A commonly unknown restaurant, this restaurant boasts to "remember me!"
Located at the Service Drive and 11 Mile, Boodles sits on the corner of the busy intersection, but once inside, you will forget where you are. White linen adorn the tables, and the servers are in tux-like apparel. The service is genuine, and the owner often waits on tables himself. The price point is fantastic (around $17/plate) they offer several side selections, great salads, homemade soups and dressings. Over 5 homemade specials are available everyday varying from braised lamb shank to brushetta chicken to crab legs. Also on the menu is VIP tableside with selections like Steak Stewart, Salmon St. James, etc. Although it is a reasonably fun experience, I did not find these items to be worth the money. The owner takes great care and does most of the cooking for the VIP tableside service, which I find charming, but the rest of the menu items I found had better presentation, and a better price point. However, the VIP tableside also offers Banana's Foster and Cherries Jubilee which I highly recommend. Those are dishes better served immediately, and the tableservice provides that. Fine American Classic Cuisine is the name of the game at Boodles, and they do it well. Excellent place for picky eaters, as the kitchen works well with the guests, and the menu has an large variety of food-that's why it's American! Oh, and almost forgot-there is a live piano player! How sheek!
$$-$$$
Total Satisfaction Score: 9.0
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tom's Oyster Bar, Royal Oak
Well, hope you like oysters. But if you don't, you're in luck since the menu has a wide variety of other seafood (and sushi!)
Stepping in, you walk onto old style real wooden floors, and with the blue and white checkered table cloths-you feel like you're in New England. There is a constant new array of oysters everyday, along with 8-10 specials of fresh catches, and often Alaskan king crab legs. Another great part to this restaurant is that they offer lunch portions on most of their entrees, even at dinner time. Having an excellent location, right on Main Street, the patio is a must in the summer months.
Appetizer wise-Tom's has done it right. They have a cold appetizer plate for around $20 that will feed 1 really hungry-or 4 nibblers. Smoked whitefish sausage, bluefish pate, a variety of crackers, smoked salmon, etc. glorify this plate. The hot appetizer plate has some amazing shrimp and other great features. Tom's also offers sushi on select evenings (which I'm not sure which those evenings are-sorry!)
The service is always great, and the food has never disappointed me.
One negative thing-if you don't like seafood, fresh water fish, or are a vegetarian-you're kind of screwed. I believe there are maybe 2 chicken dishes on the menu, and possibly one beef. They do have some great salads though!
The most important mainstay of Tom's Oyster Bar-whether it is a hot July summer night or a cool December evening-a famous spanish coffee made from the bar. Tom's knows how to do it right-plus it is topped off with real fresh whipping cream.
Lunch with girlfriends. Dinner for business. A date night. Tom's is great if seafood and fresh fish is what you like.
$$-$$$
Total Satisfaction Score: 9.5
Stepping in, you walk onto old style real wooden floors, and with the blue and white checkered table cloths-you feel like you're in New England. There is a constant new array of oysters everyday, along with 8-10 specials of fresh catches, and often Alaskan king crab legs. Another great part to this restaurant is that they offer lunch portions on most of their entrees, even at dinner time. Having an excellent location, right on Main Street, the patio is a must in the summer months.
Appetizer wise-Tom's has done it right. They have a cold appetizer plate for around $20 that will feed 1 really hungry-or 4 nibblers. Smoked whitefish sausage, bluefish pate, a variety of crackers, smoked salmon, etc. glorify this plate. The hot appetizer plate has some amazing shrimp and other great features. Tom's also offers sushi on select evenings (which I'm not sure which those evenings are-sorry!)
The service is always great, and the food has never disappointed me.
One negative thing-if you don't like seafood, fresh water fish, or are a vegetarian-you're kind of screwed. I believe there are maybe 2 chicken dishes on the menu, and possibly one beef. They do have some great salads though!
The most important mainstay of Tom's Oyster Bar-whether it is a hot July summer night or a cool December evening-a famous spanish coffee made from the bar. Tom's knows how to do it right-plus it is topped off with real fresh whipping cream.
