IM A FAN but hold on.... the day time is fine. Early evening is fine. The menu is OK. The service is pretty good too. But look out around 10PM on the weekends because the mood gets ugly. The good people clear out... and the scummy thug people infiltrate in and ... start fights.
It gets super repulsive and ugly. There is no staff that jumps in the way of potential fighting. There is an air of violence. It turned me off. The cab driver even told me to watch out as I left. I haven't been back.
I only use this joint as a lunch meeting place. Thats it.
A bastion of douchebaggery on the weekends. Â Given how busy it is, apparently lots of people enjoy this type of shenanigans, but unless you're heavily intoxicated, it's pretty much intolerable. Â Although I will say, any time I have come here, I always leave with some great stories. In one trip to the ladies restroom one night, I witnessed a girl intentionally break a glass beer bottle on the floor, another bend over in a super-short dress while obviously not wearing any undies, and another blowdrying her ARMPITS. Seriously, I'm not sure you could find that combo in many places, so props to BF for luring in that type of patron.
Review Source:The food is good, there's a lot of beer on tap. I love it in the summer because the windows all go away so it's like being outside. Â There are a lot of tv's, so it's a decent spot to catch a game. It is always the busiest bar in town, so depending on when you go, it could be tough to get a seat. Â They do have a dinning section, which is nice if you're not in the mood for a crowd. Â I have a 2 month old so it's nice to be able to still come here with him.
Review Source:Negative reviews are sad to see for this place. Seeing that I never have had a bad experience. Cajun shrimp is always a plus for me, and if I like it....Rola's coming back. I cheated on my Cajun shrimp salad this time, and had the lemon chicken with capers and veggies. Mmm so very tender. Mashed potatoes are amaze, but....the penne pasta was dry. I needed more sauce, I love my pasta just oozing in sauce and this plate wasn't. But they made it up with the strong drinks. Tread carefully.....again!
Review Source:Don't go in here if you aren't coming directly from your office in a suit. Seriously, you'll feel out of place if you aren't in business attire.
The food here is pretty decent, we've done a couple of happy hours after work here and it's been an alright place but we've had a few miscues. The waitress' we had both times were mediocre. Fortunately we noticed the auto-gratuity for our group size because neither were inclined to note that when they dropped the bills.
As many people have said in the reviews, this isn't a casual hang out place.
This visit was to get food and bide time before seeing a show at Royal Oak Music Theater. Â We were eager for happy hour but the menu looked so good, we had to venture in to more. The place was empty when we arrived and packed by the time we left about 6pm. A lot of professionally dressed younger people.
Happy Hour - 1/2 off wine, calls, drafts and their specialty cocktails. I tried the Blackberry Margarita - had muddled fruit, White Cosmo - tasty, and Pomegranate Bubbles - really good and refreshing. $6 select appetizers and flat breads.
We had the sausage and peperoni flat bread. the others in my party liked it. The sausge had a good flavor. Also had the queso dip- which was smoky and had a nice spice to it. Made with yellow cheese, but it wasn't Velveeta so I was happy :)
Goat cheese strawberry and pecan salad was large and paired well with an order of Ahi Tuna from the select happy hour appetizers.
Bacon wrapped meatloaf was well done, the green beans were undercooked but very fresh. The big hit was the mashed sweet potatoes.
Queens Chicken looked interesting - wrapped in bacon with some dipping liquid on the side, though the diner choose to skip it, the dish was fine without it.
We shared the pinapple upside down carrot cake for dessert.
We revisited some of the amazing dishes on this visit, from my last review and it just wasn't the same, but still good.
Service was good, food was good, and the bill was hefty as we ordered anything that struck our fancy.
We will be back.
I'm reading all these reviews and everyone rips on the crowd, I have no problem with the crowd, and I will agree that it's quite a raucous crowd on Friday/Saturday night. But if you go during weekdays, during the day or before the 10pm crowd arrives it's actually a pretty decent bar.
