Battle of the keyboards lures adults
to Mexican hot spot in Royal Oak.
Dining Around The D
R
oyal Oak's lively nightlife has got-
earth-toned shades, interspersed with thin
ten even livelier with the a ddition
bands of Brazilian cherry trim. For me,
of 526 Main and
the handsomely appointed room
its dueling pianos — a new
with its leather upholstery and
entertainment concept for
velvet drapery has an upscale
Metro Detroit.
1950s cocktail lounge vibe.
The Mexican-flavored
James Harvey, Tony Kasab
American bar-restaurant
and Jerry Jung, partners in both
and its upstairs twin, Tequila
restaurants and also owners of
Blue (featuring dinner and
Woody's Diner in Royal Oak and
DJ music), have been housed
Jameson's Irish Pub and Grill
since September in a build-
in Brighton, wanted 526 Main
ing at the southern end of
to offer "something [entertain-
Esther
its South Main Street block.
ing] for the professional, older
Allweiss
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
crowd that does not want to rub
Ingber
anchors the other corner.
shoulders with teenagers every
Contributing
Inside 526 Main, large plas-
time they go out for a night:' said
Writer
ma-screen TVs are mounted
manager Josh Baker.
above a grand piano-shaped
Dueling pianos is a largely
bar. They're the only decoration on the
interactive show, and the piano players
sandstone walls — rough layers of light,
play whatever songs are requested, usually
7:15
PM
8:15
PM
encouraged with a greenback. Players get
the diners at the table that requested a song
"to get on stage and join along with a tam-
bourine or cowbell or just a dance Baker
said. "Most of the time, this gets the place
roaring with laughter, and it just continues
on this way'
A rotating roster of professional piano
players, four each night, are typically flown
in from around the U.S. for the Thursday
through Saturday shows. More entertain-
ment happens Sundays and Tuesdays,
when jazzy singers, trios and quartets
perform from 8-11:30 p.m. Upcoming
are the Reefermen on March 4, the Vinyl
Underground on March 6, Thornetta Davis
on March 11 and the Sun Messengers on
March 18.
Meal portions are hearty at 526 Main,
as large at lunch as at dinner, staff assured
me, but for a few dollars less. One after-
noon, my dining companion enjoyed her
gigantic burrito, a popular choice, but
couldn't finish it. She needed to box up
half of it for later, and that was just fine.
Said Baker: "We are trying to endear a
large lunch client base with great value."
I went a little lighter for my lunch, try-
ing the lightly battered Chicken Milanese
"half sandwich" (plenty large!) on a
baguette. I found it to be crispy, not greasy,
with the right touch of mayo. With a
choice of soup or salad, I selected chicken
tortilla soup. It was tasty and not too spicy.
Fajitas would top the list of popular
entrees, said Baker, who also cites garlic
lime chicken, which is served with rice
and fresh, sauteed vegetables.
More menu choices include deep-dish
pizza, rib-eye and peppered steak, filet
mignon and Cajun-style grilled grouper.
Dinner entrees ($12-$24) come with the
house salad. Four larger salads are offered,
along with daily handcrafted soups. Baker
said a new menu would be introduced this
spring.
Tequila and bourbon are found among
the list of signature drinks at 526 Main,
which also offers special pricing during
"Happy Hour" for food items ($6 or less)
and alcohol, including $2 Stolichnaya
drinks and $3 craft draught beers. Those
hours are 3-7 p.m. weekdays, noon-6 p.m.
Saturdays and noon-9 p.m. Sundays. El
526 Main
Dueling Piano Bar
526 S. Main Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 591-9000
www.526main.com
$$ out of $$$$$
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