In early October, I got to dine out on the Park 600’s beautiful patio. Take that, COVID-19!
The Park 600 is a restaurant at the independently-owned Royal Park Hotel in Rochester. While I’d never visited the hotel previously, I’d heard word of its elegance and was excited at the opportunity to experience it firsthand when I was invited to dine at the restaurant.
While I didn’t eat inside the Park 600, I was able to admire its interior while grabbing a drink at the bar. The restaurant exudes both modernity and class in its gorgeous mix of earth-toned elements – its rich wood paneling, bronze chandelier lighting, and granite-topped bar counter.
Inside that restaurant, I felt a longing for pre-COVID times – times when I ate in inviting establishments such as this one on a regular basis! But I haven’t felt up to indoor dining since the virus hit – and I doubt I will anytime soon.
The silver lining of it all was that I got to eat on The Park 600’s patio, and that was a lovely experience indeed – despite the temperature hovering around 50 degrees on that evening. Heat lamps – and coats – made the covered portion of patio pleasant. I admired the flagstone terrace in the soft white glow of the strings of bulbs strung overhead.
This outing familiarized me with the Park 600’s dinner menu, which currently features a profusion of luxe appetizers (Tuna Tartare, Baked Double Cream Brie, and Prime Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio are examples), plus soups, salads, pizzas, and protein-centric dishes such as the Filet Mignon and Crispy Skin Mediterranean Sea Bass.
The dish I decided on, the Roast Chicken (sans the wild mushrooms) was excellent. I’d chosen it because I was looking to behave myself by taking a break from red meat (my preferred protein) – but WOW, did Park 600 do poultry right via this dish! The chicken breast was so tender and flavorful served in the house-made marsala pan sauce, pairing well with the spinach, carrots, and parmesan mashed potatoes. I thoroughly enjoyed it all.
Satisfied as I was by this excellent dinner, the friendly, attentive server didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to order from the Park 600’s dessert menu! My dinner companion and I shared a slice of the chocolate cake, which was well worth the decadence with its layers of rich mousse.
In short, the dining experience was a stellar one – one I’m grateful to have had despite the pandemic. Thanks, Park 600, for an evening worth celebrating!
600 E. University Dr.
Rochester, MI 48307
(Open for lunch/brunch as well as dinner; check its website for hours)
