Out of Towner's Guide

Guide to the Detroit/Royal Oak Area

Restaurant Recommendations

Royal Oak Brewery
4th Street East of Main
Royal Oak Good food and beer (root and otherwise), conveniently located to downtown Royal Oak in a relaxed atmosphere.

Lily's Seafood
Washington south of 4th Street
Royal Oak Wonderfully balanced and flavorful fish dishes, pretty good beer made on-site, and some great examples of authentic Michigan desserts. Fairly pricey, however, expect to drop $50 to $60 for two people.

Mongolian Barbeque
Main Street between Third
and Fourth Streets
Royal Oak
All you can eat Mongolian-style buffet (you pile it in a bowl, they beat it with a stick) right on Main Street in downtown Royal Oak.

Memphis Smoke
11 Mile Road and Main Street
Royal Oak
Tasty American barbeque, often with live blues at night.

Second Street Sub Shop
2nd Street west of Main
Royal Oak
Real subs, one of the only sub shops to use mortadella and cappicolla, etc.

Woodward Avenue Brewers
Woodward Avenue south of
9 Mile Rd.
Ferndale
Food is more appropriate for a snack than a meal. Very nice beer. Atmosphere is great for a night out, but potentially too loud for a quiet conversation.

Beirut Palace
11 Mile Road and Main Street
Royal Oak
Lebanese cuisine. Lots of very nice dishes and some I'm not brave enough to try.

Coney Island
Every other block
Everywhere in the Detroit Area Nothing delicate here, but you'll only find this in Detroit. A coney dog is a natural-casing hot dog, mild chili without beans, chopped raw onion, and yellow mustard. Lots of other greasy food, too.

Howie's Bayou
Woodward Avenue north of
9 Mile Rd.
Ferndale
Cajun, as you may have guessed.

Margaritas Cafetal
Woodward Avenue south of
Catalpa
Berkley
Mexican. Contrary to the name, they serve no alcohol here.

Passage to India
12 Mile Road just west
of downtown
Berkley
Really nice Indian food. I particularly like the Mulligatawny soup here.

Andiamo Osteria
Main and Second Streets
Royal Oak
My experience has been that the entrees have been nice, but not outstanding. The bread, soups, and salads, however, are fantastic. The house dressing alone is worth the trip.

D'Amatos
just north of 4th Street
and Washington
Royal Oak
Expensive, but very nice Italian food all around.

Paesano's
Washington between Fourth
and Fifth Streets
Royal Oak
Specialty pizzas, such as black bean, spinach, and baked potato.

Cafe/Snack Recommendations

Caribou Coffee
4th Street and Main
Royal Oak

or:
Old Woodward south of Maple
Birmingham Nice coffee drinks, hot chocolate (white, spiced, and regular), hot apple cider, and assorted other stuff.

Restaurant Recommendations
Royal Oak Brewery 4th Street East of Main Royal Oak	Good food and beer (root and otherwise), conveniently located to downtown Royal Oak in a relaxed atmosphere.
Lily's Seafood Washington south of 4th Street Royal Oak	Wonderfully balanced and flavorful fish dishes, pretty good beer made on-site, and some great examples of authentic Michigan desserts. Fairly pricey, however, expect to drop $50 to $60 for two people.
Mongolian Barbeque Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets Royal Oak	All you can eat Mongolian-style buffet (you pile it in a bowl, they beat it with a stick) right on Main Street in downtown Royal Oak.
Memphis Smoke 11 Mile Road and Main Street Royal Oak	Tasty American barbeque, often with live blues at night.
Second Street Sub Shop 2nd Street west of Main Royal Oak	Real subs, one of the only sub shops to use mortadella and cappicolla, etc.
Woodward Avenue Brewers Woodward Avenue south of 9 Mile Rd. Ferndale	Food is more appropriate for a snack than a meal. Very nice beer. Atmosphere is great for a night out, but potentially too loud for a quiet conversation.
Beirut Palace 11 Mile Road and Main Street Royal Oak	Lebanese cuisine. Lots of very nice dishes and some I'm not brave enough to try.
Coney Island Every other block Everywhere in the Detroit Area	Nothing delicate here, but you'll only find this in Detroit. A coney dog is a natural-casing hot dog, mild chili without beans, chopped raw onion, and yellow mustard. Lots of other greasy food, too.
Howie's Bayou Woodward Avenue north of 9 Mile Rd. Ferndale	Cajun, as you may have guessed.
Margaritas Cafetal Woodward Avenue south of Catalpa Berkley	Mexican. Contrary to the name, they serve no alcohol here.
Passage to India 12 Mile Road just west of downtown Berkley	Really nice Indian food. I particularly like the Mulligatawny soup here.
Andiamo Osteria Main and Second Streets Royal Oak	My experience has been that the entrees have been nice, but not outstanding. The bread, soups, and salads, however, are fantastic. The house dressing alone is worth the trip.
D'Amatos just north of 4th Street and Washington Royal Oak	Expensive, but very nice Italian food all around.
Paesano's Washington between Fourth and Fifth Streets Royal Oak	Specialty pizzas, such as black bean, spinach, and baked potato.

Cafe/Snack Recommendations
Caribou Coffee 4th Street and Main Royal Oak or: Old Woodward south of Maple Birmingham	Nice coffee drinks, hot chocolate (white, spiced, and regular), hot apple cider, and assorted other stuff.