Great Lakes Culinary Center

Great Lakes Culinary Center is such a beautiful hidden gem. My husband recommended this venue for our wedding and I am so glad he did. We got married there about three weeks ago. Taylor Brown (Director of Operations) was such a huge help and she made the wedding planning process very smooth for us from the beginning to end. She never lacked communication, she was always there to answer any questions that we had and she went over and beyond! Also, the food at the venue was phenomenal, Shanel Dewalt (Executive Chef) food was super delicious! Our wedding guests along with my husband and I kept talking about how good the food was. Taylor Brown, Shanel Dewalt and the entire team there was so kind and friendly! Words can’t really express what all we want to say but we hope this review gives you all an idea of how great this venue truly is. We highly recommend!

Seriously; you’ve found the place to host your wedding. There’s no need to look any further. Great Lakes Culinary Center far exceeded our expectations. Every single question or idea we had, was met with a solution. Not only did GLCC do an amazing job of keeping our guests (as well as their staff) safe during this pandemic, they managed to still make it possible for our event to be absolutely beautiful. The food is out of this world, and the possibilities are ENDLESS on that front. The only word that comes to my mind when I think of the staff there is, amazing. Our guests are still raving about the food, and staff. I’ve been in the service industry my entire life and have attended plenty of events as well; I have never experienced better service anywhere, for anything. Taylor, our main event coordinator was one step ahead of us the entire time, and went so far beyond helpful so many times for us; we love her. I could ramble on forever about how amazing every single detail was. I have not a single thing I would have changed about how our event was handled by them. The day after our wedding my (now husband) and I were already trying to think of another event to host here. We give this place a million stars. Do not second guess hosting your event here.

This business goes above and beyond! We originally had them booked for our June 20, 2020 reception. We postponed due to Covid for the late fall but as the outlook for our new date didn't look so good we moved the wedding up to late summer. Unfortunately they couldn't accommodate us on that date but issued us a complete refund! I have heard so many horror stories from couples being screwed out of money and dates for something that was completely out of their control. The GLCC was so great. We were extremely saddened to not be able to host our event with them but businesses that care about people and their circumstances deserve to be recognized. Erika and Taylor were wonderful to correspond with. They really care about you and your event!

Had our ceremony and wedding there and I have no regrets! Priced great, amazing food (that guests are still talking about), great staff and the perfect rustic/industrial venue!

Our wedding reception here was amazing and was a hit with our guests! Hands down the best wedding venue!

I cannot say enough great things about Erika and the entire Great Lakes Culinary Center staff. Firstly, the venue is amazing and I am so happy we had our ceremony and reception in such a beautiful and unique space. Also, you will not have better wedding food, or food in general anywhere else. Chef is amazing. She also did my wedding cake that I was absolutely in love with, I honestly did not want to cut it. From start to finish Erika Miller was the most helpful and pleasant person/coordinator I have ever worked with, I felt truly important to her and she really help me nail my vision as well as help with any additional requests/questions I had. She is super friendly, professional, quick to respond and helpful. I would suggest this venue for any reason to anyone my husband and I truly had the best wedding day ever thanks to Erika and the GLCC!

GLCC was EXCELLENT. My family is STILL talking about how great the food was 4 months later! The ambience is beautiful, modern, and their outdoor area is a great area to let your guests get a breath of fresh air and a break from the party. Everyone we worked with was professional and accommodating, but still young enough to know what a modern couple wants. It did end up being a bit more expensive than we had initially thought, after tip and final charges, but it truly made our wedding exceptional.

The natural beauty that this place has is unmatched. It's the perfect location for an intimate wedding and held our guests of about 95 perfectly. I received so many compliments as it's a hidden jewel that not many people know about! The food was great! We did a North meets South theme and had a variety of things including Coney dogs and chicken and waffles! The staff were very friendly and orderly. I wouldn't change anything about our day!

