I'm so sad, but - boo! I grew up in the area, so the Rugby Grille was always a special evening standard. The food and service were always top notch - and they still are. I made a reservation for a group of friends for Restaurant Week, when lots of Birmingham restaurants do a 3 course meal for $25. The Rugby Grille was offering a 3 course meal for $35. Fine, I thought, it's the Rugby Grille. It will be wonderful. We arrived and were greeted and seated promptly in the hallway portion of the restaurant, at the very back. I've sat in the hallway before and normally, it's fine. Tonight, it wasn't. We were next to a set of double-doors into a small entry way: to the right, doors going outside; to the left, elevators; straight on into a large reception area with a large, loud party. There was a constant stream of hotel guests walking past to get to the elevator, continuing their loud conversations as they walked past our chairs, dragging kids, and frankly, bumping our chairs and pushing past. Furthermore, the party was loud; I could hear the guests, a DJ, etc., on top of the people clumping up in that entry way, talking. At one point, a man in a ridiculous sombrero and fake mustache was pulling on a mariachi costume. What the heck?? The food was good, but the portions were tiny. I know it's Restaurant Week and all, and the restaurants might offer smaller portions for the $25, but the Rugby Grille was charging $35; I don't think it should have felt cheap. I would probably still come to eat off the regular menu, because the food, although very expensive, is very good. But I wouldn't come back with a big group, because I won't ever risk being seated in that hallway again. If you come, be sure to make your reservation for the restaurant portion so you're not seated in a busy hallway.
(2)
Jason G.
I recently went to the Rugby Grille for an anniversary dinner with my girlfriend. We wanted to have a big meal for our big day. I made reservations a few weeks in advance. I heard the place fills up pretty quickly, so I wanted to make sure we were set. I told them it was my anniversary and they said they would take note of that and do something special for my girlfriend and I for dessert. Sounded good to me. I was shocked to see that they had lost my reservation when I arrived for dinner (there goes the free dessert). Luckily there was one table open that they offered us, however it was basically in the hotel lobby. If you've never been, the place is pretty small. I guess it was better than waiting for 1-2 hours in the lobby like a few of the guests that came in moments after us. All of the food that we had was amazing. Huge compliments to the kitchen staff, because everything we aet was really good. We had Short Rib Spring Rolls for an appetizer, and the bone in Filet's for dinner. We capped off the night with an Adult Milkshake and some Chocolate Chip cookies. Nothing bad to say about the food at all. The service started out really well, then slowly degraded as the night went on. Our sever was very prompt when we first got there, and we saw her less and less as the evening went on. It took almost 20 minutes for our check to be picked up. I liked how infrequent her visits were in the beginning of the meal when I was letting my appetizer settle in, but near the end of the night it was an annoyance. Since we were basically sitting at the server stand, we overheard a couple (who were regulars) tell the hostess it was the worst service they had ever had. When he pointed out their server, it was the same as ours. They said they felt bad leaving her a $10 tip, but they had to wait for over an hour for salad. Unfortunately for me, since we used a coupon I was forced to shell out the maximum tip possible. I understand why they do that, but I had a hard time spending $50 on terrible service. Overall the meal was good, but not a place I think I'd ever return to.
(3)
Annalisa B.
Disappointing. At an upscale restaurant, I expect them to be more sensitive to food allergies. Not so here. I had to send back my lamb chps three times because the dish contained ingredients I was allergic to...will never go back.
(2)
A H.
I have very fond memories of this restaurant growing up, we lived in the hotel when we moved here when I was a kid. The brunch is amazing, lot of variety and great seating. Typical of what you would find at any country club. Went for dinner last week, was very nice except we were practically the only people in there. Had the tuna which was very well prepared, a little pricey in my opinion, but we had a restaurant.com certificate so it didn't concern us greatly. The wine list is extensive and the service is impeccible. The bar is a good place to take business clients.
(4)
Mark J.
Table of four. $425 (including tip). I had the Dover Sole which was delicious, presented with panache, and cooked perfectly. Our hearty group split three bottles of wine and ate three-and-four course meals. We came here for a special night and didn't care about the cost, as it was a one-off thing. We stayed for a few hours, enjoying the atmosphere and conversation and food at an easy pace and never felt rushed to move or clear the table so they could seat the next group. I get the feeling Rugby Grille is accustomed to be treated as a destination in itself. I won't be coming here again very soon, but it's not because it wasn't great. Wait staff is knowledgeable and helpful. Rugby Grille is a former Restaurant of the Year winner from Hour Detroit Magazine, and you'll find plenty of helpful suggestions on what to order in reviews if you do a little homework online. Which, if you're paying this much for dinner, is probably worth the effort. So, next time I have a 10 year wedding anniversary, or my son wins a Pulitzer, or I win the Lotto... see ya there!
(5)
Peter S.
Very good food and very good service. I had the lamb, which was excellent. Others had the bone-in fillet (an oxymoron?), and the Dover sole. All are recommended. I also enjoyed the French onion soup and the house salad. Excellent wine list, but one of the highest mark-ups I've seen. The ambiance is good, although the room with the bar can get a little loud. I'll return...but not without a restaurant.com coupon.
(4)
Sari G.
The Rugby Grille is a nice place with good food and a big price tag. If you come for dinner, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. The one thing that is worth it (and less expensive) are the hamburgers which are a pretty unique thing. They are $18, which for a hamburger is a lot, but they taste pretty good and I am not even a fan of hamburgers. The Rugby Grille piles a lot of things on top...things I wouldnt necessarily include on a hamburger...for example, a sunny side up egg on top? no thanks...that had to come off immediately. But besides that, it was a good tasting burger with an interesting blend of toppings. The fries were good too. What you are really paying for here is the atmosphere and the surrounding company. Fun place to people watch, just bring your credit card or a restaurant.com coupon! lol
(4)
Sweet P.
part of it may have the been the 2nd glass of wine, but i believe i have a new death row meal. lobster taglietelle from rugby grille. the good: 1) excellent, but not intrusive service; 2) warm, comfortable ambiance with a glowing fireplace and wonderful paintings of poppies and blown glass sculptures 3) delectable and appropriately portioned cuisine. 4) a nice array of wine's available by the glass the bad: 1) it's pricey, but you should expect that from fine dining in birmingham anyways. 2) i would have expected better mashed potatoes from a restaurant like this. they were still great, but were a little standard and pale in comparison to the other dishes. recommended: lobster tagliatelle (not too heavy, with a marscapone and black truffle sauce. dreams are made of this), townsend salad (can't go wrong with maytag blue cheese). the have excellent steak, cooked as you like it, but this wouldn't be the #1 place i would immediately send my beef/lamb loving friends (maybe #3, in the area). i have yet to try their dover sole, which the waitstaff has recommended the two times i've been to rugby grille.
(5)
Keith P.
Quite impressed for a hotel restaurant. The food was quite good and service was tops.
(5)
Lisa R.
My husband & I went to celebrate our anniversary. I was in the first trimester of my pregnancy & battling HORRIBLE morning sickness. No matter what time of day it was or what kind of food I was eating, I was sick! For this reason, I was nervous about our dining experience. Everything ended up being AMAZING! The service was incredible ~ our server even treated us to dessert. The steak was cooked to perfection ~ melted in your mouth. The best part of the meal? The pureed potatoes. THEE MOST HEAVENLY TASTING POTATOES ON EARTH!!! Fantastic!
(5)
Jen F.
This place was very overpriced for the mediocre food. Overall it was not a good dining experience. The hostess was not friendly and most of the food was cold. We felt packed into the overcrowded dining room. The hostess couldn't even fit between the tables, knocking a patron's drink off the table trying to squeeze passed it. Overall a very expensive disappointment for dinner.
(2)
Justin S.
i have had dinner off of the menu, new years eve dinner, but breakfast is the power move here. whether it's tuesday morning with ceo's and coo's or sunday with fieger there is always a power play at the rugby grille.
(5)
Scott S.
