Vinsetta Garage

I wasn’t surprised when I enjoyed this restaurant, I was already a huge fan of their sister restaurants The Woodshop and Clarkston Union. While there are differences between the restaurants the one thing that remains the same is the consistency of their food and quality service. Oh and unfortunately a lengthy wait (but worth it).
I’ve been to Vinsetta Garage a couple times. I brought my out of state parents here because my stepdad has a photo of the original Garage in his office at work. The food here is always spot in, my favorite is the 3am burger and the Mac n cheese.
I’ve recently heard that they now have a gluten free menu featuring gluten free hamburger buns and gluten free world famous mac. I am stoked to try them ASAP! I love everything about this place except the terrible lack of parking and they long wait.

We sat at the bar, big mistake. Very disappointed with the bartenders. They possibly were the worst bartenders I have experienced. They acted like we should be honored to be served by them.
This is too bad because the food and atmosphere is 5 stars.

Overall experience was: they should be ashamed of themselves.
Wait time is (according to the lazy slob sitting at the door who didn’t bother to look up from her book to welcome us) minimum 1−½ hours (regardless of how busy it is, per «her»), but closer to 2 hours… any night.
Last Friday night 2−½ hours. Plenty of empty tables, but they were being held for people still bellied up to the bar, while the holding tank for the mandatory wait time guests, was standing room only.
The table we finally got was one that for the 2−½ hour wait, never had anyone seated at it.
At the bar waiting for the table that never had patrons seated at it, it was near impossible to get the attention of the beer getters (Not a legitimate «Bar Tender» in sight) while they were jawjacking with other employees and a few customers. Ordered a pizza hors-d’oeuvre — it was in a pan with about ¼″ of grease floating on top.
Once we got to the never pre-​occupied table, the portions were minuscule (Mac & Cheese in a 3″ diameter bowl) for the price; my salad was supposed to be minus blue cheese, but had double blue cheese; waitress told me that’s what I ordered and she couldn’t take it back. Asked twice for beer refills, never got them but they were on the bill (yes I cashed out at the bar before going to the table that was never used). Fortunately the guests at teh table next to us vouched for the fact that we never got the beer, because as it turns out, they got service and food just as bad.

Wow. I can see why this place is popular.
The Upsides: great décor, great beer selection, great service, great food including world-​beating macaroni. Huge portions. Reasonable prices.
The Downsides: Parking. Forget trying to find a space, just use the free valet parking (don’t forget to tip the valets). Noise: the interior is loud when it’s crowded — and from what I’m told that’s constant. We lucked out and got seats by the windows, which is a much quieter area. The size of the menu — so hard to choose with all the selections available.
We had curds and cheese covered fries for appetizers. Two of us had pasta bowls, one had the stuffed poblano pepper and I had one of the gourmet Mac and cheeses — the one with the ground beef.
There were so many good menu options I want to go back in spite of the noise level and try more. If you’ve read some of my other reviews you know how I hate restaurant noise — but that’s how good the food is.

What’s all the hype about?
Parking is awful. Had to wait 30 minutes for our table on a Saturday afternoon, so I thought that was great sign of what was to come. But what I saw while sitting at the bar waiting for our table totally grossed me out. This guy cutting oranges (or some kind of citrus fruit) was doing so without gloves. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and say he did wash his hands before starting this en devour, but whilst cutting, he scratch his head & hair (which was donned in ratty, greasy stocking cap) AND he was eating pieces he cut — EGADS! (–1)
Then…I witnessed one of the prep cooks make salads with his bare hands. Shoving his hands in the salad hopper, over and over again, wiping his hands on his nasty apron, and doing it again. Not once did I see him, or anyone for that matter, wash their hands. (–1)
Then…this next was the worst. The fry cook, or grill daddy, was leaning over the ledge where the plates that are ready to be served are placed. His long, pointy beard grazed someones burger! GHACK! No hair nets, no beard nets, no hands washing… great, as not be the downer of the lunch party, I kept my mouth shut and soldiered on. (–1)
The atmosphere/​ambiance is eclectic and fun, but load since it’s one huge open garage.
We started off with the onion rings and cheese curds. After examining the food for beard hair, I found both dishes to be pleasing. But if you can’t get deep fried food right, then you shouldn’t be in business.
My crew then ordered pizza, burgers, and a pasta bowl. Pizza, eh it’s pizza. Just plain pepperoni & cheese that could’ve come from anywhere. The burgers were very good, juicy, and filling (+1); but some were a bit pricey ($ 15). And the pasta bowl wasn’t anything special either.
We ended with the Faygo ice cream and vanilla custard, which we were all happy with.
I guess it’s a cool place to go for the atmosphere, drinks, and bar food, but the way others talked this place up, I thought it might possibly become one of my favorite places to go. Not so much after the wait, poor food safety, prices, and just OK food.
So what saved this place from getting from getting a 2 star rating from me was the burgers.

