ANTONIO CONSTANZO

BEST OF EVERYTHING

AND THE STAFF OF

THE VICTORIAN ROOM

THANK ALL THE READERS OF THE JEWISH
NEWS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OVER THE PAST
YEAR AND THEIR WELL-APPRECIATED
PATRONAGE.
WE EXTEND A FRIENDLY WELCOME TO
COME AND JOIN US AGAIN. THANK YOU!

TH TEHE VB%TiNOITRAILAIANN DAINGO

151-6880
Introducing From Larco's Inn

3601 E. TWELVE MILE, Just West of Ryan

Chef Gus Crocenzi

and

Waiter Silvio Lanza

We Welcome You To Enjoy Our
Fine Italian Food . . . The Finest In
Steaks and Liquor

The Victorian Room Is One Of The
Most Beautifully Decorated Dining Rooms

Serving Daily From 11 a. m.

Closed Sundays

Advertising in The Jewish News Gets Results
Place Your Ad Today. Call 354-6060

DISCOVER

A UNIQUE APPROACH
TO CHUCK MUER DINING

Built,

11(

5o lt

At Meriwether's you can enjoy Chuck
Muer's best - the freshest seafood
available.

But we've also created a menu that
will satisfy the most hard to please
palate.

Lomb Chops

Try our delicious PRIME RIB,
mouth watering LOBSTER TAILS,
savory ORIENTAL STIR FRYS, and
hot TEACUP BREAD, served with
honey cinnamon butter.

Of course this is just a sampling of our
fare. And it's not all you'll enjoy. Our
old English style charm, and
reasonable prices win praise too.

Ili-al Picea to

So stop by for LUNCH or DINNER
and discover us for yourself?

C r

ab Lep

•1!!!!!!lochumilt..e,

Itlephirether's

Telegraph Road north of 10 Mile, Southfield
For reservations 358-4950

46

Friday, June 20, 1986

Crab 'Tattoo,/

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

DANNY RASKIN

When he bought the place over
four years ago, Denis Vanvakas
wasn't given much chance of last-
ing long.
After all, said so many, prev-
ious owners Chuck and Dorothy
Joseph had built up such a repu-
tation that Denis could never
cope with their success.
However, Denis' Place For
Steaks, formerly known as Chuck
Joseph's Place For Steak . . . on
Grand River between Southfield
and Outer Drive . . . has proven
them to be very wrong.
His dining spot, seating 120
people, is a favorite of many
sports celebrities and politicians
. . . When Governor Jim Blan-
chard is in town, Denis' Place For
Steaks is usually the first place
he heads for . . . State Supreme
Court Justice Patricia Boyle and
husband, Recorders Court Judge
Terry Boyle, are regulars, at
least three times a week.
Many people call it their home
away from home . . . because of
the cozy intimacy, friendly at-
mosphere, relaxing dining and
drinking and soft lighting.
The food is considered to be
better than ever . . . and custom-
ers who have come for years con-
tinue to return . . . a re-
staurateur's dream.
Much of Denis' Place For
Steaks' desired achievement is
due to his dedication, persever-
ance and hard work . . . almost
always being at the restaurant
the six days a week it is open .. .
from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. . . . He's.
there in the morning, goes home
for a short nap, and returns til
after closing.
The prices are very reasonable
... so much for the money.
My waitress, Beverly Schmidt,
has been there seven years .
and others can count 17 years of
service at this locale.
Beverly is very capable and
cordial . . . as she first brought
me what comes with all dinners.
One dish with assorted relishes
(carrots, celery, radishes, green
onions, black, Greek and stuffed
olives) . . . and another dish with
corn relish, cottage cheese and
kibbee meat balls.
Then a crisp, cold salad on its
proper oblong dish with
Roquefort cheese dressing and
plenty of chunks.
It's not on the menu, but Denis'
Place For Steaks serves handcut
cottage fries . . . If the chef is
given my suggestion, the
potatoes will be cut thinner and
served crispier ... However,
others may like them just as they
are.
My petite filet and lobster tail
combination was a delicious one
. . . both so tender and juicy.
I like the coffee cup saucers at
Denis' Place For Steaks . . . with
their molded center to hold cups
firm.
The service is outstanding .. .
and there's piano bar music
Wednesday-Saturday . . . plus a
curved bar with ten padded stools
and slanted backbar mirror
panels.
Quite a few folks who have
been searching for those petite
baby frog legs they used to serve
at Club Berkley and Northwood
Inn . . . need look no further .. .

