I've been to Blackfinn twice now and I have to say the food is consistently good. Last time I had the Tuna Poke which was delicious and sushi restaurant quality. I'd definitely recommend. The Balboa is a BF recommendation and is delicious, a surprising upgrade from a traditional French dip, really good. Other guests with me had the fish tacos, really tasty both grilled and fried and the Mac and cheese topped with chicken also very good. The meat topping is a nice addition. The service today, which was lunch hour, SEVERELY LACKED. Customers were getting impatient and annoyed at how long the food and drinks were taking, including us. Our waitress forgot to enter our table's appetizer because "she was in a hurry to get our order in because most tickets were taking over a half hour." Unacceptable turn time for a kitchen. The first visit was during dinner and was very well staffed. Our service was much better for dinner. It is very, very loud at dinner time so if you don't like loud music or missing half of your table conversation, I would suggest another restaurant.
(3)
D K.
Got a message from a Blackfinn employee a couple months ago to receive a gift card to give this restaurant another chance. After not hearing from her in a month, I sent her a message reminder. She said she'd ship the gift card ASAP. This was 4th of July weekend. Yep, never got it. Not only bad service per my last review but also liars.
(1)
John Z.
My review is for the NEW location at The Mall at Partridge Creek...Yelp doesn't have a listing for this place yet, but you need to see my experience there on 7/2/15: WAIT!!! DON'T GO NOW!!! They NEED TIME to get better. I sent them a web-based customer survey response that was very detailed, but the summary is: Waitstaff was confused - Appetizer arrived after the entree. Fish tacos arrived lukewarm. One of my tacos had a piece of fish only 2 inches long, Salads were dripping with salad dressing.
(1)
Shunda B.
My mother and I went for a long bike ride - we were at our half way point and of course my mother wanted to do her normal 'FREELOAD". (Parents - smh!) I've been here previously but honestly only for a few beers nothing really that serious; so we decided to come here and plus she hasn't been. The had a wonderful lunch special and we eat outside side area - please note the area is small (2 seater tables only). The waitress was very nice and attentive; she joked/laughed and help us out with the lunch menu. I didn't really time the food - but it wasn't that noticeable of a wait. During lunch hours; it wasn't busy at all which i believe it was around 1pm or 2pm. I would like to see some more seafood items on the menu beside fish/chip (which was good) - more variety would be awesome. Happy eating!!!
(4)
Ornella B.
Blackfinn was nice to send me a gift card to give the place another chance since my last review and I finally got the chance to go with my mama and sister for an early dinner over the weekend. We tried the Ying and Yang Shrimp, the French Onion Soup, the Fish Tacos, and the Salmon. The food all got a thumbs up with the winner being the shrimp amongst the group. The service left something to be desired, but overall the food was good enough to bump up a star =]
(4)
Katelyn H.
Loved the motor city sipper! If you love grapefruit it is a must try! Also the Greek salad was the Bomb.com !
(4)
Liz P.
Kind of surprised I haven't reviewed BlackFinn yet, I went to a SUPERB Yelp event there about a year ago. I went this past Friday night as part of a group event. My group was going to a midnight movie at the Main Art after, which I skipped out on (I need some sleep!) but I was game for appetizers at BlackFinn. Apparently BF contacted the group and said they could do themed drinks and some free apps, which was pretty nice. We started with some BBQ chicken, sausage/pepperoni, and margarita flatbreads. I'd say BBQ chicken was my favorite, and the margarita a close second; the sausage/pepp was okay but nothing new or special. I was a little hungry still so I ordered their crack fries (called BlackFinn fries, I think, but they're pretty much like crack fries, lol) and waited. And waited. And waited for them. The waitress eventually realized they were never brought out to me, and so she got me a fresh order, on the house - which was good customer service. The place was PACKED on a Friday night (around 10pm) which isn't really my scene, but I'd like to try them out for happy hour at some point; I know they do great drink specials and also have a few cocktails on tap (yes, I said COCKTAILS, not draft beers, on tap) which I had at the previous Yelp event and which were delicious. So for now they get 3/5 stars for me but I'd be amenable to updating that at some point.
(3)
James K.
