Bastone Royal Oak

I recently visited Bastone in Royal Oak for a light lunch and some beer tasting with my wife and was pleasantly surprised on the Sunday afternoon.  When we walked in we were greeted promptly and seated in a nice wood booth.  The restaurant was dimly lit (not good or bad) and our booth looked like classic polished hardwood.  

The menu is very extensive but also a little pricey.  We both opted for the soup.  I chose to try beef soup and my wife had the creamy mushroom.  Both soups had the consistency of heavy cream and were delicious.  The beef in my soup seemed to be pureed and mixed with the cream.  They were served in gigantic bowls and although I was not able to finish all of mine (she liked mine more than hers) it gave me the opportunity to try both. 

We also ordered the beer sampler that includes all 6 of Bastone's regular beers and two of their seasonal beers.  I would highly recommend the Royal IPA and their seasonal Pumpkin Spice Ale.  The IPA was bitter and hoppy just like IPAs should be and the pumpkin spice was extra spicy with a pumpkin pie body and a cinnamon nose.  They also offer a beer club membership that includes 22 oz beers for the price of pints, a beer club t shirt, $2 beers on Tuesdays, 25% off all retail merchandise and beer to go (growlers), special event discounts and much more.  The cost is $55... I think... our waiter didn't know.

I would say the one knock on Bastone would be that their wait staff was not very knowledgeable about the food or beer menu.  It seemed like our waiter was preoccupied with something else that might have been going on in the kitchen and he didn't even know how much the beer club cost.  But he was polite.

All in all I would visit Bastone again to try the beers and something else from their appetizer menu.  It was a great place to have a few beers and some good conversation on a Sunday afternoon.

A night out at the Royal Oak Brewery

This Sunday night we treated ourselves to a night out at the Royal Oak Brewery in downtown Royal Oak.  Participants included myself, my fiance and my youngest brother who attends Kettering University in Flint, MI. but spends his work term in Novi, MI.

Being a Sunday I knew we were not going to get crazy but I also knew that I had a hankerin' for some of their tasty craft brews.  Apart from the beer we also went for some food, which again I was pleasantly surprised with.  The night went down as follows...

My brother arrives at my apartment around 8pm and we head out to the brewery located at 215 E. Fourth St.  We brave a late winter blizzard to get there and shuffle in to the place.

We are immediately seated, it's not very busy but there are a few brave souls.  I went with the Northern Light as my first beer.  A light and crisp taste temptation.  This is the rich man's light beer and I am loving in, very refreshing.  My brother, now of legal age, went with the same.  My fiance went with the root beer.

Now on to the food.  My fiance loves the personal pizzas there and I will say I am a huge fan as well.  But on this night I was feeling burger.  The brewery attacks burger lovers from a few angles.  You can go with the old stand-by Royal Oak Burger, no thrills, just a great burger with all the trimmings.  Then they have the Dagwood.  I half pound burger smothered in BBQ sauce and topped with an onion ring (my brother's burger of choice).  I had a very tough decision before me.  I had to choose between two burgers tied to a night out.  The first, Hair of the Dog, throws the kitchen sink at you with bacon and a perfectly fried egg.  Tempting, but a little too much for me that day. I went with the Hangover.  Even though I was not currently suffering from the ailment, the combination of two 6 ounce patties and a special sauce was irresistable.  I will say that the Hangover burger tastes as good as it sounds and I was more than pleased.  In fact I will go to say that I have never had a bad meal at this establishment.

The night was capped off with a couple different brews.  My brother opted for Pappy's Porch Sippin' Porter, a stellar choice as snow was still falling outside.  I went for the Brewhouse ESB and was not dissappointed.  I only wish I had the means and the time to sample all of their offerings... over and over.

On top of the great beer and food, service was top notch, which was reflected in the tip amount I left on the check.

It seems as though I am not the only one who holds the Royal Oak Brewery in such high regard.  Take a look at this article by Ron Arnold on examiner.com.

Thanks Royal Oak Brewery for a great night out!