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Photo of Alpino courtesy of Jaimie Skriba
A memorable dinner for two doesn’t always have to follow the familiar path of separate plates and a quick dessert. Around Metro Detroit, some dining rooms make the evening feel more connected, leaving room for conversation, curiosity, and a little shared decision-making for your next date night dinner.
Alpino
1426 Bagley Street, Detroit
Alpino’s Corktown dining room has an intimate, transporting quality that suits a slower evening at the table. Owner David Richter shares, “Alpino isn’t simply a restaurant centered around food and wine; it’s meant to transport guests to the cozy corners of the Alpine region. We think a great date is about settling into a cozy room, sharing food and wine, and creating an experience built around comfort, and much of our menu is designed with that in mind. There may be no better way to step into the Alps than sharing a pot of fondue, followed by a seasonal risotto and then our Jägerschnitzel or a simple, delicate branzino. After enjoying a dinner paired with our Alpine-centered wines, take in a Bonet made with Michigan’s own Crow and Moss chocolate.” Whether you choose to share a bottle of wine, indulge in the pasta, or split dessert, Alpino’s candle-lit tables can certainly be the setting of your next date night dinner.
The Earle
121 West Washington Street, Ann Arbor
The Earle has the feel of a tucked-away classic, with a dining room made for unhurried conversation and a wine list with over 1,000 selections that can shape the course of the evening. Its French and Italian influences give couples room to ease into dinner through appetizers, pasta, seafood, or other composed plates, depending on how they want the night to unfold. Start by splitting the Risotto Croquettes, Grilled Eggplant, or Roasted Garlic, then transition to sharing bites of the Sea Scallops, Beef Bourguignon, or Linguine. Conclude the meal with an after-dinner drink or dessert options that range from Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée to Lemon Tarts and Chocolate Chambord Mousse. With live jazz playing, The Earle works especially well when the goal is not to rush toward the next plan, but to let dinner become the plan.
Mabel Gray
23825 John R Road, Hazel Park
Mabel Gray brings a chef-driven sensibility to date night, with seasonal cooking that often invites diners to follow the kitchen’s lead. For couples, that can turn dinner into a shared act of discovery, where the conversation moves with the courses and the table feels connected by the same sequence of dishes. The menus rotate regularly, all based on ingredient availability and seasonality, with ten to 12 items featured on the à la carte menu at once. The chef’s tasting menu, on the other hand, consists of eight courses, surprising and delighting diners with each new course as it exits the kitchen. With just eight tables and a dozen bar seats in the exposed kitchen dining room, Mabel Gray encourages reservations, but offers walk-in availability.
BARDA Detroit
4842 Grand River Avenue, Detroit
BARDA Detroit’s live-fire cooking gives the meal a sense of immediacy, with Argentine-inspired dishes that pair well with the South American wine list. A date here can take shape gradually, through vegetables, seafood, meats, and smaller plates that arrive with the warmth and character of the wood-burning grill. On the menu, move through options like a Charred Caesar, Scallop Ceviche, or Beef Tartare with horseradish and sourdough toast. For entrees, consider the Michigan Trout with charred lemon, or the Tire de Asado, an Argentine-style fire-grilled beef short rib with a pepper-coriander crust. For dessert, the Burnt Alaska follows the fire, while the flan or Broken Pavlova also delights. The room has energy, but the experience still leaves space for a couple to settle in, pass plates, and build the evening at their own pace.
Tigerlily
231 West Nine Mile Road, Ferndale
Tigerlily brings polished Japanese fare to Ferndale, making it a natural fit for couples who like dinner to move in rounds. Sushi, nigiri, rolls, and Japanese-influenced small plates allow the table to shift between lighter bites and more substantial dishes without committing to a single entrée format, though the hibachi and Katsu Curry, for example, are excellent choices. Start with the Blistered Shishitos, Crab Rangoon Cheese Katsu Sticks, or Karaage Chicken Bites while considering what to dive into next. The Bao Buns are two to an order, which is perfect for sharing with your dinner companion, whether you pick the Sticky Shrimp with Korean barbeque sauce or the Pork Belly with a honey glaze. As for sushi, you can’t go wrong with ordering a few varieties, with options ranging from Aburi Sake and Madai to rolls like Red Dragon, California Deluxe, or the Tigerlily. Add cocktails to the mix, and the evening can feel relaxed, flexible, and easy to tailor to the moment. Don’t forget dessert, with the biggest decision coming down to whether you’re splitting the Yuzu Blueberry Basque Cheesecake, Coconut Butter Toffee Cake, or Chocolate Passion Fruit Decadence.
Freya
2929 East Grand Boulevard, Detroit
At Freya, the format suits diners who would rather let the kitchen set the path than negotiate every plate at the table. Co-owner Sandy Levine shares, “At Freya, we take great pride in the trust our guests put in us for special occasions. We thrive on creating special experiences, whether it be a birthday, anniversary, or a much-needed night out without the distractions and stressors of daily life that occupy so much of our time. Our chef’s tasting menu has become a guest favorite—we provide several (usually 9 or 10) courses that our chef is most excited about, and you don’t have to worry about anything, including making difficult decisions on what to order. Your only job is to enjoy the multitude of different seasonal dishes we’ve created to help you celebrate a night out. If you have plans other than dinner, we also offer à la carte dining on request Tuesday through Thursday, where you can stop in, try a few things, and head to a show, a concert, or back home for more “alone time”. Regardless, we know that Detroit has some incredible options for a dinner date, and we take the responsibility of being one of those places very seriously!” If looking for pescatarian and vegan options, there is also a 5-course prix fixe option available.
The right dinner for two isn’t always about making the biggest plans. Sometimes it’s just about choosing a room where the pace feels slower, the table invites attention, and the evening has enough space to become its own occasion.
This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on November 11, 2016.
