Woody’s? Are you in there?
Crossing the train tracks on a cold and blustery post-work (TGIF!) Friday night in Royal Oak to meet my mom and stepdad at Onyx Steakhouse, I caught eyes on the structure it was housed in and was like, “Woody’s?” Yep, Onyx Steakhouse is housed in the building that used to be Wild Woody’s – or that still is, on the second floor, from what I understand? – which I may or may not have made a few late-night, stumbling-across-the-train-tracks pilgrimages to in my youth, as I assume some of you also may have done. Good times! Well, while the outside of the structure is still decidedly Woody-esque in my mind – you can’t erase the bones! – and while I find it to be quite a large building for a steakhouse, the inside of the main floor has been totally renovated to look impressively classy. There’s a lovely dim ambiance, a long, inviting bar rail beckoning a crowd of a more refined variety, and a space for live music. When we were there, there was a band playing some very pleasant jazz tunes, the perfect background music for grilling a juicy filet to the perfect temperature on a sizzling hot stone tableside. Because yes, Onyx is one of those places where you cook your own steak.
Admittedly, I’m sort of ambivalent about that feature in a restaurant – it’s unique, but do I really want to exert effort on cooking when I go out? And I’m someone who likes to cook! But hey, if you find you also aren’t sure you want to cook a steak on a hot stone, I’m sure they’d cook it for you in the back, or you can order something else off of the extensive menu, which includes other entrees dishes such as mac and cheese and salmon; burgers; sandwiches; and an extensive starter menu, the latter of which I ordered from. I got the 10-ounce portion of the Cajun Beef Tips appetizer and a side of green beans, and that was enough to be a meal for me. The tender beef tips were complemented well by the rich cajun cream sauce and crispy toast points that came with them. And I didn’t have to cook them myself!
208 W. Fifth St.
Royal Oak, MI 48067
100 Places in the D 