---
Danny Raskin's
rThe Best of Everything)
IT WAS COLD . . . but a
clear evening . . . and the
beautiful waters of Cass
Lake were covered by an ice
blanket ... I was on my way
for another visit to Ciro's on
Cass Lake Road just off Or-
chard Lake Road . . . pass-
ing cottages that seem to
withstand time . . . It was a
two-fold purpose . . . to see if
it was as good as many
people say . . . and if so, to
have ourselves some tasty
food.
After a few winds around
the memory-laden roads,
there Ciro's stood on the
right side . . . Looking so
unpretentious . . . but re-
plete inside with culinary
surprises . . . So many
people call it the best low-
priced Italian-American
restaurant in the lake
region . . . with dishes not
found at too many places . .
Others have told of going
there just for the barbecue
ribs.
But during the week,
Monday-Thursday only, be-
cause it takes so long to
make (about 25 minutes), is
one of the best stuffed pizzas
to be found anywhere .. .
It's on the same concept as
Calzoni in Chicago or New
York, with just mozzarella
and ricotta cheese and
deep-fried . . . At Ciro's,
however, it is stuffed with
all sorts of ingredients
(whatever you want) and
baked . . . The stuffed pizza
at Ciro's is a "find."
Dining at the booths
and tables with tablec-
loths, is an experience at
Ciro's because of its good
food ... excellent service
like that of waitress Teri
Fettig, personable, smil-
ing and efficient . . . plus
the cordiality of man-
ager, hostess, book-
keeper, everything, De-
bbie Bilski.
It is much a family opera-
tion . . . with most of the re-
cipes from Laponza, Italy off
the coast of Naples . . .
where Ciro (Geno) and
brother Jerry Spigno were
born.
Dad, Dominic Spigno,
helps in the kitchen every
morning . . . making many
of the sauces and soups .. .
Mother Delta Spigno comes
in three days a week to
make the Capatelli (tiny
ravioli stuffed with chicken)
and mortadalia (Italian
beef) in a chicken soup.
Not many places with an-
tipasto of eggplant sorren-
tino, very thin slices of
eggplant stuffed with
ricotta, parmigiana and
mozzarella cheeses, eggs
and spices, topped with
marinara sauce and baked
. . . or entree of veal rolla-
tini, veal stuffed with moz-
zarella and parmigiana
cheeses, eggs, green onions,
raisins and spices, topped
with sauteed mushrooms,
onions, butter and garlic
sauce, sweet vermouth and
sherry wine sauce . . . or
shrimp marinara, sauteed
in fresh strained vegeta-
bles, olive oil, garlic, basil,
oregano and wine.
March 21, Ciro's will
celebrate its sixth birth-
day . . . Back in 1978, Ciro
and Jerry took over a
former 100-seater
Chinese restaurant ...
Seating is now about 120
in the dining room and
another 20 in a cocktail
lounge.
This may have been their
first venture as restaurant
owners, but both are not
without restaurant experi-
ence . . . In 1966, six months
after he (18), Jerry (11),
Mom and Dad arrived in
this country, Gino was
working at Top of the Flame
doing everything from dis-
hwashing to being host .. .
Reason he could speak
English so well was his
attendance at Merchant
Marine Academy in Naples,
where the language was
mandatory.
Gino graduated Ketter-
ing High and went on to the
Macomb Community Col-
lege for two years of ac-
counting . . . Jerry
graduated Osborne High.
The first chef at Ciro's
when it opened, Mike
Palazzolo, had gone to Os-
borne High with Jerry .. .
but before that, both worked
at a spot on Seven Mile .. .
Jerry, 14, was cook, and
Mike, 13, pizza maker .. .
leaving Ciro's for Florida
and two years as banquet
chef at the Hyatt Hotel in
Sarasota . . . Mike is back
again . . . with a world of
party experience . . . includ-
ing ice carving . . . to go with
his chefing expertise.
The homemade cook-
ing at Ciro's is delightful
... Even zuppa inglese
dessert is made there,
with Italian cookies, van-
illa pudding, vanilla ice
cream, chocolate syrup,
amaretto, anisette,
kahlua, Tia Maria and
rum, topped with whip-
ped cream and chocolate
syrup.
It is open seven days a
week . . . Monday and Tues-
day, 11-11; Wednesday-
Friday, 11-midnight;
Saturday, 4-midnight; and
Sunday, noon to 4.
