ivanhoe cafe polish yacht club

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• Ivanhoe's cafe

Ivanhoe's cafe

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

In a benighted neighborhood in the old Polish section of Detroit, we pull up to an old brick building surrounded by cars, the only indication we had arrived at our destination, the Polish Yacht Club, aka Ivanhoe's Cafe. Walk inside, and time travel back to... the mid 20th century, or earlier, depending on your memory. Polish dishes, Polish beer and the creamiest liverwurst I've ever tasted served on rye with a slice of onion and hot polish mustard! Friendly service, great atmosphere, good food, reasonable prices. I'll be back for more. More

Last night was not the first time I had ventured to the Ivanhoe Café, more commonly known as the Polish Yacht Club. It is a restaurant that has been in existence more than 100 years and in the same very Polish family. It's a true... Detroit experience. The food is other worldly; the beer on tap--Polish ($5 for a big tall one); the waitstaff, very friendly. It is like walking into a time warp. The friendly gents outside guard your cars while you dine. Tip them generously upon your exit. My group of 8 was thoroughly surprised, delighted and well satiated. More

This little place looks like a speakeasy from the old days. In a very run down and deserted section of Poletown in Detroit, it's an oasis in the desert. Although they serve delicious Polish food, they are known for their perch. There are various dining... rooms in this old building, and each one makes you feel you are back in your Grandma's kitchen. There's not a drop of water near this place, hence the nickname the Polish Yacht Club. Grilled kielbasa is the best, great sauerkraut and pirogues too. Full service bar. Monitored parking. Closed Mondays, and open only to three in the afternoon. Till seven on Friday, maybe Saturday too. More

The Ivanhoe aka Polish Yacht Club was a place I used to frequent for many many years and had great memories of the food, atmosphere and good times with friends. I was very much looking forward to returning but today's experience with two other couples... was not good. I could shrug off the lack of any care to the exterior, and that many personal belongings were cluttering up the main bar area after all clutter and history are a part of the PYC's ambiance, but the food was really disappointing. It started good the coleslaw, pickles, and chicken soup were tasty, but the walleye, potato pancakes, grilled kielbasa and pierogis was really bad, the owner apologized that the cook over cooked the french fries and we thought oh that is okay we like crispy fries but they were so over cooked that they were completely hollow and inedible. I have never before been served a french fry I could not eat. Not a good experience and very disappointed. Our friend sent back her potato pancake because it was burnt and the one they returned with was even worse. So sad this has been a great spot for so long but clearly not the same. More

I have been to the Polish Yacht Club/Ivanhoe Cafe several times and have enjoyed the food, ambiance and neat location. For some time I have been hyping it to my wife and finally on Tuesday, 2/17/15 I took her to have lunch there. We sat... in the main dining area off the bar. The waitress was chatting up the three men at the table right next to us and then left the room three times and back to the adjacent table before even coming to our table. We ordered beers and then asked for the Polish platter which was a special on a chalkboard; when it arrived 20+ minutes later it did not have the mashed potatoes and stuffed cabbage advertisted. When we asked the waitress about it she said we didn't say the special so we got the Polish platter from the menu. We hadn't even looked at the menu. If there are two versions of the Polish platter she should have asked us which we wanted, to clarify. The mashed potatoes were inedible and the pierogis were like rocks. The sausage, potato pancakes and stuffed cabbage were fine, as was the coleslaw. Separately, once we received our beers, the waitress did not come back for over 15 minutes. I had to flag down the barmaid, who was also a waitress, I guess, to get a second beer. I went to the bar to ask for the bill and the original waitress had to ask me what we had. She was brutal - no customer service skills whatsoever. I heard her name but I am not going to dump on her personally. It's the restaurant's problem to have her on staff. The highlight of the visit was the cordiality of the gentleman on security for the parked cars. He was friendly, opened the door of the restaurant for us and asked us how are lunch was. I didn't tell him. PYC is off my list now. I am just turned off. More

