Kiernans Steak House

Went there today and the doors were locked– their last day was on Saturday, April 26^th, 2014. They are officially closed. :(

My wife and I have been going to Kiernans since we moved to west Dearborn in 1980. The last thing I want to see is another empty building on Michigan ave in the west end. I really and truly hate to see them close, what I hate even more is Dearborn closing. It won’t be long another couple of years, just breaks my heart. Good luck to the Kiernans.
Ernie J

They will be closing in 3 – 6 months, so if you love this place, you better go before you miss out!
They give you $ 13.99 off if you go ON the day of your Birthday & show proof with your Driver’s License.
The Escargot:
was ok, a little bland for some reason.
Stuffed Shrimp appetizer:
was good & came on top of small slices of Garlic & Parmesan Cheese Toast.
Filet Mignon:
Was good, but just a little on the gamey side. But… what made it taste better was the «Kiernan’s Style: topped with Lobster and Béarnaise Sauce»!! Yumm! The lobster was delicious!
SANDER’S Hot Fudge Cream Puff:
Absolutely amazing flavor!
I live out in California & we don’t have Sander’s out there… I’ve been craving it & haven’t had it in years!
Saunders first opened in Detroit Michigan, June 17, 1875! Best HOT FUDGE ever!

A little difficulty finding my way in, but man was it worth it! I had the filet with zip sauce. Delicious! The décor was fantastic too.

I came here with my grandma because she got a gift card from a friend for her birthday. It was a warm, cozy, semi-​fancy environment with low, reddish lighting and no windows.
I got a glass of pinot-​grigio that was very crisp and refreshing without being too sweet. We were brought two warm, soft rolls that were very good. I had a cup of the french onion soup which was quite good as well.
What really made me love this place, however, was the entrée. I got the Cajun Salmon Alfredo and it was AMAZING. Large portion size, and incredibly delicious. My grandma got the lamb chops and she was also very impressed.
It was pricey (our meal was almost $ 70 before tip without dessert) but we both left with doggie bags for tomorrow’s lunch and that salmon alfredo was worth it!

My hubby and I went there last night for our birthdays and it’s not as good as it was. We ordered the spinach dip appetizer and it tasted like raw eggs. It was nasty and the chips were stale. I had the wellington with garlic and oil noodles. The noodles were swimming in oil. My major complaint was that nothing was hot. The Wellington was ok but the puff pastry was soggy.
The staff was disorganized and didnt seem to care. They arent quick or attentive. Very disappointed.

This place blew me away. Absolutely fantastic.
Kiernan’s is a one of a kind steakhouse. We sat in the tavern which was very appealing. Nicely upholstered furniture but with an old-​fashioned feel to it. The lights were dim and the music was low volume so it provided a good atmosphere for a pre-​meal chat.
I ordered the Swordfish, which I would recommend for anyone who likes to try different foods. The clam chowder was fresh and cooked just right which gave it a flavorful kick. There isn’t a long list of draft beer but the ones they do have on tap are a cut above the norm.
Our waitress was helpful, polite and courteous which made us feel at ease for the duration of our meal. We were never left hanging or wondering when the hell the waitress was going to refill our drinks.
This was one of the better experiences I’ve had at any restaurant and I am excited to return.

I have been to Kiernan’s a small number of times and am kind of on the fence. It’s not the best steakhouse but also not the worst. I think the prime rib is the staple item here and I order it because it likely has the fastest turnover meaning it is the freshest meat in the cooler. Sometimes the cuts are great. Others a little fatty. With a lot remaining in the plate.
It’s old school. I don’t think the menu has changed in years and it doesn’t appear to have a modern feel to it. The décor is dated. I think getting rid of the full sized mirrors on the wall and replacing the polyester tablecloths with white linen would be a great improvement. But the place also had a warm inviting feel that I think all steakhouses should have. Woodwork is very well done and booths are the wraparound kind which I really admire. Never had a problem with cleanliness any time I have been to Kiernan’s.
Prices are a bit high for what you get. The wine list is large but overpriced. They offer a half off wine bottle coupon on their website that makes the pricing more realistic. I think if the prices fell by 20% I would be compelled to return more often. The place doesn’t appear popular with the young folks. Just about everyone there the other night was grandparent age or perhaps even great grandparent age. Not the best feeling.
Staff was young. One of the girls had jungle hoops in her ears (the kind that require surgery to repair the damage they cause when she wakes up and realizes self mutilation is not very appealing) and a nose ring. Very disturbing for a place that should be priding itself on its staff as much as its food. Left a bad impression on me. Our waitress was kind but not experienced. Lacking the high end qualities other fine steakhouses tend to have. She disappeared for a while to do her «side work». Likely because she wanted to leave by 9PM. Meanwhile our waters went empty and our bill came later than desired.
All in all I would give other Unilocalers an ok from this reviewer. Just be warned as to what to expect. Andiamo’s is right down the street and I think it is a better choice, but will indeed be more expensive.