My wife and I came up to this place with a large group on a Friday night at 6pm. It was for a work holiday party. It was pretty crowded, but of course it was Friday so what can you expect. We just had appetizers and a buffet style menu, so I can't talk about specific dishes. The food was fine, nothing spectacular. It wasn't anything to complain about either. I did like the beer selection and as usual went with Griffin Claw. The waitstaff was helpful and quick to clean up our area. Now take this with a grain of salt, because I am a 30-something with a kid, but it wasn't the place for me. It was very very loud and hard to have a conversation. The tvs were around, but not exactly easy to see. That being said I could understand if you were in your 20s or wanted a place to dance and have a great time, this might be for you.
(3)
Catherine C.
I had the iron skillet Mac and cheese.a delicious blend of macaroni ,cheese ,bacon topped with you choice of pulled pork or shredded chicken. Soo good , a party for your taste buds. Doug had the bourbon street burger wow , great flavor.
(4)
Chris M.
I had a bad experience about a month ago, I figured I would give it another chance and see if they could make it better. As no surprise nothing has changed the server attitudes with a... I don't care type. food coming out incorrect. Especially our appetizer took about half an hour to come out. I do not think this place will be in business much longer.
(1)
Alexandra B.
Salad was great!
(4)
Richie R.
The food is avg at best & they no longer run any worthwhile drink specials. What was once a happening place is now a ghost town. It's going to get worse once Buffalo Wild Wings opens in a few months. Bad decisions by incompetent mgt is to blame #ripBlackfinn
(1)
Patrick I.
Went to Blackfinn last night. This was our first stop of the evening and first time in Royal Oak in about 20 years. We walked in and there was no one to greet us. There were people in front of us waiting for someone to seat them, but we sat at the bar. Brad the bartender shook our hand, introduced himself to us, anded welcomed us to the the establishment. We ordered our beer, which came promptly and at the perfect temperature. We did not eat anything since it was early. The food coming out and passing buy looked delicious. Place is nicely decorated. Outside tables on the street. Everyone we came in contact with was friendly. We will come back aeal soon.
After a Yelp Elite event here recently, I visited again to see how they held up a second time around when they weren't obligated to tend to all my food needs. I would say a more accurate rating is 2 1/2 stars because of the service and miscommunication. At the Yelp event, we were given free flatbread coupons. During lunch, they have lunch portions for much of the menu. I didn't specify I wanted the lunch portion vs. the regular appetizer portion, so the waitress went ahead and assumed I wanted the lunch portion. I'll chalk that up to me not being more specific, even though I think the waitress should've asked me which one I wanted. It's not like the menu had just lunch portions. But then my brother ordered a burger, and she either didn't listen to what was requested or it was made with complete disregard to what he wanted (or didn't want). He wanted no cheese -- there was cheese. He wanted onions -- there weren't onions. She also had to come back five minutes after we placed our order to ask how he wanted his burger cooked. Should he have told her when he placed his order? Sure. But again, isn't it her job to ask? I think so. So then when we ordered dessert and she had to take it back after she realized she forgot to add powdered sugar (which really wasn't necessary but she bolted before I could say something), it all adds up to a less than ideal dining experience. I'm hoping she'll only get better from here on out. And she was nice enough, which is why I'm giving it the three stars rather than two. But overall, it was a disappointing follow-up experience after a highly rated Yelp event. Everything tasted fine, so at least the food was good. So there's that. Anyone want a free flatbread coupon though?
(3)
David P.
I've been hosting events at the BlackFinn for the better part of five years now. - I run a networking group for geeks. The BlackFinn has typically been where the pretty people come out to play. This doesn't necessarily mesh well with geek culture. 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. Extremely flexible, understanding, and dedicated to making sure that events come together solidly. Of note, Maria in particular has been just simply outstanding. 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. 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. More importantly, they're true bartenders - they get to know you, they remember you, and they have personalities. 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? Awesome. I've had just about everything on the menu over the years, and I've never been disappointed. 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. Appetizers to burgers, desserts to a steak...you're in good hands with their kitchen. - Location? Main street in Royal Oak. Can't beat it. - Parking? 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. 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. 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. 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. You want a solid place to watch a game? 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. It is what it is...and what it is, is pretty damned cool. I'm not a HUGE fan of the fact that they painted over the wood in the back room during the remodel...that's a tragedy in my book...but it is what it is, I suppose. Someone thought it was a good idea at the time, I'm sure.
(5)
Neil Y.