Wanted to like it more. Cool look inside, nice staff. But my duck burger kinda sucked. I would give it another shot, the onion rings looked amazing. Went at lunch, fast and efficient and not over crowded I hear the dinner rush is crazy, no thanks

One of my favorite places … Staff is wonderful and atmosphere is fun! Besides having a difficult time trying to park, it’s worth the drive around the block or park further away and walk.
Food is always fresh and the drinks are great!

Such a cool place, expect a wait. 35 – 46 minutes on a Saturday at 4pm. This place has a great location on Woodward and delicious food. I suggest the 3am burger and cheese curds. Yum!

I’m not too familiar with restaurants. In Berkley, MI, but a lot of people were talking about Vinsetta so we figured we’d give it a try. First, I love the setting of this restaurant: an old car repair. Garage completely retrofitted to accommodate a restaurant. The old fixtures. Are still in place, which gives the restaurant a good vibe.
Beer menu is nice and large, plus there’s a good mix of cocktails. The mega super Bloody Mary or whatever they called it isn’t actually that great so I’d just stick with a regular. They say it comes with a «hamburger» as a garnish, but it’s really just a tiny slider paddy with no bun or anything. It was basically just like a patty of ground beef on top of the Bloody. Weird and unnecessary.
Food is definitely tasty. Their menu includes a mix of classic comfort foods (meatloaf, chicken pot pie, etc.) and some updated yummy burgers, sandwiches, meat dishes, and more. There’s a decent vegetarian selection, as well, so there’s something on the menu for everyone. The veggie burger actually wasn’t that good (which is what I ordered) but everyone else’s meals at my table were delectable so I’d say the food is good, just not what I got.
Valet parking existed but was free for some reason, so no complaints. There’s some street parking available but I hear the neighbors don’t like it so maybe use the parking lot or spots right out front. I hope to come back even though I’m not in the area too often.

One of my favorites in Detroit! Very gluten-​free friendly. They have a gluten-​free menu. Their pizzas and burgers are awesome. You can’t even tell that it’s gluten-​free bread. The pineapple & tasso pizza is excellent, although it is not spicy at all. The fries with the tomato-​aioli sauce is my favorite. They don’t have a separate gluten-​free fryer though, so be aware of that if you’re very sensitive or allergic to gluten.
Although the restaurant is very big, they almost always have a wait. I went on a Saturday around 4pm and waited about 30 – 45 minutes for a table for two. Parking is very limited. I usually just park in one of the neighborhood streets in front of a house and walk a couple blocks to the restaurant.