We went on saturday to the "new" rugby grille. The new menu was not there, but the changes were. Most of them are better, the outside hallway no longer feels like a hallway, and inside there is some separation between the bar and the tables, which is nice, although the curtain just does not fit. It looks odd, but no big deal. Yes this is expensive, if that is going to be a factor, don't come or don't complain, the prices are not hidden. But after eating here since it opened more than 20 years ago, it's still great. There is an upscale, not overly pretentious vibe. yes there is some pretense, there is is supposed to be at a place like this but it does not feel as out there as 220 or Hyde Park where the focus is on letting people know you are there. But the food is overall great, the service is great, seems like the servers tailor what they are doing to who they are serving. So you can do fancy and little talk, or chatty and very friendly. Courtney, our server many times over, is great and fun and great with my teen age kids We had table side caesar salads, some soup, one steak and a shrimp cocktail. No one cared were not having a 600 dollar dinner. It is and was always a great experience. Treat yourself, it is worth it
(5)
Samer H.
every thing was ok except the the main meal. The stake was cold I asked them to heat it for me they put it in the microwave. since the stake was dry, microwave did not heat it up, so I ate it cold and dry. service was good, expect to hav laud people in the bar.
(4)
Leslie K.
My hubby too me to Rugby Grille as my birthday dinner this year. We ordered duck tacos as appetizers, which were amazing for being tacos! The duck was crisped up very nicely and the waiter kindly showed us the piece of jalapeno pepper (in case we weren't spice lovers & wanted to remove it). The only thing is, you only get 3 tiny tacos, and it's not easy to split the 3rd one, since the shell is so crispy. For our entrees, we had the rack of lamb and scallops. We each ate half our plate then switched, so we could enjoy both. The food was phenomenal and the presentation incredibly artistic. For dessert, we shared creme brulee. The meal was amazing, but most notably that night was the very helpful, knowledgeable & friendly waitstaff. He gave us suggestions of appetizers & sizes, as well as after dinner drinks and desserts. I think we will put this on our list as a place to revisit for special occasions!
(5)
Knapweed L.
Can't go wrong with the restaurant of the toniest hotel (Townsend) in the Oakland County! I've eaten here several times and the food and service are always consistently great. The restaurant has a classic, upscale setting. Great menu selection. The portion is just right, and always tasty - love Tuna, Salmon, Dover Sole...and the bread basket! Attentive service. Although i don't see explicit dress code for the restaurant, better to be a bit formal and nicely. Most customers are middle-age and plus, sophisticated connoisseurs...sometimes can be a little intimidating if you are casual 20-somethings. Great for: business, dates, special occasions
I love Rugby! It is quite tasty and the wine list is awesome. The bartenders are super nice and I love the decor!!!! They really go the extra mile to appease the customer and make the evening special. I sometimes go there by myself to unwind and no gives me a second look, which is the best part. If I could, I would give it 10 stars :)
(5)
Samir N.
This is another Restaurant Week review-I love me some Restaurant Week! The waiter recommended a great wine, but it went downhill from there. The soup was non-memorable and I ordered a lobster pasta dish that did not appear on their regular menu. The saving grace was the wine, although the chocolate tart was not bad. Everyone around me looked so happy. I definitely made a big mistake by ordering off the Restaurant Week menu. C'est la vie
(2)
Ken Z.
Was taken here for dinner for my birthday recently. Wisely, our reservations were for in the dining room, which has a nice atmosphere, as opposed to the hallway. Overheard one of the staff saying they are renovating soon to add outdoor seating. Maybe the hallway alignment will change? Anyway, on to the food. Ordered a chopped salad as did my companion. Included lettuce, scallions, chickpeas, cucumber, etc. Also included hard-boiled eggs and tomatoes. I went sans-egg, but my companion went for it. Eggs arrived cut in half i.e. big wedges. Tomatoes were whole cherry/grape tomatoes. I'm confused - shouldn't both of these items been diced in a "chopped" salad??? Otherwise, a good salad, but overpriced at $14. For my entree, I had the bronzed salmon with spinach, apple parsnip puree (unless my memory is mistaken and it was apple/potato) and mushrooms. Very tasty - I cleaned the plate. Was it worth $35? Hard to say - it was a nice-sized portion and very good, but seems like a lot to pay for (most likely, farmed) salmon... I wasn't paying so I guess it doesn't matter. For dessert, we had something I would call a chocolate lava cake with good vanilla ice cream. Surprisingly, when the bill came, it said it was free due to my birthday. FYI - their dinner menu on their website is not current. I would say 3 1/2 stars, but I'll round up to 4 since the guy serving water kept my glass full every minute of the evening. He did drop an ice cube though... and said it happens all the time...
(4)
Jackie T.
If you are staying at the Townsend or just looking for a tasty meal in Birmingham, you will not be disappointed at the Rugby Grille. I like meeting friends here for brunch or lunch. I am a very big fan of their breakfast. I usually go with their bananas foster french toast. The pancakes are also very delicious. Satisfying and filling. Service is always attentive and the dining area is typically quiet.
(5)
William R.
Rugby Grille has to be one of my top 3 restaurants of all time. If you go here, be ready to spend 100$+ for 2 people, but it is well worth it....especially if you are celebrating something special. I have been to Rugby Grille twice, both times I have had the duck tacos as an appetizer and I would highly recommend those. They are prepared so delicately, the end result is an amazingly, succulent mini taco which is put together in such a creative manner. The wine list is extensive and if I knew anything more about wine I would include those details here as well, but I am sure they will be able to accommodate any requests that you may have. For the entree portion of your meal, I have to highly suggest the Dover Sole if you are a fish lover (like Kanye West....zing!). Sorry for the lame South Park reference, but anyways, the Dover Sole is magnificent and they actually de-bone the fish right at the table.....which is actually pretty cool. The shortrib and the scallops are both excellent choices as well. In the end, you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu at the Rugby Grille. They use the finest ingredients and it shows. Everything tastes great and is presented in a similar fashion. I highly recommend, 5/5!
(5)
Dante G.
Downtown Birmingham is Terrific but the Rugby Grille was FANTASTIC!!! the place blew me away! It was pretty late after 11:00pm so I really wasent expecting to have dinner but to my surprise they had a burger on the menu.... a little pricey but I will tell you that was the BEST BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD and worth every penny! we will be back! Thanks for a great night!
(4)
Maria B.
I traveled here in a blizzard to try the food (yes that's how crazy i am about good food), and it was well worth the tumultuous journey! The setting is quaint, with an English Tea Party-esque decor. Service was excellent and the food was fantastic! Their braised beef short ribs were cooked perfectly (melted like butter), fantastic salmon here, and their desserts are heavenly! Overall superb food, full of flavor, and consistently excellent. Been back twice, and the food is just as amazing!!! : )
(5)
Susan B.
Came to eat on july 4th, beautiful day, outside tables open, but were told itvwould be a 35 minute wait outside so decided to eat inside. We had three different people promising to get us water, after pursuing this and we asked to order, bread was brought but had to ask twice for bread plates. Our salads did not come so we asked several waitstaff people. Everyone was slow, non responsive. Outside tables remained empty. The meal was ok but from start to finish 11/2 hours. Frustrating. I will not go back. I also have never written a review, so i was very irritated
(2)
Rachel L.
My parents were in town for a family event and staying at the Townsend Hotel. When looking for a place in Birmingham for brunch, we were happy to discover the hotel restaurant, the Rugby Grille, was so well-reviewed on Yelp. And the reviews were right-on, the food was amazing, though not cheap. The baked goods on the table were fine, but nothing special, the only thing that was even slightly mediocre. Having recently become an Eggs Benedict connoisseur, I ordered it with a side of fruit. The dish was exactly how it should be: the eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise was light (or as light as hollandaise can be) and not overly gooey, and the Candaian bacon was crisp. Amazing. My mom got creme brulee brioche french toast (seriously, it's a real thing), which was incredibly decadent. It came with a grand marnier berry compote, cinnamon butter and fresh whipped cream. It was an outrageously good combination. My dad went for the boring eggs, hashbrowns and sausage breakfast. It was very good, particularly the chicken-apple sausage, which was huge (that's what she said, I know) and clearly came right off the grill, steaming when he cut it open. The service was impeccable, my coffee cup was always full, and the staff was very pleasant. Overall, in my estimation, this a great place for a indulgent (both calorically and financially) brunch.
(5)
Michael P.
