Inside: Premium in Detroit

Status: Tucked away at the former Icon club located on Times Square in downtown Detroit sits the two-month-old Premium Resto-Lounge, a lavish pizza bar showcasing a menu ranging from appetizers to desserts.

Custom couches and state-of-the-art lighting and sound add a club-like feel to both Taste, the restaurant on the second level, and Premium, the lounge below.

Gear: The dress, "which is always elevated casual and the standard doesn't deviate from week to week" is dress slacks for men and/or jeans with a blazer, sweater or appropriate dress shirt. No t-shirts, baseball caps, tennis shoes or work boots, says co-owner LaRonn Harris.

Ladies should look fly in their jeans and heels, dresses, tops and appropriate blouses.

Mood: Nakeyshia Brown of Sterling Heights says she appreciates the exposed brick walls, electric blue, purple and green lights and “eclectic, jazzy, uptown look.” 

“The warm and cozy Saturday night atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date without breaking your pockets,” adds Spurgeon Parker, 21. “The music (Dwele was playing at the time) is not too loud where I can’t hear my date speak, nor derogatory, where I’m embarrassed about the lyrics.”

“The music style changes periodically from the DJ, to the live band on occasions, and the entire restaurant is WIFI equipped, therefore any computer with WIFI connection is able to connect to the Internet any hour of the day,” says Manager William Roberts. “We have designed our restaurant to suit Detroit’s more discerning and sophisticated customer, and to service the patrons with good quality food and a comfortable environment for work and dates.”

Pick me up: There are two bars on the lowers level and another in Premium. Happy hour runs from 7-8 p.m. with half-off the alcoholic drinks.

The restaurant serves appetizers, like spinach dip ($7.95), mozzarella sticks ($6.49), veggie spring rolls ($5.49) and Red Rock shrimp ($10.95). There are also a variety of soups, salads and paninis ranging from $4.95-7.95. The pizza, which ranges from $8.49-12.49, includes toppings like pepperoni, goat cheese, pineapples, seafood and more.

“The pizza was great, my waitress was kind, and the drinks were not watered down,” Brown says. “This is my first time coming to the restaurant and I will return again."    

The dough is made daily with organic flour and extra virgin olive oil, and fresh produce toppings include exotic portabella mushrooms, zucchini and caramelized onions.

Breakfast is served on Friday from 1-4 a.m., Saturdays from 1 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch is 11 a.m.-2:20 p.m. weekly, and dinner is 5-10 p.m.

Entertainment: The musical format consists of R&B, hip-hop and old school with a live band accompanied by a vocalist and two DJs at the weekly House of Soul Experience. Past performers include Common.