Royal Oak Taphouse

A below average place to grab a drink in downtown Royal Oak. We came in on a Sunday afternoon about 3pm. We were looking for a drink and maybe something to eat. The place was very quiet, possible less than 10 other patrons. We waited at the host stand to be seated as their sign said, after about 10 minutes with no one acknowledging our presence a kitten staff member said we can sit wherever we wanted. We grabbed a table and once again, wwaited almost 10 minutes before being even acknowledged by anyone. We ended up moving to the bar so we could at least get a drink. The bartender was nice enough but seemed very inexperienced. The beer selection was good but my first glass was dirty which was troubleing. Overall we weren't impressed thus far and decided to pass on anything else. We paid for our single drinks and went somewhere else to drink and grab food. I don't know if they were just short staffed or if Sunday isn't a busy day for them, but the experience we had was really bad and I can't imagine we would be willing to come back and try again, not with the amount of options Royal Oak has.

We stopped by Royal Oak Taphouse after a long day of shopping. It was our first time visiting this place. Our server was pleasant and attentive. Our food was pretty good, and I was surprised at how affordable our meal was. The ticket was a really good price point for two people.

The spot it's cool but the flavors in the food it's just ok. For some drinks with your friends it's cool, but there aré better options to get a burger and better price and flavor in other places around.

I used to go here all the time for breakfast when it was Jimmies. Luckily they still offer some of the same breakfast options. My favorite is the Eye-Opener. Eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, ham with a pineapple and a side of toast. I skip the ham and get more sausage instead. Nothing crazy spectacular here but it's good breakfast food fast 👌

I love waiters’ energetic and friendly that they have to make sure we are satisfied with our appetizers and meal. The price is reasonable for a big portion! Highly recommended! I also love those pictures in hallway I can look at. Those foods are so champ! I love that in this city! Glad I didn’t regret.

Food was all around pretty poor. Ordered the taphouse burger and it took about 30 minutes to come out when the restaurant was dead. It didn’t come with the wasabi slaw that it was supposed, and I let my server know and she said she’d go check on it. Never came back around to let me know about it and the food got cold waiting so I sent it back. Fries weren’t all that hot and entirely unseasoned too. For $18, I expect a bit more. Do not come here, there’s far better options in royal oak.

Waitress Emma was great. Told us she was new to serving and she did just fine. Was a busy time of day. Always a great vibe and the music was definitely on point! Will definitely be back!

The food was delicious however, I didn’t give 5 stars because they were out of items on the menu and they do not serve desserts.

Overall, friendly service, although slow. The sprouts were good and had a unique sauce, but their mocktail options were nonexistent.

Customer service was the best thing here. I got half plain and half buffalo wings and spinach dip. The dip had an overly excessive amount of grease and the wings weren't the impressive. I had a margarita and had to get two extra shots on the side to make it drinkable. My bartender was the sweetest though so no bad vibes to him but I don't plan to return.

Fish and Chips with Imperial IPA on draft. Our food took awhile so I think they must be understaffed

Came here after another popular eatery was loud to the point of boisterous and deafening. Royal Oak Taphouse was a much better choice! The food here is always tasty, with a touch of class. But let me brag about the service there! Demetrius went above and beyond. We had a table of 9 and he was right on top of everything. Coupled with a great attitude and cheerful demeanor, we hope he is recognized and compensated for his stellar service.

My wife and I tried the Royal Oak tap room this evening before we went to a comedy show and we were unfortunately very disappointed. Food was mediocre. Service was slow. If ya didn't know, now ya know. But the ambiance! OMG the ambiance! JK

lol this place is funny. Foods ok, yet everytime I come it is empty and takes 15 min for anyone to say hi or even look at me .... Been here for 35 min now after getting seated and haven't had the table wiped or even been given a menu. Not even full, but I see why. As soon as my party comes we will be heading elsewhere

Pleasantly surprised with my stop at the taphouse. Went to the happy hour had some appetizers. Margarita pizza was very good and the Queso dip. I also had an espresso martini which was well-made and then of course I'll beer from the tap. My server , Demetrius, was very attentive and helpful with suggestions.

