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    Balam Coffee & Wine

    4.4 (10 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Balam Coffee & Wine Photos

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    Stephanie A.

    Cozy space for coffee, seems like a chill place to relax, chat or work. It's pretty small in the POS area and if it's busy like it was on Saturday morning, you kind of have to hang out in that space to hear your name called when your order is ready. Ordered a churro ice latte (they were out of cold foam) and an iced Mexican wedding cake latte. Both were good. There's a case for pastries and a grab and go cooler

    Kelly B.

    Decor is so cute and love the cozy seating- very comfortable. Muffins were really tasty. The banana coffee was tasty and they had decaf and non dairy milk options, but wish it had a little more banana flavor. Staff was friendly but they hadn't been open too long and they seemed a little overwhelmed, but I imagine this will improve once they've been open awhile and get the swing of things

    Coffee and empanadas. I must say I LOVE THEIR COFFEE CUPS. It has a lot of a character.
    Marissa C.

    I came here to do a little work and this is a really cute coffee shop. I got a coffee latte (it was pretty good) and they do have a nice variety of milk alternatives as well. I got their chorizo and beef empanadas and they were very well stuffed and quite delicious. Beware of the green pesto sauce as it has pine nuts. I did have to ask regarding allergies and was not prompted (my only critique). I did not try the wine here but would be interested in coming back to try it!

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    Torrie M.

    Absolutely loved Balam Coffee and the little secret tucked inside. They have a variety of light bites and desserts and amazing coffee and Matcha. Look closely and you might just find a secret.

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    Review Highlights - Balam Coffee & Wine

    I also tried the chorizo and beef empanadas and both were delicious and had the perfect consistency.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    D'Amato's - Fettuccine Alfredo with Blackened Salmon

    D'Amato's

    4.0(427 reviews)
    2.0 miDowntown Royal Oak
    $$

    This was our second date night at D'Amato's. The service was excellent. I'm pretty sure we had the…read moresame waitress last time, and she was great at checking in on us and making sure our glasses were full. The atmosphere of D'Amato's is nice. It's great for a casual date or a nice meal with friends. We started with the bread board which was alright. I think they described the bread as focaccia, so I was expecting a bread with more of a crunchy crust and the classic dimples on top. However, this bread was fluffy and soft, but it was still very good. I'm not sure if I would get it again since it felt like a bread board I could put together at home. I preferred the bruschetta we got last time. For my entree, I went with the chicken parm which was very good. The chicken was coated well and the sauce was delicious. Overall, this is a great spot for Italian food in Royal Oak, and we'll be back for future date nights.

    We visited D'Amato's Restaurant on Saturday, January 3rd at 7:00 PM, and unfortunately the…read moreexperience was largely disappointing. Our waitress, Yvette, was the highlight of the evening. She was kind, attentive, and professional throughout the meal. Sadly, her service was the only truly positive part of our visit. For my entrée, I ordered the gnocchi with Palameno sauce. The gnocchi itself tasted fresh and was well made; however, the sauce was overwhelmingly garlicky--so much so that it nearly made my eyes water. There was no real depth of flavor beyond the garlic, which made the dish unbalanced and unpleasant. My husband ordered the homemade ravioli stuffed with portobello mushrooms, which was genuinely good and the best dish we had that night. That said, both entrées arrived completely on their own--no sides, no garnish, and not even freshly shaved or grated parmesan offered at the table. We were surprised to learn that everything was à la carte, yet this was not clearly outlined anywhere. Even basic side salads cost $6 for very small portions, and the entrée portions themselves were quite small for the price. We also ordered the $8 bread board, which was honestly baffling. The bread was cold instead of warm and served with low-quality oil, vinegar, and very subpar parmesan (comparable to grocery-store brand), all placed in tiny separate cups with no herbs, seasoning, or explanation. It wasn't mixed or presented in a way that made sense--frankly, we weren't sure what we were supposed to do with it. The calamari appetizer tasted good, but the portion was so small it wasn't shareable, which defeats the purpose of an appetizer. The drinks were awful. My husband's soda tasted flat, and we wondered if the soda gun was dirty. There was virtually no liquor in either cocktail--mine tasted watered down and unpleasant, almost like river water. To make matters worse, the limes were dry and visibly brown. Overall, the entire experience was a 3 out of 10, and that rating is solely due to the excellent service provided by our waitress, Yvette. Unfortunately, between the underwhelming food, confusing and poorly communicated à la carte pricing, very small portions, subpar drinks, and lack of value for the cost, this restaurant did not meet even basic expectations. We will not be returning and cannot recommend D'Amato's to others s this restaurant's food was NOT elevated. For the prices charged, fine-dining restaurants should expect far better quality, execution, and overall dining experience. I have no idea how they stayed in business for over 28 years.

