The Michigan Classic Ballet Presents `Homemade' Is The Real Thing At The American Inn DANNY RASKIN LOCAL COLUMNIST The NuterAciter with the Michisari Classic Stimphorni Orchestra Saturday Dec. 4 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday Dec. 5 - 3:00 p.m. Reserved Seating Adults '15, Children '12 West Bloomfield High School Auditorium for Ticket Information or to charge by phone Call (313)661-4349 Cce::Ca3 One of metropolitan Detroit's Most Beautiful and Exciting Restaurants Wonderfully Prepared Catering in Your Home, Office or at Our Restaurant Fine Dining and Live Entertainment 7 Nights A Week S UZI & DAN WARREN Tuesday Thu Saturday GEORGE "STARDUST" GREEN Mondays 28875 Franklin Rd. at Northwestern & 12 mile Southfield 358-3355 ROAST CHICKEN $545 DINNER CHOICE OF SOUP OR SALAD I DELI and RESTAURANT SHIVA DINNERS & PARTY TRAYS...Free Deilivery Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ... Mon.-Fri. 7a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 352-4940 1754 W. 11 MILE AT LAHSER n HARVARD ROW Fax: 352-9393 T here is much to be said about good neighborhood family dining. It is a valued commodity that never lacks from customer ap- preciation. Things to look for in a good neighborhood family restaurant are important . . . Just because the meals are cheap or it is located around the corner shouldn't make it a priority. Neighborhood family restau- rants are the likeliest types of which to be wary. Too many places serve food at low prices but substitute in such away that if the Truth In Menu people ever came around, their doors would be shut .. . There is no alternative for good, wholesome food with able ser- vice and low prices. Also, many are on a health department borderline that barely allows them to remain open . . . Too bad customers don't visit the kitchens . . . Next time you dine out, ask to see the kitchen . . . If the owner or man- ager won't show it to you, using some kind ()flame excuse, don't go back. One of the better neighbor- hood family restaurants around is American Inn on Middlebelt, between Five and Six Mile .. . Its cleanliness has the Wayne County Health Department continually giving scores in the 90s . . . The food is wholesome, service far above par, prices family-budgeted low . . . and it has a children's menu. When Angelis Anastasiou and partner Chris Kanis took over the locale in 1992, they completely gutted the former pub and built from scratch. An important asset is its homemade food . . . There are a number of restaurants who claim "homemade" but in real- ity doctor up foodstuffs taken from cans. Homemade is a truthful and prime ingredient at American Inn, which also bakes its own breads, pies, etc. . . . Almost everything it serves is made on the premises. Seating is for 140 at tables and 25 booths. Angelis and wife Susan also own Dimitri's of Farmington on Grand River and one or the oth- er is at American Inn during the day, along with two man- agers . . . Chris runs the family restaurant ship evenings. Susan is responsible, too, for much of the decor at American in . . . mirrors all around, brass Chris Kanis and Angelis Anastasiou railings, etched glass in a cozy, comfortable and intimate sur- rounding with quiet, pleasant motif that promotes relaxation. Biggest seller is the Chicago- style chicken pie with its own homemade recipe . . . chunks of white breast of chicken, sauteed onions, whipped-but-thick bechamel sauce mixed with parmesan cheese, eggs and flour . . . All are blended to- gether and wrapped in phyllo dough, baked and served with chicken gravy . . . A full dinner is $6.95, and over 400 orders are served weekly. Also high on the ladder are the lamb shank dinners with 350 sold each week at $6.95 .. . 10 varieties of chicken dishes are $6.95 . . . and almost 400 or- ders of whitefish (10 ounces, $8.95) are consumed weekly. Service is as you would want it . . . with knowledgeable wait- persons whose dining room ex- periences are large . . . Sandy Duyme used to be at Angel's Hour Glass years back . . . and has been at American Inn since its opening . . . Mary Holcomb has also been there from the be- ginning . . . Both work evenings and are great with children as well as adults. Family dining at American Inn has always been the main forte for Marcie Purves, Bar- bara Oetzel and Pattie Srobel, hostesses and head waitress . . . all of whom were at Ameri- can Inn when it first opened its doors. Executive Chef Otto Zigouris and his main kitchen helpers worked the stoves when Amer- ican Inn greeted its first cus- tomer, June 15, 1992, cooking Greek, Italian and American specialties from appetizers to dinners. Joanne Connors, American Inn bookkeeper and girl Friday, is also a since-opening-day stal- wart. American Inn is big on fam- ily dining but has never been open for breakfast . . . This will change in December when fam- ily-style breakfasts will be fea- tured for the first time . . . Its Sunday Family Feast, 12 noon to 10 p.m., has already become a favorite. Although open only a year- and-a-half, American Inn has already achieved its purpose . . . to be a good family restau- rant . . . From the moment a waitperson comes with those warm, homemade rolls to the time of leaving, customers will have spent a pleasant and dean dining experience. NOW IT'S COMPLETE . With the recent reunion by Bus 18 of this past April's Mir- acle Mission to Israel, all 33 guided vehicles are finally ac- counted for. It was at the home of Sally and Richard Krugel, attended by a good turnout of 21 Mission vets . . . Folks showed pictures of the trip and reminisced of the good times they enjoyed. Laurie Shapiro asked the re- union-ites of their fondest re- membrances . . . Rosie Schlussel passed out candy again .. . Mark Schlussel couldn't make it to Israel but came from a Sinai Hospital board meeting to be at the reunion . . . Joel Shapiro told people they'll never get food in Israel like his Steam- ers Seafood & Grill ... Sally and Richard were gracious hosts.