One of the greatest restaurants I’ve been to in my 36 years on this earth! I’ve been 4 times already since last summer finding this place. An exceptional dining experience, intimate, fun, beautiful plating and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten, and I am a picky eater…I clean my plate every time!Definitely an experience you deserve to treat yourself to!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tomato Tart, Garden Sorbet
Alex Hamo
Best restaurant in Detroit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sheila wright
A truly delightful dining experience! The chef's creative flair and originality shine through in every dish, making each bite a delightful surprise. The food is simply amazing, complemented perfectly by thoughtfully curated wine pairings. The intimate setting lets you get to know the chef personally. His friendly, fun and passionate nature adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal. This gem is a MUST for any food fan- just go and thank me later. And bonus - the menu completely changes every two months, I'll be a regular here :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cristine Terasaki
An unconditionally raving review that has been a work in the making… we have been fortunate to frequent Albena over the past 5 years and leave blown away by execution and presentation each and every time. Chef Garrett has under appreciated talent for the culinary scene in Detroit. If you are a customer who values fine dining, look no further than Albena. You will not be disappointed by the fourth dimension of flavor and associated knowledge with each dish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Justin Gonczar
One of the best, albeit expensive, dinners I've ever had. I've had some chef table dinners before, but not like this. Everything was exquisite. The simple yet refined space made sure all attention is on the food. Bravo Chef. Will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Noah
Loved the dialogue with Chef throughout the meal. Unique and interesting experience all around.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matt W.
I've tried chef's tasting menus from the Basque Country to NYC, and the flavors and presentations here were right up there with the very best. Not sure about the sustainability of this experience at this extremely high price point in the city of Detroit, though.
Brendan C.
Hands down the best meal I have ever had in Detroit, possibly my favorite meal ever. Chef Garrett and his wife are truly doing incredible things. If you are adventurous and looking for a mind altering meal, this is 1000% your spot and you won't leave disappointed. Everything is thoughtfully curated from the ingredients, to the wine pairing, down to the dish and how to eat it. It was lovely hearing where everything used was sourced from. Definitely a splurge, but easily has become my favorite place in the city.
Tiffany S.
The food and wine were good but not $250 pp good and $30 per glass good. They served an "Oregon truffle" shaved on one of the dishes but for that price, I'd have rather had an Italian truffle that actually tasted like something. The experience was interesting and they served very few people so I guess they need to make ends meet between the rent in their hideaway space and the few guests they serve. For this price point in Detroit, I'd have expected food as good as Per Se or Le Bernadin but there's really no comparison there. I wanted to like it more than I did because the people that run the restaurant seem great but for this price, it's not a place we'll be returning to.
Rachel Kim
I stumbled upon this place via an Eater article and made reservations for dinner about a month ahead of time for a weekend visit to Detroit. My partner and I ended up being the only patrons for the 20:30 seating that night. It was the first night of this particular summer menu and everything was divine and we felt especially lucky to basically have a private chef cooking just for us.We started off with a whole grain cracker with baby zucchini followed by a gazpacho made with serrano peppers, jalapeno peppers, and olive oil served over diced green grapes, cucumber, peas, pistachio, and dill. There was a deliciously fresh Swedish salad inspired vegetable course with eggplant tartare, red pepper puree, kale, walnut paste, goat cheese, black mission fig fruit leather, pickled carrots, celery, and caramelized onion. For proteins, we were served a walleye with a vin blanc sauce, buttermilk-brined Korean fried quail with a quail jus, and smoked boar with fermented strawberry. There were two desserts: a compressed watermelon with granita and maple & feta ice cream drizzled with a melon reduction and a red fife flour pastry with tomatoes and stone fruit drizzled with raw honey and a sour cream pate, finished with some thyme. The last little amuse to close out the meal was a sweet corn cake with blueberry buttercream. And, since it was date night and we were on vacation, we sprung for the wine pairing, which was lovely. Obviously, the menu changes every few months, but I figured it was worth sharing the descriptions of ours, just to give an idea of the flavor profile and creativity of this amazing eatery.Chef Garrett and his team were a pleasure to watch - they make cooking look like a choreographed dance - and fun to chat with as well. We asked about how he develops his menu and he spoke to being inspired by his youth and local cuisine, and it sparked something in my partner (who grew up in Michigan) who immediately realized why he loved the food so much: it just reminded him of home, like the ultimate luxury comfort food.For me (a native East Coaster), I was just really impressed by how balanced each and every dish was. Every course felt like a complete meal on its own, with there being a representative element of saltiness, acidity, bitterness, and sweetness, including in the desserts. It was the type of meal where after each course, I just felt fully satisfied (versus some meals where you need the next course to balance out an overwhelming feature of the previous and you're just impatiently waiting on the next course to come out because your palate just doesn't feel quite right).The amount of food was impressive - I would say these portions are incredibly generous so come hungry - and the satiety you will experience from the food, service, and cooking performance is certainly worth the cost. I highly recommend a visit, whether you are local or not (seriously, go out of your way for a visit). If ever I am back in the area, I will certainly be a repeat customer.