So, so, soooo happy we decided to have our intimate wedding ceremony and reception at Great Lakes Culinary Center on June 21st, 2019. My husband and I started going to their popular public dinners (Sunday’s at Grandpa’s/Grandma’s) and knew it was exactly where we wanted to get married ♥️ We had about 115 guests outback with the garden for our ceremony and then had the reception inside to following. It was perfect! Erika (event director), Taylor, the whole culinary crew, Carrie (bartender) and everyone was friendly, helpful and made our day/night a dream! Our guests were SO impressed and can’t stop talking about it!! If you are looking for a smaller, non-traditional wedding venue with AMAZING food, incredible vibes and an all around gorgeous place, Great Lakes Culinary Center is a hidden gem we are so happy we uncovered 💕😉 — with Eddie Click.

I knew as soon as I saw this venue that it was the one for me. The space was just the right size. The aesthetic, from the barn wood wall, to the exposed kitchen, was exactly what I wanted for my brunch wedding. I had my ceremony outside on the patio. Beautiful tulips had been planted for the spring's events, and the big tree back there just happened to be flowering the day of the wedding! Erika and Taylor were really helpful in planning and answered all of my questions. Chef Reva put together a phenomenal menu for us. I got so many compliments on the food. The day of, the whole GLCC team pulled off everything with style and grace. Everything went perfectly on my wedding day, how many people can say that?

I was so excited to have my reception at GLCC because I knew the food was going to be great and it was. I was very happy with the communication and flexibility. Unfortunately, on the day of the wedding, the meal delivery was changed from Family Style to buffet without my knowledge and the napkins I rented were nowhere to be seen. When brought to their attention, paper napkins were set out instead of linen. They were very understanding and offered a refund but that was to no avail because I had to end up paying after the wedding due to a billing error.

Amazing place and staff! The food the wonderfully crafted and professioally plated. Utmost willingness to go above and beyond, would highly recommend.

I am so happy with our decision to have our wedding at the Great Lakes Culinary Center. My husband and I were very passionate about having great food and good drinks at our wedding. I grew up eating amazing food and did not want the average banquet wedding. GLCC surpassed our expectations. The food was amazing! The appetizers (cheese tray & Sheppard’s pie people cannot stop talking about) and the desserts were out of this world. The space looked amazing and Erika and the staff were very friendly and easy to work with. I highly recommend this as a venue!

Great Lakes Culinary Center was an exceptional experience for both the wedding party and guests whom attended our reception. They allowed us to come in the night before (after the other wedding was concluded) and bring in everything we needed to set up. Super helpful accommodation to get us going since doing it the morning of would have been tough. The staff had a smile on their face the entire night and were very welcoming and pleasant to the guests. Erika, Emma, and Taylor were very responsive to meet with us and discuss possibilities and set up ideas. The food was amazing since it was prepared the day of; we are still receiving compliments! I would definitely recommend to a friend; a very formal set up with a cozy feel!

This has to be the best wedding venue in Metro Detroit if not the state. My wife and I stumbled upon this venue while perusing the knot. We had never heard of Great Lakes Culinary Center before but the name and site images peaked our interest. We were instantly hooked when we first met with Emma to check out the venue. The interior is beautiful and different than the typical cookie cutter wedding venue you are used to seeing. The kitchen and bar are right on the main floor which I thought was pretty cool. They have an organic garden outside and it is absolutely stunning. You will not believe what it looks like at night. We had an outdoor ceremony and it honestly felt like something out of a fairy tail. You can even have your wedding party use the organic garden as an isle to walk down. Everything about the aesthetics of this venue is awesome but the service they offer is what really takes the cake. The food.....This was hands down the best food I have ever had at a wedding. I might sound biased but all of our guests could not stop raving about the dinner and desserts. They have a massive menu of things to choose from but if you want to be creative the chef will work with you and add her own creative twist! The staff was excellent. They really help you plan the wedding of your dreams and boy did they deliver. Our guests are still talking about this venue more than a week later. They keep telling us "you found the spot". Not to mention, the cost was super affordable! If you want the most original wedding, with the best food, the best drinks, the best staff, and at the best price...the Great Lakes Culinary Center is for you. Thanks again to everyone that works there. The memories generated from this venue will last us a lifetime.