Also known as the Polish Yacht Club, this place is located n a dilapidated neighborhood (to put it kindly). Generally only o[en from about 11 to 3 on Monday through Thursday and 11 to 7 on Friday. Great Polish food, perch dinners and lots of... it. Pickles and a soup of the day generally come along with every full lunch. Definitely call ahead to make sure they are open as they sometimes close for vacations. You'll nver go home hungry. More

this place is in a very poor neighbourhood, definitely off the tourist trail but we were glad that our friends took us there for a unique lunch experience. There is a guy outside who watches the cars and the opening hours are irregular. Good choice... of food, including many polish dishes and as usual large portions, average prices. If you get the opportunity it is worth the experience of this place if you are in detroit.. ps Our friends called it the Polish Yacht Club, but do not expect to find it located in a marina or near water!!!!! More

this place is in the worst of neighborhoods but so many people come to eat their famous perch dinners--I think it's been in business since 1902 & it shows--they have a guy outside who watches the cars--the waitress tina has been here 24 years &... is so friendly--this place caters to a lot of regul;ar patrons--there are all sorts of famous people who have their picture on these walls--it's called the 'polish yacht club', the name most people call it--you have to see & experience this place if you are in detroit....... More

It's definitely located in a sketchy part of town; ok, the ghetto but the history is amazing. Give the doorman a few dollars to watch your car and it will be safe and sound. This is the only building on the block. Once inside, it's... a throwback to the days of yesterday. The food is solid and plenty of it. They are known for their perch dinners and I recommend it. You also get a nice plate of pickled items and cole slaw. If you ask, any of the staff can tell you stories about the place. It's been around for 100 years. The hours are very limited with dinner only being served on Friday nights. If you love history, this is the place. More

My husband brought me to the Ivanhoe having had fond memories from years before. Though not the best neighborhood the bar has the charm of a neighborhood Institution serving a wonderful Polish food from the area. From the menus that have been in place forever,... to the autographs and pictures on the wall. This place is the real deal Polish neighborhood bar. The we arrived just after the traditional lunch hour. The place was still emptying out and we waited a long time for our food. The Ambiance, the complimentary coleslaw and pickle plate kept us occupied while we waited. I ordered the slim jim sandwich for $8.95 and it was one of the best I've ever had. It was loaded with Dearborn ham and just the right amount of cheese, tomato, lettuce and sauce. My husband was craving the perch so he ordered the light perch dinner which included a cup of wonderful chicken noodle soup, fries, and 5 very sweet small perch fillets that were cooked just right. We ended up both being very happy with our meal. More

We met there with friends for lunch (about noon). From the outside, the building appears as a non-descript corner bar, where it’s been since the early 1900’s. Go there to read more of the history. There are few external windows. The former Eastern European and... Polish neighborhood is mostly grass today. The side entrance has a sign overhead that tells you it is the Polish Yacht Club (PYC), also called the Ivanhoe Café. They have a short dining schedule - from 11 AM to about 3 PM. There is a gentleman outside. He watches the cars and opens the door for you and group. Our purpose in visiting the PYC was manifold; to return to the area where we grew up, have a meal with friends, and to enjoy the ambience of a real Polish style bar/restaurant. And in this regard, the PYC met the requirement. We were seated quickly, a member of the wait staff brought a large plate of Cole-slaw and pepperoncini to snack on before ordering. All of it was fresh and tasty. We also ordered drinks. We had Żywiec beer, though there are other Polish beers available. As part of the meal, all of us had a cup of chicken rice soup; homemade and very meaty and satisfying, We had three orders of fresh perch with fries, one was substituted with pierogi, and one order of Kielbasa w/kraut and fries. As an extra, you can order potato pancakes. The perch are pan-fired, and were tasty, very close to being more than enough. The tartar sauce provided with the fish was good. They mentioned that the perch were good and we would be coming back again. The smoked Kielbasa was cut into slices and also pan-fried. It was tasty, if a bit salty, and provided with spicy horseradish as a condiment. The sauerkraut had a bit of caraway flavor and was not overcooked. Pierogi (potato filled) appeared to have been not home-made though they were first boiled, then fried, like my grandmother did. No fried onions however. The potato pancakes also seem to be commercial, not homemade. Both pierogi and potato pancakes were served with sour cream. The commercial made items were not expected to taste like homemade, but overall the meals were filling, as we took some home with us. The menu is Polish based and adequate. The food was good. Service was good too. More

