Townhouse Detroit holds soft opening

Earlier this year Townhouse Bistro in Birmingham announced on social media that Townhouse Detroit would open downtown this year at One Detroit Center.

The large bar and restaurant started to hold soft openings this week, servicing guests by reservation only. Manager Brady Pankow says the best way to get a reservation is by walking in to the restaurant — located at 500 Woodward at the corner of E. Congress — or by using the Open Table smart phone app.

“We want to make sure all of the servers and bartenders are on point before we really go,” says Pankow of the limited-seating soft service. An official grand opening date is to be determined.

Seating areas include an oval-shaped bar with luxurious tufted seats (a nearby sign suggests ordering a bourbon and the selection is plentiful), high top tables, and lower booth seating near the open kitchen where cooks can be seen furiously fixing burgers, salads and other standards. Townhouse Detroit will also have a sushi bar and a strolling dim sum cart.

The crown jewel of the new restaurant, though is the all-weather, greenhouse-like atrium, which is completely surrounded by open-able windows. With additional booth and high top seating and a second bar, this area has all the benefits if dining al fresco without the any of nature’s peskier elements.

mbaetens@detroitnews.com

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