Dining at Oak & Reel is a journey - We source the freshest seafood, kissed by flames fueled by our oak burning hearth, paired with house made pasta, and wrapped in a stunning yet casual-contemporary environment. After nearly two decades and two Michelin Stars in New York, Chef Jared Gadbaw returns to Michigan, bringing his passion for seafood-centric Italian cuisine.
Oak & Reel is a contemporary Italian restaurant with a primary focus on seafood. Our food features inventive interpretations of what Italian food would look like here in Detroit, combining local ingredients with seafood from waters throughout the world. Expect bright, clean, bold flavors and a carefully curated wine and cocktail list to complement the menu.
Oak & Reel is a contemporary Italian restaurant with a primary focus on seafood. Our food features inventive interpretations of what Italian food would look like here in Detroit, combining local ingredients with seafood from waters throughout the world. Expect bright, clean, bold flavors and a carefully curated wine and cocktail list to complement the menu.
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Oak & Reel is a contemporary Italian restaurant with a primary focus on seafood. Our food features inventive interpretations of what Italian food would look like here in Detroit, combining local ingredients with seafood from waters throughout the world. Expect bright, clean, bold flavors accentuated by a kiss from our wood burning hearth and a carefully curated wine and cocktail list to complement the menu.
Reviews (26)
Jason Scalf
Jan 28, 2022
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Wendy H.
Jan 25, 2022
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Now one of our favorite restaurants in Detroit! Everything is delicious even the warm bread! Very attentive masked staff ambiance is warm, casual upscale. Free parking right next door. Jared, the chef owner is dedicated, personable and a serious craftsman. Pastas are wonderful, chicken is flavorful, Dover sole excellent. Last dinner we shared a pasta and the Dover sole. It was our 3 rd visit. Menu changes. Consistency is par excellent in all categories. Make a reservation by calling the restaurant.
Janine Dailey
Jan 21, 2022
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From the atmosphere, to the service, to the menu everything was amazing. We did the 4 course menu tasting and every dish was delicious. Great cocktails too. Virginia was our waitress and she was fantastic and made our experience even better. Perfect Detroit Date Night spot! We will be back next time for the chefs tasting!
Matt McGrail
Jan 11, 2022
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Sherry B.
Jan 01, 2022
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Chelsea P.
Dec 24, 2021
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My husband took me to Oak & Reel for my birthday and we couldn't be more impressed with the menu and the service. We each enjoyed the four-course prix fixe menu - the octopus, bucatini, agnolotti and halibut dishes were among our favorites. Melissa, our sommelier, paired a wine with each course which really took the experience to the next level - highly recommended!!
Our server, Virginia, was so warm and welcoming - could not post a review without mentioning her amazing service and attentiveness. World-class experience, I'm so glad we tried this place out! Looking forward to the next
Our server, Virginia, was so warm and welcoming - could not post a review without mentioning her amazing service and attentiveness. World-class experience, I'm so glad we tried this place out! Looking forward to the next
Renee M.
Dec 22, 2021
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Stephanie W.
Dec 19, 2021
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Great place! The ambiance was great and my friend and I loved everything we had. We had a starter salad (the one with hazelnuts) that was perfectly balanced. Then we had two pasta dishes: agnolotti and bucatini. They were both amazing and perfect. Pictures attached. We also shared the chicken which was good, but the pasta was the star. For desert we got the pana cotta and the bomboloni. They were both great. I liked the bomboloni the best. Once again, I recommend the pasta! Also make a reservation early!!
Stacia G.
Dec 03, 2021
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Warm and inviting even in an industrial space. I suggest making a reservation because it was busy- and we waited a few to sit down even with a reservation (on a Sunday night I might add). My faves were the tuna and olive appetizer, halibut (almost looked like a biscuit when served). Really halibut was the star!
Wait staff prompt and knowledgeable about tasting menu (better bang for your buck). Not as knowledgeable about the wine and happily all good with what I ordered to accompany meal. Service not as polished as some of the restaurants of this price range that I've had recently (presentation
Wait staff prompt and knowledgeable about tasting menu (better bang for your buck). Not as knowledgeable about the wine and happily all good with what I ordered to accompany meal. Service not as polished as some of the restaurants of this price range that I've had recently (presentation
Bryan B.
Nov 30, 2021
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Lived up to the expectations. Oak and Reel is serving up a very unique take on Italian . From the ambiance , service and food , this place nailed it all. They start by bringing you out house made focaccia. We started with the crudo sampler. I could easily eaten pounds of each. My fav was the hamachi. The potato app is unlike any potatoes I've had and it was GREAT. We followed it up with the ravioli, it was light and tasty . We finished off with the Ragu which comes with shrimp , scallop and a house-made seafood sausage . For dessert we had the bombolones (Italian doughnuts) it comes with
Brian B.
Nov 19, 2021
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I was told to go here by someone who's palette is beyond reproach and it did not disappoint.
Service is A-1 as you'd expect at this price point.
Food was absolutely magnificent.
Appetizers were were brilliant yet simplistic.
It really is all the things I truly enjoy that make dining out so worth it.
Service is A-1 as you'd expect at this price point.
Food was absolutely magnificent.
Appetizers were were brilliant yet simplistic.
It really is all the things I truly enjoy that make dining out so worth it.
Rita Brown
Oct 30, 2021
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Inspired fare, engaged, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Food was modern and delish, well timed courses and service was attentive. Upscale yet casual. Delightful atmosphere. In a landscape of predictable, this place was hip, fresh and crisp. Not at all pretentious. And oh that hazelnut dessert...I am dead.
