Testimonials

Testimonials

See What Our Clients Are Saying

It has been 4 months since our wedding, and I can honestly say we still smile daily just thinking about how it all came together. From the moment we originally met with Nicole to tour the Palm River room, we knew there was no reason to look any further! The inclusion, expertise, detail-oriented planning, views, lighting, and excellent food makes the venue and your wedding day seamless and perfect! I cannot even count the number of compliments we were given on the venue, we heard “this venue is incredible!” all night long. We were even told our wedding was the nicest wedding people had been to. We had endless compliments on the dinner, the mood, the staff, and the flow of the night. Everyone wishes we could re-live the night again and again. The best part about Roostertail is the fact that they have done SO MANY weddings. They know how to make it smooth. For example, we had an open bar, but Roostertail was smart enough to but beer in a cooler in the middle of the cocktail room which significantly cut down the bar line wait time. Little details like this are the reason you go to venues like the Roostertail. Thank you again to Nicole and all the staff who helped make our day perfect!.

Emilee Incammicia

We got married in the Club Room at the Roostertail in October 2021, and everything about our experience with this venue, staff, event planers was PERFECT. Nicole was our day-of coordinator, and she was so helpful over the entire course of wedding planning. From the moment I first reached out to the venue, she was on the phone with me that afternoon with a package totally tailored to us and our wedding vibe, and I could tell she truly cared about delivering us the best day ever. AND Roostertail makes planning and personalizing your wedding package super super easy. That kind of care eliminated sooo much stress during the planning process…and even on a hectic wedding prep morning, we never doubted everything at the venue was under control & would turn out beautifully. Our wedding was just over 2 months ago now, and we’re STILL getting stellar feedback from our guests about how much fun they had, how amazing the food was (we did cocktail style instead of plated sit-down dinner, and it was just *chef’s kiss,* and so filling), how attentive/professional/friendly the staff were, and how beautiful the location was. Literally, our wedding day would have gone so differently if we got married anywhere else, so I’m endlessly grateful we made the decision to put our day in the Roostertail team’s hands.

Valerie K

Our daughter’s wedding, originally planned for 10.10.20 in Grosse Pointe was rescheduled during the pandemic for 7.1.21. Sadly, in January of 2021, the venue announced a major renovation and moved all weddings outdoors to a tent. Six days before the wedding, the tent was damaged in a storm, creating the need for a very quick venue change. In stepped the Roostertail, just 3 days before the wedding! From the moment we met Nicole and Michael, they were confident, reassuring, and positive they could create a dream wedding in only a few days. With so little time to make changes and notify guests, we had to trust Nicole and Michael and leave all the details to them. They exceeded our expectations in EVERY POSSIBLE WAY!
It is impossible to express the feeling walking into the Roostertail and then watching our daughter and son in law walk into the gorgeous Palm River room, with the absolutely breathtaking view. The entire staff was attentive, professional, and anticipated and met our needs before we even asked! Michael asked my favorite drink when we first met and ordered the malibu to make it, Nicole made sure I had that drink in hand all night long. The food was delicious and beautifully presented and received so many compliments. The owner, Tom Schoenith, even joined and shared stories and memories with our guests. During the evening they added a dry ice drink bar that was such a surprise and a hit with everyone! Guests were absolutely in awe of the Roostertail and their ability to create the night in a matter of days. Their attention to detail was incredible and they appeared to enjoy the night as much as we did. Nicole even created a slideshow of Lauren and Conner from Instagram pictures! Our only regret is that we didn’t book the Roostertail from the start as their all inclusive package (food, cocktail hour, appetizers, premium bar, chiavari chairs, linens, table vases, outdoor covered ceremony deck overlooking the water, specialty drinks, and tax and gratuities) would have saved us time booking outside vendors and money. Thank you Nicole, Michael, Tom and all the Roostertail staff for making Lauren and Conner’s dream wedding possible and truly better than they ever imagined it would be.