Service was good, atmosphere was lacking. We had a bottle of wine, fish tacos & two entrees. Couldn't stand stay any longer for desert. The duck taco's were very good but quite small. The veal was overly fatty & undercooked. The salmon was good. Uninspiring menu for price. Total tab 175. Should've been 90. We were parked next to the very loud bar & the table next to us had a 50 pound dog that wouldn't stop sniffing me. Not a seeing eye dog, not a purse dog. Overall there are many other restaurants for less that are better. We walked to another restaurant for desert & coffee. Should have sooner
(2)
Sarah Z.
Had brunch here with my Dad the other day. Food was fantastic, I got an egg white frittata with feta cheese. I seriously have never seen eggs cooked so perfectly, they tasted amazing. $14 which really isn't bad considering the restaurant. To start they brought this cute basket of pastries and biscuits which my Dad devoured. Definitely worth it.
(5)
Randy G.
Instead of having breakfast in the dining room, how about breakfast in bed? Rugby Grille serves their food to Townsend guests, so if you don't want to have it in the dining room, why not in your room? I tried their eggs benedict with side of bacon and turkey sausage. The english muffins were toasted well and not soggy from the eggs. The eggs were cooked well and perfectly runny to mix well with the hollandaise sauce. The sauce was delicious, creamy, and salty and sweet. Both the bacon and the sausage were very good, salty, charred nicely, and perfect to dip into the hollandaise sauce. The fruit was nice, fresh, but nothing out of their ordinary. It certainly lightened the dish up a bit since the rest of it is pretty heavy. It was actually nice to have that instead of potatoes, which would have made it a really heavy dish. Enjoy!
(4)
Nina C.
Best in the Biz! That's all that needs to be said! The food is outstanding, the service is awesome hands down, the atmosphere is great! If you are familiar with the area you know this is the best
(5)
Steven L.
The Rugby is a great place for breakfast and a meeting. They will make whatever you ask for and make it well while giving you the space you need to have a private business meeting. Oh, and the bagels and lox are delicious.
(4)
Diane T.
The prawn cocktail was excellent and the only thing we had that was worth the high price. Both salads we had were under-portioned but tasty. The steak tar-tar was also delicious but we are not accustomed to having it diced vs ground & w capers & Dijon mustard. For $40 the portion was extremely small ( my guess would be 6 oz and $25 seems more reasonable) but I guess that's what you have to look forward to when you're paying for the location inside the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. Service is a priority here ( as it should be) & you won't be disappointed with any server.
(4)
Merri B.
For a stress free Christmas Dinner, this place was wonderful! The soup of the day was parsnip puree, root veggie delight! The steak was prepared perfectly, grilled writh a crispy outside and tender soft on the inside. My quasi-vegetarian sister had a salad, with peach vingrette, a stuffed baked potato and roasted brussels sprouts with white beans and a small amount of chorizo. Fantastic! Everything is ala carte, so I ordered the roasted asparagus. Leslie, our friendly, but not overly familiar server, was the essence of excellent service. We finished with black tea, Harney and Sons for me and Lipton for Annie. That they had a choice is wonderful. And you cannot eat here without sampling the famous Townsend Hotel Bakery desserts. Simple gals, we opted for the apple crisp ala mode. A leisurely relate as it takes 8 minutes to finish the crisp before they add Michigan made Ray's vanilla ice cream. Merry Christmas y'all! Hope you find your way here in 2015.
(5)
M S.
We had a very pleasant experience here for snacks and dessert recently. Service was excellent, the food was excellent and the ambience was upscale and special, yet not stuffy. We were two couples and while I was a bit concerned as to how the staff would deal with the fact that our friends had unexpectedly brought their one year old, they were in fact great with the child and went to great lengths to entertain her. Mealwise we had the onion soup, artisan cheese platter, crab cakes, and chilled oysters to begin with, and all were quite perfect. The chocolate lava cake and apple crisp a la mode for dessert were both fine choices as well. The dishes were all well composed and presented, service was excellent, and we had a lovely time.
We dined at the Rugby Grille on Sunday night. Service is typically top-notch, but on Sunday, it was not. After our server took our order -- cheese plate, appetizers, and main course -- we saw her twice more. Once for a perfunctory "how is your meal" and the second time to deliver the check. She had so little interest in our table that our entire meal was served by the busboys, who were excellent. Instead of serving our table, our server was busy - not serving but chatting with another table, who apparently were far more interesting than we. Overall, a disappointing experience.
(2)
Rachel S.
Just an amazing restaurant. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorites are the tuna, the French onion soup and the hydro Bibb salad! A real treat is the afternoon tea! Simply wonderful! Such a special treat! :)
(5)
Christine G.
The food was very good, but I feel like I could have received this same quality and selection for a better price. This may be due to it's location. The service was very good keeping the rating at a 3. Get a reservation or you will have to wait on the weekends. The Ambience was a bit crowded. Overall with good food and good service it is a good not great brunch spot.
(3)
Chelsea A.
The duck tacos were stunning- rich, bright, perfect!!! The Lobster Spring rolls were delicious as well, chewy and crispy, tangy, sweet and savory. The chefs at Rugby understand balance of taste and texture better than most.
(5)
Miriam I.
Ended an overnight stay at the Townsend with breakfast at The Rugby Grill. Attentive service for the most part (1 slight quibble: could have used a faster refill on the coffee). Our server, Leah, was very knowledgeable about the menu, food in general, and the local restaurant scene. We enjoyed our chat with her. Our food was top-notch. Poached eggs were beautifully prepared, toast came wrapped in cloth napkin to keep it warm, orange juice was fresh squeezed. Prices about what you would expect at a high-end hotel, so no complaints there. When we told our server we were celebrating our anniversary (25th), and that we had been among the first to have our wedding reception at the Townsend, she brought out a nice card with a handwritten note of congratulations from the Rugby Grill staff - a very nice touch. Also appreciated the staff's seating us despite arriving with no reservation at a busy time. All in all, a good end to a very pleasant stay at one of the finest hotels in metro Detroit.
(5)
Kelly W.
There was a group of us that went here for dinner to celebrate an event. Everything started out great with mostly friendly staff. The food was kind of slow to come out, especially considering nobody got big dishes (mostly appetizers, salads, etc). But the food was delicious so it almost made up for the long wait. Towards the end of the night (almost 2 hours from arrival), I asked for my bill and the waiter asked if everything was going to be separate so we all said yes. Then he said something about eating cake that I guess the group host had ordered...well, I had already ordered my own cake and ate it by this point so that was kind of disappointing that it wasn't mentioned when I ordered dessert. I would have likely gotten something different if they had mentioned that but instead, I missed out on the cake that our group ordered. About 30 minutes later, the waiter said he wasn't able to put our bills separately because he couldn't remember how to divide the orders up. While it was nice he was being honest, it was still aggravating...especially since I had already asked for mine and only had 1 item. Not to mention, he didn't say anything like that when we asked for bills the first time. Anyways, they brought one big bill to the group host so she divided it up and gave it to them to put on separate bills. By this point, the staff was getting aggravated, which was showing with their changing attitudes. When we tried to give them payment with the receipts, they were getting flustered because they didn't want to mix up the bills. For this, I would recommend that they use the receipt holders for each bill, as that would have made it much easier for them (plus it's more professional). So it took even more time waiting for them to come back to take the payment and return. Needless to say, I expected more from the staff. I worked in downtown Birmingham for about 6 years so I'm very familiar with the area and would expect the best service from the Townsend's own restaurant. I understand groups can be a headache and take more time but the staff attitude and long waits were disappointing. I will not be returning to this restaurant.
(2)
Theresa T.
I've done dinner and breakfast here. Both outstanding. Breakfast early morning on a Sunday. First customer of the day. Though it was going to be one of those killer heat days I took advantage of the coolness of the morning to dine outside. My waiter was very quiet at first but warmed up as the meal progressed. I loved the coffee. It was hot and fresh. And I was thrilled to pieces when a basket of house made fresh pastries arrived to my table. I tore em up. I ended up ordering a house special with eggs, sausage, potatoes and fresh fruit. The entire meal was outstanding. My eggs were perfectly cooked. It was a nice long breakfast. By the time I left it was starting to get busy. I noticed quite a few beautiful breakfasts being served and they all looked amazing. Especially the eggs Benedict's. I'm definitely going to try that next time.
