Dining Guide
(A weekly advertising feature)
AUBURN HILLS
Lelli's of Auburn Hills, 885 Opdyke
Road,Auburn Hills, (248) 373-4440.The
same excellent food that the Lelli family
has been noted for since 1939, is served
at this location across from the Silver-
dome. Reservations are accepted for
any day except Saturdays, and are
strongly suggested.
BERKLEY
Sila, 4033 W. 12 Mile, Berkley, 548-3650.
Two reasons why this has consistently
been a good neighborhood family Italian
restaurant and pizzeria is because of
brothers Mike and Al Bsharah.Watching
the store, so to speak, they make sure
nothing is served without their
approval, square or round pizza, chicken,
ribs, fish salads, pasta and (her favorites
like the chicken parmigaiana. Daily lunch
and dinner sacials are 7-days-a-week,
and private banquet space is available.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Beau Jack's, 4108 West Maple, Bloom-
field Hills, 248-626-2630.The piano bar
is a most welcomed addition to this din-
ing favorite for many who enjoy its
menu diversification, good service and
warm ambiance.The casual dining popu-
larity of Beau Jack's makes it a wanted
spot for before and after togetherness
where people know each other and
enjoy the camraderie of the restaurant's
family-type operation.
Farmington Hills, 737-7220.The ring of
authenticy is always present when
enjoying an interesting experience at
this well-received Japanese restaurant.
The menu and ambience of Hakata, with
its private rooms, slippers, sushi bar and
open dining room are gracious attribut-
es of this honorable food emporium. It
is open seven days a week, featuring all
the exciting dishes that come with
authentic Japanese dining.
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical
Museum, 31005 Orchard Lake Road,
626-5020. Owner Marvin Yagoda, with
son Jeremy Yagoda, have vaulted this
very popular fun emporium into one of
the fewest of its kind in the nation, win-
ning awards and appearing in
magazines and the Guiness Book of
World Records.Video games, pinball
machines, antique games, unique
posters, etc., include an old-time photo
booth. It is also a highly successful party
favorite and has 24 seats for lunch
snacks.
ORCHARD LAKE
The Sheik, 4189 Orchard Lake Road,
Orchard Lake, 865-0000.The famous
Mideastern and Lebanese recipes of
Esther Michaels, whose Sheik restaurant
was a downtown Detroit standby for
many years, are featured along with
small pita breads served hot directly
from an open hearth. Esther's many
Mideastern and Lebanese favorites have
not been forgotten, and present an
interesting array of popular dining
attractions.
ROYAL OAK
Chick-N-Ribs, 118 S.Woodward, Royal
Oak, 544-1211. Much has been said
about this dine in and carry-out restau-
rant whose specialities of broasted or
bar-b-q chicken and bar-b-q ribs have
received much attention, but as regular
customers say, the proof is in the tast-
ing. It's open seven days, Sun.,-Thurs. I I-
10, Fri.& Sat 11- I I.
SOUTHFIELD
Empire Szechuan Garden, 29875
DETROIT
Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills,
(248) 855-9463. Standouts at this
popular cafe include traditional Jewish
dishes prepared by Shirlee Bloom in her
own separate kithcne.All her
homemade food is in cases for
customers to see. Homemade
sandwiches, salads and other good
things to eat, including Vineyards'
Famous rollups are enjoyed at booths
and tables.They are also available for
carry-out. It is a seven-day-a-week
operation.
Lelli's, 7618 Woodward Ave., Detroit,
LATHRUP
(313) 871-1590.A Detroit dining tradi-
tion since 1939, Lelli's has been serving
Italian favorites to many generations. It
is open seven days-a-week, including
Sundays (12 to 8).Along with its large
meals, Lelli's also has its light side menu
which has enjoyed much popularity.
FARMINGTON HILLS
Cafe Cortina, 30715 VV.Ten Mile,
Farmington Hills, (248) 474-3033.Own-
ers RinaTonon and son Adrian's fine
Italian ristorante proudly presents origi-
nal family recipes amid a romantic
106
Hakata, 32443 Northwestern Hwy.,
Greenfield, Lincoln Shopping Center,
Oak Park, 968-0022.A favorite of many
people for breakfast, lunch, dinner and
after-theater, this has the aura of a mod-
ernistic delicatessen so apparent with
colorful decor .A children's menu is fea-
tured along with party trays.The Bread
Basket Deli is open Tuesday through
Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Vineyard's Cafe & Catering, 32418
Steve's Deli, 6646 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Plaza, (248) 932-0800.A "lit-
tle bit of NewYork in Bloomfield Hills"
and "old-time deli favorites of yester-
years" are with {award-winning{ chicken
soup, corned beef and roasted turkeys
for dining in or carry-outAlso "Steve
Romanik Brownies" plus Carnegie Deli
cheesecakes are among favorite desserts
in this 7-day-a-week operation.
