Traffic Jam & Snug

Excellent! Will definitely be back. Fantastic menu made from scratch. Mahi mahi, pork salad and peach pie were delicious and highly recommend all! Sat out on the patio with our dog and had a fantastic experience.

Had a delicious lunch here and enjoyed the chopped salad which included many things including pickles in lieu of cucumbers (!) My spouse had the Madras meatloaf and sweet potato fries which she also liked. Save room for the homemade ice cream — had the coffee flavor which was all too good! Service was attentive but thought it was interesting that for each coffee refill, they bring you a new cup! I guess this keeps the dishwashers employed! The neighborhood is very trendy so save some time to browse the area shops!

Fun place. Great menu, had a baked brie appetizer for lunch and it was delicious. Salads looked great. Brewery, bakery and creamery everything any restaurant would need

Crazy eclectic spot in the heart of the booming Cass Corridor. The décor is out of control, but this historic joint isn’t trying to hard. Not trying at all.
They served a tasty fresh house made cinnamon bread (changes daily). The XX played softly on the background.
I got the chicken Marsala with artichoke heart and mushroom. It was one of the best dishes I’ve had in Detroit. It was brilliant. Interesting brilliantly aromatic combination of flavours. Smokey, sweet, succulent and scintillating.
My buddy got the pork loin salad. The berries were super fresh and delicious. They have a garden and Michigan’s first dairy faculty upstairs.
The salted caramel ice cream was chronic. Dense, almost chewy and tasty as fuck.

Fish was ok. Nothing spectacular. Ordered wine since I don’t care for beer that much. Pinot noir was cold! Couldn’t believe that they served it that way. Come on & get with the program. Don’t offer wine if you don’t serve it correctly!!!

I arrived with high expectations, as my girlfriend told me she saw this place on the Food Network with high praises. We waited for a server and when one showed up it was obvious that she was annoyed that she had to seat us. We ordered the Chicken Marsala and Fried Pickles. The Chicken Marsala was sub-​par, obviously microwaved as the plate was scolding on the flesh. The fried pickles were okay, but how can you screw those up? Based on this experience I will never be back, despite being a block away from my apartment. There are so many better options within a mile.

A popular restaurant but I thought it was just okay. The black bean nachos were tasty. Very filling. I enjoyed the Brie platter –it’s more like a desert though. The cranberry salad was okay. Wasn’t crazy about the dressing
Finally, the tea wasn’t a big deal.
Overall it was okay.

My first time, could have been better.
Party of six on a Thursday at noon, server Steve was patient while my wife and I waited for the others to join us.
I ordered the baked brie for an appetizer and that was pretty tasty.
The only thing that detracted from my experience was waiting for my entrée (fish and chips), which came almost ten minutes after everyone else had been served. While not expecting or asking for a comp, a polite stop by the manager for some TLC, even a quick word would have gone a long way to show some proactive customer appreciation.
The crust on the fish was nice and crunchy and it was hot.
Not sure if I would return, but this was my experience. Hopefully, others will enjoy their visit.

I was expecting it to be better, not only was the service poor, the food was like Applebees light. Only my Madras Meatloaf tasted as described on the menu, and it was tasty, but dry and seemed as if it were cooked yesterday. Everything was a disappointment, but that may be that my expectations were too high. If someone had told me the food would be like this, I would have avoided it or gone to the Jolly Pumpkin instead.

When I was younger, I used to go to Traffic Jam every few months as a treat. The food was awesome and I loved the relaxed and rustic atmosphere. One of my favorite things was the meat loaf with white wine sauce. Fast forward to present day and I am very disappointed by this place. I guess if you never came to Traffic Jam and Snug when it was truly a Detroit staple, you may be impressed but if you have been coming here since the 90’s, you would no longer be impressed. Bring back the Traffic Jam of old, the unique and delicious foods that were well prepared. They still do have unique dishes, just not as good as they used to be.

