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Johnny’s, An Underground
Speakeasy, Opens In Royal Oak
Johnny’s, an underground speakeasy located
in downtown Royal Oak, opened at 215 S.
Main Street on Saturday, July 28. The speak-
easy celebrated its opening weekend with
complimentary amuse-bouche, specialty
cocktails and signature Johnny’s speakeasy
lapel pins.
Johnny’s, an innovative speakeasy, will fea-
ture small plates, including herb-crusted fillet
mignon stuffed with chèvre, lump crab napo-
leon, lobster mac and cheese, vegan meat-
balls impossible and a craft cocktail menu.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time studying
market trends — good speakeasies are sought
after and followed, and we just don’t have
them in the Metro Detroit area,” said Johnny
Prepolec, owner of Johnny’s. “There is a cer-
tain sense of mystery, an allure, that you feel
as you enter a speakeasy. Johnny’s is going to
be a special place.”
Guests can enter the speakeasy through a
back staircase accessible only from an exte-
rior kitchen door in the back of the building,
with an entrance inside disguised as a cooler
door. Reservations are required and can be
made by texting (248) 794-1261 for a secret,
rotating code or by visiting www.
johnnysroyaloak.com.
The 1,500-square-foot space, which seats
up to 42 guests, features a long bar with an
additional 12 seats and A/V capabilities for
private party use.
Speakeasy hours are Wednesday-Saturday,
7 p.m.–1 a.m.
For additional information, visit www.
johnnysroyaloak.com. •
Vegan Coney Island Opens In Detroit
After a long wait, vegan coney island Chili
Mustard Onions opened this week at 3411
Brush St. in Brush Park.
Owner and chef Pete LaCombe plans to
serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as at any tra-
ditional coney island diner. He also obtained
a liquor license to serve vegan wine, beer and
spirits.
The small 30-seat diner offers meatless —
and mostly organic — versions of many coney
standards. There are coney dogs, chili cheese
fries, a version of the Hani, a gyro, a “beetball”
sub, a chicken parmesan sub, a “Big Mock,”
nachos, potato skins, fries, waffle fries, soft
serve ice cream, cheesecake and more.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Monday through Saturday, with plans to
extend hours later in the future. •
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August 2 • 2018
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