Donna T

We had our ceremony and reception at The Roostertail and it was absolutely amazing! The marine room was gorgeous and all of my guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they have ever been to! They were also raving about the delicious food! Nicole was a dream to work with! She was super attentive and responsive and went out of her way to address my questions and concerns. Having her made my wedding planning life so much easier! Thank you to The Roostertail for giving us our dream wedding!

Tom & Jullian Mitchell

Went to Will Phelps Black Party Affair. It was beautiful. There are two levels with ample seating for parties up to 300. Bars and dj areas on both floors. Big dancing areas. Plenty of room for vendors as well without crowding. The view of the water was amazing(better at night of course). One of the best hidden gems of detroit.

D Hardiman

We had our corporate holiday party at the Roostertail and they were AMAZING! Nicole and the staff were so courteous and on-top of everything all night, they provided so many extra special touches for our group. Nicole was so accommodating with our requests and helped make everything feel safe considering COVID conditions. The venue was setup beautifully with the centerpieces and decorations they provided and the food was delicious! The steaks were cooked perfect for everyone – which is hard to do for large groups! Every employee complimented what a great venue/location it was! Highly recommend this venue for corporate or any large events!

Danielle Roland

We held our holiday party there again this year & the food was 100% better than last year. They must have gotten a new chef! It was absolutely delicious 😋. The servers that evening were very efficient, too efficient to the degree that my full drink was removed/cleared each time I my husband and I went to dance. Very frustrating. It’s a beautiful venue however and since the food is significantly better I will now recommend it!!

Chrissy P. Walker

We celebrated our 20+ years Employees at the Roostertail late last week. Nicole and her team were AWESOME! Nicole was very involved the entire time we were planning the party and when we wanted to meet for visual decisions (to look at the venue, to choose table linens and centerpieces, etc.), she set up a Zoom call so we didn’t have to travel to the venue. Food was great, service was great – cannot say enough about this venue and their staff. Let’s not forget the view! The riverfront added to the ambiance of our evening. Do yourself a favor and choose this venue for your next event!

L CR

My high school class just had their 30th reunion at the Roostertail, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about the night. As a part of the planning committee, we had spent a number of months trying to decide on a location for our event. Michael Schoenith (who happens to be a member of our class), gladly offered to host the reunion at the Roostertail. Once he was involved, that was it. From managing the invitations, guest list, music, decorations, food, beverages, and ambiance, every detail was over the top. The decor was outstanding–our class colors and creative displays of iconic 80s movies greeted us at entry. The staff was welcoming, friendly, and helpful. I’ve never seen food stations so creatively arranged. The quality of the food was top notch. There was plenty of room to mingle, dance, or just talk. The views, of course, were out of this world. Thank you, Schoenith family and all of your Roostertail staff. You managed to out-do our prom!

