We tried Jim Brady's in Royal Oak for the first time in a very long time. We left feeling that we should have waited a bit longer. First, the ambiance: the setting was somewhat bar-like, with a wall of TVs - more than I remembered from previous visits. Next, the service. We were seated pretty much immediately, and our server was friendly and professional. He tried. Now, the food. 3 of the 4 in our party ordered the special, which was tenderloin tips served over pasta. Each couple ordered the beet salad, which was another special, and told our server we wanted to share the dishes. Here began the problems. Our server told us that the establishment "couldn't" divide the salad so we could share it. He did agree, upon our request, to bring 2 extra plates, and we then proceeded to divide each salad ourselves. Why they couldn't do this for us remained a mystery. Lucky for us, we were not forced to order 4 salads, as the quality was not so high. It was accompanied by what seemed to be a blend of 2 or 3 different dressings, which did not exactly mix completely, and which sat in a puddle on the plate. Not a great look. Next, the tenderloin over pasta. The meat was served in large chunks. This became problematic for 2 reasons: first, the cut of beef used was rather tough, and the knives we had to cut it with were dull - butter knives, actually. Once the meat was cut, 2 of the 3 diners saw that their beef was undercooked to the point of being raw in the center (the 3rd diner's meat was quite rare, but I managed to eat it). The 4th diner ordered the whitefish, which he found to be "adequate." After complaining about the raw beef to the server, and ultimately the manager, an offer was made to re-fire the dishes. When they came back, they were cooked, but just barely. The noodles accompanying the beef was what can only be described as a hodgepodge - 2 or 3 different types of noodles, assembled together for no apparent reason. The sauce was a bit strange as well. It was supposed to have mushrooms, but they were scarce to the point of being almost non-existent. In sum, we will most likely not be returning to Jim Brady's. read more

Average is the word I would sum this place up with. The staff is very friendly, which made a big difference.

Not really sure where to begin. Ordered the cheeseboard ($16) and added the two meats option for $3- when the board came out- it looked like someone had already eaten half of it. I mean seriously. There was half a sliced strawberry and 5 blueberries for the featured "fruit" on the tray- and 6 pickled carrots slices for the pickled vegetables. The meat we paid extra for- was TWO slices of thin salami and 3 slices of prosciutto... the cheese was mediocre, lacking in portions as well. The preserves were just straight up Welch's grape jelly. I'm laughing while I'm writing this because I still can't believe it. I ordered the seared and roasted salmon ($29) and it was the most disappointing part of the night. My small salmon portion was burnt on the bottom, and extremely dry- no flavor whatsoever. The green beans and carrots were just that, not much to write about aside from being boring boiled vegetables with little to no seasoning. I could hardly eat it, got grossed out, and just finished off the veggies. My friend ordered a Moscow mule (was never told about the mule menu when ordering) and was served a splash of ginger beer with Bacardi (listed on the receipt as well) Our server was fine, but seemed completely uninterested in serving us, and even walked away while we were ordering. Overall, extremely disappointed. Our total bill with tip came up to almost $100- and we both feel ripped off. Won't be coming back or recommending to anyone soon unless they want overpriced food with a view. read more

Ambiance is the absolutely stellar, gives you a feel for old Detroit with a hint of modern class. Food is wonderful and really good bartender's so be sure to tip extra read more

Great burger, interesting ambiance. Felt welcome initially, after 1hr there was a vibe to leave.

Always great food! Great service!! Great Atmosphere!!!! Love this place!! Don't forget your carrot cake!!! read more

See all

Amazing Korean short ribs!!! Service and drinks are also top tier! I frequently go here for happy hours.

