This is probably one of my favorite places in Royal Oak. It's an actual dance club and it's usually…read morea good atmosphere. The drinks are reasonably priced and pretty strong. The bartenders are pretty attentive for the most part. Also, there is quite a bit of security, which is helpful in keeping the peace. I have never been there when there were any problems. Only issues are the line is always really long even when it is not full downstairs. I've waited in line for up to 30 minutes when it wasn't very full and waited less time when it was. That was partially due to the security overdoing their job. Also, being that it is in a basement, it can get pretty humid but that is to be expected when in a basement full of people. Other than that, I always enjoy myself here.

Disclaimer: I do not typically go to bars/clubs that feature dancing and loud music…read more That said, I had a pretty decent time with friends last weekend. I bought drinks for my friends -- 6 drinks in total -- and spent less than $40 including 20% tip. Pretty impressive. Not the fastest service, but they were a bit swamped when we were there. Not exactly the place for me, but I'd go back if my friends made me.

We stopped in here while we waited for D'Amato's restaurant to open. What's super convenient is…read morethat Gracie's and D'Amato's share the space together. They have a number of craft cocktails that are absolutely delicious. I had the Cherry Bourbon Mule and my wife had a Dirty Martini - both were awesome. In fact, I had 2 more Mules afterwards if that tells you anything. The bartender was great - responsive, cordial and even humorous. When we come back to Royal Oak, we will certainly be back. Give it a try!

We tucked into the bar on a Saturday night for an early evening cocktail. They have a Saturday…read morehappy hour menu! So...the lovely barkeep took our drink order quickly so we could partake. A shared Caesar salad and zoodle/pasta dish later and we are sufficiently suffonsified. House made sauces are delicious (we tried the marinara but I'd like to try palomino next time) and there is no pressure to drink like fish or overindulge in food. DJ was setting up as we were leaving, so I'm sure the hospitable atmosphere only improves. We'll return.

Ambiance is great. Sunday night; so there was music which…read morewas a lovely addition. No cover which is always nice. Food was very good!!

This place was pretty good, you go down an alley and give the password at the door ( in my email),…read morethen go down some stairs, pass a kitchen and you meet a silver door. For food they have a selection of small bites, large bites, and desserts. We opted for the Shanghai lettuce wraps on the small bite menu 7/10 due to the fact we had to wrap the meat in the lettuce ( reminded me of sloppy Joe meat), lamb chops 6/10 good flavor I ordered them Medium but I'd say it was cooked less, and chicken tikka which was amazing and delicious 10/10. I had an old fashioned which was delicious 10/10 and came out of a bottle with smoke at the table. Service was good and our server was attentive, will I return? Not sure, this speakeasy allows parties which kind of takes away from the intimate vibe.

Considering I've been coming here since they opened, it seems like they've not payed attention to…read morethe value of their staff. Buddha has been the most skillful bartender I've experienced since coming here. I'm appalled that a company would let someone go that brings so much to the plate. Management is abysmal. There's no organization. This place will end up like hopcat.

My friend and I took the elevator to the wrong floor ACCIDENTALLY and we got harassed and screamed…read moreat by security saying we shouldn't be on this floor. I thought that was out of pocket, no need to treat us that way. Then the other security guards thought it was okay to touch my boobs to get me to back up. Then my drinks all night were $10 then my last drink was all of a sudden $18 (I got the same exact drink all night) don't waste your time, this place is HORRIBLE.

Food, service, bouncers, security, and music is always exceptional and great time for all! Will be…read morea continued patron.

Hahaha the bouncer, who had stains all over his clothes, "dress codes" me for wearing a purple Nike…read moretank top to the outdoor patio bar. Please. Lets in multuple women in, who are wearing much less clothing than I was, but can't handle a man wearing a purple tank top. Classic. Even with an empty space, this "establishment" had the gull and gumption to turn away patronage. OK! You're right! In sum, the place acts just like how it smells. Apparently, beggars CAN be choosers.

REALLY yummy cocktails. Loved the opportunity to taste some of Valentine's Distillery spirits in…read moreaction. Their vodka and gin were both lovely in the drinks I got! We got their mid shift change and they didn't miss a beat in taking care of us, all of the bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly. Good vibes here and not crazy pricey like some cocktail bars can be.

They have a great party room in the back. Beautifully set up and you can make it into a strolling…read moredinner. The service was decent. The bar closed early. And the bartender was sometimes not available. Otherwise it was very nice. Parking could definitely be improved. It was very, very difficult to park. Limited spaces in Ferndale, apparently which makes it not ideal location when it comes to having to figure out how to park and then walk your way back there in the Dark.