Danielle DeLuca-Pytell

his past spring my high school held its Senior Prom at the Roostertail, and as Class President I was chiefly in charge of communicating with the Roostertail about Prom and arranging details for the event. Planning a Prom is no small feat, and our actual event was being planned for about a year and a half before it occurred. Through all of that, we were in contact with the Roostertail, asking questions and making arrangements. Immediately after booking a date in December 2013, we were given an employee who would be our personal contact in case we had questions. Our contact was Shawna Peplinski, and pure and simple, she was amazing.
To begin with, she was the person that I personally met when making our first deposit before Christmas 2013. We had to rush down to the Roostertail before they closed for a brief Christmas break, but Shawna stayed a little late so that we would be able to secure our Prom date. For the next 11 months or so, I had limited contact with Shawna, but as the date drew nearer I had more and more contact with her. I frequently had to email her questions and get in contact with her, and she would always respond in a timely fashion with the answers I needed. On multiple occasions she would contact me personally to ask for our preference on everything ranging from lighting to chairs to food – and all this for an event that some venues really could not care less about. Shawna invited our Class Council to come down and see the venue on multiple occasions, and every time we went she had suggestions on how to make our Prom the best that it could be. Up until the day of the event, I still had a seemingly annoying amount of questions and last-minute changes that I was calling her or emailing her about, but always she was extremely professional and more than happy to help. Even on the morning of our Prom, when a few members of our Class Council went down to setup, Shawna was already there personally putting tablecloths and centerpieces on the table. When she realized that we were planning to put up our decorations, she insisted that we go home and that she could take care of putting up everything as we would like it. And on top of that, she still wanted to make sure that we liked the chair color, the new centerpieces, and even asked what song we would like to be played while the salads were served.
A few hours later when I arrived to the event, everything was just as planned. The dining room floor was truly beautiful, and all of her color recommendations went together. The staff was welcoming, and everything just worked flawlessly. The setting of the event, on the Detroit River, was absolutely gorgeous – a scene that really can not be replicated elsewhere. The attention to detail that Shawna and the Roostertail gave to our school, which was just one of nearly 50 having Proms at the Roostertail, was truly remarkable. To the Roostertail, hosting a Prom is not just an event, rather the whole staff realizes that it is a special occasion which will be remembered forever, so they truly try to make it a noteworthy night. And as if all of that were not enough, Shawna surprised us with a 6 minute incredible firework display that truly capped off an incredible evening. At the end of the night, I really had no choice but to find Shawna, give her a hug, and thank her for such a spectacular evening. The Roostertail is really a great place to host an event, with professionalism and quality unmatched by nearly anywhere else. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to host a Prom, wedding, or any other event – you will not be let down! Thanks Shawna!

Danielle

There is not ANY location that can compare to The Roostertail! My husband and I were married there in April 23rd 2022 and to say our day was magical is an understatement!!!! While the location is phenomenal, and the experience was amazing, there is one factor that made our day one we or our guest will never forget……Shawna!!!!! As a bride planing a wedding..things can get crazy!!! I NEVER had a moment of stress or worry, because I had My Shawna!! From the second we scheduled an appointment to look at the venue, we KNEW we had to get married there because Shawna sat with us and didn’t talk about money like every other place we looked at in Detroit, but she talked with us. She wanted to know us and understand us and what we wanted! She was so loving and compassionate and excited about what she could make our day be! We waited about 6 hours before we booked with her because we knew!! She told me she would exceed my expectations…….and let me tell you…..she did!! Her attention to detail and true love for her job and desire to make our day one we’d never forget was unparalleled to anything I’ve ever experienced! Not a SINGLE person who attended our wedding did not comment on the fact it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to! Thank you Roostertail for your fantastic venue and thank you Shawna for your love and delivery of an unforgettable day!!! Please…..go see Shawna and book your wedding at the Roostertail ASAP!!!

Holly Licata

Glad we chose to trust RoosterTail for our class graduation dinner/party. Nicole & the RoosterTail staff made our event flawless from setup to closing out the night. The space itself was designed perfectly for our group size. Nicole made every effort to ensure the event was moving along as planned. She also communicated with our vendor to ensure he was on the same page. The event was simply beautiful. A good amount of our guests had never been to this venue so it was great to have such a nice space with a beautiful, natural backdrop in the lake then to add on beautiful lighting. I got so many compliments from my classmates and guests about how great it turned out.
 
 

Conicka Toney

I want to thank you so much for all of your help coordinating Jayla’s Sweet 16 on Saturday, February 19th! Everything went amazingly well that day and I cannot express how appreciative we are for everything that you and your team did for us! The food was tasty and the presentation was awesome. Our guests were very happy with your arrangement and the quality of food. I simply send this thank you note to show our gratitude for the amazing services that you and your team provided. Jayla’s Sweet 16 was looking so elegant and relaxing with ravishing lighting and room decoration. You made Jayla’s Sweet 16 unique and everyone was admiring the glamorous decoration. You made her Sweet 16 unforgettable with your creative skills, your understanding, and your faultless arranging abilities. I praise you for your amazing hospitality services. You were so patient with guests and managed them politely. You have a hard job and you all do it very well! I will be sure to recommend you to others in the future!