Delilah Tinoco
Oct 15, 2021
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Nick Costello
Oct 10, 2021
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Les Lukacs
Oct 04, 2021
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Brian L.
Oct 02, 2021
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Went to Oak & Reel for the first time last night to celebrate our anniversary. Beautiful spot with a great big city ambiance. Our server was Virginia, who was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. They started us with some champagne to toast our anniversary which was a nice touch.
The focaccia and olive oil was amazing and was complementary. We then had the octopus which was a full tentacle and was absolutely delicious. The preparation was perfect. My wife then had the salad while I had the spaghetti. The reason I deducted a star in my rating was that I was brought the
The focaccia and olive oil was amazing and was complementary. We then had the octopus which was a full tentacle and was absolutely delicious. The preparation was perfect. My wife then had the salad while I had the spaghetti. The reason I deducted a star in my rating was that I was brought the
Tudor Chis
Sep 23, 2021
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Brian Branch
Sep 19, 2021
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Jadyn Guess
Sep 17, 2021
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My loml made reservation for us to celebrate our engagement! It was an amazing dining experience. Our waiter, Virginia, was amazing and helpful in making sure our dining experience was a great one. We had the octopus and oysters, then the occhi pasta which was the special of the day, then ribeye steaks, and dessert. Everything taste amazing. The restaurant had a great ambiance. The only downside that I am not including in the rating because it’s relevant to me and my fiancé is that our total dining time was three hours and we were waiting a decent amount of time for entre but our waiter communicated
Jd Lesada
Aug 13, 2021
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Oak & Reel brings a simply extraordinary dining experience to Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction. Chef Jared Gadbaw satisfied both the Italian and seafood sides of the equation with incredible creativity and impeccable presentation. A luxurious interior, a beautifully reimagined building, an extensive wine list, and superior service round out your dinner.
An order error and a billing error were promptly corrected by our server and the staff—and they went above and beyond by offering desserts and dessert wine to rectify the mistake. Highly recommend Oak & Reel for a sumptuous evening out.
An order error and a billing error were promptly corrected by our server and the staff—and they went above and beyond by offering desserts and dessert wine to rectify the mistake. Highly recommend Oak & Reel for a sumptuous evening out.
Andy Les Pahl
Aug 11, 2021
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Absolutely fantastic modern italian food that smartly balances flavor and technique without getting too crazy. Friendly and wonderful staff that give great recommendations. An amazing sommelier who recommended… and amazing white wine to go with our fish and chicken. Wonderful interior, and they replace your silverware after every course!
Jason Hurst
Jul 24, 2021
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Got to the restaurant about 15 minutes early. Had a few drinks at bar while we waited. Bartender was extremely friendly, recommended the prefect drinks and talked through the entire menu. Our waitress was equally friendly and very attentive.
We ordered the octopus, a pasta plate, the swordfish and a chicken dish. All were very good. Paired perfectly with the garnishes. Overall great dinning experience.
We ordered the octopus, a pasta plate, the swordfish and a chicken dish. All were very good. Paired perfectly with the garnishes. Overall great dinning experience.
Aingeal Jones
Jul 22, 2021
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Just wow. The husband and I went for our 10 year anniversary. We did a four course menu plus oysters. The mignonette was rich and peppery and oysters were briny and delicious. Hubby did the squid pasta and I did this bucatini, both were fabulous. Nothing but good things to say about the food. It was thoughtfully prepared and presented. The octopus was so tender and delicious - like a steak - definitely the best octopus we have ever had!
Angela T.
Jun 28, 2021
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This restaurant was phenomenal. The whole experience was immaculate and I would definitely return.
The loml and I arrived for our reservation and were greeted warmly by the hostess and manager. We were seated immediately and the waitress, Virginia, came to our table instantly. Virginia was extremely friendly and professional. She had a very welcoming personality, the entire staff did!
We decided to go with the tasting menu. This included six courses all chosen by the chef.
Our first dish consisted of: an oyster, hamachi, and snapper. All were extremely delicious. The loml preferred the snapper
The loml and I arrived for our reservation and were greeted warmly by the hostess and manager. We were seated immediately and the waitress, Virginia, came to our table instantly. Virginia was extremely friendly and professional. She had a very welcoming personality, the entire staff did!
We decided to go with the tasting menu. This included six courses all chosen by the chef.
Our first dish consisted of: an oyster, hamachi, and snapper. All were extremely delicious. The loml preferred the snapper
Rolly S.
Jun 07, 2021
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We were very excited for our reservations at Oak & Reel however, we weren't too impressed. Nice vibe and some great dishes such as the octopus, a fantastic Dover sole, and the bucatini pasta was a must. The service was extremely slow, and the most disappointing item on the menu is the "ribeye".... it was extremely tough, dry, and lacked flavor. Nice experience but I probably would not go back.
Michael R.
Mar 19, 2021
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Amazing find in Detroit! We came here for my birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. When you make the reservation, be prepared to pay a deposit which is refunded following the visit and they ask if you want an order of oysters ahead of time as well.
We started with two amazing cocktails and a 1/2 order of oysters! Very fresh and delicious. They have the option of a 3, 4, and 5 course dinner and we got the 4 course. Best part was is each of us could choose different options to try more things on the menu! We got the prawns and crostini for appetizers, tuna bolognese and veal ravioli for pastas
We started with two amazing cocktails and a 1/2 order of oysters! Very fresh and delicious. They have the option of a 3, 4, and 5 course dinner and we got the 4 course. Best part was is each of us could choose different options to try more things on the menu! We got the prawns and crostini for appetizers, tuna bolognese and veal ravioli for pastas