MY ISSUE IS THIS: Whenever i go to this place on a Friday/Saturday night, I walk in through the door, make a left and walk along the bar. There is there area where the waitstaff comes up to get drinks and as you approach it BAM!! It hits you,  that awful vomit smell. Without a doubt that vomit smell is always there on the weekend. I was there last Friday to meet a friend and I paid the $5 cover (which i think is ridiculous) I walk in and i'm expecting to walk 10 yards and smell vomit, but instead it hit me right as  I walked through the door. I had had enough, I walked right back out and asked for a refund on my cover, the young lady at the door fetched the manager and he kindly refunded our cover.
It's not all bad at BlackFinn, the bartenders are great, the door guys and security are good people and aren't overly excited to flex their muscle like other places, and their bathrooms are clean which is a huge bonus.
I just can't take the vomit smell.
I went here with a friend last night. We went for drinks but decided to get dessert too. I got the apple crisp and was really surprised at the quality. I didn't think a bar would pull off food, especially dessert, that well. The crumb topping was deliciously buttery and there was a yummy caramel sauce drizzled over the whole thing.
The waitress was very attentive even though it was a very busy Saturday night. The drinks were strong enough and moderately priced. My only complaint is the noise level. Once the dj starts playing, you might as well text the person across the table from you, it'd be easier than screaming at each other.
*** double check your bar tab!!! ****
4 beers each were had the other night by my wife and I and the bill said 17 beers!!!
of course the total was adjusted after we complained.
Simple mistake---maybe
however at the same time our two friends who consumed a few more had a tab that said 25 beers!!!
two simple mistakes by the same bar staff on the same night?----hardly
so what's the downside for dirty dealing like this? so the customer notices and the total is adjusted.
and if the customer only notices 80% of the time.....well do the math
CHECK YOUR TABS CLOSELY as I suspect this is intentional.
I'm currently trying to catch my breath after reading post after post complaining about the "douchebags." I've got news for you, all guys are douches in their 20's when they're out scouting for girls. If you're not into that scene, don't keep visiting establishments that are known for the being the "nightlife place" for the younger crowd. Don't get me wrong...I'm not the biggest fan BUT my complaint is not with the clientelle simply because I expect those kinds of guys at my age. My complaint is with the watered down drinks and out of the freezer food.
PS - the owner really can't change much about the 'douches' unless he hikes the prices up much much more. If you want to get away from all the young'ens, go to higher prices establishments that serve REAL martinis.
Black Finn is on the pricy side, but the food is worth it. Â The mozzarella sticks are amazing- instead of just deep frying mozzarella cheese, they're more like mozzarella spring rolls! Â The breading is unlike any I've ever had before. Â They have great macaroni and cheese as well.
On Thursday nights you can "host" an event for free which just means that anyone who shows up and gives your name that night from 9-11 pm gets $3 drinks and free appetizers (from a select buffet- generally veggies and dips or a chocolate fountain, etc.). Â I've been to several of these, and they end up being a great time for very little money!
Overall, I definitely recommend Black Finn. Â If their dinner prices were a little cheaper, they would have gotten five stars.
I've been hosting events at the BlackFinn for the better part of five years now.
- I run a networking group for geeks. Â The BlackFinn has typically been where the pretty people come out to play. Â This doesn't necessarily mesh well with geek culture. Â You'd never know that based on our experiences there.
- We started hosting our events at the 'Finn after listening to people in our group ask us to move to Royal Oak and try something there...and one of my partners in crime was dj'ing, so sure, let's try the 'Finn out.
- The event staff has always...*always*...been phenomenal to work with. Â Extremely flexible, understanding, and dedicated to making sure that events come together solidly. Â Of note, Maria in particular has been just simply outstanding. Â If you have a group event coming up, I cannot speak highly enough of the back room at the 'Finn, and Maria will do her best to make sure you're a hero to your family / friends / co-workers.
- The bar is very well stocked, and the beer selection is great. Â Always a good rotation of local flavor along with national and international brands.
- The bartenders know their craft, and are more than just pretty curves poured into tight pants or beefcake in muscle shirts. Â More importantly, they're true bartenders - they get to know you, they remember you, and they have personalities. Â It can be several months between our events there (we move them around to other locations as well month to month), but every time I walk into the 'Finn...like last night...there's always at least one bartender who sees me, recognizes me, greets me by name and asks "the usual?"...and remembers precisely what that is.
