Without a doubt, one of the most unique places, one will ever find in any of the known universes This is fine dining at its best The Royal eagle is connected to a Russian orthodox monastery and a staffed by volunteers who are just as delightful as can be All the proceeds go into the church and it's not cheap but it's some of the best courses you will ever have On a very short list of the most unique experiences in the Detroit Metro area or even the world (!). This ranks very high. You are surrounded by Russian orthodox art, and in the summertime lovely gardens This time when we went, it was Christmas time, and there was music played on the piano and delightful courses. Very time-consuming and very expensive, but it was heaven from start to finish. No alcohol is served, but you are allowed to bring wine, which can then be served at the table Do not miss it ! read more

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Royal Tea What a wonderful experience! The grounds and atmosphere are amazing. The music and dining area was fantastic and transported me to a peaceful place. There were 4 courses during the Royal Tea luncheon. I selected the Blackberry Bellini tea offering. Each participant received their own unique teapot and tea leaves. We started with soup, topped with beet sprouts. Next, we were given 6 different tea sandwiches. Some were sweet, others savory, and fresh! The Chicken Paprika with side salad was delicious. Everything was seasoned well. Finally, there were two desserts. One scone and a mini bundt chocolate dessert that was to LIVE for. Service was wonderful, thanks Bianca! There was one server, so patience was a must. Don't miss this experience! read more

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Royal Eagle is easily one of the most elaborate establishments I've dined at in the Metro Detroit area. Reservations should be booked well in advance, as the restaurant is only open on Thursday evenings. The grounds are beautiful, and the interior of the restaurant itself makes you feel like you went back in time. The Eastern European theme is apparent, as paintings, statues, and other decorations are scattered about. The staff is polite and professional, and their attire is in line with the overall theme. Although no alcohol is on the menu, you are able to bring your own wine. There is no corkage fee. Appetizer and entree portions are on the smaller side, but everything I tasted was top tier. My favorite entree, out of the four I tried, was the Chef's Wooden Block. The desserts were to die for, as well. Royal Eagle is an elite restaurant option based on its extravagance alone, and the food just makes it that much better. read more

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First of all , I was required to pay $10 per person for a 5 person reservation. When I asked our waitress about whether the $50could be credited to our bill I was told that my credit card would be credited within a week. I have been monitoring my charge card and to date there has not been a credit. This was one month ago. I left the restaurant 3 text messages and did not receive an answer to any of them. In addition I left two unanswered phone messages. I finally called my bank and disputed the $50 charge which they refunded me. All of this left a very bad taste in my mouth as you can imagine. Here is my review of the restaurant : charming ambience however OVERPRICED for what you get . Service was fine. The food was rather ordinary. We had been promised a gourmet experience; not how I would describe it. There was a nice soup and desert but again nothing memorable. I have no desire to ever return to the restaurant and definitely will not recommend to anyone. read more

Was realliy looking forward to this tea. Unfortunately it wasnt up to what I expected. For forty dollars per person you would expect at least good food. The service was fine, however the food left a lot to be desired. The sandwiches were very dry bread. They looked nothing like they advertised. The chicken was small and all dark meat. The desserts were the worse of all not at all like they pictured. The music the whole time was like gregorian chant. I asked could they change it. Nope can't do it. Will I go back? Not a chance. The waitress asked at the end was everything okay? Couldn't help myself I said the food was awful. She didnt even offer a compensation. Lesson learned! The ambience was ok. The worst afternoon tea ever. read more

Abysmal. Not only has the food quality dropped far below acceptable standards--the soup was lukewarm, the beef stroganof tasteless and overcooked, the desserts stale-- but THEY CHEATED ME OUT OF $120 by not telling me that the tip had been added to the bill. I emailed them as soon as I realized my total was over $700, and requested they refund the mistakenly added extra tip, and have heard nothing back. I have email several times, sent a message through their website, and called, all to no avail. SHAMEFUL AND SHADY BUSINESS PRACTICE FROM ANYONE, LET ALONE A "MONASTERY". Really teaching Christian values read more

