Joe Muer Seafood was one of the first places my husband and I ate at after we were married and had returned from our mini-honeymoon, when they had their location in Troy, MI near where we lived at the time. I remember being so impressed with their oyster bar selection, and with how fresh their seafood is, that was freshly flown in. We’ve been meaning to check out their Detroit location for a few years now, and we thought there wasn’t a better time to go then right now, just in time for Valentine’s Day and to celebrate some very happy news we will be officially sharing soon!
Joe Muer Seafood
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Address: 400 Renaissance Center, Ste. 1404
Detroit, Michigan 48243
Inside GM Renaissance Center
Food Type: Dinner, Seafood
Dining Experience: Indoor or Outdoor Patio
Price: $300+ per Person
Dress Code: Business Casual +
Reservations: Highly Recommended
Tipping: 20% Gratuity Automatically Added
Special Diets: Pescatarian, Vegetarian,
Gluten Free (not GF dedicated), Vegan Options
Awards: Wine Spectator Award of Excellence Winner,
Hour Detroit Magazine Best Seafood Restaurant,
Metro Times Best Seafood Restaurant
Joe Muer Seafood’s Atmosphere & Ambience
We made reservations to sit on their heated outdoor patio, and with the breeze from just outside tented patio area combined with the warmth of the multitude of heaters, it felt as though we were sitting on a warm beach in Tulum enjoying the sea breeze – it was truly a refreshing respite from the winter cold in our own backyard. Our table overlooked the Detroit River which serves as the border between the United States and Canada, and although we can’t cross right now due to travel restrictions, we could see our Canadian neighbors on the other side of the icy river. The sun set over the glittering ice and it was the perfect place to enjoy our meal.
During our meal, a live pianist played a medley of classical and modern pieces, including a medley of Disney songs mixed together, which garnered several rounds of applause from diners. Candlelight set the mood for our meal and that of the other diners, and inside the restaurant we could see mixologists and sushi chefs working away to prepare food and drinks.
Joe Muer Seafood Menu
The menu was extensive and included unbelievably fresh fish from around the United States and beyond, an assortment of inventive sushi rolls featuring seafood like King Crab, raw fish, pickled Japanese vegetables, and many other traditional sushi accoutrements. They had delightful entrées like Whitefish, a variety of shellfish, Maine or South African Lobster by the pound, Tiger Shrimp, and even a vegan option.
Celebrating at Joe Muer Seafood
As our appetizers and sides, we chose the creamed spinach, sautéed mushroom blend, blue crab & cheddar potatoes, spicy tuna tartare, and Maine lobster tails. To drink, Robin enjoyed a glass of whisky, and I had a glass of Louis Roederer Cristal Brut champagne, which was some of the very best champagne I’ve ever had. Robin loved mine so much that he also ordered a glass, and was perfect for toasting one another and the big changes ahead with.
Our Meals at Joe Muer Seafood
I chose the Scottish Salmon with butternut squash risotto, heirloom baby carrots, Haricot Verts (thin French green beans), dry fruit & apple compote and a pomegranate gastrique.
Robin chose the Crab Stuffed Atlantic Flounder with a grainy mustard beurre blanc sauce, because ever since I wrote my guide to Culinary Terms Everyone Needs to Know, he had been very eager to try that light, flavorful sauce. Both of are meals were absolutely fantastic, and so flavorful. We both agreed that Robin’s was best, but mine was still delicious, particularly the butternut squash risotto. It ended up being far too much food and we knew both dishes would be great for our lunch the next day.
Final Thoughts
To finish out our evening, we shared a slice of cheesecake with a raspberry drizzle. I’m not normally a fan of cheesecake, and I can’t eat the crust of it, but it’s one of Robin’s favorite desserts and I had to completely agree that it was fantastic cheesecake. Everything from the ambience and the quality of the seafood was absolutely perfect. There truly wasn’t a single component of our experience I would have changed, and I don’t say that lightly.
Some people have read my restaurant reviews and wondered why they are all so positive, and the reason behind it is because I only write about the very best places I’ve eaten. I see no point in bashing places that don’t meet my expectations or where the food disappoints us, but I do think it’s very important that we celebrate the best experiences we have in life, and a romantic dinner at Joe Muer Seafood in Detroit is one of those splendid experiences that deserves to be celebrated.
Should you ever find yourself hungry in Detroit, perhaps after visiting the Detroit Institute of Art, the Detroit Zoo, the North American International Auto Show, or enjoying tropical plants at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, I can’t recommend enjoying a meal at Joe Muer Seafood highly enough.
Robin says
Wow! This looks so delicious!