The food was fabulous, the presentation impressive and way the food was cooked for you as you watched and interacted with the chef was really cool.
Bruce S
Absolutely AMAZING!! I have dined all over the world and can assure you that Albena is incredible. The creative and tasty dishes, the intimate environment and the top notch service are impressive. My advice: BOOK A RESERVATION NOW!!!
Jennifer Reaume
Every course was outstanding. Chef was very happy to provide insight into every dish. Perfect wine pairings. Delicious, inventive dishes. Intimate, comfortable, delicious. Will be returning for every new menu.
S U.
Many courses, each unique. Flavors and ingredients I'd never tasted or heard of. Hand-to-table intimate experience with the chefs serving. Gorgeously intentional wine pairings. It's been two months but if I close my eyes I can still taste each dish. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a poor girl like me, but it was totally worth it for our 15th anniversary.
Davor Stojanov
This should be the next place you’re having a dinner out on the town in Detroit. Chef and his wife absolutely create an amazing intimate ambiance. That elk loin and the dessert with sticky toffee pudding.. i still have dreams about it!!
One of the greatest restaurants I’ve been to in my 36 years on this earth! I’ve been 4 times already since last summer finding this place. An exceptional dining experience, intimate, fun, beautiful plating and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten, and I am a picky eater…I clean my plate every time!Definitely an experience you deserve to treat yourself to!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tomato Tart, Garden Sorbet
Best restaurant in Detroit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A truly delightful dining experience! The chef's creative flair and originality shine through in every dish, making each bite a delightful surprise. The food is simply amazing, complemented perfectly by thoughtfully curated wine pairings. The intimate setting lets you get to know the chef personally. His friendly, fun and passionate nature adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal. This gem is a MUST for any food fan- just go and thank me later. And bonus - the menu completely changes every two months, I'll be a regular here :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An unconditionally raving review that has been a work in the making… we have been fortunate to frequent Albena over the past 5 years and leave blown away by execution and presentation each and every time. Chef Garrett has under appreciated talent for the culinary scene in Detroit. If you are a customer who values fine dining, look no further than Albena. You will not be disappointed by the fourth dimension of flavor and associated knowledge with each dish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best, albeit expensive, dinners I've ever had. I've had some chef table dinners before, but not like this. Everything was exquisite. The simple yet refined space made sure all attention is on the food. Bravo Chef. Will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved the dialogue with Chef throughout the meal. Unique and interesting experience all around.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've tried chef's tasting menus from the Basque Country to NYC, and the flavors and presentations here were right up there with the very best. Not sure about the sustainability of this experience at this extremely high price point in the city of Detroit, though.
Hands down the best meal I have ever had in Detroit, possibly my favorite meal ever. Chef Garrett and his wife are truly doing incredible things. If you are adventurous and looking for a mind altering meal, this is 1000% your spot and you won't leave disappointed. Everything is thoughtfully curated from the ingredients, to the wine pairing, down to the dish and how to eat it. It was lovely hearing where everything used was sourced from. Definitely a splurge, but easily has become my favorite place in the city.
