We came here for my friend's Bachelorette party. The service was good and the food was good. We rented a room at the top of the restaurant and the atmosphere was great. Our waiter was not in our faces, but he was there just enough so that our drinks didn't run out. The only gripe was that a lot of the ladies complained that the smirnoff cocktails tasted off... to the point that the glasses are all full when we left. No good. Overall a good place for a party.
(4)
Sarah S.
First things first: GREAT game day spot for gathering with fellow Detroit fans. The atmosphere and decor is fun. However, the food is NOT good. It's cheaply made with a tourist price. The quality isn't great and the prices aren't low to match what you're getting. Mind you, I come here often before after or during games mainly to grab a beer and watch the game. I am being a tough critic because the food really should be A LOT better. I would recommend coming here with firsts time Detroit visitors. However, if you're looking for some killer grub and inventive yummy drinks, corktown area tends to have a lot better restaurants for the foodies out there.
(1)
Jared B.
Visited withe the family for lunch on a Groupon that I purchased. First and foremost, with this being an events restaurant it is very difficult to find a date and time to use a groupon that cannot be used on an events day. Many times we made our way down to find the restaurant closed or not accepting any new customers. The hostess: RUDE & IGNORANT, after standing there waiting for her to finish a conversation with someone who was dressed like a prostitute she decided to help us. The wait staff: STUPID but FRIENDLY, overall experience with her was Blah... It was her birthday so I give her a nice tip... (might have just been a story) The Food: DECENT and PENITENTIARY, some of the items were decent and well respected while others were down right ready for the bottom of the 32 gallon barrel. First, the Deep Dish Pizza for looked like, tasked like, smelt like...... Little Caesars Deep!Deep! Dish (should have known better for it being the same company) Then my burger, flipped it over to find MOLD on the bottom bun, needless to say this was the end of my appetite (picture posted) The Manager: CONCERNED, after reviewing my burger he was quickly trying to find something to offer me.. Well let's just say when I said "We will find a way to rectify this situation that be very pleasing to me, wont we?" He offered to cover the entire meal and give me back the $60 dollars gift card for a future visit (groupon value). I accepted it. I give them two stars only because the manager was on point in resolving my issues. My dilemma now is what to do with the $60 gift card he gave to me as I will NEVER return!
(2)
Sarah R.
My brother and I stopped at Hockeytown Cafe before a Tiger's game and wound up sitting at the bar because of the long wait for a table. There were only a few people at the bar, yet we waited ages for the guy to take our drink order, then another 15 minutes or so for him to bring us our beers. The nachos were just okay; they could have used more cheese, IMO.
(3)
Jason T.
My wife and two sons met some friends before the USWNT soccer game vs Haiti on 9/17/15. Our friends arrived 10 minutes before us due to traffic and construction. We walked in and joined our party and started to sit at an adjoining table and were approached by staff and were told that we needed to check in at the front. Long story longer... We were asked to wait for a different table and wait 35 minutes or leave. We left! Horrible service was not willing to accomendate us at all. They said the table we were at was reserved and in the same breathe said that they don't accept reservations.
(1)
Tom F.
Went here before an afternoon Tigers game. As usual I am sure they are are always this packed on game day. You can tell how good a restaurant or bar is that can handle crowds like that. After checking in and founding out there was a thirty minute wait they told us that we could go to the third level or patio and order pizza. That's what we did. It was pretty crowded up there too. Our pizza arrived pretty quickly. It was a deep dish. Much better than expected. I'd do that again. I'll have to try this place again not on a game day of any kind and try something else.
(3)
Lambert P.
This review is strictly based on the patio upstairs. We walked to Hockeytown after the Tigers game and needless to say the place was packed. We had basically taken the elevator straight to the 3rd floor where the patio was and went outside. There was already a long line up to the bar. I had gotten into line and noticed that on the other side of the bar was a guy serving drinks so I went to that side instead to get our drinks. Later that evening (Sunday 17th of Aug) there was going to be a One Direction concert at Ford Field nearby. The inside of this place (bar area) was packed with kids and teen agers supposedly with parents? Either way I thought it was very strange having children in the bar area regardless (I'm talking a lot all over). Anyway we didn't get to eat there but we had a nice view from the top of the patio on the 3rd floor before moving on to get a bite elsewhere because there was no chance we'd get to eat at Hockeytown on the first floor.
(3)
Andy D.
Good spot before or after a game.
(4)
Susan N.
Terrific menu here! Lots of yummy choices! The Marconi bites were different, and will make you come back for more! The chef salad was huge....good thing we split it! Craft drinks inexpensive, and really good! Wow, a place to spot back and try the cherry burger!
(5)
Emily W.
Macaroni and cheese bites were yummy but the Mac and cheese was just ok. We were pleased with our drinks-enough that we noted the concoctions to repeat at home. Quick dinner service-in and out within an hour on a weekend evening. Easy parking just next door.
(5)
Charles W.
To be blunt, I really don't like coming here anymore. When I first visited there were no sports being played except a preseason hockey game. It fooled me into thinking it was a cool place with a great atmosphere, how I was wrong. Pros: It has really good location and there is a bar that serves alcohol... that is all. Cons: The bar, the food, the service, the price, the crowds/people ruin the atmosphere. I've tried the food and it really is of the frozen bar food variety. Definitely not worth the price. I have no recommendations and no you must avoid this dish warnings because everything is absolutely meh... on second thought just avoid everything. Okay, so that brings me to the bar. It is packed on game days and during peak hours. Absolutely nuts to butts and the butts that your nutts are on come in all varieties, which is fine... but there are so many people that have no bar etiquette that it completely kills the atmosphere. You get dirty looks from people for accidentally bumping them because they are not used to being in this environment. You have jerk offs with a hostile "holding my ground" mentality because they think they are on the team because of their jersey. Then you have drunkard annoying people. Mixed in there you have good people who just want to enjoy a quick bite, watch a game, or pregame a little bit before going into the stadium. The patio outside could be cool, but they really cash in on you. I also don't like to tip in that type of situation. You know... when there is a trashy girl in front of a bucket of overpriced beer that says what do you want... 10 dollars... here. Totally ruins the mood. It could be pretty cool being up top, but service is slow and it does get pretty crowded. I don't doubt that it is possible to have fun up there, but I haven't been blessed with that emotion yet. The service at this place goes at a snails pace. You would assume they are used to being slammed and work accordingly, but instead they seem to just wave the white flag and work under the mindset that there is nothing they can do, there is too many people, I'm doing all I can. I'm from NY, this place would be out of business in a day with the productivity from the staff. This is a hard earned 2 star review. It could be a special place, but their execution is just pitiful.
(2)
Megan C.
Came here before a Tigers game. The game turned out to be cancelled due to rain, but we decided to eat anyways. Bad idea. The service was awful. We waited a long time to even order our drinks. Our appetizer never came, and the salad I ordered with chicken came without chicken. They brought it back with chicken, but it tasted pretty bad. We weren't the only ones suffering from poor service. The waitress left the tray of food for the table next to us. She was gone for about 10 minutes, with the food just sitting there. Eventually, that table just grabbed their own food off the tray. The waitress did apologize for the bad service, and I know they were crowded, but this place isn't new. They should know how to handle the big crowds on game days. But even if the service had been great, the food was not.
(2)
Gary F.
I really wanted to leave a better review. It should have been a 2 star review, but the San Fran Melt was pretty good. 3 people here today. Me, my brother, and my daughter. Of the 3 orders they screwed up 2. Which if you're doing the math on is 66%. That is pretty bad considering. Anyway. This place is "ok". Fun environment.
(3)
Jon G.
When the 80s band Flock of Seagulls sang this famous words, I assume they were talking about Hockeytown Cafe. "And I ran. I ran so far away. I just ran. I ran all night and day. I couldn't get away." The world may never know what the Flock of Seagulls were running from, but I would still bet they were running from this joint. No matter how hard I try, it is still right down the road and tempting me with $5 lunch specials. Yet everytime I give them a chance they fail. I've had burnt deep dish pizza here, rubbery thin crust pizza, bad salads and really bad chili and soup. I've had small wraps that were terrible and just about the worst pulled pork sandwich I have ever eaten. Yet, because of the location (near Comerica Park) this place is always full of sports fans looking to get a beer, watch the game or grab some bar food. During sporting events I am willing to turn the other cheek on bad food. It is tough to cook so much stuff quickly. But during a normal Tuesday lunch service, there is no excuse for burning pizza or serving another pizza topped with leftover sauerkraut and corned beef. You are better off skipping Hockeytown and visiting Town Pump Tavern where the food is better and the drinks are cheaper.
(1)
Rachel M.
Lucked out and got two spots at the bar before a tigers game. Mac and cheese and the boss hog burger were excellent. Great service and fast food delivery for being busy. Will come back next time in Detroit
(5)
Steve S.
Just like everyone else, been coming here for years. Just like everyone else - I have never once, gone out of my way for a meal or drink here. It's sorta cool with the hockey theme - but the choppy bar layout, dam right dreary areas, and lack of anything special about the food does not make it If hockey town wasn't located exactly where it's at, there would never be a reason to come here. It's a shame they don't do more with it.
(2)
Travis K.
My family went here after a Tigers game when we lived in Michigan and it was weel worth it. The place was like a Hardrock cafe with sports hocky MI stuff. The food was good and the patio was fun to eat on.
(5)
Jeff E.
This place is pretty dead. This stinks because it's a nice clean sports bar. Beers aren't cheap though and no happy hour. The bartender told us that they would have been closed but they had a large group reservation. We arrived at. 5:30 and they were cleaning up at 7:30 to close at 8pm. The bartender recommended the Greektown area for better night life.
(3)
Bob G.
If you're a Redwing's fan this is the place to be!!! Amazing hockey memorabilia adorns this establishment! Some beautiful original and custom motorcycles throughout as well! Apparently there is a strong rivalry between the Redwings and Blackhawks, and it's very amusing to enjoy the opposing views with rival fans! Really fun place!!!
(5)
Naveen N.
Close to the stadiums so it's a good place to pregame...wouldn't go here otherwise with such a variety of options nearby on a regular night.
(3)
Rebecca G.
Came here from out of state... so excited as we are avid Redwing fans. Kids were so disappointed the kitchen was closed on a Friday evening and it was bar only. Wasted trip and parking fee.
(1)
Laura C.
This place had better food than I expected! I got the turkey flatbread sandwich which was SO SO good. They had a great selection of draft beers, awesome french fries, and a huge patio. We went there before a baseball game. If you don't care about the first inning or two, head here 30 minutes or so before the game. We were able to get a table outside right away. Great spot!!
(4)
Corey K.
Good spot to eat or grab a couple of beers before a Tigers or Lions game. Food is decent and they have lots of beer on tap. Gets packed on game days. Service has been decent the times I've been. Prices aren't too bad considering it is in the stadium district. Worth a visit especially if you like hockey memorabilia.
(4)
Richard S.
This place is in a great location in Downtown Detroit, but it's not very impressive. They get hordes of people coming in before and after events at Ford Field and Comerica Park, and it's pretty convenient in that regard. But, Downtown is a ghost town when no sporting event is going on, and Hockeytown's hours vary based on that. Their website even says, "Sunday hours and daily closing times vary based on area events." They have no set hours, which can be irritating. My friends and I called there once to see if they were open on a common Saturday evening, and they said, "Yes, we will be open until at least 9pm or later depending on business." Okay, so we showed up there around 8:00, and we were met with a worker locking the door. We were pissed. Their food is nothing special, but it is pricier. They have lunch specials for under $10 if you get there early. We ate there after spending the morning at the auto show, and it was great... nice and quiet with fast service. Their burgers are good, but if I get that meal with one 24oz. beer, my bill will be over $20. Their beer is way overpriced, but they have a ton of selections. They have a lot of Michigan beers and brands you won't see at other restaurants, but some of those beers will cost you $6-7 for a 12oz. bottle. Service is typical of any restaurant that swells with patrons for special events, and it all depends on the friendliness of your server. There is a parking garage right next door that will cost you $5 to park, but every time we've parked there, no one was in the booth to collect any money when we left.