Beka at the bar took good care of me. The malt-​tonic varieties were excellent varying from the pepper pilsner to a delicious stout. I had the crab cakes and they were very tasty. The fried pickle appetizer was reccomended and I thought I would have one or two but «motored» through the whole basket… The wine selection is eclectic enough to offer a very nice
Sardinian cannau… I think they know what they are doing here…
As the former governor of California says…“I’ll be back”

My first time here and it won’t be the last. Love the décor. Went on a Wednesday at 2:00 for lunch. Delightful! Service was excellent and cheerful. Coffee was good and I am a coffee judger. Good wine liar although I wasn’t day drinking so didn’t have any. Ordered the Tex-​Mex Lentil Burger. It was fine. Nothing wrong, but I wouldn’t have it again. Lunch date had the French Dip and that was really good… stole a bite. A salad went by to another table and that looked great!
Let’s discuss the Chocolate Chip cookie in a Fancy Dress. Leave room for it. Please. You won’t fit into any fancy dress after chowing into this, but have it! It’s divine!!!

Went Saturday night at 7:30, first they do not take names, instead they call out only the number of people in the party. So when a table opened they called «who is the next party of 2» and let the customers figure it out.
We were told couldn’t order food for 10 minutes after being seated. Finally got to order and first two choices were not available (the sandwich they’re famous for is gone at 7:30 on a Saturday???) finally ordered a jam burger (9.95 with no fries and no sides) and a black bean burger (we were told they MIGHT have one pattie left, waiter would let us know after he placed the order). They had one pattie left (10.95 with no fries and no side), ordered without cheese since have dairy allergy, and after 20 minutes food arrived WITH cheese on it. Since it was their last pattie, stuck with scraping the cheese off. Why not tell customers what they are out of as soon as you are seated rather than wait until taking your order?
Didn’t get water refilled one time the entire meal and only saw waiter was when it was time for the bill, which was also incorrect with appetizer on it that we hadn’t ordered.
Had looked forward to eating there after all the hype, but HUGE disappointment.

we haven’t been here in a long while and I must say the person who waited on us was a mess and the food was not up to the standards we experienced the 1^st few times we came here years ago, So hope this will not be the new normal for them

This is just my personal opinion, but this place seemed very scary as you walk towards the bathrooms. The hanging portraits and dim lighting seemed what would come out of a scary movie. HOWEVER, the food was really great! I would give 4 stars because the food was great and the waiter was great too. He didn’t even need a pen or paper despite our many orders with 4 people.

Went here this past Monday… Expectations weren’t met… It was cold where we were seated… Ordered the mussels which were nothing spectacular… Just steamed mussels in red sauce… my boyfriend ordered a chicken ceasar salad which after a few bites he found a folded piece of masking tape in it… they replaced the salad… For my entrée I had the surf n surf… it was really bland the fish had no flavor and the mango pico wasn’t fresh the onion didn’t have a crunch and the mango was not sweet it was just mushy and it came with Mexican rice which was good… Chicken Marsala was also ordered that was OK like I said before nothing spectacular to make me want to come back

3.5 Stars Great food. Pork Osso Buco off the special menu is a must if it’s offered. The madras meatloaf and the brisket panini are great regular menu options. Service was keeping it from 4 or more stars for me. They weren’t slow, but I got the feeling we were keeping our server from something she’d rather be doing. If I want an eye-​roll and «sure» when I ask for another water, I’ll ask my 13 year old.

Unique dishes and homemade ingredients/​sides (bread, cheese, dressing etc) with a slight souther touch — fried fish, corn bread, greens. The place is huge and we’ve never had an issue getting seated. There’s a bunch of stuff on the walls and ceiling to keep a wondering 3 year old busy. They also have a cool bar area and nice outdoor seating. Conveniently located near the Detroit Institute of Arts, Historical Museum, and close to Downtown. Don’t forget to stop at Shinola (or one of the other shops that have sprung up in the immediate area).

Came to Detroit for the first time. Saw this restaurant on Diners Drive In and Dives and wanted to give it a try. The place was cozy. all brick walls. Décor was ok… we had a large saw that hung over us. All I kept thinking was that it’s going to fall, lol! I ordered the Hawaiian Salmon which was pretty good… serving is not too big which I was ok with. I then ordered the apple cobbler for dessert and again it was just okay. They put too much cinnamon in my opinion. All in all, the place is average… nothing really special.

