Royal Oak: F

or years, the only thing piercing the sky in Royal Oak was the painted
water tower marking the flora and fauna of the Detroit Zoological
Park. And technically, it's not even in the heart of town.

Today, though, it's a bird of a different sort – construction cranes, that is
– assembling a host of soft loft buildings and condominium towers creating,
for the first time, a true skyline.

S ta ff p ho tos by Ang ie Ba an

So it's only natural, then, that what's happening closer to the ground is
also evolving, what with new shops and restaurants mingling effortlessly
with longtime favorites.

Opting to break bread in Royal Oak
poses one great challenge: there are so
many choices. The indecisive have been
warned.
On the east side of Main Street, just
south of Eleven Mile, Beirut Palace (105
S. Main, 248-399-4600) tempts with fla-
vors of the Levant, as well as the convivi-
ality of sharing a post-meal water pipe
with friends on its popular patio.
Consider this block of Main Street
a modern Silk Road as you trade your
tabbouleh for tempura and the like at
Katana Nu-Asian Steakhouse (111 S.
Main, 248-591-9900) or sushi at Little
Tree (107 S. Main, 248-586-0994).

Also calling this swath of Main Street
home is the come-as-you-are Comet
Burger (207 S. Main, 248-414-4567) for
"sliders:' and the well-heeled ambiance
of Andiamo Osteria (129 S. Main,
248-582-9300).

Across the street, the barbecue and
live entertainment at Memphis Smoke
(100 S. Main, 248-543-4300) still draws
large crowds, while the vibe is much more
soothing next door at Sweetwater's (106
S. Main, 248-582-0518), where the coffee

and tea hit the spot every time.
Rounding out the mix, Monterrey
Cantina (312 S. Main, 248-545-1940)
spices things up with its upbeat approach
to south-of-the-border cuisine, and Tom's
Oyster Bar (318 S. Main, 248-541-1186)
consistantly satisfies with its daily
fresh catch and raw bar.
Book-ending Main Street on
the south is a relatively new trio
of restaurants similar in spirit, but
divergent in taste. The twice-fried frites,
creamiest of creamy macaroni and cheese,
steamed mussels and other toothsome
fare, as well as rustically modern decor at
Bastone (419 S. Main, 248-544-6250) was
inspired by the classic Belgian brasserie.

Sharing a roof and housemade beers,
the adjacent Café Habana (421 S. Main,
248-544-6225) offers a taste of that
off-limits island. The pressed ham sand-
wiches are a must, as is the addictive chi-
michurri sauce, washed down with a cold
Cervasa: housemade blonde ale with chili
pepper and lime.
And flanking Bastone on the north is
the sophisticatedly appointed wine bar
Vinotecca (417 S. Main, 248-544-6256).
Indeed, as Main Street's "restau-
rant row" attracts most of the crowds
— and motorcycles — nearby streets
shouldn't be ignored. A few blocks west

ROYAL OAK ON PAGE 44

OCTOBER 2006

43