Glad to be introduced to this historic restaurant. Everything was excellent, from the friendly security man at the door, great food, polish beer and friendly attentive staff. The fish was amazing, kolbassa, perogies, coleslaw and polish beer. You will not be disappointed to venture off... the I-94 for this meal. Be sure to check their hours of operation, although limited it is worth planning your day around their schedule. Only open Friday nights for dinner until 7. More

IVANHOE'S CAFE, Detroit - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

• Atmosphere: 4

• Ivanhoe Cafe - Polish Yacht Club

• Southfield, MI
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Authentic Detroit restaurant--wonderful perch dinner with fries, Cole slaw and delicious chicken noodle soup. Tip the guy outside who watches over your car.

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• Dearborn Heights, MI
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Ambiance was nice enough for over 100 yr.old resto in the same family; but it also looked like 115 yrs old from the outside. Sidewalks unsafe for walking, entrance into bldg. was also unsafe with poor lighting and dangerous steps in/out.  Windows all boarded up with plywood. Food was cold.  My 1st. and last visit here was 2-29-24 with a group of 25 people -   NEVER go in a group!   Singular or pairs might be OK? for this old pub.  It's NOT a Polish Yacht Club but owner Patti Ghalen wants to charge Yacht Club prices.      *I was initially impressed to see statue of Fr. Solanus Casey in our dining room. I liked the quaint and very old atmosphere of the pub that has been in business for over 100 yrs. with same family. A lot of history was seen here I'm sure as evidence by  all the photo's of celebrities and Commodores on the walls.    * I have multi food allergies (I called prior to coming here with no response), so I approached the owner Patti Galen to find out what I could/could not have off the menu she had chosen before we got there. She wasn't interested in talking to me, I even tried to give her my list of allergies- again she wasn't interested.  "I don't need that".   She is obviously unaware of our Federal ADA act re. people with food allergies nor the fact that Michigan also has their own law re. this issue.  She could care less and didn't even want to substitute anything.  I asked for maybe plain potato or sauerkraut pirogi - she she said nope ... just potato/cheese and I can't have the dairy - cheese.   So this isn't much of a Polish restaurant either if they only have the ONE choice of pirogi  ??  *  so I could NOT eat the 2 pierogi's (cheese), nor the fish (egg battered), nor the coleslaw (mayo/eggs based), nor the store bought butter cookies served for desert).   Patti finally sent word to me that I COULD eat the polish sausage since she said there was no GARLIC in it!  *(I should have known better of course the polish sausage probably DID have garlic in it ..since I ate 4 slices and then went outside the throw it up.)  I ate 1/2 C of the vegi soup that someone dropped the salt shaker into.  I had to add water to make it palatable; so I was saving that other 1/2 C of soup in case I wasn't able to eat anything; but our waitress picked it up to throw out before I got the chance to finish it.  I was able to eat 1/2 of potato pancake that was burnt...and hot, but I was so hungry at this point I ate half of it anyway, that's when I looked for my salty (watered down) soup to note it was gone!    I had asked her could she make my perch a beer batter or steamed.  NOPE.  I couldn't order off the menu.  I guess the home-made F fries were OK, but I wasn't impressed. *Then the real Rip-off starts:   I tried to talk to owner Patti about my bill since I really couldn't eat anything but those 2 items, she wouldn't talk to me and wasn't able to tell me "How much do I owe, so I could pay our escort.  I should've been charged nothing. -0-   She told me to take it up with our Escort.... I reminded her that she is the owner and she is the one who determines the bill!   ...but no, she wasn't going to tell me anything & she never did!  She was very rude to both me and our trip  Escort. *   Next Rip -Off our Escort was told she had to pay the entire tab with ONE transaction: Her's only.   Luckily she had her own personal Charge card to put all 25 people on HER card, .   WE all were expecting to pay our own bills by charge or cash -  NOPE.    Turns out the owner was charging per piece of food. OMG ..... in that case mine should've been free. Then she added 20% Tip charge from our 25 people for $122.00. *(Most restaurants may add 15 % chg.- never heard of this before)  * From my table of 6, the others said their fish and pirogi's were served cold,  the salt laden soup, and burned potato pancakes.    I feel we got ripped-off @ $27.95 a person for our pitiful meals... Mine should've   $5.00 for that burnt potato pancake & I probably would've refused to pay that too.   This is NOT a Yacht Club  but Patti charges Yacht Club Prices.  She was so rude to both myself and our Escort ...never responding when we were trying to find out how much we owed.   We ALL thought we were going to be able to use their regular menu and pay our own bills individually.   * When I got there I was planning on ordering the Walleye light. Could NOT!

