  MC (65.33.153.162 - 65.33.153.162) |
What happened to this institution? My father used to go there with his clients back in the 60 and 70s, But its gone of course, why though, when did it close its doors, and what happened to the owners and chef? I recently went out to Dinner at Carl's Chop House, it was Dead in there, except a few Cops eating at the bar. I know the neighborhood is not the best there but surely you would think more people would eat out there, although the food wasn't the best, it's definetley gone down in quality. | ||
ISLD (12.241.148.103 - 12.241.148.103) |
Chime in on this one, rock! You gave me a description of the Chop last year that still has me salivating! | ||
the rock (67.192.81.133 - 67.192.81.133) |
Oh, don't get me going on the LCH!! Great restaurant, formerly at 155 West Congress in the Murphy Building. Started in the '30's and finally closed its doors in the early '90's after a short stay by inexperienced but hearts-in-the-right-place owners. Flourished in the 50's- 80's while under the ownership and care of the late Les Gruber, taken over by Max Pincus and his wife and then kinda faded off into oblivion. You walked in the door and went down the stairs, Ollie took your coat, and you looked around and there was the ( then) Mayor in Booth #1, and lots of celebs in town from Musicians to athletes to Educators etc. and they were there. Food was outstanding fish, steaks, Doc Green Salads, desserts out of this world. Always had the Holiday magazine award certificate proudly displayed at the bottom of the stairs. Outstanding wine cellar which ran under Congress and connected with the Caucas Club in the Penobscot Building. When your son or daughter was born, you would pay for his or her drink at the bar, and when they turned 21 you brought the kid in for his/her first legal drink. Twinkle lights in the ceiling at Christmas time, big fund-raiser held annually for the Salvation Army each Christmas etc. Outstanding restaurant, world-wide reputation. Still have my brown LCH credit card which like the old Mario's blue card is now but a memory. Jimmy Schmidt, one of the better know chef's left the place back in 1990 and opened the Rattlesnake Club and that's all she wrote. | ||
MC (65.33.153.162 - 65.33.153.162) |
Rock Sounds like you were a regular, My dad was Sales Manager under FRED KNORR OF WKMH< LATER WKNR For Many years and used to Frequent LCH and THE DAC in thier hey days. Oh for the good old days. | ||
The Ghettoman (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) |
I thought Carl's Chop House should be booming with tons of customers right about now since the Motor City Casino opened. | ||
the rock (67.192.55.104 - 67.192.55.104) |
MC-- The LCH is "long gone", but the DAC is as vibrant as ever, located in the most bustling area of Detroit. Carl's Chop House is owned and operated by a GPer who also owns and runs Mario's. Frank has done a great job at both, but for some reason, Carl's just does not seem to click all the time. Yes, the "good old days" were great but I am happy with the current times,too. There is a lot of enthusiasm on The Forum by the younger generations that keeps me optomistic. | ||
doyle (172.164.120.194 - 172.164.120.194) |
What's the DAC? | ||
Kathleen (68.61.100.57 - 68.61.100.57) |
The Detroit Athletic Club, located on Madison Ave., just south of Comerica Park and along the same street as the Detroit Opera House, the Music Hall, and the GEM and Century Theatres. | ||
jim (198.109.32.4 - 198.109.32.4) |
The DAC is on Madison, across the street from the Detroit Opera House and Music Hall. If you get a chance try to see the inside and have a meal. The only reason I am allowed inside is due to a friend who runs the grill kitchen. The rock are you a member? | ||
jim (198.109.32.4 - 198.109.32.4) |
damn, beat me to it. | ||
ISLD (12.241.148.103 - 12.241.148.103) |
rock, Is the building that housed the LCH still in existence? Wouldn't it be something if it could be re-opened, once the area is revitalized? We could use you as a technical advisor! | ||
gambling man (199.178.193.3 - 199.178.193.3) |
The Murphy building is still there, and it is by far the best area of downtown, with a real "big city" feel to it. I believe the Caucus Club restaraunt is right across the street?!? | ||
the rock (67.243.206.71 - 67.243.206.71) |
jim-- I am not a member of the DAC, but two of my partners are, so I have been sponging off them for 37 years. It's an Albert Kahn building, underwent a very detailed restoration a few years ago, and sits in the middle of all the downtown activity. It took the Club a long time to admit women, but I believe that the present president is a woman. Excellent athletic facilities, and the kitchen serves as good a meal as one would ever want. | ||
