Oak & Reel
Restaurant · North End
2921 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
Highlights
Italian seafood restaurant with pasta, seafood, and tasting menus.
Italian seafood restaurant with pasta, seafood, and tasting menus.
"Chef Jared Gadbaw brings his passion for seafood-centric Italian cuisine with his Eater Award-winning contemporary Italian restaurant, Oak and Reel. The menu combines local ingredients with seafood from waters around the world. Snapper, octopus, and tuna Bolognese and squid ink pasta offer bright, bold flavors. One often, if not always, can find at least one pasta dish on the tasting menu ($109 per person and $95 on Sundays). For a nightcap, head to the lower level to hit up the Upright, a cozy cocktail bar." - Danny Palumbo
"Oak & Reel is a contemporary Italian restaurant in Detroit. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation
"A seafood-focused restaurant that highlights open-fire cooking, serving Italian-style seafood grilled over an oak-burning hearth for smoky, fire-forward flavors." - AFAR
"Chef Jared Gadbaw brings his passion for seafood-centric Italian cuisine with his Eater Award-winning contemporary Italian restaurant, Oak & Reel. The menu combines local ingredients with seafood from waters around the world. Snapper, octopus, tuna Bolognese, and squid ink pasta offer bright, clean, and bold flavors. For a nightcap, head to the lower level to hit up the Upright, a cozy cocktail bar. Get the full experience with a six-course chef’s tasting menu for $109. Pro tip: The chef’s tasting menu is cheaper on Sundays ($95). Wine pairings are available for an additional $48. Reservations can be booked on OpenTable." - Danny Palumbo
"Coastal Italian seafood dishes star on the menu at Oak and Reel. Michigan native chef Jared Gadbaw developed his knowledge of Italian seafood while working at a two-Michelin-starred New York restaurant before returning to the Midwest to establish his own restaurant in Milwaukee Junction. Diners can order Oak and Reel’s raw oysters and other menu staples that have included roasted swordfish; snail-shaped lumache pasta with squid ink, shrimp, crab, and herbs; or salt-baked branzino with salsa verde and seasonal garnishes — all set in a chic, minimalist interior that features exposed ceilings, soft lighting, and a ground-level view of the Boulevard. In addition, the Upright, a cozy bar and lounge, is situated beneath the restaurant. Visitors at the bar can enjoy cocktails and small plates like bolognese arancini, and cacio e pepe pasta fritti — crispy pasta bites with parmesan and pepper. Reservations can be made via OpenTable." - Serena Maria Daniels
