A Detour

It was a girl friends night out and someone suggested Detour An American Grill in Carmel. It is located right by Bubs on West Main Street. It touts its food, beers, and live entertainment as a "detour" or "a trip". As we entered I must say I was concerned as I conjured up some of my road trips. The five of us were seated at a table across from the busy bar and I took in the atmosphere – a rough edge with lots of gray and black, too many large screen TVs (37), a sizable bar with outdoor seating area, and lots of goofy street signs.  There were not too many people in the restaurant, not counting those drinking, yet it was noisy.  The menu featured some strange items like fried pickle chips and fried avocado, the last supposedly being a crowd pleaser. There was also a long list of sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, and popular entrees to choose from. And don't forget the Triple Bypass, a 30-inch Italian beef sandwich! Based on the recommendation of the waiter, who was a little too eager, I and one of my friends ordered the grilled mahi mahi with tomato marmalade, another friend the blackened mahi mahi tacos with homemade guacamole. Also ordered was a flatbread that featured chicken. Detour outsources its fish from its neighboring sister restaurant, Taste of Sensu, and allows for them to serve a very fresh specimen. The mahi mahi was pleasantly fresh but bland and not cooked in the center. The blackened fish tacos were faintly praised and the flatbread featured dried-out chicken and a plethora of cheese. The guacamole extolled by the waiter was OK with diced tomatoes in a garlicy avocado mash. Unless the summer scene really makes up for the food, I am not sure this will be a repeat detour.

Atmosphere - 6
Service - 7
Presentation - 8
Price - 5
Food - 6
Overall - 6