Dusting off the keyboard, cracking these fingers and coming out of Yelp retirement specifically because of the experience I just had. It has been around twelve years since I wrote regularly. I choose to stop writing because I was actually working for a company that considered itself a competitor of Yelp, plus I got married, went for my masters, you know - lived life! Anyways - I am back - typing away! Anyways back to the Royal Eagle! I watched this a few years ago show called Under the Radar Michigan on, I think, PBS. They highlighted this place. It is much more than a restaurant. I always wanted to make it here. Being a Metro Detroit east sider for life, I was shocked I never heard of it. It is located in Harper Woods! Here I am in St Clair Shores and never heard about it! This place is a beautiful Monastery, located on a residential street in Harper Woods. The grounds are adorn with gardens, the buildings are ornamental and filled with detail and historic items. You walk up to this sprawling property with gardens and multiple buildings. It's interesting because there are typical ranch homes literally across the street. It's a little intimating arriving because you walk through the gate and notice the sign advising of no shorts, cell phones, bad language, gum etc. You follow the stone path to another smaller building on the property and arrive at the restaurant. As you open the door, you notice a small dining room, with two smaller rooms off to the side. Red chairs and lots of detailed and antique items around the room. Church music plays lightly in the background. Important to note that the restaurant is only open for dinner on Thursdays from 5-10pm. Very limited amount of tables - a reservation well in advance is required. You are allowed to bring wine with you, I do not believe there is full liquor license. I enjoyed that because my wine at home beats most restaurant wine by far. There is also no corking charge. I knew we planned on having beef so red wine it was - a fabulous Cab. I really, really, REALLY enjoyed myself. I loved the experience. It is a MUST to pay attention to the dress code posted online. Seriously - make sure you read it. No hemlines above the knee, no visible tats, piercings, nothing low cut, no jeans, no sandals, no exposed arms for female etc. I wore dress slacks, high cut blouse and a blazer with heels. Alrighty, if you have made it this far....drumroll...the FOOD! This is European / Russian food. The chef - Chef Petr is the mastermind behind the menu. Changing it often. Reading the website, you can clearly appreciate the love this chef has for food and preparing it. Embracing fresh and whole ingredients and has some cooking classes. We started with the Pelmeni Dumplings - Siberian dumplings, hand stuffed with chicken and beef with creme fraise. They were little nuggets of goodness that were true appetizers - got me ready to eat (as opposed to filling me up). 4 stars. Next up was our entrees, Beef Wellington for the birthday girl (me!) and Beef Stroganoff for the husband. Amazing!! Beef Wellington, was cooked perfectly, puff pastry perfectly fluffy and crispy. Beef stroganoff (of course I had a few bites, that's my job as a wife) was something to write home about - the sauce lingered onward in your mouth, revealing the layers of cream, butter, salt and onward. This was amazing. 6 stars out of 5 possible. Finally, dessert - we ordered two. The Napolean with a strawberry champagne type of mousse (I thought it was hazelnut, whatever it was - it was so so so good), the puff pastry, filling and perfect whipped topping were amazing. We also ordered the Lavendar Creme Brulee, topped with a honeycomb. The lavender was a little forthcoming for my taste, but the honeycomb was a royal treat. You know how when you order an appetizer, have a few glasses of wine, eat all of your entree AND get dessert - you are basically feeling like you are Violet on Willy Wonka and someone needs to get you down to the juice room before you explode? Shockingly, we did not have that miserable feeling, we felt nourished, content and thankful. Appropriate portions and fresh, real ingredients. Real cooking with real (not processed or cheap ingredients) food left us with a smile on our face and room in our waist! ha-ha. Please take someone you love here - it is an experience of lifetime. Glad to be back! read more

Royal Eagle Restaurant - Russian Near Me - Harper Woods, Michigan

Unique 4+ atmosphere, good food and service. Lovely grounds with flowers and tranquillity.

Went to a special dinner at Royal Eagle recently. The theme was opera houses of the world, and the different courses were in keeping with the theme. The first course - Teatro La Fenice, Venice - offered a choice of dates with Gorgonzola or figs with mascarpone. I got the stuffed date - very nice. The co-diner got the figs, and found them enjoyable. The next course - soup - was dedicated to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow or Teatro Alla Scala in Italy. For this course, we had a choice between Russian borscht with sour cream and red beet sprouts or golden Marsala broth. We both got the borscht. Excellent. Next, dedicated to the Metropolitan Opera in New York, was a Waldorf salad. Good palate cleanser between heavier courses. For our main course, I got the wiener schnitzel. Usually, this dish consists of a boneless veal cutlet. In this case, the veal was bone-in, with a large bone and very little meat. While visually impressive, the meat was tough. Disappointing, to say the least. The co-diner got what was described in the menu as "Beef Wellington." However, it was not exactly the classic beef Wellington. In the classic recipe, the beef is wrapped in pastry and cooked. In this case, the beef was underneath a pastry "bird's nest." Not what was expected. Also: while the co-diner had ordered his beef medium-rare. It came well done. Again, disappointing. Now, the dessert. We had a choice of 3 different desserts. One was a Pavlova. Another was a chocolate dish. The co-diner ordered the chocolate dessert. When it arrived, it was a piece of chocolate about the size of a hockey puck, with gold leaf on top, sitting on a plate. When the co-diner tried to cut it in order to eat it, he at first tried his spoon. No luck there. Next, he tried to cut it with a knife. Again, no luck. He ultimately sent it back to the kitchen, to see if they would be successful. They weren't, and finally gave up. So, they offered what they called a Pavlova as a replacement. We know what a Pavlova should be, from watching the Great British Baking Show. It is a meringue-based dessert, frequently topped with fruit and whipped cream. This dessert had no meringue. Instead, there was a cookie on bottom, with some custard and a couple of strawberry slices on top. The cookie had an almost elastic texture, making it (again) hard to cut. Once again, not as described. Through this whole experience, we never saw a manager or anyone coming around to apologize for the missteps. For an expensive meal at a restaurant that we had enjoyed on a prior visit, this was a letdown, to say the least. I doubt that we will return, despite the uniqueness of this restaurant in the metro area. Unfortunate. read more

A very unique restaurant located on the grounds of St. Sabbas the Sanctified Orthodox Monastery. They are only open for dinner on Thursdays from 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. Because it is very small in the first place, with limited hours, and still not at full capacity because of social distancing (they said at 40%), reservations can be difficult to get. The gardens are magnificent and you can see peacocks and even albino peacocks walking around. It makes for a great post-dinner stroll. The cuisine is predominantly Eastern European/Russian. The portions are very ample. All of the food was good. They don't sell alcohol, but you may bring your own wine. The waitstaff are all very friendly and efficient, but not as polished, as they are parishioners. Four of us ate and, sharing two appetizers and two desserts, the bill averaged about $60.00 per person, without a gratuity. I included a copy of tonight's menu to let you see the pricing. Because it is on religious property, there is a printed dress code on their website. Clothing such as shorts, leggings, capri pants and anything revealing bare shoulders are not permitted. It would be advisable to look at the website before going, because the rules are strictly enforced. Please avoid leaving any negative comments to this code. This is part of a monastery, so they are entitled to ask you to observe their requirements. If you find them objectionable, just select a different restaurant. read more