The Cass Lake region
grows continuously . . . with
some of the finer low-priced
restaurants found in this
area . . . Ciro's making al-
most everything itself,
breading, lasagna, clam
sauce, etc. . . . is family din-
ing at high peak . . . with
reasonable prices and ev
erything from sandwiches
to pizza to chops to steaks to
chicken to veal to Fettuc-
cine Alfredo, etc. . . . People
come from all over to eat at
Ciro's . . . the reason is quite
evident.
MICHIGAN'S FIRST
classical wine bar has
opened at Benjie's Fish and
Seafood Restaurant, Or-
chard Lake Rd. in Sylvan
Lake . . . It's the creation of
Chef Benjie Pearlman,
whose desire has always
been to have the area's first
"true" wine bar.
In keeping with this
yearning, Benjie has built a
"wine by the glass system"
into the bar . . . This allows
up to 50 different wines to
be served by the glass . . .
while preserving the con-
tents of each bottle under an
inert layer of odorless and
tasteless nitrogen gas .. .
The focal point of Benjie's
bar is most assuredly wine,
and the list will eventually
grow to over 100 selections
. . . No liquor is served, but a
large array of international
beers is available.
Also offered is the area's
largest selection of fresh
fish and seafood . . . flown in
daily from Boston, Florida,
California and the Pacific
Northwest . . . Benjie's has
become quite noted for this
. . . and now the wine bar,
one of the few in the country
. . . now has taken a firm
hold . . . Nothing like a good
(Continued on Page 34)
-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, February 3, 1984 33
In MI MO In
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--
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1 5% OFF
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I
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I
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VALID UNTIL FEB. 10, 1984 — Not Valid Sat. or Sun. before 4 p.m.
I
Present this coupon to the cashier at either Original Pancake House Restaurant
and receive a 15% Discount for you and your entire party. ONE GUEST CHECK, Please.
SOUTHFIELD
I
GROSSE . POINTE WOODS
19335 10 Mlle Rd.
JN
20273 Mack Ave.
Between Southfield Rd. & Evergreen
Between Vernier & Moross
7 a.m. to 9
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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I
In
Ma MI
--
-
COUPON
1 5% OFF
I
edilie64inal efancalee Jamie
VALID UNTIL FEB. 17, 1984 — Not valid Sat. or Sun. before 4 p.m.
Present this coupon to the cashier at either Original Pancake House Restaurant
and receive a 15% Discount for you and your entire party. ONE GUEST CHECK. Please
SOUTHFIELD
GROSSE POINTE WOODS
JN
19335 10 Mlle Rd.
20273 Mack Ave.
Between Southfield Rd. & Evergreen
Between Vernier & Moross
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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ma ma on on am am am onanan=============imim0
I
TAKE THE FAMILY OUT TO DINNER
3020 GRAND RIVER Free Parking TE 3- 0700
CARL'S
CHOP HOUSE
Private Banquet Rooms for wedding parties.
Serving the World's Finest Steaks, Chops and
Sea Foods for more than 50 years. All Beef aged
in our cellars._
the
dining room, carry-out and trays
clket
bl e
i
deli
• breakfast • lunch • dinner
• after-theater • kiddie menu
open tuesdays thru sundays
10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
,
lincoln shopping center. 10 1/2 mi. & greenfield, oak park.
Va. T- oxiu/
,.;
ID41441
(313) 541-2132
Specializing in
Cantonese Food
HOA KOW INN
Open Daily 11 to 10:30, Sat. 11 to 12 Mid. Sun. 12 to 10:30
Carry Out Service
Free Parking
13715 W. 9 MILE ROAD. OAK PARK
547-4663
.1 SERVING YOUR FAVORITE EXOTIC
& CHOICE COCKTAILS 7,
I
• BANQUETS • PARTIES • BUSINESS MEETINGS 1
OPEN 7 DAYS — YOUR HOST: HOWARD LEW
SZECHUAN, MANDARIN, CANTONESE
AND AMERICAN FOOD
Businessmen's Luncheons • Carry outs • Catering
35135 Grand River, Farmington
(Drakeshire Shopping Center)
NINA CITY
476-9181
1.
.