- Food? Â Awesome. Â I've had just about everything on the menu over the years, and I've never been disappointed. Â I'm still a little bitter that they got rid of the chicken and beef skewers...but menus change and so I've mostly gotten past it. Â Appetizers to burgers, desserts to a steak...you're in good hands with their kitchen.
- Location? Main street in Royal Oak. Â Can't beat it.
- Parking? Â Plenty nearby, both metered and in garages.
Sure, our events usually wrap up by 8pm or 9pm, and that's when The Popped Collar crowd starts to show up...but that's what this place is, people. Â I can't believe how many negative reviews I'm reading on here...you have to know and accept a place for what it is before you can judge it. Â I've hung out there until closing a few times, and so I've seen both sides of the equation.
If you want "low key and mellow", then you either go here during the day on a weekday or you don't go. Â If you want to people watch as guidos and guidettes perform their peacocking mating rituals and hear the mating call of The Wild Blonde ("ohmygod...i'm soooooooo wasted") ...then you come here after 9pm. Â You want a solid place to watch a game? Â Then you'd better be talking about a weekend game during the day, because this isn't a sports bar where it's going to be easy for you to sit and watch a game at night.
It's the Finn. Â It is what it is...and what it is, is pretty damned cool.
Blackfinn is a place you love or you hate. My low rating was determined not by the place itself so much as the people that frequent here. Bimbos in short skirts and high heels posturing for the d-bags of Royal Oak.
On the upside: One of the nights I was dragged here was a Monday that turned out to be half off bottles of wine night which made the place bearable. I also went for Vista Maria's Dolly Drive (which is the one time I would encourage people to go as you are supporting toys for children in foster care) and all of the appetizers I tried were very good.
If you want a saloon go down the road to Ye Olde. You'll like yourself better.
went here on a thursday night about 11pm ! there was amazing hip hop classic music  videos playing surround sound and vision , you may say, in the bar.There is a giant wrap around bar with high tables surrounding a fourth, one fourth straight bar, one fourth dance floor, and one fourth booths. Its a great combination for moving about a single square room.  A flat screen TV in every which direction you look - boastin' up extraordinary vidz. !! Def a place to check out in RO ( Royal OAK) -
ps. be sure to know your horoscope - - bouncer may ask !
BlackFinn calls itself a saloon but no self-respecting cowboy or gunslinger from the Old West would be caught dead in here. The moment he entered the joint, a dark and modernly dim place, his hand would drop to his six-shooter to silence the eternal squawking of the Sports Game of the Minute blared from a dozen TVs, or the d-bag hipster who wants to know why he wears Western boots with baggy pants. And really, Royal Oak would be the better for it, but who's arguing?
In concept, BlackFinn seems like it should be a good place to dine. Their menu dabbles in edgier American cuisine, mixing up boring standbys like yet another caesar salad or hamburger with a fresh spin. Add strawberries and goat cheese to that salad, and suddenly it takes on a whole new life. Comfort foods get revved up with spices and vegetables, nothing too exciting for the somewhat bland American palate, but still tasty. The excitement grows occasionally when specials are brought out, and having been to the amazing beer tasting hosted last year for Yelp! Elite, I can confirm the calibre and creativity of the head chef at this restaurant. Unfortunately, I feel like he's never let loose to explore the culinary landscape and instead he's forced to walk in circles like a pony.
The execution and variety of food scores a solid 2.5 stars, which can rise to 3 if you manage to sneak in on a rainy, cool night when the place isn't packed. Meals tend to be very hit and miss for the times I have visited, ranging from a crisp salad weeping in strawberry juice that refreshed me to a dull bowl of lukewarm soup and burnt toast slathered in bruschetta without any flavour. Consistency is lacking, which is a shame when the average entree is $10 to $20. I expect better from a sit-down restaurant.
