La Dulce Is Royal Oak's 'Most Distinctive New Restaurant'; Townhouse Is Extravagant

Serena Maria Daniels embraces her inner Wall Street bro at Townhouse Detroit: "If you were to encounter Townhouse Detroit in any other major American city, it's entirely possible that you would do your best to avoid it," Daniels writes. The restaurant unapologetically commands "you to look at it in much the same way a rebellious teenager purposely gets caught smoking in the locker room." Don't expect traditional dim sum, but rather a "contrived and misleading" selection of deep-fried mac-and-cheese balls, deviled eggs, and cubes of blue fin tuna. But the word isn't all bad. The critic finds plenty to like about the highly-advertised Townhouse Burger and even enjoys the sushi and maple-cured elk tenderloin. [Metro Times]

Molly Abraham indulges in Spanish Tapas at La Dulce: It's perhaps a little too early for a starred review of La Dulce (the Royal Oak eatery is just one month old), but this doesn't stop Molly Abraham. La Dulce is "surely Royal Oak's most distinctive new restaurant," the critic writes. "The highly detailed setting is matched by the cuisine and the meticulous way it is served." Abraham suggests diners try the croquetas de lomo — "crisp little balls of potato and cured pork loin" served with Bechamel sauce — or the serranito (Serrano ham with oxtail and shishito peppers). The critic gives the European-style eatery a coveted four stars. [Detroit News]