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
Sunday, April 25, 2010
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
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