BEST OF EVERYTHING-I- Mal Two Great Dining Traditions Continue In Downtown Detroit DANNY RASKIN Local Columnist W RD ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL 15% OFF I FREE DESSERT ALL DAY ON NOVEMBER 4 _C MI:ARE ANYWHERE! . . . IF YOU WANT THE BEST -1 - GIVE USA TEST! DINE IN-CARRY 544-1211 OUT 118 SOUTH WOODWARD • ROYAL OAK JUST NORTH OF 10 MILE NEXT TO ZOO CO co co OPEN 7 DAYS—SUN.-THURS. 11-10 I WHOLE BROASTED OR BAR-B-Q 0 FRI.-SAT. 11-11 I 2 °) n. x CHICKEN FOR 2 $795 CHICKEN, RIBS & SHRIMP w 0 a. z 0 WE DO BEST! 50% OFF 4se I From 3 p.m. to Closing - 7 DAYS A WEEK I SECOND DINNER WHEN FIRST DINNER OF EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE IS PURCHASED . . . With This Coupon PYRAMIDS CAFE Middle-Eastern • Greek • American • Egyptian Specialties 29267 SOUTHFIELD IN SOUTHFIELD COMMONS (Formerly Farrell's) • 569.1112 SPECIALIZE IN CATERINGI OIrlat P N 110% OFF TOTAL FOOD BILL Ermanno & Liz Lazzari "I love the Linguine Buconiera" .. . Jack McCarthy, Channel 7 "Friday Feast" Family Dining Italian & American Cuisine L 6610 Highland Rd. Waterford, MI 72 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1988 Banquet Facilities 666-2570 hen one thinks of fine dining in a most elegant but in- timate atmosphere, there is one name which is almost always overlooked by many . . . even though its food and surroundings are far superior to those which readily come to mind. In January 1953, Les and Sam Gruber opened their Caucus Club in the Penobscot Building . . . serving the same high quality fare and service provided at its then sister restaurant across the street, London Chop House. The name had come as somewhat of a tribute to Samuel Adams and other revolutionary patriots who formed the first Caucus Club in Boston's Green Tree Inn 200 years ago. It is divided into two rooms . . . with evening's at- mosphere, menu and enter- tainment closely resembling the style of a fine New York supper club. . Les and Sam had original- ly opened the London Chop House in 1938 . . . Back in 1926, Les had opened a Greenwich Village type tea room called the Den of 40 Thieves on Broadway and John R . . . which in 1934 was enlarged and renamed the London Bar . . . Four years later, it moved to the Murphy Building on Congress to even- tually become the internationally-famed Lon- don Chop House. Dec. 9, 1941, two days after Pearl Harbor, the Penobscot Club opened ' in what was then Detroit's tallest building . . . The venture was jointly owned by Les, Sam, and brother-in-law Al Woolf .. . Both Grubers went into the military and Al was left to take over interim sole management of the London Chop House . . . The Penobscot Club was given up and turned over to the Penobscot Building. . . . Les and Sam returned from military duty in 1945 . . . and after a span of years opened the new Caucus Club. Both rooms of today's Caucus Club present somewhat of a modified "free for all" mixing of furnishings . . . contemporary, traditional and modern . . . done in ex- cellent taste . . . The interior designing utilizes this mix to create a most inviting atmosphere. The earthtones, soft lighting, mauves, dark green leather booths, brown print tablecloths with a smaller centerpiece cloth, make up much of the decor in Caucus Club's Back Room Grille. This is where I recently en- joyed an evening of much pleasure . . . not to be forgot- ten anymore . . . The decaf in a brownish rose pottery .. . was poured into beige cups and saucers . . . as bread basket with cracked wheat and pumpernickle breads, sticks and matzah, adorned the table. My waiter, Miguel Her- nandez, started out in 1979 doing everything, including cooking at both the London Chop House and Caucus Club, where he is now a per- manent and highly-regarded fixture . . . His expertise and efficiency are pleasureable assets for dining enjoyment. Miguel brought me a very tender and tasty piece of red snapper . . . cooked to perfec- tion by evening chef Ron Win- flinger, formerly with Ex- ecutive Chef Keith Famie at Chez Raphael . . . There are many ways to test whether fish has been prepared pro- perly . . . In this instance, three standouts were very prevalent . . . absolutely no odor, completely boneless and nary a speck of skin on the bottom . . . Of course there are also many other areas in the enjoyment of fish cooked and served as it should be .. . Whatever the instances may be, the assuredness is there that Caucus Club must rank very high in sea farin' cuisine. The medley of steamed vegetables with my red snap- per was crisp and made for a very colorful and tasteworthy experience. Caucus Club is highly noted for its Detroit baby back embers ribs, a slab serv- ed with Caucus sauce or barbeque sauce and tole slaw . . . For those who like the long spareribs, a half or whole slab is marinated for deliciousness . . . Jim Beard's hamburger steak in a blend of peppercorns flamed with brandy is a big favorite . . . as is the broiled hamburger steak with Caucus sauce and rocquefort center . . . Of course the sliced London broil on rye toast with mushroom sauce is still there . . . plus milk-white veal loin chop with macadamia and chive butter, rosemary pasta and wild mushrooms. A table near ours was sampling a bevy of Caucus Club foods . . . and enjoying every forkful . . . fillet of salmon and dill, grilled with vegetables . . . breast of chicken with salsa and julienne of vegetables . . . beef tenderloin steak with mustard butter and vegetables . . . The seafood fricassee with scallops, sword- fish and wild rice is a big win- ner . . . along. with Caucus Club's fettucini primavera .. . Also its veal scallopini with wild mushrooms and au gratin potatoes. Talk to anyone who has din- ed at the Caucus Club and the raves are rampant about the preparation of its varied menu items. Miguel is a class act as one of the Caucus Club waitper- sons . . . 10 years ago he was a bus boy at the London Chop House . . . Today Miguel is one of Detroit's finest waiters . . . bringing me decaf coffee in fresh cups each time. Victoria Fitzimmons is a double-threat gal . . . during the day credit manager at London Chop House . . . and evening hostess a few days a week at the Caucus Club .. . She is a 10 year vet at the two places. Evening manager and maitre 'd Tuesday through Saturday is Steve Moser, on- ly three months at the Caucus Club . . . He has the type of politeness and ex- treme cooperativeness you most certainly want of a gentleman in his position .. . Steve had previously been with Achille Bianchi at Chez Raphael . . . knows wines .. . and people pleasantness. Day manager, Mary Marino, started at both the London Chop House and Caucus Club . . . working herself up into the position she holds today. It's like "coming home" for very capable and efficient general manager Laura Fox . .. working at Winkelman's downtown . . . then Appe'teasers . . . and now back in Detroit's financial district . . . Laura came on board the Caucus Club ship in April of this year while Jose Acavedo acted as owner for the seven men who are bringing Caucus Club back to its glory days of yesteryears . . . Jerry Cohen, Carl Knaack, John Jacobs, Walter Mason, Jerry Anderson, Fred Steinhart and Jose. Today's Caucus Club is made up of two rooms . . . 86 Continued on Page 74 IMO or.