Just avoid going here!!!

I like it and my parents and husband love it. Kiernan’s is an old-​school steak house. Don’t even open the menu, unless you want to see the available sizes for the cuts of prime rib. Order the prime rib The prime rib comes with yummy horseradish sauce on the side and your choice of side like a potato or veggie. We were there tonight with my parents and I ordered a salad with ranch to start — the dressing was great and the croutons were home made but the lettuce was just ok — mostly iceberg and not really crisp. Something of a disappointment. At previous visits, the salad was quite good. The garlicky dinner rolls are terrific, however. My husband and father ordered the clam chowder instead of the salad and were very happy with it. The prime rib was excellent and delivered as ordered and the dessert was very good as well.
The restaurant is decorated with colorful, beaded chandeliers, dark colors and the lighting is not bright. The service is always good. There is valet parking and self-​park available. Definitely worth a visit.

Old and tired and really needs an update. Food is meh and while I never had a bad prime rib before, I did here. The meat was hard and rubbery and impossible to cut into.

I grew up in Dearborn and have always wanted to go here, well finally my husband and I went last night, it was awesome… I ordered the Filet Minon, med rare, with red skinned potatoes, with house salad, with italian, it was cooked perfect, the potatoes were awesome, and my salad was great, hubby ordered the prime rib, med rare with the garlic mashed and same salad, cooked perfectly as well, the garlic bread given before the meal was to die for, it was soo good, and the waitress was kind and attentive, our meal with tip was around 70, which to me is just right, we will definately visit Kiernans again.

God, my Dad used to come to this place all the time, and I was there a lot, too, back in the day. It’s kind of become a tradition to take my Mom there on her birthday, and this year was no different. To start, the location is great. That stretch of Michigan Ave has gone through many changes over the years, but it’s always been a quality area. Kiernan’s has valet parking that doesn’t have a set charge, just a tip for the valet, which is nice. Otherwise there are some spaces if you’re lucky enough to get them because they fill up quickly.
The place inside is a dark, old school steak house. Long bar, lots of wood, a very 70’s feel. We had a medium-​size party. Everybody had something a little different. The best move is to go with the steak, but it can be pricey. The prime rib is also very good, and much more reasonably priced. I had the medium-​sized prime rib with all the fixins: horseradish, baked potato, sour cream, etc., and I believe it also came with some vegetables. The meat was especially good because I hadn’t had prime rib in a long time, and I could have probably went with the smaller-​sized prime rib because I had so much other food (soup, bread, etc.).
My brother got the new york steak, which looked great. Everyone else’s meal looked good, too, but there was one problem. My Mom ordered the salmon that came covered in some kind of creamed spinach. While we were eating I saw that she was trying to clear her throat. I asked her what was wrong, and she said that the fish was dry and she was having trouble swallowing it. One of the other diners with us had the salmon, also, and said that his was dry, but not as dry as my Mom’s piece. My Mom isn’t a whiner and wasn’t going to send it back, but I insisted. The waitress handled it nicely and brought my Mom a new order of the tilapia, which looked good, but by then we were all done eating so my Mom just packed it in a to-​go box. Kind of a bump, especially since it was her birthday, but it didn’t deflate our happy time. (Interesting fact: My cousin Larry was the lucky recipient of my Mom’s boxed-​up birthday meal!).
I can’t give Kiernan’s a bad review, but I was disappointed they couldn’t get a piece of salmon cooked properly. I don’t consider myself a cook at all, but even I can cook a delicious piece of salmon. I hope they get that fixed. The prices are a little steep to eat here all the time UNLESS you jam in for happy hour. We usually eat here for special occasions and for the sake of tradition, but if Kiernan’s wants to regain their status in the «glory days» (80s and 90s) then it will have to pay more attention to the details.

Kiernans has excellent happy hour which is when I usually come here because the prices are bit high… it is a steakhouse after all. Happy hour runs until 6 and all drinks & appetizers are ½ off. If needed, I can certainly make a meal out of appetizers.
I’m not a steak person so I can’t say much about their steaks but my friend seems to enjoy them every time we go. I’ve had good sandwiches here, some really good soup & their ribs are really tasty as well.

