Kerby: Great food and very lively atmosphere. Cocktails were on point. The crispy potato bravas were fantastic, the aioli was top notch!! The only odd thing is how the kitchen works. We came in hungry and had hoped to have a cocktail and appetizer while we looked at the menu. Unfortunately, they only let you order all your food at the same time. Our server tried to explain why but it did not really make sense. That said, the bread and app came quickly after ordering and the food came at an appropriate amount of time after that. I was not overly upset but our server must have mentioned to the manager and he bought a cocktail and dessert for us. Overall, a very nice dinner out

3 /5 Ismael Salam: (7/10) Nice atmosphere, great service, but unexceptional food. After visiting San Morello recently, I decided to try Olin situated next door. Based on the menu, Olin appears to be elevated Americana. Before I get into any critique, I want to stress what they are doing well: from the moment I walked in through the time I left the staff and service was excellent. They have chosen the right team. The atmosphere was also pleasant. The food, however, was mediocre. We tried only the dishes recommended by the staff: the Olin Burger, Branzino, and the Waffle Bread Pudding. The presentation on the food was mostly done with care -- I say mostly because the dessert had burnt pieces on it. The food was NOT bad. It just wasnt that good, lacking depth, relative to the cost and dining experience projected. I would not necessary sway people from going here, but for similar cost, a more elevated atmosphere, you may wish to try San Morello. I hope the menu and kitchen makes some pivot, because the staff was excellent and I want them to succeed.