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Executive Chef James (Jay) Gundy in the new kitchen. (Facebook photos from Red Dunn Kitchen)
What Jay Gundy serves on plates has more subtle flavors than what he puts online.
The experienced chef, who opens Red Dunn Kitchen to the public next week on Trumbull Street in Corktown, has bragging rights as a rising star who honed his craft at Forte, Tribute, The Whitney, Fiddleheads, Cafe Via and Townhouse Detroit. Still, his new restaurant's site seems overly seasoned with hyperbole.
"We’ve joined the ranks of the best restaurants in downtown Detroit," it proclaims, adding that Red Dunn is "a one-of-a-kind Detroit restaurant" serving "Detroit cuisine like you've never tasted before."
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served daily.
The newcomer, now taking reservations for its June 23 debut and beyond, says in a release excerpted at its website that it "takes over the city this month." (It has been open to hotel guests since May 27.)
Gundy, who's in his late 30s, is cast as "a purist" and one of the team members who "make magic happen here."
A preview of Red Dunn, located next to the renovated Trumbull & Porter Detroit Hotel, is at Crain's Detroit Business with nine photos. Excerpts from Kurt Nagl's article:
[Manager Dustin] Walker said there's one thing missing in the city's restaurants that he intends to correct.
"I feel like culinary creativity has developed faster in Detroit than service standards," he said. "There's some catching up to do and that's the mission we're on."
The restaurant is elegant, but not quite fine dining.
Walker and Chef Jay Gundy are steering away from the tapas, small-plate shareables, and focusing on hardier portions of "Detroit-style American cuisine," Walker said. Dishes are seasonal and made from scratch, using local produce when possible. . . .
The indoor dining room seats 80 people and the bar lounge and outdoor area hold 40 each. There is also private dining available in the Steak Room.
Outside, in the 15,000-square-foot courtyard of the hotel, there is a bar, fire pit and stage for live music and movies.
Menus for all three meals are posted. Among dinner choices are a burger ($15), prime strip steak and roasted Skrei cod ($32 each), Nagl writes. Salads are $9-$14. Hours are 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
Enticement on Facebook from Red Dunn Kitchen, opening to the public June 23.
