I BEST OF EVERYTHING' Remodeled Decor Joins With Great Food • DELI TRAYS • VEGGIE TRAYS • DESSERT TRAYS DINE IN OR CARRY-OUT DANNY RASKIN Local Columnist Did you know Colombo Frozen Yogurt has all the taste of premium ice cream but 1/3 fewer calories? — I—CO— UPON COUPO N r" COUPON © Colombo Inc. 1988 v"." FREW SALAD FREE SANDWICH WITH PURCHASE OF ANOTHER SALAD EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE 7 Varieties To Choose From! • Limit One FREE Salad FREE CROISSANT WITH PURCHASE OF ANOTHER SANDWICH EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE Choice of Fresh-Baked Croissant or Fresh Bread! • Limit One FREE Sandwich WITH PURCHASE OF ANOTHER CROISSANT EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE Over 30 Varieties To Choose From! • Limit One FREE Croissant Expires 3-24-88 Expires 3-24-88 Expires 3-24-88 JN C • French Vanilla • Strawberry • Old World Chocolate • Raspberry JN azti4Vc_ li JN 1111111111111 VISA' O Invites You To ORDER YOUR HOMEMADE PASSOVER ITEMS NOW!! •CHICKEN SOUP • MATZO BALLS • GEFILTE FISH • POTATO PANCAKES • BEEF BRISKET •ROASTED CHICKEN • KASHA • CHOPPED LIVER • STUFFED CABBAGE ommasplaza dell ■ osw ■ ommaapl ► za dell answia, • • • • 1: 1 • • • • Cole Slaw • • or Potato : • Salad JN • ■ II. .. Buy a half pound of Potato Salad or Cole Slaw and .1 wa get second hail pound free. Mix or match. With this • ad. Coupon must be presented before ordering to be valid. No duplication of coupons. 8 person minimum a ■ ■ ■ • a■ss■■m■■■a■■■■• ∎∎ 0■■■■ plazo, dell ■■ im ■ • a au ■ i 00 Expires April 30, 1988 • • a ■ • s ■ • I OFF . ■ • • ! ANY CARRY-OUT ■ • • e Order or more!! a • Must Present Coupon .IN Before Ordering. No Phone Orders. No Duplication of Coupon. ■ 111 • Expires April 30, 1988 ■ M • • 4/ .0111111111MIOMMOMMOMUMW. . DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun. 8 a.m.-8 p.m: 56 FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1988 COME SEE OUR NEW LOOK! MORE SEATING SAME GREAT FOOD! 5 ■ • OFF • • ANY • • :SANDWICH ■ . ■ gr i ' ■ ■ •■ ••••••• ■■■■■■■■►•• with purchase of second sandwich of equal or u es!ttebevalue. presented before ordering Ito be .valid. P o n duplication of coupons. 8 person minimum. Expires April 30, 1988 • 41/ 40511 •Issplaza dell ■■■■■• • ■ • $5 00 ■ • OFF ■ ■ is ill ■ ■ a a • . PARTY • (MEAT or FISH) . TRAYS ■ ■ a • • • op me JN • • .. NOT good DAY before, or DAY of any holiday. Must ,.. III present coupon when placing order. 8 persop ■ 1111 minimum. 44111 Expires April 30, 1988 ■■■I■■■■•■1. 29145 NORTHWESTERN HWY. FRANKLIN SHOPPING PLAZA Southfield 356-2310) ome Oct. 14, it'll be eight years already since Frank Passala- qua took over a sliding Mario's Restaurant on Second between Willis and Canfield . . . and brought it back to life. The gracious Italian tudor structure outside is still there but you immediately sense there is something different about it . . . and are right .. . The drabness is gone . . . and in its stead is new lighting that bounces off a fresh- looking exterior . . . There's a new sidewalk, new landscap- ing, new step leading into a new front door at Mario's. Its original main room seating 150 is almost an ex- act replica of Sardi's in New York . . . and remains with its oozing of character . . . But now yet another main room has been opened . . . called the Crystal Room, seating 175 in the former Walnut Room that was and still is Mario's banquet area. This is where we sat on a re- cent visit to Mario's, whose old-world charm is a class distinction of authenticity .. . Beautiful lighting is augmented by original pain- tings on the gray walls with gray print cloth-covered rail- ings, mirrors on three of the four walls in an elegant set- ting . . . and white tablecloths and red chairs. Mario's now seats 550 peo- ple in five rooms . . . all grac- ed with natural fireplaces. Julie Andrews, brought in by Shirley Eder, called it the best restaurant on her recent tour . . . Joe Nederlander says, "Mario's is the talk of the town!" . . . Iry Nusbaum of New York Carpet and Doug Frazer, former UAW head, are frequent lunch customers. All five rooms have new French oak double doors with 15 panels of glass on each. Mario's is a show business, personality and celebrity favorite . . . but it's the every- day guy that Frank and his staff enjoys catering to .. . The employees seem to give an overwhelming impression that to them, every customer is somebody important . . . a trait many more restaurants should adopt. It is one of the few fine din- ing Italian restaurants that still makes its own noodles for most of the dishes . . . lasagna, fettuccine, ravioli, tortellini, cappelleti, etc. And the Provimi veal . . . so tender and suculent . . . Mario's has its own butcher on the premises to cut and trim the white milk-fed veal that cuts with a fork's edge. 21-year-old Vince Passala- qua runs the very clean and well-organized kitchen at Mario's . . . cooks the many homemade dishes . . . and is now dad's partner . . . doing just about everything from ordering to making whatever people desire . . . In par- ticular, Frank and Vince also have one of the few Italian restaurants with plans for a heart-healthy menu . . . To my knowledge, this could be a first. Mario's makes its own white clam sauce . . . reputed to be among the finest anywhere , .. All sauces ex- cept with meat are made to order. I had a side of spaghetti with meatless Marinara (tomato) sauce . . . and its freshness was most revealing. Our waiter, Nabi El-Ali, has been at Mario's 17 years .. . since coming here from Lebanon . . . He started as a busboy and went to Wayne State University for his bachelor's degree in chemistry . . . becoming a full-fledged, five-day-a-week waiter in 1977. A glass of white Piesporter wine went well -with the an- tipasto, garlic bread, minestrone soup and veal pic- cante I had . . . in what may be termed a classic down-to- earth meal in an elegant set- ting . . . at prices certainly not out of line. The minestrone soup at Mario's is so full-bodied with plenty of carrots, potatoes, noodle pieces, etc. . . . And the veal piccante . . . you couldn't ask for it any better. At another table, Lester and Marsha Weiner were en- joying dinner with their son's soon-to-be in-laws, Annie and Richard Williams . . . Mit- chell Weiner and Judy Williams have set the date for Dec. 3 this year . . . Les owns Tech Cleaners in Oak Park . . . a pioneer of 33 years on Nine Mile and Coolidge. "I love Mario's!" exclaims Les without any hesitation. A pianist softly caresses the keys nightly . . . and on Fri- day evenings, Jan Rae gives out with her fine operatic voice. Mario's is open seven days .. Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. for dinner . . . Satur- day 4 p.m. to 12 p.m., and