Sweet Lorraine's Cafe - Livonia

I normally run from hotel restaurants, but I arrived late and didn't want to hunt down dinner. I sat at the bar and the bartender couldn't have been nicer. Although not great, food was acceptable. Wine prices a high, but I assume that from a hotel.

Will Try Again. So I have wanted to try this place for years and just never gotten over there. Tucked into the lobby of the Marriot over by Laurel Park Mall is a little cafe ' that seems to get really mixed reviews. <br/ <br/ I wandered into Sweet Lorraines from the Lobby of the Hotel and was confused briefly, until a manager greeted me and ushered me to a booth. I chose lunch time as the menu didn 't scream nice dinner out to me. <br/ <br/ The decor reminded me of an Art Deco place and screamed Ann Arbor! But like I always say, I eat for food not decor. The waiter was prompt in taking my drink order and since I am a pop guzzler, I was surprised he was on top of the refills. <br/ <br/ I ordered two dishes....because I am a tiny women with a huge appetite. I waited a few moments and the waiter was back....he dropped off a bread plate and some basil tomato sauce. The bread was....nothing special. The Foccaccia that he seemed so proud of, was ok, but really nothing to go OMG about. The sauce, obviously wasn 't jarred, but it again wasn 't anything to swoon over. They had a strange muffin that seemed to have corn, orange and maybe nuts in it. Weird with the sauce...and on its own. So I was kinda looking for an escape route if the rest of the food was like this. It was just, this muffin, it seemed like someone had gone nuts with the orange...and maybe almond flavoring....it was weird and strong. <br/ <br/ But I held my breath in anticipation....because unbeknownst to them...this was my private birthday lunch. The menu has never intrigued my BF, and has always seemed alluring to me. So I dined alone, as a treat to myself. <br/ <br/ First up was the avocado‐crab blt described as a crab cake, applewood bacon, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, red bell pepper aioli. $10.95 served with home made chips. <br/ <br/ The sandwich was truly huge on the plate, and quite impressive looking. With that said, I think they must have won some kind of award for using the most lettuce, because the lettuce was monstrous. I carefully bit into this sandwich and was pleasantly surprised. The sandwich was a solid B+. The bacon was thick cut bacon and the crab cake was big…not teeny tiny like at some places. However, the chewy bacon did make this soft sandwich a messy affair. And the sandwich seemed to be missing something. Maybe a piece of red onion….or some zip. The crab cake on its own had flavor. It just didn 't carry through when eaten as a sandwich. And the aioli….nothing more than red mayo. All in all a B+<br/ Since I had a salad to move onto…a few bites and I moved on<br/ Next Hot yellowfin tuna 'nicoise ' salad sautéed with Yukon Gold potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, capers fresh herbs over organic greens with Dijon vinaigrette‐‐with crispy onions. $13.95. <br/ <br/ This was generally an A salad. Conceptually an A+, the flavors melded and complemented each other well. Little red cabbage 'bowls ' held individual lime and lemon for your squeezing pleasure, as well as little tiny olives. My only complaint is the tuna. It was not 'hot ' when it hit the table. And….it was not consistently cooked. Some pieces were well done, others rare. Both worked in the dish….but it left for an inconsistency. <br/ <br/ All in all my dining experience was nice. I will try them again, however…with just an 'ok ' experience or even a little 'nice ' I don 't know it I am so eager to shell out $30 for brunch quite yet.

Up and Down. We have eaten here several times and usually we enjoy it. We have had a couple of so-so experiences so we bumped this place down the list. When things are good, they are very good and when they are bad, they are just so-so. It's been over a year since we have been here and that tells the real story.

Nice Atmosphere, Good Unique Selections. I've been here a couple of times and the food has been great. Not the typical selections you get from your average restaurant. The decor is very colorful and unique as well. The only complaint I have is their beer inventory. They have a wide selection of good bottled beers on the menu but both times they were out of my first two selections.

You Will Love It!. I have eaten Brunch here at least 8 times in the last year. There is enough food to please everyone in your party and the best time to go is between 11am and 12:30pm. You won't be disappointed!