Thank you,
Stacey and Jayla

Jayla Scott

We worked with the Roostertail for 2 years! Nicole was our venue Coordinator, but quickly become so much more; she was a motivator, part therapist for my meltdowns (many) and at some point became sonic the hedgehog to bring all the details together so quickly at the end. No, but seriously, not enough words for the work she did, you would never know she was working with multiple couples at a time; always available via phone, or text, check-in’s via email, active online… she was incredibly attentive to us. After moving the date, constant changes on our end, you would never know the day of.. everything was perfect! The day was so special. We exchanged vows on the side patio, overlooking the water, then entered a beautiful venue, greeted by the staff that took care of us from the beginning, until the very end. Nicole made sure the day flowed, with no hiccups. The food was amazing, my guest are still raving about it. The drinks were top-tier! The venue’s design is so beautiful and pictured well with our photo’s and videos. I can’t say enough how happy I am that we chose the Roostertail, they really care and it showed throughout the 2 years we worked together. Nicole doesn’t forget about you either, she texted me a few days after the wedding, to send videos she captured and I thought that was so sweet, she also sent us a personalized card to our home. She’s the best, Roostertail is happy to have her, but honestly, the entire team is rockstar, the owners even walked the floor and made sure everything was perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
 
 

Trina Rogers

Had the most amazing high school prom at The Roostertail. Through the whole planning process and through the event, the customer service was phenomenal, the venue is stunning, the food was superb, and the kids had SUCH an amazing time. Best prom ever. Cannot wait to come back!
 
 

Janelle Bross

Such a beautiful venue – location OUTSTANDING! Attended a dear friend’s wedding the drinks & food was good. Ambiance was spectacular.
 
 

Krystal Edwards

We got married in the Club Room at the Roostertail in October 2021, and everything about our experience with this venue, staff, event planers was PERFECT. Nicole was our day-of coordinator, and she was so helpful over the entire course of wedding planning. From the moment I first reached out to the venue, she was on the phone with me that afternoon with a package totally tailored to us and our wedding vibe, and I could tell she truly cared about delivering us the best day ever. AND Roostertail makes planning and personalizing your wedding package super super easy. That kind of care eliminated so much stress during the planning process…and even on a hectic wedding prep morning, we never doubted everything at the venue was under control & would turn out beautifully.
Our wedding was just over 2 months ago now, and we’re STILL getting stellar feedback from our guests about how much fun they had, how amazing the food was (we did cocktail style instead of plated sit-down dinner, and it was just *chef’s kiss,* and so filling), how attentive/professional/friendly the staff were, and how beautiful the location was.
Literally, our wedding day would have gone so differently if we got married anywhere else, so I’m endlessly grateful we made the decision to put our day in the Roostertail team’s hands.

Val Kory

Beautiful by the Lake of downtown Detroit, MI. The Roostertail venue is great for weddings, birthdays and any other celebration. We went to a 40th marriage vow renewal outside facing Lake Michigan. The celebration wad inside. It’s absolutely beautiful. The staff was friendly and seems to thoroughly enjoy their jobs. A drone watched the event the whole time. Funny…
 
 

Ruby Rosemond-Taylor

Amazing view! If you love water, this is your venue!! The water front view is so unique. The food was amazing and the staff are so attentive. The venue has all the little details covered! Thank you Nicole and Roostertail team for making our day so special!

Erica Good

We had an absolutely amazing time having our wedding reception at the roostertail. The location cannot be beat in Detroit. The ambiance is also amazing. And everything was setup flawlessly and beautifully by Nicole and her team, even throughout the pandemic and rescheduling and finding ways to accommodate us with the restrictions caused from the pandemic. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to plan their wedding or event!!!