• San Francisco, CA
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The perch and coleslaw were very good. However, the pierogis tasted and looked like frozen and store bought. The potato pancakes were overcooked on the outside and raw and mushy in the middle.  The kielbasa was overcooked too.  The soup was very salty. We went with a group and they would only charge by the number of plates of food they brought to each table.  So, our $17 perch dinner ended up costing each of us $28.   The outside of the building had bare plywood over the windows and the inside was very rough looking. I don't know how it passes inspection. Definitely not worth going! I don't know why Yelp has me living in California. I am from Michigan!

• Christopher D.
• Livonia, MI
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The Polish Yacht Club's Walleye and Perch are some of the best in all of Detroit (only Andrew's competes and it's a bit more expensive).  It's a large portion that's cooked perfectly and tastes incredibly fresh (a rarity around here, but I won't name names).  It's fried, but not greasy at all, and it's flaky because it's fresh (no squishy fish here, thank God) Every dinner is served with pickles, coleslaw, French fries and soup so the value is ridiculous.  They also don't lack condiments (malt vinegar included)  which  I appreciate.   The inside of the Yacht Club genuinely looks like the Cigar Lounge of a Country Club.  I love it.  Small, casual with old school elegance.  And the service gives off that same vibe.  It's like you're in a cigar lounge only with no smoking and excellent food.  Personally, I loved the Ivanhoe Club and will be back!

• Northville, MI
• 106 reviews
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There are so few places left like this is In Detroit. It is such a joy when you find one that you almost don't want to write about it bc you want to keep it special. PYC has been around for over 100 years and while it doesn't look like much from the outside, inside it is full of warmth and charm. It's like being in your grandmas kitchen mixed with the knights of Columbus hall. Hearty Polish dishes and fried perch are the mainstays. But they serve you pickles and slaw when you sit down in the dining room, and a warm cup of chicken noodle soup. Owners are greeting regulars and banter across tables and bar seats is the norm. Food is great (hand cut fried and potato pancakes are delish!) but the folksy ambience is what truly makes this place stand out.

• 177 reviews
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Quintessentially an Ole School Detroit Bar that jus did a few items on the menu but Oh Boy they are done REALLY good! Opened since 1909 and one of the first restaurants I visited as a child back in 1973 when I immigrated here and lived not tok far from the Cafe/Bar, imagine I come back and nothing has changed! It's like stepping back into my childhood memories! Ok enough about my mushy memories! The Food! Yea here too nothing has changed but in an excellently delisious way, still the best perch , walleye in town, some of the yummiest Polish Specials but most of all the ambiance here gives off European friendly with low warm lighting vibe that jus made my whole experience Right, jus Right, felt I went back home to Europe and was visiting Baba's house and she jus happened to have a few people over for Dinner! Ahhhh I'll be visiting and soon! Side note here the hours vary please call them, reserve a table, come and Enjoy!

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Dan and I finally made it to Ivanhoe's!! Kielbasa,  pierogie, potato pancakes, cole slaw, perch , pickles, peppers and polish beer. Happy, happy Good Friday to us!