We had our wedding (ceremony and reception) at Great Lakes Culinary Center and I truly cannot say enough good things about this venue. Here are some highlights I'd like to mention: The Employees: Both event coordinators constantly answered my annoying emails and provided me with suggestions/reassurance/input/insight. You do not need to worry about anything because they make sure your day is flawless. The wait staff, bartenders, and chefs were also incredibly friendly and on top of things. THE FOOD. OMG THE FOOD. Our guests are honestly still talking about how unbelievably good the food was. Emma made sure we sat down and ate, and I am SO THANKFUL for that because I would be devastated if we missed that meal. The space. It's perfect. It's absolutely perfect. If are looking for a place that provides elegant and rustic charm but also allows you to still add whatever personal touches you want, please just book here. We added stringed lights on the wood wall, had greenery everywhere, white paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, candles covering the space, and it looked like an absolute fairytale. Our wedding was perfect and a great majority of this is due to GLCC.

We hosted our son's rehearsal dinner at GLCC for over 100 guests, mainly from out of town. Everyone loved the food and the venue - it was a spectacular start to a wonderful wedding weekend.

Great Lakes Culinary Center is a great location to hold an event! I was looking for a venue that wasn’t your typical banquet hall. The layout of GLCC is classy, relaxed, and inviting for guests. The food is outstanding, and the employees work with you throughout the process to ensure your event is successful! I look forward to having another event at GLCC.....it’s a real hidden gem!

I am so thankful to GLCC for making my wedding a dream come true! The space was absolutely perfect for what we were looking for but what makes GLCC stand out is the full experience. Emma and Erika were amazing work with - they responded to my (almost daily) emails quickly and made me feel 100% at ease that my wedding was in the best of hands. And of course, the food!!! Chef Reva is truly amazing and every single thing served was delicious - we were told repeatedly throughout the night by our guests that the food was the best they've ever had at a wedding or the best they've had period! They say the bride and groom don't get to eat - we made sure we ate! And Emma literally brought apps directly to us to make sure we got to try everything. Another big thank you to all the staff who were incredibly attentive and hard working. I can't say enough great things about GLCC - it is truly a magical place and I wish I got to throw a party there every weekend. You absolutely cannot go wrong picking GLCC for your big day.

This venue is nothing short of perfect. It's a unique mix of rustic farmhouse-meets-industrial and I can't express enough thanks to the wonderful people at GLCC. Our wedding was phenomenal---magical-- like something out of a fairy tale (so excited for the photos), and we keep getting compliments on the food! (Chef Reva and Taylor Brown are foodie geniuses). A huge shout out to Emma and Erika who made our day possible. You both were so amazing (put up with our family drama!) and accommodating... I can't adequately put into words how much I appreciate everything you did for us! Great Lakes made the whole process comfortable and we were impressed every step of the way. We would highly recommend the facility and entire staff to EVERYONE for any occasion. Thank you, Great Lakes, so much.

My husband and I got married at the Great Lakes culinary center on May 5th 2018, we knew that GLCC was the place for us after having a walk through with Emma Calverley, she sealed the deal for us! Her amazing personality, above and beyond customer service was everything a bride could ask for. From dealing with my vendors, crazy family and our requests she nailed it! The day was perfect and thanks to the team and staff at GLCC made our dreams come true. Chanelle and her team in the kitchen killed it! Our meals were amazing and we are still getting compliments on how great the food was! I would do it over and over again knowing her ability to see visions through. Thank you Emma and the team at GLCC for making our day perfect!

