PAO Detroit

Maybe it was an off night but we were underwhelmed by our experience. Even though the place was empty when we arrived, we were sat at a middle table near the window instead of one of the cool plush seats. We ordered a bottle of wine but our waitress didn’t refill our glasses once. The manager came over at some point and refilled our drinks, that was very nice. The egg rolls seemed like they would be delicious but were cold when they arrived. Overall I think this could be a great spot but our experience was less than…

General PAO chicken was packing the heat but tasty and just the right portion size and flavor. Drinks were forgot the names???but not the taste golden something with ginger liqueur and honey and more….. pomegranate something ( sorry forgot the names) well done but both on signature drink menu. Valet parking available music was good but a bit loud probably enjoyed by younger crowd we have kids all the ages of most we were around great people watching as is the busy city and a tiger game happening all on a Saturday night. Oh back to the menu our selections not in the favorites or drop down? Photo shows my filet stir fry and I did not get photos of wedge salad w slicedcukes and carrots and sesame and basil very tasty and my hubbys gen PAO. I thoroughly enjoyed our meal date night DELISH fresh hot. Oh almost forgot the beef dumpling appetizer and we paired it with the lemon aioli that normally is served w calamari also a good pick. It was our first time trying so glad we did!!!!

I had an amazing dining experience with my friends. We ordered off the guest appreciation menu that came with 3 courses. I had the miso shop, salmon and brownie. Everything was delicious and well prepared. The service was excellent, thanks to our server Jessica. I can’t wait to go back.

This was my first time to PAO. Went after the Shen Yun show with my mother keeping with the Asian theme. First the building itself…wow! They did an amazing job modernizing the space yet showcasing the historical architectural details from its past theater days. We sat on the second floor and Yousef was our waiter. He was amazing. Very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and cocktails. We ordered the Pad Thai and Salmon which were very delicious. Our waiter suggested the pistachio cheesecake which was an amazing way to end our meal. I will definitely be back again.

We went here with a big group for a Bday celebration. My friends have tried this place a year or so back and only heard good things about the food. This trip however was not what we were hoping for. The service was great and food came out quick. The issue was with the food. Everything was very bland and portion sizes were very small. I’m not complaining about the portion sizes much as I wasn’t that hungry but some of my friends did complain. The issue mainly was with the bland food. Everyone including who have been here before said the food quality and the taste went down since the last visit. I had the sea bass and it was very bland. Same thing with the steak Fillet. Shrimp was just ok we had beater fried shrimp at PF changes. Ambiance is very nice and they do have a done floor and DJ. I’ll not be going back unless invited but like always, try it for your self!

OMG!!! Everything was delicious and top notc Giavanna was our server. She was so attentive and super nice. Can't wait to come back again!!

3.33/5 Was this place beautiful and exciting at first glance? Absolutely. Would I ever dine here again? Absolutely not. The food was decent and came out fairly quick. However, the service and pricing don't justify a return. We were a table of 4, progressively ordering drinks throughout our time and based on the server's attitude, it felt like we were a nuisance. The only time the server seemed to smile was when we asked for the check. We all gained the sense that the place wanted to kick us out after an hour of being there. If you're going to force a gratuity, please hire people that actually deserve it. On the flip side, the bartenders were down to earth so you're better off sitting at the bar. The only record this place gets in my book is being the first to charge for ice (pictured). Seriously. I didn't even realize it's legal to charge for frozen water, but here we are. Not to mention, $24 for a cocktail that barely has alcohol in it is a disgrace. Go elsewhere.

The owners of Homey Roofing out of Royal Oak had a great experience at Pao Detroit. The service was amazing Jessica L made great recommendations. The lamb was cooked very well. To top off the night they had good music playing and Valet parking which helped a lot as Detroit parking on a Saturday is terrible.

This place is sooo good. I usually don't review a restaurant until I've gone a few times and tried different things. Now that I've done that, I can honestly say I love this place! To start, the service is great. Servers and managers (?) are kind and attentive. They accommodated my large group when many guest were running late due to weather. They opened earlier on a day where there was lot going on downtown (smart of them). They even checked in on people spending a long time in the bathroom (tailgating gets the best of some). The food though, is what makes me keep coming back! Everything I have gotten - cocktails, apps, meals are all DELICIOUS! If going with a group, I highly recommend getting a bunch of apps to share. I haven't had one I didn't enjoy. Also their espresso martini is one of my favs in the city. Don't sleep on it!