Ground zero for Royal Oak douchebaggery. The parody video wasn't kidding. Met some friends here, upon their request. Overpriced drinks and food. Packed to the gills and banging elbows for two hours. Does anyone do a capacity count? The excessive crowd make getting drink reorders a chore. To cap it off the RO parking Gestapo got me for going over my 2 hour time limit---by 7 minutes. I literally saw the meter maid drive off. Sigh.
(2)
Richard F.
I enjoyed what we tried; especially the bacon wrapped meatloaf. Normally, I am not a meatloaf fan, but this was moist and tasty. It is nice that they have so many different and interesting beers on tap as well. It is certainly a sports bar venue, so if you don't like sports bars, this might not be your cup of tea, but on the other hand, the food was better than most sports bars and it was not terribly noisy when we were there.
(3)
Christopher K.
Been here a couple times and know i will get a good bite. I've tried most of the apps, the fish and sandwiches. All have above average. The atmosphere is enjoying and depending on who you get, most of the staff is friendly and glad you came.
(3)
Kevin S.
Good food. Great beer selection. Excellent staff. We always have a great time watching Detroit sports, drinking beer, and delicious food.
(5)
Ceaser D.
Food....terrible. Service....terrible. Crowd....terrible! Maybe I would have enjoyed myself if I was 19 again and would drink anything just to get drunk. Bartenders are rude. The place is dirty. No thanks
(1)
Jack C.
The food had flies in it The manger is very crude nasty human being Peter And female manager nasty They refused to take the food back And the food had flies in it Do not go there to eat very serious
(1)
Versetta E.
I reaaaaaaally miss the carmelized pineapple mojito! Used set a bad day straight! Should have never gotten rid of it!
(4)
Sachin S.
Terrible service - went in in a very slow Saturday early evening with the girlfriend and were seated at an almost empty bar. Counted 6 patrons including ourselves. The two bartenders were busy doing the following: cleaning stuff, looking down, and not paying attention to the two new people clearly seated at the front of the bar. The younger of the two was flirting with two girls barely out of college, and generally smug. Pretty sad seeing as it took 5 minutes to get a "hello" and menus, and then... We waited another 10 or so minutes (again, pretty empty bar mind you) while we watched our young inept bartender continue his flirtation. Directly in front of us. While we waited to place an order... Only he walked away. And so did we! Felt bad for the manager that day, as we made our complaints heard. He was gracious and offered a table and a bottle of wine, but we declined. Got the EXACT OPPOSITE service at the Oyster Bar up the street. Probably not visiting Black Finn again
(2)
sarah w.
Good but Loud environment. Waitress was great. Soft pretzels & hummus appetizer very good. Caesar salad tasted horrible. A little experience 4 the quality.
(3)
Ernie M.
We were with a Yelp group and had an excellent meal. There flatbreads were great --nice and crispy. I especially liked the BBQ chicken. The Blackfinn salad was very good, and my favorite dish of the night was the bacon wrapped meatloaf. The cocktails were all good with my favorite being the Tito's Motown Mule. We ended the meal with some delicious Funnel Fries---excellent
(4)
Julia M.
Just left Black Finn, I didn't mind this restaurant typical bar food, but wait I ordered something different. The shrimp with grits was the best I've ever had. It came with a grit cake that was light and cheesy (goat cheese). The shrimp came in a Tasso cream sauce with smoked sausage. Definitely recommend this dish, they also have a few Happy Hour drink and appetizer specials.
(4)
Sarah N.
Come for the mojitos, stay because of the great service. I was here at 8 pm on a Friday. My friend and I sat at the bar. I have never had more attentive service on a Friday evening! Our bartender James (could be a manager?) was extremely talkative, and went out of his way to introduce himself to us and joke around. We only planned on having a mojito each, then leaving; however, we ended up staying for an extra hour and having 3 mojitos each...! (In case you didn't catch the hint from the rest of my review..the mojitos are amazing! Their dragonfruit mojito is life changing). Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Stephanie W.
Nice atmosphere, good drinks, great staff. I got here early for happy hour so it wasn't crowded and the prices were reasonable.
(5)
Amber A.
Best food in all of Royal Oak, although it seems to be a singles hang out- my husband and I LOVE eating here for dates. Can't beat the fries!! And you won't find a better server in Michigan than Therese!
(4)
Nicole L.
Gave this place another go with a friend a few weeks ago. We both had a couple glasses of wine and ranch chicken salad. The fruit flies were still an issue! This time though I give this place 4 stars as they were extremely tentative and kept our wine glasses full :-). We spent 3 hours there talking and laughing and never once felt we were being pushed out the door.