What a wonderful wedding night with the team GLCC. Perfect wedding venue, fantastic food, beautiful wedding cake, and outstanding coordinator team. Don't waste your time searching for wedding venues, Great Lakes Culinary Center is the best choice.

Had my wedding reception at GLCC. It was wonderful! We are very satisfied with the service and food of GLCC. I highly recommend this venue if you are looking for a special space and great food!

I loved GLCC. Everything about the venue was perfect. Our coordinator, Emma, was absolutely amazing. The food was delicious. And the space was fantastic. Everyone at my wedding was asking how I found the space and was jealous they didn't find it before.

There are too many words to describe Great Lakes Culinary Center, but the one that resonates is incredible. The facility alone is so beautiful. However, the staff is what really sell the place. They are amazing people who provided every service in their power to make sure we had the most incredible wedding. From the beginning of the whole process, my mind had a piece at ease because of the wonderful work they did. I am just blown away by how perfect everything turned out. If you are looking for that perfect, modern-rustic style wedding venue with the most amazing staff, then this is the place. Special thanks to Emma for keeping me calm the days before and the day of :) and Chef Reva.....you are AMAZING!!!!! We had soooo many compliments on the food and cake - everything was perfect and delicious.

We had our ceremony and reception here and were so pleased with the turn out. We worked closet with Emma and she was very nice, easy to communicate with and very fast responding to all our questions. Our guest all commented on how delicious the food was and how cool the venue was. We are very happy with choosing the culinary center for our wedidng

The entire process was smooth and delightful. Erika and Emma were both awesome to work with. Our tasting was great and Chef brought things out directly to ensure we enjoyed everything. I am gluten free and I had my own platter of items available - which they offered to do without me requesting it. We had a separate venue for dinner and as such were not able to decorate. Erika offered to throw things together for us so that we wouldn't have to! If I could do it all over again I wouldn't hesitate to use them. You cannot go wrong here.

Had our wedding at Great Lakes Culinary Center and it was so amazing! I would highly recommend this venue to any bride looking for a cool space with delicious food. We had 120 guests total and a head table, guest tables and a dance floor fit perfectly in the space for the reception. We had our ceremony outside in their beautiful yard area where they have a garden and so many potted plants, we barely had to decorate the outside area. Erika and Emma are super quick to respond to any questions we had and the day went off without a hitch. Unlike some other vendors, they are super accommodating if you want to hang lights, pictures, signs etc. We got so many compliments on the venue, the food, and the drinks (we chose to do tier 2). The prices are pretty comparable to other places, but what you're really paying for is the unique venue and the delicious food. So worth it. An amazing place that gave us an unforgettable day.

If you want a stress free, customizable experience that is anything but boring, traditional or stuffy-you have found your venue, look no further! We hosted a wedding for about 115 people last weekend and to say that it was perfect might sound like an exaggeration but, believe me, it was! From day one, the Event Coordinator Erika was beyond helpful and accommodating. The planning process was smooth and as stress-free as planning a wedding can possibly be. The food is to DIE for-our guests were raving about how delicious everything was, how large the portions were and the great bar options. We also added a bourbon tasting bar, which was a special touch that only a place like a culinary center with a chef's expertise could really pull off. The venue itself is a perfect blend of classy, rustic and contemporary. The garden outside is gorgeous and made a great backdrop for our ceremony. My very picky grandmother said to me that she could find no fault in the entire evening-a true testament to GLCC's perfection. The staff working the night-of was also extremely kind and attentive; they (and everyone involved) went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. I would plan another event at GLCC in a heartbeat-Thank you, Erika and Chef Reva for a spectacular evening we will never forget!