Lunch with girlfriends. Dinner for business. A date night. Tom's is great if seafood and fresh fish is what you like.
$$-$$$
Total Satisfaction Score: 9.5
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Ronin, Royal Oak
Oh Ronin! Where have you been, and why did it take you so long to grace Royal Oak! When you finally get sick of the crappy service, bright blinding flourecents, and so-so sushi from Little Tree, drag your cute booty to Ronin. Located in the plagued space at 6th and Lafayette, Ronin has somehow made it work. From the moment you walk up to the store front-you are greeted with an ambiance. Once you step in, the ambiance continues to an incredibly posh environment that screams "i'm swanky!"
The bar area has an awesome lobby filled with square ottomomans that you can move around to your group size. The candle light make you want to sit there all night and chat with friends. No worries men, there are a few tv's behind the bar.
As for the food, I enjoy that Ronin has a fusion menu for those who are not interested in eating sushi-but want to enjoy their ambiance. They have some great kobe beef sliders, tempura battered veggies, some soups and salads to begin. Their sushi is top rate. Excellent variety, and constant specials. If you want to continue the swankiness-continue down the hall, by the bathrooms, and convince the bouncer to let you go upstairs. I'm not sure what this room is called, but we refer to it as the "opium den"....no, no, there aren't any drugs up there-but the mood is fantastic. Lots of jam music, a fireplace, candlelight, and typically very open minded people who like to groove and enjoy life.
only downfall-NO reservations! luckily, the bar area is a lot of fun to hang until your table is available.
$$$
total satisfaction 9.5
The bar area has an awesome lobby filled with square ottomomans that you can move around to your group size. The candle light make you want to sit there all night and chat with friends. No worries men, there are a few tv's behind the bar.
As for the food, I enjoy that Ronin has a fusion menu for those who are not interested in eating sushi-but want to enjoy their ambiance. They have some great kobe beef sliders, tempura battered veggies, some soups and salads to begin. Their sushi is top rate. Excellent variety, and constant specials. If you want to continue the swankiness-continue down the hall, by the bathrooms, and convince the bouncer to let you go upstairs. I'm not sure what this room is called, but we refer to it as the "opium den"....no, no, there aren't any drugs up there-but the mood is fantastic. Lots of jam music, a fireplace, candlelight, and typically very open minded people who like to groove and enjoy life.
only downfall-NO reservations! luckily, the bar area is a lot of fun to hang until your table is available.
$$$
total satisfaction 9.5
Pete's Place, Ferndale, MI
Pete's Place is located in a terrible place...on Woodward Heights, just west of Hilton. However, it is worth getting lost going there. This restaurant has become my mainstay for Sunday morning breakfast.
When you enter, there is coffee on the greeting table, along with fresh scones, to tide you over until your table is available. The waitstaff is incredibly nice, and always willing to please and get you seated as soon as possible. Even the cooks greet you when you come in and are incredibly nice (it is a partial open kitchen).
They offer several different culinary omelettes, waffles, french toast, some amazing compotes, several daily changing specials including specialty quiches, and our favorite-the basic egg platter. It comes with 2 eggs anyway you like it, several toast varieties, a choice of awesome hickory bacon, turkey or polish sausage, pepper and garlic potatos, homemade chunky applesauce and fresh fruit. Yes, it costs $7, but your savings come with the lack of grease!
For lunch, they offer several different types of sandwiches including an awesome turkey arugla panini with a pesto alioli, french dip, several salads, daily chicken noodle and cheese soup, etc. etc etc!!
They even offer dinner (which I have not attended) but the menu looks fantastic. From chicken marsala to steaks, and they even offer gluten free noodles!
Menu is a bit pricey for breakfast, but lunch and dinner seem reasonable.
Oh, and did I mention the COFFEE! They put fresh cinnamon in the freshly ground beans. Oh bliss!
$-breakfast and lunch
$$-dinner
total satisfaction- 9.5
When you enter, there is coffee on the greeting table, along with fresh scones, to tide you over until your table is available. The waitstaff is incredibly nice, and always willing to please and get you seated as soon as possible. Even the cooks greet you when you come in and are incredibly nice (it is a partial open kitchen).
They offer several different culinary omelettes, waffles, french toast, some amazing compotes, several daily changing specials including specialty quiches, and our favorite-the basic egg platter. It comes with 2 eggs anyway you like it, several toast varieties, a choice of awesome hickory bacon, turkey or polish sausage, pepper and garlic potatos, homemade chunky applesauce and fresh fruit. Yes, it costs $7, but your savings come with the lack of grease!