(4)
Adrienne A.
The food was a but slow to come out considering we were the only diners for a Saturday lunch, but it was tasty at least. I split the Mac n cheese with blackened chicken, which was excellent. And there was more than enough for two. I also tried the Finn fries, which are served with two dipping sauces, Parmesan buttermilk ranch and barbeque sauce. Both sauces were very good and somewhat unique in flavor and the fries were spiced.
(4)
Tom S.
Had been here several times for drinks, but decided to try dinner. The waiter was attentive and he recommended the mahi mahi. It was terrific. As fresh as can be and perfectly prepared. Also had fish tacos which were very good, but you should get the mahi. We were very pleasantly surprised and are looking forward to going back.
(5)
Greg D.
Very nice place and great service too. I always get the cheese sticks and the "hot chocolate" desert! I haven't been on the bar side, I've only eaten on the restaurant side.
(5)
Zeid S.
Came here with a party of 14 people. The place is nice and fun to be in. This review is based on my experience and on that of the whole table, if it weren't for the service I got it would have gotten 4 stars. I ordered the Saloon burger, medium. After 45 minutes and when everyone else had almost finished their dishes, the waitress comes and says that they overcooked my burger and that they will need 4 more minutes max to make a new one. 20 minutes later, I ask the waitress where my burger was and she says it'll be 5 more minutes. The burger finally came 10 minutes later, and it was cooked well-done. I didn't want to say anything because at that point I was starving. The burger was good, tasty and not greasy. I wish they had just served me the allegedly overcooked burger to begin with. Everyone else enjoyed the place, drinks and the food. If it wasn't for this experience I would give them 4 stars.
(2)
Peter H.
Decent food. Fish was definitely frozen, but good Parmesan flavor. Good waitstaff and bartender. Decent beer on tap.
(4)
Mylo R.
The food here was fresh tasting and non greasy. I had fish & chips and it was light & fluffy . I felt it was too noisy due to the event they had going on the other side of the place. I would go back.
(3)
Annette M.
I held a fundraiser here last month for the non-profit organization I volunteer with and I was far beyond impressed. The sales manager, Maria, was amazing in her planning and execution of our event, the general manager, Chris, was there to help with every odd-ended job we needed while the event took place, and our server, I think her name was Chelsea, was AMAZING! We had over 150 people and she had no problem keeping up. The bar staff was great too. I can't begin to say enough about how great our experience was- they food (they supplied passed appetizers) was great, and everyone loved it, and the drink specials were fabulous too. Thank you again, Blackfinn for making our fundraiser so fabulous. We will definitely return for more events, and just for dinner!
(5)
David L.
Always have been a fan of this local watering hole (more for the nightlife) but they recently stepped it up a notch with their complete redesign and much needed upgrade to their cuisine. Great burgers and sandwiches and an even better bar staff.
(4)
Nancy S.
We had dinner here tonight for the first time. As we came in The hostess asked us if we would like to sit on the restaurant side to the left or in the bar area to the right. The bar side seemed loud so we opted for the restaurant side at which time she told us there were no tables available on that side??? So we took a hightop table in the back of the bar. It was EXTREMELY LOUD!! There was a game on the many televisions. The volume was so loud you could not understand what the sportscasters were saying about the game. The food was ok, I recommend the brussels sprouts with bacon as a side dish. If you decide to go I recommend making a reservation for the quieter side of the restaurant. The bar side is just excessively and unnecessarily loud.
(2)
Jill P.
I was planning a bachelorette party for my friend in Royal Oak and decided to have it at Black Finn! I worked with Maria Finateri and she was absolutely amazing to work with. She was very organized and responsive and helped us to build a menu for the party that the bride would love! When we arrived for dinner, the table was ready with custom menus which added a nice touch! The service was phenomenal- we constantly had refills, the servers were friendly, and everything was delicious!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dessert Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Beth B.