the rock (67.243.206.71 - 67.243.206.71) |
gambling man--thanks for the kind offer, but I am afraid that the restaurant area is just a shell now. I will live with the memories , just as I do with other watering holes, hotels, arenas, parks, and people which have long faded from the Detroit that was. | ||
eastside (68.43.119.74 - 68.43.119.74) |
Caucus Club is across the street from where the old London Chop House is. Some guys opened it up again as an upscale restaurant, but it quickly failed. Last I heard, the guy from Mickey's was opening something there. | ||
MC (65.33.153.162 - 65.33.153.162) |
can someone detail what the inside of the Detroit Club looks like?? I have been inside the DAC as was my father was a former member but have never been inside the Detroit club. Thanks. My dad says the Detroit club is more exclusive than even the DAC. | ||
mikehamm45 (204.39.208.131 - 204.39.208.131) |
I just wish that Downtown had a very nice upscale steak house. I love steak. Sick of having to drive down to Chicago to eat a real steak, and please to no direct me towards some place in the suburbs or an applebees. A steakhouse in the burbs offers a seat next to parking lot. Give me an Urban steakhouse. One with good service and mouth watering NY strip cooked to perfection. Have you ever been to Carl's, that place is a poor excuss for a steakhouse. If I had the money and know how I would open one at the site of the London Chop House, although I would change the name to the :Detroit Chop House: | ||
jj (216.203.223.78 - 216.203.223.78) |
Ruths Chris Steak House in troy. Deal with the burbs and get a orgasmic steak | ||
the rock (67.192.55.157 - 67.192.55.157) |
I believe that the Detroit Club is actually the oldest social club in Michigan. It has an old-fashioned, folksy atmosphere, wooden ( creeky ) floors, and a very nice, formal staircase leading upstairs to the formal dining room, meeting rooms and sleeping quarters. Some of the meeting rooms are utiilized by downtown businesses. NBD had such a room. The formal dining room upstairs is beautiful. Reminds me of how a salon in an old passenger ship looked, lots of dark wood, etc. The Mens' grill off to the left on the main floor served a good buffet and , of course, the usual dominoes game was played during the noon hour. Attendance really dipped about ten years ago, but local business people saved the day. The Club got a fair share of publicity in the local papers a few years back as the parking around the club was not readily avaiable, so the parking attendants would park cars two and even three deep in front of the Club. Mayor Young's limo was often seen there. | ||
jim (198.109.32.13 - 198.109.32.13) |
rock, I would sponge off a member if I could. My friend is Chef Kevin Peasgood and does not mind speaking with members and their guests. Hell, he will even take you back into the kitchen (the one he is working in, there are 6-7 in total) and explain the different stations, etc. I found it interesting. If you get the chance go up to the top level of the parking deck and watch some of a Tiger game. Not a bad view of Comerica Park at all. I think the food they serve is among the best in the area and it did take too long to admit women. | ||
the rock (67.192.55.157 - 67.192.55.157) |
jim- the next time I sponge, I will stop in the kitchen and see Chef Kevin. I had a tour of the kitchens a few years ago when Capt. Bob retired. Very fascinating. Right you are about the view of Comerica from the parking deck. I took a few pictures from the deck while the park was being constructed in different phases. Quite a panoramic view from up there. A tad off the subject, but when we were in the Guardian Building ( 32 floor) I went up to the roof fairly often and I took a lot of pix of the construction of the Renaissance Center back when they first were tearing down the old Robin Hood Flour plant,then digging the deep "hole" for the ( then ) Westin Hotel and then the four towers as they were erected skyward. 3-4 years later, it was up. | ||
jim (198.109.32.13 - 198.109.32.13) |
The Rock, Kevin has been working afternoons and nights. Hassle him a bit for me. My dad worked on the Ren Cen while it was being built. He would eat his lunch sitting on the steel looking over the city. He would take my mother and my sister there while it was being built. I have been to places inside the RenCen that the public is not allowed. He has spent many days working on the Guardian (his favorite-next to the Ren Cen for different reasons). Any chance you could post a Ren Cen construction picture? | ||