8 items on the menu and everything prices a little too high, including drinks. Server was nice enough, but limited menu was a real downer. 2 entrees and 2 apps, no drinks, $150. Won't be back.

This review wouldn't fit on Open Table so I'm reposting it here. Guests with advance reservations should be made aware that the staff, including the kitchen, are being trained. Very limited menu (8 food items) that did not justify the cost for what was received. One example was the crab noodle entree (Beiken Noodles) had no visible protein. $34 for pasta shells and sauce. Puzzling why the hostess is trained to sit people in the very back when the front is empty. We were sat in the very back. 2 top next to the walkway leading to the bathrooms. We had staff moving tables, vacuuming (at 6pm) and constantly walking behind our table (tight spot) to a small curtained off area in the back. Our waitress, who was satisfactory, did not appear to have any fine dining experience. $270 spent and we left hungry after ordering 3 starters, 2 entrees, 4 adult drinks. We skipped dessert, which we usually get, because of the food quality and overpriced cost. Pao wants to be a fine dining establishment but its not cutting it. Overpriced food that doesn't justify the cost. I recommend Mabel Gray if you want a fine dining experience.

April 24,2024 Service was phenomenal! The ambiance was intimate,relaxed,and friendly. Great for date night or a late night out with friends. Drinks (mock-tails) were fun and exquisite. The menu online was not the same inside the restaurant.The menu at the actual restaurant was very limited. Food was fresh but lacked taste . It's a great place to experience something new and interesting!

Sea Bass, hookah, music good vibes where am I. It's such a good combo with an awesome menu. Staff is awesome friendly and everything you would expect with so much more. Whoever thought of this combo needs to spread it all over. On point. Thank you for this place. I want to bring it home to the west coast with me.

Made reservations before a show at the Fillmore. Any time you have dinner before a show there's some anxiety about getting in and out in time so that you aren't late to the show. Our fears were put to rest as the food came out so fast! The quality and taste was fantastic. We enjoyed everything that we ordered (we ordered several small plates and Nikkei). In particular the Korean fried chicken was AMAZING. The tacos were also a favorite. The ambiance and building is really chic and cool. It was gorgeous outside and the front of the restaurant opens up to let fresh air in, which was really nice. All in all a great experience and we will definitely be back.

We celebrated father's day yesterday . We were seated right away. Our waitress Shelby was very pleasant and made great recommendations. She was very attentive. We had spicy shrimp, korean quinoa salad, waygo tacos, lamb rack seabass, egg plant and vegetable fried rice. Everything was very good and well prepared. .. a little bit oversalted but flavorful. Cheese cake was delicious. I would have given 5 stars except for no one came to clean the table before dessert.

Cold service, but lovely atmosphere and interesting flavor combos. I really loved the shishito pesto pasta situation and the eggplant. Bok choy was a nice addition to the fried rice but it was fairly basic and over powered by ginger that tasted a little bitter. Also the best truffle fries I think I've ever had which was an unexpected treat. Only had one cocktail and it was mids, would go back to try more, but maybe on a slower night.

Leo and Shelby are an amazing addition to the pao community. Best service, best communication throughout our experience dining in. I recommend Pao for their excellent service and the remarkable ambiance.

Please have restaurant change info I called and you can't call to order you have to go in.

Made reservations for 8 people on a Saturday night, 7:30pm. We arrived 30 minutes early and they were able to seat us shortly after. We sat upstairs and the seating was quite comfortable - we didn't have to squeeze in between other tables when moving around. The food was pretty good! We ordered a variety of items off of the menu - Shishito peppers, Tuna, Pork Belly, Truffle Fries, Scallops, Crab Rangoons, Duck Confit, Bang Bang Shrimp, and Edamame. Our favorites were the Scallops, Truffle Fries, and Crab Rangoons. The Scallops had a nice char on the outside, but was still soft and tender on the inside. The Truffle Fries were crispy, and the truffle aioli was not overpowering. The Crab Rangoons were stuffed with lump crab, and was more peppery than we expected, and we liked that! Everything else was good, but those three items really stood out to us. We finished off with Smores and a Matcha Cappuccino dessert. Both were fantastic! Our server was attentive and pleasant to work with. The music was nice, although the disco ball made us feel like we were eating dinner inside a club. The table on the other side purchased the sparkler and sign add on, which was fun to watch. Overall a nice experience for our girls trip!