We had a difficult time finding somewhere to accommodate a party of 16 in RO. Especially since there was a pub crawl going on and some of the restaurants wouldn't let you in without a pub crawl ticket. So we decided on RO taphouse. I wasn't sure what to expect. Some people said it was like a coney island. Lol. That was definitely not the case. But I think based on how I was dressed and the fact that I was looking for something more elegant than a tap house, that was their description. When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was that this place was huge. And very busy. It was 7 pm on a sat night and this did seem to be a popular spot for large parties and for people to go to prior to drag queen bingo since it is within walking distance. They had a decent variety of beer on tap and also served food and cocktails. It was super busy and the service was understandably slow. So only a few people ordered food. I would come back if I had a large group, but wouldn't make a special trip. It is a tap house. Pretty basic nothing special. With all of the amazing places to visit in RO, this just wouldn't be my first choice.

I met a couple friends here on a Thursday to grab a quick bite before a night out. The food is what I would expect for a bar. We went there early so it was pretty empty. I could see later in the night it would be more crowded and a fun place to hang out. The service was good and we got our food and drinks quickly.

Busy day!!! Marie is at the bar humping with a smile...she's been running and moving and hasn't took a breather yet!!! Awesome job, Marie!!!

Lots of food choices, yummy drinks & service is good even when they have events in the city.

We came in on a Saturday just to check the place out. We really liked it. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was very friendly. They have a great selection of beer. I wish I could remember the dishes we ordered, but I do remember that we enjoyed them very much.

Absolutely horrible.. the only good thing was the waiter.. food took forever drinks took forever food came out at all different times .. My son got his food last who's 7 and for any parent that has a child and everyone receives there food First is the end of the world to a 7 year old.. the waiter kept apologizing and kept smiling through the horrible experience.. I would never go back here !!!

I loved this place when it was Jimmy's. It was a neighbor diner with character. Now, it's a typical soulless mediocre Royal Oak bar/restaurant with delusions of grandeur.

This is an absolutely beautiful place !!! If you know the Royal Oak area you would know this is the old Jimmy's family restaurant and boy I tell you they did an amazing transformation!!! The bar is ABSOLUTELY beautiful and the staff is very attentive! We all ordered Margaritas! Boy were we in for a surprise! These margaritas were HUGE and absolutely delicious!!! Since there were four of us we got the shareables the Nacho Grande. Highly recommended!!!!! Currently they have different temporary hours because of COVID so make sure to check the hours before you go! Thumbs up for margaritas & customer service!! Very happy overall

Food was not good/pretty bad. We tried the cauliflower appetizer (super deep fried, no taste, and cauliflower was soggy), no real taste. Tried the the chicken paninti (sp?) also very bland and no taste. Michigan Cherry salad - chicken seemed very processed/rubbery, and not freshly grilled; all lettuce and minimal other toppings. 10/10 would not recommend for food. It was dead on a Friday night, probably should have been a red flag.

Great cocktail and beer selection. Highly recommend the Roth Manhattan, balanced flavor, not too sweet or bitter. Ordered the Taphouse Treasure - good mix of sweet and spicy, the waffle was crispy. Will have to eat with a knife and fork - very good! I was a bit disappointed in the fish & chips. I've had them hear in the past and they were totally different, these look like they came out of a box from the freezer. Sweet potato fries were great!

They have a dog friendly patio! That was our first draw to the place. When we sat down, the owners brother in law who sat us came back and re-wiped down the table because it was facing the road which I thought was so thoughtful and something I've never had done before. The waitress was so prompt, she brought our dog her own bowl of water. The food came fast and it was good! We loved the atmosphere there and really enjoyed learning about the place. It's family owned which holds a special place in my heart because that's how my grandparents supported my mom and her siblings. The staff was amazing, the place was clean and the food was great. We highly recommend!!!!

I'd eaten here a year ago with my adult children and from what I remembered it was pretty good. They didn't have the steak I wanted so I joined my family in having a hamburger. Carston C. wasn't exaggerating when he said they were like premade burgers, they are premade burgers, even have the flower shape of patties you find in a bag in the freezer section. I mentioned afterward that it was funny we offered up how we wanted them cooked, there is only one way, well done. They were out of onions which would have really helped choke them down. My son laughed that he had 2 tops for his bun, I had the 2 bottoms, not a big deal but an example of how there is no attention to detail. The service was fine but I was so disappointed spending $60 for 3 people on burgers, fries, and a couple of beers. Will not be eating there again.

