The Best Of Everything
Don Vargo's Latest
Food at informal Longshots Bar 6- Grill
is good and affordable.
*for
NEW YEAR'S EVE
featuring
0,
Sonny Turner
Syr
and
THE PLATTERS
OPEN BAR!
GOURMET DINNER!
DANCING!
FAVORS! sp5perN-
4
4, person
AUBURN HILLS
Letti's of Auburn Hills, 885 Opdyke
by at Vargo's and 1940 Chop House.
ri.9 resemblance to two of his
But there is a delicious 16-ounce
former restaurants is not only
choice New York strip steak with baked
very improbable ... but, in
potato and Caesar salad (or plain salad)
fact, absolutely non-existent.
.... for only $10 ... And Surf and Turf,
You won't find any bottles of 1929
lamb chops or steak with lobster tail or
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild wine ...
salmon, baked potato and
Or a $15,000 bottle of 1870
Caesar salad ... for just $12.
Chateau Lafitte-Rothschild ...
Not on the menu but avail-
Or a splendid wine cellar with
able on the six days that
about 10,000 bottles of rare
Longshots is open ...
burgundies and Bordeaux
Monday-Saturday, 11:30 to 2
vinos such as Don Vargo had
p.m. ... with its kitchen open
at his Vargo's on West
until 10 p.m. ... is Cajun
McNichols in Detroit from
chicken Caesar salad, salmon
1970 to 1980.
Caesar salad, stir-fried Cajun
There's no lavish display of
DAN NY
shrimp Caesar salad, crab
cognacs like at his 1940 Chop
RAS KIN
cakes, boneless and skinless
House on East Jefferson, from
Local Columnist breast of chicken, lemon
1985 to 1992.
chicken, and a lot more ... at
Don't even look for white
prices you won't believe ...
tablecloths or linen napkins
Double-baked potato, asparagus
... You won't find any.
hearts, garlic toast, too.
What you will find, though, is a lot
Even wines like a fine Merlot or
of good food ... at low prices that will
Chardonnay are only $3.50 a six-ounce
absolutely amaze you ... at Vargo's
glass ... Not $6.50 or more for a five-
clean Longshots Bar & Grill on Grand
ounce pour that one may get elsewhere.
River, a couple of blocks east of
Vargo's sat 300 people ... many who
Inkster, in Redford.
came from all over because of Don's very
Seating is for 130 on two levels ...
extensive wine list ... and because it was
90 in the main dining room, 20 at the
the "in" place of those days.
bar, 20 in the poolroom with three
There are no booths at Longshots
billiard tables ... It's a fun place, too,
with red-crumbled velvet or Austrian
with three dart machines and a golf
valances like at Vargo's ... But the
machine.
same grade of food ... and same
There is no Billy Rose
prices as 1974.
Quartet like at Vargo's for
There are crab cakes
four years ... and at the
with fresh garlic toast and
1940 Chop House over
Caesar salad, $9 ...
three years ... Don
Broiled salmon with
does have karaoke on
baked potato and
Tuesdays and danc-
Caesar salad, S7 ...
ing to a deejay
Broiled lamb chops
Wednesdays through
with baked potato
Saturdays.
and Caesar salad, $10.
There's no waiting
Don's 1940 Chop
... yet ... on Saturday
House
was the only
nights, like days gone
A
RESERVATIONS
NOW TAKE
Y
Restaurateur
Don Vargo
Road,Auburn Hills, (248) 373-4440. The
second of Lelli's traditionally fine Italian
ristorantes is located across from the
Pontiac Silverdome. Besides elegant sur-
roundings, 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)
548-3650.There is nothing like a consis-
tently 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
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Steve's Deli, 6646 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Hills, (248) 932-0800. Award-
winning chicken soup is featured. Also
serving corned beef, fresh roasted turkey,
sandwiches, 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
Bangkok Sala Cafe, 27903 Orchard
Lake Road, Orchard-I 2 Plaza, Farmington
Hills, (248) 553-4220.Tropical and tradi-
tional Thai dishes are served from the
over-50 items of freshly prepared lunch
and dinner dishes. including vegetarian
and children favorites. Open seven days a
week for dine in and carry-out.
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 spe-
cialty 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's Marvelous Mechanical
Museum, 31005 Orchard Lake Road,
Farmington Hills, (248) 626-5020. One
magazine 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, nos-
DINING GUIDE on page 104
11/3
2000
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