(Yes, this is the groom writing a review. To be blunt, this is where you want to have your reception.) Congratulations! You have read enough reviews on the Knot to find the place that you want to go. Why? Because when it comes down to it, the parts of the wedding that guests care most about are the food and atmosphere. Your family and friends are looking to celebrate with you on your special day. So when you celebrate, you want it to be one of the best times possible, and the Great Lakes Culinary Center will provide that for you. Why do I say this? Because what we were looking for was something different, unique in both atmosphere and attitude. We wanted Michigan beer and wine at the bar, and we wanted “breakfast for dinner”, a brunch at 6pm. We tried many other venues in the Detroit area and the event coordinators either looked at us with blank looks, suggested that we couldn’t do that, or tried to push us to the same old plated meals that they always served. Not Erika, and not the Great Lakes Culinary Center. To start with, they are actually interested in supporting local businesses, specifically Michigan beer and wine. When we went to do the menu, the answers were: “yes”, “sounds good”, “how about we modify this”, and “let me talk to the chef”. Erika was also very helpful with practical suggestions, making sure that the menu that we were looking for worked with our budget too. Which is exactly what you want to hear from your coordinator: thoughts, positive comments and work arounds! Erika was never negative and always helpful in finding ways to make everything work. And the food… I am so very very sad about the food. It was so very good. But I didn’t get a chance to stuff myself silly…those pesky guests, the dancing and whatnot got in the way. My wife feels the same way. Our guests however, were and still are raving about the dinner, drinks and desserts. Bottom line: Myself, my wife, and my family have been to a LOT of wedding venues over the years in Metro Detroit. This was by far the best food, the best bartenders, the best wait staff overseen by the best head chef that we have experienced. I highly recommend this location for your special event.

We had the pleasure of having our wedding at this beautiful venue! Our family and friends are still obsessing about how wonderful the food was! We selected a variety of stations for our guest and if you're doing a nontradional wedding this is the way to go! The prices were reasonable and we were very pleased with the display. The bistro lighting and accent wooden wall added so much character to our ceremony/reception. I was worried about pictures since our wedding was held in September, but the upkeep of the garden made for some phenomenal photos .We had about 130-140 guest and the room was spacious enough to accommodate everyone!! The only issue we had was coordinating time and schedules for prewedding day meetings since the center has a schedule of it's own. However, Erika was very accommodating and made things happen !

Erika from start to finish was amazing. Reva and the entire GLCC staff helped to make our wedding an absolutely perfect one. Our guests said it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding. We couldn't have been happier. Truly a fantastic experience.

Amazing venue for our wedding reception! Erika is an outstanding coordinator - she took our vision and ran with it. The room was beautiful, she worked with our vendors seamlessly and the food was incredible! The outdoor patio was perfect - our guests enjoyed being outside to talk (and drink - a bar was set up for their enjoyment) on a spectacular evening. I couldn't be happier with our decision to use Great Lakes Culinary Center for our reception. We are an "older" couple and wanted a unique venue and they delivered beyond our expectations. Our 30 something year old nieces and nephews were the greatest endorsement of a successful party - they thought it was one of the best receptions they had ever attended!!

Having our wedding and reception at Great Lakes Culinary Center was the perfect choice! The venue is unique and fun, but the staff really set it apart from other locations. Chef Reva is fantastic and makes beautiful, creative, and delicious food! She even incorporates vegetables and herbs from the venue’s own garden as the season allows. Erika, the event coordinator, is a great communicator and was very knowledgeable and always helpful. She responded promptly and thoroughly throughout the planning process and handled everything the day of the wedding masterfully! The event staff who worked the wedding were all courteous, helpful, and friendly. We had so many comments from our guests about what a cool venue it was, how delicious the food was, and how great the bartenders/servers were. Great Lakes Culinary Center sincerely exceeded our expectations in every realm and I cannot recommend it enough!

I am so happy we ended up at Great Lakes Culinary Center! We had about 120 guests at our reception and ended up doing the ceremony there as well! I think this is a very unique venue and all of our guests ended up loving the reception. The staff is fantastic, they are very helpful and flexible. I thought the bar was particularly great... There are endless options when it comes to food and drink for your event. The building is great and very elegant, we had minimal outside decorations for our wedding, and everything was still gorgeous.