(3)
John P.
Don't. Honestly. Just don't. Other than proximity to stadia, there is nothing redeeming about this place. The food is lousy. I mean, even by bar standards, it's just plain bad. Ever have a meal and think to yourself, "Wait, that didn't actually taste like anything" at the end of it? That's this place. Except then you remember what you're paying for that meal and then you get a little frustrated. The drinks are expensive, the atmosphere impossibly loud, and thoroughly mediocre service. Why on Earth would you subject yourself to it?
(1)
Tim O.
The atmosphere is pretty cool and the location outside of the stadium is sweet. The food is typical bar fare, nothing special, but not horrible. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich, very Max & Erma-like (i.e. A frozen, breaded chicken patty fried and thrown on a less than exciting bun). The service stinks to put it mildly. I came in during a Tigers game when the bar was essentially empty and it took forever to get the attention of any of the three female bartenders. The female bartenders act like they are more attractive than they really are. They remind me of some Hooters outcasts, sans the boobs (and the looks). They just got downgraded to 1 star. Been waiting for the beauty queen to cash out my tab for 15 minutes.
(1)
Mandy C.
Hockey town cafe I love you. Your pizza is tasty and nothing beats the giant Heineken draft before a game. I've wanted to try the fried banana peppers on the appy menu for two years now and they're never available:( grab the free shuttle and head to the game or walk across the street to comerica park! Opening day rooftop party was grand..
(4)
Michelle C.
I purchased a Groupon for Hockeytown and I've tried to use it 3 times. The first time they were closed during normal dinner hours, the second time there was a game and just last week I was told I couldn't use it because there was an Ice Cube concert. I don't know if I'm more surprised that there's still such a thing as an "Ice Cube concert", or that Hockeytown considers that to be an "event". I want to check this place out. I want to use my Groupon...but when?!?
(2)
Ray B.
Stopped in for a beverage after a performance at the Filmore; solid service, good selection and decent prices. No regrets.
(4)
Ryan B.
Don't waste your time, terrible food, terrible drinks and even worse service. Go somewhere else.
(2)
Shelly J.
Been here a couple times. Hit and miss on what you will get. Went with family and my son said his ice cube would'nt melt- turned out it was a chunk of a broken glass. They offered to take drinks off the bill after we made fuss. They initially only offered to get him a new drink!?!?! Other times I had went were ok. As i said service good or bad depending on day. Food pretty good.
(2)
Zac H.
this is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in a long time. the food is great and amazing service. the decor is very cool and interesting. most include motorcycles and baseball legends. our waitress Vanessa was very good. she always made sure we had what we needed. and the wait for food was very short. but that didn't effect the quality. I got the bbq chicken salad. one word fantastic. I recommend it to anyone who likes chicken salads!
(5)
J K.
The hockey Atmosphere is very cool.!Service is slow and the food is so so.I can tell you one drink one NOT to get is the Red &White margarita.my wife and I ordered them she sent hers back ,I drank mine because I never knew when we were going to see our waitress.when we got our our bill I got charged for a shot that we never ordered.come to find out it was from the table next to us.that took a while to fix the bill.
(2)
Jenna B.
My friend and I went to the restaurant for lunch. It was my first visit, she had been there a few other times. She had always had good experiences in the past; unfortunately this would not be one of those times. We arrived around 1:30 p.m., we did not see a waitress until 2:00 p.m. There were many things about this that were troubling, such as the fact that we kept looking around for a waitress and on numerous occasions made eye contact not only with wait staff, but also with various members of management who were talking with wait staff and each other. Still no one came over to see if we needed anything. We saw plenty of wait staff who had lots of time to talk to each other and to lean on the hostess stand and chit chat, but obviously not to help people. It was not until we went and found the hostess, who was not easy to find, and told her we had been waiting for 25 minutes, then we still waited another 5-10 minutes and someone finally made their way over to us. Then when the waitress finally did make her way over she had attitude and asked us if we were ready to order in a tone as if she had been waiting for us to get our act together. She brought us our food and then we never saw her again until she brought us the bill. No drink refills, no how is everything, nothing. Then we waited and waited some more and yet she never came back so we could pay the bill. My friend had to go to the bar and pay the bill. It is a good thing she was paying or the waitress would never have received a tip. We were going to the show at the City Theater and luckily we made it, with no help from any of the restaurant staff. I am appalled that this is how this restaurant is run. I worked as a waitress for six years and would have never let someone wait that long, but if somehow it did happen, I would have been bending over backwards to make sure they were taken care of. I would never come back and I will never recommend this restaurant to anyone I know and I will make sure to let everyone I know and people I don't know how awful it was. For a family that claims to be so good for Detroit the Ilitch family isn't doing anyone any favors by having this awful restaurant open in Detroit. If you were from out of town and went to this restaurant you would think all of the awful things that people say about Detroit are true. This place sucks!!!!
(1)
Kelly M.
Cool hockey bar. Great place to go before a game. Food was good. Service was good. A little pricy but fun atmosphere.
(5)
Anthony B.
What a way to Experience Detroit before any Event! Amazing Food, Memorable Atmosphere, and in the center of it All!!!
(5)
David P.
It's Hockeytown Cafe, so it's got the branding of the Red Wings. However...the Winged Wheel isn't enough to save this place from mediocrity. The food...is "meh". Sure, they've got beer and mixed drinks...but it's not like the prices are unbelievably low and you have to Have To HAVE TO get here for that reason either. It's nice to stroll around and check out the memorabilia, but there are plenty of other bars where you'll be wanting to spend more time in for sure.
(3)
Joe M.
quick food and good to stop in before the game. Hockey fans everywhere. once your done eating, jump on the bus and head to the game.
(3)
Erik A.
This place has that sports bar feel and if that is what you are seeking this place is as good as any. There was nothing that really "stood out" in the service or the food and both were satisfactory. Service was prompt and the food was hot. If in the area someone said let's go I would not say no but to me it was just an average experience.
(2)
Kelly K.
Pretty standard bar. Had a great time drinking here with my hubs before the Tigers game. It's in a great location and is usually packed on a game day. Drink prices are par for the course - a little high but that's what you get in that area. My vodka soda was nice and strong, although the bartender was a little stingy with the lemons and limes (I asked for extra lemons and limes when I ordered and she gave me 2 tiny slivers of each). Oh well - cold beer and decent good - not too bad!
(3)
Justin F.
This is a great bar and restaurant with tons of cool decorations whether you're a detroit sports fan or not. My beer (English Ale called GhettoBlaster) and burger (the Michigan Cherry Burger) came highly recommended by the waitrees. Im always intrigued when i ask a waiter or waitress what's their favorite thing on the menu and their reply is not the advertised house special or one of the most expensive items on the menu. Frankly, I wouldn't have ordered the Michigsn Cherry Burger because each separate ingredient sounded weird in isolation but she assured me the combination of the cherries and the cream cheese type topping was excellent. Well she was spot on. I'm definitely going here next time I'm in town.
(5)
Lisa H.
Visited for a quick lunch. The drink menu looked to have a great selection, but we did not try anything from it. The food we ordered tasted pretty much identical to that of McDonalds - however it was at our table within 1-2 minutes of us ordering it, so I can't complain about the speed.
(2)
Erica D.
Friends don't let friends drag other friends to Hockeytown after a Tigers game. Keep moving. Sub-standard and scarce service, and honestly overpriced for "nothing special" food. I find Hockeytown very overrated by word-of-mouth. Every thing on the menu has been done better somewhere else, and Hockeytown lacks that certain something to keep up with other bars (should you be looking to quench your thirst rather than feed your face).
(2)
Samir N.
Detroit loves its Tigers. Detroit loves to drink. Then why is the scene around Comerica so lame after the game? This place is not half bad - they have a decent selection of beers and a cool patio. There is going to be traffic leaving the stadium and you can see as it breaks up over time. Would it not make sense (and be fun) to party after the game?
(3)
Lauren B.
I swung by here this past summer before taking in a Tigers game and I am a fan. The food was pretty good - although the wait would have almost made us miss the first half of the game. As a southerner, coming here with the boyfriend and his family, i expected less than southern hospitality and I was mistaken as most people here (including the staff) were super nice. Our waitress was really nice and quite prompt on getting our groups food out in a timely manner -especially since we had to wait so long. The prices were not that bad - I had sliders and a sweet tea - but watch the larger meals. Parking is rough, lots in the back and it is a rough area but the food was okay.
(4)
Michael L.
Drinks are fairly priced, but that's what happens when you're in or near (as is the case with Hockeytown) a major sports venue. Walked over here from the Motorcity Casino before the game without incident. Would not recommend walking BACK to the casino after dark the game or after dark unless you're in a fairly large group or Charles Bronson. As for Hockeytown pass on the food, and head straight to the 3rd floor to the roof deck to get your drink on before crossing the street to Comerica park to see the Tigers play.
(4)
Mr B.
Great food, great atmosphere. Need I say more? GO TIGERS!!!!!
(5)
Michelle W.
Eh, its a bit of a tourist trap. The day this place is REALLY fun is Tigers opening day because it's completely packed. Also, you don't have to deal with the slow service as much because they have extra beverage stations set up. I like the TVs and memorabilia. It's worth a walk through, maybe not worth stopping and eating though. Not a bad place to have a brew and watch a game. Although, I think other bars in the area a better for it.
(2)
Bobby G.
I went to Hockeytown Cafe yesterday for lunch with a few friends. It took a solid 10 minutes for a server to even take our drink order. There was something floating on the top of my water and the dishes they gave us for appetizers were dirty. They messed up the food order and the food we finally got absolutely sucked. It was a complete disappointment. I would NEVER go back there again.
(1)
Dina B.
Applebees level quality of food. Beef tips were beef shavings. Taco salad had no flavor. Onion soup same deal. Llike it was Aramark. Awful.
(2)
Ethan T.
Across the street from Comerica park and Ford field, this is a slightly over priced bar/restaurant that I have always enjoyed going to. If I am not at Joe Louis watching the wings when I am in town this has been a great second option. The crowd is rowdy, screaming at the multitude of TV's is encouraged for goals and bad calls. The food is better than the average pub fare, the service is quick most of the time, and parking in the garage across the street or the lots across Woodward is safe and continent. For a real fun game day spot this is the place. But on non game days, this place is often quiet or even dead, and not that big of a deal that you would want to stop by. Game day yes. Non game day no.
(3)
Abigail C.
Great pizza (I'm a sucker for food) and one nice staff member, BUT that is the ONLY reason it gets 3 stars. I was horrified by our service. We were seeing the play "Ernie" and arrived at 6:30 (1.5 hours early) because we knew their was a game on and we thought parking would be worse. Since we had time even on a busy night (so we thought) and my aunt had won the play tickets, we thought we'd splurge on dinner. 6:40 We decide to eat there. 6:44 Get a table quickly on the second floor, despite some... quirky instructions and lack of staff enthusiasm. Makes sense, busy night and they just want us all seated. Our hostess barely said anything to us and didn't even say it might take a while for the waitress to get to us. Bad sign. 7:00 Finally get a waitress to notice us, even though she served two tables that were seated after us first (it was even brought up that maybe it was a race issue since they were the same race as the waitress and we weren't). She didn't look us in the eye, she didn't say anything more than "hi". She just stood their, dumbstruck apparently by our presence. My brother asked how long a pizza would take, she said, "Ten minutes." So we ordered a pizza and our drinks. 7:03 She left to put our order in. 7:15 She brought all the drinks, but one and said she would bring it in a minute. She never brought it (I'll get back to that). A minute or so later she brought straws which where already opened and she touched with her long nails. It was rather gross. 7:28 We get get our food. Finally, despite her saying 10 minutes. We got it 25 minutes and she wasn't even the one to deliver it. In fact, it was a nice young man, who even brought drinks and napkins for us. BUT not once did some one offer to bring us plates for our fresh, finger burning pizza. So we were rushing to eat and couldn't even set down our food for a second. Pizza was good. 7:35 We try to flag her down, we get ignored. So I go to pay the bartender. I run into her on the way and ask for the bill quickly please. We watch her for the next five minutes walk up and down the stairs twice with a stack of plates and napkins, talk to the table two away from us, and talk to the table next to us all while HOLDING OUR BILL. 7:40 She goes to walk away and my mother chases her down to pay. We barely ended up with time to hit the restrooms, get our tickets from will call, and get seated. I'm extremely disappointed by our first visit. I don't care how busy you are, you at least bring the damn plates to the table.