We haven't been to this place in a few years due to a bad experience the last time here. We were wise to stay away! Today's experience was awful. I ordered a salad with salmon and when it was brought, it had chicken on it. I told the server and she rolled her eyes but brought it back to the kitchen. Then, she brought the salad back exactly the same and said the chef assured her it was salmon, not chicken! I tasted it and it was chicken! I don't eat chicken so I put it to the side and told the server not to charge me for it. She didn't charge me for it but my bill was still $5 more than it should've been. AND our server had the audacity to essentially demand a tip! She said she didn't include it on the bill for our party of 7, and that we should add our own tip accordingly! When one member of our party refused to tip, the server said, "Thanks for not tipping. This is how I make my living! I can't work for free!" We will never come back to this place under the current management/ownership.

please read the chalk board upon entry. "All bills are subject to auto-gratuity" this place was AWFUL. Unpleasant staff, unhappy with service and food. This was the worst place I've visited, we asked to speak to a manager and got a server pretending to be a manager come over with an attitude. awful experience- we definitely will not be back.

Good time getting an after show snack and cocktails on a Friday night. Drag Queen Bingo down the street let out at 9 and we were hungry and wanted more drinks! Service was quick and friendly. Their Old Fashion cocktail was well made. House wine was just fine! The pretzel is fun...it comes hanging on a hook. Silly man's fun. I do wish they had better dips for the pretzel...it's good and worth getting, but it only comes with a one little cup of cheese. Wanted maybe 3 dips. Their poutine was delicious! The Brussels Sprouts appetizer was something I would definitely order again!! The Saganaki was ok. Not presented with any fanfare. Drunk partying people was to scream OPA! We need that! It was good though. I'd go back here for sure.

Went in for beer, had a great experience as it's a tap house so there are chooses for anyone, they also have a full bar if you don't like beer! Ended up ordering food which was all yummy and stayed until close! The only down side is it was absolutely freezing in there!

On Mother's day I decided on going to Royal Oak as there didn't seem to be a whole lot of "events" going on in the Detroit area that wasn't brunch related...Had found the Antique sale happening at the farmers market, plus had checked out a coffee spot(I will be reviewing). Unfortunately the day was crappy for being outside but ending the day at the Taphouse was well worth it. First impressions of the building-had a real nice patio area if the weather is good, liked the industrial vibe outside and inside. Was surprised how big it was inside. Booths or tables, big bar area. Staff was nice, wearing masks at that time. Cleaning tables before seating others. Waitress came up pretty quick to see about drinks(wasn't a full house or even half full that day). She was very nice, helped me decide on a couple beers to try for our flight. Ordered our food shortly after getting the flight. We all enjoyed the food we chose, good portions, very tasty! I ended up ordering sweet potato fries with the pulled pork, had them put the cole slaw on my sandwich. My daughter got the turkey burger with fries, and her bf got some big burger-can't remember which one. He ate all of his, but we had to bring half ours home it was so filling. I had ordered a beer, but he got a Long Island iced tea-on the strong side...and she got a martini-also very strong, so that was the downside of their drinks. Very friendly atmosphere. Really liked our waitress. A little slow though on bringing our check when we were finished. Not that big of a deal though for us as we had good conversation! Would definitely go back.

The wait wasn't long. Our server Alex was great! She made us some tasty drinks. The frozen strawberry and peach margaritas were perfect for a hot day. The spinach dip was delicious. I think I'll try light seasoned salmon next time.

A great staple that Royal oak needed! Food always comes out hot, and their rotating beer taps are always great! Also they have four nitro taps! Love it.

This was a terrible experience. They were out of almost everything on the menu, we waited 45 mins for our appetizer which the server told us she forgot about. Then forgot to take menu items off bill that they forgot they were out of. Awful!

Perfect place to meet an old friend. It used to be a Greek restaurant They have white claws.

Extremely slow service and food took forever coming from the kitchen Cool area Do not recommend however

A private lot, which is rare in Royal Oak. We have a decent time here, always for beer. The selection is good, the bartenders are good. We have never eaten here, and people say the food quality can be up and down. We have also read bad things about the waiters--not the bartenders, but again, we have never had a waiter. Just be cautious.

Every time I've been to Royal Oak Taphouse it's been a great experience, and I've been many many times! The menu offers such a great selection & literally everything I try is my favorite! The food is truly superb! The drink selection has a wide & unique variety & every cocktail I've tried is delicious. Of course they also offer a huge selection of great brews. The staff is always so friendly, helpful and welcoming. The thing I also truly appreciate is the cleanliness. They are 100% Covid compliant, making everyone feel safe & protected. The owners are great too, they walk around & check on tables & have great hospitality. I truly cannot say enough about this restaurant! 100% Highly Recommend!