I cannot say enough positive things about Great Lakes Culinary Center! From the moment we had our first appointment with Erika, to the last minute of hugging her goodbye at our reception, everything was by far top notch! We wanted something different from the typical venues, but within our budget & GLCC was the perfect place!! We have never seen a venue like it & all of our guests are still raving on how neat of a place it is...from the ambience to the food to the staff! Erika (the events coordinator) was absolutely wonderful, very personal, super positive & incredibly accommodating. I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend when it was all said & done. Chef Reva is very talented & can whip up the most delicious food! We actually had a hard time deciding on a menu b/c there were so many options. She sat with us during our tasting & wanted to make sure we loved what we were getting. We felt the entire experience was very personal & catered to our style/liking. This place is a MUST SEE in person!!! Thank you to the entire staff at GLCC for making our wedding planning & reception absolutely perfect! You guys are wonderful!

Great Lakes Culinary Center is hands down a 5 star venue!! Erika, event coordinator & Reva, executive chef are an amazingly talented combination! This duo helped me create a one of a kind wedding reception – our guests were blown away by the atmosphere, food, and service of the event! I would highly recommend anyone to GLCC – they will not be disappointed!

Erika and Chef Reva couldn't have made our rental experience any better! From the first drop-in to see the venue, to the tasting, multiple trips to show the space, to the flexibility with our decor and special touches, the team was professional and helpful all along the way. I received so many compliments on how elegant and top notch our reception was. We hosted approximately 140 folks in the space and had plenty of room for dancing and a head table, not to mention a cake table, a caricature artist, an appetizer display and a lounge! Great venue if you're hosting a medium sized wedding and want to be a bit more In control of your setting.

Before selecting GLCC for our reception, my fiance and I looked at St. John's Inn (Plymouth), Waterview Loft (Detroit Metro), and Cafe Cortina (Farmington Hills). We were pretty frustrated by the time we got to GLCC because all the options we had seen were so inflexible. The menus were very standard and the decor was nothing special and, I don't know how to say this....there wasn't any room for creativity? When we walked into GLCC I was stunned by the decor. The outside of the building is very unprepossessing. When you walk in you enter a funky, urban oasis. The floors are finished cement, there are reclaimed wood walls, and hanging Edison light fixtures. The overall vibe is both industrial and very warm and welcoming. Then you meet Erika, their event planner. She is amazing, organized, flexible, helpful...everything you want in a planner. And, it may sound selfish, everything I wanted to do received a resounding "yes". Now, my requests weren't too crazy - I didn't bring in a live koi pond or anything - but I was able to hang things on the wall, move furniture around, bring in games, hang a disco ball...it was great! I haven't even gotten to the best part: the food. Oh my word the food. THE FOOD. No iceburg lettuce and dry chicken here, although I'm pretty sure the the Executive Chef, Reva Constantine , could turn even that crap into something amazing. We started with a huge array of appetizers which, unfortunately, I only got a nibble of. We had some classics: bruschetta, mini chicken tostadas, and some fun twists: savory pop tarts, bang bang shrimp on jasmine rice. For the salad course we had a cabernet poached Bosc pear with field greens, Bleu cheese, dried cherries and bacon vinaigrette. For dinner we had filet mignon with mushroom risotto, lump crab cakes with lemon beurre blanc, and pork tenderloin with whipped sweet potatoes. I tried everything and it was wonderful and completely memorable. For dessert, we had an array of homemade doughnuts and pies and my husband and I had an apple bourbon cheesecake for our cutting. Oh my word, it was so good. I took the whole pie stand with the cheesecake and my hubby and our forks and we just hunkered down with it. If you want a beautiful, fun venue, great staff, and epic food you have to go to Great Lakes Culinary Center. PS - even the bathrooms are awesome.