• 272 reviews
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I was just recently introduced to the fact that this place exists.  I was shocked as to where it is.  It's the ghetto people.  It's a mecca inside the ghetto.  It's well lit, and there's parking.  The area directly around it isn't that bad.  It's getting cleaned up.  So it's worth a little trip just to experience this gem. It's an old building that normally you'd probably ignore.  One you get inside you realize, this place is ancient and a taste of old Detroit for sure.   The service is old school.  Very pleasant and nice, not uppity....just quaint.   The building is decrepit in many ways.  The ceiling is peeling.  The pain is old.  The carpet is old.  The tables are old and rickety, and the chairs are old and rickety.  It's wonderful.  It has SO MUCH CHARM!     The food?  Well, it's not the best ever.  But it's dang good.  I ordered the perch .  Have I had better?  Yes.  There's a few places around that may have better perch .  But not many.  It's quite good and decent.   You get served a huge bowl of cole slaw with your meal along with some pickles and peppers.   What a unique touch that is.   The slaw is pretty good too. My girl ordered some polish stuff.  She had pierogis (limited choices of flavors), and some kielbasa.  The pierogis did not taste homemade, and the kielbasa tasted like packaged.   However, it was ok.  It wasn't terrible or anything.     At the end we got some cute little tea cakes as desert.   It was nice evening dinner and a cool experience.   For polish food, I'd always opt for Hamtramck to get authentic polish.  This was not.   That's my worst complaint.   We may go back....you never know.   I wouldn't say no to this place.  We left full and the food tasted good.

• Royal Oak, MI
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This place is only open for dinner on Friday and you better get there by 7.  A study in century old architecture - if you look closely you'll notice the triangle shaped outlets in the wall that went out about 80 years ago.  You can't help but root for an old school classic like the PYC.  The food and service are superb.  On the wall are some outstanding photographs of local and national celebrities who've been there.  I've had perch , walleye and kielbasa - all terrific.  If I had lunch there - i wouldn't go back to work!  :)

• Ann Arbor, MI
• 2017 friends
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The City of Detroit continues to amaze me with unique gems standing proudly amid areas of massive destruction and desolation. The Ivanhoe Cafe, known locally as the "Polish Yacht Club" or "PYC", is one of those gems that has served hearty Polish food and fresh Lake Perch on the same corner for more than a CENTURY!  Think about it...In 1909, the last year the US government minted Indian pennies, PYC opened its doors on this very corner in what was a working class neighborhood of Polish and other ethnic immigrants on the City's near East side.   Today, this neighborhood  is in shambles with countless vacant lots where houses once stood but have gone through the sad progression of being abandoned, condemned and subsequently razed in an effort to erase the blight.  To be completely honest, PYC sits in one of the roughest parts of the Motor City rivaled only by the Brightmoor section of the City's West side. However, once inside this 2-story red brick structure, you've remarkably entered another world.  Frequented by white-collared regulars from downtown office buildings just a mile and a half away, lunching in this restaurant/bar feels more like dining in someone's home.  Pictures of many of Detroit's famous adorn the walls and the array of table lamps give the dining room a soft glow. You gotta love the complimentary tomatoes, peppers and delicious creamy cole slaw that were promptly delivered to our table. We also enjoyed a coffee cup full of hearty Chicken Vegetable Soup and an appetizer of locally made pan-fried Kielbasa...a fantastic start! For lunch, I chose the house specialty...the fresh Lake Perch Sandwich served on a lightly grilled bun with lettuce, tomato and rough-cut fries.  No frozen fish here Jack. This is the real thing...an outstanding sandwich with the freshest and tastiest small Lake Erie perch fillets that I've had in Motown. By the way, remember to toss the door man a few bucks to watch your ride while you are inside enjoying lunch.  You don't want to be worrying about losing your wheels while you are dining on Pierogis. Highly recommended!  5 big stars for the overall experience.

• Charter Township of Clinton, MI
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Wow!  Yes the neighborhood is rough, but you can give the guy outside a tip and he'll keep an eye out for your car!   We had 6 of us for lunch, of course it was lunch, they don't have dinner hours.  You can order the 'dinner' or the 'light dinner' which is like half order.   They bring out a pickle and pepperoncini plate, then soup in a coffee mug (chicken noodle that day) and a large bowl of homemade coleslaw, creamy style and very delicious! Three had the Polish Platter and it looked great!  Had a sample of the sausage on the platter and it was about the best I have had, it was sliced and pan fried.  Heard the kraut was very good too. Three of us had fish, 2 for perch and I had the "light" walleye.  My dinner was one piece of breaded pan fried walleye, opted out of the fries and got 3 pierogi's instead, good choice but the fries looked great too. The other guys had the perch and said it was great, after all it is their specialty. The atmosphere was comfy and the staff was very friendly.   We will be going back to take some co-workers who could not join us and I can't wait for that!