    Photos
    D'Amato's - Live music

    Live music

    D'Amato's - Honey - Peppered Angus Beef Brisket - Signature Dish and Penne Pasta with Mrs. P 's Palomino Sauce - Signature Dish

    Honey - Peppered Angus Beef Brisket - Signature Dish and Penne Pasta with Mrs. P 's Palomino Sauce - Signature Dish

    D'Amato's - April Spritz & Manhattan

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    April Spritz & Manhattan

    Ale Mary's Beer Hall - Vegan Chili Dogs

    Ale Mary's Beer Hall

    3.6(777 reviews)
    2.0 miDowntown Royal Oak
    $$

    Ale Mary's is one of those spots that just gets it. Super chill vibe, great energy, and when it's…read morenot freezing outside (Michigan problems ), the indoor/outdoor seating setup is perfect. It's an easy place to settle in, whether you're grabbing a drink, meeting friends, or easing into a weekend. I love that they have brunch now, and it's legit. The Dubai pancakes are a must--flavorful, indulgent, and straight-up beautiful. They also know how to properly scramble an egg, which sounds basic until you realize how many places mess that up. We eat with our eyes first, and the food here always looks as good as it tastes. The staff is consistently friendly and welcoming, which makes a big difference. Great drinks, great food, great vibes. Definitely a go-to spot in Royal Oak--and one I'm always happy to highlight as @DonnyLB on IG/TikTok. Check me out and check this place out.

    I went to Ale Mary's for their Christmas pop up: Jingle, and it was the most festive holiday…read moreoutings I've had this season! The inside and outside was decorated head-to-toe in festive lights, ornaments, and wrapping paper. My party and I sat in their igloo outdoor seating which highlighted the festive atmosphere. The igloo seating was easy to book online on Open Table with a max seating of 6 people per igloo. The holiday drink menu for the Jingle pop up had a lot of range. I tried their Santa's Milk & Cookies holiday cocktail, which came in a festive Mrs. Claus' mug. The drink was VERY strong! I ordered the Crisper Chicken Sandwich which had a delicious pesto aioli and sun-dried tomato relish which elevated the sandwich. Yum! Between the decor, themed drinks, great food, and the fun atmosphere, this event was such a great way to kick off the holiday season. If you're thinking about checking out a holiday pop-up, Ale Mary's Jingle is absolutely worth it!

    Photos
    Ale Mary's Beer Hall - Very tiny you will bump into everyone.

    Very tiny you will bump into everyone.