I went here about a week ago. The vibe was really dope. Went with some friends after leaving ZuZu. We ordered a bunch of food and drinks and chilled upstairs. The food was ok but drinks were excellent. There's also live music and the DJ was on point. If you are looking for a dinner experience while having a club vibe then this is the place for you.

I've been to PAO countless times and have been under whelmed by the food. It's good not bad but not great. I return because of the vibe and I love the space. I like when they have a DJ spinning despite the fact that they spin music that's 10 or more years old. So Detroit. For a while now I've wanted to go in on a Tuesday for their champagne and Lobster menu. Last night the stars aligned. If I were rating PAO on last night's experience I'd give them a solid 4 1/2 stars. Their lobster Tuesdays is where it's at. Highly recommend Tuesday nights at PAO

I made a reservation for PAO and specifically requested an area that has a good view, but not in the middle of the craziness. Unfortunately, we were seated in the main hall type area right in front of the kitchen. I was hoping to be sat upstairs, but they weren't able to accommodate. The Wagyu Sliders were ok, I don't understand why there's an extra $2 charge for truffle fries when they're so minimal in portion size. I also had a fruity mocktail which was decent. You're moreso paying for the experience. The music is very loud as well as there's a DJ on the top floor on weekend nights, which was kinda cool.

We stopped in at Pao for some light appetizers and dessert- we loved it here! The vibe of the place was great, very elegant, and the food and staff were amazing. would love to come here for a full dinner next time!

The ambiance of this building is spectacular. I loved the old meets new. All the food was AMAZING. We had the egg rolls, shrimp, fries, and a couple others to share. Everything was unique and mouth watering. We also shared the tomahawk steak. The only reason i didn't put a 5 star was we asked for medium rare and it was medium well which was a shame since it was so expensive. It still was delicious.

Overall we really enjoyed this restaurant a lot. The food was amazing, as was the atmosphere. We were stopping in after a show at Fox Theatre so it was perfect to be within walking distance as well. Our order of the pork belly, Lamb Lollipops, and the katsu chicken all turned out wonderfully. The flavors in all the food was very pleasing and the staff were very friendly as well. We did have a hang up with our pork belly order taking a very long time but this was all explained by the manager and they corrected the issue and were very pleasant with us about doing so. Definitely will stop back here again when we are downtown.

When you make a reservation the list of rules should warn you off of this place. One rule was that we could stay 90 minutes max... but the place was practically empty at 7:30 on a Friday night. I can see why. At 9:30 loud electronic music began, to the point that we couldn't conduct a conversation. This restaurant isn't cheap ($320 with tip for four with only 2 entrees and one drink each), but the music made it feel sleazy. Also CNN said this was one of the 50 prettiest restaurants in America? Really? I don't agree. it was ok, but nothing really special. The food, however was pretty good and our waitress was attentive. The drinks were delicious too. In summary: lose the rules and the DJ; concentrate on providing a more refined dining experience and you'll see a busier dining room.

Absolutely loved my time here our lovely server Gia gave us a fantastic experience showing us through some of the menu items and specialties and giving us tremendous patience and courtesy as we had never been here before the food was outstanding but her service truly made it that much better.

The food and drinks were absolutely amazing! The bartender was very friendly and always checked on us. The vibes, and music were on point as well!

I've been wanting to visit this restaurant for a while, but I probably won't be returning unless I am a guest of someone else. Truffle fries were terrible Waygu sliders were juicy but nothing tasty because my friend didn't finish them. Crab Rangoon was bland We also had bulgogi beef and octopus, which were both underwhelming. The drinks we had were not exciting. (Mandalay Bay, Katana and Dance of the Dragon) Nice can be fancy spot but food could be better.

