Detroit, MI — Since moving back to Metro Detroit about a year and a half ago, I’ve received dozens of restaurant recommendations from family, friends, and even some of my wonderful readers! One restaurant in particular that several friends have routinely suggested is Green Dot Stables in Detroit. This popular bar and grill concept opened in 2012 and is famous for serving up nearly two dozen slider variations. The owners opened a second location in Lansing in 2017, which just reopened a month ago after closing in 2022.

While my love for sliders is well known amongst my friends, I couldn’t help but dedicate a trip to Green Dot Stables after hearing such high praise from acquaintances and reading glowing reviews online. It just so happens that a few of my friends frequent this craft slider joint at 14th Street and W. Lafayette Boulevard weekly due to the proximity of their office in nearby Corktown. So, when my buddy Scotty roped me into his office’s most recent luncheon to this popular Detroit eatery, I was more than ready (a.k.a hungry) for this highly anticipated and long overdue foodie adventure!

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I slept in a bit more than usual this past Friday due to a long day prior and the fact that I had reached my ‘weekend’ from my job. Eventually, I rolled out of bed, got ready for the day, and headed downtown for my lunch excursion. I hopped off the freeway at Rosa Parks Boulevard and drove south through Corktown until I turned west on Lafayette. I hadn’t been to this quieter industrial district southwest of downtown before, and I was surprised to discover that Green Dot Stables is only one of a few restaurants in the immediate area.

I parked and walked into the endearing establishment encircled by warehouses and businesses around noon. I met up with my friend Scotty and one of his coworkers, who were posted up in a booth along the wall. After introductions and a brief catch-up with Scotty, I observed my surroundings and managed a quick photo before the lunch crowd arrived and filled nearly every table. I loved the interior aesthetics of Green Dot Stables, which showcases the ‘classic’ vibe of Detroit eateries with the wooden tables and chairs, brick walls, and vintage setting. The owners kept a lot of the original materials from what the building used to be, while adding their own touches to honor the equestrian theme. I looked at the menu and inspected each and every slider, and for one of the few times in my life, I was overwhelmed by the number of viable options worth ordering!

I would honestly be willing to try every slider on this menu. I noted some sliders had very particular ingredients or featured locally sourced products, something I’m always happy to see. I ordered three sliders and a side of Venison Chili Cheese Fries. I hadn’t had anything to eat yet for the day, so I was ready to put some food away.

I was told the sliders are about three to four bites a pop, so depending on how hungry you are, anywhere from two to four sliders should satisfy. With so many delectable slider options to choose from, I decided to go with the Cuban, Corned Beef, and Mystery Meat slider for the week: Gator Shawarma.

I was impressed with the sheer number of different slider variations and wide range of ingredients. I reached out to the owners of Green Dot Stables, Jacques and Christine Driscoll, to learn more about their creative process behind their sliders.

“We are inspired by all the food we have eaten and our favorite dishes over the years. We like to keep it fresh so we love trying new things all the time and it is really fun to figure out how to do our favorite foods in slider form.  The slider is a great vessel, though, because it’s small enough that you can try lots of different things in one setting without feeling like you’ve overcommitted to one item,” Jacques explained. “That’s generally our style of ordering at any restaurant – we’re always asking each other what the other person is ordering so we can try as many things on the menu as possible! 

My buddies also ordered some sides, so when my Venison Chili Cheese Fries arrived, I also got a peek at the Mac and Cheese and Cajun fries. I was thrilled to see the heap of chili and cheese atop my fries when our server placed it on the table before me. There was so much cheese that I had to immediately start swiping it away from the sides of the basket to prevent cheese sauce from overflowing. Talk about a great problem to have!

The fries themselves were solid and pretty tasty. They were lightly salted and on the thinner side, but not to the point of shoestring thin. Even by looking at the chili in the above photo, you can tell that the leaner venison makes a much cleaner and more controlled presentation than a beef-based chili, which contains more fat and oils. The venison chili had a hint of sweetness, and I loved forking the bites of fries smothered with the chili and cheese. There was a lot of gooey cheese to go around, so no complaints from this cheese enthusiast! I made quick work of this side, emptying the basket within minutes.

After a few minutes of letting the sides settle, our sliders arrived! First, I picked up the Cuban slider, which features Dearborn pit ham, pork loin, pickles, provolone cheese, and yellow mustard. The thick, oversized ham slices were so delicious and loaded with porky flavor. The provolone cheese was proficiently melted across both slices of ham, while the pickles and mustard rounded out the Cubano experience.

