It creates higher expectations. Last week, the restaurants practiced on employees so they could work out kinks before paying customers arrive. As Russell showed off the facilities, he talked not only about the quality of the food and service but about the employees he has attracted. Food and beverage operations have more than 250 workers, including 11 sous chefs and nearly 200 cooks. In addition to the restaurants, there's the invitation-only Signature Club Lounge on the fourth floor for high rollers.
Public restaurants are on the first and second floors.
They can be reached only by entering the casino and walking through one of two plushly decorated skyways. Also located on the second level is the High Octane Cafe, serving Starbucks coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts as well as other sweets. Selections last week included more than a dozen kinds of salads, many cold seafood selections, breads and rolls, house-made soups and a chef's carving station featuring Black Angus beef and whole turkeys. Mexican entrees included tamales from Evie's restaurant in Mexicantown, which aficionados consider the best in Detroit. Black and white tiles are used in this area as accents to complement giant reproductions of classic car hood ornaments.