We made early reservations for 2 since we were eating in the city before our show. There were 2 other tables when we got there, but when we left it was packed. They probably take walk ins, but I recommend reservations. Also, I noticed a dress code sign. I didn't read it in detail. We didn't have an issue, but check out the details just in case. We were seated immediately by the front of the restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful! Historic with an Asian vibe. Looks like the garage doors up front open in the summer. How fun is that?! Our reservations were at 5:15pm and happily surprised that it was happy hour until 6pm. Great deals and amazing food! We got a couple of cocktails, edamame, and ahi tuna nachos. The appetizers were a good size and delicious! For dinner, we ordered the charred octopus and the miso Chilean sea bass. Amazing! Octopus is an acquired taste. If you're adventurous, PAO does an amazing job. The miso Chilean sea bass had the most delicious flavors. Dessert looked amazing, but we went with cappuccinos to end the night. The vibe is young, elegant, with a club feel. The music is pumping, but I loved it! There is valet parking, but we walked over from our parking spot. Note: no matter your party size, the restaurant adds 20% gratuity to your check.

Five minutes after being seated, I knew my friend and I were going to have a crappy experience. And we did! The restaurant wasn't crowded at all, and we were tended to pretty quickly. However, the cocktails that we ordered were beyond mediocre, so I was going to be one and done on drinks. For food, we ordered the edamame and the shishito peppers to start. The edamame was basic beyond belief and sort of cold. I LOVE shishito peppers and I order them anytime I see them on a menu. They were overly salted (with quite expensive salt), and the texture of the peppers and flavor of the Gochujang Vinaigrette was just ok. For entrees, my friend ordered the Lobster Trio and I ordered the Wagu beef sliders. The Lobster had a mushy texture inside and was not fully cooked (the server even had to admit this). My $18 sliders were cold and not tasty, and the side of Truffle fries ($2 upcharge) were cold too. The server offered to have everything remade, but we were over it and decided to go elsewhere for dinner. Thankfully, the Manager graciously compensated our meals. I heard so many good things about the restaurant, but that was not their best day!

We had a great time at PAO! The service was amazing, everyone was very attentive and helped to explain that while they're training a new chef, they're working with a limited menu. We ordered one of each of the entrees and while nothing was a showstopper, everything was good. Our favorites were the cocktails and appetizers (make sure you order a tiger lily drink and the shrimp appetizer) Otherwise, the vibe is cool and relaxed our only real complaint was that the music was a little loud for dinner time.

Extremely disappointed with my recent visit to Pao Detroit. Not only were we overcharged for bringing in a sign, but the service was also subpar. Will not be returning. I talked to the manager and asked him to waive the extra sign charge but acted as if it was the waitress's fault. I talked to the waitress and she said all locals know that the sign is $150. I guess this place is for locals only. Very disappointed

Came here with friends for my wife's birthday, did NOT disappoint. First, location is fantastic, would be a great spot for a fancy bite to eat after a tigers game. The ambiance is cool due to the nice setting and great seating setup (we sat upstairs). The service was great, with very helpful waitstaff. I will say the cocktail I had, the Dance of the Dragon, was pretty weak. But the food was fantastic! We especially liked the truffle fries & creamy rock shrimp. I had the 48-hour lamb lollipops, tender & delicious. Overall a great experience, we'll definitely be back!

My boyfriend and I went here for a Saturday night date night. The atmosphere was fun and lively, and I loved the decoration/vibe of the restaurant. The drinks were tasty and on the stronger side. The presentation of the food was very appeasing but did not taste as great as it looked. I was not impressed with the flavor of my food, but the flaming presentation was a fun experience. The service was adequate but nothing spectacular. While the food was not anything spectacular, we did have a fantastic dessert. We got the matcha cappuccino dessert and it was amazing. Fun presentation as well as delicious. I would go back for the dessert alone.

This place is a joke, the manager walking around saying he's the owner, very unprofessional and we were Ofcourse overcharged. Stay away.

Pao is a very cool atmosphere! I loved the Panko chicken dish! Food was unique, delicious! The service was first rate helping to accommodate! Desserts were yummy! The birthday candle is a reason to celebrate! The waters bottle slipped out of my hand due to cold, wet label, broke a glass, and scared the hell out of me. Beware of wet, cold bottles as labels move. ....

I came here Sunday night with my husband around 8:30, the staff was really nice the manager/owner greeted us and we're very friendly, even the valet guys were great. We were surprised that all of the meat was halal and there were a lot of food options for us. The Miso Chilean Sea Bass was delicious and my husband got the duck and really enjoyed it, presentation was also nice. Didn't know Sunday nights turned into a lounge after 9 with a DJ and hookah but the music was great so we didn't mind. Beautiful atmosphere- would recommend.

