NOW OPEN

The Best Of Everything

Rugby Grille enhances image of Birmingham's
classy Townsend Hotel.

Your choice o

S lunch
specials
daily

includes soup, salad

starting at $ 7.00

Try our
Shabu Shabu
dinner

includes vegetable and beef

Coming soon?

Bento Box

Rice, Salad, Soup
and Sushi
Dine In and Carry Out

HOURS:
Mon.-Sat 11-10
Sun. 12-10

(248) 538-0664
fax (248) 538-0668

28972 Orchard Like Rd.

12/11

1998

between 12 and 13 Mile on
East side
Farmington Hills
other location in E. Lansing

102 Detroit Jewish News

blueberries and raspberries flamed in
cozy, intimate Rugby Grille .. with
Grand Marnier ... along with the
another 21 in the Gallery lounge-like
Local Columnist
caramelized melted butter and white
hall area.
sugar, and the touch of orange juice
The
dining
room
is
utter
refinement
here are hotel restaurants to
and orange peel.
..
Amid
its
white
linen
napkins
on
which people go because of
You may have seen him doing his
marble-inlaid
wooden
tables,
dark
cher-
their convenience ... And the
thing prior to Rugby Grille,
rywood
doors
and
walls,
etched
few that get folks from
where
Kris came less than
frosted glass, framed pictures
everywhere because of a distinction.
two
years
ago ... He worked
And five-stool bar, it has the ele-
Rugby Grille, in the Townsend
at
Lelli's
on
Woodward and
gance that one would expect
Hotel on Townsend Avenue in Birm-
The Oceans in Daytona
from
a
class
hotel
of
this
stature.
ingham, belongs to the latter group.
Beach, Florida.
Rugby Grille stands alone
Celebrities from the worlds of show
Executive Chef Gerald
also
because
of
servers
like
Kris
business, sports and public-eye attrac-
Gramzay is another major
Neda,
whose
tableside
cooking,
tions join many in putting the food and
reason for the food goodness
is a wonderful artistic presenta-
service far above the realm of just
at
Rugby Grille ... His supe-
tion.
another good hotel dining room.
rior
innovations are well-
His Caesar salad deftly mixed
DA NNY
Many people like to stay at a hotel
noted.
in a wooden bowl is beautiful to
RA SKIN
that has one of the better restaurants in
Chef Gerald's potato-
watch ...and so good to the taste Local Columnist
town ... In Las Vegas, among the more
horseradish crusted Atlantic
...
Those
who
have
enjoyed
prominent things that developers of
salmon with tomato dill but-
Kris' own version of Crepes
casinos insist upon is a better-than-
ter and spinach has drawn many raves
Suzette
at
tableside,
return
eager
for
good restaurant ... They know how
... as has his honey-thyme roasted duck-
more.
much depends, traffic-wise, on people
ling with fig and berry port sauce.
A private rendition of Crepes Suzette
staving there or coming from other
The dishes prepared by Gerald at
began when a Townsend guest told how
hotels to dine ... and remaining at the
Rugby
Grill are not your ordinary fare
much he loved fruit ... This is when
gamin , b tables.
... They have distinctions all their own
Kris
added
blackberries,
strawberries,
The Townsend Hotel may not have
both in taste and colorful presenta-
gambling ... but it is cer-
tion they denote an artist in culinary
tainly no roll of the dice
expertise.
eating in the Rugby Grille.
A poached Atlantic halibut and
Legendary maitre d'
shrimp in lemongrass and ginger, with
Lewis Weidemann is in
Asian vegetables and noodles ... and a
the upstairs Got Rocks at
fettuccine tossed with herb-roasted
Big Rock Chop & Brew ...
portabella mushroom, peppers, toma-
He was very ably replaced
toes and artichokes with parmesan
by another personable
cream, are examples of sheer goodness.
gentleman who knows his
Prices at Rugby Grille are higher
food and wine ... Denis
than normal, but the degree of culinary
Cerezo, who came to
excellence in an atmosphere of elegance
Rugby Grille from one of
makes this a memorable dining experi-
, Chicago's oldest private
ence.
clubs, The Tavern Club, in
The prime double-cut baby lamb
1997, and has carried on
chops and 22 oz. prime rib chop are
Townsend's fine tradition
grille favorites ... along with 10 oz. and
of excellence.
12 oz. filets, 16 oz. New York strip and
The 10-year anniver-
12 oz. veal chop, all choice selections.
sary of the Townsend
Steak Diane, prepared by Kris and co.
Hotel was celebrated in
others, is a superb dish ... As is sauteed
June ... with its fine Rugby
Dover sole, deboned at the table.
Grille opening just a cou-
The Townsend Hotel and Rugby
ple of months after ...
Grille stand very tall together.
Joanne Sans was a hostess
COCO'S KORNER ... from Side
then ... Today she is
Dishes in Nation's Restaurant News ...
Townsend's director of
"Is the restaurant industry goinlE, to the
From left, Gerald. Gramzay, Denis Cerezo and Kris
catering.
dogs? Not really, but man's best friend
Neda all contribute to the excellent Rugby Grille.
Seating is 72 in the

DANNY RASKIN

T