    Ale Mary's Beer Hall - Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Shake

    Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Shake

    Ale Mary's Beer Hall

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    Alchemi

    Alchemi

    4.2(169 reviews)
    2.0 miDowntown Royal Oak
    $$$
    Romantic vibe
    Locally sourced ingredients

    5/16/25 I came here…read morewith the in-laws, Zach and his brother and wife for a 5PM reservation. They were just opening up, but they let us sit at the bar while they got the restaurant ready for dinner. We all got drinks at the bar. I got The Final Rose drink. its's very pretty and not too strong. After sipping on the drinks, the host brought us to our table. Chris was our server that day. He was super friendly and answered all of our questions regarding the menu. Here's what we got: - Michigan lamb ragu (his) - Lobster and shrimp pad thai (mine) - Crab and shrimp cakes (share) - clam chowder (share) His family got some of the same items, but I can't remember the different items they got. The overall consensus though was that everything tasted fantastic. Coming from the Bay Area, I have high expectations when it comes to Asian food, so I was pleasantly surprised by how great the pad thai tasted. The clam chowder was creamy and delightful. The crab cakes were the perfect size and not teeny tiny. The lamb ragu was very well done also and my husband is a big fan of lamb so he really enjoyed his meal. Since we were there early, it was quiet which was nice. Would definitely return in the future the next time I am in Michigan.

    ---the ambience is 10/10 --music is not too loud & blends into the background as it should ---and…read morenot insultingly used as distraction from whatever mess a low IQ owner who'd employ such a beastly tactic by sensory overloading you into hallucinating an edible meal -- --It's a good sign whenever the order takes time b4 landing on ur table-- even when there's table availability---it signals to me that the food is being made with care & attention---

    Photos
    Alchemi - Steak

    Steak

    Alchemi
    Alchemi - Shrimp

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    Shrimp

    Trattoria Da Luigi - Bruschetta

    Trattoria Da Luigi

    3.6(298 reviews)
    1.9 miDowntown Royal Oak
    $$

    We walked by Trattoria Da Luigi a few times before and noticed it was always packed, so we decided…read moreto make a reservation. We had to wait a short bit before getting seated, even with a reservation, and there was very little space to wait without getting in the way. However, service was excellent, and our table was cleared as quickly as possible to get us seated. Our server introduced himself quickly and read us all of the specials with the prices as well. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He also checked up on us frequently and made sure we were doing well. I got an aperol spritz which was nice and refreshing. The starter bread was very soft and warm. We split of one of the specials (arancini alla norma) which was excellent. We also got the insalata mista which was exactly what you would expect. It was a pretty small portion, but otherwise, there was not much to note. I got a rigatoni alla norma for my main. The tomato sauce was excellent. It was acidic and vibrant which complemented the roasted eggplant and cheese very well. I also had a bite of the rigatoni alla vodka which I would totally order next time. It was a great pick for someone who wants something with a little more kick to it. Overall, I think this restaurant was solid, and I would return. The environment was a bit loud and chaotic, but it was very cozy and family friendly. This is a great spot for those looking for a classic Italian American eatery.

    My family and I went here on Valentine's Day. We had a…read morewonderful waitress. It didn't take a particularly long time for the food to come out, however the members of our group that ordered salmon did mention that it was terribly overcooked. I, personally, got the vodka pasta, which was absolutely divine. It is definitely a pricey place, so it's disappointing not everyone enjoyed their food. One other thing I want to note, if you have a big group, maybe look for some other place to eat. They really squeezed me and my family in-people kept running into the back of my chair, which was irritating, to say the least. Overall, It was very expensive for something average.

    Photos
    Trattoria Da Luigi - Introducing our delightful Apericena Happy Hour at Trattoria Da Luigi in Downtown Royal Oak!

    Introducing our delightful Apericena Happy Hour at Trattoria Da Luigi in Downtown Royal Oak!

    Trattoria Da Luigi - Bistecca di Calamari Californiani

    Bistecca di Calamari Californiani

    Trattoria Da Luigi - Diner room

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    Diner room

    Pearl's Deep Dive

    Pearl's Deep Dive

    3.9(101 reviews)
    2.1 miDowntown Royal Oak
    $$$

    What a fun little spot! The bar is has a super cool chandelier and they hand craft all their…read morecocktails. We sat at the bar and eta he'd the bartenders work their magic. They were experienced and knowledgeable. Our drinks tasted amazing! Fresh ingredients and full of flavor. We didn't order any food, but it looked great!