I've heard so many good things about Jim Brady's over the years, and I finally had a chance to stop in today to grab a bite to eat. I kind of had an idea of what to expect, and was impressed overall. Walking in, I *love* how the place is decorated. Very classy, clean and reminds of decor from the early 1970's. Red padded front door, cool light fixtures and the place is dimly lit. Considering it was the middle of the day on a Saturday, over Thanksgiving weekend, there was a fair amount of people in the place. Plenty of seating still available, but was pleasantly surprised with how busy it was. I reviewed the menu and wasn't sure what to get. I sat at the bar, and the bartender was friendly and professional the whole time. I ended up going with the Brady burger, since I needed something meaty. I scoured their drink menu, and even though I was very impressed with the selection, I wasn't up for drinking today, so I passed. The burger came out, and it was okay. I mean, I ate it, but I have had better burgers. I have also had worse burgers. If I were to write a review on *just* the burger alone, 3 stars, no more. But, since I love the rest of this place so much, 4 stars it is. I want to come back and try some more of their food. I would totally come here with my parents or a date. It reminds me of fancy dinner places when I was a kid, with the decor and lighting. I love it. read more

The food was super good. I ordered the Rigatoni and carrot cake and was impressed by both. Our server was very nice and patient since it was our first time there. I would definitely come back and I 100% recommend this place. The vibe is super cute!! read more

Jim Brady's - Rigatoni - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

See all

Excellent! We made a reservation for a Friday evening. The restaurant was starting to fill up as we arrived. We were greeted right away as we walked in. Our server (Mary) was very attentive and helpful with questions about about the menu. We ordered the blackened chicken carbonara ($18), The Colonel ($15), and kids corn dogs with tots ($7). The entrees did not disappoint. We're already planning on going back to try other entrees. They offer happy hour specials during the week. This restaurant would be a great place to stop for dinner or just drinks and appetizers. We finished our meal with the waffle puff dessert. VERY good! Overall- attentive server, fantastic food, and a unique atmosphere. We will be back soon! read more

Jim Brady's - Waffle puff with Nutella ice cream $7 - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

I've been here twice and enjoyed my meal, drinks and atmosphere both times. Sat outside the first time, but since it's cold out now, we sat at the bar our last visit. When it's busy you can sit at the bar if you can get a barstool and skip the wait - and the bartender will take care of your food and drink order. Anyways - my bf and I shared a meal of the airplane chicken - skeptical with the name - but the bartender assured us it was delicious. He was correct. We also shared a salad - which was a side salad - but was so big I would have thought it was a meal salad. It was really tasty with mixed greens and veggies on it, really nice job. I like the atmosphere here - busy but not too noisy. Nice decor and it feels homey. The barstools are also very comfortable with the bar at a good height. Not too be overlooked! It's nice to be comfortable when eating at the bar and not worrying about your wobbly barstool or stiff back! Also - there are purse hooks underneath the bar which is a bonus. I like this place and will be back for another meal. read more

Go for brunch and get the Nutella and strawberry waffles! OMG! AMAZING! My love of Nutella alone should give them 5 stars, but I'll go a little further. The waffle was cut into fours and was drizzled with Nutella and a vanilla sauce. Then there were strawberries kind of sprinkled all over! So good! Went in for lunch and they had a brunch menu! Started off with some fried green tomatoes from the regular menu and a Bloody Mary. Holy acid! First time I've ever had fried green tomatoes and they were great! They were breaded in some sort of cornmeal and fried just perfectly. The dish had some kind of cheese sauce that was delish and a Bloody Mary ranch, I don't do ranch. Speaking of Bloody Mary, mine tasted fine. Nothing spectacular about it. It was tasty though. The service was great. Very friendly server. She knew a lot about the menu and could make recommendations. The decor was cool. Appeared swanky but prices weren't over the top. It was a fun place. Look forward to going back! read more

Jim Brady's - Eggs Benedict that my friend got! - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

See all

An excellent place that managed to accommodate our group of twelve on a busy Saturday night. Let me tell you that you need to get the fish tacos ASAP. They were perfect; the batter was light and airy and the whole thing was exactly the way fish tacos should be made. My wife got the Easy burger, her only complaint was that the yolk should be runny. A few people got the lobster roll and they loved it. The carrot cake was on point. The perfect portion size and it was delicious. My only complaint was about the cauliflower appetizer. It looked cool, but there wasn't any distinct flavor to it. It needed some salt but also needed some sort of buffalo sauce to bring it all together along with a good dipping sauce. Overall, a place worth coming to multiple times. There are some amazing things on the menu. read more

