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! 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