The Best Of Everything
Common Sense
Ray and Michael Abrams possess the necessary ingredient
as the new owners of McVee's.
and chairs, a computer system, etc.
seven-day restaurant, opening on
Their common sense dictated that
Sundays as well.
no changes would be made to those
According to many, McVee's still
things that have given McVee's the suc-
here's much more to owning
has among the best marinated lamb
cess it enjoys ... Herman's
chops around ... and bakes
a restaurant than the glamour
employees, averaging seven to
that may be attached to it ...
its own bread ... Not just
10 years of service, are still
baking bread from dough
And thankfully for them, the
there ... As is one of the chefs
new owners of McVee's on Telegraph,
brought in, but preparing
and a bartender, both of whom
between 9 and 10 Mile roads, in
the dough, too ...
have been at McVee's since it
Southfield, know this... They tread into
Homemade soups are a spe-
opened about 15 years ago.
cialty, French onion soup
their new venture with eyes open.
The menu remains the same
daily, chicken soup on
Thankfully, too, they possess the
except for additions like a
Wednesdays and a delicious
very necessary ingredient that in more
Caesar Salad dressing by Sue
clam chowder.
ways than one, is ahead of experience
ANNY
Adler of Ann Arbor, whose
It has the name of an
in owning a restaurant ... Nothing
RA SKIN
husband Dr. Larry Adler, is at
Irish tavern, but McVee's is
takes the place of common sense ...
St. Joseph's Hospital ... Michael Local Columnist not one ... Originally, the
And in the restaurant game, it is a
and Larry have been friends
owners before Herman all
cherished attribute that is sorrowfully
since their Berkley High days,
had last names that began
lacking in a number of owners.
when both lived in Oak Park.
with "V" ... hence the McVee's ... But
Ray Abrams and his son, Michael,
The delicious Caesar Salad can be
come St. Patrick's Day, folks line up
who bought McVee's from Herman
gotten instead of dinner salad for just
around the block to get in for corned
Yagoda on April 12, have built their
an additional $1.95.
beef and cabbage and Irish stew.
reputation on treating customers prop-
Also added has been prime rib,
Not many Irish taverns, if any, sell
erly and giving them what they want.
which became an instant much asked-
lobster tails, stir fry Cajun shrimp, sea
Ray, a councilman in Oak Park,
for favorite.
scallops, stir fry chicken breast, braised
owns the four Snookers' Pool & Pubs
Sports pictures still adorn the walls ...
tenderloin tips over noodles, London
in Livonia, Eastpointe, Utica and
Broil, baked or old-
Royal Oak ... He is at the
fashioned spaghetti
Livonia location, while Mike
with Italian meat sauce,
has been running the Utica
filet mignon, T-bone
locale ... McVee's is their first
steaks, stuffed mush-
full-service restaurant, but
room caps, sauteed
not their first time feeding
mushrooms, etc.
people ... They operate bars
When customers
with limited food service ...
can go into a restau-
always drawing raves for
rant and confidently
their short-order selections.
order old-fashioned,
At Ray's Cushion 'n Cue
cold meatloaf sand-
on Coolidge in Oak Park,
wiches on rye or served
from 1968-85, Max and
hot over bread, the
Esther Rubin operated his
place has won a large
lunch counter ... Then some
stamp of approval.
years back, Ray and wife
More so, though,
Shirley, came close to buying
when restaurant own-
the highly-popular Jakk's
ers strive to please their
Lounge on Greenfield ...
customers in every way
This was his closest fling
possible,
this is real
with the full-service restau-
Michael and father Ray Abrams preside over McVees in Southfield.
common sense ... Small
rant business until now.
as it may seem, but so
McVee's has been a suc-
very
large
...
Too
bad some others
and
fresh
fish,
like
small
sauteed
perch,
cessful operation ... and to Ray and
Norwegian salmon, rainbow trout and
don't have it like Ray and Michael.
Michael's credit, nothing is being
others, continue to hold large followings.
A RECORD CROWD that
changed ... You know, why fix what
brought in a tops in the event's fund-
McVee's is open daily except
isn't broken? ... They only made some
raising, attended the "new look"
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m..... Lunch is
alterations, like a new ventilation sys-
served 11 to 4; dinner 4 to 11, with
Ninth Annual Hank Greenberg Golf
tem, because people complained about
& Tennis Invitational.
specials for both everyday ... Starting a
the smoke; continual updates and
week
after
Labor
Day,
it
will
become
a
Because of the large assemblage,
improvements, new lighting, tables
DANNY RASKIN
Local Columnist
T
ANDIAMD
What Italian
was meant to be!
Andiamo Italia
East Fourteen Mile Road in Warren
810 268-3200
Trattoria Andiamo
Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Woods
313 886-9933
Andiamo Lakefront Bistro
Jefferson Avenue in St. Clair Shores
810 773-7770
Andiamo Italia West
Telegraph in Bloomfield Hills
248 865-9300
Andiamo Osteria
Main Street in Rochester
248 601-9300
Andiamo Osteria
Main Street in Royal Oak
248 582-9300
Private dining accommodations
and off site catering
Selected "Best Italian Restaurant"
by Gourmet Magazine '96, '97 and '98
visit us at www.andiamoitalia.com
6/25
1999
92 Detroit Jewish News
c
_/