It's been about a year since I've been here and the concept of this place still just blows my mind…read more It runs very well, and pretty much no staff. The business model is genius. A hostess who takes your money and gives you a bracelet, automated beer, and you use your phone to order from the kitchen, they text you and you go get your food. I wondered many times how they could serve alcohol and not monitor how much people were drinking? So I asked. The host is in the front said at the end of 32 oz is your bracelet will not work and you need to come up and see me to reset it. I guess that's how they would monitor whether or not someone could get another 32 oz? I'm surprised not more places have copied their business layout. With the new generation, this would be the place to go, you barely have to speak to anyone except for the people you're with.

North End Taproom is a great addition to downtown Royal Oak!…read more This self serving bar is a brilliant idea and top notch implementation. They have simple pricing per ounce, a self serve with wristband model, and don't accept tips. Also, there was a great variety of Michigan beer, cider, and wine to taste. It was so nice to get up and pour our own drinks throughout. The food menu was small but mighty. My group has never been disappointed by a food order here yet! My go to are the fish tacos. They were delicious and fresh. As for the sides, both the fries and chips are a knock out! To top it all off, this place has games! There was a variety of card and board games. My group ended up with Codenames; a classic. RUN don't walk to North End Taproom!!!

Love this place. Best brewery/ beer place in Ferndale…read more Always a great vibe. Lots of dog lovers outside with their pets, and that's where we go!

A great brewery to go to that has convenient parking and a fun ambiance! The beers are really great…read moreand there's the option to mix kombucha with wine or beer which gives the drink a fruitier taste and is honestly really good. Am definitely planning to go back soon!

I will preface this by saying I didn't order a pizza. That being said I ordered the grilled cheese…read morewhich touted mozzarella, pesto, baby spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes on sourdough. I opted for the garlic fries upcharge, bringing my total to $19.00. Somehow I justified it because I like these toppings and these toppings weirdly weren't available on a pizza. Or at least I didn't see it via the phone based ordering system. Yes, that's right, this is all of the future check with wrist bands and pour your own beer situation. Don't look for a paper menu, they ain't here. My sandwich wasn't a grilled cheese. It was basically pesto toast with large sun-dried tomatoes and scraps of mozzarella. Baby spinach was just missing. I did inquire to the host (perchance the only actual employee?) and he did talk to the kitchen and I guess they were out. With that information I turned to my friend Robert and said, "You know why we have servers? So they can let you know they're 86 spinach." I suppose I would have adjusted my order had I known this too. What's nuts is, they have ingredients to make a better grilled cheese. I mean, step one: add cheese. Why not mix the ricotta and pesto together and then add like havarti or something that may actually melt and have flavor. The sun-dried tomatoes should be sliced smaller. The garlic fries were fine, but also could have had more flavor. Robert's and neighboring table's pizza looked fine. Is it better than any other place offering Detroit style pizza? Hard to say. I guess I'm not in a hurry to go back. The kind host did make an adjustment to my bill for lack of spinach--but having a server would have prevented that being necessary.

I was heading home hungry when I passed Elephant & Co, a restaurant I had on my radar for months…read more It was way past lunch and well before dinner, so I was surprised by the steady stream of customers in this pizza/tap/game room, a difficult genre to define. Upon entering, the staffer explained the set-up to enjoy a variety of beers, poured and priced by the volume. Located at the back of the restaurant, customers can select beer flavors and serve themselves, no bartender needed. A tab is started and charged based on usage, tracked through the wristband provided to you. I ordered over mobile via a QR code, selecting pretzel sticks with beer cheese dip and a large, Detroit-style pizza. The soft pretzels were tender with a lovely crusty exterior. I inhaled the first pretzel since it was past lunchtime, savoring the salty, cheesy bites. I must admit, the pretzels' saltiness temporarily affected my taste buds because the pizza had little flavor, even with the pepperoni, sausage, and olives. I definitely did not taste the hot honey drizzle. I want to praise the light, airy crust. For a deep dish pizza, it did not sit heavy in my tummy. I also appreciated that the pizza was served on a rack, to allow air circulation and to prevent sogginess. The space was dark and had both large communal tables and smaller, intimate tables. This allowed for larger groups to enjoy community beyond a friend group. The other plus is the board games that are available to pass the time while enjoying various beers.