Desserts often shine and they make a nice meal to split between two after seeing  a performance at the Royal Oak Theatre or shopping downtown. Their seasonal menus and additions are great ways to sample what the cooking staff can really do.
The restaurant cannot be blamed for its clientele and BlackFinn gets a black eye from the crowds of young, hipsterish, often drunk men who loiter around the bar and take up all the high top tables most nights of the week. Loud and boorish, they clearly have a good time at everyone else's expense. Enjoy being oggled and groped at the local meat market? You'll probably not have issues. Want to sit and enjoy a nice meal without interruption from some man guffawing over his friend's latest female acquisition or some slam or poor treatment of a client at work where he gets paid a boatload more than he deserves? Then you're out of luck. I really can't stand the type who make Rosie's a loud, slobbering pit of unpleasantry and they go here when they've made the next income bracket or get bored of the same ol' same ol'.
Hint: go for lunch, where the deals are pretty good, or an early evening on the weekend. If you avoid the drinking crowd as mentioned above, BlackFinn's dark ambiance and lovely view of Main Street make for some nice people watching. Just be aware that parking in Royal Oak is a bother and the stretch near the restaurant has heavily enforced parking meters.
This review is for the BAR ONLY as I've never had their food (and hear its good).
Crowd here is stereotypical Royal Oak. Lots of pretension here for no good reason. Many people that come here act like they are in an exclusive NYC nightclub. Slightly more upscale than Fifth Ave, although both try to elicit the same vibe.
Bartenders were not friendly from what I remember and the drinks are nothing special. The setup of the venue is also terrible. The only redeeming quality is that the bars are large which makes getting drinks fairly easy.
I've never tried the food here but I think this place would be a good spot to watch an MSU game.
Ugh. This review is hard to write.
My husband and I went back to BlackFinn tonight after a lackluster experience back in May. We asked to sit in the bar near the window if possible, and the host told us that the only table available was reserved for 8p. It was 5p, and she said we could sit there if we'd move (or leave) by 8p. Would they really leave a table vacant for three hours when patrons could sit there and spend money?
It took a little bit longer than we would have liked to place our drink orders, but our server was really nice. We ordered two Oberons and the roasted vegetable flat bread at Happy Hour prices (note this). The flat bread was quite good, and it was better than the margherita flat bread that I had ordered at BlackFinn previously. The flavors were a bit more bold.
We ordered a second round of Oberons, and the server notified us that it would take an extra minute or two since they had to change over the kegs. When our Oberons arrived, I noticed that my beer was a bit skunky. I stopped our server, and she willingly traded it out, explaining that the problem was probably with the switching of the kegs. She was right. That was the problem, for the new Oberon was just as skunky as the last one. I surmised that they had hooked up an IPA keg instead of an Oberon keg. I stopped her again. Guess what! I was close to right! It was IPA that I was tasting. They hooked up an Oberon keg to a line that had been serving IPA but failed to flush the line. Therefore, my Oberon was tainted! Our server offered to replace both of our beers with our choice...Guinness.
Our dinners were better than our beer experiences. I had a salad with strawberries and goat cheese encrusted in sesame seeds. I'm not a salad lover, but this salad was flippin' great. My husband had a burger with blue cheese and caramelized onions. He said it was good, and he really enjoyed the very crispy fries.
We ordered another round of Guinness and a dessert to split...an awesome dessert...no, really an awesome dessert...really. It was a warm brownie in the bottom of a giant cup covered with vanilla ice cream, peanut putter, and caramel (many of the world's finest ingredients). Amazing!
When our bill came....the problems came back. My last experience at BlackFinn was not very positive because they messed up our bill...big time. This time was no better in the billing department. It wasn't my fault that the beer was tainted. Let me just point this out. However, the bill was a mess because we had beers that we ordered...sent back...and replaced. Plus, we were charged for beers (that we sent back) at non-Happy Hour prices (note that we were there only during Happy Hour).
A manager came to our table to try to straighten things out. He wasn't rude, but he just wasn't sincere. Instead of correcting our bill, he took all of the beer off of our bill. That wasn't our aim. Please...just give me a correct bill the first time! When we received our revised bill, his name was on it. We made sure our actual server received our tip (we put it directly into her hands), and we left. We saw this manager, however, looking at our table. Was he looking for our tip? Was he going to take it, or was he checking to see if we were 'cheap' since we argued about our bill?