Talk about time warp. Lets go back in time. Its 1982 in Detroit. Factories are being shut down or are on strike. The Japanese are flooding the market with quality, cheap cars. Soviets threatening to invade from the east. Only 4 channels on the TV. Obesity is at bay. One morning, Reagan forgets his meds, gets a little cowboy crazy and lights off some Pershings from West Germany to settle things down at the Kremlin. Soviets say «screw détente» and launch their controversial inventory of neutron bomb tipped ICBMs to the US rust belt. Be damned if they are going to ride around in crappy Trabants any more! Its time for the Ruskies to enjoy some Cadillac Cimarrons and Ford Granadas (if they had only known.).
So fast forward to 2012 … everybody is dead in Detroit except you. But the infrastructure survives like it was coated in formaldehyde. You are walking down the street and see the Kiernan’s Steak House. Looks pretty cool. Check the front door — unlocked. Walk inside and Wow! Button tuck booths. Weird fru fru lamps. Faint hint of Pall Malls. Dark. Lots of mirros. Is it a steak house or a fancy swingers club? Whichever it was, prime meat was being served on the tables.
Well there was no thermonuclear war. Thank moses there was not one, or places like Kiernan’s would have not survived. This is a can’t miss place. Better than the nearby Henry Ford museum? Don’t know, I’m a Mopar guy.
Food is very good. And like most places in Detroit, priced very fare. The times I have been here its been very slow. Not neutron bomb slow … but may be slow due to the result of that giant sucking sound from the south … or is it from the east now?

Cleanliness…3
Food…2
Service…4
Price…2
First…Brown Gravy belongs in a crock-​pot, NOT on a steak… Veggies need to highlight in the meal not a downer… My Tuna was Frozen… Menus were dirty and the place needs a overhaul, both the menu and the décor!
P.S…The martini glasses are like shot glasses.

A cozy small town feel to Kiernans is a large part of why we keep going back. The food is great, as is the service. I have never felt rushed out the door, even when they’re busy. The setup of Kiernans seems to keep the noise level down, and the tables allow enough room to move around and enjoy a relaxing dinner. The menu has been mostly the same for years, but I guess why mess with a good thing! Several steak and seafood options, mostly standard steakhouse offerings. Their beef wellington is fabulous! If you luck out and catch the «weekly special» surf and turf make sure you order that. This is a couples night out place, or after work for guys with ties and no jackets. Not too dressy, but I’d feel awkward in shorts and a t-shirt.Attached is a cocktail lounge called Silky Sullivans. A large menu of high-​priced, delicious martinis and entertainment, Silky’s is the perfect place to meet friends after dinner.
Most entrees are between 18 and 26 dollars.
ONE word of warning though. Order your steak one stage cooler than you want, they always seem to slightly overcook red meat.

Great place to take Grandma or anyone else who know longer has their taste buds. Had New Zealand lamp chops, tough and gamy. Garlic mashed with a butter float in the center, I made a moat. tee hee. My husband ordered a filet, it was a bit tough. A filet should melt in your mouth, there was no melting going on I can assure you, and it came with some really boring rice. This place really needs Chef Ramsey! Somebody make it stop!

Bad experience all around;
My fiancée and I went to Kiernan’s last Sunday for dinner. We arrived at their Sunday opening time of 5pm and we seating quickly. Other parties were seated quickly as well but it became very apparent that our table was placed on the back burner for some reason.
Drinks (both alcohol & water) were only refilled twice during our entire meal which required 3 requests. Our salads and soups were also completely forgotten by the server and she had to be reminded twice with no apology upon delivery.
Just before our main courses were finally served, a young woman in plain clothes emerged from the Employees Only area and exclaimed «I’m so stupid drunk! I’m sh*t faced!». She sat at the bar visibly drunk and continued to be served more alcohol by the wait staff. Seeing as we literally had to beg to have our drinks served, that was quite annoying. She also kept bothering other patrons and yelling across the restaurant to other employees.
I myself use foul language on a daily basis and seeing as I was drinking whiskey myself, have nothing against drinking. It’s just that there’s a time and a place for her behavior and this was neither.
Our meals themselves were nothing special by any means let alone at the prices charged. The chicken noodle soup was some of the worst I’ve had around town. I’ve honestly had much better at mom & pop restaurants or even a Ram’s Horn than this. I ordered the Dearborn Steak & Shrimp which was WAY overpriced for the quality of meat. My fiancée did not even finish her entrée as it was bland and not every appetizing.
It took longer than average to receive our check which we paid as quickly as we were allowed to by the slow server. I am usually a great tipper as I understand what servers go through, but we left only about 10% on this check due to the fact that the server kept making clear that us and our business was unimportant to her and Kiernan’s.
To give you a perspective on how bad the food, service and overall experience was; this is the first time I have ever felt so strongly about something that I actually felt the need to write an online review about it to maybe help other’s from making the same mistake we did.

Man like meat! Let me sharpen my teeth so I can just rip into this piece of meat. Mmmm steak. Kenny’s birthday… good choice.
The good news is that I didn’t have to rip into any steak. It was so tender AND juicy that I actually cut it with a butter knife just to prove a point. I chose the Filet Mignon, baked potatoe, and side caesar salad (pretty common I know, but soooo good). Before we received our entrée’ we tried the Jumbo Gulf Shrimp Cocktail and the Blooming Onion. I stcuck with the onion… wow…good, nice sauce to dip in, add the ranch dressing… but boy did it make my stomach churn… whew…I felt sorry for the booth behind me (j/​k).
Happy Birthday Kenny!