Thursday, July 7, 2011
Bakery serves sweet treats including cupcakes, cookies and macaroons.
Walking into cup.cake, I was greeted by owner and self-proclaimed frosting maker Eva Watt. Her passion for yummy baked goods is evident. She lights up talking about cupcakes, macaroons, cookies, muffins and even awesome, locally roasted Chazzano coffee. But you're not going to cup.cake for coffee. You want unadulterated sweetness. Cupcakes. Macaroons. Cookies. Let's start with the namesake. Of the five cupcakes sampled, the blueberry lemon stood out. Sweet, plump blueberries set in a delicate lemon cupcake. Tart and sweet balance each other well. Sometimes cupcakes suffer from being too sweet – this was not a problem with the lemon blueberry. Other notable winners: Orange and carrot cake, cup.cake's most popular flavor, according to Watt. …
42.517382
-83.164822
3202 Crooks Rd, Royal Oak, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-cupcake
/locations/4838194
Thursday, March 31, 2011
This week's Bites Nearby takes us to what crêpe, Royal Oak's only creperie.
what crêpe? is the brainchild of Paul Jenkins Jr. With no previous restaurant experience, Jenkins opened the eatery after a memorable crepe experience in Toronto. Since opening, what crêpe? has expanded once with a second expansion on the horizon. Jenkins was recently granted a bistro license by Royal Oak, which allows him to serve alcohol, so cocktails and craft beers are available for sipping with, before or after crêpes. Crêpes are more than enough for a normal appetite. If you are dining with another person, one savory and one sweet crêpe would be a perfectly satisfying meal. Recommended dishes: Signature Ribeye Truffle, The Italian, The Revolution, Nutty Monkey, What Crispies with Black Pepper Crusted Ahi Tuna, Asian Vegetable …
42.48756
-83.146589
What Crepe?
317 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-what-crepe
710684
/locations/3852181
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Salads, sandwiches, burgers and daily specials make this downtown Birmingham spot more than a routine place.
A hit since it opened in September, this Ron Rea-designed spot is tiny, but the space is used to full advantage from the bar tucked into a corner at the entrance, to the mirrored dining room that parallels the open kitchen. Founding family of Luxe Bar & Grill is the Bongiovanni clan, whose Salvatore Scallopini restaurants—one of which is a near neighbor of Luxe—are scattered through the local landscape. Luxe has a complete different approach, however with no pastas here. Menu standouts include sandwiches, salads and prime beef burgers in varieties including the house special with cheese, chopped lettuce, pickles and creamy white sauce on brioche; another combines haystack onions and blue cheese on an onion roll. At dinner time, there …
42.550838
-83.217709
525 N Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI
Luxe Bar & Grill
/articles/bites-nearby-luxe-bar-grill-3
/locations/3698548
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The bar and restaurant is not only a St. Patrick's Day party place, but also raising money for a great cause.
Calling itself Blackfinnegan's for St. Patrick's Day, the Main Street restaurant and bar BlackFinn boasts a full menu and green beer on St. Patrick's Day. BlackFinn is planning a special holiday breakfast titled, kegs and eggs from 11-11:30 a.m. The restaurant will also have a Blackfinnegan's menu and drink specials throughout the day, including smoked salmon, potato pancakes, cream of potato and leek soup and corned beef and cabbage. And for every Green Keg of Miller Lite sold, the Main Street destination will donate $30 to the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. And if Irish cuisine is not your thing, Blackfinn's regular menu includes specialty burgers, blackened chicken alfredo and fried chicken. Recommended dishes: BlackFinn …
42.486194
-83.144147
BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon
530 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-blackfinn-makes-a-great-irish-destination
710695
/locations/3720497
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Choose from the lunchtime buffet or many menu items.
Abdul Ullah has been preparing curries, tandoori dishes, birianis and other Indian fare since arriving here from Bangladesh in 1973. He's been involved in several Indian restaurants on this side of the river, including the original Moti Mahal on Main Street (now Tom's Oyster Bar), as well as in Windsor. Last year, he came back to Royal Oak to re-establish Moti Mahal, this time on Washington Avenue. The storefront space has been completely renovated, with comfortable padded-back chairs pulled up to linen-covered tables, white china, gleaming cutlery and carpeting. The aroma of freshly ground spices and naan, the puffy bread, fresh from the oven, permeates the space. Like Indian restaurants everywhere, there is a lunchtime buffet that …
42.48682
-83.14658
Moti Mahal
411 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-moti-mahal
1669554
/locations/3638700
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Royal Oak eatery's signature paella plus long list of hot and cold tapas round out pleasing menu.
Sangria Tapas Cafe has been dishing up the tastes of Spain in colorful space done up with Picasso-esque paintings across the street from the Royal Oak Music Theatre since 1999. There's a remarkable continuity here. The list of hot and cold tapas is virtually the same as it was when proprietor Luigi Cutraro brought over a chef from Spain to set up the menu that also includes paella, the made-to-order saffron-scented rice and seafood dish. Paella is served in the two-handled pan in which it is cooked, a beautiful and aromatic presentation, and variations range from the classic seafood and vegetables in fish broth, to chicken, pork, vegetables simmered with chicken broth, and a third that combines all of the ingredients. There's also a …
42.48718
-83.147803
Sangria
401 S Lafayette Ave, Royal Oak, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-sangria-tapas-cafe
709130
/locations/3491989
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Romantic bistro in downtown Royal Oak serves up hand-crafted contemporary American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Among the handful of upscale restaurants ambitious enough to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, this well-run spot is a place for those who appreciate hand-crafted contemporary American fare. Whether it's cinnamon raisin French toast or vanilla bean waffles early in the day, creative sandwiches at lunch or pan-seared scallops in the evening, Cafe Muse does it well. Chef/proprietor Greg Reyner and his partner, David Smith, have put together an attractive setting of sponge-painted walls, decorative woodwork and glass under the original tin ceiling in the 65-seat room. At dinner time Wednesday through Saturday, the atmosphere becomes softer and more appealing because the lunchtime crowd is gone and the sound level is more conducive to …
42.487068
-83.146584
Cafe Muse
418 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-cafe-muse
710584
/locations/3333407
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Dry rubbed and smoked, sandwiches, sides and sauces delight in downtown Royal Oak.
Lockhart's BBQ was named not for the proprietors, but for the town in Texas that is famous for its smoked meats. In the few months since it opened in its sturdy free-standing building, it has been attracting a crowd to its wooden tables set around an open kitchen. Dry-rubbed pork and beef ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork and chicken, all smoked over Michigan oak and hickory in a smoker imported from Texas, headlines the menu. There is also a worthy supporting cast of choices including a version of shepherd's pie topped with macaroni and cheese instead of mashed potatoes and a long list of sandwiches. A choice of two sides is chosen from a list of 14. Four housemade barbecue sauces are on the tables and so is a jar of pickles – a nice …
42.488141
-83.142996
Lockhart's BBQ
202 E 3rd St, Royal Oak, MI
/articles/bites-nearby-lockharts-bbq
1651958
/locations/3266866
