1 LISTENING POST I BEST OF EVERYTHING I A Southfield Restaurant Changes Again, For The Better Whatever occasion you're planning.. we'll customize all our banquet services to meet ∎ our needs and budget. Ask us for more information. BUSINESS MEETINGS L SPORTS BANQUETS REHEARSAL DINNERS HOLIDAY BANQUETS SPECIAL OCCASIONS. CUSTOMIZED BANQUET SPECIALISTS' TNTAI N tit CK'S® PRIME RIB. CHOICE STEAKS 26855 Greenfield Road Southfield 557-0570 PLANNING A PARTY? LET US AT BUDDY'S DO THE WORK! DISCOUNT PARTY PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS (10.75) CALL BUDDY'S NORTHWESTERN 855.4604 ASK MANAGER FOR DETAILS ALSO VISIT OUR CARRY-OUT ONLY STORE $2" OFF 645-0300 DINE IN OR CARRY-OUT ANY LARGE PIZZA, BUDDY'S BIRMINGHAM GREEK OR ANTIPASTO 15 MILE AT LAHSER SALAD • • I WIORTITMITnrairD'AMT7E9 • • SALES • SERVICE • RENTAL ON ALL COIN OPERATED MACHINES • 1 Coupon per visit • Exp. 3-11-92 31005 ORCHARD LAKE RD. L 70 626-5020 . MON.-THURS. 10-9, FRI. & SAT. 10-10, SUN. 12-8 •••MI IN IN •••MIN •• EN • FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1992 diamonds the power card .. . Sette in Italian is seven and Local Columnist bello means lovely or pretty . . . In describing the seven of ike the saying goes, diamonds, Italian card "Try, try until you suc- players enthusiastically use ceed" . . . and given a the term "Settebello!" to chance, this might just be the describe their seven of one looked for. diamonds. Following in the footsteps of This is one of the few Natraj and Sizzling Crab is Italian restaurants not titled Ristorante Settebello on after a city or province in Ita- Greenfield just south of 11 ly or a family first or last Mile . . . owned by Aji and name. Terri Ahluwalia and operated Aji and Terri had Natraj for by Peter di Lorenzi . . . all of three years, serving Indian whom had Sizzling Crab bare- dishes much as they do at ly existing for a whopping their Peacock in Dearborn .. . four months. It became the short-lived Give them credit for Sizzling Crab on Oct. 23, recognizing that Sizzling 1991, serving seafood and Crab wasn't going to make it dishes prepared according to and putting on the brakes customer desires . . . closing immediately. of the doors was Feb. 16, 1992 Aji and Terri had Natraj . . . and Ristorante Settebello three years at the locale, ser- opened Feb. 20 with linen ving Indian food a la their tablecloths instead of bare fine Peacock Restaurant in marble tops and a softer look Dearborn . . . But the area from drapes hanging at the called for something different entranceway and closing out . . . Sizzling Crab was suppos- the dining room which seats ed to be the answer with its 120 . . . The lounge area seafood and ordering as if you seating is 40 with a separate were the chef. limited menu . . . On the Now comes something that premises are also about 70 can't be found in that sector wines, 10 by the glass and 10 of town . . . or at too many espressos. other places for that matter Another feature, traditional . . . authentic regional Italian in Italy and seen in places dining with more northern like New York and San Fran- Italian dishes in winter and cisco, has become popular more southern Italian fare in with vegetarians . . . It's the summer. Tavola Festiva (festive table) The menu is changed every also for people who want two months to accommodate lighter food or are in a hurry seasonable weather. . . . Customers are told what All the recognizable Italian is on it or they can go see for favorites are not on the themselves and the server Ristorante Settebello menu will bring them their . . . it's gourmet dining selections. without high ticket tabs .. . Even little things like However, any of the Italian sparkling mineral water for notables can be ordered and everyone is new and highly gotten even though they are welcomed . . . Ristorante Set- not shown . . . The Settebello tebello provides a bread menu lists about 13 gourmet basket with four different items plus specials and the kinds of bread . . . and kitchen has yet to be stumped another elegant touch of Ita- in the making of whatever ly . . . vegetables brought to Italian dish may be the table with a little glass of requested. virgin olive oil for clipping .. . Many of the regional Those breads, by the way, are authentic dishes at Set- made on the premises by a tebello, by the way, are not bakery or pastry chef who commonly found in too many also prepares the desserts. Italian restaurants. There's no such thing as Partner Peter di Lorenzi is succeeding without trying .. . finally doing what he knows and if this be the key, then Aji best . . . Italian food . . . His and Terry Ahluwalia and parents were born in Italy Peter di Lorenzi are bound for and Peter in Easton, Pa., success. which is about 50 percent NEWEST THING in "in" Italian. dining is not food . . . It's the Where did the name Set- happening taking place at tebello come from? . . . A card Waleed's gourmet Middle game called Scopa which Eastern restaurant on North- means sweep . . . played much western Highway between like Casino with the seven of DANNY RASKIN • • Middlebelt and 14 Mile. Plaques on booths and back of chairs . . . at no cost other than the customer having them made and Waleed's owners, Faten and Waleed Eid, doing the rest. First one was by Jonathan Holtzman and Buzz Silver- man with copper name plate saying "Village Green Management" . . . Second plaque at one of the booths is by Cover X Corp. . . . Six more booths to go . . . plus the backs of 25 padded chairs. This novel idea has been done before, but people had to pay for the privilege . . . At Waleed's it's free. Opened Aug. 27, 1991, this is now Waleed's six-month an- niversary after returning to the northwest area and open- ing the 58-seater restaurant specializing in Lebanese foods The menu lists 13 gourmet items plus specials and the kitchen has yet to be stumped in making requested dishes. and exotic dishes . . . many not served anywhere else .. . The pretty gray and black- toned restaurant with marble-like sills at booths and marble tops on rear counters has become one of the most popular of its kind in the local area . . . noted also for a highly respected mode of operation. NOW THERE ARE four dates for Nathan Katz to remember . . . In November celebrating his and wife Esther's 50th anniversary .. . December recovering from an unexpected quadruple heart bypass surgery -. . . His 70th birthday is in January .. . and then came February .. . with Nate's hole-in-one while wintering at their Miami Beach home . . . Was on the 150-yard, par-three fifth hole of the California Club where Nate's five-iron drive soared over the water and disap- peared in the cup. Now comes March and Nate is probably wondering what it will bring. RECENTLY OPENED - Lotus Garden on the north- west corner of 14 Mile and Haggerty has a health- conscious feature on its menu which customers are already finding a dining goodie .. .