Hamtramck Steve (136.181.195.17 - 136.181.195.17) |
I second the request for pictures, rock. You can't just tease us like that! | ||
MC (65.33.153.162 - 65.33.153.162) |
Thanks Rock for the description of inside the Detroit Club, dad said thier is mooseheads inside, still there? Sounds like a very cozy place to hang, wish we had pictures. Thanks again. | ||
Bobzilla (152.163.189.167 - 152.163.189.167) |
To MikeHamm45, who wishes that Downtown had a nice upscale steakhouse -- Maverick's on Woodward next to Foran's is a steakhouse, but I'm not sure how upscale it is or how the service is ... the Alley Grille connected with the Greektown Casino seems to be a steakhouse ... Intermezzo has steaks and DaEduardo's in the Fox Theater Bldg. also has steaks and they seem to be pretty upscale. Opus One is plenty upscale, and their menu includes steaks. Even the River Cafe in the RenCen has steaks, and an excellent view of the river too. Maybe these aren't like the great steakhouses of Chicago, but ... | ||
julie (207.91.231.101 - 207.91.231.101) |
This thread is making me hungry. | ||
gambling man (199.178.193.3 - 199.178.193.3) |
Mikehamm, also try Iridescence at the Motor City Casino. Alley Grille inside Greektown is a steakhouse, complete with a huge shrimp cocktail. You may also want to try Mario's on Second, not right downtown, but a great Filet nonetheless. Da Edourado's in Foxtown is a wonderful choice, although it is actually an Italian eatery. I ate there on New Years Eve last year. They squeezed us in at the bar, and I had one of the best Aged New York Strips I have ever eaten.......and a great view of Woodward and all of the wonderful activity.......... | ||
CaseyC (208.7.178.2 - 208.7.178.2) |
the ribeye at Agave was proclaimed by one of our local food critics as one of the best steaks available at any restaurant in town....and I will vouch for that. | ||
the rock (67.192.55.238 - 67.192.55.238) |
I am afraid that I do not have a scanner and lack the necessary brains to operate it if I did have one. So my pictures of Ren Cen during construction plus a blurry shot of the moosehead over the old bar at the Detroit Club will have to remain in my old picture albums. However, don't be surprised that SOMEDAY, many of you young Forumers will be shocked when this old timer walks into one of the Forumers' favorite watering holes, gives lilacgirl a hug, cl a handshake, Andrew a high-five, jjaba a kick in the ass and announces to the rest of you Forumites that he has PICTURES to show!! | ||
mikehamm45 (204.39.209.13 - 204.39.209.13) |
Good choices fellas, I have had steak at a couple of the places listed, and have looked at the menus at others. Not really great. They either offer something other than NY strip or have some kind of funny dressing on it served with a funky side dish. I jsut wand stright up good steak. Where you taste the beef, offered with a great salad, and baked patato. simple, elegant and with great service. plus many of the places you guys listed offer small itty bitty steaks for like 19-25 bucks. i would pay top dollar for steak but it has to be at least 16 - 18 onces. | ||
DRM (68.43.18.180 - 68.43.18.180) |
Something is definitely wrong with our area when someone cites a national chain as having the best steak around. I could "deal with" any number of places in the US and eat a Ruth's Chris steak. I think jj totally misses the point here: people are talking about a local, Detroit-style steak, not the same steak recipe that people are eating in the same restaurant all over the country. DRM | ||
jj (206.148.224.175 - 206.148.224.175) |
What, a fine steak is a fine steak. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, the regionalism on this site is pathetic. I know its a Detroit oriented forum, but you people think if its not from the D, it isnt worth mentioning, Ruths Chris is an award winning steak house that is number 1 in my book. The precision of cooking, the quality of meat, and the process they use to grill their steaks is second to none. How many detroit steak houses raise their own cows and grain feed them like Chris's does, NONE!! And what is a "detroit style steak"?? Ive never in my life heard of a detroit steak. You would eat a piece of shit just because its local over a prime piece of meat. Real classy | ||
mikehamm45 (204.39.208.120 - 204.39.208.120) |