• Brighton, MI
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Lunch on 7/29/15.  Good experience with chicken noodle soup, grilled sausages, slaw, perch and walleye dinners and carrot cake.  Located in a "down and out" Detroit neighborhood...tip the watchman who protects your car while you are having lunch.  I'll return to Ivanhoe's!

• St Clair Shores, MI
• 217 friends
• 485 reviews
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My friend and I wanted some good fish during Lent and were tired of the church basement routine. So off to the PYC I said. Arrived about 630pm w/o reservations, no room but you can sit at the bar if you like said the hostess, who i later found out was the owner. As soon as we sat down we had menus and in front of us. We ordered the perch dinner and the walleye dinner. Out comes two big mugs of mushroom barley mmmm so good on a cold night. Nixt up were pickles, peppers and coleslaw, I'm starting to get full already. Out come the dinners, a nice filet of walleye and several perch with fries etc. Not the best fish ive ever had but it was darn good. The friendliness of the entire staff from the guy who watch's your car to the owner make you feel your at your families table and home

• Sterling Heights, MI
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This place has great friendly service and the food was amazing! I ordered the perch dinner and it was so tasty!  The onion soup reminds me of what my grandma used to make!  The atmosphere was awesome and had wonderful old pictures and a lot of history!   The location has a lot to be desired and I'm suprised and happy that it stays open and in business!  PLEASE PLEASE stay open!

• Logan Square, Chicago, IL
• 198 friends
• 313 reviews
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I asked my eighty-something grand aunt if she knew about the Ivanhoe Café, one of the last remnants of the old Poletown neighborhood where she grew up.  "I can't believe it's still there!" she exclaimed.  "I haven't been there in about a hundred years!" I can see why my aunt was surprised... the drive up to the place was like heading down a bowling lane with a handful of houses like bowling pins scattered sparsely after a split. The restaurant itself was non-descript- just a windowless brick structure that at first looked like just another abandoned party store. But the simple inscription above the doorway clearly read "Polish Yacht Club"- so we knew it was the place.  Polish Yacht Club? It's a bit of an inside joke that's run on for decades (the place is landlocked). Inside... it truly does feel like someone's home, walls plastered with framed portraits, including a collection of regular customers wearing sailors' attire. The regulars, many of whom have been coming here for decades, seem to be on familiar terms with all the staff. But the service doesn't discriminate. From the second you sit down, you can expect to be bombarded by Polish side dishes. First was about a pound of coleslaw... which sounds arterially intimidating, but thankfully seemed to based on yogurt rather than mayo. Then there was a mountain of pickles and peppers- another mandatory starter, but probably the best chance for vegetarians to get their fill. Then some tasty soup- we lucked on some tasty chicken alphabet on our visit. By the time the food coma had already struck and it was getting hard to carry on, we were hit with the dishes we actually ordered- perch and French fries for both of us (the "lite" version. For Kosciuszko's sake, stick with the "lite" version and not the full entree unless you want to Kevorkianize yourself by overnourishment!). Grueling, but good. What's time with family without a session of binge eating? I disagree with the others about the immediate area itself being rough... the desolation can be a bit creepy at first, but the reality is there's no one left to cause trouble. It feels rural more than anything. Just a block south is Farnsworth, a street of young farmers some of whom moved from San Francisco for the cheap land. That said, auto theft remains one of Detroit's proudest pastimes, though, so if you drive here (biking during the day is okay), it's comforting to have a guy named Mike standing out front looking out for your car.  Be sure to tip him.