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I ordered the nachos and it was a lot of food. Every time I order from here you can tell they make their food with love!! This place is a hidden gem! read more

We went to the Royal Eagle Restaurant in Harper Woods today for their Royal Tea Service. Since we have been to the Royal Eagle twice before for dinner and were very impressed, I thought this would be a perfect gift for my wife's 50th birthday. Sadly, I was wrong. I am happy to travel and pay money for food that is worth it. However, what we were served today was not worth the trip, or the money I spent. Royal Eagle charges $57 per person for their tea service, and what we received was not worth that price point. I cannot help but compare this tea service to the one we experienced at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester. We've been there twice for their tea service, and it's lovely. I'll be making some comparisons throughout this review, so I apologize if it becomes distracting. THE TEA: The waitress explained that we each get our own pot of tea, and one choice of tea. I was disappointed at this for the price we paid. We were each given a pot of hot water to steep our tea in, and nothing more. At the Royal Park, you are allowed to choose three different teas, and they continue to brew as much as you want throughout the service. For the price we paid, I feel we should have been given two rounds of tea; one for the savory course, and one for the dessert course. Which brings me to... the courses. The Royal Tea is advertised as a "Seven Course Tea Service". I'm not sure about how the chef does math, but we only received three courses; a soup course, a finger sandwich course, and a dessert course. Am I wrong? Even if we count the tea as a course, that only brings us to four courses, not seven. THE SOUP: The first of our three courses was a traditional Russian Borscht made with beets and cabbage. I heard the waitress say, "The soup is borscht with sour cream and fresh dill" about ten times as she was going around to all the tables. When our soup came, there was the tiniest speck of sour cream on top of it; one might even miss it it was so small. There was no fresh dill to be seen on the soup. Not sure why the chef decided to be so stingy with the sour cream and omit the dill entirely, but I said nothing about it... more on that later. THE SANDWICHES: I was surprised to realize that most of the sandwiches were prepared with packaged white sandwich bread akin to a Brownberry or Pepperidge Farm supermarket style bread. WHAT?? The least they could have done was to use good bakery bread to prepare the sandwiches. We received 6 (two of each) varieties of finger sandwiches; radish, tomato, cucumber, chicken salad, smoked salmon, and a crostini with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and fresh herbs/flowers. The sandwiches themselves were lackluster. The tomato sandwich tasted like it had Miracle Whip and tomatoes on it. The other sandwiches were just okay. The crostini was the best part of the sandwich course. Another comparison to the Royal Park's tea service; their savory items are served on a multi-tier platter, and there are warm out of the oven items, along with cold tea sandwiches. Everything we had at our Royal Park tea service was homemade tasting; there were no sandwiches made with packaged white bread. The sweets served at the Royal Park are also freshly prepared, and you can tell they're all baked the day of the tea service. THE DESSERTS: This was by far the worst part of the tea service. I am a cook and baker myself, so I know what things are supposed to taste like, and what the texture of freshly baked items should be like. The desserts we received were not freshly baked. Not only were they not freshly baked, but they were DAYS OLD. There were two scones, and two of what appeared to be something like a brownie. The scones were so dry that when I attempted to cut into mine with my fork, the piece shot off the plate, hit me in the chest, and fell to my lap. Suffice to say that it was so dry it was inedible. A freshly baked scone should be tender, somewhat dense yet not heavy, and it should come apart with the slightest pressure of a fork or knife. The scone I cut into was like a brick! The brownie was more of the same; it was cold, dry, and tasted like it had been sitting in the refrigerator for over a week. I took one bite, and decided not to waste my calories on something so awful. How the chef could even consider serving these dry, old desserts to guests who paid over $100 for this tea service is beyond my reckoning. I was baffled by what I was being served for the price I paid, and the distance I traveled. I did not complain to the waitress, or make a big deal about any of this as it was for my wife's 50th, and she was enjoying the moment, so I let it go. However, I cannot allow others to be taken in by the Royal Eagle as I was. The advertisement for this is misleading; it is not a seven course tea service. The food served is sub-par; it was not anywhere worth the price we paid, or the distance we traveled. read more

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To be quite honest, simply writing a review doesn't encompass my experience at the Royal Eagle. Being my birthday, my friend surprised me with a romantic evening at the Royal Eagle. I was so impressed by his effort, everything about this evening was perfect! He told me weeks ago that he had a special surprise for my birthday celebration. Of course, I was trying to figure out where we were going. His only words to me....show no tattoos and dress modestly. To be honest, I was in shock! Where could he possibly be taking me? He also mentioned that they do not serve alcohol but we were able to bring in our own bottles of wine. He picked me up and swept me away for a few cocktails before our evening began. I was so excited to see where he was taking me. He always says it's a challenge to surprise me, but this time he truly pulled it off. We drove into a neighborhood, which I was not familiar, I found it rather strange that a restaurant would be situated in such a location. You can only imagine my surprise when we pulled up to the most stunning structures resembling Old Time Russia. We had arrived at the Royal Eagle which is part of a monastery. Walking through the grounds, you could feel the energy of this spiritual place. I was mesmerized by the quaint space and overall decor. I was also surprised to find out how difficult it was to get a reservation. They only serve dinner one night a week so getting in is an epic feat! We decided to get an appetizer and of course uncork our special wine. It was nice to be able to bring our own wine and they don't charge a cork fee. Our entrees were absolutely fantastic. I had the rack of lamb and he ordered a specialty chicken dish. We always share our dishes that way you get to enjoy more! lol The dessert was absolutely fantastic, lavender infused creme brulee! We are still talking about this dessert. It left an impression on our palates. :) YUMMMMM We can't wait to come back in the summer when we can spend some time walking the grounds and enjoying the beautiful gardens. My friend most certainly outdid himself this evening. It was a night of a lifetime and I was so fortunate to be able to spend it with him. read more

