WHEKE'OOD FRIENDS ET SERVED GOOD FOOD. RED FtliE The Best Of Everything Truly Unique The local dining scene changed when a young man opened his first gourmet delicatessen in Oak Park. (.9A•Ate Someone in the kitchen id thinking. Tr)ing new tbingo cl9argrif(eb N.Y. strip steak on a Imo of caramelizes onions ano roavta peppere) grit(eo freob. (The) mean it.) Salmon with corn oalvai n H 0 U KD ET KO IT " fine eatery ... He turned things com- one could pay for a meal at Deli pletely around ... with an aim never to Unique was $6.95 ... And the price let it revert back to before. also included- relish dish, soup or When you talk of people who salad, vegetable and double-baked he year was 1980 when deserved a chance, you looked straight potato ... plus bread that was crispy Deli Unique took over the at this young man and saw and double-baked. former Northgate his many hours of toil bent The new young owner had Delicatessen site at on customer satisfaction ... much cuisine inventiveness ... Greenfield and 10 Mile Rd. in what whatever the price ... People He turned an operation that could be described as one of the great- who were unbelievers at first was so-so at best into one of est changes in a restaurant in this soon became steady cus- intriguing delight ... and a deli- region. ... Big reason was the new tomers. catessen with dishes that could ownership ... an ambitious, so-eager- By about a year or so give even fine French restau- to-please young man whose 80 hours later, Deli Unique in Oak rants a run for their money ... a week of creativity began to pay off Park had become one of the at much less than half the cost. after only four months of being open. D ANNY most diversified dining Deli Unique was something Deli Unique became a gourmet del- SKIN RA spots in the northwest area. different ... Well worth more icatessen, if ever there was such a thing Local Columnist The gourmet dishes (beef than one visit ... It was the ... and his Culinary Institute expertise Wellington, tournedos of result of an energetic young showed some very fine colors. beef, etc.,) became much man who believed in giving the People began rediscovering the talked-about items ... Somewhat for- best there was in dining goodness with- site they once were more apt to stay gotten by many, except those who out the customary rip-off on which away from. knew, were Deli Unique's delicious many French restaurants thrived. At Sunday brunch, for example, Jewish-style cooking of beef flanken, His carry-out department, with folks just couldn't imagine such an short ribs, roasted chicken, sweet and gefilte fish, etc., was impeccably clean array in this 72-seater (all booths) sour stuffed cabbage, chicken soup as was the entire restaurant ... It eatery that oozed of cleanliness with with kreplach and lukshen, very light couldn't be emphasized enough the its beautiful blue decor and soft back- and tasty cheese blintzes, large crispy newly discovered cleanliness of this ground music. potato latkes, etc. Look at what people got for If the owner had served his $5.25 ... all they could eat ... gourmet-style food ... and did his mostly standard items but a lot of tableside cooking in another it ... and some dishes they didn't locale, chances are that people see anywhere else ... lox, scram- would have needed reservations bled eggs, hash browns, bacon, weeks in advance. sausage, sable, chubs, champagne It may have been a delicatessen chicken, chicken livers, chicken before becoming Deli Unique ... livers Portugal, blintzes, pancakes, but the former owner never French toast, Kaiser rolls, bagels, dreamed of serving items like duck onion rolls, quiche, fresh fruit ... a l'orange ... And you couldn't beat and assorted pastries made at Deli the stuffed breast of chicken din- Unique. ner either. And it was just that ... a unique Today, 19 years later, the young delicatessen ... Besides the five- man is president of the fine ounce corned beef sandwiches ... Unique Restaurant Corporation, no other delicatessen anywhere in with its 14 restaurants, the the country that I knew of served Sourdough Bread Factory whole- tournedos of beef with Bordelaise sale operation and many catering sauce, champagne chicken, filet of bases (Temple Israel, Temple Shir sole Marguery, poached chicken Shalom, Hotel Baronette, Marnier, veal Oscar, veal and crab Kingsley Hotel and Orchestra champagne, London broil ... along Hall.) with traditional cabbage flanken, This dining empire started with stuffed breast of chicken and the little Deli Unique in Oak Park stuffed breast of veal. ... and soon there will be four There were even a couple of boasting this name ... Joining the dishes flamed at your booth ... Deli Uniques located in Bingham Roast duck with cherry sauce and Mary Tamaroff one of the nation's leading Farms, West Bloomfield and veal Unique, sauteed with pears. automotive dealers, is celebrating 30 years at Bloomfield Hills sometime this To top it off, the highest any- Tamaroff Motors in Southfield. DANNY RASKIN Local Columnist - 7 di/nail place id making a name for itde(fn DANNY RASKIN We verve a goon roadteo Prime Rib ever) Friaan Saturoay night & Imo!) Salmon all through the week. I050 Benotein Roaol Walleb Lake, Mi Calf fOr reoervationo148-669-2.122 Open for Lunch & Dinner • • • Now Appearing By Popular Demand! ':.;