(5)
Holly F.
I went in on a Thursday night for happy hour with friends. We are quite the happy hour junkies so the bar was set very high. The Rugby Grille surpassed that bar that we set. I got the lobster deviled eggs and my friend got the tempura shrimp, both were amazing. We later moved over to The Corner and had the sliders that come out of the Rugby kitchen, they were unreal!!! The chicken fried bacon on them bought them to another level of greatness!!! The drinks were also very good. The French gimlet was delicious and the happy hour prices can't be beat! Don't forget to take a look at their wine list...you can certainly tell whoever is in charge of the wine ordering knows what they are doing. In fact, it makes me wonder if they bought in a master sommelier just to put their list together! I'm a Vouvray fan, and it's fairly rare to find it on menus, but The Rugby has it! The service was great and we were checked on frequently by a very nice gentleman Jared. He clearly is in management but had no problem showing me where the ladies room was. It's refreshing to see that kind of service instead of someone just directing you over to the general direction. We all said we can't wait to go back again and would love to try out their brunch and dinner menu. If happy hour food was that good I can only imagine how good their full menu is!!!
Yesterday, i was hungry after my flight. The first thing I did was to enter to the restaurant. And I came with great expectations!! The atmosphere was very Cousy and the service was great! And unfortunately thats it... After small consulting with the waiter I ordered the home salad and the bricks chicken ( originally I wanted the lamb but he said its a very small dish). The dishes was small and very regular, and for sure don't worth the money I paid for them. I came in hungry and cane out the same way . I was very disappointed. Its a good thing that they had some fresh fruits, for free in the Lobby
(2)
Regina B.
The Rugby Grille is a staple in Birmingham and a must on a warm summer day. Their patio is right in the heart of downtown, so great people watching.
(5)
Tom K.
Was at the hotel for work travel. I expected typical hotel restaurant food- over priced, under whelming. I've learned years ago to avoid hotel dining but I arrived late at night and it was very cold and snowy, so I traded value and experience for convenience...or so I thought I was in for a pleasant surprise. The food was very good and I happen to hit it during restaurant week. 3 course meal for $30, which is an amazing value. My experience was a 5 (for a $30 meal) I did notice that the prices on the regular menu seemed more in line of what I expected, even higher actually. $24 for a burger? That's high for NY and SF, just plain out of whack for MI. Since most people won't have the good fortune to hit restaurant week, I gave them 4 stars as to not be misleading.
(4)
Tiara N.
The service here is exceptional! The food was on point as well; have to try the Dover Sole, it's filleted table side. The New England clam chowder was amazing, the texture was very fine compared to the usual. I was disappointed by the chocolate cake/ice cream. The flavors were off, the vanilla ice cream tasted more like the chai tea ice cream on the menu. Maybe they swapped it by mistake.
(4)
Brian M.
Overpriced but high quality and very tasty. The French onion soup is out of this world and their burger is one of the best around. Also great ahi tuna appetizer. Haven't had a steak but a guy at the bar was raving about it. The bar is often an entertaining scene. Lots of old white rich dudes hitting on women 1/4 their age. Not as creepy as I'm making it sound but entertaining nonetheless.
(4)
Bari B.
Very disappointed in the dinner last night. We frequent this restaurant often. It is one of our favorites. I have to say we will not be coming back. I booked this on open table. No where did it say this was a fixed menu. When you called to confirm no word of it as well. The portions were small. The main course was a size of one piece of an appetizer. With the 4 of us we spent over 500 dollars and we ended up eating at a friends house. We felt we were being taken advantage due to New Years. Bari Beckett
(1)
James F.
Dined here last minute last weekend. They were able to accommodate us with a reservation within 30 minutes of our call. Very helpful staff. I had the dover sole. Probable the best I have had in the past decade!! My wife enjoyed the filet, also outstanding. Would highly recommend!!
(5)
Teddy M.
Love this place. Cute, fun and amazing service! Go and enjoy Bham!
(5)
Lauren V.
The Rugby Grille is fantastic. The food is ridiculously delicious, they have a large menu (I've never had anything that was less than super), and the staff is friendly and professional. I've never had to make reservations and they've been able to accommodate me, but I wouldn't recommend that during Sunday bunch times, where it can get too busy for "walk-ins". I've been there for breakfast, brunch, dinner, and drinks with friends. It's a nice atmosphere and no matter what I'm wearing, or how much I order, the service is always wonderful. You can wear jeans at any time, but will also fit in perfectly if you want to dress up a bit. This is DEFINITELY not a bar/restaurant that you want to watch a game at, however. There is a TINY television at the corner of the bar and that's it. My only complaint is that it's a bit pricey. But, hey--it's Birmingham--what else would you expect?
(4)
Michael P.
Was in the Rugby Grille on Black Friday with friends for lunch. Obviously it was a busy day. Unfortunately they were woefully understaffed and having difficulty providing even marginal service. (No menus, long waits, no service clearing...all restaurant 101 stuff) A group of women at the bar asked a waiter where the bartender was. He replied that they didn't have one "today," and that he and the other waiters were "taking turns" and would be with them as soon as they could! Amazing; thought he was being facetious! I usually like the Grille, its new look and the Townsend's new management, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that this day was an anomaly. They need to be careful.
(2)
Mark W.
This is a restaurant week review. We went as a celebratory dinner and ordered off the restaurant week menu. Overall the portions were small, which is expected at a fine dining establishment during restaurant week, but the food left a little to be desired. I had the salad, which had candied walnuts and bleu cheese. It was good, and paired well with the vinaigrette dressing. Next was a lobster "essence" and mushroom pasta dish. I feel it is necessary to mention that this is lobster "essence", because the description on the menu is quite misleading. Although the menu states the dish has Maine Lobster, I was only able to identify 1 or 2 pieces of lobster in the whole dish. The shallots and mushrooms provided an earthy flavor, and the lobster essence was overpowered by their flavors. Overall I felt the flavors in the dish were, while good, very weak. I was expecting bigger flavors. We finished the evening with chocolate tart, which was good. Not too sweet, not too bitter, and the strawberry syrup was quite tasty. I think we made a mistake ordering off the restaurant week menu, but I'm not sure that I'd return given the prices and blandness of the food.
(2)
Trevor P.
Spent Mother's Day with my wife and kids at what I thought would be a memorable experience. It was memorable but only for the rude, slow, dispassionate service, crappy overflow decor with standard hotel meeting room tables, wobbly chairs all for $65 per head! By the way, they weren't even busy! When we asked to order, the waiter told us to either select all of our courses immediately or he would have no choice but to come back later when we were better prepared! We chased them down for drinks, were told that items were nut-free only to find out they were mistaken. The sad part about this debacle was that the food was really exceptional. The duck confit, smoked salmon and desserts were well-prepared and beautiful - just not enough to overcome the experience. The price was not the issue but for $400 for five people the service and experience was severely lacking. We will never return!
(1)
Dani S.
Brunch here can't be beat. The complimentary pastry basket is delicious. Incredible service. Really above and beyond.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lizzy B.
I'm so sad, but - boo! I grew up in the area, so the Rugby Grille was always a special evening standard. The food and service were always top notch - and they still are. I made a reservation for a group of friends for Restaurant Week, when lots of Birmingham restaurants do a 3 course meal for $25. The Rugby Grille was offering a 3 course meal for $35. Fine, I thought, it's the Rugby Grille. It will be wonderful. We arrived and were greeted and seated promptly in the hallway portion of the restaurant, at the very back. I've sat in the hallway before and normally, it's fine. Tonight, it wasn't. We were next to a set of double-doors into a small entry way: to the right, doors going outside; to the left, elevators; straight on into a large reception area with a large, loud party. There was a constant stream of hotel guests walking past to get to the elevator, continuing their loud conversations as they walked past our chairs, dragging kids, and frankly, bumping our chairs and pushing past. Furthermore, the party was loud; I could hear the guests, a DJ, etc., on top of the people clumping up in that entry way, talking. At one point, a man in a ridiculous sombrero and fake mustache was pulling on a mariachi costume. What the heck?? The food was good, but the portions were tiny. I know it's Restaurant Week and all, and the restaurants might offer smaller portions for the $25, but the Rugby Grille was charging $35; I don't think it should have felt cheap. I would probably still come to eat off the regular menu, because the food, although very expensive, is very good. But I wouldn't come back with a big group, because I won't ever risk being seated in that hallway again. If you come, be sure to make your reservation for the restaurant portion so you're not seated in a busy hallway.