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The server was very friendly and helpful. The appetizer of dumplings was delicious and I would recommend. My husband had the sod with beets which he said was good. The bread they served was wonderful. Had the Hibiscus ice tea and it was very tasty. Unfortunately the entrees were not good. The Dover Sole was cooked to almost burnt and was almost impossible to cut. Beef Stroganoff was average at best. After the delicious appetizers we were expecting more from the entrees. We did not have dessert but they looked delicious on their tray. I would go again just for the atmosphere. Maybe just have appetizers and make a meal out of that. read more

This is a hidden gem! We had randomly heard about Royal Eagle through the grapevine! They do not disappoint! The inside is absolutely beautiful! We came during the colder months so they have everything ala cart. The crab cakes were amazing! I also really enjoyed the borscht (if you like borscht you have to try it). The Beef Wellington was also amazing. When you go, you must get at least one dessert!!!! Everything is made fresh and is very unique. We were told that during the warmer months, there is a 5 course meal option that we are really looking forward trying! Royal Eagle is bring your own wine. No alcohol is served. It was great! I highly recommend coming and trying Royal Eagle! You will not be disappointed in this special place! read more

I've experienced both the Tea Service and the Themed dinner service. The food was excellent for both events. The chef crafted vegetarian items which were all very good. The decor is very interesting and the experience is just very fun all around. All of the staff are volunteers and as such they enjoy their work and it really shows. Do not hesitate to explore this food and gardens. read more

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Deep in the suburb of Harper Woods you'll find a Russian Orthodox monastery. What you won't expect is a royal fine dining restaurant where you are treated like royalty. No detail was overlooked in the decoration of the restaurant and setting the table. They do not have a liquor license - wine & beer are not sold here but you're certainly welcome to bring a bottle of wine (most tables do). My group ordered a few appetizers. The portobello mushroom app was amazing! I really dislike balsamic and I asked for light balsamic in the mushrooms. I could barely taste it so I was happy! I also ordered the garlic soup. It was pretty good, but not incredible. Very broth-based. Our meals were accompanied by fresh bread. My meal was Chicken Kiev, with broccoli & diced/roasted red skin potatoes. Everyone in my group was going nuts over the potatoes! They are slightly crispy and have just the right amount of salt. My chicken was a delight! It must be noted that dessert should be it's own review at the Royal Eagle. I ordered a chocolate hazelnut strudel. It was DELICIOUS...but NOTHING compares to the Napoleon dessert. This is the most heavenly custard/phyllo combo you will ever eat. So light, airy, fluffy and sweet. Freaking incredible. The coffee is very similar to Greek coffee. Has the same flavor with grounds at the bottom but not as thick. Still delicious! All the servers are very friendly. My group also met the chef and he was very thankful for my group's many compliments. Really nice guy. The Royal Eagle highly suggests reservations. Walk-ins are rarely accommodated because most if not all of their tables are consistently full. In the summer months guests have the option to dine in the garden. The servers recommend to book summer reservations about 4 months in advance. That may provide an indication of the amazing magic and ambiance the Royal Eagle offers. read more

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If you have ever dreamt of dining like Russian royalty, your dreams can come true at Royal Eagle. Feel like a member of the aristocracy as you indulge on a decadent seven course fine dining experience served on gorgeous fine china in the stunning grounds of a Russian Monastery. We made a reservation a month in advance but if you are hoping to dine in the spring or summer months, I would definitely recommend making a reservation several months in advance as they book up very quickly. The monastery is located right in a neighborhood in Harper woods and they built the restaurant as a means of collecting charitable donations for the monastery. They only offer a seven course dinner with reservations available only on Thursdays from 5 - 10 pm for a $75 charitable donation. They also offer a Russian high tea for a $22 donation on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am - 2 pm. We came for dinner recently this winter and the cathedral and gift shop were closed. If you wish to tour the grounds you must reserve a separate tour. Since the restaurant is located in a monastery, there is a strict dress code of basically no bare skin, no shorts, low cut tops or short dresses. The restaurant does not serve alcohol but you can bring in your own bottle of wine which they will chill for you and there is no corkage fee. Coffee, soda, and tea are available as a part of the meal. The first course was an amuse bouche, which was a sliced beet with garlic creme and olive. The second course was a choice of appetizer. I had the champagne poached prawns which was two large shrimp served with micro greens and cocktail sauce. Most people at the table ordered the Siberian Pelmini, or Russian chicken and beef dumplings. The dumplings were extremely small, about the size of a quarter and each guest was served only three with microgreens salad. Everyone said the dumplings were very delicious but seemed surprised by the size. Fresh baked bread was brought out next and then choice of soup. I had the garlic creme soup which I would highly recommend. It was very rich, creamy, and delicious, beaming with flavorful roasted garlic and topped with a crostini, perfect for dipping in the soup. All of the soups were poured table side, except for the borscht. The borscht, a Russian classic made with beets, cabbage and dill was served room temperature. Another friend ordered the apple bisque which she liked but amongst our group, the garlic creme was the clear winner. Course number four was a cucumber salad served with a choice of herb or cucumber dressing. Everyone said the cucumber dressing was very tasty and refreshing. Course five was a palate cleansing raspberry sorbet. Course number six was the entree. Menu options rotate but current choices included chicken paprikash, beef stroganoff, beef Wellington, a puff pastry wrapped salmon, Dover sole filet, lamb, and a vegetarian wild mushroom pasta. I had the rack of lamb which was slow roasted in red wine, all spice, tomatoes, bacon and garlic, and was served with mashed potatoes, pearl onions and honey dill carrots. The carrots were cooked perfectly and deliciously seasoned and the mashed potatoes were very tasty and had beautiful presentation. The lamb chops were very tender and juicy but they were very gamey and rustic in flavor and I also felt a few small bones in my mouth. I probably would have preferred a sweeter sauce to compensate the gamey flavor. Half of the table ordered the beef Wellington, beef tenderloin wrapped in a puff pastry crust. I tasted the beef Wellington and it was outstanding, very flavorful and delicious. In retrospect, I probably would have ordered this, although the rack of lamb was still very good. Most of us were stuffed to the brim but alas it was time for the last course, dessert. We had the choice of apple strudel, creme brûlée, chocolate lava cake, Russian Napoleon, or cheese board. I had the Russian Napoleon and wow! so glad I did! I'm still dreaming about this decadent dessert. It was a huge portion and I loved the buttery flaky pastry crust filled with sweet rich creamy custard...delicious!!! A few others at the table ordered the creme brûlée but said it was a little too cakey and the Russian Napoleons were the clear winner. The entire meal was delicious and the service and atmosphere were outstanding. Our server was very warm and friendly, introducing herself and explaining menu options and offering recommendations. We were provided with a few carafes of mint infused water. I'd highly recommend ordering the coffee which comes with a crystallized brown sugar coffee stirrer. The table was set beautifully, the servers were dressed in nostalgic Russian garb, and the decor of the restaurant was atmospheric. We all left feeling very satisfied from the amazing delicious meal and wonderful experience. I would definitely recommend dining at Royal Eagle and I would love to return for high tea in spring or summer. read more

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Russian Tea luncheon review only! Mom and I truly enjoyed this unique experience! 40 minute drive from my Mom's house downriver, but a quick 40 minutes. Online directions are good enough to get you there, and you'll see the bright blue domes. But...uhm...where do you park? No lot. Street parking only. OK. Uhm, now how do you get in? Knock on that door? Oh no, that's not it!! Through the wrought iron gate and to the left, oh thank you Mr. Russian monk, sir. We walked through the winter bare gardens, but Yelp pictures show this place is gorgeous in the warmer months. We ate inside at a table that was all set up for us, with a view of the gazebo and bell tower. Fancy Russian chotskies abound, including a large collection of antique beverage dispensers (likely tea, but I imagined them full of yummy vodka). Our waitress Magnolia was wonderful, allowing us to walk around and take pictures to our hearts' content. After we were finally seated she brought out a laminated list of tea choices - black, green, white and herbal. At least 40 to choose from. I decided on Jasmine Silver Needle white, and my Mom had Lavender Earl Grey black. We each had a full sized pot of tea to ourselves, and the tea came out loose inside hinged tea balls. Sugar cubes are on the table, but they will bring you honey (in the cutest little glass dome with a gold spoon) and fresh lemon wedges. 1st course was Borscht, served hot with a dollop of sour cream. My first experience, and I liked it, especially the hit of fresh dill on top. My Mom and Dad are beet soup connoisseurs, and they like theirs thicker and smooth. My Mom still liked it enough to buy a half gallon to go (!!) for $22. (They blended it smooth and froze a portion). 2nd through 5th courses were tea sandwiches served on a tiered silver tray - cucumber on white bread, roast beef canape on spinach-dip smeared baguette, champagne-poached jumbo shrimp on remoulade smeared baguette, and smoked salmon with fresh dill and capers on cream cheese smeared baguette. (By this point I was fairly full) 6th and 7th courses were paprika coated chicken skewers (surprisingly juicy) and green salad with a housemade raspberry vinaigrette. I usually hate raspberry dressings because they're too tart, but this one was sweet, smooth and light. Mom bought a small to-go soup container for $2. Finally, dessert. Two huge pieces of apple pie, and two huge pieces of vanilla cake with whipped cream and raspberries. The pie was alright, but the cake was delicious, especially after we squirted some fresh lemon juice on it. We split a piece of each and brought the rest home. I'm looking foward to going again in the warmer months and sitting outside in the garden for tea. Tea served Tuesday and Thursday (they add Monday in warmer months) - $20 each. Dinner Thursday only. Reservations recommended. read more

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Easily one of the best fine dining experiences I've ever had. The way I found this restaurant was that I was craving chicken kiev for a long time and this is the only place that I found in the area that had it. They're only open twice a week so they book up quickly, but the wait is well worth it. My wife and I ordered the chicken kiev which was the best I ever had and the beef wellington (which I've never had in my life) was exquisite. The decor is beautiful, the atmosphere is serene, and the staff are very sweet. Everyone who works there is serving on a volunteer basis so the money goes to their church. If you have the patience to wait I would recommend making a reservation. Also the Russian Napoleon dessert is enough to feed three people and is a must try. read more

