Harbor House — Restaurant in Detroit

It was my first time dining at the Harbor House tonight. We had put our name on the list and were told it was a 15 minute wait. We came back in after paying the parking meter, 15 minutes or less later, and were told that since we weren't right there we got skipped. So, we waited right there this time, for 5 minutes, then got seated. Out waitress was named Veronica. We ordered, didn't get our bread till after our side salads were finished, and our food came out 5 minutes later. Once our food came out, I had asked for ranch and our waitress was no where to be found. 10 minutes pass, as my food is getting cold, and we finally got the attention of another waitress to get the ranch. Our waitress brought it out and we didn't see her for the rest of our meal. Never asked if we needed anything, or if we liked our food. When we were done we had to get the attention of another waitress to get our bill because our waitress was MIA. A nice lady brought us a box and we asked her to get the manager. A manager couldn't come to our table because he was too busy. We really just wanted to know why we had to pay a gratuity for a waitress that was completely unhelpful and disappointing. The lady that came out to tell us we couldn't speak to a manager, brought us our bill. Unsure if she was also a manager and if so, why would she tell us we had to talk to a different manager to express our issues? We were told to come back a different day to talk to this other manager. What if we didn't want to come back? Also, still had to pay a gratuity. That's the thing with gratuity added on....servers don't have to do a great job or even a good job, they can get away with doing the absolute minimum. My boyfriend is a server in Detroit, getting a gratuity added on to his tables as well. His boss will take off a tip if his servers aren't doing their job. Food was really good however, so that was a relief. Aside from the neglectful waitress, and mangers, I would recommend the food. Hopefully everyone else will have a...

What an unacceptable experience my sister and I had at Harbor House in downtown Detroit MI on 10/ 13. After several years, we decided to give the restaurant another chance, but we encountered serious safety concerns along with dismissive customer service from the manager John Midget (probably a fake name).

We spent $200 on our meal, only to discover roaches inside the restaurant after we had already paid. When we brought this to the attention of the manager, John Midget (a name we suspect may not be real), we were told that the roaches were supposedly brought in by homeless individuals who slept near the entrance. Shockingly, the manager admitted that they had already failed in their extermination efforts, casually comparing the situation to dealing with lizards in Myrtle Beach (not the same). This kind of attitude toward unsanitary conditions is completely unacceptable.

The manager offered a $50 gift card as compensation, which is an insult considering the amount we spent and the severity of the issue. When I called to discuss the matter further, the manager abruptly hung up on me, showing a complete lack of professionalism and concern for customer satisfaction.

Although we remained calm using decorum and did not make a scene in front of other customers, I feel obligated to warn others about the poor hygiene and treatment we experienced. I urge potential customers to think twice before dining here and to be aware of the health risks associated with this establishment.

In my opinion, Harbor House should address these concerns immediately—both by improving their sanitation efforts and training their management staff on how to properly handle customer complaints. This is simply not the type of service or environment anyone should expect when dining out. #harborhouse 440 Clinton St Detroit, MI...

After attending a concert at the nearby Detroit Music Hall Center last night, we went to Harbor House for the first time. We chose it because (i) it was a 2-minute walk from the concert venue, (ii) the menu looked great, and (iii) it was one of the only restaurants open until 11pm. (The kitchen is actually OPEN until 11pm and they serve until then, too). We are so glad we did! Situated in a "vintage" building, if you can't find something to eat here, you're just not hungry. From all kinds of seafood to ribs to steaks to sandwiches to specialty cocktails, high-end wines and brews, Harbor House has it all, and each bite is better than the one before. They also offer "mix-and-match" - for instance, a half-rack of ribs with 9 or 10 shrimp. All servings are HUGE! Did I mention the service? It was impeccable. I'm using a cane right now due to an accident, and we were solicitously seated at a table that caused me the least discomfort. Our server, Kate, was spot on, offering suggestions without being pushy and seeing to our every need without hovering. The restaurant is casual and old-fashioned but clean, as are the restrooms, and the waitstaff all cooperate with each other. At 10:30pm, there was an eclectic group of guests - families with little kids, couples on a date, friends catching up with each other - everyone seemed to be having fun without getting rowdy. The price point is more than fair, but please read the fine print that a 16% gratuity is automatically included on each check (if you care to tip more, that's entirely up to you). There is a gated, staffed, surface parking lot adjacent to the restaurant, and I-375 and I-75 are moments away and easily accessed. We look forward to our next visit to...