(2)Jason G.
I recently went to the Rugby Grille for an anniversary dinner with my girlfriend. We wanted to have a big meal for our big day. I made reservations a few weeks in advance. I heard the place fills up pretty quickly, so I wanted to make sure we were set. I told them it was my anniversary and they said they would take note of that and do something special for my girlfriend and I for dessert. Sounded good to me. I was shocked to see that they had lost my reservation when I arrived for dinner (there goes the free dessert). Luckily there was one table open that they offered us, however it was basically in the hotel lobby. If you've never been, the place is pretty small. I guess it was better than waiting for 1-2 hours in the lobby like a few of the guests that came in moments after us. All of the food that we had was amazing. Huge compliments to the kitchen staff, because everything we aet was really good. We had Short Rib Spring Rolls for an appetizer, and the bone in Filet's for dinner. We capped off the night with an Adult Milkshake and some Chocolate Chip cookies. Nothing bad to say about the food at all. The service started out really well, then slowly degraded as the night went on. Our sever was very prompt when we first got there, and we saw her less and less as the evening went on. It took almost 20 minutes for our check to be picked up. I liked how infrequent her visits were in the beginning of the meal when I was letting my appetizer settle in, but near the end of the night it was an annoyance. Since we were basically sitting at the server stand, we overheard a couple (who were regulars) tell the hostess it was the worst service they had ever had. When he pointed out their server, it was the same as ours. They said they felt bad leaving her a $10 tip, but they had to wait for over an hour for salad. Unfortunately for me, since we used a coupon I was forced to shell out the maximum tip possible. I understand why they do that, but I had a hard time spending $50 on terrible service. Overall the meal was good, but not a place I think I'd ever return to.
(3)Annalisa B.
Disappointing. At an upscale restaurant, I expect them to be more sensitive to food allergies. Not so here. I had to send back my lamb chps three times because the dish contained ingredients I was allergic to...will never go back.
(2)A H.
I have very fond memories of this restaurant growing up, we lived in the hotel when we moved here when I was a kid. The brunch is amazing, lot of variety and great seating. Typical of what you would find at any country club. Went for dinner last week, was very nice except we were practically the only people in there. Had the tuna which was very well prepared, a little pricey in my opinion, but we had a restaurant.com certificate so it didn't concern us greatly. The wine list is extensive and the service is impeccible. The bar is a good place to take business clients.
(4)Mark J.
Table of four. $425 (including tip). I had the Dover Sole which was delicious, presented with panache, and cooked perfectly. Our hearty group split three bottles of wine and ate three-and-four course meals. We came here for a special night and didn't care about the cost, as it was a one-off thing. We stayed for a few hours, enjoying the atmosphere and conversation and food at an easy pace and never felt rushed to move or clear the table so they could seat the next group. I get the feeling Rugby Grille is accustomed to be treated as a destination in itself. I won't be coming here again very soon, but it's not because it wasn't great. Wait staff is knowledgeable and helpful. Rugby Grille is a former Restaurant of the Year winner from Hour Detroit Magazine, and you'll find plenty of helpful suggestions on what to order in reviews if you do a little homework online. Which, if you're paying this much for dinner, is probably worth the effort. So, next time I have a 10 year wedding anniversary, or my son wins a Pulitzer, or I win the Lotto... see ya there!
(5)Peter S.
Very good food and very good service. I had the lamb, which was excellent. Others had the bone-in fillet (an oxymoron?), and the Dover sole. All are recommended. I also enjoyed the French onion soup and the house salad. Excellent wine list, but one of the highest mark-ups I've seen. The ambiance is good, although the room with the bar can get a little loud. I'll return...but not without a restaurant.com coupon.
(4)Sari G.
The Rugby Grille is a nice place with good food and a big price tag. If you come for dinner, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. The one thing that is worth it (and less expensive) are the hamburgers which are a pretty unique thing. They are $18, which for a hamburger is a lot, but they taste pretty good and I am not even a fan of hamburgers. The Rugby Grille piles a lot of things on top...things I wouldnt necessarily include on a hamburger...for example, a sunny side up egg on top? no thanks...that had to come off immediately. But besides that, it was a good tasting burger with an interesting blend of toppings. The fries were good too. What you are really paying for here is the atmosphere and the surrounding company. Fun place to people watch, just bring your credit card or a restaurant.com coupon! lol
(4)Sweet P.
part of it may have the been the 2nd glass of wine, but i believe i have a new death row meal. lobster taglietelle from rugby grille. the good: 1) excellent, but not intrusive service; 2) warm, comfortable ambiance with a glowing fireplace and wonderful paintings of poppies and blown glass sculptures 3) delectable and appropriately portioned cuisine. 4) a nice array of wine's available by the glass the bad: 1) it's pricey, but you should expect that from fine dining in birmingham anyways. 2) i would have expected better mashed potatoes from a restaurant like this. they were still great, but were a little standard and pale in comparison to the other dishes. recommended: lobster tagliatelle (not too heavy, with a marscapone and black truffle sauce. dreams are made of this), townsend salad (can't go wrong with maytag blue cheese). the have excellent steak, cooked as you like it, but this wouldn't be the #1 place i would immediately send my beef/lamb loving friends (maybe #3, in the area). i have yet to try their dover sole, which the waitstaff has recommended the two times i've been to rugby grille.
(5)Keith P.
Quite impressed for a hotel restaurant. The food was quite good and service was tops.
(5)Lisa R.
My husband & I went to celebrate our anniversary. I was in the first trimester of my pregnancy & battling HORRIBLE morning sickness. No matter what time of day it was or what kind of food I was eating, I was sick! For this reason, I was nervous about our dining experience. Everything ended up being AMAZING! The service was incredible ~ our server even treated us to dessert. The steak was cooked to perfection ~ melted in your mouth. The best part of the meal? The pureed potatoes. THEE MOST HEAVENLY TASTING POTATOES ON EARTH!!! Fantastic!
(5)Jen F.
This place was very overpriced for the mediocre food. Overall it was not a good dining experience. The hostess was not friendly and most of the food was cold. We felt packed into the overcrowded dining room. The hostess couldn't even fit between the tables, knocking a patron's drink off the table trying to squeeze passed it. Overall a very expensive disappointment for dinner.
(2)Justin S.
i have had dinner off of the menu, new years eve dinner, but breakfast is the power move here. whether it's tuesday morning with ceo's and coo's or sunday with fieger there is always a power play at the rugby grille.
(5)Scott S.
We went on saturday to the "new" rugby grille. The new menu was not there, but the changes were. Most of them are better, the outside hallway no longer feels like a hallway, and inside there is some separation between the bar and the tables, which is nice, although the curtain just does not fit. It looks odd, but no big deal. Yes this is expensive, if that is going to be a factor, don't come or don't complain, the prices are not hidden. But after eating here since it opened more than 20 years ago, it's still great. There is an upscale, not overly pretentious vibe. yes there is some pretense, there is is supposed to be at a place like this but it does not feel as out there as 220 or Hyde Park where the focus is on letting people know you are there. But the food is overall great, the service is great, seems like the servers tailor what they are doing to who they are serving. So you can do fancy and little talk, or chatty and very friendly. Courtney, our server many times over, is great and fun and great with my teen age kids We had table side caesar salads, some soup, one steak and a shrimp cocktail. No one cared were not having a 600 dollar dinner. It is and was always a great experience. Treat yourself, it is worth it
(5)Samer H.
every thing was ok except the the main meal. The stake was cold I asked them to heat it for me they put it in the microwave. since the stake was dry, microwave did not heat it up, so I ate it cold and dry. service was good, expect to hav laud people in the bar.
(4)Leslie K.