Denis' Place For Steaks has
them.
That name, by the way, is
somewhat of a misnomer . . . al-
though plenty of steak variety.
Denis' Place For Steaks also
has 24-ounce crab legs, lamb
chops, bar-b-q ribs, large fried
shrimp, shish kebob, bar-b-q
chicken, scampi . . . even Opa!
flaming cheese appetizer and
fresh catch-of-the-day.
Since the kitchen is open til 12
midnight every day, it's a great
spot to go for after-function
snacks ... steak bits, sirloin
steak sandwich, tenderloin steak
sandwich, broiled ground round,
roast beef sandwich, Reuben
sandwich . . . and other good
things to eat.
There are all tables . . . no
booths . . . with the chairs con-
tour fitting.
Hard work usually pays off . .
and has for Denis Vanvakas.
CONGRATS . . . to Rose and
Frank Diosi . . . on their 50th an-
niversary . . . They're aunt and
uncle of Lynne Godos, very fine
waitress at The Eatery on W. Ten
Mile.
NO MONEY . . . one scale in a
little grocery store . . . and a
single class with 30 people .. .
Today, 30 pounds lighter and 20
years later, she now has over
72,000 in over 1,000 class-es a
week.
This is how far Florine Mark-
Ross has come since taking on
her first Weight-Watchers
franchise . . . As president of
eight-International (WW Group,
Inc.) franchises in seven states
. . . plus Mexico and Canada .. .
her's is the largest franchise
group of all.
From that candy store opening
. . . she and her staff are having
its pre-20th anniversary celebra-
tion through June 28 at three lo-
cations ... Evergreen Plaza, 12
Mile and Evergreen; Friar
Tuck's, W. 14 Mile, Clawson; and
Mid-8 Shopping Center, Eight
Mile and Middlebelt, Livonia .. .
Everybody welcome at no charge
... to hear guest speakers give
nutritional, fitness and cooking
information . . . Informative
demonstrations also given during
the open houses . . . Monday-
Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PANACHE, former Ar-
chibald's at 555 Woodward in
Birmingham, is fast becoming
one of the top spots to be seen at
. . . Folks are coming from
everywhere to enjoy the great
change in atmosphere, food, serv-
ice and conviviality . . . It has the
only dance floor in Birmingham
. . . Scratch Trio is there now,
playing top 40s music through
June . . . Entire month of August
will be Loving Cup.
LOST AND FOUND DEPT.
. .. Ladies diamond ring still
hasn't been claimed at Penache
on Woodward in Birmingham .. .
Call Ken Walters" if you think it
might have been lost there.
THOSE P'JAZZ CON-
CERTS originated by Chuck
Muer when he was dining and
catering boss at Hotel Pontchart-
rain downtown have gone into
their 15th season . . . But instead
of Monday and Wednesday nights

as Chuck had them, the concerts
are Friday evenings on outside
terrice.
Too bad they have to buck
heads with the Troy Hilton's
"Summer Nights" also on Friday
evenings at its outdoor pool .. .
Could be a wonderful bonanza for
single folks if they had two such
places to go each week.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?Don't
know, but Sidney Dinner is co-
chairman with Dave Gordon of
the dinner honoring Julius To-
bias and Robert Leach, June 25, 7
p.m. by Perfection Lodge . . . It'll
be at Ferndale Masonic Temple
for both guys and gals.
MEADOW BROOK Music
Festival opened its 23rd season
last Wednesday, 8 p.m., when
singer-dancer Mitzi Gaynor
staged her Las Vegas style revue
in the outdoor pavilion . . . Festi-
val is located on the campus of
Oakland University near Roches-
ter.
World-acclaimed violinist It-
zhak Perlman performed Men-
delssohn's Violin Concerto in E
minor with Detroit Symphony
under baton of Gunther Herbig
last Thursday ... Program also
included Beethoven's Symphony
No. 9, and "Choral" sung by De-
troit Symphony Chorus, with
Eric Freudigman director.
Pianist Liberate comes into
Meadow Brook with his furs,
feathers and beads . . . not to
mention the candelabra and
rhinestone-studded piano, to-
night and tomorrow.
OPENING OF Southfield's
latest entry to the dining scene is
Stuart Anderson's American
Grill on Northwestern Hwy. and
11 Mile.
The over-220 seating spot had
people lined up for samples of
food grilled over hardwood fire
. . . Stuart Anderson's 120 res-
taurants around the country are
more widely known as Cattle
Company.
American Grill is an attempt to
de-emphasize the meat aspect .. .
what with grilled swordfish,
prawns, chicken, home-grown
vegetables, etc. ... Also on the
buffet line was roast beef cut by a
white-uniformed gent,
homemade sausage and other in-
teresting foods.
I sat with Lois and Harry Nel-
son, whose 31 years of marriage
in August have made them very
proud parents . . . Lawyer-
daughter Julie is working with
her brother Linden at Cadillac
Creative Advertising . . . His 39-
foot Stingray boat is named "The
Rotten Kid" . . . That's what his
grandmother (Lois' mother) Ada
Linden used to call him . . . She'll
be 89 years old in September .. .
Linden's boat is docked at High-
land Beach, Fla., near Boca Ra-
ton, where he also has a condo,
plus living here . . . Yes, gals,
Linden is single.
Others at opening of Stuart
Anderson's American Grill in-
cluded . . . Jerry Tobin, director of
public safety in Southfield; Hilda
and Jack Erman, Pauline and
Ben Borman, Millie and vet doc
Dennis Kovon . . . among others.
CHEF REMY BERDY is corn-
ing- back ... The Israeli-born,
former very popular chef at