PBS has a second meaning in Detroit now.

The initials still mean something public, but the only broadcasting is on TV screens at Punch Bowl Social.


An opening night party with food samples, punch tastings and the band Kaleido costs $10, with proceeds going to the Salvation Army.

The restaurant “gastro-diner” opens downtown Wednesday with a 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. tasting and music event ($10) to benefit the Salvation Army of Metro Detroit. Deadline Detroit and other media get a preview Tuesday morning from the Denver company’s CEO, culinary director and beverage director.

The sprawling spread on two levels at 1331 Broadway in The Z garage pitches itself as “eater-tainment.” Diversions include bowling, ping pong, pool, darts, marbles tables, shuffleboard, Foosball, shuffleboard, skiball, a photo booth, 1980s video games, board games and private karaoke rooms.

Local writer Kat Rembacki describes the setting as a mix of “mountain lodge” and “cozy Northern Michigan cabin.” (We’re curious to see if a 24,000-square-foot place can seem cozy and cabin-like.)

Detroit Beats Chicago

This is the fourth location after Portland, Austin and the Colorado base that opened in 2012. Growth plans include Chicago in about a year. The Detroit landlord is Dan Gilbert's Bedrock Real Estate Services. (Who else, right?)

Wednesday’s launch is the first of two high-profile debuts in post-bankruptcy Detroit this week. PBS slips three days ahead of HopCat, a craft beer and food group based in Grand Rapids that opens its fourth site at 11 a.m. Saturday at Woodward and Canfield in Midtown.

Punch Bowl, where the build-out reportedly cost $5 million, has a capacity of 970 people. It includes “four of the longest bars you have ever seen,” Rembacki writes at Core Detroit. “Seriously, there’s one you can hardly see from one end to the other.” 

Bar specials include “adult milkshakes” and – befitting the name on the sign -- four types of spiked punch served in bowls for four or eight drinkers, as well as single sizes.  

Among local beer and spirit selections are Atwater Brewery, Founders, Griffin Claw, Shorts, Two James Distillery and Valentine Vodka.

The eclectic menu – “upscale comfort food with a culinary twist” -- includes buffalo jalapeno meatloaf, shrimp couscous salad, quinoa-stuffed peppers, a roasted sweet potato sandwich, cauliflower nachos, burgers, chicken-and-waffles and daily specials (including a meatless one). Here’s how culinary director Sergio Romero puts it at the company website:

“Gastro-diner, to me, means preparing elevated comfort food in a way that appeals to the foodie, the peasant, and prince. We cast a wide net.”

Earlier coverage: