J's Penalty Box

•$

Overall this is a really good spot. In the best way possible, it feels out of place in Royal Oak…read more While everything else is overly trendy, this place just continues to b proudly be what it is...a a really good dive bar! Bartenders are very quick and drinks are very strong. Great spot to post up for a while and just chill with your buddies.

This place is racist!! Terrible experience I was accused of my ID not "looking like me" by the…read morebartender and was scrutinized about a second form of ID as if I were at the bank. Also im 25 my ID was real and the entire situation made me uncomfortable I won't be returning behavior like this is so sad to see in 2026 do better!

See all

Bar

HopCat

3.7(84 reviews)

The ambience and service of the place was very nice. Very cool place to have a social setting…read more The food was delicious, we ordered a meowgarita and it was very sweet. Elote Queso with chips was very good. Grilled cheese with the tomato soup was great. The burger was filling. The Vegi quesadilla had good flavors, the chips were either stale or not cooked all the way but still good to munch on. The chicken sandwich was massive and had good spice. Overall good experience and would come here again to try other items.

Went to HopCat with my family during brunch. I have three kids 8 and under and I was super…read moreimpressed with the wait staff. They were quick with the food and drinks. Food is always delicious. I really enjoy their Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. My kids loved their pretzel nuggets and Mac & cheese in addition to the Cosmic fries. They have so many TVs you can watch whatever sports games are on. Music wasn't too loud, so we were able to each other talk, which was nice.

Chicken nachos with NO CHEESE!

See all

Oberon

The Royal Oak Brewery

3.7(438 reviews)

Very friendly staff that take care of you. Good food. We did…read moreadd hamburger to the nachos for $4.50 extra and we didn't think it was worth it. Not that much meat. Everything else was good. Busy in the restaurant. There are tables and high tops. We sat at the bar. The fish and chips was a different day for lunch. $12 which includes a beer if you received their email promotion.

I really want to update my review. I went to the Royal Oak Brewery on mother's Day after brunch…read more The place was still fairly full with large tables of people. There was only two of us we set up near the bar at a high top. We were greeted by Erin, still with a smile but obviously she had been working extremely hard that day. She grabbed our beers and gave us a chance to take a look at the menu. When she came back, she told us up front that the kitchen was about an hour behind, and asked if we still wanted to order. I find this to be such an attribute to her being a server. I wanted to give a shout out to her because otherwise I would have probably been upset if she just kept making excuses. By her being up front, it made my experience at this restaurant so much better. Honesty is everything when it comes to service and she exceeded our expectations. She kept checking on us making sure that we were okay? It was totally understandable being mother's Day. Our food came and I tried the Korean turkey burger for the very first time and I'll tell you it was outstanding. I do not give five stars very often but all in all my experience with the staff, and the food. The five stars is well deserved.

Cheesesteak

See all

Patio, yayyyy.

The Rock On Third

3.2(149 reviews)

I've been in several times before comedy shows at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle. I'm no regular by…read moreany means but the service at the bar has always been prompt and friendly. For a Royal Oak bar, prices are very reasonable for drinks and food. It's a fairly large place and can usually accommodate a group in the early evening, though that might be tougher as the night goes on. I normally just go with my husband and we find spots at the bar. It's a clean enough place with a decent bar food menu and good prices. In RO, that's about the best you can ask for.

I've been coming here for over 20 years and still love it. Cold beer and good chicken strips. I…read morehad their chicken noodle soup today and it did not disappoint. Come check them out.

I stopped by and got their $8 Lavaburger week special. Good but almost Too much cheese for me

See all

The Rock on 3rd

Fifth Avenue

2.5(290 reviews)

Food, service, bouncers, security, and music is always exceptional and great time for all! Will be…read morea continued patron.

There are two sides to Fifth Ave but..Let me rave about this special! Wednesdays you need to be at…read moreFifth Ave, not only do they have an incredible patio but on Wednesdays you get a smash burger and a bottle beer for $5. You cannot beat this special. Add a massive order of fries for $3. My new go to place on Wednesday!

