Cuisine to
Dine for

Renown Chef

Louai
Sharkas

invites

you to

experience

the taste

everyone is

talking

about.

Michigan's
finest upscale,
casual
American
bistro.

Now open
for lunch.

Hours:

11:30

Mon-Wed

a.m. - 12:00 midnight

Thur-Fri

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Sat.

5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Please join us for happy hour,
Monday thru Friday, 4-7 p.m.
Domestic beers $2.00

Imported beers

$2.50

Well drinks

$3.00

Available for private
engagements Saturday
afternoons and Sundays.

11.111111111fi

••

32832 Woodward

►

Royal Oak

Oust South of 14 Mile Rd.)

12/5

1997

126

(248) 549-7700

Reservations accepted.

Best Of Everything

Many Years Of Experience
Lead To Authentic Greek Delights

-1

7

n

craftsmanship.
er claim to restaurant fame
salmon steak broiled and finished with
Both he and his first cousin, Peter
was as a hostess years back
a house sauce; or the wonderful
Karmanos, Compuware owner and
... and restaurateuring is
tsipoura, fresh whole broiled sea bass;
Karmanos Cancer Foundation bene-
the only business she has
or the much-wanted sinagrida, a limit-
factor, have the same name ...
ever known.
ed availability broiled red snapper.
AlexSandra's Peter is Panagiotis
Today, she is the owner of a Greek
Its lamb chops are choice ... but
Nicholas Karamanos ... and Com-
restaurant that has been attracting a
run a second in sales to Alex's trio of
puware's head is Panagiotis Petros Kar-
lot of attention ... AlexSandra's Opa
moussaka, pastitsio and spanakotyro-
manos ... Different spellings of the last
on the Idlewild Golf Course at Five
pita (spinach pie.)
name is the fault, as in so
Mile between Farmington Road and
Upstairs at AlexSandra's
many cases, of immigration
Levan in Livonia.
Opa is a tribute to her late
officers.
Alexandra was only 15 years old
husband, Bobby Sakellaris
Our last visit to AlexSandra's
when she went to work at the original
... It is at the "top of the
Opa was another fulfilling one
Sero's on Griswold and State, opened
building" and still named
... Peter has an uncanny memo-
by her grandfather, Louie Bricolas, in
Bobby's Country House,
1y,
and remembered to bring
1914 ... and owned by his sons
seating 225 for banquets
fresh pineapple and dips of
George, Steve and her father Zois,
and parties.
honey
and Creme de Menthe
who left in 1966 to buy Laikon in
Bobby came to America _
which we used to love at the
Greektown from Ted Kanis.
in
1956
and after a stint at
DANNY
Those who remember will recall the London Chop House.
a
Greek
restaurant
here,
RASKIN
AlexSandra's Opa is where
parrot trained by Ted that was almost
was
a
dishwasher
at
Darby
Local Columnist
so many Greek folks go for
as famous as the place ... It remained
on Seven Mile and
authentic dishes they know so
there as part of the package when Zois
Wyoming ... then busboy
well ... Cold appetizers like
bought Laikon.
and waiter at Mauna Loa on Grand
melintzanosalata (eggplant spread
The 24-hour bar-b-q restaurant
Boulevard and waiter at Trader Vic's in
served
with pita); octapadi (octopus in
across from Kosins Clothes on Gris-
downtown Detroit.
olive oil, vinegar and oregano; tzatziki
wold was Harry and Ben Kosins'
After their marriage, Alexandra
(yogurt seasoned with grated cucum-
favorite eatery.
and Bobby worked together at Golden
Uncle George Bricolas,
Platter in Drakeshire Plaza
who now owns Sero's Restau-
on Grand River, which
rants in Rochester Hills, Mt.
houses Great Wall owned
Clemens, Lapeer and Madison
by Henry Lum, who
Heights, taught Alexandra the
worked with Bobby at
restaurant business ... Her
Mauna Loa.
charm, graciousness and
AlexSandra's Opa's warm
warm, outgoing friendliness
atmosphere is enhanced by
made Alexandra an excellent
lightly stuccoed walls, trel-
floor person.
lised front door and a
With her at AlexSandra's
wide-open space that seats
Opa is probably one of the
120 at tables and in
finest waitpersons this town
booths, plus another 20 at
has seen ... and certainly one
a bar lounge separating it
many people remember ...
from the dining room, and
Alexandra calls Peter Kara-
eight bar stools.
manos, "My celebrity waiter"
The white linen napkins
••• He was with Les and Sam
and dusty rose linen table-
Gruber nine years at the Lon-
cloths go well with the
don Chop House on Con-
decor, which includes
gress, followed by six years at
many Greek artifacts from
Lelli's on Woodward, and 26
Greece ... A tablecloth is
years at Roma Cafe on
there embroidered by a sis-
Riopelle.
ter-in-law from a 150-year-
Peter was working at the
old tablecloth that had
Sheraton-Cadillac's Motor Bar
been cut by her into five
Peter Karamanos and Alexandra Sakellaris.
and Standard Club when Les
pieces for each of Bobby's
liked his courteous efficiency
sisters in Greece so they
ber and mild garlic), etc.
and said if he ever wanted a job, to
would remember their great-grand-
To hot sauteed shrimp mikroli-
come see him ... Following a bitter
mother.
mano with tomatoes, peppers, onions
experience, Peter left and took Les on
On a wall hangs a framed Greek
and feta cheese; kolokithakia, fried
his word ... becoming a large favorite
men's outfit worn in the villages of
zucchini served with skordalia
at Detroit's world-renowned restau-
Greece ... and is today a costume.
(whipped potatoes with mild garlic for
rant.
Recently, the City of Livonia
dipping); gigandes, giant lima beans
At AlexSandra's Opa, Peter is seeing
named Alexandra "Business Woman
cooked in a tomato-based sauce, etc.
many people he has met through the
of the Year."
The Greek specialties at AlexSan-
years ... along with new generations
With Alexandra on weekends bus-
dra's are many ... including a delicious
who are also enjoying his fine serving
ing tables are two sons of Bobby and

it