First Taste: Centaur

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Centaur Bar

Metromix Detroit First Tastes

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Inside: Centaur Bar in Detroit

Theater district bar offers a place to relax and unwind

It’s a perfect example of taking something that was void and desolate and transforming it into something that is chic, upscale, and classy. Michelle Obama held parties there; ESPN used it as their base of operations for Super Bowl XL; Executive Travel Magazine says it’s a great place to entertain clients, Conde Nast Traveler listed it as one of the top hot spots in the world to travel to. Since opening during the 2005 Major League Baseball's All-Star weekend in Detroit, Centaur Bar has rapidly earned the reputation as one of the area's premiere nightlife destinations.

With some elbow grease and a whole lotta love, the Town Pump’s Sean Harrington transformed the abandoned, and dilapidated, Iodent toothpase factory into a multi-story, Parisian, 1920’s art-deco inspired, martini and small plate lounge – the Centaur Bar.

Make no mistake, if the martinis don’t bring you in ($5 martinis during happy hour), the food certainly will. Everything is bite-sized and shareable, served on mini-towers. And its meant to complement the variety of martini or drink you may be enjoying.

Everything on the menu is house made, from the mini crab cakes (classic Maryland crab cakes with a lobster cream sauce) to the mahi-mahi tacos to the Thai fresh roll (Thai-style vegetables rolled in a cold rice wrapper, served with peanut sauce).

The menu also included classic-style plates, such as the international cheese plate, foie gras paté (classic French paté served on baguette medallions with cornichons), stuffed mushroom caps (mushrooms filled with a mixture of crab, bacon and green onions) and sevruga caviar (1 oz. served with toast points, minced egg, sweet onion and crème fraîche).

The kitchen stays open from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. everyday and opens earlier during Detroit Lions home games (which also features Centaur’s bloody Mary bar, and bottomless mimosas). Along with the martinis, happy hours brings free appetizers to the table, and often features items off-menu.

Centaur is available for private parties, including fully-catered events. There is a limitless banquet menu and Centaur can accomodate capacity for more than 300 guests.

Just as a belief existed that a former abandoned building could be transformed into something iconic, so strong is Sean and Leslie Harrington’s conviction that giving back to others is as important. Centaur is actively involved in many local charities, including MGM’s Detroit House Party, the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auctions and the Detroit Opera House’s Bravo Bravo.

Whether its for the drink, for the atmosphere or for the food, Centaur has much to offer from opening to close right in the heart of downtown Detroit.

Get the full dish on Centaur