After my last fairly negative experience, I was contacted by the owner. I think he really does care and wants to make improvements to BlackFinn. The food is pretty good, and the Happy Hour prices are great. The service (and the billing) needs a little (okay a lot...I'm being nice) work. However, I think the ownership is aware of this. BlackFinn is a place to watch. I hope the service (and billing) gets better in the future.
Yes, I have previously given Roast an average rating and am giving Black Finn 5 stars. Â You can take away my elite rating if you like, or at the very least question it. Â These guys have the most underrated/underappreciated kitchen in Royal Oak. Â I came in right before the main kitchen closes on Friday night and the place is pretty crowded, as expected. Â I am starving and want to hit up the Restaurant Week menu while the bar is full swing. Â
The bartenders not only humor me, but gives me outstanding service. Â I was checked on my 3 different people even though it was past 11pm and there were so many other thirsty patrons. Â Because it was kindof hectic at the bar, they brought all the courses of my meal at the same time. Â One of the bartenders saw this and sent back my entree to keep warm until I was ready for it - good looking out. Â
All the food was awesome, as expected. Â Cheese tortellini with chicken was amazing, as was the french onion soup. Â I love that the soup came overflowing in the bowl - that is a good look. Â The brownie and ice cream dessert was heaven. Â On a random note, I decided to give the Mad Hatter IPA a whirl. Â Even though I am not a big hoppy beer person, I liked it. Â
I still have not stayed at this place past midnight, but I may be more open-minded about doing so.
As there are many reviews for the Blackfinn already -- I will not overstate: we know there can be a *choice* crowd on busy nights but the food tends to be worth it.
I would just like to add: What the heck is with the bathroom maids?!?! I haven't been back to Michigan in a year and was disappointed to see this!  I just want to pee and wash  my hands in peace; I can get my own soap and paper towels!
Well, I have to admit that I'm slightly biased about this place from the beginning because I met my boyfriend here. Â That being said, I still like this place. Â I've eaten here a few times, but mostly have gone here for happy hour, which I've done quite a bit over the past few years. They have $6 appetizers and pizzas and half off house wine, draft beer, well drinks, and martinis. Â Their food is actually quite good too - I love their roasted vegetable pizza. Their salmon on the dinner menu is also quite good.
If you don't like crowded bars, stay away from this place after 9:00 on the weekends. I don't think it's as bad as some say, but it is true that people will knock into you and it's difficult to get a drink, but that happens at many crowded bars.
This review is in regards to the service and menu, not the weekend party hours.
My boyfriend and I love the food at Blackfinn. Â We have yet to have a bad experience. Â Although we have been there for a later dinner, We usually go during happy hour for the specials, and we have yet to meet an appetizer we didn't like! Â
The wait staff is very good at placing your orders before happy hour is over.
I recently had an experience with a drink I did not like, and the waitress gladly replaced it with something I did like, free of charge.
Great service and food!
At first I wanted to rate this place one star. It's a douchebag hangout. If you go on a weekend night, it seems to always be crowded to the point where you can't get service and when you eventually do get a drink, it will probably be on the floor within five minutes thanks to all the jerks knocking into you and the limited standing room.
I do have to say though..when going for a work happy hour mid-week, the food was A++ and prices were reasonable. We actually got a table and were able to sit partially inside and partially outside, enjoying the nice weather. The service was good.
So mid-week I give it a four star.
Weekend I give it a zero star. Maybe a one star if you eat there on a weekend.
So we will average it out to a two star.
BlackFinn. The epicenter of douche bags. The ruin of Royal Oak. This place is the pits...unless you're one of those dudes who pops his collar and says things like, "Dude, bro, look at those bomb-ass chicks!" or if you're a girl who enjoys struttin' your goods around in a micromini skirt and five-inch heels in the middle of January.