When I was told three to four bites, my gosh, it’s really more like four to six bites for some of these sliders! Green Dot Stables really packs them hefty, and this Cuban slider was exquisite as a small sandwich that still hit on every element of the classic, from the stellar ham to the cheese and mustard. Cuban sandwiches are a meal I really enjoy, and I loved every bite of this slider. For fellow Cubano fans, you’ll enjoy this menu selection!

As some might be aware following my last blog post, I really enjoy gator! So when I saw the special for the week was Gator Shawarma with garlic butter and pickles, I felt compelled to order it. Even from a visual standpoint, I was excited to bite into this slider. The meat was overflowing from the sides, and half-slices of pickle were strewn across the middle.

The gator didn’t really have any particular punch to it, but it was decent enough in flavor and quality for this slider adaption. The garlic butter is what really shined and took the driver’s seat in terms of the slider’s flavor profile, abetting in the shawarma delivery. The pickle half slices were also a nice touch, and I enjoyed that the cut was made down the length of the pickle versus the width for this slider adaption.

Even though it’s only a temporary menu item, I love the ingenuity behind the slider. I would be willing to eat it again, but only after trying all the other sliders next!

Corned beef is another one of those meats and things I love within a sandwich build. I love corned beef and sauerkraut (presumably, my German heritage at work), so I was eager to try this slider. Green Dot Stables uses Wigley’s corned beef from Eastern Market for this slider, and for those who don’t know, Wigley’s is a corned beef institution that’s been an Eastern Market staple since the 1920s. In addition to the copious strands and slices of corned beef, the meat gets topped with kraut, pickles, and a house mustard aioli.

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I absolutely loved the corned beef; it was so tender and just melted in your mouth. Its peppery finish complemented the sauerkraut beautifully, which had a nice pungent kick that snuck through the frontlines of overall taste. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Green Dot Stable’s mustard aioli, a creamier, toned-down mustard blend. The mustard seeds meshed perfectly into the mixture’s consistency while still providing that mustard kick and using a more balanced approach with the aioli composition. A great plop of that rounded out this phenomenal craft slider and made it a must-try recommendation if you’re down with the corned beef and kraut combo.

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After taking note of several locally sourced ingredients, I asked the Driscolls how integral it was to incorporate other local businesses within their own endeavor.

“Local ingredients are very important for so many reasons. We love having relationships with other local small business owners and vendors so we can support one another. We also like to throw a few West Coast beers in there as well though, having spent so many years living out West and growing a taste and a love for the amazing beers being brewed out there,” Jacques said.

I loved that these sliders were overflowing with their respective ingredients, yielding intricate takes on classic and popular sandwiches and burgers. The food quality and ingredients are top-tier; Green Dot Stables definitely found a groove with what they serve so commendably to the masses. The dedication of Jacques, Christine, and their team clearly resonates with the community, yielding a 4.5 stars out of 5 on Google reviews with over 5,600 reviewers!

I asked Jacques and Christine what it’s been like to watch Green Dot Stables grow over the last 12 years and become such a staple within the Detroit food scene.

“It’s been unbelievable and it’s truly been an honor to be a part of so many people’s traditions and memory making in the city we love. We never expected this to happen but it’s been so much fun to grow and do new concepts. In the beginning, Jacques sort of imagined himself working solo behind the bar at Green Dot his whole life.  We’ve been so fortunate that it’s grown the way it has,” Christine said.

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According to Christine, Green Dot Stables has some exciting events and partnerships coming up as well!

“While we don’t have plans for opening any additional Green Dot Stables locations, Tigers fans can expect to see Green Dot Stables at Comerica park again this season! Green Dot enthusiasts might be happy to know we’ll be hosting our annual Derby Party on Saturday, May 4 with live music and fun prizes for “Best Hat” and “Best Dressed” attendees. Additionally, fans of Green Dot in Mid-Michigan or traveling to the Lansing area will want to make sure to follow our Green Dot Stables Lansing social media to stay in tune with all the amazing live performances coming up on The Mane Stage, our new concert and entertainment venue located right inside Green Dot Stables! 

All of the high praise and recommendations I’ve received for this restaurant foot the bill and then some, so I’m glad I was finally able to visit Green Dot Stables to experience it. Plus, there are still numerous other slider options I’ve yet to try, so I’ll definitely be visiting again soon!

For more information on Green Dot Stables, click here. For more information on the Lansing location, click here.