Bitter Truth

Review summary

1. R

   Rick

   VIP

   Detroit

   58 reviews

   5.0

   58 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   In an age of far too many chain restaurants with their boring drink / food menus, what a delight to discover the Bitter Truth. Cool, welcoming vibe… friendly staff… and true cocktail expertise, we felt right at home. Oh, and the barbecue-forward menu did not disappoint. Owners Sean and Myra are fully invested and super personable. Eva and Ava took great care of us. We will definitely be back. Thank you.
   

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2. A

   Anna

   Detroit

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   The food here is FIRE. Smoked wings were juicy with perfectly crispy skin! The ribs are dry rub and you can pull the bone right out, and the original house made sauce was sooooo good, it’s the slightly vinegary kind which is my fave. The mac and cheese is bomb but the portion size was disappointing for $12. The place was full (valentine’s day) but the seating is spacious - even at the bar - you don't feel crammed in and there is a very comfortable distance to the next table. Nice decor, speakeasy vibe and comfy velvet chairs. The music kept cutting out, like the person whose phone is connected to the bluetooth speakers walked too far away pretty frequently. As someone who is hypersensitive to background music it was annoying, but most people would prob not notice. Cocktails were fantastic but unfortunately the drink service was incredibly slow (20 min wait per drink). Staffing another bartender would easily fix this. To be fair, the bartender was never goofing around, and the bar back, host, and bus staff were giving all the support they could, but since they cant make drinks, there was a true bottleneck. Certainly not enough to keep me away - when I go back, I will just order doubles.
   

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3. E

   Evan

   San Francisco

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   My new favorite spot in Ypsi. Went here on Valentine's Day and had a great experience with my wife at the bar, the food was excellent but as a setting it really stands out. Entire restaurant was staffed well, which was nice to see. As much as anything, it's *quiet*, not covered with hard surfaces that reflect sound like some of these modern restaurants, which drives me nuts.
   

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4. H

   Humza

   Detroit

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Place was nearly empty, I think we were the only ones in there. For it being our first visit, that was a little disappointing. Delicious food, fantastic bar, and the place looks great. Attractive and friendly service.
   

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5. L

   Liz

   Detroit

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 31, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing drinks, truly some of the best I have had in metro Detroit. Food was a slam dunk. Everything delicious. Ambience was perfect. Service phenomenal. We will be back!!!
   

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6. T

   Tina

   Northern MI

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 17, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything was delicious & beautifully presented. Very friendly vibe! Highly recommend!
   

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7. T

   Tim

   Detroit

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 28, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was great to see the previous Red Rock BBQ in downtown Ypsi reopen as the Bitter Truth. The new decor provided a relaxed and warm atmosphere. The restaurant exuded a chill ambiance with a major positive being that there were no big screen TV's to take away from the setting. The menu was primarily BBQ fare and carried over the excellent taste and hearty portions from Red Rock. The cocktail list was solid and the whiskey sour and Paper Plane that my wife and I had were outstanding. The only small nit that I had was that the side item menu was a bit limited but our server informed us that the menu would be expanding little by little. Overall an excellent dining experience at the Bitter Truth and we for sure will be back!
   

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8. G

   Gary

   Detroit

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 7, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great service, excellent food. The drinks were well mixed with a god balance. Waiting to see if they do more signature cocktails, maybe something to play off the smoky flavors of the barbecue like scotch or mezcal. Definitely a good date spot. Garbage Fries and Barbecutrie Board are real winners.
   

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9. D

   Donna

   Detroit

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on November 29, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Lovely spot to sit and enjoy good conversation and great background music. Staff is great! Make sure to try the burnt ends!
   

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10. T

    Tom

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Great place to enjoy drinks and some great BBQ. The atmosphere strikes a balance between cool and intimate, making it ideal for a quiet date night. Dim lighting, comfortable seating, and no overwhelming noise create a space where conversation flows easily. If you’re looking for delicious food, fantastic drinks, and a stylish yet relaxed setting, check out Bitter Truth
    

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