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The Siren Hotel | Karl's

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Photographed by Christian Harder. ![Photographed by Christian Harder.](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472baeb9dd6d4b6fed1f9a4_flaunt%2Bmagazine%2BKarl%2527s%2Bsiren%2Bhotel%2B-6.jpeg) Photographed by Christian Harder. Newly opened restaurant, [Karl’s](https://www.karlsdetroit.com), is located at [The Siren Hotel](https://thesirenhotel.com) in Detroit. [ASH NYC](https://ashnyc.com), owner and designer of the hotel, intended the restaurant to be a modern version of traditional American diners. As an interpretation of this nostalgic theme, designers chose mint tiles, vinyl banquettes, chrome and neon accents, linoleum paneled walls, and retro red, orange and green finishes alongside the building's 1926 original wood flooring.  Comprised of a diner, dive bar, and bakery, Karl’s takes great pleasure in housing an original Wurlitzer jukebox with a custom created collection. As well, the restaurant is pleased to have renowned [Chef Kate Williams](https://www.instagram.com/chefkatewilliams/?hl=en) at the forefront. Check out our interview below… **How does the menu at Karl’s differ from your menu The Lady of the House?** The menu at Karl's is far more casual. Lady isn't a fine dining establishment necessarily, but it does push creativity and comfort in exciting ways whereas the food at Karl's is meant to sort of hug your heart in its nostalgia and familiarity. Karl's uses the same philosophy as Lady does, no waste, commitment to small family farms, Michigan crops and care and attention to detail from our teams. Photographed by Christian Harder. ![Photographed by Christian Harder.](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472baeb9dd6d4b6fed1f99e_image-asset.jpeg) Photographed by Christian Harder. **Was there any sort of collaboration when creating the Karl’s menu? How did you choose dishes?** I spent a lot of time with my mom and aunts talking about what they ate growing up and thought also about what my Grandma Barb made us growing up when we went over there. The thought being that what Grandma made was probably what she was made growing up etc. Again, the idea being that if Karl's Bakery had never closed, and had been touched by every generation of my family since then, what would the food, the space, the bar etc look like and feel like? **How are you amplifying these classic diner dishes?** We're really putting the care and thought into putting out the best version of everything. That's the responsible sourcing, hopefully great execution, pasture-raised meats, and sometimes putting our own creative spin on things. Photographed by Christian Harder. ![Photographed by Christian Harder.](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472baea9dd6d4b6fed1f995_image-asset.jpeg) Photographed by Christian Harder. **Does the same no-waste ethos of Lady of the House apply to how Karl’s works as well?** Yes! In fact when we opened, Karl's was the first time we were able to compost all of our cooked food scraps and guest plate scraps. We are now implementing that piece at Lady, in addition to the raw scrap method that we've been using since before Lady opened. **You’ve mentioned that you are using the same vendors for Karl’s as you do at Lady of the house. How important is it to you to source locally and what makes you so dedicated to the vendors you use?** If we're not supporting folks who are doing things the right way, they won't be around. It's also lucky that when you do things the right way, not always the cheap way, your product is usually superior. It's important for us to be supporting the business and farms in the community that are contributing to the success of our region which is great for everyone—our staff, our guests, even the residents who don't know us. Photographed by Christian Harder. ![Photographed by Christian Harder.](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472baeb9dd6d4b6fed1f99b_image-asset.jpeg) Photographed by Christian Harder. **Do your Corktown roots have any influence on Karl’s like at Lady of the House?** They do, most of my heritage is Irish, which obviously has so much history in Corktown. I had one German Grandma, Barb (Maiden name Karl) and this is that part of my family and their bakery roots coming back to life. It was a really nice surprise as I unfolded the stories of the bakery and how far back my culinary roots go! I didn't know of the bakery in its entirety when I set out to be a chef even... So it's been really special to get to know this part of her and her parents and grandparents lives. **Was it especially exciting to open the bakery part of Karl’s considering your family’s history owning a bakery?** Yes! My mom cries everytime she comes into the space. Because Karl's is meant to be the continuation of the original "A. Karl's Kercheval Home Bakery" that existed pre-depression era, it's really wonderful to bring this to life in a way that I think—and hope—pays tribute to my family. **This place is really special to you. Can you tell us more about your great grandparents history?** Yes! my great great grandpa, Anton Karl, was born in Germany in the 1800s and ended up in Detroit sometime around 1873. He and his wife had the bakery on the East Side of Detroit and had 8 children, one of which was my great grandma George Karl, born in Detroit in 1897. The bakery eventually went out of business as, legend has it, my great great grandmother kept giving away bread and pastries to the homeless that came to the back door of the bakery pre-depression era. My great grandpa George was in a barbershop quartet for many many years and he taught all his kids to sing and harmonize (which came down many generations). His daughter Barb, was my grandma. She was sweet and actually passed in 2007. I know she would have loved to see Karl's as it is now!! Photographed by Christian Harder. ![Photographed by Christian Harder.](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472baeb9dd6d4b6fed1f9a1_flaunt%2Bmagazine%2BKarl%2527s%2Bsiren%2Bhotel%2B-1.jpeg) Photographed by Christian Harder.