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This was my third time here and I must say that the atmosphere is still festive and light, but the attitudes on some of the employees are not.  I came in for lunch on Good Friday for some of their tasty fried fish.  Now I know how this place is.  If you don't have a reservation, they treat you like an outcast and send you on your way.  Well I was rolling solo and tried for a meal at the bar.       I sat down and was quickly greeted by a short older lady with glasses.  I asked for a Labatt Blue Light and received a regular Blue.  I politely stated that I asked for a light and she looked at me with such disgust and quickly put down a Blue light.  Now there was a very nice blonde bartender/waitress who came over and said that it was no big deal, because I'm sure she saw the attitude that I had received. She gave me a menu and took my order.  My meal of a fried perch sandwich came and it was very tasty.  Lightly fried and very flavorful.  The place was extremely busy and my beer had run dry.  The bartenders were busy with the dining room so they had other things to attend to.  Now, there was this bowling ball looking guy with a droopy dog face who waddled behind the bar.  He looked liked he worked there, but all he seemed to do was talk with friends at the end of the bar and feast on handfuls of chocolates.  On one of his trips down my end of the bar, he looked directly at my empty beer in the tip rail and kept walking.  I quickly asked if I could have a new beer and he stopped and hesitated as if I had asked him for his kidney.  He reluctantly gave me a new one.       The employees here, except for the very nice blonde bartender, seem to act like you are a nuisance and that they are doing you a favor to get you anything.  This place is good, but there are many better.  They are living on borrowed time.

• Detroit, MI
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Each year for Good Friday my boyfriend's family/relatives head here for dinner and lots of booze. I had the pleasure of going last year. Wow!!!!! I LOVE this place. I love everything about it. I love how it makes you feel like you're in busia's house and she's slaving over the stove cooking with love. I love how all of the dinnerware and silverware is an eclectic hodge podge. This is the ONLY place I have ever eaten peorogies and I am anxiously anticipating next good Friday so I can gorge myself on all this Polish goodness and hate myself for the next 3 days.  The only thing I haven't tried is the perch , but from what all of the boyfriend's relatives were saying, it's delicious. I will try to try it the next time. Although, I'm weird about eating seafood at non-seafood restaurants. (Much like I will only eat cat fish in New Orleans.) Like other Yelpers have stated, the area is sketchy to say the least, definitely tip the gentleman who watches the patron's vehicles.

• Stephanie K.
• Hazel Park, MI
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Boyfriend and I have been going there for about 2 1/2 years now and we always feel like regulars - very welcome!  I recall the first time we visited on a Friday afternoon after a Tiger's game, we met the regulars, received a hug or two and free beers.  Patti and Tina are awesome. The atmosphere is awesome (like other reviewers mentioned, it's unique). The slaw, the perch and the crispy sausage appetizer are enjoyable. Order a Long Island Iced Tea if you dare (they're strong!). Again, like other reviewers mentioned, the neighborhood appears a little rough but don't let that keep you away! I believe they're open for lunch time during the week and for dinner on Friday nights. Oh, and check out the "trough" along the bottom base of the bar.  You'll have to find out for yourself what exact purpose it served.

• Royal Oak Charter Township, MI
• 126 reviews
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I stumbled upon this place randomly while searching for Polish restaurants outside of the Hamtramck area. They have extremely limited hours (which is a bummer) but I was finally able to make it on a Friday with a group of 5. After reading the reviews, I was pretty excited to try the food. As many reviewers mentioned, the look and feel of the restaurant was pretty unique. Basically, you feel like you're going to eat with a big family at your grandmother's house. It's an old building filled with pictures of members and random beer signs. All signs for common/readily available "domestics" (lame). They have a bunch of sides served prior to eating including cole slaw and pickles. Most of the dinner entrees were priced mid-range with a few dishes less than $10. I ended up getting the kielbasa and pierogies. I also had a chance to try the perch . I've...had better at many other places. Nothing really stood out about the food on any level. Bland, mediocre, and uninspired are all things that come to mind. Tipping for the guy standing around outside was taken care of by one of the guys in our group. Most of the area was pretty run down so it seemed like it would be a good idea.

• John Nathan U.
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A diamond in the rough, and one of the most fantastic experiences you'll have in the D.  Very kind staff, and amazing Perch .  You will not leave feeling hungry...maybe hungry to come back.  Your eyes will not leave the character of the walls in this place!

Menu may not be up to date. Submit corrections.

Ivanhoe Cafe - Polish Yacht Club Menu

Rainbow Trout

Grilled Kielbasa

Chicken strips, house french fries, seasoned french fries, home fries (home made), seasoned fries, onion rings, cup of soup, bowl of soup, chicken greek.

Classic Burger

Liversausage, stacked ham, polish reuben, ivanhoe reuben, fajita pita.

Grilled Cheese

Gr. ham & swiss, gr. chicken breast, chicken club, turkey reuben, turkey burger.