Oh my, what a difference in the past decade! I completely forgot I previously left them a…read moremediocre review over a decade ago. Since then, this place has become our local go to. The servers are all well trained, and highly professional. The food is fantastic. The menu is the standout; it is very creative and has something for everyone. Let's start with their breakfast. This is probably the best breakfast/brunch place in town. Too bad they're only open weekends for breakfast. Whenever we have family back in town or friends from out of town, this is our go to place. Casual relaxed, friendly with quality food. If you haven't been here for breakfast, I would highly recommend it. The only comment I have is they don't open for breakfast until a little bit later in the morning. Usually, there is a line out out front waiting for them to open. We've had most things on the menu and to be truthful, not one thing has disappointed. Dinner: we don't get here too often for dinner because in my mind, this is our go to breakfast place. Last week we tried it for dinner and again, very pleasantly surprised at the professionalism of the wait staff, the quality of the food, and the overall dining experience. Whoever transformed his place from a hipster beer hall to a quality dining experience did a great job. Kudos to them!

Seems like a pretty solid variety of pub food. My BLT was good; generous thick-cut bacon, arugula…read moreis a nice touch. I thought the garlic aoli would be weird at first, but it grew on me. Their onion rings are VERY good. Fries advertised as hand-cut: turns out that means a pretty traditional fry size and shape (we were worried they'd be like steak fries). They LOOKED good, but could be a good deal crispier. So docking a bit for fry quality. Everywhere is expensive now, but this place doesn't feel like it's earning what they charge.

Adorable brewery with good food and excellent beer. I ordered a flight and liked everything on…read moreit. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the fruited sours- which I generally don't like. The pizza was excellent! Tasty and filling. Overall a great place to connect with friends and try unusual but delicious beers.

I stopped here for lunch and got a wrap and a latte. The warp was delicious and tasted clean. The…read morechips were not good, next time I will get fries.

Great little restaurant in the middle of Royal Oak on Main Street. Love that they have an entire…read morevegan section/side of the menu for those who eat vegan. While they offer outdoor seating, we opted to eat indoors as it was a blazing 92 degrees. The seats at the tables are very comfy. Our server was new but he did a great job. If he hadn't told us, we wouldn't have guessed it. I ordered the Fried Chicken Sliders but without the peaches or jalapeños. They did give me a side of sweet pickle chips though. The sliders comes with a Baja sauce that's fairly spicy so the sweet pickles balanced the heat. I would like to try their S'mores Waffles sometime but more for a dessert. So, I'll be back!

Always a great place to eat with friends. They have something for everyone! Their vegan menu has a…read morelot of decent options for vegan food. I've had their shakes before which were actually pretty good. The drunken chicken Philly was good, especially with the beer cheese, but I wish there was more cheese on the inside of the hoagie. The chicken itself was kind of bland and tasted mostly of pepper. The service was great! Overall this is a nice place for late night bar food and trying novelty items, but I do think it's a little overpriced for what it is.

Sneakers Pub is a 10/10! The best dive bar in Ferndale by far. The staff are all amazing and make…read moreyou feel like family, especially Christina, Ari, Chris, Abby, Heather, and Becca! Truly enjoy stopping by any day of the week. Also....Charlie the door guy is pretty great too!

Would kill for them to carry rittenhouse. Older bartender with the big ol bazzoingas is always…read moresuper friendly.

This is such a great brewery. I love that they have a variety of many different types and styles of…read morebeers as opposed to some breweries that focus all their energy on creating the highest IBUs possible. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. The food menu is small but done well with lots of yummy Mac and cheeses and flatbread pizzas. If you want a cool casual spot to hangout and enjoy a cold brew with friends this is a great option.

We visit here fairly often--some really fun beers, decent menu & very friendly & comfortable. If…read morewe're going to eat, we really enjoy their nachos & their various Mac 'n cheeses--so good! Our son tried their burger once & really enjoyed it. Casual & friendly atmosphere. Great local spot for beer & food!

Dog and pony show- the outside is deceiving because it looks small but inside it is quite large…read more They have tables, couches, and tvs. They offer beers and seltzers. My husband got a coffee beer and loved it. I enjoyed my peach seltzer. The staff is friendly. I loved all the pictures of dogs inside. We would come back.

This is literally one of my favorite places. Not only do they have fantastic beer, they are a…read morefantastic team. They do a lot in the community. I love how spacious the brewery is, and it's a great location. They have beer for every pallet. Another big plus is that most days throughout the week, there is a food truck there! Nothing but good things.

I've only been up here once on a Wednesday evening. The place was packed but my friend and I were…read moreable to squeeze in the corner at the bar. It was mostly a younger crowd but there was a few people our age and older. Service was fine and the drinks reasonably priced. It was a little too loud for my liking but I can see why people come up here. It's divey and they serve food, typical bar menu. For downtown Royal Oak the prices can't be beat and they do have a private parking lot which is always a plus.

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.