The Best Of Everything

Imaginative And Sensible

Pompano's Seafood Grill is a well-run operation.

Vey Irepcatz and,
Cool Dames...
You're invited to
a VAS island

$wing
$ensation
Celebration

wary
Thursday,
MOO pane-close

4 1'7 1

41 'Big Band Music

from
• Arhtur. Murray
Dance Studio

Dance 1.10$0013$

$4.2g Premium
• Martinis &
26% Orr
all Champagne

Present this 0.11 to
your s'erver for

50% 01414

01.21.

entree

with the purchase of a
regular priced entree.
f.my
3/11 99.

ADMITS 4 PEOPLE

(248) 926-5300

6041 Haggerty

Between 15 Mile & Pontiac Tr.
West Bloomfield

Open
2/26
1999
92__Dptroit Jewish Ne_ws

Daily 11 a.m

seats 165 plus 35 at the bar stools in
know that their Linguine Fruit der Mer
front of a round bar that has
(shrimp, clams, scallops and mushrooms
29,511,412 (Ramzi got dizzy counting
in a tomato cream sauce) might be too
them) inlaid pennies ... The restaurant
much for one person, so it is also avail-
xperience and common
decor is decidedly nautical-accented c;_ \
able in a half-order size ... Why pay for
sense are two key words in
with
fish nets, hand-painted murals of
what you can't eat? ... Vegetarian Delight
owning a restaurant ... In so
fish and an aquarium with
(tri-colored pasta tossed in toma-
many cases, having one or
exotic tropical fish.
to broth with fresh vegetables
the other is extremely beneficial.
It is open seven days a
and
shaved
Romano
cheese)
and
Possessing both is a tremendous
week ... Monday-Thursday,
Smoked
Chicken
with
Penne
asset ... and a big push toward having
7-11; Friday and Saturday, 7-
Sauce (plus spinach, tomatoes,
a successful endeavor.
midnight; Sunday, 7-1 break-
garlic and olive oil) are two other
Pompano's Seafood Grill, in the
fast and 5-9 dinner ... Live
choice dishes that come in both
Farmington Hills Holiday Inn, on 10
entertainment is Friday and
half and full orders.
Mile between Halsted and Haggerty,
Saturday evening.
The clam chowder is Gary's
has a lot of both in its ownership and
Biggies are the Friday
own recipe ... corn, clams,
employee ranks.
D ANNY
and Saturday night com-
diced
celery,
onions
and
pota-
This facet alone promotes a lot of
RA SKIN
plete dinner specials for
toes ... made with Gary's own
confidence ... There is no substitute
Local
Columnist
$19.95 ... Friday has the
imagination ... and served in a
for a restaurant operator knowing
one-pound King Crab legs
sourdough bread bowl ... very
what he or she is doing ... surrounded
...
and
Saturday
is the 10-ounce prime
ingenious and delicious.
by people with the same credibility.
rib
and
six-ounce
lobster tail.
With a name like Pompano's,
Owner Ramzi Naber, a graduate in
Did
you
ever
try
Pepper Swordfish?
you'd expect a dish with the title and
hotel and restaurant management
... Pompano's has it a few times a week '
that's
what
you
can
get
any
day
...
It's
from Golden Gate University in San
... topped with caramelized onions and
called Pompano Key West ...
Francisco, ran the Tugboat Annie's
tomatoes ... It is a tasty treat, as is the
Pompano
fish
sauteed
with
a
pista-
chain of restaurants in Miami, Carlos
Seared Red Snapper with lobster and
chio citrus butter sauce.
Murphy's on Northwestern Highway
shrimp cream sauce, and Char-grilled
Biggest requests are for Coconut
... and was evening manager at the
Mako Shark, sauteed with four types of
Golden Mushroom when Master Chef Shrimp and Lake Superior White Fish
wild
mushrooms.
broiled and topped with rock shrimp
Milos Cihelka was in the kitchen ...
When
customers are seated, they are
and tomato relish ... All fish can be
Kevin Frantz, its general manager
served Pompano's home-made bread ...
prepared
Cajun,
blackened,
char-
today, was Golden Mushroom owner
and instead of butter they get Gary's
grilled, seared, baked or broiled.
Reid Ashton's day manager then.
black and white bean puree taste tingler.
Gary's favorite dish is his Blackened
Pompano's chef Gary Bradt has
Want pizza? ... Pompano's has it,
Tuna with a melon relish he makes of
been executive chef at the Tecumseh
too
... People tell the waitperson what
watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and
Country. Club and sous chef at Troy
they
like and it is custom-made for
red and green peppers ... The tuna is
Hilton ... But his main hands-on
them
... There's also a specialty pizza
marinated 21 hours in the melon juices.
experience with the preparation of
with four cheeses, fresh herbs, sliced
Opened
Nov.
9,
1998,
Pompano's
seafood came while he worked for the
Chuck Muer organization ... Bradt
was assistant kitchen manager at River
Crab in St. Clair, Mich., and at
Charley's Crab in Beachwood, Ohio.
Many folks will remember Suzi
Bernier, who handles the restaurant
and hotel's food and beverage opera-
tions as catering director for functions
at Holiday Inn's five banquet rooms ...
Suzi was a fine waitress forl9 years at
the former Roman Terrace on
Orchard Lake Road and 12 Mile ... '
and the manager at Roman Terrace II.
Ramzi's wife, Connie, his day man-
ager, was a waitperson for nine years
at Chicago Road House in Dearborn,
and is currently also a supervisor rep-
resenting Hamilton, Miller, Hudson
Chef Gary Bradt, Suzi Bernier
& Fayne flights to Las Vegas.
and Ramzi Naber share in the
Here's where much of that common
sultess of Pompano's.
sense comes in at Pompano's ... They

DANNY RASKIN
Local Columnist

E