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Michigan's finest upscale,
yet casual American bistro
The Best Of Everything
Savor the taste that is the
talk of the town
An Italian institution has a golden legacy.
"Sue:cm-cut owners are doing the
right thing at Oakland Grill."
— The levi$11 News
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"Oakland Grill gets wows for
class act." — Observer & Eccentric
“Oaklan4-GrilFs food and service
.
—'Detroit Tee Ptes
,
"Our meal at Oakland Grill was
exceptional and it left us talking
about our food all weekend long."
— Oakland Press
DECK
NOW
OPEN! _1
r _ • 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
.
Early Bird
Special!
TUES., WED., THURS. & SUN.
50' Off
Buy One Entree At Regular
Price Get Second Entree
Equal or Lesser Value
HALF THE PRICE
• Dine In Only • With Coupon
• One Coupon Per Couple
• Not Valid With Other Offers
L Expires 8/31/98
JN
SERVING LUNCH & DINNER
TUESDAY - SUNDAY
32832 Woodward
►
Royal Oak
(Just south of 14 Mile Rd.)
7/31
1998
(248) 549-7700
92 Detroit Jewish News
o, too many restaurants in
existence today will cele-
brate their 50th anniver-
sary.
This is why such an occurrence ,is
regarded with much honor and
respect.
And when it happens to be one of
Detroit's better and more renowned
restaurants, then the occasion has an
added impetus because of the many
people it has satisfied throughout the
years.
Since opening in 1948, Mario's
Italian restaurant on Second Avenue,
between Willis and Canfield, has sold
enough pasta that if laid end to end it
would circle the world twice.
The 5 million meals it has served
takes in much more than pasta, so try-
ing to imagine how far this would go
is beyond comprehension.
Years back, when owned by Mario
Lelli, the legend went that if it was Ital-
ian, Mario's had it, and if it was some-
thing not on the menu, Mario would
send out for it ... However, it would
have been foolish to order anything but
Italian at Mario's since there were few
that could rank in comparison.
Mario's is a landmark ... And com-
fortable in a style that can't be
matched anymore ... with plenty of
room to move around in your chair
and light enough to read the ample
menu.
It is owned today by Vince Pas-
salacqua, who has continued. the fine
tradition of Mario Lelli since he pur-
chased Mario's in 1980 ... For many
years, Mario was a partner with
cousins at Lelli's Inn on Woodward ...
Profits from the sale of his interest in
Lelli's enabled him to open Mario's.
Mario still comes to the restaurant
he used to own ... It is one of his
favorites ... And to keep in condition,
he continues to swim daily in the Oak
Park swimming pool.
• Throughout the years, celebrities
from the worlds of show business, pol-
itics and sports have made Mario's
their home for Italian dining ... And
many local customers ... first, second
and third generations ... have num-
bered it among their favorites.
Mario Lelli established the restau-
rant in 1948, and was not one to sit
still ... expanding in the 1950s and
Italian veal favorites ... not ones that
again in the 1960s ... Vince has fol-
stay around a short while and are
lowed in his footsteps with continuous
taken off the menu for lack of reques
physical upgrades.
Others like Veal Olympic or Veal
The beautiful English tudor outer
piccante (which can also be gotten
structure is a masterpiece in looks and
with regular service) are pre-
a recognizable sight for many.
pared tableside along with
Inside, the original main
three styles of flamed
dining room seating 150 is
medallions of prime rib ten-
almost an exact replica of the
derloin,
steak Diane and
former Sardis in New York ...
flambe'd
desserts.
In 1988, it was joined with
'Mario Lelli's little 3,000-
another dining sector seating
square-foot restaurant is
175 more ... In all Mario's
now a 12,000-square-foot
now has four dining rooms,
dining facility.
including the Mural Room, its
He had no computer or
smallest private dining area for
D ANNY
method
of tracking records
the intimacy and privacy small
RA SKIN
throughout
the years, so the
groups desire.
Local Columnist amounts of food served in
So many items are home-
50 years can only be
made at Mario's ... The white
approximate figures.
clam sauce is among the finest any-
But it is safe to say that Mario's has
where ... All Mario's sauces, except
served more than 500,000 pounds of
those with meat, are made to order.
veal, 4 million shrimp, and a million
- The minestrone soup is still among
gallons of wine ... More than 9 mil-
the better ones ... Full bodied, with
lion tomatoes used is a safe estimate.
carrots, potatoes, noodle pieces, etc. ...
There is live entertainment and
It is one of eight soups from which a
ballroom dancing every Friday and
customer may select.
Saturday evening from 8 p.m. ...
Pasta noodles are still made on the
Lunch is served Monday through Fri-
premises for most of Mario's dishes ...
day, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ... Dinner is
Tortellini, cappelletti, lasagna, fet-
Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 11
tucine, ravioli, tagliatelle, etc.
p.m.;
Saturdays, 4 p.m. to midnight;
Excellent Provimi veal is prepared
Sundays,
2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
in 15 or more ways for elegant dining
Shuttles
run continuously to all
... Every one has been a best-liked
major entertainment events. Vince, -
dish for years.
his executive chef Eric Alderton, and
These are tried-and-true traditional
1/4
Vince Passalacqua has kept Mario's tradition.