I've been to Blackfinn twice now and I have to say the food is consistently good. Last time I had the Tuna Poke which was delicious and sushi restaurant quality. I'd definitely recommend. The Balboa is a BF recommendation and is delicious, a surprising upgrade from a traditional French dip, really good. Other guests with me had the fish tacos, really tasty both grilled and fried and the Mac and cheese topped with chicken also very good. The meat topping is a nice addition. The service today, which was lunch hour, SEVERELY LACKED. Customers were getting impatient and annoyed at how long the food and drinks were taking, including us. Our waitress forgot to enter our table's appetizer because "she was in a hurry to get our order in because most tickets were taking over a half hour." Unacceptable turn time for a kitchen. The first visit was during dinner and was very well staffed. Our service was much better for dinner. It is very, very loud at dinner time so if you don't like loud music or missing half of your table conversation, I would suggest another restaurant.
(3)D K.
Got a message from a Blackfinn employee a couple months ago to receive a gift card to give this restaurant another chance. After not hearing from her in a month, I sent her a message reminder. She said she'd ship the gift card ASAP. This was 4th of July weekend. Yep, never got it. Not only bad service per my last review but also liars.
(1)John Z.
My review is for the NEW location at The Mall at Partridge Creek...Yelp doesn't have a listing for this place yet, but you need to see my experience there on 7/2/15: WAIT!!! DON'T GO NOW!!! They NEED TIME to get better. I sent them a web-based customer survey response that was very detailed, but the summary is: Waitstaff was confused - Appetizer arrived after the entree. Fish tacos arrived lukewarm. One of my tacos had a piece of fish only 2 inches long, Salads were dripping with salad dressing.
(1)Shunda B.
My mother and I went for a long bike ride - we were at our half way point and of course my mother wanted to do her normal 'FREELOAD". (Parents - smh!) I've been here previously but honestly only for a few beers nothing really that serious; so we decided to come here and plus she hasn't been. The had a wonderful lunch special and we eat outside side area - please note the area is small (2 seater tables only). The waitress was very nice and attentive; she joked/laughed and help us out with the lunch menu. I didn't really time the food - but it wasn't that noticeable of a wait. During lunch hours; it wasn't busy at all which i believe it was around 1pm or 2pm. I would like to see some more seafood items on the menu beside fish/chip (which was good) - more variety would be awesome. Happy eating!!!
(4)Ornella B.
Blackfinn was nice to send me a gift card to give the place another chance since my last review and I finally got the chance to go with my mama and sister for an early dinner over the weekend. We tried the Ying and Yang Shrimp, the French Onion Soup, the Fish Tacos, and the Salmon. The food all got a thumbs up with the winner being the shrimp amongst the group. The service left something to be desired, but overall the food was good enough to bump up a star =]
(4)Katelyn H.
Loved the motor city sipper! If you love grapefruit it is a must try! Also the Greek salad was the Bomb.com !
(4)Liz P.
Kind of surprised I haven't reviewed BlackFinn yet, I went to a SUPERB Yelp event there about a year ago. I went this past Friday night as part of a group event. My group was going to a midnight movie at the Main Art after, which I skipped out on (I need some sleep!) but I was game for appetizers at BlackFinn. Apparently BF contacted the group and said they could do themed drinks and some free apps, which was pretty nice. We started with some BBQ chicken, sausage/pepperoni, and margarita flatbreads. I'd say BBQ chicken was my favorite, and the margarita a close second; the sausage/pepp was okay but nothing new or special. I was a little hungry still so I ordered their crack fries (called BlackFinn fries, I think, but they're pretty much like crack fries, lol) and waited. And waited. And waited for them. The waitress eventually realized they were never brought out to me, and so she got me a fresh order, on the house - which was good customer service. The place was PACKED on a Friday night (around 10pm) which isn't really my scene, but I'd like to try them out for happy hour at some point; I know they do great drink specials and also have a few cocktails on tap (yes, I said COCKTAILS, not draft beers, on tap) which I had at the previous Yelp event and which were delicious. So for now they get 3/5 stars for me but I'd be amenable to updating that at some point.
(3)James K.
My wife and I came up to this place with a large group on a Friday night at 6pm. It was for a work holiday party. It was pretty crowded, but of course it was Friday so what can you expect. We just had appetizers and a buffet style menu, so I can't talk about specific dishes. The food was fine, nothing spectacular. It wasn't anything to complain about either. I did like the beer selection and as usual went with Griffin Claw. The waitstaff was helpful and quick to clean up our area. Now take this with a grain of salt, because I am a 30-something with a kid, but it wasn't the place for me. It was very very loud and hard to have a conversation. The tvs were around, but not exactly easy to see. That being said I could understand if you were in your 20s or wanted a place to dance and have a great time, this might be for you.
(3)Catherine C.