The bartenders are slow and snobby. The dance floor is crawling with STDs. The food tastes like it was all microwaved. The choices of beer on tap are weak. The atmosphere is egotistical. The bathrooms are a cloud of hairspray and Kim Kardashian perfume. Most of all, the clientele is  covered in Axe Body Wash covered in crabs covered in cosmopolitans. Jersey Shore! Holla!
So the food is good, it's in a prime location, and the drinks are not bad at all...but for some reason this is just not my favorite place to go.
I've tried a variety of things on the menu, fish and chips, sliders, salads, and all were quite good. In the summer you can dine on the patio or indoors near one of the open windows for a nice breeze.
You can also get a group of your friends here and host a party. Black Finn offers free apps, and $3 drinks to anyone who hosts a "VIP" event there. The service is ok, you never really wait too long, but I just think this place is just ok. I'd rather not go on the weekend, and gentlemen make sure you are wearing a collared shirt and proper shoes or you will not get in.
My first impression of Black Fin was: "Holly Cow I am back in College surrounded by frat boys". Â I think there is some newsletter somewhere that Frat boys get and it says go to Black Fin!
The food is mediocre at best and the only time I have returned is when a friend wants to go for the martins at happy hour (they are half-off 4-7pm). Â Not a place with any character, it is just "blah".
Alright, I'm gonna be the one to say it. Black Finn is like Britney Spears....everyone likes to hate on it but those same people love it too.
Cause lets be honest Britney's beats are sick! All the people that gave it bad reviews will be there next weekend. Its really a decent place to dance and have weekend fun for us folks that are late 20's and 30's, its just a convenient place to hate on.
Trendy, pompous, overcrowded & overpriced.
On a good night, the food is decent, on a bad night, it's terrible and the cooks may not get your order correct. Â
This place is always packed with 20 and 30 something corporate america who are here for a beer / martini and to see and be seen.
The place is probably a little better since the smoking ban took place, but I'll find many other places I'd rather go. Â Actually, I'd much prefer the Fuddruckers that was once at this location.
Black Finn is awesome. Â I am new to town, but with Black Finn around, I can determine if I will like someone based on their opinion of this place. Â For example, an over enthusiastic, "Let's go to BLACK FINN! I'm wearing my new tube dress!" means that likely we're not going to be BFF.
Oh, I know...criticizing this place has almost gone the way of saying the word "douche bag," in that all the douche bags are saying it, too. Â To be honest, it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Â If you don't mind lines, covers, and blaring music, then I think it'd probably be fun. Â But I do mind all of these things, and I have a low tolerance for unoriginal bar concepts that think they deserve people's money for entering their awesome place, when they are in fact, part of a crappy chain (oh the horror! it IS a chain!). Â BF-goers, delight in the fact that you can have the same experience at BF-Royal Oak that you can at BF-NYC!
I should note that I fully support local businesses' ability to attempt to create a concept that will attract trendy people I will judge. Â And that's what I'll be doing by going to...that one place under Bastone's.
They try to make me go to BlackFinn, I say nooo nooo nooo. If Amy Winhouse were from Metro Detroit that would be the words I'm sure of it!
This is in reply to a mass email the "manager" sent me about having their hours during the world cup posted incorrectly.
Not interested in going back to your establishment. The soccer game would have been my 4th time there. The 3 times prior were mediocre at best. The service was THE worst!! I told the waitress during my last visit my food was cold and she got an attitude with me and of course blamed it on someone else in the kitchen.
I always give places a fair shot before totally taking them off the radar. I think 3 inhouse tries and one failed to be open attempt are enough.
I also do not appreciate the fact you sent out a blast email and published my personal address to people I do not know. Next time try bcc. You could have emailed me on facebook. I assume my profile(which is private to people not on my friends list)is where you got my email from.
To the the "manager" did not reply. Myself and a party of 12 arrived at BlackFinn on a Saturday morning to watch a specific soccer game which was listed on their site and they would be open early. We got there and they were closed.
Like I said i always give places a fair shot and on all points they did nothing to redeem them selves what so ever.
UGH!!
Black Finn...why not just call it Woody's for the 30 and up crowd?