See all

Honestly not impressed by this restaurant other than the fact it has its own free parking lot in downtown Royal Oak - a rarity. Drinks were great but expensive (I had their Metropolitan). Food was even more expensive. I ordered the Pop Boy sandwich with Cajun fries and it was underwhelming. We had the honey ricotta as an appetizer which was good. I wouldn't care to eat here again. There's better options in Royal Oak. read more

I am not sure how they continue to make the food worse, but golly they sure do. I have dropped in since they opened here and the only thing they did well was expand the parking lot. The chef needs to seriously stop over salting everything. The owner needs to stop sitting at the bar. Sorry bro no one wants to chat with you and wow you sure make your staff uncomfortable. How about if you raise your prices the quality gets better? Bring back the good food like the steak bites and stop making things worse. read more

I feel like it is a moral obligation to report how delicious the Boston Boulevard Waffle-Puff dessert is. I love me a decadent dessert, but this was perfection. Crispy/fluffy cinnamon waffles sandwiches with Vernor's ice cream, and smothered with Sander's hot fudge and caramel. It's sweet, warm, rich and melty. Absolute deliciousness. For dinner I had the maple miso salmon, which was also very good. The salmon was cooked a little more than I'd prefer, but it was full of flavor with a cauliflower risotto and a mix of mushrooms and spinach. My husband got the steak Mac and cheese, which was another winning meal. Cool ambiance, great eats, and friendly staff (who didn't seem phased at all with all the families with kids in high chairs, since I brought my baby with me.) I'll definitely be back! read more

Perfect Moscow Mules and buffalo tater tots. And a late night happy hour makes them the best in the are! The bartenders are friendly. They even have a super late happy hour that starts after ten. It's perfect for night owls like me. Seemed like the food was a tad on the slower side, but it was well worth the wait. Overall, I would say make this a stop if you're in the arts and looking for a great drink selection and a bite to eat. Gotta go again and again! read more

This is a weekly favorite for my husband and I. We live about a mile away and enjoy sitting at the bar or the patio. The staff is always friendly and they ya e great specials all week, ranging from burger night to wine night ! My go too favorite is the buffalo chicken sandwich, although at this point I have tried almost the whole menu and find almost all meals wonderful! A few of my other favorites are: chicken poppers with bloody Mary ranch, blackened chicken carbonara, chili Mac, and the shroom king burger.... oh and don't forget to take home a piece of carrot cake! I'll be back Updated, disappointing this place has gone down hill. Lack of menu items and what they do have just doesn't seem to have the quality of the old menu. Even the carrot cake tasted off. read more

We attempted to enjoy a meal on 4/23/25 and waited approximately 25-30 min with only having water and the menus delivered. There were other patrons seated and were immediately addressed with water, menus and service to take their order. This party consisted of Caucasian and Asian men and their server was very attentive. We then left the restaurant due to being ignored by everyone that passed us. I then reentered to share by displeasure and was told the bartender was our server and she was too busy to even come to let us know but we would then be taken care of. We declined that offer due to being concerned of something being done to our food. Never again will we attempt to dine at this establishment. Good luck staying in business if 2 black women will be treated like this and I'm sharing this with everyone I know, which will definitely be spread further. I wish I could've given negative 5 stars. read more

