Olin Bar & Kitchen

Tried the burger at Olin after hearing so many great things… but unfortunately, I left disappointed. The patties were surprisingly bland — not even the sauce could bring them to life. I kept waiting for that juicy, flavorful bite and it never came. The fries didn’t help either — hard, dry, and forgettable. The presentation of the burger is 10/10 though. It looks phenomenal. I was really hoping to be wowed, especially with all the hype surrounding this place, but it just missed the mark for me.

So amazing atmosphere, waited on promptly. Service is amazing. No issues. Starters were excellent and dessert was excellent. Dinner well it would have been better without it tasting like a salt lick. Both dinner dishes were loaded with salt and my mouth was burning. Now nothing else was that way. And kindly told our server and I think she thought I was going to complain worse. That was not the point. It was way too salty and that will be a turn off moving forward. We do entertain a lot and go all over. I love the concept but won’t be back. Not everyone may have that issue. To each their own.

The food here is undeniably good, and that’s what makes this review a mixed bag. We ordered the burger, which they are known for, and it was a solid 8/10. The quality of the burger itself, paired with the caramelized onion, made it rich and decadent—a real standout. The roasted chicken and roasted vegetable soup, which had a mushroom-forward flavor, was truly incredible. The roasting of both the chicken and vegetables brought depth and richness without feeling heavy. It was unlike anything I’ve ever had before. Our only dislike was the kale Caesar salad. While it was a big portion and beautifully presented, the flavor was a bit too anchovy-forward for our taste. Where this restaurant falters, however, is the service. Dining in, the service was fine—not remarkable, but nothing to complain about either. Unfortunately, an experience with their take-away service left a bad taste in our mouths. I arrived during a rainstorm with my small dog and was told I had to wait outside on the sidewalk in the pouring rain, despite there being an enclosed vestibule where I could have stayed dry. I understand that dogs aren’t allowed inside restaurants, but this felt unnecessarily inhospitable. Forcing a customer to stand in the rain because the owner “hates dogs” is the opposite of welcoming hospitality. While the food is fantastic, the lack of understanding and flexibility in that moment makes me hesitant to return. Food might bring people in, but hospitality is what keeps them coming back.

Grilled eggplant — cooked and served excellently. Cocktails and mocktails were solid. The Olin burger was close to perfection — thank you, chef!

If you are looking for 5ft of awesomeness come here. Mimma, ran 5 tables with a care and efficiency that left nothing to want. The Pate, amazing… The burger, misses my number one slot by mere nano meters (Philadelphia is only still slightly the winner). The complexity and yet somehow the simplicity of the Old Fashioned has become my favorite. It takes a team to make an operation seem easy. The cooks, bussers, (and everyone’s favorite the bartender) deserve equally the credit that this young lady effortlessly attained. When the Detroit Battalion Fire Chief brings his family here to celebrate, you know this is a special place. Next time we visit, we will return.

Now I hate to do this but the waitress messed up the experience for me. This is not the 1st time any of us have been to Olin’s but it almost makes me not want to go back again. Last night was cousins night. Everyone was hungry and we chose a great place to eat. The short rib burger with fries was huge moist and delicious. Oysters were small but delicious and oh my good I dreamt about the mussels. The lamb meatballs were nasty though. But our waitress attitude said she didn’t want us there. Maybe she knew we were going to have to split the bill and didn’t want to but a good waitress would know the POS system and had already did it. 1. She didn’t check on us after bringing our drinks and food, didn’t make sure we had silverware. 2. then when she brought the silverware she slammed it on the table with an attitude like we were asking to much. 3. She spoke in a very condescending manner “I just bring the food, I don’t know what you expect”. 4. Her face, tone and mannerisms said I wish y’all weren’t here. I was so mad I had to leave the table. I want to go back for mussels and oysters but I can’t because of the waitress. We spent over $400, with auto gratuity and she would have gotten way more had she split the checks before hand, which we all had no problem with because we all have been waitresses before.

Great place in the heart of downtown Detroit! Tasty food, friendly service and lovely atmosphere inside! Big glass windows, comfy seats. The first thing we saw on the menu was the hamburger 🍔 and we went for it. It was fresh and juicy with a pickle 🥒 at the top. French fries was delicious 😋. And their mocktails are great! Will be coming back and recommend trying!

First off this was the best dining experience I’ve ever had in my entire life. Wish I could give the food 10 stars because my man Brandon was THROWING DOWN in the kitchen. I had the French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, and Deviled Egg. NEVER HAD BETTER FOOD IN MY LIFE LIKE SERIOUSLY BRANDON THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THEY NEED TO GIVE THAT MAN A PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD AND A NOBEL PEACE PRICE. My waitress Jackie was absolutely adorable so nice and sweet and fastest service I’ve ever had. Her personality made my experience eating at Olin the most pleasant dining experience of my life. They should give Jackie and Brandon a bonus for exceptional service ! Love this place will definitely be back again soon.