Analicia Hazelby

Shawna is absolutely the best planner I have ever had in any part of my life. If you plan on having your wedding here ask for Shauna and tell her Tiffany sent you!!!!! I promise you I will put my name on it you will be amazed.
She can make the impossible happen! So I ordered a custom wedding cake from New York and it was Delivered… The only problem is that the cake delivery person was an 2 hours late!!!! Think of how furious i was i made bridzilla look like a angel….
so I couldn’t even do pictures of the cake cutting till the very end when my guests started to leave but Shawna had a plan B already she told me not to worry she has a huge sheet cake in the back and she can have them cut it and serve the gust on fancy platters with beautiful strawberry garnishes!!!! Whaaa….
My $700 cake arrived at the end and I had 2 kinds of cakes 🙂 thank you so much Shauna you are a great friend now to me I will never forget how much she did for my day.

TIFFANY MCCABE

Our daughter’s wedding, originally planned for 10.10.20 in Grosse Pointe was rescheduled during the pandemic for 7.1.21. Sadly, in January of 2021, the venue announced a major renovation and moved all weddings outdoors to a tent. Six days before the wedding, the tent was damaged in a storm, creating the need for a very quick venue change. In stepped the Roostertail, just 3 days before the wedding! From the moment we met Nicole and Michael, they were confident, reassuring, and positive they could create a dream wedding in only a few days. With so little time to make changes and notify guests, we had to trust Nicole and Michael and leave all the details to them. They exceeded our expectations in EVERY POSSIBLE WAY!
It is impossible to express the feeling walking into the Roostertail and then watching our daughter and son in law walk into the gorgeous Palm River room, with the absolutely breathtaking view. The entire staff was attentive, professional, and anticipated and met our needs before we even asked! Michael asked my favorite drink when we first met and ordered the malibu to make it, Nicole made sure I had that drink in hand all night long. The food was delicious and beautifully presented and received so many compliments. The owner, Tom Schoenith, even joined and shared stories and memories with our guests. During the evening they added a dry ice drink bar that was such a surprise and a hit with everyone! Guests were absolutely in awe of the Roostertail and their ability to create the night in a matter of days. Their attention to detail was incredible and they appeared to enjoy the night as much as we did. Nicole even created a slideshow of Lauren and Conner from Instagram pictures! Our only regret is that we didn’t book the Roostertail from the start as their all inclusive package (food, cocktail hour, appetizers, premium bar, chiavari chairs, linens, table vases, outdoor covered ceremony deck overlooking the water, specialty drinks, and tax and gratuities) would have saved us time booking outside vendors and money.
Thank you Nicole, Michael, Tom and all the Roostertail staff for making Lauren and Conner’s dream wedding possible and truly better than they ever imagined it would be.

Donna Jakubik

Absolutely loved the venue!! Nicole and her team were absolutely amazing to work with and made our wedding so EASY!!! Nicole very clearly explained our options, provided vendor suggestions and made sure everyone was on time and things moved smoothly the day of.
It was so NICE to just enjoy the day without any worries.
Highly recommend the venue and the team at The Roostertail!

Chrissy Forrest

My Husband and I got married here on 6/29/19 and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect wedding. We had the ceremony on The Dock and the reception in the Palm River Room upstairs. Nicole was our event coordinator and she did such an incredible job giving us exactly what we wanted, and we were very particular about how we wanted everything. Nicole and the Schoenith family went out of their way to help us get everything exactly the way we wanted it to be and we will be forever grateful for that. Thank you to everyone at The Roostertail for giving us our dream wedding!

Claire Larkin

I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Roostertail! Nicole was our wedding coordinator and she was amazing! So on top of things, organized, and efficient. Everything went flawlessly because of her. Also, the venue itself has an amazing view right on the river front and the food was delicious! Not a single complaint to share 🙂

Rosie Rossi

I just got married at the Roostertail on Friday night. We had the MOST AMAZING and PERFECT day ever. The staff at Roostertail go above and beyond to make sure you have a perfect day. They were all wonderful to work with. Shawna helped me throughout the wedding planning and is seriously the BEST coordinator. Do yourself a favor and have your wedding here. The views are AMAZING, we got sunset photos off the river. All of our guests were RAVING about how amazing the ceremony, venue, party were. It was such a beautiful day.