Enjoy Royal Oak's Best Patio!

Weekend Nights Upstairs!

See all

Smashburger

Jim Brady's

3.8(641 reviews)

1.4 mi

A good place to enjoy an evening dinner. When weather is nice out there is open air dining…read more Waitstaff was attentive. Food was pleasant. Atmosphere is retro.

Came here for a quick lunch and was met with exceptional service and hospitality. Have been here in…read morethe past for dinner (birthdays and events) and it can definitely get busy! Our food came out quick and first couple bites were good. Only thing bad about the sandwiches/burgers were that they fell completely apart after a couple bites.

Dining

The colonel

See all

Ale Mary's Beer Hall

3.6(778 reviews)

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!

Very tiny you will bump into everyone.

Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Shake

See all

Blind Owl Royal Oak

3.4(99 reviews)

A fun sports bar in downtown Royal Oak, with more than the Stereotypical choices…read more They do have a curated cocktail list. I enjoyed both of the beverages I chose. I also really liked the Street taco options, with multiple choices available for vegetarians. Service was friendly and prompt. They were able to handle our group of Tene, that was split between two tables quite slowly. A good place to take a family or other large group.

Average food. Was there this past weekend celebrating a friend's birthday. The service was good…read morebut surprised to see a "credit card" service fee added to my receipt. A bit of a surprise. First time for a restaurant. They automatically added a gratuity for the large party which was fine. I've had the Mexican food there and this time I decided to try the sushi. I should have stuck to the Mexican. I think the menu needs to be simplified.

Spicy shrimp tempura roll

See all

Ye Olde Saloon

4.0(157 reviews)

1.5 mi

•$

Ye Olde Saloon is an absolute Royal Oak classic. This place has been around since 1975--I was five…read moreyears old when it opened--and it's still going strong for a reason. Incredible burgers, great drinks, and that perfect old-school dive bar vibe you just can't fake. It's the kind of place that feels comfortable the second you walk in. The atmosphere is always solid, and the staff is amazing--friendly, attentive, and clearly proud of the place. Whether you're grabbing a burger, having a few drinks, or just soaking in the history, Ye Olde Saloon never disappoints. If you're in downtown Royal Oak and haven't been here, you're seriously missing out.

Food was way off tonight. Came in with my girl for a couple burgers and fries. No biggie, or so I…read morethought. Both mine and my ladiy's burger were ordered medium rare; what we received resembled two NHL hockey pucks, only slightly warmer on a sloppy, sogggy bun. UNEDIBLE. Gross. We showed the barkeep and she agreed to have th re-made. Fast forward another 20 minutes and they were over-cooked again. I haven't experienced this here ever before. Something seemed off. Caitlyn, the barkeep took care of our drinks for the inconvenience. Upon leaving, I saw the "cook" outside smoking a cigarette and sipping off a flask. I love this place, but if your kitchen staff can't hold it together, maybe it's time to look at other options. Thanks to Caitlyn for being as accommodating as possible. Next time I'll order something no-brainer, like some tatertots.

Shoe string flies

See all

Mesa Tacos and Tequila

3.1(666 reviews)

Jacob!!!! Thats me screaming his name because he was the absolute best lol!!! This pass Saturday…read morewas my fist time coming and he made the experience worth it. He gave great recommendations for my food, since it was dark at my booth he moved the candle over to help some lol and since I didn't want to pick a drink, he made the decision for me and it was delicious! He even had me laughing and smiling. His energy and insight is the reason I will be coming back!! Give that man a raise

I had a great time at Mesa. Went in for Taco Tuesday, the food was fantastic and Bella, our server,…read morewas awesome. Got our orders just right, always checked in to make sure everything was good and was very pleasant and easy to talk to. Will definitely be going back. 10 stars out of 5!!