Father-daughter team and wine industry experts, Jim and Remy Lutfy, have opened Vertical Detroit— a high-end, wine-centric restaurant in downtown’s historic Ashley building.
“Seeing our vision for Vertical come to fruition has been an incredible experience,” says Jim Lutfy. “We’re looking forward to sharing that vision through our industry expertise, modern interpretations of classic cuisine and an engaging programming component that will bring the knowledge of the most distinguished professionals in the business to downtown Detroit.”
Vertical serves as a dining destination for wine lovers, opening with an expansive wine list featuring more than 500 vintages by the bottle and 52 by the glass, as well as a selection of locally sourced appetizers and composed small plate options from Detroit native and executive chef, Alex Knezevic. Additional retail space in the restaurant will feature an exclusive, consistently rotated collection of 400 wines within all price points and appellations and Riedel glassware and accessories.
Named after a vertical wine flight, a side-by-side tasting of multiple vintages of the same wine, the restaurant plans to feature five ‘verticals’ at all times. A variety of domestic and international beers, as well as boutique spirits will also be available. Detroit-based architectural firm Rossetti Associates Inc. designed the space, which features rich colors and textures that highlight the building’s historical elements, while incorporating a modern, sophisticated finish. The 90-seat restaurant, located at 1538 Centre St., will include a full bar area, retail wine shop with a 17-foot tasting table and elegant banquette seating with outdoor patio seating available next summer. Vertical will also offer a monthly wine club and welcome industry experts to host educational seminars to increase guests’ knowledge of the craft and enhance their overall experience.
Owners of Fine Wine Source, a specialty wine shop in Livonia, the Lutfy family has been in the industry for more than three decades. Jim Lutfy began selling wine from his family’s small business, Cloverleaf Market, until opening Fine Wine Source in Livonia in 1993. Remy Lutfy discovered her passion for the industry at a young age as well and extensively studied wine and winemaking at the University of California, Davis before completing internships in Napa Valley. The team waited more than five years for the right location and time to use their combined expertise to emerge into the hospitality scene.
