Royal Oak:Main

is Oakland County suburb is
decidedly more urban than its
more bucolic neighbors to the
north. The city's downtown is
buzzing with crowds of construction
workers - new loft buildings are
gobbling up every available piece of
property - and hordes of merrymak-
ers sampling flavors and fingering
wares from a veritable bazaar.

DINING

From downscale to upper crust,
appetites are soothed inj Royal Oak
like no place else in the region.
On the east side of Main Street,
just south of Eleven Mile, are stal-
wart Beirut Palace (105 S. Main,
248-399-4600), newcomer Katana
Nu-Asian Steakhouse (111 S. Main,
248 591 9900), Little Tree for sushi
(107 S. Main, 248-586-0994), Comet
Burger (207 S. Main, 248-414-4567)
for "sliders," the boisterous Mr. B's
Pub (215 S. Main, 248-399-0017),
and the big-city ambiance of
Andiamo Osteria (129 S. Main, 248-
582-9300).
Across the street, Memphis
Smoke (100 S. Main, 248-543-4300)
packs them in for barbecue,
Sweetwater's (106 S. Main, 248-582-
0518) tempts with something, well,
sweet, Monterrey Cantina (312 S.
Main, 248-545-1940) spices things
up with it's upbeat approach to
south of the border cuisine, and
Tom's Oyster Bar (318 S. Main, 248-
541-1186) satisfies with its daily
fresh catch and raw bar.
Anchoring the southern end of
Main Street, just north of those
notorious train tracks, is a trio of
restaurants similar in spirit but diver-
gent in taste. Bastone (419 S. Main,
248-544-6250) serves up traditional
brasserie favorites like mussels and
irresistible housemade French fries
with indulgent housemade dipping
sauces, while its neighbor, Cafe
Habana (421 S. Main, 248-544-
6225) brings the flavors of Cuba -
the pressed sandwiches are a must -

-

-

Street & Eleven Mile

to town. Flanking Bastone on the
north is the wine bar Vinotecca
(417 S. Main, 248-544-6256), proba-
bly the most chic and sophisticated
spot to open in these parts in years.
And longtime Royal Oak favorite
BD's Mongolian Barbecue (248-
398-7755) recently headed south on
Main to larger digs in the new
Skylofts residential building.
Indeed, as Main Street's "restau-
rant row" garners most of the atten-
tion, other spots are worth explor-
ing, such as Lily's Seafood (410 S.
Washington, 248-591-5459), Sangria
(401 S. Lafayette, 248-543-1964) for
tapas, upscale Italian at Lepanto
(116 W. Fourth, 248-541-2228) and
D'Amato's (222 S. Sherman, 248-
584-7400), finely crafted beers and
toothsome fare at Royal Oak
Brewery (215 E. Fourth, 248-544-

1141), Pronto (608 S. Washington,
248-544-7900) for over-the-top sand-
wiches and baked goods, and what
is sure to be metro Detroit's only
Nepalese restaurant, Kathmandu
Chullo (411 S. Washington, 248-
546-7286).
Two other Royal Oak favorites are
the always consistent Peking House
(215 S. Washington, 248-545-2700),
and the ever ambitious Inn Season
vegetarian restaurant (500 E. Fourth,
248-547-7916).

SHOPPING

Few places, if any, rival the interest-
ing collection of — and aptly named
- stores and services in the down-
town district. Superior Fish (309 E.
11 Mile, 248-541-4632) is known
region-wide for its, dare it be said,

superior quality and selection; cigar
aficionados get their fix at Perfecto
Cigars and Espresso (302 S.
Washington, 248-336-2094); hobby-
ists rejoice at The Stamping
Grounds (228 W. Fourth, 248-543-
2190); Lost and Found Vintage
(208 W. 11 Mile, 248-548-6154)
proves one man's "junk" is another's
treasure; and the Uppity Puppy
(706 S. Washington, 248-336-2380)
gives pet owners license to splurge
on Fifi and Fido without raising an
eyebrow.
There's also neat-as-a-pin Rare
Old Prints (516 S. Washington, 248-
548-5588), so hushed you'll hear
that pin drop; Deco Doug (106 W.
Fourth, 248-547-3330) and his trove
of time-period artifacts; Footprints
(122 S. Main, 248-542-0901) for
casual, comfortable footwear; the
Lilliputian-sized Burn Rubber (202
W. Fourth, 248-543-3000) for the
coolest trainers for men and women;
and Write Impressions (310 W.
Fourth, 248-541-8921) and Sheets
(210 W. Sixth, 248-541-5630) for
wonderful collections of writing and
craft papers, cards, invitations and
accessories.
While it's true that apparel shop-
ping in Royal Oak has always been a
bit thin and weedy, it's gotten a
boost recently with the opening of
the junior-focused Pitaya (211 S.
Main, 248-545-6666), upscale denim
purveyor Chaud Jeans (914 S.
Washington, 248-399-3980), and of-
the-moment retailer American
Apparel (405 S. Washington, 248-
547-1904) for sublimely simple and
comfortable American-made T-shirts
and casual wear.
They join the more established
Incognito (323 S. Main, 248-548-
2980), known for its avant-garde,
iconic clothing and accessories for
men and women; the elegantly
moody women's clothier Milieu
(416 S. Washington, 248-542-9119);
Shapes (319 S. Main, 248-547-4990)
for frothy frocks; and the fetishist's

ROYAL OAK on page 32

MainStreets • October 20, 2005 • 31