My hubby too me to Rugby Grille as my birthday dinner this year. We ordered duck tacos as appetizers, which were amazing for being tacos! The duck was crisped up very nicely and the waiter kindly showed us the piece of jalapeno pepper (in case we weren't spice lovers & wanted to remove it). The only thing is, you only get 3 tiny tacos, and it's not easy to split the 3rd one, since the shell is so crispy. For our entrees, we had the rack of lamb and scallops. We each ate half our plate then switched, so we could enjoy both. The food was phenomenal and the presentation incredibly artistic. For dessert, we shared creme brulee. The meal was amazing, but most notably that night was the very helpful, knowledgeable & friendly waitstaff. He gave us suggestions of appetizers & sizes, as well as after dinner drinks and desserts. I think we will put this on our list as a place to revisit for special occasions!
(5)Knapweed L.
Can't go wrong with the restaurant of the toniest hotel (Townsend) in the Oakland County! I've eaten here several times and the food and service are always consistently great. The restaurant has a classic, upscale setting. Great menu selection. The portion is just right, and always tasty - love Tuna, Salmon, Dover Sole...and the bread basket! Attentive service. Although i don't see explicit dress code for the restaurant, better to be a bit formal and nicely. Most customers are middle-age and plus, sophisticated connoisseurs...sometimes can be a little intimidating if you are casual 20-somethings. Great for: business, dates, special occasions
(5)Tracie F.
Food is quite good and service impeccable. We were in the dining room which was quite nice. I would not recommend sitting in the hallway. It looked cramped. Everyone was pleasant and very knowledgeable. Onto the food... We were there for breakfast. I did not find the prices particularly exorbitant. The portions were HUGE!!! I have to admit I was not a fan of the pastry basket. For some reason everything on there tasted quite old. Stay away from the basket. Not worth the calories. I had the creme brûlée french toast. It was good but I have had better. It was topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. Yum! The berry compote was out of this world!!! I would get it again. My companions both got the crab eggs Benedict which they raved about. All in all a very nice breakfast!
(4)Rebecca B.
I love Rugby! It is quite tasty and the wine list is awesome. The bartenders are super nice and I love the decor!!!! They really go the extra mile to appease the customer and make the evening special. I sometimes go there by myself to unwind and no gives me a second look, which is the best part. If I could, I would give it 10 stars :)
(5)Samir N.
This is another Restaurant Week review-I love me some Restaurant Week! The waiter recommended a great wine, but it went downhill from there. The soup was non-memorable and I ordered a lobster pasta dish that did not appear on their regular menu. The saving grace was the wine, although the chocolate tart was not bad. Everyone around me looked so happy. I definitely made a big mistake by ordering off the Restaurant Week menu. C'est la vie
(2)Ken Z.
Was taken here for dinner for my birthday recently. Wisely, our reservations were for in the dining room, which has a nice atmosphere, as opposed to the hallway. Overheard one of the staff saying they are renovating soon to add outdoor seating. Maybe the hallway alignment will change? Anyway, on to the food. Ordered a chopped salad as did my companion. Included lettuce, scallions, chickpeas, cucumber, etc. Also included hard-boiled eggs and tomatoes. I went sans-egg, but my companion went for it. Eggs arrived cut in half i.e. big wedges. Tomatoes were whole cherry/grape tomatoes. I'm confused - shouldn't both of these items been diced in a "chopped" salad??? Otherwise, a good salad, but overpriced at $14. For my entree, I had the bronzed salmon with spinach, apple parsnip puree (unless my memory is mistaken and it was apple/potato) and mushrooms. Very tasty - I cleaned the plate. Was it worth $35? Hard to say - it was a nice-sized portion and very good, but seems like a lot to pay for (most likely, farmed) salmon... I wasn't paying so I guess it doesn't matter. For dessert, we had something I would call a chocolate lava cake with good vanilla ice cream. Surprisingly, when the bill came, it said it was free due to my birthday. FYI - their dinner menu on their website is not current. I would say 3 1/2 stars, but I'll round up to 4 since the guy serving water kept my glass full every minute of the evening. He did drop an ice cube though... and said it happens all the time...
(4)Jackie T.
If you are staying at the Townsend or just looking for a tasty meal in Birmingham, you will not be disappointed at the Rugby Grille. I like meeting friends here for brunch or lunch. I am a very big fan of their breakfast. I usually go with their bananas foster french toast. The pancakes are also very delicious. Satisfying and filling. Service is always attentive and the dining area is typically quiet.
(5)William R.
Rugby Grille has to be one of my top 3 restaurants of all time. If you go here, be ready to spend 100$+ for 2 people, but it is well worth it....especially if you are celebrating something special. I have been to Rugby Grille twice, both times I have had the duck tacos as an appetizer and I would highly recommend those. They are prepared so delicately, the end result is an amazingly, succulent mini taco which is put together in such a creative manner. The wine list is extensive and if I knew anything more about wine I would include those details here as well, but I am sure they will be able to accommodate any requests that you may have. For the entree portion of your meal, I have to highly suggest the Dover Sole if you are a fish lover (like Kanye West....zing!). Sorry for the lame South Park reference, but anyways, the Dover Sole is magnificent and they actually de-bone the fish right at the table.....which is actually pretty cool. The shortrib and the scallops are both excellent choices as well. In the end, you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu at the Rugby Grille. They use the finest ingredients and it shows. Everything tastes great and is presented in a similar fashion. I highly recommend, 5/5!
(5)Dante G.
Downtown Birmingham is Terrific but the Rugby Grille was FANTASTIC!!! the place blew me away! It was pretty late after 11:00pm so I really wasent expecting to have dinner but to my surprise they had a burger on the menu.... a little pricey but I will tell you that was the BEST BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD and worth every penny! we will be back! Thanks for a great night!
(4)Maria B.
I traveled here in a blizzard to try the food (yes that's how crazy i am about good food), and it was well worth the tumultuous journey! The setting is quaint, with an English Tea Party-esque decor. Service was excellent and the food was fantastic! Their braised beef short ribs were cooked perfectly (melted like butter), fantastic salmon here, and their desserts are heavenly! Overall superb food, full of flavor, and consistently excellent. Been back twice, and the food is just as amazing!!! : )
(5)Susan B.
Came to eat on july 4th, beautiful day, outside tables open, but were told itvwould be a 35 minute wait outside so decided to eat inside. We had three different people promising to get us water, after pursuing this and we asked to order, bread was brought but had to ask twice for bread plates. Our salads did not come so we asked several waitstaff people. Everyone was slow, non responsive. Outside tables remained empty. The meal was ok but from start to finish 11/2 hours. Frustrating. I will not go back. I also have never written a review, so i was very irritated
(2)Rachel L.
My parents were in town for a family event and staying at the Townsend Hotel. When looking for a place in Birmingham for brunch, we were happy to discover the hotel restaurant, the Rugby Grille, was so well-reviewed on Yelp. And the reviews were right-on, the food was amazing, though not cheap. The baked goods on the table were fine, but nothing special, the only thing that was even slightly mediocre. Having recently become an Eggs Benedict connoisseur, I ordered it with a side of fruit. The dish was exactly how it should be: the eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise was light (or as light as hollandaise can be) and not overly gooey, and the Candaian bacon was crisp. Amazing. My mom got creme brulee brioche french toast (seriously, it's a real thing), which was incredibly decadent. It came with a grand marnier berry compote, cinnamon butter and fresh whipped cream. It was an outrageously good combination. My dad went for the boring eggs, hashbrowns and sausage breakfast. It was very good, particularly the chicken-apple sausage, which was huge (that's what she said, I know) and clearly came right off the grill, steaming when he cut it open. The service was impeccable, my coffee cup was always full, and the staff was very pleasant. Overall, in my estimation, this a great place for a indulgent (both calorically and financially) brunch.
(5)Michael P.
Service was good, atmosphere was lacking. We had a bottle of wine, fish tacos & two entrees. Couldn't stand stay any longer for desert. The duck taco's were very good but quite small. The veal was overly fatty & undercooked. The salmon was good. Uninspiring menu for price. Total tab 175. Should've been 90. We were parked next to the very loud bar & the table next to us had a 50 pound dog that wouldn't stop sniffing me. Not a seeing eye dog, not a purse dog. Overall there are many other restaurants for less that are better. We walked to another restaurant for desert & coffee. Should have sooner
(2)Sarah Z.
