Kresge Court - Detroit

Love this space. The baristas could definitely use some training. Screaming milk frothing, adding syrup to drinks without it being asked for, putting warmed milk into a cold drink. ? Love that this place uses Great Lakes but disappointed with quality. Sorry to say! Haven’t tried any food.

Great place to stop.at and have drink or quick bite at the museum

Completely confusing and very disappointing experience at Kresge Court this past week. Having a meal here during our museum visit was specifically requested by out-of-town friends visiting Detroit. DIA website says this and the CafeDIA are both temporarily closed. Signage inside the museum also states closed. We walked past the second floor windows that looked down into the court and observed people sitting with food and drink, so we walked down to grab lunch. No signage at the entrance to state what we discovered when we got in line to order at the counter: there is no longer any table service and the menu is painfully limited, split between some sad prepackaged grab-n-go items, two salads, and a couple sandwiches. The line was very slow moving, though the employees were doing their best to take orders, make drinks, and run any kitchen orders out to the tables. Lots of single people seated at 4 tops in the dining area. It was challenging to find a spot for our group of 7 to eat and we ended up in the only space that could accommodate us, at a couch/coffee table configuration in the corner that would be fine for drinks and handheld foods only. Our kitchen items were delivered in an acceptable amount of time. My spring salad was delivered in a plastic clamshell container which seemed unnecessary for dining in. I have a hunch that it was prepped and refrigerated before time, and if that is the case, I would not have ordered it. The dressing was good, but the spring mix and asparagus lacked crispness. The other folks in my party did not care for the flatbread and turkey sandwich that they ordered and those items were left mostly uneaten. No server to bring any of these concerns to, unless we wanted to stand in line again at the counter. This experience was nowhere near the level we have experienced in the past, over 30+ years of coming to Kresge Court! I would skip ordering anything other than a drink here until the DIA figures out what to do with service and food quality in this space.

There are two very nice places to eat at the DIA, the cafeteria which has surprisingly good food and is suitable to kids, too; and then there is this lounge. It is serene. The food is wonderfully crafted for a museum, the wine is complex and well paired. The music is quiet but adds to the mood of peace. If you have boisterous kids in tow or a large animated group of loquacious adults the cafeteria is your place, but for quiet conversation over a good Pinot noir, or just relaxing and contemplating the art you just saw, this is your place. We had the charcuterie and the Romeo Apple salad. Both were excellently presented and generous in their portion. Personally I advise trying the salad only after serious evaluation of the risk since the candied pecans are almost certainly addicting and you could easily wind up offering your car in exchange for some more of them. The lounge tends to fill up around noon but other times it is easy to order and find a seat by yourself if you wish that. Afterward you can go see the Picasso and Rembrandt and bam Gogh, but stay away from “The nut gatherers” because you might go back and trade your house for more candied pecans!!!

Here’s what I loved about the place: 1. There are plenty of seating options, ranging from library-style large tables with power outlets to regular small tables and cozy couch lounges. 2. The spacious interior features a high glass ceiling that lets in a lot of natural light, creating a wonderfully open atmosphere. 3. The historical architecture is both charming and somewhat green, adding to the overall appeal. 4. The drinks menu includes a variety of pleasant options—espresso-based drinks, non-dairy milk, drip coffee, cold brew, teas, beer, and wine—while the food is good enough to keep me satisfied, though not necessarily gourmet. 5. The server was friendly and very helpful. However, there are a few drawbacks (though I think they are understandable given that this isn’t a full restaurant or specialty café): 1. There’s no password for the Wi-Fi. 2. The hours of operation are somewhat limited; the only day with extended hours is Friday. 3. The food selection is a bit limited. 4. It’s not always straightforward to find a staff member for assistance, especially when trying to locate the restroom; you might need to ask for directions as you navigate the space near the entrance. Overall, it’s a great spot for studying and enjoying some good food and drinks!