Let me preface by saying I generally don't go here, unless it's for a pub crawl, someone is having a party there (because if there is one thing they do, is give groups some good drink specials), or lunch on a Sunday compliments of a $25 gift certificate from The Finn Club.
Yesterday was such an instance with the gift certificate. Â Again, they do have their marketing strategy/skills in check. Â When you sign up online to be a "Finn Club" member, they mail you a $25 gift certificate. Â Free food, sure, I'll take it! Â I splurged and got the fried chicken and in all honesty, I've had better chicken from the deli counter of my local grocery store. Â Chicken looked like it was left in the fryer just a wee bit too long, and the salt, my God, the salt!! Â Garlic mashed potatoes were okay, again, not something to write home about....and let's just say for the $14.99 price tag, well, I'm glad I wasn't paying.
The night scene? Â I don't think I have a skirt short enough to get noticed in this place (and I own a lot of short skirts). Â That being said, I don't think the kind of guy I would meet would be looking for girls at a place like this (no offense to any of you that have!). Â I was excited when they first opened, a more upscale establishment to go have a drink (or three) with friends, but this is not the case. Â Instead, I hear of regular occurrences of fights breaking out, girls throwing up, and bartenders with bad attitudes. Â No thanks.
Had a rather pleasant experience at Blackfinn by making the smart decision to walk into the dining area rather than the club/bar. My bf and I went on a Monday night around 9 for a late dinner since we had joined Blackfinn's member's club online in order to get the $25 gift certificate with no strings attached (i think that's changed to $10 now though). It was a good incentive.
The atmosphere is so much more serene and there's hardly any overflow noise from the bar area through the double doors. The lighting is dim and the crowd is much more mature.
They have a surprisingly full menu of good American comfort food meals, so my bf got the fried chicken dinner and I got the beef tenderloin tips in an onion gravy, both meals served with a heaping portion of garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, and we got a cup of chili to share. My food was luke warm when it came out so I had to have the waitress take it back twice to warm it up again. She was really nice and accommodating, but a bit slow though for only having 2-3 tables to serve... who knows maybe she was new?
The beef tenderloin was good but nothing spectacular, it was moist but I think without the gravy the meat wouldn't have tasted like anything. The garlic mashed potatoes were excellent and the steamed broccoli was... well steamed broccoli. The chili was decent, but the cheese they layered on top was already a bit cold and had hardened by the time they brought it out so you couldn't really mix it into the chili. fail.
After a bit of deliberation, we decided to get dessert: apple crisp. The flavor was really good, and the apples weren't too tart, however, I would have liked a little more "crisp" to the "apple" ratio and maybe a tad more ice cream too. Other than that it was great!
Also, the manager paid special attention to all the patrons too, making sure they enjoyed their food. Especially because the snooty folk behind us were being suuuuper picky bout the food. Ok, this isn't a 5 star restaurant, excuse me, but I don't think the waitress cared to hear your "opinions" on every "course" and what you found to be "a little too something". I commend the BF manager on dealing with them as respectfully and kindly as possible.
This is decent place to get some grub in royal oak but there's so many options in that area that I wouldn't pick this restaurant over any of the better/unique ones RO has to offer.
What this is SUPPOSED to be:
A hip, trendy, sports bar gone chic bar/lounge for the yuppies and 20-somethings of metro-Detroit.
What this ACTUALLY is:
The Blue Ribbon Oakland County Douche Bag Fair!
Overcrowded at peak hours on weekends, people packed in together into a sardine can to the point where it's hard to even see what the inside of this venue normally looks like. It's a big oval bar with just enough space otherwise to awkwardly squeeze through people, hoping drinks, including your own, don't spill on you. Clans of metro Detroit-douche bags, (grease-balls, overgrown frat boys, wannabes, superficial girls spilling their drinks, etc.), end of the work week yuppies, and posers - all prowling about seeking the ruin of souls.
The bartenders have SO many people to serve that they will take forever and are prone to mistakes and slow service on their overpriced drinks. Lastly, because this place gets so much business, they have lost all touch with customer service, they will often serve you for the night without even have making eye contact with you! Very chaotic and impersonal.