Had brunch here with my Dad the other day. Food was fantastic, I got an egg white frittata with feta cheese. I seriously have never seen eggs cooked so perfectly, they tasted amazing. $14 which really isn't bad considering the restaurant. To start they brought this cute basket of pastries and biscuits which my Dad devoured. Definitely worth it.
(5)Randy G.
Instead of having breakfast in the dining room, how about breakfast in bed? Rugby Grille serves their food to Townsend guests, so if you don't want to have it in the dining room, why not in your room? I tried their eggs benedict with side of bacon and turkey sausage. The english muffins were toasted well and not soggy from the eggs. The eggs were cooked well and perfectly runny to mix well with the hollandaise sauce. The sauce was delicious, creamy, and salty and sweet. Both the bacon and the sausage were very good, salty, charred nicely, and perfect to dip into the hollandaise sauce. The fruit was nice, fresh, but nothing out of their ordinary. It certainly lightened the dish up a bit since the rest of it is pretty heavy. It was actually nice to have that instead of potatoes, which would have made it a really heavy dish. Enjoy!
(4)Nina C.
Best in the Biz! That's all that needs to be said! The food is outstanding, the service is awesome hands down, the atmosphere is great! If you are familiar with the area you know this is the best
(5)Steven L.
The Rugby is a great place for breakfast and a meeting. They will make whatever you ask for and make it well while giving you the space you need to have a private business meeting. Oh, and the bagels and lox are delicious.
(4)Diane T.
The prawn cocktail was excellent and the only thing we had that was worth the high price. Both salads we had were under-portioned but tasty. The steak tar-tar was also delicious but we are not accustomed to having it diced vs ground & w capers & Dijon mustard. For $40 the portion was extremely small ( my guess would be 6 oz and $25 seems more reasonable) but I guess that's what you have to look forward to when you're paying for the location inside the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. Service is a priority here ( as it should be) & you won't be disappointed with any server.
(4)Merri B.
For a stress free Christmas Dinner, this place was wonderful! The soup of the day was parsnip puree, root veggie delight! The steak was prepared perfectly, grilled writh a crispy outside and tender soft on the inside. My quasi-vegetarian sister had a salad, with peach vingrette, a stuffed baked potato and roasted brussels sprouts with white beans and a small amount of chorizo. Fantastic! Everything is ala carte, so I ordered the roasted asparagus. Leslie, our friendly, but not overly familiar server, was the essence of excellent service. We finished with black tea, Harney and Sons for me and Lipton for Annie. That they had a choice is wonderful. And you cannot eat here without sampling the famous Townsend Hotel Bakery desserts. Simple gals, we opted for the apple crisp ala mode. A leisurely relate as it takes 8 minutes to finish the crisp before they add Michigan made Ray's vanilla ice cream. Merry Christmas y'all! Hope you find your way here in 2015.
(5)M S.
We had a very pleasant experience here for snacks and dessert recently. Service was excellent, the food was excellent and the ambience was upscale and special, yet not stuffy. We were two couples and while I was a bit concerned as to how the staff would deal with the fact that our friends had unexpectedly brought their one year old, they were in fact great with the child and went to great lengths to entertain her. Mealwise we had the onion soup, artisan cheese platter, crab cakes, and chilled oysters to begin with, and all were quite perfect. The chocolate lava cake and apple crisp a la mode for dessert were both fine choices as well. The dishes were all well composed and presented, service was excellent, and we had a lovely time.
(5)Veronica M.
Food was delicious, but service was rather odd!!! The 2 gentlemen that tended to our table seemed kind of confused and had a language barrier which made it difficult for them to explain menu items. The bread and butter they give before the meal was fresh and tasty...We ordered the filet with potato purée and roasted Brussels sprouts for our entree and it was excellent. At the end of our meal, The server then made a cardinal mistake, he actually walked by picked up our tab envelope, opened it, and said did u pay? We were floored we just spent 100 bucks a person and we were feeling rushed! The ambiance was very boring and stuffy! Definitely not a place for a hip, young, crowd! The food itself was amazing, however not a place you should go for a fun dinner date, or out with the friends!
(4)Leslie S.
We dined at the Rugby Grille on Sunday night. Service is typically top-notch, but on Sunday, it was not. After our server took our order -- cheese plate, appetizers, and main course -- we saw her twice more. Once for a perfunctory "how is your meal" and the second time to deliver the check. She had so little interest in our table that our entire meal was served by the busboys, who were excellent. Instead of serving our table, our server was busy - not serving but chatting with another table, who apparently were far more interesting than we. Overall, a disappointing experience.
(2)Rachel S.
Just an amazing restaurant. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorites are the tuna, the French onion soup and the hydro Bibb salad! A real treat is the afternoon tea! Simply wonderful! Such a special treat! :)
(5)Christine G.
The food was very good, but I feel like I could have received this same quality and selection for a better price. This may be due to it's location. The service was very good keeping the rating at a 3. Get a reservation or you will have to wait on the weekends. The Ambience was a bit crowded. Overall with good food and good service it is a good not great brunch spot.
(3)Chelsea A.
The duck tacos were stunning- rich, bright, perfect!!! The Lobster Spring rolls were delicious as well, chewy and crispy, tangy, sweet and savory. The chefs at Rugby understand balance of taste and texture better than most.
(5)Miriam I.
Ended an overnight stay at the Townsend with breakfast at The Rugby Grill. Attentive service for the most part (1 slight quibble: could have used a faster refill on the coffee). Our server, Leah, was very knowledgeable about the menu, food in general, and the local restaurant scene. We enjoyed our chat with her. Our food was top-notch. Poached eggs were beautifully prepared, toast came wrapped in cloth napkin to keep it warm, orange juice was fresh squeezed. Prices about what you would expect at a high-end hotel, so no complaints there. When we told our server we were celebrating our anniversary (25th), and that we had been among the first to have our wedding reception at the Townsend, she brought out a nice card with a handwritten note of congratulations from the Rugby Grill staff - a very nice touch. Also appreciated the staff's seating us despite arriving with no reservation at a busy time. All in all, a good end to a very pleasant stay at one of the finest hotels in metro Detroit.
(5)Kelly W.
There was a group of us that went here for dinner to celebrate an event. Everything started out great with mostly friendly staff. The food was kind of slow to come out, especially considering nobody got big dishes (mostly appetizers, salads, etc). But the food was delicious so it almost made up for the long wait. Towards the end of the night (almost 2 hours from arrival), I asked for my bill and the waiter asked if everything was going to be separate so we all said yes. Then he said something about eating cake that I guess the group host had ordered...well, I had already ordered my own cake and ate it by this point so that was kind of disappointing that it wasn't mentioned when I ordered dessert. I would have likely gotten something different if they had mentioned that but instead, I missed out on the cake that our group ordered. About 30 minutes later, the waiter said he wasn't able to put our bills separately because he couldn't remember how to divide the orders up. While it was nice he was being honest, it was still aggravating...especially since I had already asked for mine and only had 1 item. Not to mention, he didn't say anything like that when we asked for bills the first time. Anyways, they brought one big bill to the group host so she divided it up and gave it to them to put on separate bills. By this point, the staff was getting aggravated, which was showing with their changing attitudes. When we tried to give them payment with the receipts, they were getting flustered because they didn't want to mix up the bills. For this, I would recommend that they use the receipt holders for each bill, as that would have made it much easier for them (plus it's more professional). So it took even more time waiting for them to come back to take the payment and return. Needless to say, I expected more from the staff. I worked in downtown Birmingham for about 6 years so I'm very familiar with the area and would expect the best service from the Townsend's own restaurant. I understand groups can be a headache and take more time but the staff attitude and long waits were disappointing. I will not be returning to this restaurant.
(2)Theresa T.
I've done dinner and breakfast here. Both outstanding. Breakfast early morning on a Sunday. First customer of the day. Though it was going to be one of those killer heat days I took advantage of the coolness of the morning to dine outside. My waiter was very quiet at first but warmed up as the meal progressed. I loved the coffee. It was hot and fresh. And I was thrilled to pieces when a basket of house made fresh pastries arrived to my table. I tore em up. I ended up ordering a house special with eggs, sausage, potatoes and fresh fruit. The entire meal was outstanding. My eggs were perfectly cooked. It was a nice long breakfast. By the time I left it was starting to get busy. I noticed quite a few beautiful breakfasts being served and they all looked amazing. Especially the eggs Benedict's. I'm definitely going to try that next time.