For lunch, they offer several different types of sandwiches including an awesome turkey arugla panini with a pesto alioli, french dip, several salads, daily chicken noodle and cheese soup, etc. etc etc!!
They even offer dinner (which I have not attended) but the menu looks fantastic. From chicken marsala to steaks, and they even offer gluten free noodles!
Menu is a bit pricey for breakfast, but lunch and dinner seem reasonable.
Oh, and did I mention the COFFEE! They put fresh cinnamon in the freshly ground beans. Oh bliss!
$-breakfast and lunch
$$-dinner
total satisfaction- 9.5
Thursday, April 1, 2010
D'Amatos, Royal Oak
Ooo, la la. This restaurant used to be awful, and received a bad reputation for a long time, however, a new exectutive chef has made his way into this restaurant and re-created the lovely atmosphere to pair with the kitchen.
First off, this is a fantastic atmosphere for dates, meetings, large groups, pre-cocktail hour. The restaurant is attached to Goodnight Gracies, and if you're there Thursday-Saturday-you will feel the vibe of the jazz club next door. If you are in the mood to eat-I suggest you induldge. When the new chef came to D'Amatos, he created a pairings menu, at $40/person to sample his new creations, along with pairings of wine. My date and I tried this menu...and were blown away. We noticed in times since, that many of the items on the sample menu have been adopted to the present menu.
I personally like to rotate my favorite 2 dishes everytime I attend D'Amatos. The fire roasted gnocci with shrimp, pancetta, sweet peas, squash, and a red pepper cream sauce. Light, filling, tasty, and an explosion of beautiful flavors in your mouth of salty, sweet, crunchy, bitter, and creamy. If I need a warm-filled stomach for a night of drinking-I prefer the beef tenderloin with gorgonzola macaroni and cheese. Need I say more? My date rotates between the specials of the day-always a wide variety of fresh fish, steaks, and chicken. Last visit, he had mahi-korean style, with a poached egg on top. I aboslutely LOVE when chefs do not have fear-and create dishes based on such common foods that we often forget exist.
In all, you will recieve great service, great food, good wine, excellent pours from the bar, and a knowledgeable staff, and a kitchen that is willing to please.
And don't forget-they also serve an awesome brunch on Sunday mornings with pleasant live entertainment. Ladies-start your night out here, meander to Gracie's and set out on the town!
$$$ satisfaction score 9.25
First off, this is a fantastic atmosphere for dates, meetings, large groups, pre-cocktail hour. The restaurant is attached to Goodnight Gracies, and if you're there Thursday-Saturday-you will feel the vibe of the jazz club next door. If you are in the mood to eat-I suggest you induldge. When the new chef came to D'Amatos, he created a pairings menu, at $40/person to sample his new creations, along with pairings of wine. My date and I tried this menu...and were blown away. We noticed in times since, that many of the items on the sample menu have been adopted to the present menu.
I personally like to rotate my favorite 2 dishes everytime I attend D'Amatos. The fire roasted gnocci with shrimp, pancetta, sweet peas, squash, and a red pepper cream sauce. Light, filling, tasty, and an explosion of beautiful flavors in your mouth of salty, sweet, crunchy, bitter, and creamy. If I need a warm-filled stomach for a night of drinking-I prefer the beef tenderloin with gorgonzola macaroni and cheese. Need I say more? My date rotates between the specials of the day-always a wide variety of fresh fish, steaks, and chicken. Last visit, he had mahi-korean style, with a poached egg on top. I aboslutely LOVE when chefs do not have fear-and create dishes based on such common foods that we often forget exist.
In all, you will recieve great service, great food, good wine, excellent pours from the bar, and a knowledgeable staff, and a kitchen that is willing to please.
And don't forget-they also serve an awesome brunch on Sunday mornings with pleasant live entertainment. Ladies-start your night out here, meander to Gracie's and set out on the town!
$$$ satisfaction score 9.25
Monday, March 29, 2010
Big Rock Chop House, Birmingham
Zip sauce, zip sauce. Honestly, it's about the only great thing about Big Rock. The atmosphere is candid, white tablecloths without the service to accompany. The menu has a great array of chops, steaks, game, poultry, and seafood. From the menu standpoint, along with the great cuts and quality of meat, (and the price point) this restaurant should be amazing. A decent variety of mini-meal sized appetizers make a great bonus to this menu. Where Big Rock loses me is with 2 major things.
