Smith & Co., a Midtown Detroit elevated brew pub, takes the tastes and flavors of the Motor City, sprinkles in just the right amount of global influences, and pairs the resulting elegant comfort food with fine craft beers from its very own Nain Rouge Brewery. The culinary effect is allure and warmth, cloaked in Detroit attitude. Smith and Co. first launched in September 2019 but was quickly forced closed in March 2020 because of the pandemic and stayed closed for two years.
Now reopen, a new menu introduced this month features classics presented with surprising culinary twists in its range of appetizers to main dishes, including the bbq chickpea sandwich, a vegan offering that features vegan slaw, barbecue sauce, red onion and a ciabatta bun and, another vegan favorite, the Lentil Bolognese, with rigatoni, beluga lentils, tomatoes, garlic, balsamic, fresh basil and nutritional yeast.
Appetizers are equally unique and include the big cheese, featuring Nain rouge beer cheese fondue with a warm jumbo salted pretzel, blistered shishito peppers featuring a chili crisp, corn nuts and a miso glaze and fondue fries, featuring house-seasoned fries with beer cheese fondue alongside for dipping.
A recently completed in-house marble oven provides a variety of pizza options – and those pizzas arrive with a perfect crisp crust, said Chef Jermaine Mills. Pizzas include selections like mushroom, three meat and bbq chicken, as well as signature specialty pizzas like the Bulgogi Beef (Definitely try the Bulgogi Beef with braised pulled beef, quick-pickled and fresno peppers). Vegan cheese is available on all pizzas upon request.
Mills, a Detroit resident and the creative source behind the thoughtful food-and-beer pairings, loves being involved in the always-evolving food scene in his city and understands the emotional connection that people have between food and craft beer. He carefully designs the menu items with thought to the beers that originate from Nain Rouge Brewery, located across the courtyard. Those beers include 20 rotating taps of the highest quality craft brews, seasonal selections like Boppin’ Red IPA, D.A.P. Pilsner and Jalopy Session IPA with Rose Hips.
The setting for this Midtown treat is Smith & Co., located at 644 Selden, inside the renovated historic 102-year-old Smith Welding Supply & Equipment Company building.
The restaurant adopted the building’s name, kept the original Smith & Co. sign above the front door and has remained true to the building’s industrial roots; half of the 7,000 square-foot, 160-seat restaurant has an ambient interior featuring brick walls, exposed metal pipes and original doors and leather booths on one side with the restaurant’s other half boasting light from floor to ceiling with windows on the west side of the restaurant overlooking a shared courtyard. The result is a warm and modern vibe that meshes with an old school tavern feel.
Smith & Co. offers Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. Special deals including chili cheese fries, mac and cheese, smash burgers, and Nain Rouge drafts, are $5. Visit online at http://smithandcodetroit.com/menu. Carry out and delivery options are available.
Smith & Co.
644 Selden, Detroit
(313) 974-7100
smithandcodetroit.com
@smithandcodetroit
Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 4–10 p.m. / Sunday, 4–9 p.m.
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