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I have been wanting to attend a Russian tea at the Royal Eagle for years. We were seated by the only waitress Bianca. Bianca sat us at a table she prepared for us. She explained how the Russian tea had changed a bit. We ordered our personal tea; Strawberry Hibiscus (as served at St. Sabbas in the Holy Land) and Elderberry. The tea is loose leaf and you steep it in your tea pot for 3-5 minutes. There was rock sugar on the table to enhance the flavor of the tea. The flavors of the tea we're very distinctive and I wanted more when my pot was empty. The Borsht soup was a bright red with shaved beets in it with sour cream and dill. It was warm and tasty. We had seven delicious finger sandwiches Royal Egg Sandwich Royal Chicken Sandwich, House Smoked Salmon Canape on Pumpernickel, Burrsta on an Artisan Bread with Tomato Jam, BasilImperial Cucumber Sandwich, Amish butterRadish Artichoke, Farm to Table Tomato Sandwich. To end it we had Scone, with home made clotted cream, strawberry jam and chocolate biscuit cake. We paid online so we said bye to Bianca and left. The only thing I have negative to say is there isn't water on the table and we finished our tea before we were done eating. Another choice with dessert would be nice. read more

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An unusual and delicious, artistic experience. Once you're there and sitting in the palace like atmosphere, you will be asking yourself, how did I ever happen upon a place like this in Michigan. In the middle of a neighborhood across the street from Detroit it is situated within an Orthodox monastery. The food is absolutely devine and the waitstaff, charming. Even if you only come once, you must. But you'll be back, at least for special occasions!!! read more

We have been there six times over ten years. In years past the tea service was such a nice service with really good food of luncheon portions. Today not so. I overheard that the reservations have been overbooked today. Our service was so slow. We had a Noon reservation and didn't finish until about 2:20 p.m. We would have sat there longer I'm sure if we didn't hand the lady our money and leave. The soup was served Luke warm and we sent it back so it could get heated more. The sandwiches had hardly any filling. Like one skinny cucumber slice between Wonderbread. Yes the bread looked and tasted like Wonderbread. We were told one sandwich was salmon. It sure wasn't the salmon as served in years past. All the small bites were sandwiches--nothing special. The soup bowl was smaller and the main entree (If you can call it that) was like a ramkin which had about 2 ounces of chicken atop some kind of salad. You used to get a salad and then a skewer of chicken. You used to get a tier of speciality desserts now you get a scone and a cold cupcake. The charge with a tip was $50. Too expensive for what was delivered. I can't see myself returning anytime soon. read more

You have to give this place as many stars as they will let you! You can't believe what exists in a quiet neighborhood. It's a magical place that you must visit at least once! Summer allows you to see the beautiful blooming grounds and eating outside is a treat. Good was delish and desserts were showstoppers. Only drawback is the wait...reservations are a must and you could wait weeks or months to get in. Put it on your bucket list! read more

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A very unique dining experience, especially for the area. Apparently a new 7 course dinner is the only option. TOO MUCH FOOD! Appetizers of wild mushrooms and small dumplings were good. Cream of garlic soup and an apple based soup both good also. Salad was average. Some sherbet served to clear the palate. By this time I'm quite full, but still have Dover sole and lamb chops coming. Both served with potatoes. One bite of chops- had the rest wrapped. Picked at the Dover - was very good! Still had 2 desserts- both wrapped to go. Waitress was excellent! You can bring your own wine. $75 per dinner.just way TOO MUCH FOOD. read more

Come here with people who like to eat, have some money to spare, who aren't terribly wrapped up in the idea of heart health and who are willing to share. In my case this meant James and I would be dining with my parents. It worked. Word of warning, you should dress for here, do not appear in shorts or anything. It is a monastery and deserves respect. This is one of those places where you will feel better if you come correct. Reservations are required. It is lovely here, outside and in. Serene gardens complete with ponds and gazebos, interesting architecture, tributes to the Romanovs, antiques etc. It's not your average restaurant atmosphere. People here are very polite and helpful too. We started with delicious appetizers. Get some caviar, mmmm icy and happy, its the cheaper varietal but that will not diminish your happiness any unless you are beyond a snob about it. Order some pelmeni too, a definite must for a Russian blooded individual, nice garlic kick to the sauce too. Different from my mother's (she doesn't do them with pork either) but I have to admit I loved them. Move on from there to either soup. My mom and dad loved the borscht and she is mighty picky. I still think my Gran's will never be beat so I did not order any borscht (it was mighty fine borscht I must admit). I figured instead I'd throw caution to the wind and slurp up some more garliciousness with the garlic soup and I must say I did not regret it a bit. Brothy and rich. My husband's salad on the other hand was just OK. Entrees are all great. My dad had some very tasty beef stroganoff, creamy and buttery. The bite I had melted in your mouth. My mother went with the lamb chops and was very pleased. They were perfectly cooked and full of flavor with the Bordeaux and rosemary, a thick sauce not a thin jus. My husband had the rich and crispy chicken Kiev, hard to go too wrong there to be honest so of course he enjoyed. I went with the salmon "Kulibiaka" and was pretty much in heaven. More of that garlic infused creme fraiche and dill, it was crispy, creamy and again just rich. The salmon was perfect inside that pastry and that pastry was not a bit soggy, it was magical I tell you! I am not going to even talk about those damn Moravian apricot dumplings for dessert... I am still drooling. Incredible. Just writing this review is making me hungry, You have to visit here, at least once. My mom and I already have plans to come back for tea. read more

Nothing short of a wonderful dining experience. Came to the monastery after seeing some pictures of the garden from a friend - that exists 10 minutes from me?! It wasn't too difficult to get reservations either - if it's the same day and you're wondering if they have room, they may likely, but definitely call ahead. Walking the grounds is pretty delightful, I wish I could have a garden like theirs, but upkeep is definitely a large responsibility. Our waiter was very kind and attentive, and all the dishes we ordered were simply delicious. The dinner rolls were massive and hot and fresh! Rack of lamb, salmon, and beef stroganoff - all recommended. Stroganoff came with an abundance of handmade soft dumplings. I cannot forget the crab cakes either - the sauces (tomato and aioli ?) just made them better. I would come back just for those crab cakes. One thing I would pass on is the ice tea - perhaps get it hot instead of cold. Otherwise, a very unique experience in a beautiful setting. read more