Third time here, and it definitely wasn't the charm. On a positive note, we came on a Monday and all burgers were half off. That was the good news. The bad news was, I thought my burger was just ok. I ordered The Bad Axe. While it had a good combination of flavors with its toppings, I found the actual flavor of beef to be rather lackluster. I don't think I would order a burger again. The accompanying fries were just average. The Ochos Totchos appetizer we ordered was the highlight of the meal. As the name implies, there were nacho-inspired ingredients topping the little tots. The grilled chicken, cheese sauce, jalapeños, and crispy tots made for many great bites of creamy, crunchy, spicy awesomeness. On this visit, Jim Brady's earned the distinction of being one of the few restaurants where I don't like ANY of the desserts. It's that darn Vernors ice cream. I hate its thin ice milk-like texture. Anyway, I thought I would try the banana split because the menu listed chocolate, vanilla custard, and strawberry ice cream as the base. The thing came out with the Vernors ice cream in place of the custard. When I asked our waitress, Jillian, about it, she argued that Vernor's was their vanilla ice cream. I pointed out the menu description of vanilla custard to her. To which she replied that she has never seen vanilla custard before. I hate when wait staff argues with me! read more

Jim Brady's - Note: The banana split does NOT come with vanilla custard. - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

We just ate here and had the most incredible meal. Our server, Lisa, was a SHINING STAR. Her knowledge of the menu was impressive, and her suggestions were spot on! You have a GEM with her as a part of your staff! We cant wait to return! Our recommendations: Octopus appetizer Caesar salad Fish tacos A variety of yummy cocktails read more

Food was good, nothing extraordinary, great parking, a little bit loud for me but tolerated for an 1 1/2 hour, slow for the service.

Back a second time. The impossible meatball sub and fries was bomb. Our waitress was amazing, I believe her name was Lisa? Probably the best waitress I've ever had honestly. This place has become a definite new favorite for us!! read more

Jim Brady's - Impossible Meatball Sub & Fries - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Came here on a Friday evening during their happy hour specials and so glad that we did! The place seems to fill up quickly at the bar but we managed to make a reservation for a table earlier in the day. We were starving so we ordered a bunch but everything was delicious. OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE WAS THE AHI TUNA NACHOS! Get those!! So flavorful and yummy. Your stomach with thank you. These were counted for the $6 appetizers for happy hour. We also got the chicken tenders which were also super delicious. They have a wide array of sauces to have with it. For mains, we got the Caesar salad and the classic Jim brady burger. Both excellent and hit the spot. And after all this food, we still somehow had room for dessert thankfully. And it did not disappoint- we got the Carrot Cake and it was to die for!!! Also do yourself a favor and get the carrot cake. For each slice sold, they also support an animal foundation which I appreciated. Overall, the food was awesome and the atmosphere was fun and lively. The service was kind and timely. We had an amazing time. Looking forward to coming back! read more

See all

Celebrated a birthday with lunch here today. Cool interior reflecting back on their Detroit roots. Service was wonderful - attentive, friendly and informative. We tried 3 different dishes - blackened chicken carbonara (good but spicy), Jim Brady original burger (outstanding!), steak with mac n cheese (steak tender and flavorful, creamy, delicious mac n cheese). Dessert was waffles with Vernors ice cream and Sanders hot fudge - yes please!! We split this 3 ways but if you have the room treat yourself to a whole one! Umm and the ladies room well I just had to take a picture. Fun place, nice people, good food - yes I'll be back!! read more

See all

I really like the patio here because it's opened up and you get a little glimpse of royal right before you reach downtown. They have a pretty unique menu with burgers, wraps, salad and even your more luxurious entrees like steaks and seafood. I personally LOVE their brussel sprouts and could order like 3 orders and be satisfied with that! Come by and give this place a shot. The girls bathroom is a great place to take pictures and service is friendly and on point! read more

Jim Brady's fried chicken sandwich only comes medium rare I guess. Service was slow and it wasn't even busy in there. Barely got an apology for serving me raw chicken. Got sick and was throwing up that night. read more

Jim Brady's - The Colonel - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Hand Down- Best French Dip EVER !! Tom has done a fantastic Job This Place is A Must ! Best Food In Royal Oak!!! Check it Out Food - AMAZING Staff- Jim on the BAR - 5 Stars Owner - on hands, fantastic fantastic fantastic JOB !!! read more

They were busy during lunch time, but it's large enough that we didn't have to wait for seating. For an appetizer, we had the Ahi Tuna Pokē nachos. They were good and spicy with the jalapeños. Our entrees were the chicken and waffles and fish and chips. Both were good, but I definitely preferred the chicken and waffles. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. The cocktails I had were the Mai Tai and Singapore Sling. I liked both, and the Singapore Sling has a nice kick to it. Service was slower than we expected but the waitress was pleasant. read more

See all

Had a great meal and drinks at Jim Brady's. Service was good and restaurant was nice.