(5)Holly F.
I went in on a Thursday night for happy hour with friends. We are quite the happy hour junkies so the bar was set very high. The Rugby Grille surpassed that bar that we set. I got the lobster deviled eggs and my friend got the tempura shrimp, both were amazing. We later moved over to The Corner and had the sliders that come out of the Rugby kitchen, they were unreal!!! The chicken fried bacon on them bought them to another level of greatness!!! The drinks were also very good. The French gimlet was delicious and the happy hour prices can't be beat! Don't forget to take a look at their wine list...you can certainly tell whoever is in charge of the wine ordering knows what they are doing. In fact, it makes me wonder if they bought in a master sommelier just to put their list together! I'm a Vouvray fan, and it's fairly rare to find it on menus, but The Rugby has it! The service was great and we were checked on frequently by a very nice gentleman Jared. He clearly is in management but had no problem showing me where the ladies room was. It's refreshing to see that kind of service instead of someone just directing you over to the general direction. We all said we can't wait to go back again and would love to try out their brunch and dinner menu. If happy hour food was that good I can only imagine how good their full menu is!!!
(5)Ann W.
When I now think about hospitality, I will think of all the wonderful people at Rugby Grille. They are surely the most helpful, guest-oriented people that I've had the pleasure of encountering. Along with The Stand, Maison Boulud, and Commander's Palace, Rugby Grille sets the bar very high. On a recent lunch, I started the meal with the duck taco appetizers. Three crispy mini taco shells were filled with spicy duck meat, shredded, and topped with crème fraiche and peppers. The duck was subtly seasoned and delicious. A small ramekin of guacamole, served on the side, and had an airy consistency. However, it lacked flavor and had browned slightly. As entrée, I had the flat iron steak with fries. A compound butter, consisting of garlic, blue cheese, and red wine reduction, added depth and flavor to the medium-rare steak. A mound of thin, crispy fries was a delicious and welcomed side. I had not intended to have any dessert but the crème brûlée came highly recommended - as it should have been. The vanilla-flavored custard had an amazing sugar crust that crackled and crunched. Along with the tart berries, it was the best part of an already good meal. As I mentioned before, service was fantastic.
(4)Assaf Z.
Yesterday, i was hungry after my flight. The first thing I did was to enter to the restaurant. And I came with great expectations!! The atmosphere was very Cousy and the service was great! And unfortunately thats it... After small consulting with the waiter I ordered the home salad and the bricks chicken ( originally I wanted the lamb but he said its a very small dish). The dishes was small and very regular, and for sure don't worth the money I paid for them. I came in hungry and cane out the same way . I was very disappointed. Its a good thing that they had some fresh fruits, for free in the Lobby
(2)Regina B.
The Rugby Grille is a staple in Birmingham and a must on a warm summer day. Their patio is right in the heart of downtown, so great people watching.
(5)Tom K.
Was at the hotel for work travel. I expected typical hotel restaurant food- over priced, under whelming. I've learned years ago to avoid hotel dining but I arrived late at night and it was very cold and snowy, so I traded value and experience for convenience...or so I thought I was in for a pleasant surprise. The food was very good and I happen to hit it during restaurant week. 3 course meal for $30, which is an amazing value. My experience was a 5 (for a $30 meal) I did notice that the prices on the regular menu seemed more in line of what I expected, even higher actually. $24 for a burger? That's high for NY and SF, just plain out of whack for MI. Since most people won't have the good fortune to hit restaurant week, I gave them 4 stars as to not be misleading.
(4)Tiara N.
The service here is exceptional! The food was on point as well; have to try the Dover Sole, it's filleted table side. The New England clam chowder was amazing, the texture was very fine compared to the usual. I was disappointed by the chocolate cake/ice cream. The flavors were off, the vanilla ice cream tasted more like the chai tea ice cream on the menu. Maybe they swapped it by mistake.
(4)Brian M.
Overpriced but high quality and very tasty. The French onion soup is out of this world and their burger is one of the best around. Also great ahi tuna appetizer. Haven't had a steak but a guy at the bar was raving about it. The bar is often an entertaining scene. Lots of old white rich dudes hitting on women 1/4 their age. Not as creepy as I'm making it sound but entertaining nonetheless.
(4)Bari B.
Very disappointed in the dinner last night. We frequent this restaurant often. It is one of our favorites. I have to say we will not be coming back. I booked this on open table. No where did it say this was a fixed menu. When you called to confirm no word of it as well. The portions were small. The main course was a size of one piece of an appetizer. With the 4 of us we spent over 500 dollars and we ended up eating at a friends house. We felt we were being taken advantage due to New Years. Bari Beckett
(1)James F.
Dined here last minute last weekend. They were able to accommodate us with a reservation within 30 minutes of our call. Very helpful staff. I had the dover sole. Probable the best I have had in the past decade!! My wife enjoyed the filet, also outstanding. Would highly recommend!!
(5)Teddy M.
Love this place. Cute, fun and amazing service! Go and enjoy Bham!
(5)Lauren V.
The Rugby Grille is fantastic. The food is ridiculously delicious, they have a large menu (I've never had anything that was less than super), and the staff is friendly and professional. I've never had to make reservations and they've been able to accommodate me, but I wouldn't recommend that during Sunday bunch times, where it can get too busy for "walk-ins". I've been there for breakfast, brunch, dinner, and drinks with friends. It's a nice atmosphere and no matter what I'm wearing, or how much I order, the service is always wonderful. You can wear jeans at any time, but will also fit in perfectly if you want to dress up a bit. This is DEFINITELY not a bar/restaurant that you want to watch a game at, however. There is a TINY television at the corner of the bar and that's it. My only complaint is that it's a bit pricey. But, hey--it's Birmingham--what else would you expect?
(4)Michael P.
Was in the Rugby Grille on Black Friday with friends for lunch. Obviously it was a busy day. Unfortunately they were woefully understaffed and having difficulty providing even marginal service. (No menus, long waits, no service clearing...all restaurant 101 stuff) A group of women at the bar asked a waiter where the bartender was. He replied that they didn't have one "today," and that he and the other waiters were "taking turns" and would be with them as soon as they could! Amazing; thought he was being facetious! I usually like the Grille, its new look and the Townsend's new management, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that this day was an anomaly. They need to be careful.
(2)Mark W.
This is a restaurant week review. We went as a celebratory dinner and ordered off the restaurant week menu. Overall the portions were small, which is expected at a fine dining establishment during restaurant week, but the food left a little to be desired. I had the salad, which had candied walnuts and bleu cheese. It was good, and paired well with the vinaigrette dressing. Next was a lobster "essence" and mushroom pasta dish. I feel it is necessary to mention that this is lobster "essence", because the description on the menu is quite misleading. Although the menu states the dish has Maine Lobster, I was only able to identify 1 or 2 pieces of lobster in the whole dish. The shallots and mushrooms provided an earthy flavor, and the lobster essence was overpowered by their flavors. Overall I felt the flavors in the dish were, while good, very weak. I was expecting bigger flavors. We finished the evening with chocolate tart, which was good. Not too sweet, not too bitter, and the strawberry syrup was quite tasty. I think we made a mistake ordering off the restaurant week menu, but I'm not sure that I'd return given the prices and blandness of the food.
(2)Trevor P.
Spent Mother's Day with my wife and kids at what I thought would be a memorable experience. It was memorable but only for the rude, slow, dispassionate service, crappy overflow decor with standard hotel meeting room tables, wobbly chairs all for $65 per head! By the way, they weren't even busy! When we asked to order, the waiter told us to either select all of our courses immediately or he would have no choice but to come back later when we were better prepared! We chased them down for drinks, were told that items were nut-free only to find out they were mistaken. The sad part about this debacle was that the food was really exceptional. The duck confit, smoked salmon and desserts were well-prepared and beautiful - just not enough to overcome the experience. The price was not the issue but for $400 for five people the service and experience was severely lacking. We will never return!
(1)Dani S.
Brunch here can't be beat. The complimentary pastry basket is delicious. Incredible service. Really above and beyond.
(5)