-
SZECHUAN, MANDARIN, CANTONESE & AMERICAN CUISINE
OPEN 1 DAYS—Mon.-Thurs. 11-10, Fri. & Sat. 11-11, Sun. & Holidays 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
e • Banquet Facilities
Your Chef: FRANK ENG
261% GREENFIELD, LINCOLN CENTER, OAK PARK
Mon.-Thurs. 11 to 10:30
968-3040
Fri. 11 to 11. Sat. 11 to 12
Carry-Out Service
Catering To Parties Available
Sun. 12 noon to 10
OPEN 7 DAYS
A WEEK
NEW KING
LIM'S
3350 Auburn Rd.
852 8280
Exotic Cocktails
-
FLOWN IN FRESH
eti
EXPRESSLY FOR YOUR. DINING
I.,
11101
III 1
at
the
Owned IL Operate•
By May L
StepJtert Tern He•
COMPLETE CARRY - OUT
354-9077
COMBINATION PLATE
ALMOND
BONELESS CHICKEN
WITH WON TON SOUP, EGG ROLL, $350
FRIED RICE & TEA
PLUS OTHER SPECIALS FROM $2.50 to $3.85
■ ■
-
4:
SPECIAL
11•1
(IN TEL-EX PLAZA)
353 7848 I
Restaurant
22106 COOLIDGE AT 9 MILE In A & P Shopping Center
DINE IN & CARRY-OUT
398-5502 or 398-5503
I II I
24535 W. 12 MILE RD. AT TELEGRAPH
• Private Dining Room • Businessmen's Luncheons
MON.-THURS. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
FRI. & SAT. 11 a.m.- 12 mid.
SUN. 12 noon-10:30 p.m.
24480 W. 10 MILE
West of Telegraph
GOLDEN BOWL
1
Your host . . . HENRY LUM
3441021
THE GOLD COIN
PRIVATE DINING ROOM
I
411
EIMENNE
Mandarin. Szechuan & Cantonese Food
1
.
Mon.-Thurs., 11-10, Fri. & Sat. 11-11, Sun. 12-10
CARRY OUT • CATERING
8410 W. NINE MILE, W. of Livernois
KING LIM'S GARDEN
E GPEAT V! ACC
-
FLING LIM'S
COMPLETE
CARRY-OUT
AVAILABLE
1128 E. Nine Mile Road (1 1/2 Mile East of 1-75)
SERVED ANYTIME
7 DAYS
152r a Creat /*AIM Cut... Thy
POIN/NC, 10/NA" AtAACYAC
.
N
SZECHUAN, MANDARIN, CANTONESE & AMERICAN
A Tradition
Since 194
Fred Bayne at the organ nightly
OPEN 1 21 .- 1 2 . 4 5 a m . J ON -SAT
Famous Chop Suey • Cantonese Food • Steaks • Chops • Sea Food
CARRY OUT SERVICE
EASY PARKING
322 W McNICHOLS. Bet. Woodward & Second
868-7550
968-0022 •
3ine 2)fining and Locitaild
Recommended by AAA & Mobile Guides
KOW KOW INN
ENGLISH DOVER SOLE
KINGSLEY INN 642-0100
WICT Paf46
NOW FEATURING
MANDARIN & SZECHUAN SPECIALTIES
AT BOTH LOCATIONS
•
•
•
•
•
SIZZLING RICE SOUP
HONG KONG STEAK
MONGOLIAN BEEF
TWICE COOKED BEEF
SZECHUAN aEEF
_
SOUTHFIELD
18203 W. 10 MILE RD. & SOUTHFIELD RD.
569-5527
Mon.-Fri., 11 to 10:30
Saturday 11 to 1
Sunday 12 to 10
' ALSO OUR CANTONESE FAVORITES
•
•
•
•
•
SZECHUAN CHICKEN
SZECHUAN SHRIMP
SZECHUAN SCALLOP
HOUSE SPECIAL BEEF
HOUSE SPECIAL CHICKEN
FARMINGTON
31455 W. 14 MILE RD. & ORMAN LAKE RD.
JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE
851-8600
M-Th. Lun. 11:30-2:30, Din: 5:30-10
Fri. & Sat. Dinner til 12 Mid.
Sun. 12-9
CANTONESE & NORTHERN CHINESE
Sun. 11:30-4, Fri. & Sat. Din. 4 to 2 a.m.
851-7400