Detour: An American Grille

My friends and I came here to watch the IU game a few weeks back, while it was busy, I did not think it was busy enough to affect service the way it did. We walked and were greeted by...no one. There was no one at the hostess stand, and when no one came to seat/greet us after a few minutes, we wandered around to the bar area. We found a waitress and asked her if it was open seating, and turns out, no you had to be seated by the hostess. She graciously showed us to a table. Soon after a couple of guys were seated next to us. Both of us waited in our section for 10 minutes for a waiter. Finally, we got some service and ordered our drinks. When we finally got our food order in after another long wait, and our food arrived, we were not disappointed. We split the fish tacos and the bypass wrap. We got waffles fries and a side of the "Messy" mac n cheese, which was the clear stand out of the night. If you go here, I would highly recommend you putting that deliciousness in your mouth.

Anyhow, we waited another long wait to get our drinks, and finally one of the girls just went to the bar and got our second round. Another friend joined us, and again, we waited and waited to put her food order in.

Our experience was "bad" but could have been made a hundred times enjoyable by not having to worry and watch for the next waiter/watiress to pass by to find ours, and get another round, etc.

The food was definitely good, and that is what would make me come back again.

I've updated my review quite a few times in the last year, and I feel like I should upate my review as I have noticed a general uptick in quality of service in the last few months.  I have had both praises and complaints in the past about this establishment and while I still have some criticisms, overall Detour is shaping up into a nice restaurant for downtown Carmel.  I'm still not so sure about the official hours though ... they have a hard opening time of 11-11:30AM but I can never really tell when they close.

Detour has added new staff in the last few months, changed up some of their menu, and overall these are welcome changes.   The food still takes a little while from order to delivery, and there are a few items on the list I still would not order (onion rings for example).  But on the other hand the regular menu, including items that have been on there since the restaurant opened, are definitely improving in quality.  Either it is less greasy (excellent burgers!) or the flavor has improved, or both.

Will definitely recommend Detour to those looking for American food.

It's decent.