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Amazing and unique! The parishioners work the restaurant as their tithe. Wearing full dress headdress and traditional Russian costume. But even before you get to the actual restaurant, you have to traverse the grounds from the gate. The food was excellent, our server was knowledgeable about the monastery and it's history. If you get the change GO! Traditional Russian fare. Get the giant shrimp cocktail. read more

A unique old world gem! The restaurant is a blend of Eastern European cuisine with a Russian touch. Detail goes into every aspect of the dining experience. From the moment you walk into the door, you feel as if you are in Europe. The beef stroganoff and chicken paprikash were both excellent. Also, make sure to order a coffee. It's served in the most unique mug. Try the Napoleon for dessert. It is definitely sharable for 2-3 people. They do not serve alcohol but you are welcome to bring your own bottle of wine for the table. Note, they are only open on Thursdays for dinner. Reservations are recommended. read more

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We've been going to The Royal Eagle since before the pandemic for both the teas and the Christmas dinners. We've been impressed by the ambiance and the food. However, this year I was disappointed. The ambiance is still there, but the food was not worthy of the $250 per person price, (including gratuity). The dinner had eight courses. The "amuse bouche" was a square of puff pastry with a bit of soft cheese and a dried cherry. Not a bad combination, but the puff pastry was not crispy. It had been cooked in advance and refrigerated then taken out to warm up to room temperature. It lacked flavor and texture. Next was the appetizer, Chicken Pate. It was bland and a little dry and crumbly. The Onion Soup in the next course was tasty but nothing special. The bowl was too big and the cheese toast was tiny. The salad was OK, but a bit difficult to eat because of the large cuts on the vegetables. The fish course was not good. The Dover Sole was badly over cooked. The Intermission was Pomagranite sorbet. It was puckeringly sour. Some might like it, but not to everybody's taste. The main course was Chateaubriand. I can't say exactly how it was mishandled, but something went very wrong with it. I've had tenderloin there before and it was wonderful. Not so this time. It was a little chewy (even though it was not overcooked) and a bit dry. The sauce was nice but not enough of it for the dry meat. The dessert was baffling. I ordered the Figgy Pudding. There was nothing on the plate that resembled any figgy pudding i've ever eaten. The there was a wedge of something that seemed like soggy phyllo, bread crumbs, and a tiny bit of pastry cream. It was saltier than sweet. Next to that there was what looked like meatballs. It was dry and crumbly and tasted like not much of anything. The promised rum sauce was a few dots on the plate. My dining partner ordered different options, and liked some of them. The Beet ravioli was better than the Chicken Pate, apparently. The Duck Confit was excellent, she told me. Overall, everything was under seasoned -- which wouldn't be a deal breaker if there had bern salt shakers on the tables -- but there weren't. I don't know what has happened in the Royal Eagle kitchen, but this is not the food we've gotten there in the past. And it isn't the quality we've had there in the past. read more

The venue and the property as so worth the experience. Imagine a Russian Orthodox monastery being created in your neighborhood. This is what happened in Harper Woods and it is an oasis. And to fund the monastery, the community supporting the monks served Russian High Tea on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a full meal on Tuesday evening. Maybe you have a civic organization or another group that might enjoy the experience. And it is NOT a ladies only event. Hubby and I went with another couple and we all enjoyed ourselves. Each person is presented with their own pot of hot water and a selection of tea from their 30 options of loose leaf tea. The menu included, on our day, a borsht (course 1), followed by a shared platter of canapes (4 types), shared platter of chicken paprikash and salad (6,7) and a surprise dessert of a chocolate and an apply crisp-like dessert. More than enough food for a mid-day meal. Take time to walk around the restaurant and admire all the samovars and paintings, especially the ones of Tsar Nicolas. The gardens are not to be missed, too so perhaps a Spring to Fall outing is the best but the experience is worth it any time of the year. Enjoy the Russian experience! read more

This place is amazing! Period! We've been wanting to go for awhile , so I decided to call for a reservation for our anniversary in September. I called in August and didn't get one until November 1st. Well worth the wait for sure! I ordered the Wellington. Done to medium rare perfection! My husband had the Royal Platter, also delightful! The place is gorgeous! Service is great too! Bring your own bottle of wine; they don't charge a cork fee. A hidden gem tucked in a neighborhood on Old Homestead. A beautiful Monastery. We are definitely going back in the spring/ summer. The grounds look beautiful in full bloom! I will call around January. I can't wait! read more

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I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. Being that it's in a residential area, I wasn't expecting much. I was completely proven wrong. Even in the middle of winter, the grounds are amazingly beautiful. Moving onto our dinning experience. It's was top notch. The food was fine dining on all levels. I left nostalgic of my Croatian grandmothers cooking. I can't wait to return! read more