This is one of my step-mom's favorite restaurants so we stopped by here the other day when we had some time to kill before a meeting. It was myself, my mom, my step-mom, my husband and son. When we arrived, the place was pretty empty; I have a feeling they must have just opened. It was nice. There are high ceilings and big windows which makes it feel very spacious inside. The bar is HUGE, but it's a taproom, so it should be. We were greeted promptly and served quickly. Some of the items ordered were fish and chips, artichoke dip, southwest salad, cobb salad, children's spaghetti and THE TAPHOUSE TREASURE. The salads were large and loaded with toppings and flavor. I had a bite of the artichoke dip and didn't care for it, but I can't put my finger on why and my step-mom loved it so may be a personal preference. My son's spaghetti could more appropriately be called tomato soup with noodles. No matter how much parmesan we added to that, there was no saving it. Their spaghetti sauce is an insult to Italian cuisine. Since his meal was terrible, he got ice cream instead [thanks-a-lot Grandma]. And last but not least. THE TAPHOUSE TREASURE. If you like McGriddles or chicken and waffles, please go here and order this sandwich. I only didn't order it myself b/c I'm trying to be on a diet, but I stole a bite [or two] from my husband and that sandwich is awesome. It's the reason for 4- and not 3-stars. Some notes regarding ambience: I think given the location of this restaurant and COVID dining restrictions, they should really be capitalizing on the outdoor dining area more. However, the furniture they have chosen for outside is stainless steel and gets super hot in the sun. I love all the Al Fresco dining that has popped up since Covid and in downtown Royal Oak, the people watching is great so get on it Taphouse!! Also, towards the end of our meal the place started filling up and the acoustics are terrible. We were having to shout at each other to be heard and that is not for me.

Went to restaurant for first time and was disappointed with the food and time it took to be served our meal. The sliders were just ok with the beef overcooked and onions undercooked. Others at the table did enjoy their food. Our server was friendly but did not clear dirty plates from appetizers and meal. The dining area was quiet and not crowded. The restroom had a very sticky floor and leaking toilet. It was nice to have parking by the restaurant without meters.

Drinks, asparagus, and sweet potato fries were amazing! The cauliflower appetizer was pretty good, it just needed a little more sauce. Everything else about our visit was subpar. Unfortunately, the wait time for everything was terribly long. It seemed like our waitress kept forgetting about us. Our dining experience for the 3 of us was over 2 hours long. We got there around 7:30pm on Wednesday and didn't leave until 9:45pm. Moreover, the panko fried Walleye lacked flavor. It would be great with a dipping sauce though. If going, I would suggest knowing exactly what you want and ordering it as soon as you are asked to avoid the wait.

Not handicap accessible. They have own lot, but no handicap parking. They have ramp to door, but cannot access ramp because no handicap parking. Door to enter restaurant at top of ramp locked.

I gave the business three stars being generous because the food is decent. Tonight we were out for a joyous occasion. My good friend's birthday our service tonight was awful. We waited hours for water. Out food came out cold. The server needed some help. For us large as our party was he needed an assistant. Had we not had good conversation to keep us entertained this would have been a awful evening. Will not return,

I ordered a burger and it tasted like one of the premade burgers you get in a middle school lunch. Couldn't even eat more than a bite. Service was extremely terrible. Would take 20 minutes to receive beer orders. I gave it 2/5 because they did have good fries.

I've been here 3 times and each time has been a disappointment. This review is for my final visit. I will never return unless they change things up. Last Sunday my husband and I went for brunch. The parking lot was full and the restaurant was empty. We got seated. The waitress was nice, but service slow. The restaurant wasn't very clean. There were tables that hadn't been bussed. Strange smells. Should have left. I got a Bloody Mary, pancakes, and bacon. The Bloody Mary was bland. I added a lot of salt, pepper, and tobacco to get it tasting good. Breakfast came out and the bacon was pretty raw. The pancakes were super heaving. Not at all fluffy like buttermilk pancakes should be. They were almost mealy. The flavor was ok. They were so heavy that they dried my mouth so I constantly had to drink water. So ick. My husband had a breakfast special with eggs, hash browns, ham, and pineapple. His hash browns were not cooked at all. Eggs were ok. The breakfast only took 10 minutes from order to table. Didn't put enough TLC into it. This place is such a good location and has the private lot! I wish they'd step up their game so they had good food and drinks!

We live within walking distance and have never stopped by, honestly because of the poor reviews. But we wanted a nice Wednesday night out with our pup and they allowed dogs on their outside patio! We sampled a few of their drinks and they were good! We also got the Brussels sprout appetizer and it was surprisingly . The aioli was a little strong, but we just wiped a little bit of it off. The waitress was so nice and brought water out for our dog immediately.

