Best Of Everything Andiamo West Has Been Jumping In Bloomfield Since Opening In June HAVE You HEARD 74-1E- LATEST? I'm throwing a party and found wonderful caterers, florists, entertainers and more... all in THE JEWISH NEWS CELEBRATION CONNECTION DIRECTORY in the Amazing Marketplace ••••••••••••••••••• • STAGE Gr. • • • : DELI • DINING • CATERING • • • • 00000 • 000 •• 011100 WO • • •• • • • • • •• • • • • • •• • •• • • S. • • ■ • • • • • • Alk • • IF • 11. • da • • • • • • • • • • • Alk ••••••••••••••••••••••• • CRITICS CHOICE SINCE 1962 "Deli To Die For." "Best Jewish cuisine in the world." -Zagat Survey • • • • • 6873 Orchard Lake Rd. oust south of Maple) 411 West Bloomfield • 248.855-6622 •• • • OPEN UNTILL 11 PM ON WEEKENDS COCKTAILS AVAILABLE • • ••••••••••••••••••• The Perfect Gift... A Subscription To The Jewish News Biggest food seller is veal, with 1,100 pounds being sold each week ... arity to the previous restau- Ossobuco, braised veal shank in natur- ant that stood there for so al sauces, is the heaviest hitter in sales many years is they both had ... followed by six other veal dishes that front lawns that were green. are ordered with much regularity. That's how different Andiamo West Andiamo's fresh fishes also go over is from its predecessor at the spot, the big ... with whitefish, lightly breaded former Machus Red Fox on Telegraph and Maple. and sauteed in olive oil and garlic, doing over 200 And before Joe Vicari pounds weekly ... And Dover took over with partner Tom sole, sauteed with butter and Vitale and managing partner Jerry Vitale, it became a fresh herbs and flamed with guessing game as to when Grand Marnier, the reason for over 80 pounds being the doors would open. sold weekly. Many dates later, Andiamo West finally The Norwegian salmon, became a reality, with a com- topped with filet of tomato, DANNY garlic and fresh herbs, is a big pletely new look inside and RASKIN out. favorite ... Also the broiled Local Columnist swordfish with extra virgin Although it has been open olive oil, lemon and parsley, since June 16, Joe is still ask- and the flounder fillet. ing walk-ins and those with reserva- There is no accurate count of how tions to "please be patient" ... Also, to many of the seven homemade pastas the reservations-makers, "Please plan ahead." are served, or the seven imported pas- tas ... or the three interesting Italian There is seating for 200, plus 25 bar rice dishes. stools, but Andiamo West has become Items like sweetbreads are not on such a success that crowded evenings the menu but can be gotten along with have become the norm. a number of other requested items. Reservations are taken for two- Executive chef Lee Sharkas was thirds of the restaurant ... The other assistant chef at Andiamo Italia in third is for walk-ins ... 75 percent is non-smoking. Warren before coming to Andiamo West, but as has been proven, could The former Machus Pastry Shop in easily have taken over that kitchen as back has been completely redone ... It well. is now Andiamo West's carry-out sec- Aldo Ottaviani, Joe's fine corporate tor for homemade bread and bread- chef, comes to Andiamo West about sticks, homemade sauces, homemade three times a week to check the sauces, pasta and desserts, pizza, salads, full dinners, lunches, etc. recipes, stocks, soups, etc. ... Almost everything made at the various In fact, just about anything on the menu can be gotten carry-out in the back area, which is open seven days: Monday-Friday, 11-8; Saturday, 4-8; Sunday, 3-8. Would you believe that the conver- sation about Machus Red Fox becom- ing an Andiamo began back in October of 1995, and construction finally began in January 1997? ... After a couple of private parties for charity, Andiamo West could barely hold back the crowds for its general public open- ing June 16. In the first week, it served about 4,000 people ... and the monthly fig- ure still hovers around the 20,000 Joe Vicari of Andiamo West. mark. he only semblance or simi- Tr Andiamo operations are from Aldo's recipes or revised versions. The restaurant is open seven days a - week ... Monday-Thursday, 11-11; Friday, 11-1 a.m.; Saturday, 4-1 a.m.; K Sunday, 4-10. Amid the beige linen tablecloths and beige linen napkins are many touches of elegance that bring out the beauty of Andiamo West, which is light years away from the dinginess of the former Machus Red Fox. Two four-foot-high urns made in Sicily around the late 1880s had been for 70 years in a New York men's ath- letic club, and today stand majestically on one side of the lavishly-appointed main room. The same beams are still there but much lighter in look from a lot of sandblasting ... There are now two s lights and, where there were none before, windows have been added fac- ing both Telegraph and the parking lot looking out onto Maple. Hand-blown Sputnik-like lanterns hang all around ... plus a hand-painted multi-color chandelier by the front hostess station that draws much atten- tion. The fully stainless steel kitchen where Lee and his crew work is open for all to see ... In the back of it is a prep kitchen and dishwashing sector that gets a lot of continuous action. Andiamo West has also become a celebrity and local personality hangout ... When appearing in town or nearby, many show biz and sports world biggies are taken there ... Local characters, plus society and elite folks and other restau- rateurs, wend their way to this world of Italian dining favorites which has become so popular. "We're very good now," says Joe, "but three months more and we'll be ready for an A-F instead of an A-." There is live enter- tainment in the main dining room Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for listen- ing and dancing ... Saturdays are expect- ed to be added soon to the list.