1. I have, nor has any of my other table guests, ever received a steak prepared the way we have ordered it. If you have "chop house" on your restaurant's name, your chef's should know what medium-rare means.
2. White linen. The service is not white linen. It's not terrible, but when food is coming out on a tray, with steam tops, and sits in a corner 5 feet from your table until your server gets around the serving it-and doesn't remember who ordered what...perhaps you shouldn't have white linen.
I believe if Big Rock could create the atmosphere that reflects their service, became more educated in how to cook their steaks, and dropped their price point an average of $5/plate-it would be worth going to.
Luckily, they have a cigar lounge upstairs that will probably help keep them in business. Business meeting for appetizers, if you plan on ordering seafood rather than steak, the cigar lounge, the wine, and a wonderful longpour cocktail from the bar-this place has my vote. Dinner date or if you really enjoy a steak cooked the way you like it, I'd take a pass.
$$$$1/2 total satisfaction: 6.5
1. I have, nor has any of my other table guests, ever received a steak prepared the way we have ordered it. If you have "chop house" on your restaurant's name, your chef's should know what medium-rare means.
2. White linen. The service is not white linen. It's not terrible, but when food is coming out on a tray, with steam tops, and sits in a corner 5 feet from your table until your server gets around the serving it-and doesn't remember who ordered what...perhaps you shouldn't have white linen.
I believe if Big Rock could create the atmosphere that reflects their service, became more educated in how to cook their steaks, and dropped their price point an average of $5/plate-it would be worth going to.
Luckily, they have a cigar lounge upstairs that will probably help keep them in business. Business meeting for appetizers, if you plan on ordering seafood rather than steak, the cigar lounge, the wine, and a wonderful longpour cocktail from the bar-this place has my vote. Dinner date or if you really enjoy a steak cooked the way you like it, I'd take a pass.
$$$$1/2 total satisfaction: 6.5
Town Tavern, Royal Oak
If you are looking for a staple restaurant to go on a date, take out your in-laws, break bread with a girlfriend, or meet up for business-Town Tavern is the place to do it. It is quiet, yet energetic-and the food is consistent.
The menu offers only a few items-all slightly strange, like pork enchiladas, meatloaf and mashed potatos-but then is carried with 3 different steak choices and a la carte sides. They also have 3-5 fresh catch entrees from the sea that change daily. The chef does an amazing job of serving a creative variety of fishes along with great pairings of chutneys, marmalades, sauces, and light starches.
Last visit, we had the filet, always cooked properly and a variety of toppings and/or sauces to accompany. It comes with fresh asparagus, which is always cooked just right. I decided to try the pork enchiladas, which I actually would not recommend. They were cooked properly, and weren't horrible by any means, but it was bland, and it was not accompanied by anything. The service is always fantastic, and lets not forget the amazing garlic bread that comes before your meal!
Town Tavern offers several appetizers, a few salads, and again-the strange, yet small menu of several other choices like braised ribs and chicken, along with the a la carte steaks. Its a menu fit for the picky, and for a table of folks who some want steak, some want meatloaf, and the other wants fish.
The wine selection is fair, the bar area is more energetic than the restaurant, and is a great place to start a crawl of Royal Oak on a weekend evening.
$$$; total satisfaction 9.25
The menu offers only a few items-all slightly strange, like pork enchiladas, meatloaf and mashed potatos-but then is carried with 3 different steak choices and a la carte sides. They also have 3-5 fresh catch entrees from the sea that change daily. The chef does an amazing job of serving a creative variety of fishes along with great pairings of chutneys, marmalades, sauces, and light starches.
Last visit, we had the filet, always cooked properly and a variety of toppings and/or sauces to accompany. It comes with fresh asparagus, which is always cooked just right. I decided to try the pork enchiladas, which I actually would not recommend. They were cooked properly, and weren't horrible by any means, but it was bland, and it was not accompanied by anything. The service is always fantastic, and lets not forget the amazing garlic bread that comes before your meal!
