The Park Bar - Craft Beer and Detroit Soul

After a fierce set by Ravi Coltrane at Symphony Hall, my date and I dropped into the after-party hosted by the Centaur Bar. Being aware of their reputation for artfully prepared cocktails, I requested a drink menu from our spry, hipsterish bartender.
"No menu.  But I can tell you what beers are on," she offered.
"Did I hear correctly that the first round is free with our ticket stubs?" I mumbled while grappling with my tie.
The bartender glanced incredulously, then proceeded to mix a Sapphire and tonic for my lovely and much more decisive companion.
"Is the band playing upstairs? Is there another bar up there?" I asked with mounting impatience.  Now I was feeling anxious; like when you suddenly realize you're sitting in the wrong class on the first day of school.
Before she could answer,  I blurted "This IS the Centaur Bar, right?".
"No," with a wiseass smirk,"but I can tell you how to get there. Or I can tell you what beers are on."  Like many of my favorite things in life, I stumbled upon Detroit's Park Bar purely by mishap.

There is no sign outside to let you know that you have arrived at Park Bar. To me it's a great reminder that a lot of the really good stuff lies below the surface and does not have flashing neon to invite you in.

The interior is modern and minimal, but also manages to be quite unpretentious and warm. Large atmospheric paintings live on one wall, and the others consist of floor to ceiling windows. In the daytime it can be quite bright. Thus, the Park is the only bar where I will wear sunglasses inside and not feel like a douchebag. The soundtrack is always Detroit-centric with plenty Iggy Pop, Yusef Lateef, MC5, and Johnny Lee Hooker in the mix. Good music is not overrated at all.

There are 20+ taps and most are pouring Michigan craft beer. Motor City Brew Works entire line is a staple. The other taps rotate between thoughtfully chosen seasonals and one off's from Arcadia, New Holland, Founders, and Shorts as well as smaller producers like The Livery and Frankenmuth. Bells is curiously unrepresented, but with this kind of selection who would miss them?

The Park does not serve food, but they have a symbiotic relationship with their neighbors, Bucharest Grill. I have learned that after a few drinks there is nothing more satiating than the hearty street style fare of Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

 Like hummus and baba? Then prepare to be rocked out by the savory eggplant dip topped with tomato and onion, scooped up in a piece of soft warm pita. Or the fried cheese which is 2 slabs of muenster that have had each side browned on the griddle. Crack open the crisp outer layer and drool on yourself a little as cheese oozes out onto the plate. The Chicken Shwarma rivals any on earth and you should order it slathered in their pungent garlic sauce with extra pickles on board. I also hear that the skinless sausage and stuffed peppers are both top notch. I would venture to guess that everything on the menu is great.

A great time to be at the Park Bar is before a Tigers day game. Try their bloody mary which has pickled green beans and a splash of stout in it. It's also a chill place to read quietly by candlelight on a weeknight. If on the other hand you are feeling social, there is no better place to shoot the shit. A steady parade of characters pass through, and the regulars are a spirited lot of urban survivalists, pioneers, and homesteaders. 

For a pure Detroit beer experience, try happy hour at Roast followed by a walk around the corner to Foran's, then finish things off at the Park Bar. Just in case you are still able to walk, Cliff Bells is next door and the Town Pump can fill the Bell's void. Skip the Centaur Bar, the beer selection sucks.