Double #DetroitDateNight & Detroit Restaurant Week

There are a lot of hidden gems in the city of Detroit.

Like many of you who are reading this, we weren’t quite sure what to think of Detroit before we moved about thirty minutes outside of the city. While The D doesn’t have the best reputation, it is a pretty cool (and safe) place to frequent.

Wanting to explore even more of our new state and city, Scott and I officially deemed our series of Detroit (and surrounding area) outings #DetroitDateNight, and we took our friends Alex and Alex along for a double date Downtown last weekend.

(You can see more of our whereabouts exploring on the Detroit & Michigan page!)

 

Dinner at Fountain Bistro – Campus Martius Park

(Detroit Restaurant Week)

For months, Scott had an event planned for the four of us to attend last Sunday. Unfortunately, he had a major fact-checking fail and saw the dates for last weekend in 2014, not 2015. The performance that we were supposed to see won’t be back until March!

Since we already had plans, Scott and Alex came up with a back-up plan for our group to check out a new restaurant right in the heart of the city.

Anytime friends or family come in town to visit, we always take them by Campus Martius Park, Detroit’s City Beach! It’s absolutely beautiful there and is also home to year-round entertainment.

Every year, Detroit hosts Restaurant Week, a little over a week of specialty-priced menus featured at popular local restaurants. Participating (mostly higher end) restaurants offer three-course menu options for $35 per person (excluding tax, gratuity, and beverages). Several of the restaurants also offer a $25 per person option as well!

This year, Detroit Restaurant Week lasts until September 27th (next weekend), and you can find a list of participating restaurants here.

There was a handful of restaurants that have been on our “want to try” list, so we picked Fountain Bistro and had no problem getting in for dinner on the patio.

The weather was perfect to enjoy a night outside. We were surrounded by calming sounds of the fountain as well as an ambiance full of fall decorations and twinkle lights.

Scott and I loving the scenery

Alex and Alex (our favorite foodies!)

The Restaurant Week menu at Fountain Bistro offered three options for each of the three courses. We also upgraded to the wine pairings option for an additional $14 per person. Each course came with a half a glass of wine specifically paired with what you ordered.

Alex and I picked two meals we both wanted to try, so we shared the entrées, and the boys ordered the exact same courses.

Cauliflower and Butternut Squash Bisque (<- amazing!)

Mushroom Pesto Linguini with Shrimp & Quinoa-stuffed Portobello 

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding (Scott’s)

Crème Brûlée Cheesecake (mine)

Everything was fantastic! We liked the variety of wines throughout dinner, but we weren’t the biggest fans of the dessert wine pairings. The food, however, was extremely delicious.

We would definitely like to return!

Feeling full, the four of us walked around the park and found an impressive pumpkin patch.

Whoever carved these has some serious talent!

Before leaving for the night, we also stopped into the Quicken Loans headquarters building. There is a gorgeous, gigantic fountain (also pictured at the top of the post) inside. Who knew?

Scott and I aren’t exactly sure where the future will take us, but we are trying to soak in everything this city has to offer while we are still here!

 

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Well friends, I’m off to take Scott to the airport and then to work to teach at the gym for the rest of the day. Thanks for popping in to read about our Detroit finds, and I’ll see you back in the morning for What I Ate Wednesday!

 

Previous #DetroitDateNight Adventures:

• Detroit Science Center & Green Dot Stables

• Eastern Market & Michigan Renaissance Festival

 

Questions of the Afternoon

• What is the best meal you’ve eaten while dining out lately?

• Does your city promote any type of discount (restaurant) week?