I had some time to spare in Detroit waiting for a friend to get out of work. I stopped at the Traffic Jam for a beer. I asked about the sour, and the bartender (Jordan) said, «Do you like sours?» And I said, «Yes.» And he said, «Then you won’t like it.» He brought me a taste and he was right. So I had the stout. It was great: smooth, tasty. I also had the fried pickles, which were crispy spears of delight. Jordan was very attentive, loaned me a pen, and when I told him I was waiting for a friend to get off work, he told me to stay as long as I’d like.
I also made friends with some dudes and had some great conversation about how Detroit is back on the rise. Delightful.

Traffic Jam is a Detroit staple. A must-​go especially on Detroit Restaurant week (see photos for this years– the salmon salad was amazing)
The Cheese plate is amazing. The Beef Brisket sandwich is delicious. Madras meatloaf is good
Beer battered fries are great m, I don’t like the sweet potato fries here because they are crinkle-​cut rounds and not crispy
Always rotating special menu — last time I had the Chicken pot pie and it was wonderful
Best dessert = Carlotta Chocolate Cheesecake — housemade cheesecake with coffee ice cream, hot fudge, and espresso shavings
Pass on the lentil burger — it’s mushy
And not impressed by the black bean burrito

We came here on a suggestion by a friend. My wife’s birthday was yesterday so why not. The deep fried pickles was amazing. Probably the best I’ve ever had. We glanced at the specials and automatically I went for the Connecticut Pasta. I’ve never had a dish like that before. If you like smoked salmon with pasta then this is your dish. My wife had a French Dip and she said it was really good. The place just has a great vibe and our waitress was really good and attentive. I recommend this place to everyone. Fried pickles. Yeah I’d recommend that. The décor was pretty cool also. So many things to look at and see.

Fifteen years ago we moved out of Detroit and before that time we frequented this place often. Since then, I’ve been here maybe six times on special occasions. To me the place still great! Food, flavored bread, ambiance, and service are great.
Today I enjoyed Marsala Meatloaf with Sweet Potato waffle fries, it was delicious. Personally, I don’t like anything sweet for my entrée (I don’t like Chinese Sweet and Sour dishes or Chile en Nogada) but the sweetness of this dish was balanced. Next time I’m in the area I’ll definitely will be stopping by.

Make sure you park your car across the street in their free parking lot.
The best I can tell you is just go for what is in your taste buds and order that. The menu had so many items that I found myself confused. I simply got a turkey Reuben sandwich.

Let me preface this review by saying maybe I didn’t order the correct things, maybe it was all the hype I heard before dining here or maybe I am becoming a food snob with all of these gatropubs popping up. I won’t completely write this place off and I could see myself dining here again and giving it another shot.
I dined here on a Wednesday early evening. I chose this place specifically because my dog and I had just left the Midtown dog park and I was looking for a dog friendly patio (which Traffic Jam is).
The service was great and even treated my dog like she was an actual diner, asking if she needed water refills when her bowl was empty (a bowl of water which they bring out for doggies). I heard afterwards I should have had a beer and was told they had a good beer list. So, unfortunately, I can not speak on that.
They had two menus with quite a variety of options to choose from. One menu I believe was special because they were celebrating an anniversary. Maybe the broad range of menu items is the reason I thought the food was sub par. I had ordered the Mama’s Meatloaf and the person with me had the Chicken parm. I thought the meatloaf had a weird consistency. Much like spam. Now I’ve never had spam, but I will say I’m sure this meatloaf tasted much better than actual spam. It just didn’t have the look or once again consistency a normal slice of meatloaf would have. It wasn’t awful, juts not my cup of tea. Dare I say it… I’ve had better at a Bob Evans. My peas were overcooked/​over mic’d. The sweet potato waffle fries were good, I just would have preferred mashed with my meal.
The chicken to the chicken parm was thin and rubbery. Much like it was a frozen patty they over cooked in the microwave. The sauce seemed to have a watered down taste. Although the other diner was pleased with the dish, besides the rubber chicken, I would not recommend the dish.
Both dishes were served with your typical side salad and I think both dishes were a bit over priced for the quality.
But hey two thumbs up for the dog friendly patio!

