Royal Oak, MI — Arguably, the hamburger is one of the most identifiable icons of American cuisine, as it is conventional from coast to coast across the country with seemingly unlimited variations. While there is of course dispute as to where the concept/creation of the hamburger originated, simply put, I’d say to whomever responsible: thank you!

So, for the first installment of the burger series adventures, I had to obviously devour a French-inspired burger at a longstanding British-American pub right? Luckily for me, there’s just a place in Royal Oak with such a burger, one that already holds quite the reputation, as does the establishment: Redcoat Tavern.

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This beloved retro pub and burger joint has been a staple of the community along Woodward Avenue, just north of 13 Mile Road, since 1972. According to a description by the restaurant’s owners, the concept was for a casual tavern environment, but with a serious and detailed approach to the quality of the food and beverage options. An approach that reflected both the personality and soul of the restaurant.

“An establishment liberated from both culinary structures and fads, where simpler foods would be celebrated, where comfort and informality would not have to mean mediocrity. Some decades later this concept caught on, starting in and around London, eventually coming to be called a ‘gastro-pub’. And gastropub, or perhaps ‘gastro-tavern’, is indeed a fitting moniker to describe what we have been doin for 50 years.”

Redcoat Tavern

A few weekends ago, my friend Zack and I were venturing to Carl’s Golfland in West Bloomfield to test out a couple of different drivers, and decided we’d stop to grab a bite to eat on the way. We both had been wanting to check out Redcoat Tavern, an establishment known for its burgers and relaxed setting. We stopped in while on the way up to Carl’s and quickly noted the dimmer but cozy lighting upon walking in. While waiting briefly for our booth, I observed the warm, red lighting used above the tables. The interior encapsulates everything gastropub, setting up for what was soon to be an absolute grand slam of a meal.

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Zack and I barely had to glance at the menu before already knowing what we both were going to order: the Brasserie burger. This burger’s half-pound ground beef patty comes topped with bacon, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, tomato, watercress, Dijon mustard-mayonnaise, all between two toasted brioche buns. This burger, along with the original Redcoat Special Hamburger, have acquired several awards and recognitions for the tavern from the likes of the Detroit Free Press and MLive over the years. Zack and I also ordered a basket of fries to split, because we were rather hungry!

Brasserie Burger

Go ahead and really take a few minutes to inspect the above photo — I don’t blame you! The burger’s name, brasserie, is a type of French restaurant, and also means ‘brewery.’ This burger not only left us speechless for a good eight to ten minutes as we gorged, but it blew our expectations out of the water. The best way to describe to range of flavors would be if a hearty and juicy burger met a French onion soup. The caramelized onions and melted gruyere cheese are a thing of conceptual beauty, a sweet and creamy coalescence atop the crispy and seasoned bacon.

The burger is a hefty one to handle, and is deliciously saturated at various sections from the creamy cheese and sweet onions, to the dijonnaise sauce, and the patty itself. Every bite explodes with savory and subtle sweetness. The crispy bacon gives an added layer of incorporated texture, with some serious flavors grilled into the bacon from the flat top along with the blend of seasonings used. Every layer, from the toast to the brioche buns, to the watercress, or cook of the onions, everything was just downright perfect and where it needed to be for a perfectly assembled burger both appearance and taste-wise. A top-notch burger, worthy of every award and recognition it has received thus far and whatever comes its way next!

Stay tuned for more upcoming posts, reviews, and personal creations. Our adventures are just beginning!