    Home from work today, I decided to try something from my collection to try…read more Sauntered into Pearls Deep Dive for an early dinner. Parking was no problem as I was lucky to find metered parking just steps away from the front door. I walked in immediately taken with the charming decor and darkly lit romantic vibes, which is my favorite esthetic for any restaurant. The seating at the bar was yummy, thick comfy seats. The bartender greeted me warmly. He was cool and I hate that I didn't ask his name. He was attentive and masterful with the spirits. He asked if it was my first time, which it was, and since so, made me a tasty "welcome" drink with gin that was fantastic. I also ordered "the panty snatcher" a concoction of vodka, grapefruit, St Germain, rose water and orange. It was amazing. I will definitely be back for drinks. The drink menu is quite tempting. I had the Corn, Corn, Corn dish, which is polenta and corn kernels topped with popcorn. Yes, super unique and interesting. I had to try it. The popcorn was so light and flavorful straight out of the kitchen, but became chewy as it sat atop the piping hot polenta. I really enjoyed it however. Next time I'll eat all the popcorn first. I also had lobster dumplings, which was good but the dish wasn't cooked through. The filling wasn't hot and the pasta was very under on some bites. I was the first customer for the evening, so I can forgive that faux pas. I really enjoyed myself and I will return time and time again to try everything. The menu offers many things I love. Great concept. Cool vibes.

    Photos
    Pearl's Deep Dive
    Pearl's Deep Dive - Welcome Cocktail...on the house!

    Welcome Cocktail...on the house!

    Pearl's Deep Dive - The Fortune Teller

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    The Fortune Teller

    Bohemia

    Bohemia

    2.8(25 reviews)
    2.1 miDowntown Royal Oak

    Bohemia was a kingdom in the Roman Empire, currently where we have the Czech Republic. However…read morethe restaurant has nothing to do with that region and the very limited menu skews Middle Eastern. You have to have guts to open a middle eastern restaurant in metro Detroit because we have some of the best Middle Eastern options in the US right around the corner. My ribeye kabob was a very small portion and came with an almost fresh undercooked tomato quarter, five chewy unsalted pieces of fatty meat and a cup of rice. We were there celebrating a birthday with twelve people. They informed us that they were not allowed to split the check or even take more than four cards and the four cards had to be evenly split. I understand restaurants do this but I don't understand why inconvenience their guests if they could just separate bills with required gratuity. With a mixture of couples and singles, splitting the bill with these rules is a huge hassle. After dinner we asked for the dessert menu, only to be told that they don't serve dessert nor do they have coffee or tea. No candles for the birthday boy. The waitress seemed bothered with every basic request and had zero desire to be helpful. The manager did come to our table at the very end and offer to bring dessert from Pinky's ( which they own upstairs) but it was too late, we had a show to catch.

    Walked up the the hostess stand. It didn't look too busy. Only a few tables filled outside and…read moreinside too. It looks cool inside, a big beautiful chandelier in the center. Thai engraved wood carvings on the one wall, reminds me of the many market artisan crafts in Thailand. There are lots of live plants everywhere too, even at the bar. We were seated quickly with menus. Not one person has come to our table for over 6 minutes. No water, no service, not even a staffer asking if anyone has waited on us yet. No inquiries whatsoever. Being seated is only the first part of decent service. Thinking we should have sat at the bar. The irksome part was I saw other tables with staff serving the other tables inside and outside too. We finally left after 10 minutes of waiting, no one was ever going to come to our table anytime soon.

    Photos
    Bohemia
    Bohemia - Garlic hummus, Laffa bread

    Garlic hummus, Laffa bread

    Bohemia - Bohemian Rhapsody cocktail

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    Bohemian Rhapsody cocktail

    Balam Coffee & Wine - coffee - Updated May 2026

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