Michigan's finest upscale,
yet casual American bistro

Savor the taste that is the
talk of the town

Remembering When

Booze was forbidden and every restaurant had its own personality.

Vi ews

"Oakland Grill gets wows for
class act." — Observer <9 Eccentric

"Our meal at Oakland Grill was
exceptional and it left us talking
about our food all weekend long."
— Oakland Press

ack in the days of prohibi-
tion, a house stood on .
Lothrup between Second
and Woodward ... Celebri-
ties and personalities gathered there in
droves ... and were looked at through
a peephole in the door before being
allowed in ... They continued to pack
the place as the 48 Club went along
like old man river, still serving good
drinks ... This time, however, under
the eagle eyes of the law.
The name was later changed to the
Steak Out, but the interesting old
house that hid many memories and
secrets within its walls, kept on cater-
ing to folks from all walks of life ...
many of who were mighty happy
those walls couldn't talk.
THE FOUR ROSES that played
every Sunday back in 1974 at Angel's
Hour Glass on W. 6 Mile, put out a
lot of entertaining music .. . Chris, 12,
drums; Tony, 17, bass guitar; Gary,
21, lead guitar, and an 18-year-old
cousin on the conga drums ... Today,
Chris and Tony are with their dad,
Billy Rose, at Excalibur Tuesdays
through Thursdays ... Gary, another
.son of Billy, is with his trio every Sat-
urday evening at McVee's on Tele-
graph.
ALDEN'S ALLEY, owned by
Alden Lewis on Main Street in Royal
Oak, was in a turn of the century
building and had Christina Beltramel-
lo, wife of the former Villa Venice's
late Arminio Beltramello, as its
kitchen manager ... She made the Ital-
ian dishes at this one-time old theater,
among the first ones back in 1917 ...
Alden, who was raised on Clairmount
and Lawton, had bagels from Detroit
Bagel, and rye bread for corned beef
and other sandwiches, from Modern
Bakery.
IN 1983, Matt Prentice's Deli
Unique on Greenfield and 10 Mile in
Oak Park, was this area's only place
serving dishes like tournedos de boeuf
($6.95,) veal & crab champagne
($7.95,) spinach and mushroom
quiche ($5.25,) chicken scaloppini
marsala ($6.95) and so many other
gourmet items you would never
expect to find in a delicatessen ... Or
at these prices.
AMONG THE MAIN features
about Larco's Inn on W. McNichols

.

Buy One Entree At Regular
Price Get Second. Entree
Equal or Lesser Value

• Dine In Only • With Coupon
• One Coupon Per Couple
• Not Valid With Other Offers

L Expires 7/31/98

iN

SERVING LUNCH & DINNER
TUESDAY - SUNDAY

32832 Woodward ► Royal Oak

Oust south of 14 Mile Rd.)

(248) 549-7700

the structure of Detroit's and perhaps
and San Juan, was that it retained the
the country's most unique night club
food so many people continued to
... Larry, Gary, and Ed Gluklick
talk about throughout the years.
formed the Steering Wheel nitery on
And employees who had long-
the site of the former Act IV.
standing experience there ... like - Chris
There were steering
Rado, who started as a busboy
wheels
used by some of the
when it opened in 1953, and
world's most famous drivers
was still at Larco's Inn 30 years
on display, plus hubcaps
later as a waiter.
and an interesting car bar
It was one of the most beau-
around which four tiny
tiful dining spots around ...
autos raced continuously ...
with dark wood walls and over-
Displayed in the middle o
head tiny beam lights ... ele-
the course, which was once--
gance in simplicity ... You
the stage at Act IV, was a
wouldn't find too many places
life-size racing car on dis-
with such sturdy chairs and
DANNY
play ... These cars changed
tables, either ... Larco's Inn to
RASKIN
from time to time.
this day still holds a lot of
Local Columnist -
The entire motif was in
wonderful memories for many.
keeping with the auto rac-
THE STEERING WHEEL
ing theme ... Employees at Steering
on W. Grand Blvd. reopened after a
Wheel
were dressed in racing garb ...
lapse of two years, and had a complete
Parking
attendants were in crash hel
change 'coming out' party ... A seven-
mets ... Busboys in white mechanic
piece band-revue did folk, rock, pop
outfits ... And the waitresses were
and standards for all age groups ...
called Superchargers.
Clarence Baker of Baker's Keyboard
SKANDIA on James Couzens
Lounge fame, was still manager.
Highway, owned by Paul Borak, used
Back in 1967, sports car racer Gary
to have one of the top smorgasbords
Rossman had an idea ... and sent a let-
in town ... But it later gave way
to a dance floor instead of the
large self-service table ... and
became just a memory that peo
ple still reminisce about.
THE CONTINENTAL menu
at Allo Paris on Livernois, went
over big ... with French, Italian
and American dishes choice
favorites ... But its French cuisine
included dishes you couldn't get
anywhere else.
BIMBO'S on Woodward
between Six and Seven Mile,
was truly a family operation ...
owned by Morry and Shirley
Silber, with daughter Marcy,
and general manager son
Richard ... pluslVlorry's brother,
Joel ... It was the former Vanel-
li's.
MARVIN CHIN owner of the
Port O'Call dinery on W. Maple
Lionel Hampton
and Telegraph, was the same
bossman as at Chin Tiki on Cass
... His Bloomfield Hills spot was
ter to Larry LoPatin, president of
something to see ... and very different
Michigan International Speedway
... A complete seafood only restaurant
regarding a proposed motel and
... A Polynesian eatery And a Japan-
restaurant located at the speedway.
ese spot ... The concept had great
It was this contact that resulted in