(2)
Liz M.
We stopped in last night before the Anthrax show at the Fillmore. I had beef tips which were delicious! They really hit the spot, I love steak!! We also decided to try the deep fried banana pepper rings, an item I've never seen before anywhere. Holy crap they were good! I'm just mad now because of the fact that no place else has them, I don't get into Detroit much. The rest of the food at the table looked good too. I did find it a bit odd that all our drinks came out in plastic cups. Really? That was really the only thing I found off putting about our visit. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)
Amanda M.
Couldn't believe how rude the girls at the hostess stand were to us. Loose the attitudes. As soon as we were seated we felt better since our waitress was much more welcoming.
(2)
Jennifer V.
We ended up deciding to eat here before we saw "Evil Dead: The Musical" (for the second year in a row) at the City Theatre because, well, it's connected to the theatre and we figured it'd be a good time, considering there was a home Wings game that same night. As busy as it was, the wait wasn't too bad for a group of 6 - about 20 minutes (we also snuck our way into someone else's spot, because they didn't end up responding to their name being called after multiple tries). The service was a bit slow, but hey, the place was packed with Wings fans (and a couple ill-placed Sharks fans). The burger I had was surprisingly good, and I rather enjoyed my not-that-expensive, oversized shots of Jameson the bartender served me. Myself and the group I went with had a pretty good time, and our server was pretty nice, even if the service was slow. The place CLEARED OUT like there was a freakin' bomb scare about 30 minutes before the game started. It was totally insane. I'll probably be back if I'm seeing a show at the City Theatre again, or if I just wanna drink and catch a game. There's nothing like being surrounded by a bunch of drunk hockey fans to put me in a great mood!
(4)
Lisa K.
Other than location and lots of booze, this place is lacking. I've been before and the pizza and chicken fingers were decent. We went last night during the rain delay for the tigers game and had horrible food. My nachos didn't even have the cheese all the way melted and my husbands burger was below average. Won't be going back for anything other than booze!
(2)
Bryan A.
I have been here twice on two different trips to Detroit. I came in the first time because I was at Comerica Park to watch the Tigers play the Angels. I am an avid Red Wings fan who grew up in Ohio and now lives in California. When I saw a Red Wings Cafe, I had to try it! Walking in, I was very disappointed to see that the merchandise store was tiny and almost all Detroit Tigers apparel. I guess, due to location, this makes sense as it was August. The next time I came in was in April and everything was Red Wings merchandise. The restaurant has 3 levels total. There are two restaurant levels and a third, bar/patio level. As the name would imply, there is Red Wings memorabilia EVERYWHERE! The custom Red Wings bike when you walk in is pretty cool! The food here is pretty much standard bar food. I have had the burger, wings, chili and fries. All of them are just okay at best. The drinks here are typical bar drinks and typical bard taps. There is nothing special here either. The only real reason to go here is to catch a game and be surrounded by Wings memorabilia. I don't think I will be going back as twice was enough. I will be in Detroit again in a couple of weeks for a Wings game. I think I will go to Cheli's Chili Bar. Hopefully it's better!
(3)
Stacey B.
Nothing spectacular, but not the worst food either. Bar grub amongst Red Wing memorabilia. If you're a Wings fan you have to visit. If you're a food snob there are plenty of other places that will make you happy.
(3)
Lisa G.
I was heading to a concert at the Fillmore, and saw that this place was just a block away. As a long-time hockey fan (albeit NOT a Red Wings fan), I figured it'd be just the place for me to stop before the show. The service was fast and good. I ordered a simple burger w/fries. It was on the salty side, but I still really enjoyed it. My server refilled my soda twice, and didn't give me any problems when I lingered at my table after paying the bill (I was a little early for the show, and it was snowing outside). The memorabilia they have decorating the place is great. Even if you're not a Red Wings fan, you'll be able to appreciate it. I'd definitely go back if I ever find myself in Detroit again!
(5)
Sunil S.
I have to disclose my bias; I'm a huge Red Wings fan and grew up with them winning Stanley Cups through the 90s. If you're a huge Wings fan, you'd probably agree though that this place is really awesome. A great place for Red Wings fans to come, I've enjoyed coming here especially since I often times couldn't afford to go to the Red Wings games myself at Joe Louis Arena. Hockey fans in general, I think you would appreciate coming out here if you are looking for places to go in downtown Detroit. Sports fans, there are also plenty enough TVs around for you to catch whatever game you would like here as well. It's situated not too far from Comerica Park, so I'm sure in the summertime, you can catch some baseball here if you would like.
(5)
Erin D.
I'm updating this review because yesterday we went there to show my dad all the cool Red Wings stuff and decided to eat there...UGH. Always go with your gut. The girl downstairs told us to go all the way upstairs and someone will be with us. Saw someone on the way up, she said on yeah we'll be right with you. We sat and waited....And waited. Finally, I said F it -- I'm completely done with this place so we left. On our way down we saw the same girl who asked if someone got to us and I said no, i'm done and we left.
(1)
The G.
I had a great time at this place with some friends thanks to the great service and the tasty food. The waitress was spot on every time I needed another beer. All the staff here was very attentive and courteous. I cant wait to come again.
(4)
Lisa W.
I'm the kind of sports fan who just needs a beer, halfway decent nachos (I won't even be picky, even chips and salsa would be fine) and a bunch of rowdy fans and big screens -- I am set. Thank you, Hockeytown. It is great I do not have to scream obscenities at a screen and look like a crazy person -- instead I'm right at home!
(3)
Rachel P.
Came here during the week for an office lunch. Service was great and everyone enjoyed the food. I had the Black bean burger which was very filling and pretty good. This is not really a place you go for food that blows you away, it's more for the big tvs and cold beer. Will go back for the sports bar experience.
(4)
Arlene A.
The five stars is for the burger I had here 4/12. This is the burger I had: Michigan Cherry Burger* Our famous 1/2 pound burger topped with Traverse City cherries & Boursin cheese and served with lettuce, tomato and red onion. Perfectly cooked, the cheese achieves the most perfect mild creaminess which has the most perfect counterpoint with the sweet/tart cherries. The beer was good too!
(5)
Scott C.
I'll admit first that I'm a Chicagoan visiting Detroit... So... With that said, Hockey Town is a nice sports bar with a lot of Detroit Red Wings memorabelia all around the restaurant. It was like a fork in the eyes, but hey I'm also a hockey fan so I dealt with it. Also, there are not a ton of choices in Detroit to go watch games and have a beer so in that light this place fits the bill. We ate lunch here and watched Big Ten football. There are plenty of flat screen TVs here to watch games - a pretty nice setup. The wait staff is attentive and got our order correct. I had the black bean burger which was very well done! One of the better black bean burgers I've had at a bar/grill type place. The price was about right for our food. We didn't drink so I'm not sure how the beer / drink prices were. For the limited sports bar options in Detroit, I'd recommend this place for a decent meal and place to watch sports.
(3)
Steve K.
Micro portions of over-priced terrible food. The quesadillas were worse than Taco Bell if you can believe it. Not even enough food for a toddler. Ordered chips and salsa - the salsa was no more than a couple tablespoons in a tiny cup. I walked out of there starving, with $10 less in my pocket. Shame on you, Mike Ilitch.
(1)
Nikki M.
The places itself is cool, but thats pretty much where the good stuff ends. The drinks are expensive, its like being at the game instead of across the street from it. $6.25 for a 24oz beer... meh. The waitress told us margaritas were on special for $7 so my friend got one. We were both shocked when she brought it over in a 8oz glass loaded with ice, definitely a ripoff! I ordered the nachos which im pretty sure had been sitting under a heat lamp b/c the chips were burned on the edges and only a heat lamp can do that so that was kind of disturbing. there were only 10 olives on the nachos and barely any tomatoes and all the meat was under the top layer of chips. i give them a 5 out of 10. My friend got the chicken wings and said they were decent (8 wings for $7) but overpriced. If you want to check this place out id recommend walking in and doing so because it is cool but eat and get drinks somewhere more reasonably priced.
(2)
Amy G.
The atmosphere was electric in the "D" for the Tiger's ALCS playoff game. We arrived in the city early to get parking and find some dinner. I had never been to Hockeytown, so I talked my dear husband into trying it out for dinner/drinks. I was pleased to find a place on the patio to enjoy a beverage while we waited for our table. It was only a 35 minute wait on such a busy night. The service was good and the food came out really quickly. I had a Michigan Salad with chicken, cherries, walnuts and raspberry vinegarette. It was tasty. The pictures, trophies, etc. add nicely to the ambiance of the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised to have such a positive experience on one of their busiest nights.
(4)
Kevin S.
Come here for the atmosphere NOT THE FOOD! This was my cheat day for my diet so I waited 7 days to have a CRAPPY steak sandwich and soggy fries. I will come back to this place to drink....but not for dinner.
(1)
Gina B.
Arrived at the Hockey Town Cafe at 6:00 pm. We had tickets to see Fleetwood Mac at the Joe starting at 8 pm. Got a table right away. After 10 minutes with no server around, my husband went to the bar to get a bottle of beer for himself and a glass of wine for me. When he returned, my wine was served in a tumbler because they were not any wine glasses available. Odd, but no big deal. At about that time, our waitress, Wendy, came over to ask about our drink order. My husband was just coming back from the bar. She was a little upset that we went to fetch our own drinks. At that time, I asked for an order of chips and salsa while we decide on the rest of our meal. I also informed her we had concert tickets for 8 pm. 10 minutes later she returns with a bowl of stale chips and a small cup of salsa. We asked for me salsa. The chips were horrible. We decided on sharing a few appetizers for our meal...Cajun beef tips, loaded potato skins, and quesadillas. Order was placed around 6:20. Busy, but not jammed, we observed people who arrived after us receive their meals. Mind you, we ordered appetizers. We didn't get our 3 appetizers until 7:10 pm. This left us 20 minutes to eat. The Cajun beef tips were dry...not tips at all, just shreds of beef. The potato skins were not loaded at all, a smattering of melted cheese, a couple of sliced scallion and only a couple of the skins had bacon bits on them. Very disappointing. The quesadillas, however, were good. Cheesy and thick, served with diced tomato, scallions, lettuce, sour cream and salsa. We had to ask for silverware. Got two settings...one only had a knife in it. Had to get another. We left at 7:30 leaving all the beef tips, 2 of the potato skins and a quarter of the quesadilla still on the table. A very disappointing experience. A great sports bar because of the Red Wings environment, but the food is seriously lacking. Doubt we will ever go back.
(1)
Kris S.
