Selden Standard-Detroit Treasure Fusion Restaurant

Selden Standard | Detroit Midtown’s Delightful Italian-American Spot – Worth the 30-Minute Drive! I recently tried Selden Standard and instantly liked it—located near Detroit Midtown, it’s about a 30-minute drive from U-M’s central campus. The menu is pretty varied (focused on Italian-American fusion), there are tons of drink options, the vibe is nice, service is great, and prices are reasonable—$60–$70 per person gets you full and satisfied. Here’s the breakdown 😊! 🥢 Apps: Hits & a Miss (Squash Pakora Steals the Show!) Most appetizers are vegetarian or salads—we tried their new item and a classic, with mixed results: Squash Pakora (NEW!): 10/10, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! It’s a reimagined Indian street food, and the flavors are so (surprisingly amazing)—layered and perfectly balanced. Smashed squash is lightly coated in batter and deep-fried, then paired with a complex sauce that’s tailored to complement it. You can tell the chef put real thought into this—total standout. Beef Tartare: Not my cup of tea. The meat was under-seasoned and leaning too tangy (needed more salt to balance). Worse, the piece of grilled bread under the tartare was so oily—it tasted like they took the complimentary bread, soaked it in olive oil, then pan-fried it for crispiness. Greasy and heavy, which ruined the tartare for me. Skip this one. 🍝 Entrees: Squid Ink Pasta Is a Must, Swordfish Is Solid Entrees are consistently good (no major letdowns), but one dish stood out way more than the rest: Squid Ink Pasta (Signature!): My favorite! It uses circular pasta—definitely homemade, since it’s chewier than store-bought. The sauce is rich with butter and cream, the squid is crispy and bouncy, and they finish it with shredded lemon to add brightness. Best part? They portion it perfectly—enough to satisfy, but not so much that it feels heavy. The only tiny complaint: it’s on the small side, but the flavor makes up for it. Order this, you won’t regret it! Grilled Swordfish: Really good, but not mind-blowing. It’s hard to find swordfish that’s not dry, but this one was juicy and tender—grilled just right on the outside. The side dishes are huge and varied, which is a plus. It’s a safe, tasty pick, just not as exciting as the pasta. 🍰 Dessert: Skip the Pumpkin Pie We got the pumpkin pie—it’s classic American-style (flaky crust), but way too sweet. The pumpkin flavor was faint, and the giant scoop of ice cream on top was also super sweet. It’s nothing special—save room for more pasta next time instead 😂. 🥂 Drinks: Solid Options All Around We tried a cocktail, a orange liqueur, and a non-alcoholic fennel juice—all were good. Nothing stood out as “amazing,” but they paired well with the food and hit the spot. If you’re into wine or cocktails, their list is extensive enough to find something you’ll like. 💰 Final Thought Selden Standard is a great spot to revisit—there are a few more pastas I want to try, and the entrees are reliably good. I hope they keep updating the menu (that squash pakora was a great addition!). If you’re willing to drive a bit from Ann Arbor for solid Italian-American food, this is absolutely worth it. #Michigan #MichiganSurroundings #UniversityOfMichiganAnnArbor #AnnArborFood #AnnArborLife #MichiganFood #MichiganRestaurants #MichiganLife #DetroitRestaurants #Detroit #WeekendEats #AnnArborArea