Nightspots

Crocodile Rock-Royal Oak

December 3, 1999

Dana Croll, 30, of Lake Orion plays the saxophone as Jeff Lehman, 36, of Warren and Jim Bearup, 48 of Mt. Morris play the piano at Crocodile Rock in Royal Oak.

The Lowdown: Downstairs, upscale diner's clink wineglasses while sampling Royal Oak's newest restaurant, Sangria. Upstairs, Dana Kroll jumps atop his piano, his partner keeping the rhythm summoning the waitstaff to do "The Time Warp" again in a nearly nightly ritual. This is the world of Crocodile Rock, downtown Royal Oak's entry into the dueling-piano bar scene, the end of the millenium entertainment trend that turns up the volume on the old time piano sing-along.

"We think of ourselves as ringmasters," says piano man Croll, who faces Jimmy Bearup or Jeff Lehman Wednesdays through Saturdays." We want audience participation, and sometimes it can get a little raw. This is Vegas-style entertainment, not the Holiday Inn.

For those who haven't experienced the dueling piano concept at rival clubs Goodfella's or JD's Key Club, it works this way: Patrons gather around a pair of pianos that look like they just had a head on collision. Slips of paper are left on tables for requests which accompanied by a buck or two in the top-of-the-piano fishbowls, make it onto the song list.

Atmosphere: With the music amplified to near bar-band decibels, the vibe at Crocodile Rock is loud and sometimes rowdy. For now, paper banners on the windows are the only signs of the club visible from street level. Open just about a month, Crocodile Rock has been attracting a revolving door filled with legions of bar and restaurant hoppers who have turned downtown Royal Oak into a gastronomic amusement park.

Décor: With picture windows making up two full walls, Crocodile Rock offers a bird's-eye view rare in Royal Oak nightspots. Though the club is tucked away a bit on the outskirts of downtown, you can witness the hordes coming in and out of the Royal Oak Music Theatre across the street. Framed, vintage advertising posters decorate the walls, which are painted an attractive Fiesta dish yellow or cranberry red. Patrons gather cabaret-style at wood and marble-topped table, while the ceiling's exposed ventilation and naked metal beams lend a mildly industrial feels.

Crowd: Crocodile Rock aims for the 25-to 60-year old demographic, but last Saturday night's crowd was mostly young and professional, with a peppering of baseball-cap wearing refugees from the Music Theatre. One couple, piano bar veterans, were celebrating their 15^th wedding anniversary. Most are game for audience participation, so when the musicians ask for a volunteer to lie Lauren Bacall-style on the piano, they usually have a few takers. The club can support about 200 comfortably, but for now has been drawing less than half that.

Dress: Casual club attire on up, depending on the restaurant that patrons have just left.

Music: Hoagy Carmichael and Sam from "Casablanca" aren't welcome here. Heck, even Sinatra has trouble getting in the door. Billy Joel and Elton John are the kings of Crocodile Rock, named for John's 1972 hit. It's that brand of bouncy, infectious, sing along to the radio pop standards that fuels the action. Though you will hear plenty of the Beatles, and even and occasional MTV-era hit, the '70s rule, with the Eagles, John Denver and Jim Croce among the most requested.

Food And Drink: During the long wait for a table downstairs (up to an hour on weekends), Sangria regularly sends diners up to wait at Crocodile Rock. There is no food at the club, but owner Luigi Cutraro says that will soon be corrected. Martinis flow freely for $3.75 to $6, with beer costing $2.75 to $3.75 for domestic bottles and drafts respectively.

Pickup Potential: Plenty, especially around the bar. While couples and groups tend to gather close to the keys, the bar area is alive with active trading on the Royal Oak Digit Exchange.

Cover none.

Parking: Catch-as-catch can street parking. A large lot across Lafayette is free after 9 p.m.

Hours: 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Specifics: Crocodile Rock (located above Sangria restaurant), 401 S. Lafayette, corner of Fourth, Royal Oak, 248-543-1964.

Miscellaneous: The Cutraro family once owned the Metro Music Café directly across Fourth Street in the building that now houses Illusions Bar and Grill. Sangria promotes tapas-style Spanish cuisine, which means a focus on tiny dishes, both hot and cold, to accompany fine wine or sherry. The upscale restaurant also serves a full menu of Spanish-influenced entrees.

By John Monaghan, Free Press special writer.