The Rectory

We came for The Congregation and ended up somewhere better. It was a Friday, we were hungry, and the café’s kitchen was closed that particular night — so we walked the few steps next door to The Rectory and took a table on the patio. Five o’clock, and we had the whole thing to ourselves. By the time we left it was full. Our timing has never been that good since.

Underneath the restored-rectory story, what this is, is a very good neighborhood pizza place — whole pies or by the slice, which we appreciated. We each grabbed a slice and split the chopped wedge. Andrea had the Sunspell Spritz, Mike the Velvet Torino, and both were better than they strictly needed to be. They also do patio pitchers of sangria and Aperol Spritz, noted for a night we’re not on a one-and-move-on schedule. The service was the real standout: our server went out of her way, and a few other staff checked on us unprompted. That’s always the tell.

The patio is covered and looks out over the green space it shares with the café — dogs, kids, a park across the street adding to it. Afterward we walked the Boston-Edison blocks, trading hellos with people out doing yard work. A properly good Detroit summer evening.