Thank you Roostertail for my dream wedding. I will never forget this day.

olivia N

Top notch venue. My daughter’s wedding reception was at the Roostertail and what an amazing venue. Nicole and owner and entire staff were the best, top notch staff we have had the privilege to work with. The entire night was perfect, from cocktail hour to drinks to main course, every part of the evening was also perfect.
If you want excellent, awesome staff to work with this is the only place to go. The views from the reception looking over the water were also stunning. Again top notch and more than 10 stars in my book.

Chris Hunter

Our wedding at the Roostertail was flawless! We had to postpone our 2020 wedding to 7/23/21 wedding, and Nicole made every part of the process so smooth! She was so attentive, responsive and detail oriented, and kept us informed along the way, even coordinating with our other vendors so we didn’t have to worry about any details.

The venue decor and food were amazing and tailored to our needs and vision – we even received some free upgrades that we weren’t expecting (including some boozy dessert drinks that our guests couldn’t stop raving about!)

Nicole kept checking in with us all night, kept us with drinks in our hands, and we never had to worry about anything. Our guests had a wonderful time as well- they enjoyed the views, the bar, and the overall ambience!

We couldn’t recommend this venue enough!

Laura Sanchez

The 17 piece ‘Big Band’ I play in (The Stardusters) recently played at an event at the Roostertail. We were treated so very well, I was compelled to write to thank the Event Coordinator, Ms. Nicole D’Onofrio. My letter should give an idea of the professionalism of this fine venue. Here is a copy of what I sent Nicole:
—–
Nicole:

On behalf of the Stardusters Big Band, we wanted to send a very hearty THANK YOU to you, Michael, and the ENTIRE STAFF of the Roostertail for a wonderful evening Saturday.

Everyone at your facility was the epitome of professionalism, including all the fine workers who got us chairs, the stage set, and helped with tear-down. A nicer harder working bunch you’ll never find. And everyone was SO FRIENDLY and helpful.

What a beautiful facility, this was the first time playing there for most of us. Growing up listening to WJR from the early 60’s, I always remembered how personalities like J.P. McCarthy of WJR would tell of wonderful evenings there. Now I know why.

It is due to you and your staff. We hope you enjoyed some of our music but I know you all were working and had to stay focused on that. We all so enjoyed working with you and the entire event staff.

Once again, thank you for a great evening. Successful things only happen due to great leadership and teamwork. You have all of that!

Dave Boze
Stardusters Big Band

David Boze

Officiated a wedding. Awesome location on river with scenic views day and night. Outdoor and indoor decor was beautiful. Service was top notch from wedding assistance to cocktail hour to dinner. The shrimp and egg roll appetizers were wonderful.

JT Stokes

Hands down working with Shawna and the Rooster tail was an amazing experience. Our original wedding date was set for 2020, however due to COVID-19 we wanted to push our date back to ensure the safety of our guests. Shawna and the other staff made sure that pushing our date back was not an issue and made it even more special!

Prior to our wedding we spoke with another team member that made great menu suggestions for our Dinner that all of our guests loved. We were not able to eat during our event but our food was thoughtfully wrapped and ready for us to take home. The donut wall we had was a nice touch that our guests devoured in minutes.

If we had to redo this day, We would have chosen the Roostertail from the beginning and not even deal with another venue. The component that made the experience over the top was working with Shawna. She calmed our nerves and made sure as she stated “Whatever you forgot I remembered” was not a false statement.

We are so elated that we were serviced with passion and dedication. If you are second guessing this venue for your wedding or event Don’t! You will not be dissatisfied.

Kieandra

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO HAVE A PARTY THIS IS DEFINENTLY THE PLACE PERFECT SETUP FOR YOUNGER CROWD AND OLDER CROWD ALL IN ONE BUILDING, GREAT FOOD GREAT SPIRITS, AND AN AWESOME STAFF. OWNERS GIVE YOU THE BEST OF THE BEST THANK YOU MICHAEL. AND A SUPER SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO NICOLE FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID MY COMMITTEE AS ALWAYS WERE PLEASED WITH EVERYTHING!!! WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AGAIN!!!

William Terrell