In Detroit for 24 hours and starving? Hockeytown Cafe can curb your appetite. The service at the table is fine, so don't be alarmed when you are greeted by a less than amazing hostess. We were not fortunate enough to sit up top -- which was disheartening because the views from The Roof would have been pretty awesome. The food was better than what you would find at an Applebee's but not as good as what you might find at a specialty restaurant and while the bar appeared to be stocked with everything you could possibly want, we did not partake in any alcoholic beverages. If you or someone you are dining with are a hockey fanatic, you will love all of the hockey memorabilia. Hockeytown is to Hockey as the Hard Rock Cafe is to music.
(3)
Brendan S.
Stopped in on my way to the Lions / Bears game and was completely shocked to learn that beer isn't sold on Sundays until 12pm!?!?! On the third or fourth floor they have and old school bubble hockey game. I hadn't played this in ages. It made for a good distraction while we waited for the clock to strike noon. All in all, pretty typical sports bar--just really big.
(3)
Laura C.
After a leisurely bike ride through downtown Detroit, we were looking for a place to get some libations and a snack. We were close to Cheli's and were disappointed to find out that their kitchen just closed since it was empty. So off to Hockeytown it was. I asked my friends if it was a tourist bar and received the answer, "Detroit doesn't have tourists." For hockey fans, there's a lot to look at - jerseys, photos and other random memorabilia, but for me, I was more interested in the beer list. We were seated and server came by, looking exasperated that she had yet another table. In my serving days, I was happy to see customers. Not so here. I had a couple questions about the beers on tap, and she reluctantly answered them. As nothing really stood out on the menu (it was a boring collection of typical bar fare) we settled on the nachos. They arrived a bit burnt on the edges, with a comically small side of salsa. I enjoyed the beer, but the atmosphere, food and service won't get me back here.
(2)
Mark M.
ATMOSPHERE IS BETTER THAN THE FOOD - I really like this place to hang out before a concert or a game. I find the food dishes not the greatest (plain jane) and at times they were served cold. It's almost like the place is so big the waitress can easily forget about you and your needs as a customer. The place has several floors with lots of hockey memorabilia. The burger and fries were "ok".
(3)
Barbara R.
Food is truly "meh." Mediocre bar food, nothing to write home about. Service was good and given the amount of people they pump through there, the food is served hot and quickly. Rather spendy, but you don't go there for the food, you go for the atmosphere. Rather loud and difficult to carry on a conversation with your table mate. I wouldn't make a special trip, that's for sure.
(2)
Kelly B.
I am not a fan of Hockeytown. I am not sure why people go there! The food is boring (and usually really salty or only somewhat warm) and the selection sucks. The waitstaff is hit or miss and the place is outrageously packed before events. The food is seriously overpriced as are the drinks! I feel like this place is a total "tourist trap" for people that aren't familiar with Detroit (yes, this applies to suburbanites!) because there are incredible places around many corners nearby that are much more worth the money and time.
(1)
Cherice J.
Hockeytown is one of those places where the crowd makes the evening fun. It is across the street from the stadiums and right next door to the Fox Theater, so anytime there is a let-out this place can get busy. I agree with the other reviews, the food is not phenomenal nor are the drinks, but who really cares if your celebrating a win or STANLEY CUP!!!. There is tons of space in Hockeytown, along with loads of paraphernalia and memorabilia. Occasionally some people will throw parties and events there, and so they open the top floor and rooftop. So, it's one of those places where you gotta go if you are in Detroit...but just make sure Detroit won the game that day :-)
(3)
Brian B.
can't complain about the beer selection here at the atmosphere, as I am here for the Final Four, but I can complain about the food quality. I ordered the Steak Panini and was very disappointed. The meat was patty-like, sort of like a cheap hamburger. I had asked the waitress if the sandwich was a decent size and she showed me how big it was and said it would be enough for me. I was hungry as hell and I let her know that, so she knew I wanted to order something that would fill me up. I was thrown off when the sandwich arrived on my plate. I had a Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat, which I've had plently of times in the past, and enjoyed it as I was watching the UConn women kick Stanford's butt on the many big-screen TVs this place has. There are many huge TVs here, so being able to see a game is never a problem, even when crowded. This is a multi-level place (3 or 4 floors plus a rooftop). My only gripe about the TVs was when it began to snow very lightly and the DirecTV signal went down and we could not see the final five minutes of the UConn/Stanford game. Other than that, I have zero complaints. This place was very cool and I'd recommend (to drink there, not eat) in a heartbeat."
(4)
Sherri T.
My husband's sport nut friend wanted to meet us at Hockeytown before a Tigers game. It wasn't terrible, but it was just blah beyond blah! It's like the Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and the ESPN Zone. The food was poor and over-priced. I had Southwestern chicken salad made with cheap, nutrition-free ice burg lettuce. The service sucked. The members of our party arrived at different times because we came from different parts of Michigan, and the server just couldn't figure out that she had to take food orders more than once from our table. I will only go there again if I have to meet some scared out-of-towner who thinks Hockeytown is a safe haven in scary Detroit. Lame. There are far better places near Comerica Park: Detroit Beer Co., Golden Fleece, New Parthenon Restaurant, American Coney Island, & Lafayette Coney Island.
(2)
P K.
I only went to Hockeytown Cafe once and I ordered a BBQ pork sandwich. It was the best BBQ sandwich I've ever had. I wish I could go there again!
(5)
Michelle G.
The food is totally average, I wouldn't really go here just for that. I liked to go here when a hockey game was on, or before a baseball game and sit on the roof. They play music and people have drinks and hang out.
(3)
Nick O.
Staff here is terrible and drinks are overpriced. Not sure is staff was racist or just ignorant, but they didn't want to let my wife in at first with her permanent resident card as ID, which obviously is more valid and difficult to obtain than a drivers license. After we made it past that obstacle, we were disappointed by pricey drinks and poor service. Can do better at any other bar.
(1)
Nikki T.
Wow! No one likes Hockeytown based on the reviews. I actually was here for a corporate function which was really nice. I had a great time. It was warm so the roof was open to us. I guess for a corporate function you are putting your best foot forward. The servers were decent and so was the food but I was having such a great time with co-workers I wouldn't have noticed if it weren't. The music was cool too, there was a live DJ. Oh well at least I didn't have to pay for the crappy experience everyone else seemed to have.
(3)
Tim K.
As a HUGE Wings fan I love going into this place. The atmosphere is perfect for watching a game. Looking around and seeing pictures of Detroit's finest really gets the heart strings moving. With that being said, I wouldn't recommend eating or drinking there...unless you have money to spend! Drinks are uber expensive and portions are wayyy off. They must be trying to make back the money they spent on all of those huge plasmas. If you don't have the cash to make it to a game, this would have to be the next best thing.
(3)
Mar J D.
Here is where my boyfriend comes to hung out , have a burger and get drunk once a year, here is all about the crowd that comes and goes to the games at comerica or j l. It is great for just that, games on the screens, beer and a sandwich. the bikes inside gives it a nice touch. nothing gourmet.
(3)
LaRon R.
Like so many others before me have said, this place is a touristy location and there are many places better to go for brews and food before a game. Like one guy said, its just like any average sports bar, just bigger. After you have seen the Red Wings memorabilia on the walls once, you have seen it enough. Its just too packed and slow for the average night before a game. I would say go to any of the local bars right down the street and get the same kind of fandom. Not a bad place to go, there are just better places downtown near the stadiums.
(2)
Michael C.
Okay. So I understand that this place is a big tourist spot, given its location and all. For my dad's 50th birthday we rented a limo and bar hopped with his friends.. and stopped here. It was a pretty sad experience. Granted, the place is nice on the inside, but that only goes so far. It's stuffed with Detroit memorabilia, but that doesn't really add to a birthday party. The service was extremely slow. We weren't there on a game day, so the excuses I could give the waitstaff are pretty flimsy. It took about 30 minutes for us to get table service, and another hour for the food to arrive. Honestly we were ready to leave when it showed up. We stayed an extra 15 and passed around the platter we ordered, nachos supreme, and it was mediocre. It tasted like it came out of a microwave rather than being made fresh. Plus the beer prices were sky high, and the selection pretty poor. Sure, you have Labatt, but do you have Stella!? No... oh. Okay. I'd suggest walking another block and going to Cliff Bell's. At least they have decent prices and make killer martinis!
(2)
H.K. L.
I was underwhelmed. It's a big, nice place near Comerica and Ford Field. We went there before a Tigers game - the place was not very crowded. Servers were indifferent, food was underwhelming, tap beer was warm (ugh!). Warm beer, cold fries. Not a good combo. There are better options.
(2)
Jon S.
Expensive place with a nice atmosphere. However, the nachos we ordered were burned and had little cheese, and my draft beer tasted skunk. I wanted to bring both of these items up to the bartender, but I couldn't find her after she delivered our food. Would not go again.
(1)
Lauren M.
Love love love Hockeytown Cafe. I took my mom here last year on mother's day because we had both never been, and the food was great. I had a great burger cooked medium-well with a large portion of fries. The service is just about as good as the food. The layout of the restaurant is also very cool and I love the way it's decorated with all sports related things. Can't wait until baseball season officially starts and I get more chances to go downtown and eat here!
(5)
John N.
There are much, much better places in Detroit that you can & should go to. The food & drinks are typically over-priced since it is the Hockeytown bar.. My last trip there was on an off night with no sports or other events going on. It took almost 1 1/2 hours to get my food. The waiter "kept checking" after we complained multiple times & then finally admitted that our ticket got lost. We had a show to catch & no time to go elsewhere before it started or we would have. The waiter seemed surprised that we would be upset by how long it took. He knocked $20 off a $50 bill. Big deal. I will never go back. Detroit Beer Co is close by with better beer & decent food menu. Go there instead & save yourself a headache & some $.
(1)
Ty M.
We entered the Hockeytown cafe at 8:00pm and taken directly to our table along with another couple. We were the second table sat in the dining room. Our severer was very pleasant with her greeting and I thought to myself that we were about to have a nice dining experience. Well after waiting 30 minutes for a Reuben sandwich and a B.L.T., our server approached the table and said that our food would be right out. Well for the next twenty minutes we watched everyone in the dining room receive their meals as we continued to wait. We waited an additional 20 minutes when our server approached the table and promised us that our food would be right out. With-in the next five minutes our food finally arrived. I picked my Reuben up and not only was the meat and cheese ice cold, the bread on the top was dried out from sitting under a heat lamp and the bread on the bottom was soggy. The B.L.T sandwich was cold as well. I then flagged our server down and said that our meals were cold. She returned them to the kitchen and with-in ten minutes we were finally eating a hot meal. Yeah!!! The manager stood the entire time between the staircase to the kitchen and the greeter's station, totally unaware that our dining experience was a complete disappointment. The server however did remove our soda's informing us that the least she could do. I would say "NOT!!!" We will be writing a letter to the owner/'s to share our experience, but I don't believe we will be dining their anytime in the near future. I am so over going out to establishments, paying good money for the product they are selling (food and service) and receiving products at subpar and less. Customer service is disappearing fast. When we read that restaurants are closing their doors, the reason would be that they have forgotten the old world charm when restaurants built a relationship with their customers by personalizing their service and making sure that every customer left with a good taste in their mouth. SORRY Hockeytown people need to be informed as to the type of service they will not be receiving at you establishment. 02/27/2010 11:04pm This is what you are really selling and nothing more. SAD!!! Hockeytown Cafe is known for its sports memorabilia. Hockeytown Cafe features numerous satellite sports packages so fans can catch almost any game on one of more than 20 63-inch plasma screen TV's. - From the owner
(1)
Katie H.
This place is like the Disney version of Detroit. There are so many better places to go in the city . The food is mediocre and the drinks are overpriced. I never understand why it gets so crowded. Sure its convenient to the stadium, but that's about it all has going for it.
(2)
Lawrence S.
Crowded when the Tigers are at home . THought that the beer was overpriced and the burgers just so-so ,,,,,Other options in the area . A good majority of the crowd needed no more beers but thats baseball .Our server was slow but it appeared that she had too many tables to handle .