Town Tavern offers several appetizers, a few salads, and again-the strange, yet small menu of several other choices like braised ribs and chicken, along with the a la carte steaks. Its a menu fit for the picky, and for a table of folks who some want steak, some want meatloaf, and the other wants fish.
The wine selection is fair, the bar area is more energetic than the restaurant, and is a great place to start a crawl of Royal Oak on a weekend evening.
$$$; total satisfaction 9.25
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Kyoto Steakhouse, Clawson
This restaurant took over the old french BooCoo. After almost 2 years of a beautiful space being empty, I was more than thrilled to have a restaurant take it's space. I was even more excited that it was a hibachi grill and sushi, as I love hibachi!
It was a Saturday evening, around 7:00, we called to make a reservation and were able to get in within 15 minutes. Although the hostesses seemed confused, we were taken to our table within 10 minutes of arrival. The place seemed incredibly slow for a Saturday. When taken back to the hibachi area, I was very impressed with how they converted the space. The tables can accomodate up to 25 people, with 2 grills a piece, so this restaurant would be fantastic for large groups. When we sat, we were promptly greeted by a server, and in typical hibachi style restaurants, getting a drink (including water) proved annoying. We had to keep flagging our server down for refills on water, and ordering more drinks from the bar. I don't let this issue get to me too much at hibachi style restaurants, as I have noticed-they are ALL like that! We noticed right away that the prices on the menu were an average of $6 cheaper/plate compared to other hibachi style like BeniHana or Katana. I also noticed that they had an ABUNDANT menu, including lunch. We started off with some tuna sashimi, in which we were incredibly satisfied with. It was very fresh, perfectly fatty, great portioned, and delicious! I ordered the filet and scallops, and my date ordered the filet with lobster. We started with the traditional miso soup, in which we commented lacked miso! Otherwise hot and filling. The traditional ginger salad tasted watered down and was missing the "zip" you typically get from the traditional salad. Our chef came out to treat us to a show, along with our food, and we were pleased. He had a ton of fun and had a ton of interaction with us. Our food turned out absolutely fantastic. Part of the fun the chef had with us was when he pulled out a large ketchup looking bottle, filled with saki, and began to squirt them in his guest's mouth while getting the table to begin counting how long of a pour they would receive. We personally did not partake in the saki, as we don't like saki...however, it was a fun spectacle, and I would recommend going here if you like saki! I also want to note that by time we left, around 9:00ish, the place was jam packed. I was happy to see that a place with such potential was being used and enjoyed.
$$$; total satisfaction score 7.75
It was a Saturday evening, around 7:00, we called to make a reservation and were able to get in within 15 minutes. Although the hostesses seemed confused, we were taken to our table within 10 minutes of arrival. The place seemed incredibly slow for a Saturday. When taken back to the hibachi area, I was very impressed with how they converted the space. The tables can accomodate up to 25 people, with 2 grills a piece, so this restaurant would be fantastic for large groups. When we sat, we were promptly greeted by a server, and in typical hibachi style restaurants, getting a drink (including water) proved annoying. We had to keep flagging our server down for refills on water, and ordering more drinks from the bar. I don't let this issue get to me too much at hibachi style restaurants, as I have noticed-they are ALL like that! We noticed right away that the prices on the menu were an average of $6 cheaper/plate compared to other hibachi style like BeniHana or Katana. I also noticed that they had an ABUNDANT menu, including lunch. We started off with some tuna sashimi, in which we were incredibly satisfied with. It was very fresh, perfectly fatty, great portioned, and delicious! I ordered the filet and scallops, and my date ordered the filet with lobster. We started with the traditional miso soup, in which we commented lacked miso! Otherwise hot and filling. The traditional ginger salad tasted watered down and was missing the "zip" you typically get from the traditional salad. Our chef came out to treat us to a show, along with our food, and we were pleased. He had a ton of fun and had a ton of interaction with us. Our food turned out absolutely fantastic. Part of the fun the chef had with us was when he pulled out a large ketchup looking bottle, filled with saki, and began to squirt them in his guest's mouth while getting the table to begin counting how long of a pour they would receive. We personally did not partake in the saki, as we don't like saki...however, it was a fun spectacle, and I would recommend going here if you like saki! I also want to note that by time we left, around 9:00ish, the place was jam packed. I was happy to see that a place with such potential was being used and enjoyed.
$$$; total satisfaction score 7.75
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