What am I going to write here that you haven’t heard before? Delicious. Life changing. Can I eat here everyday without clogging my arteries?
Dined here for a date night on a Wednesday night. It was about a 45 minute wait, not too shabby since it was 2 days before Christmas and most places are packed. The ambiance is very unique and interesting. There’s a lot to look at. I had a Moscow mule to drink, it was not served in a copper mug, which was a bit of a downer (yes, I know how snobby I sound.) But the drink was still delicious! My boyfriend had both the elderflower cocktail they offer and also one that was bourban and sparkling wine mixed (I cannot think of the name for the life of me). He really enjoyed the latter, and kept talking about how we need to make them for New Years for the rest of the night.
For an appetizer we had the disco fries. They were alright. The gravy did not have much flavor and in some spots there was so much red pepper flakes, it was a bit overwhelming. We both had the 3 am burger. It’s a half pound burger made of some magical mixtures of meat topped with cheese, maple bacon, a runny fried egg and fried onions. My burger was actually cooked as requested (medium, most places over cook the heck out of it!!). One of the best burgers I’ve ever had, hands down. For sides, I had a Caesar salad and my boyfriend had onion rings. The salad was under dressed and nothing special. The onion rings were ridiculously tasty! They do not have ranch, which almost caused a riot at my table, but give the tomato aioli a try. I could put that on anything and everything fried. It’s reminiscent of a tasty ketchup mayo mixture.
To finish it off, we had to try the Faygo Ice cream which is rock n’ rye flavored with pop rocks on top. Not as creamy as a traditional ice cream (it’s made with nitrous here), but if it was in front of my again, I would eat it. All of it.
Our waitress was Perry, and she was sweet as could be even with being busy and looking like she was about to pop at any time. Overall, a GREAT experience. If you’re a burger lover, you’ve got to try this place.

We had a pretty good lunch with minimal wait time, which was a plus.
I got a salad but sneaked a bite of my sons mac.
Daughter got the spagehetti not typical Union/​Vinsetta fair but she enjoyed it which works for me.
They had nice activity coloring for the kids to keep them busy while the food cooked.
Service was good. Server was nice, friendly.
We’d return given the chance.

Another case of the «I wish I could give three and a half stars» argument that Unilocal refuses to address.
It is often said that you should never bring a knife to a gun fight. The same can be said about ordering anything off a menu other than the core competency of a restaurant. Vinsetta’s Garage is perfect example of this.
I ordered the duck burger, cooked to perfection, complimented by the chutney which made the flavors pop. Just great.
We want the M&C for our daughter, but all they had was the «Union M&C» which I despise. I know everyone sucks the teat of Union and the woodshop but I am not a fan. Anywho, the waitress stepped up and made special a dish our daughter loved.
My wife ordered the margherita pizza, which was in my opinion an offensive representation of a pizza. I am pretty sure they reduce a spaghetti sauce and add a ton of garlic making it basically inedible. I would literally rather get a pizza pizza from that other place that does not deliver.
Also, VG has also found a way to make a game out of their frise, it’s like «where’s Waldo» and try and find the edible frise amongst the overcooked nubs.
The saving grace was our waitress, did a great job and did everything to makes feel like we were her only table in an otherwise packed place.
This place does offer a great atmosphere and some of the best hipster watching ever.

A little expensive, but a fun place that is creative with their food. The milkshake was the bomb! The tikka fries… not so much. Though they do get points for creativity, the curry was really bland.
The food here is good, but overwhelmingly salty. The pizza had a nice robust flavor, with their own smoked meat.
The burger was delicious and comes in a huge portion, but $ 16?

Best of luck getting a table here during prime dining hours as there is almost always a wait! The wait is definitely worth it though. I strongly recommend substituting a side for their mac and cheese. Very flavorful and very filling! I usually get their pizzas or burgers — depends on what I’m in the mood for.
As for parking, they offer valet but most people tend to park in the residential roads behind the restaurant. Regardless, definitely worth a visit but be sure you have plenty of time as it gets quite busy!

Definitely enjoy the disco fries. This is a frie dish with gravy, cheese, cheese curds and other delicious bits. My favorite item on the menu so far.
The burgers are big and delicious. Properly prepared and there is a variety of flavors. I have enjoyed the lamb burger every time I have ordered it. My wife regularly orders the 3am (burger with egg on it) and enjoys it every time.
Their craft draft beer selection is good and regularly rotated.
This is a great place to stop and try a burger and beer. A great place to hang out with friends. There is always a lovely atmosphere and the parking is limited. Try parking on a nearby street.
This place is a restored car repair garage and it has a great feel.
I am looking forward to trying one of the pizzas on the menu soon.

