Detroit Fish House: Steak and Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Shelby Charter Township

So - anyway - we received an email from Detroit Fish House asking our review of a visit with them this past February 14.

So be it - - here goes:

We recently made an online reservation with Detroit Fish House, requesting a table for 2 at 4:00 PM, February 14. The reservation was acknowledged and a conformation number was issued.

By way of explanation, the Detroit Fish House online program only displays remaining seating and times available as of the time the viewer is reading the screen. Again, our reservation was acknowledged and confirmed. They sent a followup email requesting our reaffirmation of the reservation. We replied in the affirmative.

But wait! There’s more:

We forgot to mention that the online reservation system also offered a choice of seating arrangements: conventional height tables and chairs - or - bar style high seating and tables. We are both advancing in years and arthritis is our constant companion. As such, we opted for the conventional seating.

You know what’s coming . . .

Four PM on the 14th is now rapidly approaching as we turn into the DFH parking lot. Upon entry, we make our way to the reservation counter, eagerly anticipating a quiet Valentine’s Day dinner. That was our last happy moment that day.

We approached a gentleman who was monitoring a computer screen. Almost immediately, we could sense what we can only describe as some sort of “disconnect.” The man mumbled something about a “computer push” and we would be seated in the high top bar area. We attempted to show him a printout of our “confirmed” reservation. A blank stare was our reward for the effort. We then asked him to verify our reservation conformation number. The blank stare remained, sans any eye contact with us. He just stood there in stolid silence, not unlike a member of the Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace. It was like a pall of eerie funkiness permeated the area. Our experience would make good fodder for a “Twilight Zone” episode.

Two members of the wait staff, both twinkle eyed and possessing winning smiles, patiently waited for our exchange with the gentleman to conclude. Both had menus in hand. We are herded to the [dreaded] high top table area of the bar section. We notice two vacant booths in the bar area. May we be seated in one of those? Ohhh! No! No! Can’t do that! Our gaze then sweeps the main dining area - - exhibiting approximately 30 percent vacant tables. May we be seated in one of those? Ohhh! No! No! Can’t do that! And it’s not like the DFH vestibule was crowded with people waiting to fill these seats. No - - upon entry, we were the only folks approaching the reservation counter. Moreover, only one other couple entered while we were still there.

So now, we’re trying to mount the high chairs. Difficult for me, but nearly impossible for my 5 foot 2 arthritic wife. I was about to assist her, but she managed to conquer the summit. The two members of the wait staff then came to life and shoved menus in our faces. My wife, now near tears, related to me that she “couldn’t do this.” I heartily agreed and announced to the wait staff that we would be taking our leave. Their twinkling eyes and winning smiles were replaced with stunned disbelief. Why would we not wish to avail ourselves of the eutopia they offered?

We will say this . . . We shall never again darken the door of the highfalutin Detroit Fish House located on Schoenherr in the posh hamlet of Shelby Township.

The irony of this episode is that we selected this venue based on its overwhelmingly...

Have been here twice. First time was mothers day this year. Second just this fathers day. First visit I would give almost 5 stars. The experience was fantastic. Prices were a bit steep for food, but was not disappointed. I specifically chose the Maryland crab cakes, being I haven't had good ones in a very long time. My wife, the salmon. after eating our own, and tasting each others, she really loved my cakes even more so than her salmon. Which by the way was the best she had. The cakes were nicely proportioned in 3 cakes on a plate with garnish. Chose rice pilaf as a side. And a very good side of King crab leg A scary price of 22 dollars for it. But hey, I really wanted it! Overall a great experience. Now Fathers day. Not so good. What happened?. First off, cramming 5 adults at a very small table ( probably no longer than 4 feet by 3 wide) with one on an end. I cannot understand this. One chair on the side butted up against another tables occupied chair. Leaving zero space. This already set the mood off bad knowing on mothers day, we moved most of the stuff to make room for any appetizer, or bread basket. Please re evaluate the floor plan and even custom make tables if so for the architecture that was existing from prior establishment. They did add us another table to move 2 adults. I believe I had to say nothing for this to happen. Thank you for seeing the discomfort. Now the food. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CRAB CAKES! Yes, I wanted them again, as so did my wife. My grown adult sons had their own food in mind. Not sure if the chef is the same, or someone else was in charge of that station. But we received 2! cakes now. Slightly smaller, and almost a texture of uncooked bread dough. Also now topped with some type of low spiced mayonnaise mix, which was not part of it before. Then the missing cake in the center, replaced by green beans and rice. My wife and I were totally disappointed. Add the fact on this 100 degree day. The air went out sometime when we sat down and ordered. Making it uncomfortable. And felt so sorry for the wait staff and Kitchen. My sons had between them a fillet mignon, lobster mac and cheese and a blackened swordfish. Tasted each with no complaints. And they were happy. I understand the climate thing was a fluke. But happened at my time of disappointment. We needed a place like this in our area. I sure hope things get ironed out. I cannot say anything bad about the place. Infarct, I am pleased with it. Vary friendly and courteous But having a menu discrepancy like that only a month apart, well I don't understand. Do go here and eat. It's just this day was not good for us. We will try again. However, don't stop improving on things. I scare easily. Especially...

I'll start by saying that one would think that during a pandemic, when restaurants and service staff are struggling to stay alive, a restaurant would try its hardest to be awesome. Well.....two words: don't bother! Okay, a third word: ripoff! First, we called and made reservations and asked for a great table, since this was a romantic celebration. We were told 'of course'. What we got instead, was stuffed in the back of the restaurant, against a wall, with a partition of booths blocking any view and the glaring sun bearing down thru the window into my husband's eyes almost the entire dinner. NOT romantic. In fact, it may have been the worst place to be seated in the entire restaurant! Secondly, the server was a little goofy about almost everything and when we mentioned this, we got a blank stare and she moved right on to the if we wanted water. The upcharge on the water that was not tap was $4!!! And it was downhill from there......the silverware and wine glasses were dirty and spotty, the wine choices were silly - they were 'out' of several selections and many offered only by the bottle, and the menu - for a FISH restaurant - was limited and weird (and not eclectic or artsy weird, just weird) and offered very few and odd 'fish' entrée choices. I don't know what menu some of these reviewers got, ours was super limited and weird. (I wanted salmon, but their only salmon options were all Asian flared, for example.) Anyway, our food.......the lobster bisque was awful; it was glummy and bland and tasted like baking flour. The side salad (that I was upcharged another $4 for, in lieu of their house coleslaw which was not very good) was soaked in dressing. The stuff shrimp was sub-par; the shrimp was 'ok' but chewy and the stuffing was like undercooked Stove Top. The fried perch was a huge disappointment too - the fish and coating tasted almost exactly like movie theater buttered popcorn, and that's not great on perch, and the sauce was so salty it overpowered the fish. The sides were something you'd get at a local diner - a mass produced (I'm sure) rice pilaf and some green beans. That was LITERALLY your entrée side choice. VERY disappointing meal and experience, considering our bill was well over $100 (and we each only had ONE glass of wine)!!! Too bad. This place was kind of cute and probably had potential, but they blew it. I don't get all the positive reviews. The only nice thing I can say about the food is that the bread is good - it comes hot in a bag and basket, and it's buttery and garlicky. With so many other great restaurants in a 10 mile radius in any direction, why bother with this place? We...