We decided to go here after we had a botched movie date night and it just happened to be Thursday, the night Royal Eagle is open! Once we had this revelation, we called and got a reservation right away. Being Harper Woods residents, this monastary and restaurant is truly unexpected. You pull up and walk through the gardens and it is like you are in another world. It is so serene and peaceful, I almost felt like I was in a small garden in Europe. We walked into the restaurant portion and were warmly greeted by the wait staff. The place was packed and we were seated at our table. Which was really charming and cozy. I felt like I was in someone's living room! The menu was so full of so many options that we both were in-between about 3 dishes. We ordered the Siberian Pelmeni as an appetizer and as I took a bite of the first one, I remarked, "I can see myself craving these". The dumplings were so flavorful and were placed on a bed of sour cream and sauted onions. I could have just had those for dinner and been in heaven! We also loved the bread basket with the garlic oil dipping sauce. Next time, I need to not eat so much of it so I am not so full at dinner! My husband ordered the Borscht soup and wow. That is all I can say. It was really divine and had such an amazing flavor. I wish I would have ordered my own bowl! For dinner, I had the Chicken Kiev and my husband had the Beef Wellington. Both were just fantastic. I am really anxious to go back and try a few other items I had my stomach eyeballing. We both ordered dessert as well, me the pumpin pie that was served more like a tart than a slice and my husband the hazelnut creme brulee. He compared it to eating a marshmellow that was toasted over a fire, crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside. Needless to say, we had a fantasic experience at the Royal Eagle and cannot wait to go back! Truly a gem in Harper Woods! read more

I've been here a few times and was fortunate enough to go in December for the 7 course meal that they served. My wife and I were fortunate enough to sit right in front of the fireplace, which was such a perfect ambiance for the evening. Words honestly do not do the grounds justice. It is beautiful walking in and knowing how good the food is only increases the anticipation. My wife, who does not eat seafood, enjoyed the caviar! The garlic soup is delicious; however, being a garlic lover, I wish it had more garlic in it. Enjoy any entree, but you must have a dessert. The Napoleon Cake is like nothing else, but trust me, try it! read more

What a unique and wonderful dining experience we had at Royal Eagle! Snow storm and 1 hr drive didn't keep us away either. The restaurant was almost empty due to the snow which meant better service for us. We are from Russia btw and Royal Eagle has been a truly authentic experience. Food was very good, we had a lot of delicious kvas (it's a drink), pelmeni my husband had were better than his grandmothers according to him, I had crab cakes as they were out of caviar due to snow and they were tasty. Borsht and garlic soup were very tasty (Borsht better), for entres we had the 2 specials: salmon koulibiaka and lamb chops, both were delicious. But the highlight was Napoleon cake, it was huge and so good we ordered a piece to go as well. The atmosphere was very cool, with samovars, tzar portraits, even the plates and glasses from old tzarist russian style. The monastery grounds looked beautiful, looking forward to returning in the summer. read more

Omgosh!!! This is one of the most beautiful places ever. The ambiance is soothing and inviting. The food is fantastic. The wait staff is spot on. Be sure to make reservations. The hours are very limited and sometimes takes quite awhile to get in. One night we arrived as violin notes swirled throughout the restaurant as I was captivated by the alluring music. The food..everything I've had was wonderful. The Beef Wellington melted in my mouth. The Borsht is delicious. Really the entire menu will not disappoint. I didn't even want to tell you all about this because I want to be able to get in!!! Lol Bon appetito!!!! read more

My wife and I were lucky enough to get a last minute reservation to this very unique dining experience. I won't repeat all the comment about the uniqueness of this place...it's all true! I am going to concentrate on the 2 entrees we had. My wife ordered the chicken paprikas and love it. It was comprised on half a chicken.....the leg and breast all on the bone, with the skin. The skin on the leg may be an issue with some....as it is a little thick on the leg...the breast had no skin. My wife loved it...skin and all! I ordered the beef stroganoff. If my wife's rating was 5 stars...mine is 3 stars for the beef stroganoff. The meat was mushy....and the sauce needed salt which of course was not on the table. I was also disappointed that the Eastern European dumplings that were promised as a accompaniment dish was nothing more then German spaetzle dumplings. They were fine...but when the chef is described as being from Prague...I expect Czech bread dumplings...not German spaetzle. So between the 2 of us....4 stars. Don't let anything I've said stop you from going...go...it's unique...it's fun...the service was spectacular! read more

3.5 stars Mom and I went for the tea luncheon on a beautiful, early autumn day. The grounds were gorgeous! It was odd to see a monastery right in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Unexpected for sure. Loved the borscht! I really enjoyed shredded beets in the soup as opposed to chunks. Yum. We're Russians that don't add beets to our borscht...but I'm definitely adding them to mine from now on! The finger sandwiches were so-so. They didn't seem particularly fresh. I didn't care for the tacky, buffet style setup. The salad and chicken skewers were delicious. Our dessert that day was a lemon square and something else lemony. Both tasted stale and bland. Super disappointing. It was interesting and fun to try but we won't be back for the luncheon. read more

This is a very unique place located in the middle of a suburban subdivision. Went there on a Thursday night for dinner, we had two appetizer champagne shrimp & portobello mushrooms the champagne Prawns were just cold shrimp served with cocktails sauce nothing special the garlic sautéd mushrooms were ok. Three dinner rolls were brought to the table and one of the three was as hard as a rock. we had the pear and feta salad which was good. Time stood still for an hour before we got our main course Beef Wellington and Lamb Chops. The Lamb Chops were tough and undercooked, poor grade of meat could not even eat them. The Beef Wellington was prepared in the morning and then reheated so the filet inside was way over cooked and dry and tasteless. Brussel sprouts were the vegetable for both meals and also were undercooked and tasteless. we had desert flourless chocolate cake which tasted like it was store bought not prepared by s chef.. Final thoughts i would go back for a tour of the church and grounds in the summer when everything is in bloom, it looks like it would be beautiful. I would defiantly skip the dinner. read more