The Best Of Everything

ITALIA

I ShouToont

JOAN RIVE

*Fri. & Sat.*
March 15 & 16

In an encore engagement
following her sell-out of
both shows last year.

Taste Of The Sea

The fishing's fine at Fran O'Brien in Auburn Hills.

the restaurant name, you know imme-
ince the world's first restau-
diately that this is most certainly an
rant opened its doors, sup-
all-out server of good things from the
posedly back around 1760 in
waters ... with its tugboat ropes, coral-
Paris, there have been slews
covered pins, fishing netting and so
of unsung dining operations to satisfy
much more ... Customers themselves
the taste pangs of a mouth-watered
have
added to the nautical scene with
public.
artifacts brought back with
Restaurants like Fran
them and given to Dan ...
O'Brien's Maryland
Such as the sunset scene
Crabhouse, sitting in a strip
painted on a piece of drift-
shopping center on Opdyke
wood, mounted fish stuffed
Road, between South
in 1926, a sand sculpture on
Boulevard and Auburn in
a
frame, seashells, etc.
Auburn Hills ... soothing
The Auburn Hills location
many palates with its sea-
has always been the site of a
farin' offerings.
restaurant ... originally
In its over 11 years of exis-
DAN NY
Purple Pickle in 1969, then
tence ... not necessarily con-
RAS KIN
Franco's, Maxie's, Robber
sidered a sign of extreme
Local Columnist Baron ... and now its most
longevity when you consider
successful operation.
the over 50 years of places
A
big
difference
since Dan was
like Roma, Lelli's, Mario's etc. ... but
manager
at
a
Shield's
Pizza over 11
enough to take away the stigma of
years
ago
...
Today
he
is "Mr.
here-today, gone-tomorrow restaurants
Everything" for himself ...
that come and leave the scene in short
Maintenance man, bookkeeper,
existence.
kitchen manager and service bartender
But over 11 years of lasting survival
on the weekends ... Special items not
proved what Dan Dunsky and his for-
on the menu are made by him ... as
mer partner who he bought out three
are
the cheesecake, rice pudding,
years ago, Al Werthman, believed ...
creme
brulee, etc.
That regardless of where it opened, a
place like Fran O'Brien's
Maryland Crabhouse
would bring in the peo-
ple.
Auburn Hills, 11
years ago, was not the
thriving community it
is today ... When Fran
O'Brien's opened, for
example, there were
only two hotels within a
radius of six miles ...
Now there are 14 in
that same span.
Since its beginning,
an estimated over
700,000 customers have
come into the Fran
O'Brien's that seats only
80 people ... In that
time, about 81,000 crab
cakes have been sold,
42,000 pounds of fresh
fish ... 110,000 pounds
of redskin potatoes ...
250,000 clams, etc.
Without looking at
Dan and Jennifer Dunsky

S

GARY

Thurs. & Fri.
May 16 & 17

Singing Their Greatest Hits
In "A Night of Solid Gold"

Alk

VP

3/15

2002

86

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dein ity Showa omit

=,-

7096 East Fourteen Mile Road

(Between Mound &Van Dyke)

(810) 268-3200

11001,01101114110

Df

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Szechuan Gourmet, 395 I
Telegraph Road, Bloomfield

Township, (248) 988-9333. Much

pride is taken in the extensive

menu offered by this carry-out-

only restaurant. All items from

appetizers to soups to beef to

poultry, lo and chow mein, sweet

& sour dishes, noodles, combina-

tion plates, etc. are listed for
fresh carry-out.

Steve's Deli, 6646 Telegraph Road,

Bloomfield Hills, (248) 932-0800.

Award-winning chicken soup is fea-

tured.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, 27903 Orchard

Lake Rd., Farmington Hills, (248)

553.4220. Noted for making its

own traditional That cookies and

own style of fried rice, it is a con-

sistent restaurant with exclusive

Thai specialties among the

authentic servings.

Hong Hua, 27925 Orchard Lake

Rd., Farmington Hills, (248) 489-

2280.True Hong Kong autenticity

is in the dishes not seen any-

where else. A bit more expen-

sive than other Chinese restau-

rants, but a lot of value that

makes the price difference worth
it with exciting preparations of

rare dishes and many not seen

elsewhere.

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

DINING GUIDE

on page 90