Downtown Detroit Restaurant Review: The Woodward

If you are wondering where you may be able to catch a bite to eat before or after a Detroit Tigers game, you may want to walk a little further south from the park than usual and try The Woodward. The Woodward is a moderately priced restaurant located within the Compuware Building on Woodward Ave and just down the street from Comerica Park. Staples of the menu are their signature Chicken Chili, priced at $6 a cup and the Kern Clock Burger, served with fries for $10.

The Woodward's Chicken Chili is one of the best I have had the experience of tasting, containing large pieces of chicken and white bean. Its not too spicy flavor is perfect for my palate and is a good starting point if you plan on ordering the Kern Clock Burger. I ordered my burger, medium well with Sweet Potato Fries. The Sweet Potato Fries are a wonderful change from the ordinary french fries you find on other restaurants menus, their slightly sweet taste is a great change of pace and they do a perfect job of complimenting the burger. If you like your burger a bit crispy on the edges and juicy on the inside, the Woodward's Kern Clock Burger will not disappoint you.

The restaurant offers about a half dozen desserts which appear to change regularly except for a couple of old time Detroiter favorites. The Sander's Hot Fudge Cream Puff, which will help you bring back those memories of the old Sanders Ice Cream Parlors that used to be visible in many cities around Metro Detroit.
Allow me to describe Hot Fudge Cream Puff, for those of you not lucky enough to have experienced one. It is a cream puff, split in half with a scoop of Sander's vanilla ice cream sandwiched in between the halves and topped off with a generous helping of Sanders Hot Fudge. If you like hot fudge sundaes, I predict you will love the Hot Fudge Cream Puff at The Woodward. The other old time Detroit favorite dessert offered at The Woodward, is the Vernors Float. The Vernors Float is simply a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream with Vernors Ginger Ale poured over it. Once again, there is nothing else like a Vernors Float.

While I would not call the service at the Woodward spectacular, I would consider my experiences with the service to be acceptable. The staff appears to be knowledgeable about the menu choices and do not hesitate to suggest their personal favorites. The restaurant also has a full bar and offers live entertainment on some evenings.

Whether you are looking for somewhere to dine before a game, or looking for a treat on a hot summer night after the Tigers have beaten the New York Yankees. Keep The Woodward in mind as one of the newer Downtown Detroit Restaurants to patronize. The menu choices are moderately priced, but you can save a little money by purchasing a $25 gift certificate for $10 on the Restaurant.com website. You can redeem the gift certificate on a $35 minimum purchase, when at least two people are dining. On our last visit to The Woodward, two of us were able to enjoy the Chicken Chili, a sandwich with fries and dessert for under $25 when using one of the Restaurant.com gift certificates.

Visit The Woodward, if even for only a Sander's Hot Fudge Cream Puff, you will not be disappointed.