In ant
The Best Of Everything
ITALIA
Sh OicrOOM
DAVID BRENNER
Friday, July 7
Barrister 'N' Fries
Hunter House hamburgers are so good
they ought to be illegal.
While growing up, Hunter House was
his favorite because of having the
tastiest burger and being so inexpen-
sive.
is law offices from 1973 to
When taking over 22 years ago,
1978 were across the street
Mark wanted Hunter House to always
from the little porcelain
look the same ... Decorators gave him
tiled building where he
fine ideas to fix up the place
stopped for breakfast or coffee
... but Mark said no ... The
just about every morning.
only thing he did change
Jerry McCarthy, owner of
was going to a higher-grade
the Hunter House restaurant
of meat because to him,
that seated 25 was having a
hamburger was king and
bad day when barrister Mark
royalty knew only one thing
Papazian sat at the same stool
... to be the very best.
he always occupied.
Mark's wonderful ham-
Seems as though Jerry was
burgers at Hunter House
mad at the world, including
D ANNY
may be called sliders like
the restaurant business, when
RA
SKIN
others,
but are in a class of
Mark said, "If it's so terrible,
Local
Columnist
their
own
... 85% meat,
why don't you sell the place?
15% fat ... with very little
... "Who would want it?"
grease ... and a taste that made instant
replied Jerry, not realizing that Mark
regulars out of people just passing by.
had visions of someday owning that
So much so, that in 1978 when
little hamburger place in the hopeful
Mark took over operation of the
realization of a boyhood dream.
Hunter House, it sold only about
"If I were to prepare a purchase
4,000
burgers a week ... Today, the
agreement, will you sign it?" asked
figure is over 15,000 a week ... around
Mark ... and Jerry hurriedly said,
800,000 a year ... Since that day in
"Yes!" ... Mark called his office, had
'78, almost 18 million have been sold
an agreement prepared and brought to
at this little 25-stool restaurant.
him at the stool ... all inside of 30
Mind-boggling numbers, too, of
minutes.
cheeseburgers ... 11 million singles ...
Both signed the deal ... and Mark
4 million doubles ... 15 million orders
became the new owner of the little
of fries ... 24 million soft drinks ...
Hunter House restaurant on former
31,000 cups of coffee a year ... etc.
Hunter Blvd. (Woodward Ave.), a
Mark personally takes credit for
block north of Maple in Birmingham
cooking 2 million of the hamburgers
... now celebrating its 48th year at the
same locale.
Even though just a lit-
tle hamburger operation,
Hunter House to Mark
was the biggest of all his
ventures ... Maximilian's,
John Laffrey's Steaks On
The Hearth in Detroit;
Jukebox on Woodward
until 1992; Senor Pollo
Mexican restaurant on
Vernor Hwy.; Dillon's
and Coral Gables on
Woodward and Country
Jukebox in Waterford.
Mark always did love
hamburgers ... and as a
youngster would dream
that one day he would
have his own place ...
Mark Papazian, Hunter House honcho.
DANNY RASKIN
Local Columnist
Ii
M ONES
Sat., Sept. 30 & Sun., Oct. I
4. "
JERRY
AL MARTINO
Thurs., Oct. 5
DON RICKLES
S Wed., &Thurs., Oct 5 & 16
• •
• •
%TN
S
111F
40
90
S
6/2
2000
PAUL ANA
Thurs., Fri. & Sat.,
Nov. 9, 10 & I I
_ e
et bra 7
ITALIA
01171'0n
01
7096Er t s! Fourteen Mite Road
d .
w en
Mound &Van Dyke
(810) 268-3200
)
D figg Guid
AUBURN HILLS
Lelli's ofAuburn Hills, 885 Opdyke Road,
Auburn Hills, (248) 373-4440.The second of
Lelli's traditionally fine Italian ristorantes is
located across from the Pontiac Silverdome.
Besides elegant surroundings, it features the
same excellent food served by the Lelli family
since 1939. Reservations are accepted for any
evening except Saturday.
BERKLEY
Sila, 4033 W. 12 Mile Road, Berkley, (248)
54$-3650.There is nothing like a consistently
dependable neighborhood family restaurant.
The Italian and American menu is one that
evokes much confidence in casual dining.The
chicken, ribs, round and square pizzas, fish,
salad, pasta, etc. are served seven days a
week for lunch and dinner. Everything is also
available for carry-out.
13L.00MFIELD HILLS
Steve% Deli, 6646 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Hills, (248) 932-0800. Award-
winning chicken soup is featured: Also serv-
ing corned beef, fresh roasted turkey, sand-
wiches, salads and traditional dishes. Party
trays and catering too at this New York-style
deli. Carnegie Deli cheesecake and Steve's
Brownies are among the desserts.
FARMINGTON HILLS
Desert Sands, 29222 Orchard Lake Road,
Farmington Hills, (248) 855-1122. Middle-
Eastern dining is featured by Hassan Bazzi,
former maitre d' at the Original Sheik in
downtown Detroit. Daily specials at lunch
and dinner. Full menu carryout with catering
available. Complete liquor service.
Intelligent Chicken, 32431 Northwestern
Hwy., Farmington Hills, (248) 855-4455. The
wide variety of specialty items are together
with a complete menu of charbroiled or
rotisserie chicken for both dining in the 40-
seater area, and carry-out, seven days a
week. Soups, chili, salads and side dishes are
homemade. Also homemade are the popular
cookies and brownies_
Marvin% Marvelous Mechanical
Museum, 31005 Orchard Lake Road,
Farmington Hills, (248) 626-5020. One maga-
zine said that there was no place like it in
the country.The Guinness Book of Records has
featured its accomplishments. Lunch and
snacks are available with table seating amidst
video games, antiques, nostalgic posters, fly-
ing miniature airplanes, entertainment attrac-
tions, pinball machines, etc. It is open seven
days a week.
Vineyards Cafe & Catering, 32418
Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, (248)
855-9463.This is a many-faceted type of
operation. Nibbles and Nuts at the
Vineyards, and traditional Jewish dishes pre-
pared by Shirlee Bloom, using only kosher
products in her separate kitchen, makes it
much more than lust a cafe and catering
setup. Homemade salads, sandwiches and
entrees are available at booths and tables.
Everything can also be gotten for carry-out
. DINING
GUIDE on page 94