We had a reservation for Tuesday evening (reservation was not necessary it was not busy at all) and were immediately greeted and seated by the host. The restaurant was nicely decorated and had another seating area on the second floor that I would like to go back and be seated at. All of the cocktails we ordered were great and balanced. Food orders came out quickly and since they serve lobster on Tuesdays we ordered the lobster carbonara and I recommend you try it too!

We had a reservation for a Wednesday evening. It was a wonderful evening. The service was fantastic and the food and drinks were delicious. Wednesday is ladies night so ladies get 10% food discounts all night and have a ladies night drink menu for a discounted rate as well! We started with a round of drinks including the dance of the dragon, some peach sake, and a couple other drinks. All the drinks were creative in flavor and the presentation was pretty good as well. The server was very knowledgeable about the drinks. The food is tapas style so we started with the cauliflower lettuce wraps, truffle fries and shishito peppers. The lettuce wraps were phenomenal and we ended up ordering more. The shishito peppers were cooked well but the sauce was all on the bottom and not mixed in. Even after mixing, they lacked a distinct flavor. The truffle fries were hot and crispy with a great aioli. Next, we moved onto the tuna bites, the crab Rangoon, the wagyu sliders, the DD tacos and the braised short rib. The sliders were so mouth melting and all the flavors worked beautifully together. Highly recommend these. The tacos had the same wagyu meat but a totally different flavor profile. We really enjoyed them as well! Don't shy away from ordering both just because they're the same meat. The short ribs were not fatty like most places and I was surprised they were served boneless and shredded. They were very tender and the pineapple mango salsa added a sweet contrast to the jalapeños. I think because of the hoisin the whole dish was a bit too sweet and would've liked more spice but the wasabi mashed potatoes added a nice flavor to off set the sweetness. Finally, we finished with espresso's and cappuccinos. Personally I don't drink coffee, but the table agreed they were fantastic! Cons: I called to make sure the place was handicapped accessible and was assured it was easy to navigate with a wheelchair, but there definitely things to keep in mind. You have to go thru a side ramped entrance which isn't very even. The concrete at the bottom has a big dip. It leads directly into one of the dining areas and they had people seated at a table that was partially blocking that entrance. We felt bad interrupting their meal to make them get up and move for a few minutes. We did the same with another group on our way out. That area really should be kept open at all times. Besides the accessibility the only other complaint is that they feature themselves as having many vegetarian options, but they do not have a single vegetarian entree. If there are multiple vegetarians in your group, you may want to stop in for apps and drinks and move on for a solid dinner.

This review is based on the price to food ratio. The service was outstanding and it was easy to find parking to visit the venue. However, the price you put for what you get, and don't get, has me scratching my head. I understand the times and the upscale atmosphere, but 150 dollars to leave and have to eat at the game is disappointing. The food was good, but not mouthing watering amazing - which I would be willing to pay for. I strongly recommend increasing the food quality and portions or lowering the price to match what you are currently serving. Also - adding a tip for myself before I could is tacky and gives a bad look for such a proclaimed high scale venue. Assuming I won't tip is insulating. I will try this spot again in the future to see if anything has changed as the service was great! ** no iced tea available, which was sad.

Such a rip off place. They overcharge for everything. Imagine bringing a sign to celebrate a birthday costs $150 (without mentioning anything) on top of a big bill. Ask before you order

