Royal Oak Dinner Suggestion?

[helloreplace]

A friend is visiting her family from out of town and we've decided the middle place for us to meet is Royal Oak. Neither of us are from here (I'm back in town after a 15 year absence, she's been living in London for 6 years). We'd like to go out for a nice sit down dinner, some place we can really talk, money isn't a big concern, but we're not

Comments

[kefair89]

Bastone, Inn Season, Pronto, Lily's Seafood

[cannibal]

Pronto has great food, but is a little less upscale, very friendly service, great desserts, it is the food side of a trendy gay bar.

Inn Season is probably the best vegetarian restaurant in town, although it isn't quite as good since they got PC and stopped serving fish. Their stuffed acorn squash, which appears as a not-frequent-enough special, is worth the price of admission.

[helloreplace]

so for overall experience, the general nice meal + nice time vote - Pronto or bastone? (yes, I re-asked)

[cannibal]

I don't know anything about Bastone. Lily's is great, but you said you didn't want seafood, which is pretty much all they have, so of the places I know I'd recommend Pronto if you want to be able to walk around Royal Oak. Comfort food, homemade macaronni & cheese, beef barley soup, turkey salad, salade nicoise, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.

Sweet Lorraine's if you want a nicer restaurant in that part of town, but not walking distance, baked brie, magret de canard (duck breast).

[iheartypsi]

I can't give a personal recommendation, but I have heard good things about Sangria - http://www.sangriaroyaloak.com/ and have been meaning to check it out, myself.

[kefair89]

oh man, i forgot about dangria (which isn't a good thing, since my brother's girlfriend works there) but the food is FANTASTIC.

[cannibal]

I disagree, the food is fantastic about one third of the time, mostly it is just passable. For tapas, there used to be a better place on Michigan Ave, and supposedly Small Plates downtown is better. The sangria actually isn't very good, much better in Mexicantown, which seems a bad sign since they named the place that.

[helloreplace]

thanks!

[dasfiregod]

I'd second the motion for Bastone (Belgian), and I've been meaning to try Sangria as well, but from what I understand Sangria is more of a tapas place - probably not quite what you are looking for...

There is also Little Tree for some pretty decent Pan-Asian food.

You will likely want to stay away from the really highly overrated Andiamo's and/or D'amato's as the Detroit take on Italian is twisted - I just so don't get that...

[cannibal]

I haven't heard of Bastone... shouldn't it be spelled Bastogne, if it's named after the place in Belgium?

I have tried Sangria several times, really hit or miss, wouldn't recommend it. People keep telling me to try Small Plates downtown by Orchestra Hall, but it is always packed when I try to go there.

I agree about Andiamo's, it seems like a mediocre franchise chain that is trying to be upscale. Tried it once, would never go back.

[dasfiregod]

one would think, but Bastone it is... http://www.michiganmenu.com/bastone.html

I've heard similar things about Small Plates, I've been hearing good things consistantly for a few years now, ever since moving downtown, but I've yet to try it, we are just not that into the whole Tapas thing.

Andiamo IS a mediocre franchise posing as upscale Italian, and sadly its really very typical of Italian places in Detroit. Its like a half step away from the checkered tablecloth, wicker basket Chianti, disgusting plate o' noodles and sauce steriotype that most every "good" (at least all the places people say are good) Italian places around here seem to embrace...

[grvs4104]

Small Plates is great.... been there now about 3 or 4 times... best to go with a group of people though, because then you can try everything, the portions are quite small (hence the name, duh :)) so you end up ordering 3-4 items off the menu... tends to get a bit pricey...

I really enjoyed Andiamo's, I had excellent service there, and was even greeted by the chef... i think it just depends on when you go... I had roasted leg of lamb there which was amazing...

Another good place... Oxford Inn.... good food, nice relaxed atmosphere.

[cannibal]

Not exactly in Royal Oak per se, but the best restaurant in that part of town for a sit down dinner is Sweet Lorraine's, 29101 Greenfield Rd, right at the corner of 12 mile.

[bagira]

+1, I'll second that.

[bagira]

I've only been to Bastone once--it had excellent food, decent service, but MAN was it horribly loud.