Growing up in Royal Oak my entire life always made me think that Royal Oak, Mich. was the most boring city in the country. But now, after living in Mt. Pleasant for three years it has made me appreciate the variety of activities downtown Royal Oak offers.

There are restaurants for everyone; there is even vegan restaurant, Café Muse that Esquire magazine said has “the best sandwiches in America.” Costing a whopping $8.50 they quite possibly have best breakfast that I have had, stuffed French toast with mascarpone and a five spiced pear nage.

For those of you meat and grease lovers, such as myself, there is a small hole-in-the-wall diner-style restaurant called Comet Burger. Voted with the best malts of 2002, malts are just the beginning of their menu. With all entrées being under $10 it is easy for the monster burger to win over hearts, and stomachs of all Royal Oak-ers. It is a huge burger that is grilled right in front of you topped with sautéed onions, pickles and cheese. It is more than just a burger; it’s the Monster burger.

Bars are main attraction to the downtown area also.  Tom’s Oyster Bar is located directly on Main Street and has a very relaxed atmosphere. Tom’s serves absolutely delicious food during the day but come nightfall, it is cool and calm. If the laid-back atmosphere of Tom’s is not what you are into, then BlackFinn will be the perfect fit for you. Newly added to the Royal Oak scene it has been a hit from the beginning with loud music, cheap burgers, and even cheaper drink specials. It really makes you feel like you have entered a classy New York club.

Now, if sports, beer, t-shirts and jeans are more your style, then Woody’s is the place to be. With a roof-top bar and plenty of televisions (so every possible sports game can be on) it is a fun atmosphere with plenty of drink specials.

Looking for the newest fashion hits? Burn Rubber is a newer shoe store that is located downtown. Burn rubber always has the newest sneakers and accessories. Incognito is also a place to shop. With its interesting styles for both men and women you can always find something to wear at Incognito.

If you are looking for something to wear for the night on the town, then Shapes is your best bet. With this very small store comes big spending. Known for having the best and one-of-a-kind dresses and tops, you feel like a queen when you walk through the double doors. If you don’t have extra money to spend on clothes, check out Pitaya. It is a hip and trendy store that is known for its quality and simplistic style of clothes at a very low cost. With only 16 stores in the entire U.S., Pitaya is starting to expand to college cities.

Saloons, spas and plenty of art galleries make Royal Oak the whole package. Also, within walking distance from Woodward Ave., where the Woodward Cruise is held annually, there really is something for everyone in Royal Oak. 

By Brittany Lasley

Comments(1):

1. This article needs some serious editing.

   Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Mike