Ted S.
Yelp
# The Rectory: A Promising Concept That Misses the Mark
**Rating: 2 out of 5 stars**
After several attempts to visit the newly opened Rectory, we finally made it in for their pizza, appetizers, and wine concept. In an area already well-served by excellent pizza spots like Supino's, Michigan & Trumbull, and Pi Sci, the Rectory faces stiff competition. Unfortunately, this visit left us questioning whether we'd return.
## The Food
We started with the Arugula Salad ($14), featuring pears, blue cheese, toasted sunflower seeds, and red wine vinaigrette. While the portion was generous enough for two, the salad arrived drowning in dressing. The pears were cut into small pieces and mixed with crumbled blue cheese, with one slice placed on top for presentation. Unless you enjoy soggy greens, I'd strongly recommend ordering the dressing on the side.
For our main course, we ordered the small Sunday Sugo pizza ($18), described as red sauce, smoked meatballs, mozzarella, ricotta, and basil. The description promised more than the execution delivered. Instead of actual meatballs, we found small pieces of meat scattered across the pizza, and any hint of smokiness was completely absent. The pizza was merely OK--serviceable but forgettable.
## Pricing
The pricing structure starts reasonably enough: specialty pizzas run $10 for four slices or $18 for eight. Build-your-own options begin at $10 for a small and $13 for a large, with toppings adding $1, $3, or $5 each. While the specialty pizza pricing seems fair, costs can escalate quickly if you're customizing a large pizza with multiple premium toppings.
The wine and beer selection is notably limited, with glasses ranging from $10 and bottles reaching $35.
## Atmosphere
This is where the Rectory stumbles most significantly. The dining space features pleasant jazz music, which should set a relaxed, sophisticated tone. However, the lack of a door to the kitchen means diners are treated to a constant soundtrack of server conversations and laughter that competes with--and often overpowers--the music. It's an unfortunate distraction that undermines the ambiance they're clearly trying to create.
The interior dining area is quite small. Our server was attentive, though with only three diners present during our visit, it's hard to gauge how service holds up during busier times.
## The Verdict
Our meal--one small Sunday Sugo pizza, an arugula salad, and two glasses of cabernet--came to over $50. Given the quality of the food and the atmosphere issues, that's a difficult price point to justify, especially with superior options just minutes away.
The Rectory may still be working out its opening kinks, but for now, I'd recommend sticking with Detroit's established pizza favorites. With so many excellent choices in the area, there's little reason to settle for merely OK pizza in a noisy dining room.
*Would I return?* Not in the near future. The Rectory needs to address its atmosphere issues and elevate its food quality before it can compete with the neighborhood's pizza heavyweights.