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Loud Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Yes Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jenny I.
We came here for my friend's Bachelorette party. The service was good and the food was good. We rented a room at the top of the restaurant and the atmosphere was great. Our waiter was not in our faces, but he was there just enough so that our drinks didn't run out. The only gripe was that a lot of the ladies complained that the smirnoff cocktails tasted off... to the point that the glasses are all full when we left. No good. Overall a good place for a party.
(4)Sarah S.
First things first: GREAT game day spot for gathering with fellow Detroit fans. The atmosphere and decor is fun. However, the food is NOT good. It's cheaply made with a tourist price. The quality isn't great and the prices aren't low to match what you're getting. Mind you, I come here often before after or during games mainly to grab a beer and watch the game. I am being a tough critic because the food really should be A LOT better. I would recommend coming here with firsts time Detroit visitors. However, if you're looking for some killer grub and inventive yummy drinks, corktown area tends to have a lot better restaurants for the foodies out there.
(1)Jared B.
Visited withe the family for lunch on a Groupon that I purchased. First and foremost, with this being an events restaurant it is very difficult to find a date and time to use a groupon that cannot be used on an events day. Many times we made our way down to find the restaurant closed or not accepting any new customers. The hostess: RUDE & IGNORANT, after standing there waiting for her to finish a conversation with someone who was dressed like a prostitute she decided to help us. The wait staff: STUPID but FRIENDLY, overall experience with her was Blah... It was her birthday so I give her a nice tip... (might have just been a story) The Food: DECENT and PENITENTIARY, some of the items were decent and well respected while others were down right ready for the bottom of the 32 gallon barrel. First, the Deep Dish Pizza for looked like, tasked like, smelt like...... Little Caesars Deep!Deep! Dish (should have known better for it being the same company) Then my burger, flipped it over to find MOLD on the bottom bun, needless to say this was the end of my appetite (picture posted) The Manager: CONCERNED, after reviewing my burger he was quickly trying to find something to offer me.. Well let's just say when I said "We will find a way to rectify this situation that be very pleasing to me, wont we?" He offered to cover the entire meal and give me back the $60 dollars gift card for a future visit (groupon value). I accepted it. I give them two stars only because the manager was on point in resolving my issues. My dilemma now is what to do with the $60 gift card he gave to me as I will NEVER return!
(2)Sarah R.
My brother and I stopped at Hockeytown Cafe before a Tiger's game and wound up sitting at the bar because of the long wait for a table. There were only a few people at the bar, yet we waited ages for the guy to take our drink order, then another 15 minutes or so for him to bring us our beers. The nachos were just okay; they could have used more cheese, IMO.
(3)Jason T.
My wife and two sons met some friends before the USWNT soccer game vs Haiti on 9/17/15. Our friends arrived 10 minutes before us due to traffic and construction. We walked in and joined our party and started to sit at an adjoining table and were approached by staff and were told that we needed to check in at the front. Long story longer... We were asked to wait for a different table and wait 35 minutes or leave. We left! Horrible service was not willing to accomendate us at all. They said the table we were at was reserved and in the same breathe said that they don't accept reservations.
(1)Tom F.
Went here before an afternoon Tigers game. As usual I am sure they are are always this packed on game day. You can tell how good a restaurant or bar is that can handle crowds like that. After checking in and founding out there was a thirty minute wait they told us that we could go to the third level or patio and order pizza. That's what we did. It was pretty crowded up there too. Our pizza arrived pretty quickly. It was a deep dish. Much better than expected. I'd do that again. I'll have to try this place again not on a game day of any kind and try something else.
(3)Lambert P.
This review is strictly based on the patio upstairs. We walked to Hockeytown after the Tigers game and needless to say the place was packed. We had basically taken the elevator straight to the 3rd floor where the patio was and went outside. There was already a long line up to the bar. I had gotten into line and noticed that on the other side of the bar was a guy serving drinks so I went to that side instead to get our drinks. Later that evening (Sunday 17th of Aug) there was going to be a One Direction concert at Ford Field nearby. The inside of this place (bar area) was packed with kids and teen agers supposedly with parents? Either way I thought it was very strange having children in the bar area regardless (I'm talking a lot all over). Anyway we didn't get to eat there but we had a nice view from the top of the patio on the 3rd floor before moving on to get a bite elsewhere because there was no chance we'd get to eat at Hockeytown on the first floor.
(3)Andy D.
Good spot before or after a game.
(4)Susan N.
Terrific menu here! Lots of yummy choices! The Marconi bites were different, and will make you come back for more! The chef salad was huge....good thing we split it! Craft drinks inexpensive, and really good! Wow, a place to spot back and try the cherry burger!
(5)Emily W.
Macaroni and cheese bites were yummy but the Mac and cheese was just ok. We were pleased with our drinks-enough that we noted the concoctions to repeat at home. Quick dinner service-in and out within an hour on a weekend evening. Easy parking just next door.
(5)Charles W.
To be blunt, I really don't like coming here anymore. When I first visited there were no sports being played except a preseason hockey game. It fooled me into thinking it was a cool place with a great atmosphere, how I was wrong. Pros: It has really good location and there is a bar that serves alcohol... that is all. Cons: The bar, the food, the service, the price, the crowds/people ruin the atmosphere. I've tried the food and it really is of the frozen bar food variety. Definitely not worth the price. I have no recommendations and no you must avoid this dish warnings because everything is absolutely meh... on second thought just avoid everything. Okay, so that brings me to the bar. It is packed on game days and during peak hours. Absolutely nuts to butts and the butts that your nutts are on come in all varieties, which is fine... but there are so many people that have no bar etiquette that it completely kills the atmosphere. You get dirty looks from people for accidentally bumping them because they are not used to being in this environment. You have jerk offs with a hostile "holding my ground" mentality because they think they are on the team because of their jersey. Then you have drunkard annoying people. Mixed in there you have good people who just want to enjoy a quick bite, watch a game, or pregame a little bit before going into the stadium. The patio outside could be cool, but they really cash in on you. I also don't like to tip in that type of situation. You know... when there is a trashy girl in front of a bucket of overpriced beer that says what do you want... 10 dollars... here. Totally ruins the mood. It could be pretty cool being up top, but service is slow and it does get pretty crowded. I don't doubt that it is possible to have fun up there, but I haven't been blessed with that emotion yet. The service at this place goes at a snails pace. You would assume they are used to being slammed and work accordingly, but instead they seem to just wave the white flag and work under the mindset that there is nothing they can do, there is too many people, I'm doing all I can. I'm from NY, this place would be out of business in a day with the productivity from the staff. This is a hard earned 2 star review. It could be a special place, but their execution is just pitiful.
(2)Megan C.
Came here before a Tigers game. The game turned out to be cancelled due to rain, but we decided to eat anyways. Bad idea. The service was awful. We waited a long time to even order our drinks. Our appetizer never came, and the salad I ordered with chicken came without chicken. They brought it back with chicken, but it tasted pretty bad. We weren't the only ones suffering from poor service. The waitress left the tray of food for the table next to us. She was gone for about 10 minutes, with the food just sitting there. Eventually, that table just grabbed their own food off the tray. The waitress did apologize for the bad service, and I know they were crowded, but this place isn't new. They should know how to handle the big crowds on game days. But even if the service had been great, the food was not.
(2)Gary F.
I really wanted to leave a better review. It should have been a 2 star review, but the San Fran Melt was pretty good. 3 people here today. Me, my brother, and my daughter. Of the 3 orders they screwed up 2. Which if you're doing the math on is 66%. That is pretty bad considering. Anyway. This place is "ok". Fun environment.
(3)Jon G.
When the 80s band Flock of Seagulls sang this famous words, I assume they were talking about Hockeytown Cafe. "And I ran. I ran so far away. I just ran. I ran all night and day. I couldn't get away." The world may never know what the Flock of Seagulls were running from, but I would still bet they were running from this joint. No matter how hard I try, it is still right down the road and tempting me with $5 lunch specials. Yet everytime I give them a chance they fail. I've had burnt deep dish pizza here, rubbery thin crust pizza, bad salads and really bad chili and soup. I've had small wraps that were terrible and just about the worst pulled pork sandwich I have ever eaten. Yet, because of the location (near Comerica Park) this place is always full of sports fans looking to get a beer, watch the game or grab some bar food. During sporting events I am willing to turn the other cheek on bad food. It is tough to cook so much stuff quickly. But during a normal Tuesday lunch service, there is no excuse for burning pizza or serving another pizza topped with leftover sauerkraut and corned beef. You are better off skipping Hockeytown and visiting Town Pump Tavern where the food is better and the drinks are cheaper.
(1)Rachel M.
Lucked out and got two spots at the bar before a tigers game. Mac and cheese and the boss hog burger were excellent. Great service and fast food delivery for being busy. Will come back next time in Detroit
(5)Steve S.
Just like everyone else, been coming here for years. Just like everyone else - I have never once, gone out of my way for a meal or drink here. It's sorta cool with the hockey theme - but the choppy bar layout, dam right dreary areas, and lack of anything special about the food does not make it If hockey town wasn't located exactly where it's at, there would never be a reason to come here. It's a shame they don't do more with it.
(2)Travis K.
My family went here after a Tigers game when we lived in Michigan and it was weel worth it. The place was like a Hardrock cafe with sports hocky MI stuff. The food was good and the patio was fun to eat on.
(5)Jeff E.
This place is pretty dead. This stinks because it's a nice clean sports bar. Beers aren't cheap though and no happy hour. The bartender told us that they would have been closed but they had a large group reservation. We arrived at. 5:30 and they were cleaning up at 7:30 to close at 8pm. The bartender recommended the Greektown area for better night life.
(3)Bob G.
If you're a Redwing's fan this is the place to be!!! Amazing hockey memorabilia adorns this establishment! Some beautiful original and custom motorcycles throughout as well! Apparently there is a strong rivalry between the Redwings and Blackhawks, and it's very amusing to enjoy the opposing views with rival fans! Really fun place!!!
(5)Naveen N.
Close to the stadiums so it's a good place to pregame...wouldn't go here otherwise with such a variety of options nearby on a regular night.
(3)Rebecca G.
Came here from out of state... so excited as we are avid Redwing fans. Kids were so disappointed the kitchen was closed on a Friday evening and it was bar only. Wasted trip and parking fee.
(1)Laura C.
This place had better food than I expected! I got the turkey flatbread sandwich which was SO SO good. They had a great selection of draft beers, awesome french fries, and a huge patio. We went there before a baseball game. If you don't care about the first inning or two, head here 30 minutes or so before the game. We were able to get a table outside right away. Great spot!!
(4)Corey K.
Good spot to eat or grab a couple of beers before a Tigers or Lions game. Food is decent and they have lots of beer on tap. Gets packed on game days. Service has been decent the times I've been. Prices aren't too bad considering it is in the stadium district. Worth a visit especially if you like hockey memorabilia.
(4)Richard S.
This place is in a great location in Downtown Detroit, but it's not very impressive. They get hordes of people coming in before and after events at Ford Field and Comerica Park, and it's pretty convenient in that regard. But, Downtown is a ghost town when no sporting event is going on, and Hockeytown's hours vary based on that. Their website even says, "Sunday hours and daily closing times vary based on area events." They have no set hours, which can be irritating. My friends and I called there once to see if they were open on a common Saturday evening, and they said, "Yes, we will be open until at least 9pm or later depending on business." Okay, so we showed up there around 8:00, and we were met with a worker locking the door. We were pissed. Their food is nothing special, but it is pricier. They have lunch specials for under $10 if you get there early. We ate there after spending the morning at the auto show, and it was great... nice and quiet with fast service. Their burgers are good, but if I get that meal with one 24oz. beer, my bill will be over $20. Their beer is way overpriced, but they have a ton of selections. They have a lot of Michigan beers and brands you won't see at other restaurants, but some of those beers will cost you $6-7 for a 12oz. bottle. Service is typical of any restaurant that swells with patrons for special events, and it all depends on the friendliness of your server. There is a parking garage right next door that will cost you $5 to park, but every time we've parked there, no one was in the booth to collect any money when we left.