My mom and I were looking for a new place to try, and we’d both heard good things about Traffic Jam, so we went for lunch on ⁷⁄₂₅.
There was no wait, and we ended up with two servers because of a shift change, and they were both nice. I liked the décor of this place, but the food was hit and miss.
We got the fried pickles as an appetizer, and they were so good. They’re spears, not chips, but they weren’t slimy or hard to eat, and the breading was great. The dill ranch was also tasty.
We both had the Londontown fish and chips. My mom really liked it, but I didn’t like it at all. The fish fillets were very thin and coated with a very thick, flavorless breading. The way-​too-​onion-​y tartar sauce didn’t help either. The fries were very good, but needed a little salt to help them along.
The side salad was very sad, with wilted greens and only 2 cucumber pieces! Not even full slices, just 2 sad pieces.
I ordered the carrot cake to go, and it was good but not great. I prefer very thick cream cheese frosting on my carrot cake, and this seemed more of a whipped frosting. The pineapple filling really made the cake go from a C+ to a B+.
I’d go back and try some of the vegetarian options.

I love how big this place is and I always order the cheese plate and then ask for extra fig hazelnut compote and then tip well.

Traffic jam is huge inside! Pleasant surprise!
Great with kids! Lots of variety… homemade cheese great stater! Excellent Caesar salad!
I had French dip! Really good, mushroom pasta to die for. Excellent kids meals! Great drinks!

Traffic Jam provided my first introduction to Midtown Detroit before I lived in the neighborhood, so I’ll always be grateful to them for providing the initial baseline for local dining and what the area is like.
But I haven’t been back very frequently since arriving in the area, and have come to feel like this place has a touch of faded grandeur about it, while still serving the community well and settling in to a new role as elder statesman of the street, with the recent opening of Jolly Pumpkin a few doors down and Hopcat a bit further down the street.
The beers I’ve had here have been a bit bland, and the same goes for the entrees. I would like to see the place develop a clearer identity for itself, which might be important to think about with its increased competition — although I’m sure it will continue to serve as a neighborhood anchor for some time.

Make no mistake about it – I am a whiny, overprivileged, douche. This is most apparent when I take a moment to step back, assess the situation, realize people are starving, and still go forward and blabber on about how a cup of warm, creamy, jizz-​like salad dressing and an uncleanly floor totally ruined my night. But alas, here I am, a smug, self-​aware, asshole with another rant on a food site inhabited by people who have in-​depth conversations about asparagus, where I have no reservations tossing out mean-​spirited asides, like how I’d rather eat blue diner Jello-​0 that’s been wrapped in cellophane and trapped in some rotating, translucent display case since 1985 than eat here ever again.
I’m totally convinced nothing on this menu is above average, let alone excellent, and it is baffling why a place that cannot create one excellent dish would have such a vast menu; a menu that also lists Guy Fieri’s approval on a few items as a pride point. «Oh, Guy Fieri enjoyed cramming his disgusting face with your greasy pork sandwich alongside a hefty helping of killer ‘chos (short for nachos)! Give me two orders!»
Did I mention my salad dressing was warm and the floor was dirty? Good god.
I know. First World Problems. But there’s a line.

Not bad, not bad. We started off fine, and then our eyes rolled behind our heads when we realized our waitress would also be serving the table of 19 senior citizen ladies that were quickly filling the table next to us… We didn’t suffer too much. My coworker and I each got the Thrice-​Diced Salad, and they were colossal… to say the least… even though my salad was strangely missing several of the items that were listed… and that were, indeed, in my coworkers salad… odd…but whatever.
We were offered some of their home made bread, only after oggling other tables… but I’m not bitching… we did get some…
Sigh…I just wasn’t tremendously impressed… just sort of okay. no biggies… it was fine… and I’d definitely go again… or not… HA!