Best Of Everything

A Golden Michigan Restaurant
Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary

Michigan's finest upscale,
yet casual American bistro
Savor the taste that is the
talk of the town

“Qalciaad Grill gets wows fo
clas,s act
017server Eccentric

r

People are shocked at the amount
introduced to new delicacies prepared
ine dining is not gone ... but
of room now enjoyed in the new-look
by its talented culinary team.
the trend toward more casu-
ambience with its modern classic and
The kitchen, which has produced
al attire and atmosphere
distinct image that includes a neoteric
some of the finest executive chefs-to-
may seem to have taken over
update in color and materials.
be in existence today, is headed by
... for the moment.
As folks enter now, a circular host
Daren Moore, former member of the
However; there are still a number of
and hostess station welcomes them ...
1996 Central Regional Team USA at
fine dining operations hereabouts,
The main dining room is one open
the Culinary Olympics in Berlin, Ger-
including one that is presently cele-
space ... No more rooms
many ... Daren was only a fraction of
brating its 25th anniversary ...
broken up by wood cabi-
a point away from selection to the
and still going strong.
netry ... Reupholstered
national team.
Golden Mushroom, 10 Mile
chairs
and
booths,
new
car-
Reid remembers back when he
just west of Southfield, contin-
peting, four new, oval-
opened Golden Mushroom in 1972 ...
ues to retain a loyal customer
shaped booth units that
$1.95 lunch included soup of the day
base because it hasn't changed
comfortably seat six, deco-
and healthy goodies from a sumptu-
... When latest trends are used,
rative metal grills on booth
ous salad bar ... The Lettuce Bin, as
they seem to be modified the
dividers,
rich deep-brown
the variety of vegetables was called,
Golden Mushroom way ...
wood panels placed in vari-
could also be gotten at no extra charge
which, for 25 years, has been a
ous
locations
soften
the
DANNY
with
all menu entrees arid sandwiches.
very good one.
look of the existing walls...
Golden Mushroom was the first
"There will always be a need . RASKIN
place in the area to have a salad bar,
Local Columnist The color choices of
for quality restaurants," says
brown, cranberry and
discontinued in 1984 to utilize the
owner Reid Ashton, former
cream are traditional with
space for wine storage ... Its wine list
head of the Michigan Restau-
an elegant reserve.
today has over 800 selections and an
rant Association ... "People are not
But with its decor transition much
inventory of about 10,000 bottles.
going to give up having caviar, cham-
for the better in the quiet touches of
As the Golden Mushroom gradual-
pagne and souffles."
elegance,
the
Golden
Mushroom
din-
ly
increased
its quality and prices,
Before Reid opened the Golden
ing excellence retains its same high-
Reid wanted to make the dining room
Mushroorn.doors on July 31, 1972, it
quality goodness.
itself more elegant ... he decided to
had been the Rascal House Deli,
This culinary magnificence has won
focus on the tables themselves.
where Jack Meyers once stood at an
it more awards than any other restau-
"We went to damask tablecloths,
open kitchen counter barking out
rant
in Michigan ... Its walls down-
silver flatware, Villeroy-Boch china,
orders given him by the waitpersons.
stairs to the Mushroom Cellar and
crystal glassware and flowers so that
Twenty-five years ago, Reid was in
along the hall walls are covered with
you have a beautiful tabletop to com-
the corporate world working for Mar-
plaques and
riott and in corporate real estate with
framed citations.
Ford Motor Company ... Food, how-
"My grand-
ever, has always been a fervent passion
mother
made
for the Michigan State Hotel &
her
own
bread
Restaurant Management School grad-
every
week,
and
uate (1961) ... So the switch to restau-
if
I
visited
her
rant management at age 32 wasn't dif-
I'd be there
ficult for him.
kneading bread.
After a stint in the army, he worked
It was an old-
for a small hotel chain with five prop-
style house with
erties, but large in catering at airports
the bins built
... Marriott, a giant today ... During
into
the coun-
Reid's East Lansing college days, he
tertop
for flour
toiled in restaurants as a waiter hoping
and
sugar.
So
to one day own his own place.
I've
always
been
When the opportunity came, find-
around food,"
ing the right site was of prime impor-
recalls Reid.
tance ... Reid's real estate experience
Golden
came in handy ... and so the Golden
Mushroom
has
Mushroom was born.
retained
its
high
He recalls the decor at Rascal
ranking in the
House as the "most godawful you've
Golden Mushroom's Daren Moore and Reid Ashton.
culinary
world
ever seen!" ... The former upstairs deli
because it
is today an elegant, fine-dining opera-
adheres to time-tested providing of
plement fine food," he says.
tion ... The downstairs banquet room
excellent cuisine, elegant ambiance
Without any doubt, a key decision
is Reid's more casual, pub-like Mush-
and topnotch service.
room Cellar.
was the hiring of Executive Chef Milos
Although signature dishes at Gold-
Cihelka away from the London Chop
It would seem like a 25th anniver-
en
Mushroom have always featured
House ... Milos oversaw the Golden
sary gift that Reid has given himself in
wild mushrooms, garden-fresh vegeta-
Mushroom's kitchen for about 15 years
the newly renovated Golden Mush-
bles and herbs melded together with
and built a reputation for excellence
room with its stunning new appoint-
wild game, guests are continually
ments.
unrivaled anywhere in Michigan.

-

Tuesday hough Thursday evenings and
complimenfary fray-passed Sushi in the
lounge every Thursday evening

Hours:

Mon-Wed

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 midnight

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.

32832 Woodward Royal Oak

Ousf Soufh of 14 Mile Rd.)

(248) 549-7700

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