(3)John P.
Don't. Honestly. Just don't. Other than proximity to stadia, there is nothing redeeming about this place. The food is lousy. I mean, even by bar standards, it's just plain bad. Ever have a meal and think to yourself, "Wait, that didn't actually taste like anything" at the end of it? That's this place. Except then you remember what you're paying for that meal and then you get a little frustrated. The drinks are expensive, the atmosphere impossibly loud, and thoroughly mediocre service. Why on Earth would you subject yourself to it?
(1)Tim O.
The atmosphere is pretty cool and the location outside of the stadium is sweet. The food is typical bar fare, nothing special, but not horrible. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich, very Max & Erma-like (i.e. A frozen, breaded chicken patty fried and thrown on a less than exciting bun). The service stinks to put it mildly. I came in during a Tigers game when the bar was essentially empty and it took forever to get the attention of any of the three female bartenders. The female bartenders act like they are more attractive than they really are. They remind me of some Hooters outcasts, sans the boobs (and the looks). They just got downgraded to 1 star. Been waiting for the beauty queen to cash out my tab for 15 minutes.
(1)Mandy C.
Hockey town cafe I love you. Your pizza is tasty and nothing beats the giant Heineken draft before a game. I've wanted to try the fried banana peppers on the appy menu for two years now and they're never available:( grab the free shuttle and head to the game or walk across the street to comerica park! Opening day rooftop party was grand..
(4)Michelle C.
I purchased a Groupon for Hockeytown and I've tried to use it 3 times. The first time they were closed during normal dinner hours, the second time there was a game and just last week I was told I couldn't use it because there was an Ice Cube concert. I don't know if I'm more surprised that there's still such a thing as an "Ice Cube concert", or that Hockeytown considers that to be an "event". I want to check this place out. I want to use my Groupon...but when?!?
(2)Ray B.
Stopped in for a beverage after a performance at the Filmore; solid service, good selection and decent prices. No regrets.
(4)Ryan B.
Don't waste your time, terrible food, terrible drinks and even worse service. Go somewhere else.
(2)Shelly J.
Been here a couple times. Hit and miss on what you will get. Went with family and my son said his ice cube would'nt melt- turned out it was a chunk of a broken glass. They offered to take drinks off the bill after we made fuss. They initially only offered to get him a new drink!?!?! Other times I had went were ok. As i said service good or bad depending on day. Food pretty good.
(2)Zac H.
this is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in a long time. the food is great and amazing service. the decor is very cool and interesting. most include motorcycles and baseball legends. our waitress Vanessa was very good. she always made sure we had what we needed. and the wait for food was very short. but that didn't effect the quality. I got the bbq chicken salad. one word fantastic. I recommend it to anyone who likes chicken salads!
(5)J K.
The hockey Atmosphere is very cool.!Service is slow and the food is so so.I can tell you one drink one NOT to get is the Red &White margarita.my wife and I ordered them she sent hers back ,I drank mine because I never knew when we were going to see our waitress.when we got our our bill I got charged for a shot that we never ordered.come to find out it was from the table next to us.that took a while to fix the bill.
(2)Jenna B.
My friend and I went to the restaurant for lunch. It was my first visit, she had been there a few other times. She had always had good experiences in the past; unfortunately this would not be one of those times. We arrived around 1:30 p.m., we did not see a waitress until 2:00 p.m. There were many things about this that were troubling, such as the fact that we kept looking around for a waitress and on numerous occasions made eye contact not only with wait staff, but also with various members of management who were talking with wait staff and each other. Still no one came over to see if we needed anything. We saw plenty of wait staff who had lots of time to talk to each other and to lean on the hostess stand and chit chat, but obviously not to help people. It was not until we went and found the hostess, who was not easy to find, and told her we had been waiting for 25 minutes, then we still waited another 5-10 minutes and someone finally made their way over to us. Then when the waitress finally did make her way over she had attitude and asked us if we were ready to order in a tone as if she had been waiting for us to get our act together. She brought us our food and then we never saw her again until she brought us the bill. No drink refills, no how is everything, nothing. Then we waited and waited some more and yet she never came back so we could pay the bill. My friend had to go to the bar and pay the bill. It is a good thing she was paying or the waitress would never have received a tip. We were going to the show at the City Theater and luckily we made it, with no help from any of the restaurant staff. I am appalled that this is how this restaurant is run. I worked as a waitress for six years and would have never let someone wait that long, but if somehow it did happen, I would have been bending over backwards to make sure they were taken care of. I would never come back and I will never recommend this restaurant to anyone I know and I will make sure to let everyone I know and people I don't know how awful it was. For a family that claims to be so good for Detroit the Ilitch family isn't doing anyone any favors by having this awful restaurant open in Detroit. If you were from out of town and went to this restaurant you would think all of the awful things that people say about Detroit are true. This place sucks!!!!
(1)Kelly M.
Cool hockey bar. Great place to go before a game. Food was good. Service was good. A little pricy but fun atmosphere.
(5)Anthony B.
What a way to Experience Detroit before any Event! Amazing Food, Memorable Atmosphere, and in the center of it All!!!
(5)David P.
It's Hockeytown Cafe, so it's got the branding of the Red Wings. However...the Winged Wheel isn't enough to save this place from mediocrity. The food...is "meh". Sure, they've got beer and mixed drinks...but it's not like the prices are unbelievably low and you have to Have To HAVE TO get here for that reason either. It's nice to stroll around and check out the memorabilia, but there are plenty of other bars where you'll be wanting to spend more time in for sure.
(3)Joe M.
quick food and good to stop in before the game. Hockey fans everywhere. once your done eating, jump on the bus and head to the game.
(3)Erik A.
This place has that sports bar feel and if that is what you are seeking this place is as good as any. There was nothing that really "stood out" in the service or the food and both were satisfactory. Service was prompt and the food was hot. If in the area someone said let's go I would not say no but to me it was just an average experience.
(2)Kelly K.
Pretty standard bar. Had a great time drinking here with my hubs before the Tigers game. It's in a great location and is usually packed on a game day. Drink prices are par for the course - a little high but that's what you get in that area. My vodka soda was nice and strong, although the bartender was a little stingy with the lemons and limes (I asked for extra lemons and limes when I ordered and she gave me 2 tiny slivers of each). Oh well - cold beer and decent good - not too bad!
(3)Justin F.
This is a great bar and restaurant with tons of cool decorations whether you're a detroit sports fan or not. My beer (English Ale called GhettoBlaster) and burger (the Michigan Cherry Burger) came highly recommended by the waitrees. Im always intrigued when i ask a waiter or waitress what's their favorite thing on the menu and their reply is not the advertised house special or one of the most expensive items on the menu. Frankly, I wouldn't have ordered the Michigsn Cherry Burger because each separate ingredient sounded weird in isolation but she assured me the combination of the cherries and the cream cheese type topping was excellent. Well she was spot on. I'm definitely going here next time I'm in town.
(5)Lisa H.
Visited for a quick lunch. The drink menu looked to have a great selection, but we did not try anything from it. The food we ordered tasted pretty much identical to that of McDonalds - however it was at our table within 1-2 minutes of us ordering it, so I can't complain about the speed.
(2)Erica D.
Friends don't let friends drag other friends to Hockeytown after a Tigers game. Keep moving. Sub-standard and scarce service, and honestly overpriced for "nothing special" food. I find Hockeytown very overrated by word-of-mouth. Every thing on the menu has been done better somewhere else, and Hockeytown lacks that certain something to keep up with other bars (should you be looking to quench your thirst rather than feed your face).
(2)Samir N.
Detroit loves its Tigers. Detroit loves to drink. Then why is the scene around Comerica so lame after the game? This place is not half bad - they have a decent selection of beers and a cool patio. There is going to be traffic leaving the stadium and you can see as it breaks up over time. Would it not make sense (and be fun) to party after the game?
(3)Lauren B.
I swung by here this past summer before taking in a Tigers game and I am a fan. The food was pretty good - although the wait would have almost made us miss the first half of the game. As a southerner, coming here with the boyfriend and his family, i expected less than southern hospitality and I was mistaken as most people here (including the staff) were super nice. Our waitress was really nice and quite prompt on getting our groups food out in a timely manner -especially since we had to wait so long. The prices were not that bad - I had sliders and a sweet tea - but watch the larger meals. Parking is rough, lots in the back and it is a rough area but the food was okay.
(4)Michael L.
Drinks are fairly priced, but that's what happens when you're in or near (as is the case with Hockeytown) a major sports venue. Walked over here from the Motorcity Casino before the game without incident. Would not recommend walking BACK to the casino after dark the game or after dark unless you're in a fairly large group or Charles Bronson. As for Hockeytown pass on the food, and head straight to the 3rd floor to the roof deck to get your drink on before crossing the street to Comerica park to see the Tigers play.
(4)Mr B.
Great food, great atmosphere. Need I say more? GO TIGERS!!!!!
(5)Michelle W.
Eh, its a bit of a tourist trap. The day this place is REALLY fun is Tigers opening day because it's completely packed. Also, you don't have to deal with the slow service as much because they have extra beverage stations set up. I like the TVs and memorabilia. It's worth a walk through, maybe not worth stopping and eating though. Not a bad place to have a brew and watch a game. Although, I think other bars in the area a better for it.
(2)Bobby G.
I went to Hockeytown Cafe yesterday for lunch with a few friends. It took a solid 10 minutes for a server to even take our drink order. There was something floating on the top of my water and the dishes they gave us for appetizers were dirty. They messed up the food order and the food we finally got absolutely sucked. It was a complete disappointment. I would NEVER go back there again.
(1)Dina B.
Applebees level quality of food. Beef tips were beef shavings. Taco salad had no flavor. Onion soup same deal. Llike it was Aramark. Awful.
(2)Ethan T.
Across the street from Comerica park and Ford field, this is a slightly over priced bar/restaurant that I have always enjoyed going to. If I am not at Joe Louis watching the wings when I am in town this has been a great second option. The crowd is rowdy, screaming at the multitude of TV's is encouraged for goals and bad calls. The food is better than the average pub fare, the service is quick most of the time, and parking in the garage across the street or the lots across Woodward is safe and continent. For a real fun game day spot this is the place. But on non game days, this place is often quiet or even dead, and not that big of a deal that you would want to stop by. Game day yes. Non game day no.
(3)Abigail C.
Great pizza (I'm a sucker for food) and one nice staff member, BUT that is the ONLY reason it gets 3 stars. I was horrified by our service. We were seeing the play "Ernie" and arrived at 6:30 (1.5 hours early) because we knew their was a game on and we thought parking would be worse. Since we had time even on a busy night (so we thought) and my aunt had won the play tickets, we thought we'd splurge on dinner. 6:40 We decide to eat there. 6:44 Get a table quickly on the second floor, despite some... quirky instructions and lack of staff enthusiasm. Makes sense, busy night and they just want us all seated. Our hostess barely said anything to us and didn't even say it might take a while for the waitress to get to us. Bad sign. 7:00 Finally get a waitress to notice us, even though she served two tables that were seated after us first (it was even brought up that maybe it was a race issue since they were the same race as the waitress and we weren't). She didn't look us in the eye, she didn't say anything more than "hi". She just stood their, dumbstruck apparently by our presence. My brother asked how long a pizza would take, she said, "Ten minutes." So we ordered a pizza and our drinks. 7:03 She left to put our order in. 7:15 She brought all the drinks, but one and said she would bring it in a minute. She never brought it (I'll get back to that). A minute or so later she brought straws which where already opened and she touched with her long nails. It was rather gross. 7:28 We get get our food. Finally, despite her saying 10 minutes. We got it 25 minutes and she wasn't even the one to deliver it. In fact, it was a nice young man, who even brought drinks and napkins for us. BUT not once did some one offer to bring us plates for our fresh, finger burning pizza. So we were rushing to eat and couldn't even set down our food for a second. Pizza was good. 7:35 We try to flag her down, we get ignored. So I go to pay the bartender. I run into her on the way and ask for the bill quickly please. We watch her for the next five minutes walk up and down the stairs twice with a stack of plates and napkins, talk to the table two away from us, and talk to the table next to us all while HOLDING OUR BILL. 7:40 She goes to walk away and my mother chases her down to pay. We barely ended up with time to hit the restrooms, get our tickets from will call, and get seated. I'm extremely disappointed by our first visit. I don't care how busy you are, you at least bring the damn plates to the table.