The music is very Top 40, iPod on shuffle'esqe. Meh!
True story:
One cold wintry day a couple weeks ago, I stood in line and paid $5 cover to enter this sardine-can hell-hole and upon taking one glimpse inside, in literally 45 seconds I turned back around and requested my $5 cover back. I told them that it was packed beyond any possibility of having a good time - and they basically said "tough luck, your $5 is ours."
I should have called the fire marshal on those tools, they packed the place way beyond capacity. That was just plain bad service that they would not give me the $5 cover back when I literally walked in for 45 seconds and was disappointed. I will try my best to never return here again.
Otherwise, to be fair to the rest of you - if you want to go to a bar that gets real busy, has a lot of good looking people, and even busts out with a decent impromptu dance floor in the back in the late hours on the weekends, then give this place a chance. However, with how crammed it gets and how the bartenders are backed up and inaccurate - I would personally rather pre-drink elsewhere and show up here just to hang. My limit for being inside this place during peak hours is 30 minutes before I feel like hurling into poor Tiffany's martini.
Admittedly, there are a lot of hot buzzin' women here on a Thurs-Sat night, and it is still a high-profile venue, so I still gave it the mercy of an extra star on the review. So go ahead give it a shot - and if you survive it, come review it on Yelp :-)
My sentiments about BlackFinn echo those of Henry B.: I have a love/hate relationship with the place.
I love that they have Happy Hour every day from 4 -7, including the weekends. I love that their entire menu is half off on Mondays. Get the filet - it's awesome and only $12.50 on Monday! I love their calamari with a few peppers mixed in.
But...
The place is always overcrowded on the weekends, sometimes to a capacity that makes it impossible to move. They let too many people in to the bar area and don't have enough servers coming around to take orders for the people standing around. Getting to the bar when you're in standing room only is not easy because it's packed pretty tight. The wait staff get ticked if you encroach into their area and some of them are pretty sassy about it. Someone posted a photo of the bar area that shows just how crowded it is in there.
Give this place a try Monday - Wednesday nights or during the day on a weekend. Hit it up on a weekend night only if you enjoy those crowds or have a whole lot of patience.
I'm not gonna give it a 1... Â But I am gonna give it a 2. Â I mean, what's the point? Â There's like all these people lined up to go here like its a big club in the city. Â I don't get it. Â It's an average bar. Â Actually it's an over produced replica of an average bar.
But that's what's frightening to me. Â I just don't get it. Â My theory goes that people say, "Let's go there cuz it's called BlackFinn and that sounds cool!!" Â Like I'm not sure people really want to go there. Â They just kinda do for some reason. Â Like they don't want to think too hard about where to go and this place is called BlackFinn so that makes it cool!
There are hundreds of places just like this one. Â Why do people go here? Â Service? Â Noooo. Â It's not the service. Â On a busy night you have to fight your way to the bar and there are not at all enough servers to handle the onrush of "Cool people". Â Food? Â I mean, read the reviews. Â It's nothing special. Â Drinks? Â I mean there are many places that have the same drinks this place does? probably even better selections. Â Atmosphere?
Seriously?
And I like to be social too. Â I like places I can go with my friends and talk and sometimes I like to meet people and when there are this many in one place it's pointless because you have to shout your conversations and deal with people bumping into you and distractions and all that.
If I had to summarize this place in one sentence I would say, "I Don't get it..."
I have a love/hate relationship with Black Finn.
I love them for lunch and happy hour. Â The beer list is pretty good. Â They have a lot on tap and a bunch bottled. Â The food is decent but usually quite heavy and standard. Â The service is pretty good too.
BUT
When it is busy on a weekend night, it is terrible. Â The wait staff doesn't come around very often. Â A waitress got snappy when I tried to flag her down. Â There's no room to move because the bar takes up a lot of room in the middle and people hang out on the side of the tables.
The latest thing that happened was I watched my Red Stripe get delivered to the Asian guy at the next table from me. Â Whoops.
It's good when it's not crowded. Â It sucks when it's crowded.
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