Helen chose not to be understanding and help me with my issue she said it was noting she could do not apologetic with her nice nasty attitude 26 dollars for noodles and cheese charged full price read more

Jim Brady's - 26 dollars for noodles and cheese - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Great spot on the south end of Main Street in Royal Oak! Classy bar with some TVs but not overwhelming game spot. Nice date night place with a diverse menu and pleasant atmosphere. Parking is available as well. Next time you are in Royal Oak, step away from the commotion and check out Jim Brady's whether it's a casual lunch or a night out! read more

Felt completed discriminated against as a black woman by the server name Bob. He was not polite at all nor did he make me feel comfortable. Disappointed with his attitude and behavior I told him we would be leaving and he responded "great" before walking away. We have been customers here and funding your company proudly for months now. As a 4 star restaurant manager, I would never hire anyone of that nature UNLESS you intend to have white racist staff with the intention of a predominant white crowd. I know most of you WHITE royal oak owners prefer it that way. If I could rate 0 stars I would. Do better, it's 2024! You've upset the wrong person. read more

Went here for a lunch meeting with my bosses, on one of their recommendations. Enjoyed the ambiance and my food, but a few hours later, something went awry. We started off with the Hellfire cheese dip, which was fabulous. The chips were hot out of they fryer, and the cheese dip had just enough kick. We had to ask for a spoon to help serve it tho. My bosses both ordered the grilled chicken ciabatta club, which the bun was ENORMOUS. Too much bun in my opinion. My one boss only ate 1/2 her sandwich with the bun, the other half sans. They were happy with their choices, although they both said they probably wouldn't order it again. I had the Baby Kale and Salmon salad w/ lemon vinaigrette. I was pleased with my salad, although, like my bosses, I wouldn't order this menu item again. It wasn't until an hour or two after lunch, my stomach was on fire, I started to get nauseous, and my mouth began to water like I was going to vomit. The only time this happens to me is when I have consumed copious amounts of MSG. It could've been the chips, the hellfire cheese, or my salad, I may never know, or a combination of all 3. Regardless if it really was the food that make me ill or not, I will always equate feeling this way after eating here. Unless my boss requests another lunch meeting here, and she's paying, I probably won't come back here. read more

Jim Brady's - Hellfire cheese dip - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

This story will detail our latest Jim Brady's happy hour excursion. It was a frosty January afternoon. The forecast was for 6 to 8 inches of snow and it had already started to accumulate. We were cautiously driving down a slushy Main street looking for some place to eat and drink. Being smack dab in the middle of happy hour, there was only one choice. We pulled into the partially cleared parking lot and happened to land the spot closest to the entrance. We were quickly seated and handed our menus. The waitress asked if we wanted any non-water beverages and I went for the Bell's Hopslam. The wife chose for the Singapore sling. She returned a little bit later with the beverages and we put in our food order. I ordered the fried Brussel sprouts, the ahi tuna poke nachos, and the Mediterranean turkey burger. The wife opted for the tator tots topped with grilled chicken breast. A while later, all of our food appeared at the same time. I rather would have taken the dishes as they were ready but was never granted that as an option. Some of our dishes had been sitting a while and were lukewarm but hey it's happy hour so you have to make some sacrifices. I started with the ahi tuna poke nachos. Basically, ten fried flour nachos, individually topped with 3 or 4 1cm cubes of ahi tuna, with chopped red onions, avocado, and cilantro. Drizzled with nacho cheese and topped off with a thin, fresh slice of jalapeño. This was one of the highlights of our meal. I could have gone for about three times more tuna, but it was a steal as is for happy hour. The nachos themselves were almost a little soggy and warm. I could tell it had been sitting while the other dishes were being prepared. I would order it again though. The next item I tried was the Mediterranean turkey burger. It was a turkey burger that had a mix of big chunks of feta cheese throughout the burger. Interesting. It was topped with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and balsamic vinaigrette. Seems like this is the option you would get when you want a burger but want to eat somewhat healthy. It was alright I suppose. The item I found most enjoyable of the bunch was the fried Brussel sprouts. A ceramic bowl full of fried Brussel sprout petals and bulbs, with a mix of dried cherries and pecans. I could tell this was the most recently prepared dish of the bunch as it retained the most heat. The petals were crispy and the sweetness of the cherries contrasted nicely. The pecans also helped the texture combo with a nice crunch. I tried some of the wife's tator tots and grilled chicken dish. It was alright but nothing spectacular. A bed of tators topped with some slices of grilled chicken, drizzled with some cheese sauce. The chicken was a little dry for me but hey, happy hour. Altogether, it was a good meal. Our waitress could have been a little more attentive as our glasses sat devoid of water for several periods of time. Food could have been warmer. But, it was a great deal for what I would refer to as; high quality, happy hour food. The mixed drinks are also worth. An old fashioned. The sling. Many a choice of fancy, garnished beverage. Summary: Jim Brady's has one of the best happy hours that the city of Royal Oak has to offer. read more