Let me try to put it into perspective... Two friends live in Anytown, USA. One friend comes back from a business trip to Detroit. He tells his friend that he enjoyed himself and what not. The other friend then tells him, oh I stayed there a couple nights before. Did you visit the DIA, how bout' that Ford Feild, and you had to have gone to Hitsville USA. Did you try the pizza in greektown, good stuff. Now along those lines it would be nice to hear something like "Did you eat at the Detroit Chop House, its great." Not; "did you try the big mac at mcdonalds, they make a great sandwich." | ||
DRM (68.43.18.180 - 68.43.18.180) |
jj, when people talk about the best restaurants in Boston or New York, they don't talk about national chains. Instead, they mention places that you can ONLY experience in those cities like Grill 23 in Boston or Peter Luger's in New York. That is what we're talking about here. Having a branch of a national chain is completely different than having a local establishment that you can be proud of. As for my taste in steaks, I have eaten at all the major steak chains as well as some of the better places in New York and Boston. Before you resort to personal attacks, maybe you should have a clue what you're talking about. DRM | ||
lilacgirl (141.209.40.222 - 141.209.40.222) |
Aw, thanks Rock! We could talk about our days on Mackinac Island over a drink. =) | ||
MC (65.33.153.162 - 65.33.153.162) |
Steak is Steak no matter where it's cooked, if its fine, Man its like you died and gone to heaven, but I think what we are talking about here is Uniqueness, its the Style of the place, Detroit had a supreme Steak joint but they went Belly up, although I do remember The DAC cooked a pretty mean steak but that is for members only, as far as Chain steakhouses go, you have Ruth's and Morton's or even Del frisco's that are superior in every way except they are not a detroit Tradition, no taste wise but Local color wise. you get my drift? Hope so. SO enjoy your Ruth Chris, or whatever, its what you after that counts, you love it, then go for it. BRING BACK THE LONDON CHOP HOUSE <<<SOMEONE!!!! | ||
jj (216.203.223.99 - 216.203.223.99) |
Welcome to Detroit. We DONT have those places anymore. The town couldnt support the places of the past and now we have what we have. Keep living in the past pining for things that went "belly up" for a reason, while Ill keep eating whay I want where i want. | ||
cl (207.75.179.187 - 207.75.179.187) |
Lighten up!!! It is true that Detroit did not support those places; hence this thread on the LCH. I will say that Haabs in Ypsi is still in operation. I do not know how long it has been open but I am guessing 50years or more. The irony being Haabs was part of a chain. Not the name of the restauarant but the food was a chain; Chicken in the rough. There was also a chicken in the rough restaurant in Ann Arbor, Curtiss buffet. Haabs does serve a decent steak. Ann Arbor does have a few local steak houses. But that isn't Detroit. Hopefully Detroit will soon have a place of it's own. | ||
The Ghettoman (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) |
MC, The British won't even open thier chophouse in a crackhead neighborhood. | ||
jim (198.109.32.13 - 198.109.32.13) |
the rock good to hear, since I seem to work two jobs, one making money-one spending money (my house) I don't have much time during the week but if I know before hand you are bringing pictures I too might be able to make it. If I can find a job somewhere downtown in the next few weeks, I would most likely be able to make more events. | ||
BPMCHGO (216.90.38.29 - 216.90.38.29) |
For detailed historical photos of the DAC, there is a pictorial history, published by Arcadia Publishing (www.arcadiapublishing.com), on the Detroit Athletic Club, with many many photos of the building (both in and out), members past and present, etc... | ||
MC (65.33.153.162 - 65.33.153.162) |
yeah but you cant view them online, don't want to pay any money, Give us links that you dont have to pay for pictures friend>> | ||
DRM (68.43.18.180 - 68.43.18.180) |
jj, some of us want things to be better than they are now. I prefer to spend my dining out money at Detroit restaurants rather than a chain steakhouse, even if it means I'm not going to order the steak. It's just one small step I can take in an effort to make things better. If you support local businesses and grow the market for Detroit-based restaurants, then maybe the time will come sooner when we once again have a top-notch steakhouse downtown. Meanwhile you can eat your steak at Ruth's Chris in Troy (or Las Vegas, or Columbus, or Cleveland, etc.) and continue to be part of the reason why Detroit supposedly can't support a place like the LCH. DRM |