The food and wine were good but not $250 pp good and $30 per glass good. They served an "Oregon truffle" shaved on one of the dishes but for that price, I'd have rather had an Italian truffle that actually tasted like something. The experience was interesting and they served very few people so I guess they need to make ends meet between the rent in their hideaway space and the few guests they serve. For this price point in Detroit, I'd have expected food as good as Per Se or Le Bernadin but there's really no comparison there. I wanted to like it more than I did because the people that run the restaurant seem great but for this price, it's not a place we'll be returning to.
I stumbled upon this place via an Eater article and made reservations for dinner about a month ahead of time for a weekend visit to Detroit. My partner and I ended up being the only patrons for the 20:30 seating that night. It was the first night of this particular summer menu and everything was divine and we felt especially lucky to basically have a private chef cooking just for us.We started off with a whole grain cracker with baby zucchini followed by a gazpacho made with serrano peppers, jalapeno peppers, and olive oil served over diced green grapes, cucumber, peas, pistachio, and dill. There was a deliciously fresh Swedish salad inspired vegetable course with eggplant tartare, red pepper puree, kale, walnut paste, goat cheese, black mission fig fruit leather, pickled carrots, celery, and caramelized onion. For proteins, we were served a walleye with a vin blanc sauce, buttermilk-brined Korean fried quail with a quail jus, and smoked boar with fermented strawberry. There were two desserts: a compressed watermelon with granita and maple & feta ice cream drizzled with a melon reduction and a red fife flour pastry with tomatoes and stone fruit drizzled with raw honey and a sour cream pate, finished with some thyme. The last little amuse to close out the meal was a sweet corn cake with blueberry buttercream. And, since it was date night and we were on vacation, we sprung for the wine pairing, which was lovely. Obviously, the menu changes every few months, but I figured it was worth sharing the descriptions of ours, just to give an idea of the flavor profile and creativity of this amazing eatery.Chef Garrett and his team were a pleasure to watch - they make cooking look like a choreographed dance - and fun to chat with as well. We asked about how he develops his menu and he spoke to being inspired by his youth and local cuisine, and it sparked something in my partner (who grew up in Michigan) who immediately realized why he loved the food so much: it just reminded him of home, like the ultimate luxury comfort food.For me (a native East Coaster), I was just really impressed by how balanced each and every dish was. Every course felt like a complete meal on its own, with there being a representative element of saltiness, acidity, bitterness, and sweetness, including in the desserts. It was the type of meal where after each course, I just felt fully satisfied (versus some meals where you need the next course to balance out an overwhelming feature of the previous and you're just impatiently waiting on the next course to come out because your palate just doesn't feel quite right).The amount of food was impressive - I would say these portions are incredibly generous so come hungry - and the satiety you will experience from the food, service, and cooking performance is certainly worth the cost. I highly recommend a visit, whether you are local or not (seriously, go out of your way for a visit). If ever I am back in the area, I will certainly be a repeat customer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was fabulous, the presentation impressive and way the food was cooked for you as you watched and interacted with the chef was really cool.
Absolutely AMAZING!! I have dined all over the world and can assure you that Albena is incredible. The creative and tasty dishes, the intimate environment and the top notch service are impressive. My advice: BOOK A RESERVATION NOW!!!
Every course was outstanding. Chef was very happy to provide insight into every dish. Perfect wine pairings. Delicious, inventive dishes. Intimate, comfortable, delicious. Will be returning for every new menu.
Many courses, each unique. Flavors and ingredients I'd never tasted or heard of. Hand-to-table intimate experience with the chefs serving. Gorgeously intentional wine pairings. It's been two months but if I close my eyes I can still taste each dish. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a poor girl like me, but it was totally worth it for our 15th anniversary.
This should be the next place you’re having a dinner out on the town in Detroit. Chef and his wife absolutely create an amazing intimate ambiance. That elk loin and the dessert with sticky toffee pudding.. i still have dreams about it!!