I have been to PAO a couple times now and I have always had a great experience. It used to be a theater so it's very cool inside. The music is always good and I have found the staff to be great as well. I hadn't been in a little while and decided to go today with a friend of mine. I was told that there had been some changes since I last went and that was definitely true. The espresso martini, which I did not have a problem with before, is even better now. It also comes in a martini glass now with gold espresso beans which is definitely a step up in presentation. I ordered the lamb chops at medium temperature as usual. This is where I was disappointed. I remember really enjoying the lamb chops at PAO, however these were not nearly as good as I remember. The presentation was different as well and it seemed to be a smaller portion. There were 3 lamb chops on the plate--one skinny one and two thicker ones. I ate the skinny one which was overcooked. When I cut into the two bigger ones, they were both clearly undercooked. I brought this to the attention of the server who said she could have the order remade. I said that would be fine. Then she said actually they would just re-fire the chops that I had been given instead of making me a new order. As having the lamb chops reheated wouldn't be nearly as good as freshly cooked, I asked the server if she could just have this taken off of my bill instead. She told me that she would need to speak to the manager because I had "eaten most of it." I was completely shocked, as was my friend. I told her that I did not understand how she could say that because aside from the one skinny chop that was actually cooked through, everything was still on the plate as it was inedible. She took the plate and the manager came over and spoke to us. He apologized and asked if it would be okay for them to re-fire the dish. I agreed that it would be fine so long as they could re-fire it to the temperature I originally requested. He let me know that he would also be giving me a discount. When the plate came back out, my friend and I thought it was a brand new plate of lamb chops and then realized it was the same ones I was given before. We thought this was pretty hilarious since according to the server, I had "eaten most of it already." It was still undercooked so I just asked for the bill and had the server take the plate once more. Thankfully, the manager ended up taking the dish off the bill entirely. If it were not for the manager, I probably would have written off PAO. However, he was so pleasant that I will likely come back to PAO but just for the ambiance and the drinks and not for the food. I'm never one to complain at restaurants and the server telling me I had eaten most of the dish when it was too raw to even consume was so off-putting. After paying our bill, my friend and I went to Leila and ate there instead.

Party of 18 reservation Sunday for my best friend birthday. Everything was beautiful but the food serving size was not big enough. We had platters for the party, not individual plate/orders. Everything came out separately so we ate slow; because we didn't have the sides w/ the main dish. The vegetable rice came out last and too late. The watermelon martinis were really good. Nice alcohol strength too... The staff was really nice. The food taste decent but we didn't like the cauliflower lettuce wraps, or the Japanese Cesar. It was more edamame and spring rolls than anything. The orange sesame salmon was really good but the platter size was so small. Literally a half piece of salmon per person. The thai braised ribs were ok. I personally mixed the meat w/ salad bcuz again the portion was small. Loved the mango chunks they had on top of it. My separate order of truffle fries too wayy to long to come out. Then we ordered hookah after the dinner and they rushed us out after we received it... they can't handle big parties in my opinion. I was told the bill was over two-thousand; && I'm sure the party agree, the price didn't match the experience

After my previous review the GM reached out to me personally and apologized for my experience. He seemed secure and very genuine so I decided to give the restaurant another try. My husband and I made reservations for a Friday night to celebrate our anniversary. The ambience again was amazing, the table we were sat at felt private which was very nice. Our waiter was excellent, very attentive as well as the support staff. Our food was amazing. At the end of our meal the manager came over to tell us happy anniversary which was super nice. They also gave us a round of drinks and dessert on the house! This visit superseded my expectations. We'll definitely be back!

Fun ambiance, swift service and amazing food! Really enjoyed our night at Pao. There are not many trendy restaurants that can have a cool vibe and hit all the notes when it comes to fine dining. We tried the steak and sea bass for dinner which were both delicious and not over seasoned. The seafood was very fresh! My only suggestion is to have more variety of cocktails that are not super sweet.

We had a reservation at 7:30 on a Friday night. Seated very promptly. The tip is included in your final bill and I felt all the staff were very attentive the whole time we were there. The rock shrimp has great flavor. The Japanese Ceasar was quite large and delicious. I had the miso Chilean sea bass which was exceptional, plated very well and outstanding flavor. My husband had the filet with lobster tail. He thought the filet was one of the best he has ever had in his life but the lobster was pretty standard. I also had the Mandalay Bay cocktail which was refreshing. All around great meal and the restaurant has nice ambiance for a date night or a fun night with friends.

I was there this Saturday, March 9th at 5pm. There was a roach on the floor that crawled under my table. None of the 3 parties that jumped up from our tables were compensated in any way. My party was pretty much finished and were not offered anything off of a $300 bill. The manager never came by and the lack of urgency from the wait staff let me know that this is a common occurrence. I would not suggest this overpriced place to anyone.

Heard a lot of great things about this place so we decided to give it a try before a concert downtown. The building is beautiful and we loved the exposed architecture of yesteryear and applaud them for preserving such a gem. The staff was nice and attentive. Prices are very high for the quality we felt. The Lobster Udon was very disappointing. The dish was smothered in what tasted like cheap hoisin sauce - and a ridiculous amount at that - which overwhelmed the lobster and really ruined the dish we felt. Unfortunately, we couldn't even finish it. The Chilean Seabass for $45 was a rather small portion and really lacked any unique flavor or presentation to justify the cost; however, the fish itself was cooked perfectly. Overall, it's a cool spot, but for the prices, the food really could use a step up.