Jim Brady's - Ahi tuna poke nachos. - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

See all

First time here...so good!. Brussel spouts were delicious and I loved the roasted carrot salad. My boyfriend got the bad axe burger and said it was super good. The maple bourbon sauce was sweet but paired well with everything else. Drinks were also delicious. We got the old fashion, tootsie Manhattan, and watermelon sangria read more

Great brunch on a Saturday! Tater tot hash was very good with a mix of cheeses. And the Tony the Tiger French toast is just like dessert! read more

Jim Brady's - American Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

See all

Step back in time to the late 1950s where the ambiance echoes a classy lounge and supper club vibe. Have a cocktail at one of the two bars and then head over to your table where you'll find yourself surrounded by a noisy, energetic whirl of conversations. It is loud and it is busy as the crowds showing up to a full house on a busy Monday evening will attest to. The smooth service was always professional, polite and friendly and that goes from the greeter to the bartender to the server that waited on our table. We had a little one with us and the server (Sheila) gave him just the right amount of attention so special kudos for that too. As I said, the restaurant was very busy but that didn't stop our food from coming out in a perfectly timed manner. I ordered the Chicken Poppers with BBQ sauce ($9) as an appetizer which were very good. I made an entre of their Buffalo Chicken Wedge Salad ($12) which had a grilled chicken breast on top of crisp iceberg lettuce, jalapeño bacon (I forgot to request no pork), grape tomato, chives, gorgonzola, bleu cheese dressing, and red hot-honey sauce. Delicious! My dining companions, fellow Metro Detroit Yelpers Laurie H., Tod H. and their grandson Blake all enjoyed their meals and the experience as well. It's a cool spot and If you are wanting to treat yourself to a nice meal in a classy restaurant then you'll want to dress up a bit and visit them. You won't be disappointed. It's a solid 4 stars and I'm sure there's some Frank Sinatra song playing in the background. read more

See all

Jim Brady's is a great American restaurant with cool history. It's located as a standalone restaurant on Main Street. I shared a chicken asparagus mac & cheese and a pastrami sandwich with fries. The mac & cheese was fantastic, creamy with an abundance of ingredients, just the way I like it! The pastrami sandwich was just ok, slightly dry, but edible. I gave an extra start just for the service. Our waitress explained the history of the restaurant and mentioned that the women's restroom was a must-see for the 1st pink pay phone to assist women from bad dates. Think of it as an emergency SOS since cell phones weren't available back then. The phone still works today! The decor inside was also very interesting. Overall I had a great experience here! read more

See all

Good food. But I really miss the Mac-n-Cheese with steak. It was a highlight of the pandemic. So sorry to have lost it...