XO Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Saint Clair Shores

I come here every so often. It’s within walking distance from my house and my friends of Rudy’s Exchange Pawn Shop in Wyandotte (see them for all your pawn shop needs) are cool with the owner here so I like to support a place within the city I reside. Drinks are always cold staff is always friendly. But the food. The food is always ok. It’s not terrible, it’s not OMG amazing. The few dishes I get just need a few tweaks and have the ability to be great! I always get the wings. Good size, great price. But the buffalo flavor they use is meh. I get em to go (have a few drinks while I wait) throw em in the air fryer to crisp em up a bit more and toss em in my own sauce. Not really a big deal. But tonight I tried the pizza for the first time. It’s ok. but has potential to be better. A little doughy and needs more pizza sauce, it was definitely lacking that. feel I just ordered undercooked bread sticks with pepperoni to be honest. Just a few more mins in the oven with a bit more sauce and it would be 🔥🔥🔥. That or the cook was just going through the motions. Which I get, I was a cook for a long time at a popular restaurant in Troy. K.G. are the initials. Trust me I’m very well versed in food. Lastly I ordered the onion rings…idk if they do them by scratch. But these bad boys were crack. Plenty of onion, great crunch I’ve got no complaints on those at all 10/10. Just change that buffalo sauce recipe for the wings, add a little more time in the oven and a few more tbsp’s of sauce on the pizza and your good. Or don’t either way I’ll still come because it’s literally a 5min walk from my house and I’ll just ask for extra pizza sauce and well done pizza,...

I moved to St Clair Shores a little over a year ago. I grew up going to Dale’s with my dad and grandpa, and found out that place is now XO.

The most important place to start is the staff. Everyone there is awesome. A few quick shoutouts to the serving staff including, but not limited to, Amanda, Jamie, Taylor, Sally, Ethan, Maddie, Justice, and anyone else that works there. I served for a long time, and these girls (and Ethan) are dialed in. This place is busy most nights of the week. They stay busy, make good drinks, check in on you, and still find a quick minute when they can to catch up or get to know you. They’re awesome.

XO’s prices are phenomenal so if you come you’ll have even more money to tip your servers - Which you should.

Isaac in the kitchen is an absolute gem. He’s one of the kindest people I’ve met, and throws tf down in the kitchen.

On the topic of food - XO is one of those bars you go to, see the prices, and don’t expect much. And then you’re proven wrong. The food is extremely affordable, but also probably the best small-bar food in St Clair Shores. A burger is well seasoned and comes with the works. The steak bites are insane. Chicken tenders. Cajun fries. Simple sandwiches. Taco Tuesday. - It’s all good. You can spend like $15 bucks and get a very filling meal that tastes fantastic and is cooked fresh.

The pool room is where I find myself normally. Two decent tables, with a great scene of regular shooters that show up a few nights a week. It’s just a good time all around.

Bernard the owner (one of the owners? Idk) has a good spot, with good food, good drinks, and even better staff. All the other bars around us don’t...

Cannot overstate how much I love this place. There are very few bars I've ever been to that understand their niche as well as XO.

The drinks are impeccable and the best priced in town.

The servers, Jaime, Amanda, Andrea, sally, Ethan, destiny, Maddy, justice, are all fantastic, friendly, and on the spot. Even when the bar is packed, which it usually is. And the drinks won't bankrupt you. In fact I'd say it's the only place in town where you get your money's worth and then some.

Isaac and the rest of the kitchen crew do a top notch job, once again staying perfectly in their lane. It's not a five star Michelin restaurant, but you won't be served the same old bullshit cheapest stuff Gordon Food Service has to offer like most other bars that charge far more. Thirteen dollars for a burger with all the fixins that slaps with a side of hot and fresh fries, taco Tuesday is fire, once again you simply cannot get a better value for money anywhere in the area.

Do you like playing pool? They have top notch tables, not full size but well maintained with a roster of friendly good shooters that are regulars.

In a world where bars will charge you 15 bucks for a single jack and coke that's maybe 3 oz of actual liquid, or 20 for some mediocre food they microwaved, XO stands above them all.

Finally I have to thank Bernard, the owner, who keeps things the way they are, which is absolutely perfect. Unlike many other owners, Bernard gets himself in the mix. On busy weekends, he's on the front line, serving drinks, talking with customers, supporting his employees, keeping order, and ensuring that the experience for customers is just as I've...