Ended up at the «Garage» by default for a mid-​week lunch after finding that One Eyed Betty’s didn’t open until 4:00 pm. I’d always liked the hip Auto-​Electric theme in this once gritty working garage fronting Woodward Avenue «between 11 and 12» as they say in Motown.
It was all burgers today for our group of four. The Vinsetta Burger decked out with the usual suspects: lettuce, tomato, sliced red onion and pickle was the overwhelming choice of our table. Variation came with the sides which ran from baked chips to Mac ‘n Cheese to onion rings averaging a nice 4″ in diameter. The house-​blended Sriracha-​Mayo for the rings was a unique and tasty touch.
The consensus of our table was that the burgers were decent but not of the caliber of those another mile up Woodward at the Red Coat. The service was a bit spotty as well with our empty plates hanging around a bit too long at lunch hour when most diners need to eat and run back to the office.
The atmosphere here was definitely cool but it’s the Red Coat next time in this hood.

This place gets crowded pretty quickly for the dinner rush. They have valet parking but you can park on the side street near the restaurant.
The tikka fries were tasty with a bit of heat. The chicken was a tad dry but it was good with the paneer and green onions on top.
The union Mac and cheese was very cheesy and delicious. The crunchy top added great texture to the soft noddles. The chop salad was a nice mixture of blue cheese, dried cherries, cucumber, tomato, ham, and fried onion strings. I loved the most unhealthy thing about the salad, which were the onion strings. The Margherita pizza was very good too. The pizza was 12 inches and the crust was great. The tomato on top were in big chunks so when they were cooked in the oven they released a lot of their juices, making some spots on the pizza soggy.
Overall, great food. It’s well worth it if you beat the dinner rush. In the future, I would want to try one of their custard milkshakes.

I forgot how much I loved this place, what with all the downtown buzz. We both ordered burgers again — the macon bacon for him, and the duck burger for me. (I just couldn’t bring myself to order something else, it’s so good) The duck burger was so juicy, it ran down my arm, no lie. It’s the juiciest burger I’ve ever had. Stupid good. The smoked chicken wings were also perfect — well seasoned and served with a delicious tangy hot sauce.
New for us was the chips n’ dip, which is a homemade version of french onion dip and potato chips. The dip was awesome, but if I’m honest, I had a couple of chips that were on the chewy side. That didn’t stop me from eating every last one, though. Lol
The beer selection was excellent as always, and it’s beautiful here. I look forward to the next time.

I’ve figured out the key to coming to Vinsetta Garage and filling up on deliciousness without a wait – LUNCH. I’ve now gone twice in the last couple of weeks, once for a lunch meeting around 1pm and another for a pre-​wedding dress fitting meal around 2pm (maybe not the smartest of moves considering the food here is a bit rich but NO REGRETS) and have not had a wait either time. As someone who is impatient and prone to hangry rages, this pleases me. You still get the full menu and the cool ambiance without the crowds that can sometimes fill this place up in the evenings.
The last few times I’ve come I’ve stuck to sandwiches. I cannot give enough praise to the THE EV1 (house-​made vegan patty, coal fired tomatoes, arugula, broccoli sprouts, goat cheese, shiitake bacon, roasted garlic balsamic mayo). I’m not vegetarian but I’ve been craving this sandwich ever since I got it. The shiitake bacon is delicious and it’s even made my hardcore meat eating Polish grandmother a believer in the veg way. I also quite like the grilled chicken sandwich (a juicy marinated chicken breast, mushroom smother, Woodshop MI maple bacon, pepper jack, Vinsetta Burger Sauce). Also, props to the 3AM Burger, the mac & cheese, the tikka, disco, and regular ol’ hand cut fries as well. Basically I have not had anything here I did not like. It’s all delicious, fun, and expertly prepared.
The space, an old garage, is also a huge charmer. Everyone I bring there marvels at how cool the space is and how neat it is that they’ve retained some of the «garage» feel without it feeling dirty or too gimmicky.
Also props to all the gluten free options. I’m lucky enough to not have that issue but I have a few friends with celiacs or food allergies and I love being able to recommend this place to them.
Basically I super love this place and can’t wait for my next visit!