I had the iron skillet Mac and cheese.a delicious blend of macaroni ,cheese ,bacon topped with you choice of pulled pork or shredded chicken. Soo good , a party for your taste buds. Doug had the bourbon street burger wow , great flavor.
(4)Chris M.
I had a bad experience about a month ago, I figured I would give it another chance and see if they could make it better. As no surprise nothing has changed the server attitudes with a... I don't care type. food coming out incorrect. Especially our appetizer took about half an hour to come out. I do not think this place will be in business much longer.
(1)Alexandra B.
Salad was great!
(4)Richie R.
The food is avg at best & they no longer run any worthwhile drink specials. What was once a happening place is now a ghost town. It's going to get worse once Buffalo Wild Wings opens in a few months. Bad decisions by incompetent mgt is to blame #ripBlackfinn
(1)Patrick I.
Went to Blackfinn last night. This was our first stop of the evening and first time in Royal Oak in about 20 years. We walked in and there was no one to greet us. There were people in front of us waiting for someone to seat them, but we sat at the bar. Brad the bartender shook our hand, introduced himself to us, anded welcomed us to the the establishment. We ordered our beer, which came promptly and at the perfect temperature. We did not eat anything since it was early. The food coming out and passing buy looked delicious. Place is nicely decorated. Outside tables on the street. Everyone we came in contact with was friendly. We will come back aeal soon.
(5)Kelly O.
Third times a charm, I guess. Well, my fiancé and I went back to Blackfinn for the third time. We thought we'd give it one more chance to see if we would leave with a better impression. Nope. It seems over the last couple of years that they've downgraded in terms of food quality. While many of the same items are on the menu, it is blatantly obvious that they are either missing ingredients, or just using lower quality ingredients. The taste is just not there anymore. I mean, literally leaving with a stomachache. As for the management? It seems to be very under managed. Waitstaff seems new, or at least undertrained. And no one really seems to give a darn about customer service. Blackfinn has definitely lived up to the reputation that corporate restaurant chains seem to have. And unfortunately, that's not a great reputation in my book. It's too bad, really. This is a great location and there's even some nice outdoor seating. I wish they'd step up their game in terms of the quality of their food. I just found it to be overpriced, bad tasting, overcooked, and just not worth it. We are done here. We won't be returning.
(2)Esther G.
After a Yelp Elite event here recently, I visited again to see how they held up a second time around when they weren't obligated to tend to all my food needs. I would say a more accurate rating is 2 1/2 stars because of the service and miscommunication. At the Yelp event, we were given free flatbread coupons. During lunch, they have lunch portions for much of the menu. I didn't specify I wanted the lunch portion vs. the regular appetizer portion, so the waitress went ahead and assumed I wanted the lunch portion. I'll chalk that up to me not being more specific, even though I think the waitress should've asked me which one I wanted. It's not like the menu had just lunch portions. But then my brother ordered a burger, and she either didn't listen to what was requested or it was made with complete disregard to what he wanted (or didn't want). He wanted no cheese -- there was cheese. He wanted onions -- there weren't onions. She also had to come back five minutes after we placed our order to ask how he wanted his burger cooked. Should he have told her when he placed his order? Sure. But again, isn't it her job to ask? I think so. So then when we ordered dessert and she had to take it back after she realized she forgot to add powdered sugar (which really wasn't necessary but she bolted before I could say something), it all adds up to a less than ideal dining experience. I'm hoping she'll only get better from here on out. And she was nice enough, which is why I'm giving it the three stars rather than two. But overall, it was a disappointing follow-up experience after a highly rated Yelp event. Everything tasted fine, so at least the food was good. So there's that. Anyone want a free flatbread coupon though?
(3)David P.
I've been hosting events at the BlackFinn for the better part of five years now. - I run a networking group for geeks. The BlackFinn has typically been where the pretty people come out to play. This doesn't necessarily mesh well with geek culture. 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. Extremely flexible, understanding, and dedicated to making sure that events come together solidly. Of note, Maria in particular has been just simply outstanding. 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. 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. More importantly, they're true bartenders - they get to know you, they remember you, and they have personalities. 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? Awesome. I've had just about everything on the menu over the years, and I've never been disappointed. 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. Appetizers to burgers, desserts to a steak...you're in good hands with their kitchen. - Location? Main street in Royal Oak. Can't beat it. - Parking? 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. 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. 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. 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. You want a solid place to watch a game? 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. It is what it is...and what it is, is pretty damned cool. I'm not a HUGE fan of the fact that they painted over the wood in the back room during the remodel...that's a tragedy in my book...but it is what it is, I suppose. Someone thought it was a good idea at the time, I'm sure.
