Detroit - London Chop House

The London Chop House was opened in the 1930’s, by brothers Lester and Sam Gruber, following the repeal of prohibition. It quickly became “a magnet” for Detroit’s business executives, power elites and celebrities passing through town.

As well as being names one of the 10 best restaurants in the nation by the James Beard Foundation in 1961, the same year it won a Darnell Survey award as one of America’s Favorites. It won Holiday magazine awards repeatedly. Honors continued throughout the 1970s, and in 1980 it made Playboy’s top 25 list - it’s been said that magazine has articles.

Here is a sample menu, from back in the day.

The Grubers knew how to flatter the male ego. Guests who made reservations would often arrive to their tables to find a book of matches and reserved signs imprinted with their names as well as a coin to reimburse them for the phone call.

Everyone wanted Table #1 and many regulars were highly impressed that the suave waiters remembered how many ice cubes they liked in their highballs.

As demand escalated the Grubers opened a 2nd place across the street, The Caucus Club in the Penobscot Building where it is said Barbara Streisand got her start in 1961. The Caucus club was sold after Lester Grubers death to Max & Lanie Pincus who kept it open until 1991.

Through the years they have had a number of big named chefs like Eddie Dobler, who was known as the Perch King, “Pancho” Velez and James Beard Award winner Jimmy Schmitt who went on to open numerous restaurants across the country including the Rattlesnake Club in Detroit. While it was opened in 1938 they did shut their doors for 21 year. The 1980s were not a great time for the city of Detroit, especially for restaurants. Lester Gruber sold the chophouse in 1982, Jimmy Schmitt left, and the new owner passed away. Despite efforts to keep it afloat, it also closed in 1991. In 2012 they reopened under the new ownership of Nico Gatzaros. The restoration was said to have cost roughly $2 Million and preserved the original “Mad Men” era décor.

When you arrive at the restaurant, you will likely be greeted by Dorian the Doorman. He has been manning the door here since they reopened their doors in 2012 and is happy to bend you ear if you are willing to listen. He definitely set the tone for what was to come. You step inside and walk down into the dining room. It is dark and intimate, with rich dark wood tones throughout.

There is a long bar stretching the length of the dining room with leather backed high top chairs, and a stage centered in the room, with live easy listening entertainment. You literally feel like you stepped back in time.

There are 2 phone booths that still work.

As is typical of an old supper club, they have live entertainment with various artists taking the stage every night around 7:00.

This is a “chop house” so the main menu focus is on steaks and chops featuring your traditional prime cuts as well as Australian Wagyu strip steaks and double cut lamb chops. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other options to choose from. There is a great selection of seafood, chicken and salads and appetizers like crab cakes smoked salmon toast, and steak tartare.

There were 4 of us and we all like to share so we started with an order of the steak tartare with porcini vinaigrette, egg yolk, shallot, frisee and crostini’s.

Next was the Berkshire Pork Belly served with crispy parsnips, apple & bourbon compote, maple syrup and rosemary.

The French Onion Soup which was so good we ordered a 2nd bowl.

For dinner we ordered the Double Cut Pork Chop with Agave BBQ glaze, charred corn and scallion & Fresno salad and the Braised Beef Short Rib with celery root puree, baby carrot and red wine demi glace and crispy leek. Everything that hit the table exceeded our expectations.

We finished off with a slice of their decadent carrot cake for dessert.

Bottom line here is if you are looking for an exceptional night out that will transport you back in time, the London Chop House is the place to go.

Their sister restaurant, Ostrea Seafood, is right around the corner if you are looking for something a little more lively and less intimate. You cant go wrong with either place. We will definitely be going back!