We hosted our office holiday luncheon at The Oakland, and it could not have been a better…read moreexperience. During this time of year, they transform the space with their Miracle pop-up, which made the atmosphere absolutely perfect for a festive work event. Even though it's their busiest season, they were incredibly accommodating and allowed us to host our luncheon. The Owner and General Manager were both extremely responsive and helpful from start to finish. They offered thoughtful suggestions on catering and the ideal setup, and patiently answered every question I had along the way. The staff was outstanding--attentive, friendly, and genuinely funny--which made the entire experience even more enjoyable. Everyone had a fantastic time and couldn't stop talking about the ambience. Truly a 10/10 experience. Highly recommend for both private events and a great night out!

We stopped in on a Saturday evening and this place was already busy and packed. Luckily, we found a…read morespot at the bar where service was a little slow but friendly. My espresso martini was simply average. However, my husband's drink was absolutely delicious. It was called a Naruto's Express.

This little strip has turned into a great spot for cocktails, and Syndicate has become a glorious…read moreaddition. Walking in, the black and gold nuances strike you immediately and sitting at the bar, watching each drink being made is really quite fun. Their cocktail menu is absolutely spectacular. What a wide range of choices with all the major types of liquor available in one form or another. My bartender developed the program and she was super knowledgeable about it. I didn't try any of the food, so I can't comment on that, but for a pre or post dinner cocktail, I can definitely say this was an awesome spot to come out to.

Came here for an anniversary dinner and left a bit disappointed. I have heard good things but…read moreturned out to be a very mediocre dinner. Got a burger and upgraded to truffle fries. Just one burger option and limited toppings. Server was very nice but didn't write down the order, and when it came my burger was missing the cheese and onion. I wasn't sure if they would take it back or what so I didn't eat anymore and it took her a decent amount of time to come and check on us after we got our food. I let her know what was missing and she said it was her fault and asked if I wanted it fixed. I said yeah and she went and got a cold piece of cheese and slice of onion and put it on a plate and gave to me to put on my own burger. I'd expected a little bit better service and I'm certainly not someone who demands top tier service from every spot. Fries were crispy but needed some parm or an aioli sauce to dip in. Also minor note but I had some fries left on my plate and when she came to collect plates I had food in my mouth so I couldn't say anything but she took the plate and my fries! They should always ask if there's any food left on the plate. Burger was decent overall, but definitely nothing special. Environment was cool and I'm sure they have got some other delicious items on the menu but for the price paid and service received, I'd go somewhere else next time.

5/16/25 I came here…read morewith the in-laws, Zach and his brother and wife for a 5PM reservation. They were just opening up, but they let us sit at the bar while they got the restaurant ready for dinner. We all got drinks at the bar. I got The Final Rose drink. its's very pretty and not too strong. After sipping on the drinks, the host brought us to our table. Chris was our server that day. He was super friendly and answered all of our questions regarding the menu. Here's what we got: - Michigan lamb ragu (his) - Lobster and shrimp pad thai (mine) - Crab and shrimp cakes (share) - clam chowder (share) His family got some of the same items, but I can't remember the different items they got. The overall consensus though was that everything tasted fantastic. Coming from the Bay Area, I have high expectations when it comes to Asian food, so I was pleasantly surprised by how great the pad thai tasted. The clam chowder was creamy and delightful. The crab cakes were the perfect size and not teeny tiny. The lamb ragu was very well done also and my husband is a big fan of lamb so he really enjoyed his meal. Since we were there early, it was quiet which was nice. Would definitely return in the future the next time I am in Michigan.

---the ambience is 10/10 --music is not too loud & blends into the background as it should ---and…read morenot insultingly used as distraction from whatever mess a low IQ owner who'd employ such a beastly tactic by sensory overloading you into hallucinating an edible meal -- --It's a good sign whenever the order takes time b4 landing on ur table-- even when there's table availability---it signals to me that the food is being made with care & attention---

Overall this is a really good spot. In the best way possible, it feels out of place in Royal Oak…read more While everything else is overly trendy, this place just continues to b proudly be what it is...a a really good dive bar! Bartenders are very quick and drinks are very strong. Great spot to post up for a while and just chill with your buddies.

-1000 stars. Hope this establishment goes into oblivion as they are unprofessional, disgusting,…read morehaphazardly run and rude. Run away.