(5)Neil Y.
Ground zero for Royal Oak douchebaggery. The parody video wasn't kidding. Met some friends here, upon their request. Overpriced drinks and food. Packed to the gills and banging elbows for two hours. Does anyone do a capacity count? The excessive crowd make getting drink reorders a chore. To cap it off the RO parking Gestapo got me for going over my 2 hour time limit---by 7 minutes. I literally saw the meter maid drive off. Sigh.
(2)Richard F.
I enjoyed what we tried; especially the bacon wrapped meatloaf. Normally, I am not a meatloaf fan, but this was moist and tasty. It is nice that they have so many different and interesting beers on tap as well. It is certainly a sports bar venue, so if you don't like sports bars, this might not be your cup of tea, but on the other hand, the food was better than most sports bars and it was not terribly noisy when we were there.
(3)Christopher K.
Been here a couple times and know i will get a good bite. I've tried most of the apps, the fish and sandwiches. All have above average. The atmosphere is enjoying and depending on who you get, most of the staff is friendly and glad you came.
(3)Kevin S.
Good food. Great beer selection. Excellent staff. We always have a great time watching Detroit sports, drinking beer, and delicious food.
(5)Ceaser D.
Food....terrible. Service....terrible. Crowd....terrible! Maybe I would have enjoyed myself if I was 19 again and would drink anything just to get drunk. Bartenders are rude. The place is dirty. No thanks
(1)Jack C.
The food had flies in it The manger is very crude nasty human being Peter And female manager nasty They refused to take the food back And the food had flies in it Do not go there to eat very serious
(1)Versetta E.
I reaaaaaaally miss the carmelized pineapple mojito! Used set a bad day straight! Should have never gotten rid of it!
(4)Sachin S.
Terrible service - went in in a very slow Saturday early evening with the girlfriend and were seated at an almost empty bar. Counted 6 patrons including ourselves. The two bartenders were busy doing the following: cleaning stuff, looking down, and not paying attention to the two new people clearly seated at the front of the bar. The younger of the two was flirting with two girls barely out of college, and generally smug. Pretty sad seeing as it took 5 minutes to get a "hello" and menus, and then... We waited another 10 or so minutes (again, pretty empty bar mind you) while we watched our young inept bartender continue his flirtation. Directly in front of us. While we waited to place an order... Only he walked away. And so did we! Felt bad for the manager that day, as we made our complaints heard. He was gracious and offered a table and a bottle of wine, but we declined. Got the EXACT OPPOSITE service at the Oyster Bar up the street. Probably not visiting Black Finn again
(2)sarah w.
Good but Loud environment. Waitress was great. Soft pretzels & hummus appetizer very good. Caesar salad tasted horrible. A little experience 4 the quality.
(3)Ernie M.
We were with a Yelp group and had an excellent meal. There flatbreads were great --nice and crispy. I especially liked the BBQ chicken. The Blackfinn salad was very good, and my favorite dish of the night was the bacon wrapped meatloaf. The cocktails were all good with my favorite being the Tito's Motown Mule. We ended the meal with some delicious Funnel Fries---excellent
(4)Julia M.
Just left Black Finn, I didn't mind this restaurant typical bar food, but wait I ordered something different. The shrimp with grits was the best I've ever had. It came with a grit cake that was light and cheesy (goat cheese). The shrimp came in a Tasso cream sauce with smoked sausage. Definitely recommend this dish, they also have a few Happy Hour drink and appetizer specials.
(4)Sarah N.
Come for the mojitos, stay because of the great service. I was here at 8 pm on a Friday. My friend and I sat at the bar. I have never had more attentive service on a Friday evening! Our bartender James (could be a manager?) was extremely talkative, and went out of his way to introduce himself to us and joke around. We only planned on having a mojito each, then leaving; however, we ended up staying for an extra hour and having 3 mojitos each...! (In case you didn't catch the hint from the rest of my review..the mojitos are amazing! Their dragonfruit mojito is life changing). Can't wait to come back!
(5)Stephanie W.
Nice atmosphere, good drinks, great staff. I got here early for happy hour so it wasn't crowded and the prices were reasonable.