(2)Liz M.
We stopped in last night before the Anthrax show at the Fillmore. I had beef tips which were delicious! They really hit the spot, I love steak!! We also decided to try the deep fried banana pepper rings, an item I've never seen before anywhere. Holy crap they were good! I'm just mad now because of the fact that no place else has them, I don't get into Detroit much. The rest of the food at the table looked good too. I did find it a bit odd that all our drinks came out in plastic cups. Really? That was really the only thing I found off putting about our visit. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Amanda M.
Couldn't believe how rude the girls at the hostess stand were to us. Loose the attitudes. As soon as we were seated we felt better since our waitress was much more welcoming.
(2)Jennifer V.
We ended up deciding to eat here before we saw "Evil Dead: The Musical" (for the second year in a row) at the City Theatre because, well, it's connected to the theatre and we figured it'd be a good time, considering there was a home Wings game that same night. As busy as it was, the wait wasn't too bad for a group of 6 - about 20 minutes (we also snuck our way into someone else's spot, because they didn't end up responding to their name being called after multiple tries). The service was a bit slow, but hey, the place was packed with Wings fans (and a couple ill-placed Sharks fans). The burger I had was surprisingly good, and I rather enjoyed my not-that-expensive, oversized shots of Jameson the bartender served me. Myself and the group I went with had a pretty good time, and our server was pretty nice, even if the service was slow. The place CLEARED OUT like there was a freakin' bomb scare about 30 minutes before the game started. It was totally insane. I'll probably be back if I'm seeing a show at the City Theatre again, or if I just wanna drink and catch a game. There's nothing like being surrounded by a bunch of drunk hockey fans to put me in a great mood!
(4)Lisa K.
Other than location and lots of booze, this place is lacking. I've been before and the pizza and chicken fingers were decent. We went last night during the rain delay for the tigers game and had horrible food. My nachos didn't even have the cheese all the way melted and my husbands burger was below average. Won't be going back for anything other than booze!
(2)Bryan A.
I have been here twice on two different trips to Detroit. I came in the first time because I was at Comerica Park to watch the Tigers play the Angels. I am an avid Red Wings fan who grew up in Ohio and now lives in California. When I saw a Red Wings Cafe, I had to try it! Walking in, I was very disappointed to see that the merchandise store was tiny and almost all Detroit Tigers apparel. I guess, due to location, this makes sense as it was August. The next time I came in was in April and everything was Red Wings merchandise. The restaurant has 3 levels total. There are two restaurant levels and a third, bar/patio level. As the name would imply, there is Red Wings memorabilia EVERYWHERE! The custom Red Wings bike when you walk in is pretty cool! The food here is pretty much standard bar food. I have had the burger, wings, chili and fries. All of them are just okay at best. The drinks here are typical bar drinks and typical bard taps. There is nothing special here either. The only real reason to go here is to catch a game and be surrounded by Wings memorabilia. I don't think I will be going back as twice was enough. I will be in Detroit again in a couple of weeks for a Wings game. I think I will go to Cheli's Chili Bar. Hopefully it's better!
(3)Stacey B.
Nothing spectacular, but not the worst food either. Bar grub amongst Red Wing memorabilia. If you're a Wings fan you have to visit. If you're a food snob there are plenty of other places that will make you happy.
(3)Lisa G.
I was heading to a concert at the Fillmore, and saw that this place was just a block away. As a long-time hockey fan (albeit NOT a Red Wings fan), I figured it'd be just the place for me to stop before the show. The service was fast and good. I ordered a simple burger w/fries. It was on the salty side, but I still really enjoyed it. My server refilled my soda twice, and didn't give me any problems when I lingered at my table after paying the bill (I was a little early for the show, and it was snowing outside). The memorabilia they have decorating the place is great. Even if you're not a Red Wings fan, you'll be able to appreciate it. I'd definitely go back if I ever find myself in Detroit again!
(5)Sunil S.
I have to disclose my bias; I'm a huge Red Wings fan and grew up with them winning Stanley Cups through the 90s. If you're a huge Wings fan, you'd probably agree though that this place is really awesome. A great place for Red Wings fans to come, I've enjoyed coming here especially since I often times couldn't afford to go to the Red Wings games myself at Joe Louis Arena. Hockey fans in general, I think you would appreciate coming out here if you are looking for places to go in downtown Detroit. Sports fans, there are also plenty enough TVs around for you to catch whatever game you would like here as well. It's situated not too far from Comerica Park, so I'm sure in the summertime, you can catch some baseball here if you would like.
(5)Erin D.
I'm updating this review because yesterday we went there to show my dad all the cool Red Wings stuff and decided to eat there...UGH. Always go with your gut. The girl downstairs told us to go all the way upstairs and someone will be with us. Saw someone on the way up, she said on yeah we'll be right with you. We sat and waited....And waited. Finally, I said F it -- I'm completely done with this place so we left. On our way down we saw the same girl who asked if someone got to us and I said no, i'm done and we left.
(1)The G.
I had a great time at this place with some friends thanks to the great service and the tasty food. The waitress was spot on every time I needed another beer. All the staff here was very attentive and courteous. I cant wait to come again.
(4)Lisa W.
I'm the kind of sports fan who just needs a beer, halfway decent nachos (I won't even be picky, even chips and salsa would be fine) and a bunch of rowdy fans and big screens -- I am set. Thank you, Hockeytown. It is great I do not have to scream obscenities at a screen and look like a crazy person -- instead I'm right at home!
(3)Rachel P.
Came here during the week for an office lunch. Service was great and everyone enjoyed the food. I had the Black bean burger which was very filling and pretty good. This is not really a place you go for food that blows you away, it's more for the big tvs and cold beer. Will go back for the sports bar experience.
(4)Arlene A.
The five stars is for the burger I had here 4/12. This is the burger I had: Michigan Cherry Burger* Our famous 1/2 pound burger topped with Traverse City cherries & Boursin cheese and served with lettuce, tomato and red onion. Perfectly cooked, the cheese achieves the most perfect mild creaminess which has the most perfect counterpoint with the sweet/tart cherries. The beer was good too!
(5)Scott C.
I'll admit first that I'm a Chicagoan visiting Detroit... So... With that said, Hockey Town is a nice sports bar with a lot of Detroit Red Wings memorabelia all around the restaurant. It was like a fork in the eyes, but hey I'm also a hockey fan so I dealt with it. Also, there are not a ton of choices in Detroit to go watch games and have a beer so in that light this place fits the bill. We ate lunch here and watched Big Ten football. There are plenty of flat screen TVs here to watch games - a pretty nice setup. The wait staff is attentive and got our order correct. I had the black bean burger which was very well done! One of the better black bean burgers I've had at a bar/grill type place. The price was about right for our food. We didn't drink so I'm not sure how the beer / drink prices were. For the limited sports bar options in Detroit, I'd recommend this place for a decent meal and place to watch sports.
(3)Steve K.
Micro portions of over-priced terrible food. The quesadillas were worse than Taco Bell if you can believe it. Not even enough food for a toddler. Ordered chips and salsa - the salsa was no more than a couple tablespoons in a tiny cup. I walked out of there starving, with $10 less in my pocket. Shame on you, Mike Ilitch.
(1)Nikki M.
The places itself is cool, but thats pretty much where the good stuff ends. The drinks are expensive, its like being at the game instead of across the street from it. $6.25 for a 24oz beer... meh. The waitress told us margaritas were on special for $7 so my friend got one. We were both shocked when she brought it over in a 8oz glass loaded with ice, definitely a ripoff! I ordered the nachos which im pretty sure had been sitting under a heat lamp b/c the chips were burned on the edges and only a heat lamp can do that so that was kind of disturbing. there were only 10 olives on the nachos and barely any tomatoes and all the meat was under the top layer of chips. i give them a 5 out of 10. My friend got the chicken wings and said they were decent (8 wings for $7) but overpriced. If you want to check this place out id recommend walking in and doing so because it is cool but eat and get drinks somewhere more reasonably priced.
(2)Amy G.
The atmosphere was electric in the "D" for the Tiger's ALCS playoff game. We arrived in the city early to get parking and find some dinner. I had never been to Hockeytown, so I talked my dear husband into trying it out for dinner/drinks. I was pleased to find a place on the patio to enjoy a beverage while we waited for our table. It was only a 35 minute wait on such a busy night. The service was good and the food came out really quickly. I had a Michigan Salad with chicken, cherries, walnuts and raspberry vinegarette. It was tasty. The pictures, trophies, etc. add nicely to the ambiance of the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised to have such a positive experience on one of their busiest nights.
(4)Kevin S.
Come here for the atmosphere NOT THE FOOD! This was my cheat day for my diet so I waited 7 days to have a CRAPPY steak sandwich and soggy fries. I will come back to this place to drink....but not for dinner.
(1)Gina B.
Arrived at the Hockey Town Cafe at 6:00 pm. We had tickets to see Fleetwood Mac at the Joe starting at 8 pm. Got a table right away. After 10 minutes with no server around, my husband went to the bar to get a bottle of beer for himself and a glass of wine for me. When he returned, my wine was served in a tumbler because they were not any wine glasses available. Odd, but no big deal. At about that time, our waitress, Wendy, came over to ask about our drink order. My husband was just coming back from the bar. She was a little upset that we went to fetch our own drinks. At that time, I asked for an order of chips and salsa while we decide on the rest of our meal. I also informed her we had concert tickets for 8 pm. 10 minutes later she returns with a bowl of stale chips and a small cup of salsa. We asked for me salsa. The chips were horrible. We decided on sharing a few appetizers for our meal...Cajun beef tips, loaded potato skins, and quesadillas. Order was placed around 6:20. Busy, but not jammed, we observed people who arrived after us receive their meals. Mind you, we ordered appetizers. We didn't get our 3 appetizers until 7:10 pm. This left us 20 minutes to eat. The Cajun beef tips were dry...not tips at all, just shreds of beef. The potato skins were not loaded at all, a smattering of melted cheese, a couple of sliced scallion and only a couple of the skins had bacon bits on them. Very disappointing. The quesadillas, however, were good. Cheesy and thick, served with diced tomato, scallions, lettuce, sour cream and salsa. We had to ask for silverware. Got two settings...one only had a knife in it. Had to get another. We left at 7:30 leaving all the beef tips, 2 of the potato skins and a quarter of the quesadilla still on the table. A very disappointing experience. A great sports bar because of the Red Wings environment, but the food is seriously lacking. Doubt we will ever go back.
(1)Kris S.
