This summer has been one of many fun things including try lots of new and exciting restaurants. As with anything, they have been a bit hit and miss. Wright and Company was our latest adventure about a week and a half ago.
They don’t take reservations and have been known to have two hour waits, so Mom, Dad, and I met some friends there just after 4, when they open. I’m pretty sure we were the first to arrive and were welcomed by smiling hostesses, waiters, and bartenders.
The restaurant is on the second floor of a building not too far from Ford Field and Comerica Park, offering a nice view of the city. The inside is also welcoming with a bar stocked with glimmering bottles and nice round booths facing the windows.
Our waiter approached and took our drink orders. I always either order bottled water or bring my own when the restaurant doesn’t have it. Say what you will, but in this era of lead being found in water all over the place, this is something I will not apologize for. He brought a glass full of ice to go along with my water. When I asked for a glass without ice, he walked three steps to the service station next to our booth, dumped the ice, and replaced the glass on the table. I drank from the bottle.
As for the cocktails themselves, we tried three different ones. One with vodka, one with rum, one with bourbon, and all we could say about them was that they were incredibly strong. We all enjoy a good cocktail and our guest actually coughed when she first tasted hers.
The waiter suggested we each order two dishes, which we did. However, the dishes were not presented in that way. The potato chips came first, which was fine. They were an excellent start to the meal and enough for everyone to share. Not a bit greasy and loaded with white cheddar sauce and bacon, they are craveable.
It would have been nice for the remainder of the dishes to be presented as all the appetizers at once and all the entrees at once. This, however, did not happen, much like at Republic. They were presented in a haphazard manner, each set in the middle of the table with a sharing spoon. While none of us minded sharing, this was not how we ordered out food. I for example ordered the Escarole Salad with ricotta salata, stone fruit, and rhubarb vinaigrette. The dressing was very good, though the salad felt like it was just missing something. Dad ordered the sirloin steak with corn. Though overcooked, it was a huge hit with all of us. We were willing to share our dishes, but they were just that: our dishes. However, they were presented as community food.
This was an issue throughout the meal, though pretty much everything we ate was great if not outstanding. The pork belly sliders on brioche with a Sriracha aioli were crispy, yet tender, and the flavors melded beautifully. The heirloom tomatoes with burrata showcased the best of the season and the pesto totally popped.
The crisp Gulf shrimp with Thai chili sauce may have been the best dish of the night. The shrimp were delicate and crispy, not at all fishy, and the sweet, tart, and spicy sauce is something I would happily put on just about anything. Our guest also enjoyed the sea scallops, which were golden brown and presented with corn.
We, along with our guests, ordered the eggplant cannelloni, despite the waiter’s warnings it was super eggplant-y. However, the dish never arrived. The waiter forgot to put it in, so he ordered it late and one arrived. Apparently he still didn’t know we wanted two. It was fine, but a bit of a shame as the dish was not at all eggplant forward and was delightful. The tender pasta, the gooey cheese, the acidic tomatoes on top to cut through the richness. Anyone and everyone should try this dish.
It came time for dessert. We tried the butterscotch pudding as well as the special, a semolina cake with blueberries and lemon curd. The butterscotch pudding was a disappointment with an overwhelming artificial taste. However, the blueberry cake more than made up for it. It was balanced and a perfect celebration of summer.
In the end, it was a beautiful September night, we had great company, some fabulous food, and a wonderful overall time. However, after wanting to go to Wright and Company for a couple years, I was disappointed in the service and pacing and presentation of the food.
Hi Laura, great review. The pacing of the meal is as most important as the food. We never complain to the business but never go back. I was told that they want people to talk to them for feedback and to give them a chance to make things rights, maybe it was an off moment. Anyway, the food looks great.
It is hard to complain. Sometimes we do it in person and some restaurants handle it better than others. Thanks, Cheri!
So you wouldn’t drink water over ice from the well but you will drink cocktails that have been shaken/stirred aka diluted with ice from the well?
You have a good point. I typically drink bourbon neat but wanted to try a cocktail here. I don’t eat out often because it is a compromise and putting trust in the restaurant and it’s employees.
Awww too bad it wasn’t great when it sounded like it could have been with better service! The food looks outstanding and I’m glad that was tasted great. It’s always nice to try new places but it can be a bit of a risk.