Review: A New Detroit Restaurant Week Hot Spot In The Heart Of The Theater District

By Mary Moore/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave in downtown Detroit, is stepping out during Restaurant Week to showcase an array of delicious culinary dishes to accompany the music of various artists. The vintage décor helps set the tone for having a complete evening of music and good food. Manager Sam Spruill will greet you from behind a nifty old converted Skyraider console radio. The sights will continue to intrigue you with mahogany wooden veneer ceilings and small tables nestled between stools at the bar. There are many unusual features around to help get you in the groove for fun and relaxation.

Ashleigh Laabs, Director of Marketing, set the stage for a sampling of three dishes that are featured during Restaurant Week. Chef Matthew Baldridge prepared beautiful presentations of first, second and third course dishes. For starters, the House-smoked Pork Belly, slow marinated Berkshire pork, was served with fingerling potatoes and the right complement of a sauce made from granny apples and topped with micro greens to tease you into the second course. This dish was somewhat like having a really thick piece of smoky bacon cooked to perfection without any crispness.

The second course of Wild Alaskan Grilled Salmon was absolutely as delicious as the presentation. The dish was served with spaghetti squash, shaved radish, pumpkin seeds and Champagne cream sauce. All of the flavors blended perfectly to make the taste buds sit up and pay notice to each bite. The Chef can be credited for giving one of the tasters, the first opportunity to attempt and absolutely enjoy squash. The Big Fire Pinot Gris gave a finishing touch to this gorgeous meal.

The finale was a dessert of a creamy lemon scented Rice Pudding with toasted Hazelnuts.

The menu is filled with dishes that will require more than one visit to enjoy. Restaurant Week is the perfect time to satisfy your adventure with many different foods prepared to help you expand your palate.