  Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 188 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 24.247.221.241 |
I had the opportunity last week to take the girlfriend up for a nice dinner at Coach Insignia, which is on floors 72 and 73 of the Ren Cen downtown. It was great! Wonderful food, great service, and even though it was cloudy and cold and sometimes sort of rainy, the clouds were high enough that we still had a wonderful view of the city from our table, which stretched all the way from Casino Windsor to Grand River ave. around the south and west sides of the city. I wish they would open back up for lunch. I believe they stopped serving lunch around Christmas of 2004. Anyhow, I'd just like to hear if anyone else had been there and what they thought. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 579 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.52.22 |
Been to Coach a little over a half-dozen times since they opened and I think they're wonderful. I suggest the signature dish: a perfect filet, the most tender lobster tail and an incredibly complimentary foie gras. A few Belvidere and tonics, maybe even a dessert - it's just wonderful... Advice - two or three people can have a casual dinner comfortably in the 72nd floor cocktail lounge. Sit at one of the high-backed semi-circular booths and save on the Dining Room charge by employing the barstaff. Remember to tip well. My wife and I often do dinner on the fly, so we've found this option works great when the Dining Room is fully booked. | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 547 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 69.14.76.187 |
Awesome tip Eric_c! How much is the "Dining Room" charge? | ||
Ghetto_butterfly Member Username: Ghetto_butterfly Post Number: 586 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 68.60.139.186 |
We had my company's Christmas dinner at Coach. It was pretty cool. The food was awesome, service great, but I wish I would have chosen the filet instead of the rack of lamb (wasn't quite cooked to my liking, too rare for lamb). The setting/décor seems to be the same as it was when it was the rotating restaurant on top of the RenCen but the view is always stunning. I spent half the evening showing my co-workers my building and other landmarks you can see in just one scoop. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 580 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.52.22 |
Don't know, Sharmaal. I have to admit I've never inquired. Some places essentially use it as replacement for tipping, but I just know at Coach it costs less when we eat downstairs. Maybe I just have more of those V&Ts when I'm upstairs! | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 581 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.52.22 |
The place was gutted G-B, and everything inside is new. No sign left of the old Summit except the elevators and the stairs. I used to like their buckets of peel-and-eat shrimp, served as an appetizer! | ||
Ghetto_butterfly Member Username: Ghetto_butterfly Post Number: 588 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 68.60.139.186 |
Eric_C, could be. I haven't been there in a long time until last Christmas. Maybe it's just the round shape that gave me the impression it looked like the old Summit (thank you, I forgot the name of it) | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 582 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.52.22 |
...indeed.  | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 189 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 24.247.221.241 |
My girlfriend is from a small town in west Michigan and was seriously impressed with the view, even though it was dark. So much so that we had to jump on the people mover for a loop around downtown, and a quick walk through Campus Martius. Another person from far away convinced that Detroit is perhaps not as bad as it has been rumored! As for my thoughts on the view from the 72nd floor, I was surprised with how bright and noticable the new streetlights are on Michigan Ave near Tiger Stadium. The bright Mercury bulbs stood out very clearly in the sea of orangish sodium vapor around everywhere else. | ||
Machoken Member Username: Machoken Post Number: 1109 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.85.155.145 |
Great views, almost felt like I could reach out and touch the peak of Comerica Tower - although that could have been influenced by the Syrah. | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 350 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.40.89.238 |
Great food and excellent views - I would recommend the place to anyone as a place for a very nice dinner! | ||
Silverbeauty Member Username: Silverbeauty Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 69.133.93.33 |
I thought the atmosphere was awesome! The au gratin potatoes were excellent,probably the best I have ever had. Service was good enough. We ordered a bottle of wine and they didn't have it. So they brought something else, already opened. It wasn't what we wanted so we sent it back. I didn't like the fact that they brought the bottle already opened. They are supposed to open it tableside. That would be my only complaint. We loved the dinner and I can't wait to go back again. | ||
Northend Member Username: Northend Post Number: 635 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.212.62.92 |
Can't beat the spectacular view. Service is good although plates are easily and often mixed up with big parties. Amazing drinks and cocktails (not like La Dolce Vita serving bottomless mimosas using J. Roget "champagne" for their Sunday pyjama party!) but the cuisine is not up to par with the view and decor. I still miss the Golden Mushroom. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 660 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146 |
I also loved this restaurant. Very impressed. Although, once I went their and it was foggy. That was disappointing. | ||
Skamour14 Member Username: Skamour14 Post Number: 18 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 35.8.218.126 |
I've been in ther with some friends and brother before, though not to eat or anything..., but as far as a view, its breathtakinig i will admit, and the service that we always got was well recieved, I wonder why they stopped allowing it to rotate? and I really like the hugh high back chairs... they make you feel like your in the scene from Alice in wonderland....., anyways after ward a couple of times we would go over to Bazoukis, and sit around for awhile, not as classy but a real nice transition, both pricy spots I'll say!!!! | ||
Lakesuperior Member Username: Lakesuperior Post Number: 109 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 68.77.170.94 |
1953 has taken me to Coach Insignia twice and both times were excellent. I've had the filet and some sort of wild Australian venison, both of which were wonderful. The molten chocolate cake with chocolate malt ice cream for dessert? So good. Drinking a bottle of wine 73 floors above the city you love? So good. Embarrassing the hell out of 1953 by lying down on the lit up RenCen walkway when you are leaving the building and demanding he take a picture of you because you think it might look cool? Hilarious. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 6423 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.251.24 |
Mechanical was in dab shape and repairing it would have ruined the business case for the restaurant. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1340 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
Busterwmu: I'm sure those new lights are Metal Halide. They are even whiter than Mercury (as well as more efficient, and safe). Mercury is pretty much not used anymore...Way too many downsides. A lot of new lights that are orangish are High Pressure Sodium. New lights that are completely orange are Low Pressure Sodium. The LPS are some of the most energy efficient lights out there, and do a good job for things like parking lots and freeways. They aren't good for pedestrain streets, since you can't distingiush colors under them. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 53 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57 |
Also, LPS helps astronomers filter out light pollution from astrophotos. White light can't be filtered. (Message edited by Jimaz on January 12, 2006) | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 191 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 24.247.221.241 |
I guess I should stop trying to show off and just go by their scientific names... white and orangish. Thanks for the info guys. |