I was beyond excited to try Pao so I booked a reservation for my birthday. Awathetically pleasing and our waitress was amazing. However, a guest of mine sent back her entree which she felt didn't seem appetizing. One of the managers came to the table to inquire as to why she sent the dish back without trying. she provided her reason and he proceeded to question and insult her by mentioning cost. Its my birthday and what my initial thoughts of this restaurant was soon was removed the moment the manager continued to question my guest. I asked to speak to a separate manager on the side. He further explained himself etc... I states it was very distasteful to not only being up cost, but to interrogate someone over their right to return a dish was a bit much. The manager says he wanted me to return to my table and enjoy my food while hot. Conversation would have ended with an understanding for us both. However, this manager sarcastically says "enjoy your 21st birthday" he said it in a condisening manner. If it weren't for one of my male guest speaking up, this manager would have continued to attack my guest.

Yeah, not a fan. I wanted so badly to like this place and it simply fell very flat. Very disappointed. From all the pics of the building and architecture and food, I thought for sure, I would have an amazing time. And unfortunately, that simply wasn't the case. I made my reservations pretty far in advance. I was actually originally going to celebrate my birthday and then something came up and I decided to push it back. In hind's sight, I'm glad I didn't go for my birthday if my experience had been similar because that would've been not great food memories for such a memorable occasion. Anyway, on to the explanation of the one-star review. It started with parking. It's quite a hassle and not very user-friendly. My friend and I spent a fair amount of time circling the block to find open spaces. There's a lot near the restaurant but it was closed. I'm not sure if it's regularly open for use to patrons of the restaurants but it wasn't the day we went. Now, in all fairness, there was a Tiger's game that we didn't know was happening so downtown was waaayyy busier than anticipated. So, if you plan on visiting, be sure to check and see if there's a Tiger's game that day to decide if you want to proceed with your reservation that day and time. Valet parking for the restaurant was also $20, which seems steep to me. Again, not sure if that's the regular price or the price because it was a Tiger's game but that's quite high to me, granted we hadn't even ordered a single dish yet. On to being seated. It was only two of us and our reservation was at 5:30 p.m. We wanted to avoid the dinner crowd so we tried to go earlier on a Saturday evening. At this time, the restaurant was pretty empty. They sat us in a table right in the middle of the aisle right near the kitchen and bar area. I immediately asked if we could switch tables because it was right smack dab in the middle of a lot of commotion. I can't really imagine a lot of people would want to sit there as it almost seems you're in the way. The hostess said she'd check and would let me know. She came back and said she couldn't move us because they had a lot of other reservations coming too. Mind you, there were several other tables and booths open at the time. Why not move us and seat another 2-person party who didn't mind sitting there, there?!? And if you receive several requests, that might be an indication that that's not a good or desirable location that people want to sit. By this time, my friend had arrived and she also immediately did not want to sit there either. She then went to the hostess station and requested that our seat be moved. The hostess proceeded to tell her no twice and my friend said, I'm not understanding why. There are plenty of other seats available now and if we have concerns about being seated there, I don't understand why we can't be moved. The hostess then went to check with her manager and after what seemed like a good amount of time, we were finally escorted to a booth in a much more favorable location. All this and again, we hadn't even ordered a dish yet. :-( The music was also blasting to the point where it was hard to hear your eating companions. I think I get the vibe they were going for but it seemed a little early for the super, loud trendy music. Anywho, our waiter was Drew and he was the saving grace of our experience. He was awesome! He was attentive, informative about the menu and very upbeat. Again, the saving grace. We decided to order: the creamy rock shrimp, the house made crab Rangoon, the truffle fries, and the Thai inspired short rib. The Rangoon was the stand out dish IMO! It was creamy, rich, and flavorful. The short rib wasn't bad but the wasabi mashed potatoes were cold. This was my entrée and it came out before two of the appetizers. I'm not sure if the dish was already prepared and just waiting but not the best first impression for the main dish. And then lastly was the bill. I saw that there was an automatic 20% gratuity added. For a party of 2? I've never heard of this. I've heard of it for large parties, like parties of 6 or more but never for a small party. Our waiter was great and I would've given him a nice tip anyway but if he wasn't, I'm forced to give a set amount anyway? With the culmination of things that transpired, I definitely will not be back. Lots of much better places with much better food and service.

