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• Homemade Soups
& Salads
• Coney Specials
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& Dinner Specials
• Homemade Sandwiches

Opa!, Pegasus!

A Greektown fixture has become legendary.

A

Visa 0144 Ceitttenieni .2acaliemets

Ann Arbor

Farmington Hills

1235 S. University

Birmingham

154 S. Woodward Ave.

6527 Telegraph Rd.

Pontiac

37580 W. 12. Mile Rd.
(Halsted Village)

3999 Center Point Parkway

Livonia

Main Street
Downtown Royal Oak

Livonia

13 Mile Rd. & Woodward Ave.
Northwood Plaza

Laurel Park Mall
(37622 6 Mile Rd.)

Bloomfield Twp.

Royal Oak

Royal Oak

Brighton

Millennium Park
(Middlebelt & 1-96)

Canton

Milford
512 N. Main

Southfield
15647 W. 9 Mile
at Greenfield Rd.

Commerce

New Hudson

Taylor

Commerce & Carrol Lk. Rd.

30422 Milford Rd.
Lyon Crossing

Dearborn Heights
26540 Ford Rd.
(The Heights Plaza)

Novi
47830 Grand River Ave.
(Grand River & Beck Rd.)

4763 Haggerty Rd.
(Pontiac Trail &
Haggerty Rd.)

8280 Moviedrive
in Brighton Square

1735 Canton Center Rd.

Detroit

Comerica Park Stadium

Farmington Hills

9845 Telegraph Rd.

West Bloomfield

Plymouth

15131 Sheldon Rd.
(Sheldon at 5 Mile Rd.)

30985 Orchard Lake Rd.
(between 13 & .14 Mile Rd.)

Hercules Family Restaurant

33292 W. 12. Mile Rd. • Farmington Hills

P

I

1

1
1

a.

% TOTAL BILL
OFF With This Coupon

Expires 12/31/04. Not good with any other offers.

J

THE ORIGINAL

RESTAURANT

VOTED BEST GREEK RESTAURANT

BY METRO DETROIT!

• PRIVATE PARTIES FOR 55 IN OUR DINING ROOM

• PARTY TRAYS

•ALL MENU ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR CARRY OUT
• GREEK & AMERICAN CUISINE

•CHEF'S SPECIALS DAILY

• FULL BAR

12/ 3
2004

66

4301 Orchard Lake Road • West Bloomfield • Crosswinds Plaza

248-538-6000

FAX:248-538-0932

decorating tone.
fter German immi-
After arriving on local
grants developed it as
shores in 1968 and working
a residential commu-
as a painter, Jim got his first
nity in the early 1800s, and
job
in Greektown as a wait-
began to move out of the
er at Hellas on Monroe ...
neighborhood into areas fur-
It was then owned by Gus
ther away, newly arrived
Anton and another Jim
Greek immigrants moved in
Pappas (spelled with a dou-
and established businesses.
DANNY
ble P).
By the 1920s, Greektown
RASKIN
Jim even had a deli-
in downtown Detroit was
Senior
catessen
in 1975, called the
primarily commercial ...
Columnist
Pickle Barrel, on Cadillac
Most of the Greek immi-
Square and Bates in
grants moved out, but not
Detroit, which he sold in 1980 ...
their restaurants, coffee houses, bak-
and, in 1981, opened Pegasus with
eries, etc.
Ted Gatzaros ... Jim and Ted went on
Since then, Greektown Detroit has
to also open Fishbone's and Athenium
become noted from coast to coast ...
Hotel ... Today, Ted has Fishbone's
But one question has never been
and
Jim owns Pegasus in an agree-
answered in the majority:
Which is the best among its numer- ment to divide the ownerships.
Together, they still own the
ous restaurants? ... It will probably
Athenium Hotel and the Shore
never be answered by an overwhelm-
Apartments on East Jefferson and
ing margin.
Nine Mile in St. Clair Shores.
Greektown certainly has had many
Then came the biggie ... of which
standouts ... with another of them
both
Jim and Ted received much
today gaining huge popularity.
acclaim
... the planning of Greektown
Pegasus Taverna, celebrating its
Casino since 1996, and opening and
23rd anniversary year since opening
selling it in 2000.
in May 1981, seats about 300 in two
Pegasus is a seven-days-a-week
rooms with a keyword of authenticity.
restaurant ... Sunday to Thursday, 11
Owner Jim Papas estimates that in
a.m.-1 a.m.;
the 23 years, 10
Friday and
million people
Saturday,
11 a.m.-
have been to
3 a.m. ... serving
Pegasus Taverna
seldom-seen-else-
on Monroe in
where dishes as
downtown
well as traditional
Detroit.
favorites.
Where flames
Appetizers like
constantly flicker
roasted
hot pep-
all over the restau-
pers
stuffed
with
rant under the
feta cheese or
simulated vine
charbroiled octo-
leaves intertwined
pus with oregano
among ceiling trel-
Jim Papas, owner of Pegasus Taverna
and white vinegar
lises and servers
in Greektown.
with a delicious
yell "Opa!" ...
taste unlike the
almost four mil-
expected ...
lion saganaki
Pegasus
does
a
big
job
with broiled
orders have been lit ... Pegasus' best-
white fish plus three additional fish
seller lamb chops include 3.6 million
choices on the weekends ...
orders.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the
The picturesque old world interior
excellent dish of salmon and feta
decor has not changed since Pegasus
cheese and spinach in filo dough
opened in 1981 ... Same rustic look,
topped with a wine sauce.
brick walls, brass railings as the bur-
Jim's chef, Savas Kyriakou, has been
gundy linen napkins set off a fine
there since it opened ... coming from