menu because the portions are
large enough at Amici's that the
youngsters can eat all they want
... And Nino loves this ... like be-
ing home in Sicily with the big
platters from which everyone ate
heartily.
Nino came to the United
States in1975 from Rome, where
he lived 10 years and went to
school studying economics ... In
1976, he was partner in a Clinton
Township bowling alley that
started him on his way to a high-
ly successful restaurant and
nitery career ... opening Taboo
in Detroit, Royal Oak's and
Columbus, Ohio's Metropolitan
Musicafe, Ultimate Sports Bars
in Pontiac and Taylor, plus oth-
er nitery and restaurant spots.
So Nino hasn't exactly been
sleeping ... He is a restaurateur
with a lot of experience satisfy-
ing customers ... a mighty big
thing with him.
Executive chef Tony Lia is
known as one of the more profi-
cient Italian kitchen experts
around.
Even if it isn't on the menu,
Amici's will prepare whatever
customers desire ... Its best sell-
ers thus far are penna a la vod-
ka (wife Elizabeth's recipe), a
round pasta in tomato cream
sauce finished with vodka; pence
Bianco a la piccata, egg washed
whitefish sauteed in butter,
lemon, white wine and capers;
the standard spaghetti marinara
Amici's bowed
to customers'
request.
with tomato, olive oil and fresh
basil sauce, very tasty and ten-
der Rosemary chicken, broiled
white fish, pasta pesto with
shrimp ... and various Provimi
veals.
A wall with inset mirrors, lit-
tle private coves with round ta-
bles for romantic privacy,
glass-enclosed round bar, etched
glass, a lot of dark woods to go
with the cream walls, dark pil-
lars, cream vases, wine bottles in
their wooden cases, modem and
traditional light fixtures, etc.
As customers enter Amici's, a
bakery counter with all sorts of
pastry goodies made on the
premises by pastry chef Michael
Forrest, are for consumption
while dining or to take out ...
Also served at Amici's are 20 dif-
ferent cappuccinos from the
world over.
The smiling hostesses and
waitstaff are trained in the Nino
Cutraro way for which he is
noted ... with service a prime
factor in presenting his food prop-
erly ... Little things, like wait-
persons filling iced tea as often
as they do coffee, do not go un-
noticed.
Pictures that line the walls are
true-to-life photos ... Nino's wife,
Elizabeth, in Italy ...and in
America ... Nino when he was 2
years old ... one from 1852 of his
great-great grandfather ... They
never let Nino forget where he
came from and how much fami-
ly life means to him ... Even with
dishes like pasta paesano
(mostaccioli with sauteed esca-
role, white beans, sweet Italian
sausage and Romano cheese), on
which he grew up in Gram-
michele, Sicily, or spaghetti a la
casalinga (spaghetti marinara
with meatballs or sausage), or lin-
guine cozze (black mussels
sauteed in olive oil, garlic and
wine), or polio rustico (whole
chicken roasted in fresh rose-
mary, garlic and lemon, $8.95
half order, $11.95 full order).
Being as family-minded as
Nino is, it seems only natural
that in owning a restaurant he
would encourage the splitting or
sharing of orders ... giving folks
all the plates and silverware they
need ... and treating customers
as if they were in his own home
... People are also assured that
anything on the menu can be
changed to their desire in its
preparation ... This is especially
important for those with dietary
restrictions.
Amici's is open seven days,
Monday-Friday, 11 to 11; Satur-
day, 1 to 11; Sunday, 1 to 3
(brunch) and 5 to 10 (dinner).
Amici's in Italian means
friends ... It has made many who
in turn have also become come-
back-again customers ... espe-
cially now that the mandatory
a la carte menu has been com-
pletely done away with ...and
true Provimi veals of all prepa-
rations are served.
It takes a smart restaurateur
to admit he was wrong ... and
even smarter to do something
about it ... Nino Cutraro at Am-
ici's joins this select class.
THEY SAY THAT if you're
around long enough almost any-
thing is bound to happen ... An-
other first came recently when I
steered the Gold-N-Bare 28-foot
Chris Craft owned by Barry and
Emilye Semansky.
Arnie and Bev Lantor didn't
have to worry when I came
aboard their 38-footer ... It was
still docked in the well as we also
toured the fine grounds and
building of Great Lakes Yacht
Club with its anchor-shaped
mezuzah made by Barry with as-
sistance of fellow member Sey-
mour Kirsch.
Occasion was buffet dinner re-
ception feting GLYCs 28th "Ear-
ly Bird Regatta" held that day.
CONGRATS ... to Kenny
Levine ... on his 50th birthday ...
celebrated with a surprise par-
ty at Mario's. 0
This Beau is a Jest! A single daughter, her mother
and the dream catch, or is it match, makes for a
fun night in the theater.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
One Ticket to all
"NICE JEWISH DOCTORS"
(You'll see why. . .)
Physicians only - Male or Female
- Excluding Saturday Night Performance. -
One ticket per family.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
PERFORMANCES - May 22 - June 12
Aaron De Roy Theatre
Jewish Community Center • 6600 W. Maple Road • West Bloomfield
TICKETS (810) 788-2900 OR 77---4 4Z445' S.Mri % (810) 645-6666
Special Senior, Student and Group Discounts Available
Hearing assist devices or signed performances for the hearing impaired available upon request
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 71