In Detroit for 24 hours and starving? Hockeytown Cafe can curb your appetite. The service at the table is fine, so don't be alarmed when you are greeted by a less than amazing hostess. We were not fortunate enough to sit up top -- which was disheartening because the views from The Roof would have been pretty awesome. The food was better than what you would find at an Applebee's but not as good as what you might find at a specialty restaurant and while the bar appeared to be stocked with everything you could possibly want, we did not partake in any alcoholic beverages. If you or someone you are dining with are a hockey fanatic, you will love all of the hockey memorabilia. Hockeytown is to Hockey as the Hard Rock Cafe is to music.
(3)Brendan S.
Stopped in on my way to the Lions / Bears game and was completely shocked to learn that beer isn't sold on Sundays until 12pm!?!?! On the third or fourth floor they have and old school bubble hockey game. I hadn't played this in ages. It made for a good distraction while we waited for the clock to strike noon. All in all, pretty typical sports bar--just really big.
(3)Laura C.
After a leisurely bike ride through downtown Detroit, we were looking for a place to get some libations and a snack. We were close to Cheli's and were disappointed to find out that their kitchen just closed since it was empty. So off to Hockeytown it was. I asked my friends if it was a tourist bar and received the answer, "Detroit doesn't have tourists." For hockey fans, there's a lot to look at - jerseys, photos and other random memorabilia, but for me, I was more interested in the beer list. We were seated and server came by, looking exasperated that she had yet another table. In my serving days, I was happy to see customers. Not so here. I had a couple questions about the beers on tap, and she reluctantly answered them. As nothing really stood out on the menu (it was a boring collection of typical bar fare) we settled on the nachos. They arrived a bit burnt on the edges, with a comically small side of salsa. I enjoyed the beer, but the atmosphere, food and service won't get me back here.
(2)Mark M.
ATMOSPHERE IS BETTER THAN THE FOOD - I really like this place to hang out before a concert or a game. I find the food dishes not the greatest (plain jane) and at times they were served cold. It's almost like the place is so big the waitress can easily forget about you and your needs as a customer. The place has several floors with lots of hockey memorabilia. The burger and fries were "ok".
(3)Barbara R.
Food is truly "meh." Mediocre bar food, nothing to write home about. Service was good and given the amount of people they pump through there, the food is served hot and quickly. Rather spendy, but you don't go there for the food, you go for the atmosphere. Rather loud and difficult to carry on a conversation with your table mate. I wouldn't make a special trip, that's for sure.
(2)Kelly B.
I am not a fan of Hockeytown. I am not sure why people go there! The food is boring (and usually really salty or only somewhat warm) and the selection sucks. The waitstaff is hit or miss and the place is outrageously packed before events. The food is seriously overpriced as are the drinks! I feel like this place is a total "tourist trap" for people that aren't familiar with Detroit (yes, this applies to suburbanites!) because there are incredible places around many corners nearby that are much more worth the money and time.
(1)Cherice J.
Hockeytown is one of those places where the crowd makes the evening fun. It is across the street from the stadiums and right next door to the Fox Theater, so anytime there is a let-out this place can get busy. I agree with the other reviews, the food is not phenomenal nor are the drinks, but who really cares if your celebrating a win or STANLEY CUP!!!. There is tons of space in Hockeytown, along with loads of paraphernalia and memorabilia. Occasionally some people will throw parties and events there, and so they open the top floor and rooftop. So, it's one of those places where you gotta go if you are in Detroit...but just make sure Detroit won the game that day :-)
(3)Brian B.
can't complain about the beer selection here at the atmosphere, as I am here for the Final Four, but I can complain about the food quality. I ordered the Steak Panini and was very disappointed. The meat was patty-like, sort of like a cheap hamburger. I had asked the waitress if the sandwich was a decent size and she showed me how big it was and said it would be enough for me. I was hungry as hell and I let her know that, so she knew I wanted to order something that would fill me up. I was thrown off when the sandwich arrived on my plate. I had a Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat, which I've had plently of times in the past, and enjoyed it as I was watching the UConn women kick Stanford's butt on the many big-screen TVs this place has. There are many huge TVs here, so being able to see a game is never a problem, even when crowded. This is a multi-level place (3 or 4 floors plus a rooftop). My only gripe about the TVs was when it began to snow very lightly and the DirecTV signal went down and we could not see the final five minutes of the UConn/Stanford game. Other than that, I have zero complaints. This place was very cool and I'd recommend (to drink there, not eat) in a heartbeat."
(4)Sherri T.
My husband's sport nut friend wanted to meet us at Hockeytown before a Tigers game. It wasn't terrible, but it was just blah beyond blah! It's like the Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and the ESPN Zone. The food was poor and over-priced. I had Southwestern chicken salad made with cheap, nutrition-free ice burg lettuce. The service sucked. The members of our party arrived at different times because we came from different parts of Michigan, and the server just couldn't figure out that she had to take food orders more than once from our table. I will only go there again if I have to meet some scared out-of-towner who thinks Hockeytown is a safe haven in scary Detroit. Lame. There are far better places near Comerica Park: Detroit Beer Co., Golden Fleece, New Parthenon Restaurant, American Coney Island, & Lafayette Coney Island.
(2)P K.
I only went to Hockeytown Cafe once and I ordered a BBQ pork sandwich. It was the best BBQ sandwich I've ever had. I wish I could go there again!
(5)Michelle G.
The food is totally average, I wouldn't really go here just for that. I liked to go here when a hockey game was on, or before a baseball game and sit on the roof. They play music and people have drinks and hang out.
(3)Nick O.
Staff here is terrible and drinks are overpriced. Not sure is staff was racist or just ignorant, but they didn't want to let my wife in at first with her permanent resident card as ID, which obviously is more valid and difficult to obtain than a drivers license. After we made it past that obstacle, we were disappointed by pricey drinks and poor service. Can do better at any other bar.
(1)Nikki T.
Wow! No one likes Hockeytown based on the reviews. I actually was here for a corporate function which was really nice. I had a great time. It was warm so the roof was open to us. I guess for a corporate function you are putting your best foot forward. The servers were decent and so was the food but I was having such a great time with co-workers I wouldn't have noticed if it weren't. The music was cool too, there was a live DJ. Oh well at least I didn't have to pay for the crappy experience everyone else seemed to have.
(3)Tim K.
As a HUGE Wings fan I love going into this place. The atmosphere is perfect for watching a game. Looking around and seeing pictures of Detroit's finest really gets the heart strings moving. With that being said, I wouldn't recommend eating or drinking there...unless you have money to spend! Drinks are uber expensive and portions are wayyy off. They must be trying to make back the money they spent on all of those huge plasmas. If you don't have the cash to make it to a game, this would have to be the next best thing.
(3)Mar J D.
Here is where my boyfriend comes to hung out , have a burger and get drunk once a year, here is all about the crowd that comes and goes to the games at comerica or j l. It is great for just that, games on the screens, beer and a sandwich. the bikes inside gives it a nice touch. nothing gourmet.
(3)LaRon R.
Like so many others before me have said, this place is a touristy location and there are many places better to go for brews and food before a game. Like one guy said, its just like any average sports bar, just bigger. After you have seen the Red Wings memorabilia on the walls once, you have seen it enough. Its just too packed and slow for the average night before a game. I would say go to any of the local bars right down the street and get the same kind of fandom. Not a bad place to go, there are just better places downtown near the stadiums.
(2)Michael C.
Okay. So I understand that this place is a big tourist spot, given its location and all. For my dad's 50th birthday we rented a limo and bar hopped with his friends.. and stopped here. It was a pretty sad experience. Granted, the place is nice on the inside, but that only goes so far. It's stuffed with Detroit memorabilia, but that doesn't really add to a birthday party. The service was extremely slow. We weren't there on a game day, so the excuses I could give the waitstaff are pretty flimsy. It took about 30 minutes for us to get table service, and another hour for the food to arrive. Honestly we were ready to leave when it showed up. We stayed an extra 15 and passed around the platter we ordered, nachos supreme, and it was mediocre. It tasted like it came out of a microwave rather than being made fresh. Plus the beer prices were sky high, and the selection pretty poor. Sure, you have Labatt, but do you have Stella!? No... oh. Okay. I'd suggest walking another block and going to Cliff Bell's. At least they have decent prices and make killer martinis!
(2)H.K. L.
I was underwhelmed. It's a big, nice place near Comerica and Ford Field. We went there before a Tigers game - the place was not very crowded. Servers were indifferent, food was underwhelming, tap beer was warm (ugh!). Warm beer, cold fries. Not a good combo. There are better options.
(2)Jon S.
Expensive place with a nice atmosphere. However, the nachos we ordered were burned and had little cheese, and my draft beer tasted skunk. I wanted to bring both of these items up to the bartender, but I couldn't find her after she delivered our food. Would not go again.
(1)Lauren M.
Love love love Hockeytown Cafe. I took my mom here last year on mother's day because we had both never been, and the food was great. I had a great burger cooked medium-well with a large portion of fries. The service is just about as good as the food. The layout of the restaurant is also very cool and I love the way it's decorated with all sports related things. Can't wait until baseball season officially starts and I get more chances to go downtown and eat here!
(5)John N.
There are much, much better places in Detroit that you can & should go to. The food & drinks are typically over-priced since it is the Hockeytown bar.. My last trip there was on an off night with no sports or other events going on. It took almost 1 1/2 hours to get my food. The waiter "kept checking" after we complained multiple times & then finally admitted that our ticket got lost. We had a show to catch & no time to go elsewhere before it started or we would have. The waiter seemed surprised that we would be upset by how long it took. He knocked $20 off a $50 bill. Big deal. I will never go back. Detroit Beer Co is close by with better beer & decent food menu. Go there instead & save yourself a headache & some $.
(1)Ty M.
We entered the Hockeytown cafe at 8:00pm and taken directly to our table along with another couple. We were the second table sat in the dining room. Our severer was very pleasant with her greeting and I thought to myself that we were about to have a nice dining experience. Well after waiting 30 minutes for a Reuben sandwich and a B.L.T., our server approached the table and said that our food would be right out. Well for the next twenty minutes we watched everyone in the dining room receive their meals as we continued to wait. We waited an additional 20 minutes when our server approached the table and promised us that our food would be right out. With-in the next five minutes our food finally arrived. I picked my Reuben up and not only was the meat and cheese ice cold, the bread on the top was dried out from sitting under a heat lamp and the bread on the bottom was soggy. The B.L.T sandwich was cold as well. I then flagged our server down and said that our meals were cold. She returned them to the kitchen and with-in ten minutes we were finally eating a hot meal. Yeah!!! The manager stood the entire time between the staircase to the kitchen and the greeter's station, totally unaware that our dining experience was a complete disappointment. The server however did remove our soda's informing us that the least she could do. I would say "NOT!!!" We will be writing a letter to the owner/'s to share our experience, but I don't believe we will be dining their anytime in the near future. I am so over going out to establishments, paying good money for the product they are selling (food and service) and receiving products at subpar and less. Customer service is disappearing fast. When we read that restaurants are closing their doors, the reason would be that they have forgotten the old world charm when restaurants built a relationship with their customers by personalizing their service and making sure that every customer left with a good taste in their mouth. SORRY Hockeytown people need to be informed as to the type of service they will not be receiving at you establishment. 02/27/2010 11:04pm This is what you are really selling and nothing more. SAD!!! Hockeytown Cafe is known for its sports memorabilia. Hockeytown Cafe features numerous satellite sports packages so fans can catch almost any game on one of more than 20 63-inch plasma screen TV's. - From the owner
(1)Katie H.
This place is like the Disney version of Detroit. There are so many better places to go in the city . The food is mediocre and the drinks are overpriced. I never understand why it gets so crowded. Sure its convenient to the stadium, but that's about it all has going for it.
(2)Lawrence S.
Crowded when the Tigers are at home . THought that the beer was overpriced and the burgers just so-so ,,,,,Other options in the area . A good majority of the crowd needed no more beers but thats baseball .Our server was slow but it appeared that she had too many tables to handle .
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