6/12
1998
ambiance.The private garden room with
adjacent patio for appetizers and cock-
tails, is used for receptions, rehearsals,
b'nai mitzvah, etc. Dishes from the Vene-
to region of Italy are prepared with
choice elegance. It was the only Michi-
gan Italian restaurant to receive the
1997 DiRoNa award.
LaFendi, 27060 Evergreen, Lathrup
Landing, Lathrup, 559-9099.An elegant
atmosphere, where all areas are a differ-
ent decor, make up this popular Middle
Eastern restaurant. Many of the dishes
are not found in too many dining spots
of its type. Fresh squeezed fruits and
vegetables make up the raw juice bar
which people enjoy seven days a week
at all hours.
Northwestern Hwy.,Applegate Square,
Southfield, 353-7890. Consistency has
become a fine point for this Oriental
restaurant serving Szechuan, Hunan and
Chinese dishes. It has become a popular
place to dine at both lunch and dinner
times and is open seven-days-a-week,
with everything on the menu available
also for carry-out.The clean atmos-
phere and efficient service are pluses to
go along with the food.
Excalibur, 28875 Franklin Road,
Southfield, (248) 358-3355.This has
been referred to as the northwest ver-
sion of the once very popular London
Chop House in downtown Detroit.
Entertianment by the Billy Rose Trio is
Tuesdays through Saturdays, and menu
items for lunch and dinner are such
that have made it one of metropolitan
Detroit's most popular dining and
dancing spots. It is also the favortie of
many show biz personalities when
appearing in this sector.
OAK PARK
Gateway Deli, 21745 W. II Mile, Har-
Bread Basket Deli, 10 1/2 Mile and
vard Row, Southfield, 352-4940.Try the
veal marsala or veal parmesan at this
popular delicatessen-restaurant whose
gourmet dishes are brought from
owner Peter Bershaj's former Larco's
days.They are combined with familiar
traditional homemade Jewish dishes.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, party trays and
outside catering are Gateway Deli
standouts.
McVee's Sports Bar & Grill, 23380
Telegraph Road, Southfield, 352-8243.
This is more than just another sports
bar and grill restaurant.Veteran restau-
rateur Herman Yagoda features char-
broiled steaks, fresh seafood, large burg-
ers, baby-back ribs and lamb chops that
he defies others to beat.Also home-
made soups are daily specials at both
lunch and dinner with moderate prices
in a casual and relaxed atmosphere.
Seros, 29221 Northwestern, Southfield,
358-2353.The specialty is Greek-Ameri-
can with emphasis on family dining. It is
a seven-day-a-week operation with daily
specials for lunch and dinner.The neigh-
borhood atmosphere is condusive to
comfortable dining.This combined with
low prices have made Seros a popular
restau rant.
Star Deli, 24555 W. 12 Mile Rd., South-
field, 352-7377. It has been acclaimed as
one of America's finest carry-out only
delicatessens, and has the largest carry-
out deli operations in Michigan. Howev-
er, you wouldn't know it from the size.
And everything is homemade: cole slaw,
potato salad, chicken salad, egg salad and
so much more. Star prepares both fat-
free and regular tuna and cuts its lox by
hand. It also cooks its own corned beef
and pastrami, and the 7-day operation
includes a major specialty—beautiful
tray catering.
WALLED LAKE
Szechuan Empire North, 39450 14
Mile Road,Walled Lake, 960-7666.The
fine Chinese restaurants owned by Tom
Lin are prominently noted for their tra-
ditional Chinese style of dining where
expected side dishes are not a la carte,
but presented with the complete meal
that is ordered.This one is no excep-
tion, and has become a favorite in the
northwest area of Metropolitan Detroit.
Tom's other good Szechuan Empire
restaurant is on 5 Mile Road and Mid-
dlebelt in Livonia.
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Big Daddy's Parthenon, 6199
Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield,
(248) 737-8600. Evenings are still busy