Took extremely long to get order once we finally got to order, some people in our party never even got to order. then we were cashed out before we were even done !! some of our party asked for more drinks are were broug hot their tab instead !! completely unacceptable. If you value your time don't come here . will never return !

Terrible service, food brought out wrong and cold but waitress never came back to see if we were good. Half an hour later when she did come back I showed her our wrong uneaten items and she only offered to remake it to go. I just wanted it taken off the bill but that was not offered. Absolutely ridiculous. Never again.

Service was poor - myself and another customer waiting on carry-out orders far longer than promised. This used to be Jimi's - a great diner - best thing they could do IMO is bring that back. Royal Oak downtown could use a good greasy breakfast diner, dinner stop with free and easy access for people with health conditions or impairments. Great Greek salads but place has an identity crisis and 5 years later has alienated many former customers.

Blackened salmon with broccoli and a side salad, my hubby ordered a bacon chicken sandwich wit the upgraded fries, along with a Atwater java porter. The booths aren't the most comfortable to sit in, but gives you a sense of privacy. They have lobster on their menu as part of their surf and turf yet they served my Greek dressing in a plastic takeaway container. The side salad was okay, nothing special, the ice berg and lettuce mixed with the carrots and red cabbage reminded me of the big premixed salad blend at the store. The Greek dressing is likely that same Jim's Greek which I was never fond of before. The advantage this place has over all other Royal Oak spots is that it has its own parking lot. The salmon is alright, doesn't taste so fresh, the broccoli was over cooked and soggy. Part of the salmon didn't appear fully cooked to me in the center. My husband enjoyed his bacon chicken sandwich, but said the ketchup tasted like the fancy ketchup and not the Heinz as the container claims, refilled with the cheap stuff. The mayo comes in the small takeaway packets and the BBQ sauce for the fries for me came in that same plastic takeaway container. At least my husband enjoyed his bacon chicken sandwich tonight. I want to forget I was ever here at all.

Seat yourself is not my favorite thing, the service seems to lag. Had a beer on the list and was out not thrilled because that's the one I wanted. So decided on the Shorts Soft Parade a blend of three berries.Good tasting beer. Ordered the Taphouse burger very good excellent spice. The burger had kimchi slaw, cheddar, bacon with a spicy creamy ranch real good mix of flavor. The fries were crispy. The service was ok. It was disappointing that they didn't have the beer. I don't like seeing something on a menu I can't have.

Best Restaurant bar in Royal Oak and has free parking which is a bonus. Great drinks and food

The steaks are disgusting The soup was pretty good Would not recommend or go back.

Service was lacking. The server completely forgot to order our appetizer. Ambiance: basic loud bar if that's what you are after. The food was really bad. We ordered fillets and got a cut of meat that was recognizable as beef but definitely not a fillet. My guess is maybe sirloin? The manager said his brother-in-law cuts the meat, so who knows. Definitely not a butcher. The garlic mashed potatoes came with a pool of greasy looking yellow "not butter" on them. They were too salty to eat even if you overlook the half cup of grease on them. The salad was not too bad. I sent the meat back and ordered my appetizer. It was your basic frozen fare. A coworker said this was a nice place. My definition of a nice place is not this.

Came in with a full intention of drinking/eating with my girlfriends. They ordered their drinks and I ordered a Diet Coke. Now I like my soda pop bubbly like my personality. The pop she brought was flat as hell. I let the waitress know and asked if they maybe had a different spout that had it carbonated. She said she would go check. She never came back. It was not busy in there and I saw her walking around living her best life. My girlfriends did enjoy their cocktails though. But if I'm going to be a designated driver, I'm gonna need a decent sody pop. And a decent waitress. So we left and walked over to Hopcat instead and had a great night. They have a patio and a decent menu but they need to improve on their service.

My son and I decided to try this place out tonight. I ordered the Mediterranean Pasta and the waitress delivered it without the sun dried tomato OR the artichokes. After about 15 minutes I was able to wave her down - she never bothered to check on us. She said she would check to see if that was supposed to be in the dish - no apology. She came back with some artichokes in a plastic container and said they were out of the sun dried tomatoes but she would give me a discount - again, no apology. I get the check and they gave me a 20% discount on the dish - $3.60. I asked to talk to a manager and there was none available (surprise!) so I talked to a waiter who said he thought that was a sufficient discount. We'll will never be back and many people will hear this story. I hope they feel that $3.60 was well spent!