Great restaurant very good food. Make sure you see Page. She's a wonderful hostess and a great weekend. Do you wanna Kcd be disappointed with this restaurant can't go wrong I must try.

2 couple: Saturday night 6pm. Great food! Horrible service. Not slow they rushed us thru our entire meal.kept coming to clear off plates( still eating food). Never refilled our waters. Served our Caesar salads with her meals instead of first. At 7 our waitress presented us with the bill . We inquired about dessert she said it will take 30 minutes. ( we ordered the cake it was served in 7 minutes). Asked about coffee & cappuccino she said we don't have either our machine is broken. Appetizers, 4 dinners , drinks we left at 7:15 didn't feel welcome at all. I guess the waitress figured since her 20% gratuity was already included in the bill. What was the point in being a pleasant server and allowing us to have a relaxing meal?

The food at Pao is really great! The meal portions are smaller and are meant to be shared. We had 4 people and shared about 6 dishes and finished everything. It was all very tasty! The Wagyu Beef Sliders and Wagyu Dumplings were my favorite. I'm glad we got more dishes than people, because I'm not sure if we would have had enough food since we were all pretty hungry. The drinks are also top notch and the presentation of the drinks is fun too. They have something for everyone and you can always get a basic drink if you don't feel like trying a fancy cocktail. The one downside is that it's very loud at the restaurant. The set up is very fun and modern but the sound carries and it can be hard to hear the other people you're with. Other than that, I enjoyed Pao and will definitely be going back!

This was the most unpleasant dining experience I have had in Detroit for three reasons: the service, the food, and the ambiance. I typically skip writing reviews of experiences that were mediocre - I like to be fair to businesses. However, this experience left my party feeling so taken aback that I felt compelled to leave some thoughts. Let's start with the service. I stopped in with a group of 3. I called ahead to ask about seating and was informed there was plenty of bar seating available - worked perfectly for us. When we arrived, there were two hostesses at the stand. They were speaking to each other, glanced at us, then continued talking. After I said hello, they asked how they could help me. The bar seating was all taken downstairs, so one of the hostesses' told us to hang on while she checked the upstairs bar. While there was seating available upstairs, she did not show us to our seats. This was very offputting; I've never had to find my own seat in a restaurant before. The stairs are at the back of the restaurant (if anyone else needs to find them on their own). Now for the food. We ordered the Creamy Rock Shrimp, Spicy Tuna Bites, and The "DD" Tacos. I enjoyed the Creamy Rock Shrimp - I think it had a good ratio of batter and sauce. The Spicy Tuna Bites were the worst I have had -the rice was puffed and very hard - it almost seemed stale. I was also disappointed in The "DD" Tacos. They did incredible injustice to the wagyu - it was ground up and could have passed for ground beef in flavor. Finally, the ambiance. In my opinion, they have done a severe injustice to the beautiful architecture of the former Michigan Oriental Theatre by using tacky contemporary furniture that could be purchased from IKEA. There are also random touches of color throughout the downstairs area, which made the restaurant look tacky. The aim is modern and upscale, but I believe they are more half effort and pretentious. PAO is a poorly executed supper club. Would not recommend.

One of the best upscale restaurants around featuring Asian fusion food. Everything was OMG! Outrageously delicious French fries Shrimp Sliders Peppers Crab Rangoon Aioli to die for Every drop of food that passed our lips was unbelievable. What an amazing experience at this restaurant I will bring people back here for the wonderful food,

Serves and bar tenders were not very friendly. It was ok, drinks are basic and the smell of food lingers on your clothing.

I absolutely love every dish I've had at PAO every time I go. They are very accommodating for large groups and it turns into a club at night. The service is great. The wagu sliders are my favorite dish but literally everything I've had is so good - tacos, ahi tuna, dessert, cocktails, lobster mac. It is a great date night or birthday spot. It is a little pricy though. It is also in such a cool building with super high ceilings and a second story. The walls have exposed brick from the original building and it is very cool inside overall and well decorated. The music is young and hip.