(5)Amber A.
Best food in all of Royal Oak, although it seems to be a singles hang out- my husband and I LOVE eating here for dates. Can't beat the fries!! And you won't find a better server in Michigan than Therese!
(4)Nicole L.
Gave this place another go with a friend a few weeks ago. We both had a couple glasses of wine and ranch chicken salad. The fruit flies were still an issue! This time though I give this place 4 stars as they were extremely tentative and kept our wine glasses full :-). We spent 3 hours there talking and laughing and never once felt we were being pushed out the door.
(4)Adrienne A.
The food was a but slow to come out considering we were the only diners for a Saturday lunch, but it was tasty at least. I split the Mac n cheese with blackened chicken, which was excellent. And there was more than enough for two. I also tried the Finn fries, which are served with two dipping sauces, Parmesan buttermilk ranch and barbeque sauce. Both sauces were very good and somewhat unique in flavor and the fries were spiced.
(4)Tom S.
Had been here several times for drinks, but decided to try dinner. The waiter was attentive and he recommended the mahi mahi. It was terrific. As fresh as can be and perfectly prepared. Also had fish tacos which were very good, but you should get the mahi. We were very pleasantly surprised and are looking forward to going back.
(5)Greg D.
Very nice place and great service too. I always get the cheese sticks and the "hot chocolate" desert! I haven't been on the bar side, I've only eaten on the restaurant side.
(5)Zeid S.
Came here with a party of 14 people. The place is nice and fun to be in. This review is based on my experience and on that of the whole table, if it weren't for the service I got it would have gotten 4 stars. I ordered the Saloon burger, medium. After 45 minutes and when everyone else had almost finished their dishes, the waitress comes and says that they overcooked my burger and that they will need 4 more minutes max to make a new one. 20 minutes later, I ask the waitress where my burger was and she says it'll be 5 more minutes. The burger finally came 10 minutes later, and it was cooked well-done. I didn't want to say anything because at that point I was starving. The burger was good, tasty and not greasy. I wish they had just served me the allegedly overcooked burger to begin with. Everyone else enjoyed the place, drinks and the food. If it wasn't for this experience I would give them 4 stars.
(2)Peter H.
Decent food. Fish was definitely frozen, but good Parmesan flavor. Good waitstaff and bartender. Decent beer on tap.
(4)Mylo R.
The food here was fresh tasting and non greasy. I had fish & chips and it was light & fluffy . I felt it was too noisy due to the event they had going on the other side of the place. I would go back.
(3)Annette M.
I held a fundraiser here last month for the non-profit organization I volunteer with and I was far beyond impressed. The sales manager, Maria, was amazing in her planning and execution of our event, the general manager, Chris, was there to help with every odd-ended job we needed while the event took place, and our server, I think her name was Chelsea, was AMAZING! We had over 150 people and she had no problem keeping up. The bar staff was great too. I can't begin to say enough about how great our experience was- they food (they supplied passed appetizers) was great, and everyone loved it, and the drink specials were fabulous too. Thank you again, Blackfinn for making our fundraiser so fabulous. We will definitely return for more events, and just for dinner!
(5)David L.
Always have been a fan of this local watering hole (more for the nightlife) but they recently stepped it up a notch with their complete redesign and much needed upgrade to their cuisine. Great burgers and sandwiches and an even better bar staff.
(4)Nancy S.
We had dinner here tonight for the first time. As we came in The hostess asked us if we would like to sit on the restaurant side to the left or in the bar area to the right. The bar side seemed loud so we opted for the restaurant side at which time she told us there were no tables available on that side??? So we took a hightop table in the back of the bar. It was EXTREMELY LOUD!! There was a game on the many televisions. The volume was so loud you could not understand what the sportscasters were saying about the game. The food was ok, I recommend the brussels sprouts with bacon as a side dish. If you decide to go I recommend making a reservation for the quieter side of the restaurant. The bar side is just excessively and unnecessarily loud.
(2)Jill P.
I was planning a bachelorette party for my friend in Royal Oak and decided to have it at Black Finn! I worked with Maria Finateri and she was absolutely amazing to work with. She was very organized and responsive and helped us to build a menu for the party that the bride would love! When we arrived for dinner, the table was ready with custom menus which added a nice touch! The service was phenomenal- we constantly had refills, the servers were friendly, and everything was delicious!
(5)