11111••111=1111=111111•1 ■ See Our 18-Foot, 1500 Gallon I Salt Water Acquarium COUPON I Carry-Out Service Available DOMINICO'S ENJOY EXCITING DINING! HUNAN PALACE RESTAURANT and LOUNGE 2847 COOLIDGE HWY., BERKLEY Between 11 and 12 Mile Roads Oriental Cuisine and Cocktail Lounge Szechuan, Hunan, Mandarin and Cantonese Dishes OFF 10 ° ./0 541-7670 With This Coupon MONDAY SPECIAL Dine in or Carry-Out REGULAR CUT PRIME RIB . . $695 Open 7 Days — Mon.-Thurs. 11:30-10:30, Fri. & Sat. 11:30-11:30, Sun. 12-10 38259 W. 10 MILE RD. & HAGGERTY • Farm. Hills NEXT TO HOLIDAY INN Near Gd. River 473-3939 TUESDAY SPECIAL JN FRIED 1 FCOUPON BAR-B-Q RIBS 695 ALL ABOVE INCLUDE SALAD, CHOICE OF POTATO AND BREAD 755. 0170F 15% OFF ROUND PIZZA SQUARE PIMA SMALL OR URGE SMALL-MED-URGE ON FOOD PURCHASES OF $6 OR MORE ENTIRE FOOD BILL! DINE IN OR CARRY-OUT • 1 Coupon Per Check • Not Good With Any Other Coupons GOOD 7 DAYS A WEEK! ANYHOUR! DINING ROOM, CARRY-OUT • BANQUET ROOMS • BEER • WINE • COMPLETE CARRY-OUT • COCKTAILS 1'I' ieo Our Food Is Cooked In VEGETABLE OIL! 0 0 FREE too S OS DOE Complete Carry-Out On All Occasions MEXICAN FOOD '14' A 20 OR MORE Mariacchi Band Available 0 a. JN Expires Sept. 30, 1988 — We Serve Beer-Wine & Liquor Private Banquet Rooms Expires Sept. 30, 1988 C) - DINNER ENCHILADA DINNER 0 c -13 0 WIT _ H PURCHASE OF ANOTHER ENCHILADA DINNER NUT LAKE IN NUMMI I P1 A( ( SIIOPPIN(. ( I H MAPLE I I Hours: Tues.-Thurs. 12 noon-9 p.m. • Fri. 12 noon-10 p.m. Sat. 4 to 10 • Sun. 4 to 8 Catering and Carry-Out Available 5566 DRAKE RD. (CORNER WALNUT LAKE RD.) — IN SUMMIT PLACE SHOPPING CENTER 661-8088 N American Red Cross Blood Services Southeastern Michigan Region US A TEST! COMPARE ANYWHERE! ... IF YOU WANT THE BEST — GIVE I OPEN 7 DAYS-SUN:THURS 1110 I DINE IN & CARRY-OUT AVAILABLE I WHOLE BROASTED OR BAR-B-Q Chic441131 B S ASTED FRI-SAT. 11-11 I CHICKEN FOR 2 $795 118 SOUTH WOODWARD • ROYAL OAK JUST NORTH OF 10 MILE NEXT TO ZOO 544-1211 QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY IS OUR PRIORITY! Introducing . . . The All-New Touch of New York—Europe Vineyard's Cafe Located Inside The Vineyard's Wine Cellar 32418 Northwestern Hwy. Bet. 13 & 14 Mile • Farm. Hills • 855.9463 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK . . . Mon. Thru Sat. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun. 12 noon to 7 p.m. All Mideastern Dishes Fresh Homemade Salads Fresh Homemade Breads Fresh Croissants & Pastries Over 50 Sandwiches Fresh Made-To-Order (Single & Triple Deckers) • Homemade Soups • • • • • 64 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1988 Featuring Hot & Cold Food Dining In and Carry-Out Hidden Italian Eatery Deserves Discovery DANNY RASKIN Local Columnist 1/2 SLAB 4033 W. 12 MILE, 3 Blks. E. of Greenfield 548-3650 Berkley $1 OFF SHRIMP .... 695 WEDNESDAY SPECIAL FAMILY ITALIAN DINING & PIZZA PIMA-RIBS-FISH HOMEMADE GARLIC BREAD BEST OF EVERYTHING I UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Exp ires 9-23-88 r Now Featuring Iry Greenberg's Chopped Liver, Roast Beef & Mushroom Barley Soup ORDER YOUR DAIRY TRAYS NOW TO BREAK THE HOLIDAY FAST W ithin the midst of fine restaurants in Detroit and the metropolitan area lie a number of "sleeper" dining spots which people like to keep to themselves. It's difficult to hide a place like Picano's Italian restaurant on Rochester Road in Troy, a half mile north of Big Beaver . . . as a number of folks have discovered . . . go- ing there and bumping into people with the same thought . . . There are times when Picano's is pretty much like trying to get away from everybody and bumping into the immediate world. The reasons are quite