Youngers
by Adam O'Connor
Don't get me wrong, Youngers has your traditional Irish offerings: fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, potato wedges (literally loaded with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onion) and a corned beef reuben (which you can "Make It A Mile High" and have them prep it with a full pound of corned beef – and if you're able to eat the whole damned thing, you get your name on the wall of fame!).
Youngers also steps it up in the traditional pub fare department, as well. They have a roasted salmon appetizer plate that is clean, tasty and well-balanced. Grilled onions and a subtle, creamy horseradish sauce complement the salmon and accompanying capers perfectly. Then there's their take on the quesadilla, known as the "John Couch" Quesadilla (he's a regular in the Romeo community – a town legend). Oh great, you're thinking, another quesadilla. NOT QUITE! They use a tomato basil tortilla and fill it wil colby cheese, roasted red peppers, fresh pomodoro (!) and grilled chicken. Then they top it off with cilantro-infused sour cream. It's unique, fantastic and a very American take on a super-basic Mexican appetizer.
Getting to the entree portion of the menu, they've got some fantastic interpretations on the classics. One of the best things I've eaten in months is their chicken pot pie. It's a traditional – yet delicious – chicken cream base, loaded with nice-sized chunks of our favorite fowl, smashed redskins (BIG chunks of potato, mind you), peas, carrots, mushrooms, corn and a crispy yet soft-but-not-mushy puff pastry. It's incredible. And if the lovely and extremely attentive staff at Youngers hadn't already packed me full of various plates of deliciousness, I would have scarfed the entire thing.
Alas, I stray too much when food is concerned. The most incredible feature aside from the fantastic food and great bar selection (they have a wondrous assortment of Michigan craft beers, you should know) is the aforementioned sense of community, togetherness and damned good times.
The building as a whole holds some 800 people( when you count the three patio/deck areas they have pumping on nice days and evenings). They've got a great musical and comedic lineup in their upstairs stage area (with its own full bar), and a gorgeous view of downtown Romeo from the patios. And then there's bike night.
Not only does Youngers pack them in each and every Thursday, they actually shut down the street out in front of the establishment for their Bike Night extravaganza. It's a giant, fun and town-oriented motorcycle bash. They get – are you ready for this? – as many as 300 to 500 bikes every Thursday. And they're amping it up this year too. They'll have pig roasts, parties and more. The adjoining stores and establishments are bumping too, and the whole town seems to get into it. It's a great place to grab a drink, park your bike or just grab a delicious plate o' food. Youngers is one of those places that seems to have it all figured out. | RDW
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