For anyone who has not spent an evening strolling around Royal Oak, I highly recommend it. Here in Michigan we have to be greedy when it comes to enjoying time spent outside so don't waste anytime. Recently we spent the evening with some of our favorite people touring about the town, window shopping, dog petting and people watching. There are plenty of unique shops and establishments to choose from.

My new favorite find is Town Tavern in downtown Royal Oak. It was pure bliss to walk into a contemporary yet traditional dining venue in Michigan that is SMOKE FREE. We sunk into the chocolate velvet upholstered booth and appreciated the mix of dark wood, chrome, and frosted ribbed glass that give the place an air of sophistication. The service was excellent and not rushed.

There were several things that really stood out in my mind. #1 was the Caribbean Martini ($9) that was sweet, I'll admit but very refreshing. The mix of Vanilla Stoli, Malibu Rum and pineapple juice was one of those drinks that could really sneak up on you if you were persuaded to order more than one, which I had the fortitude not to do. #2 was their Parmesan Truffle french fries. My goodness, I don't indulge in french fries too often but these beauties could be dangerous to my waistline. They are perfectly cooked skinny cut fries that are tossed with Truffle oil and sprinkled with Parmesan and some parsley for color.

My very wise son requested "whatever fish special Chef Debbie recommends" and was served a beautifully plated serving of Ono, which was sweet, moist and flaky. The Cesar salad and Tavern cheeseburger also got rave reviews from our crowd. I can't forget to mention the cutest  small plate of little tacos that were composed of slowly simmered beef short ribs topped with avacado cream and fresh salsa. We really enjoyed everything we tasted during our visit. The Town Tavern is not a bargain hunter's paradise, but I thought very fairly priced for the quality of the food and experience.

We were able to enjoy a relaxed dinner and still had plenty of time to walk off the fullness of our meal on this perfect summer evening. I only wish I could have made room for my favorite local ice cream, Ray's praline or fresh strawberry. Another must have treat while you're visiting Royal Oak.