evi- dent at this place that has on- ly been open since Jan. 21, 1985 . . . It is not your or- dinary type of Italian restaurant . . . Head chef Er- nie De Michele will prepre just about anything a person asks for . . . so long as the in- gredients are at hand . . . When you speak of Ernie, there must be a sort of reverence because here is a man whose "hands of gold" were at Picano's when genial owner Dominic Picano first opened his doors. Seating is around the 200 mark in two rooms . . . the back one with a bar . . . Waitpersons wear tux shirts with pink bow ties . . . Our personable and efficient waitress, Stella Tzburski, also had a pink bow in her well- kept hair. Chef Ernie De Michele is not a "kitchen hog" . . . He comes out among the many who know him in the dining rooms and chats while sug- gesting dishes and "taking requests" . . . This personal touch is a high asset . . . Ever hear of corn meal polenta? .. . it's not on the menu, but Er- nie makes this delight you'll seldom see anywhere . . . top- ped with a mushroom and marinara sauce . . . Nobody prepares seafood pasta like Ernie . . . shrimps, scallops, clams, spinach, angel hair noodles . . . an excellent dish . . . He uses no butter in his cooking . . . strictly pure olive oil . . . and the clean taste is most evident. Stella brought hot rolls and a cold crisp salad . . . as peo- ple at a nearby long table ap- plauded Ernie for a very fine meal . . . Connie Stevens, the Gaylords and their en- tourages from the cruiser limousines outside . . . They were appearing with come- dian Pat Cooper in the second annual Italian Festival at Utica's Four Bears Water Park. Nate and Irene Light split an order of bar-b-q ribs and wondered where they had had better . . . At another table was a diner having broiled salmon while his lady friend enjoyed sauteed swordfish .. . Both looked up at each other, smiled, and proceeded to devour their fish. Picano's is open seven days a week . .. On Monday even- ings, Eddie deSantis strolls with songstress Maria Mariotto . . . Thursday even- ings is one-man band Pino Marelli. But the food is the thing at Picano's . . . with its steaks, seafood, fresh pasta (almost 20 specialities), eight veal and six chicken dishes, eg- gplant favorites, etc. Also not on the menu .. . and a favorite of Ernie's . . . is his "Mama's Chicken With Love" . . . Ernie's story behind this dish explains why it is one of his most beloved preparations . . . In fact, just about everything Ernie prepares is close to his heart . . . Those who know enjoy their food even more. Picano's doesn't take reser- vations, but if there is any kind of wait, the patience will be rewarding . . . Some so- called restaurant "sleepers" should be laid to rest . . . Picano's is alive . . . and a worthy culinary experience. COULD BE that Ben- nigan's on Northwestern Highway south of 12 Mile will become an Italian restaurant . . . Olive Garden . . . owned by General Mills, also owner of Bennigan's and Red Lobster. HARRY'S, bossed by Al Loewenstein, recently gave a free pint of yogurt for every like amount of blood donated to the American Red Cross at Macomb Mall. SEA GREEN, duo jazz band, plays favorite jazz and reggae tunes Friday and Saturday evenings, 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. . . . at Key Largo Restaurant on Walled Lake Drive in Walled Lake. Keyboard artist Charles Greene and Glen Oliver on bass hit the Key Largo stage with popularity . . . Greene has been with the Four Tops, the Spinners and Jimmie Ruffin . . . Also, along with Motown music and jazz ar- tists like Oscar Peterson, his Caribbean and U.S. tours with the Spinners stand out in his mind.