Profile: Chefs at Fillmore Bar & Grill serve up “Dexter” home cooking
It doesn’t get any more “home cooking” than the Fillmore Bar & Grill in Dexter. The two chefs in the kitchen are not only brothers, but home-grown Dexter natives who have brought their own flavor and style to one of the area’s best and exciting restaurants.
Tyler, a 2011 graduate of Dexter HS, went to EMU for four years and graduated with a degree in business/entrepreneurship. He admits that cooking and working in a kitchen was never on the table until he decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
“My brother, Cody, was the head chef at the Red Brick Kitchen and Bar in Dexter,” he says. “I was bugging him for a job and just fell in love with being in the kitchen. I started off washing dishes and then worked every job down the line.”
Tyler became the sous-chef (second in command to Cody) at Red Brick and worked there for six years.
“I learned quite a bit,” he says. “I learned first and foremost how a kitchen should be run and what goes on behind the scenes and what works and what doesn’t. Everyone has their responsibilities and jobs back there and everyone has to be on top of it.”
Having done all of the different jobs in the kitchen helps give Tyler the perfect perspective on how to make things go smoothly – or at least smoother.
“There is a lot going – it’s controlled chaos,” he says. “The most important thing is to be a cohesive unit and everyone working together with one goal. Get the food out quickly and make sure it tastes good.”
Before working at Fillmore, Cody, 32, was working at Carlyle Grill in Ann Arbor and Tyler, 29, spent over a year working at Common Grill in Chelsea.
“We went our separate ways for a short period of time but we both learned different things and brought our experiences here,” says Tyler. “Common Grill was very procedural. Everything has a recipe with exact weighed out portions. You don’t even have to think about things. Everything is procedural and quick. It was a great learning experience and I learned a lot from (owner Craig Common).”
Tyler came home to Dexter and the Fillmore – which opened in July 2017 – in March, 2022. He said it was good to be back in the kitchen with his brother.
“Yeah, we learned different things when we were gone so we brought those experiences here,” he said. “I think those different experiences have made us both better at what we do.”
Tyler describes the food at the Fillmore Bar & Grill as “new American.”
“American is always your burgers and sandwiches and now we have pasta and seafood and oysters,” Tyler says. “A little more bistro-esque.”
Tyler says among the popular and go-to dishes at Fillmore include the carbonara pasta, tacos (fish and steak), crispy salmon rice bowl, chicken marsala, steaks and the burgers.
“We won’t ever drastically change the menu because people have their favorites but we will continue to make it fresh and add things here and there,” Tyler says.
The Fillmore is perfect for date night or families or even big parties. The new patio has become hugely popular and is a spectacular setting to dine during the evening hours.
The Fillmore Bar & Grill
7954 Ann Arbor St, Dexter
fillmorebarandgrill.com
(734) 426-3727
