RESOLUTION *1
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Go East!
For fine Italian dining, take a ride to Mezzaluna.
T
destination dining restaurants.
here are numerous reasons for rolling out
THE CLOSING OF Grill 173 on NiVoodward,
the or gas buggy and taking a ride to
Royal Oak, after only one year, brings to a
restaurants like this.
close another kosher full-service sit-down
The food ranks among the finest Italian in
restaurant in this region... Someone someday
Michigan ... High standard service by nattily
will find the right formula, as they did years
dressed waitpersons ... Warm elegant ambience ...
ago, and remain open.
etc.
THE NEWLY OPENED Taez Lounge that
We had driven out to hear Sam Locricchio and
recently unbolted the locks at the many-times
Sandra Mandella in the lounge bar on this Friday
locale of local eateries, Orchard Lake Road and
evening and received an additional pleasantness
Danny Raskin
Pontiac Trail, Orchard Lake Village, is a limit-
in the dining room of Mezzaluna Ristorante on
Senior Columnist ed-menu sports bar.
Metro Parkway (16 Mile Road), between Mound
SPEAKING OF SPORTS bars, latest word is
and Van Dyke in Sterling Heights ... Our dinner
that the constantly changing operations site on Orchard
turned out to be a major reason why folks from all points
Lake Road, between 13 and 14 Mile, Farmington Hills, will
of Metro Detroit are regular visitors.
also become one.
The 160-seater co-owned by Zharkov and Dina Palushaj,
NO MORE WORRYING what to do with all the guys
celebrated its five-year anniversary on New Year's Eve ...
and gals who come to have fun at his place ... More room
with a lot of hoopla by attendees for both occasions ...
also to do what he has wanted for years ... Now Marvin
Zharkov was a top server at New York's Valbella
Yagoda at Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum,
Restaurant, where entertainment bigs like Robert Redford,
Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, can concentrate
Mariah Carey, Regis Philbin, etc., came often ... He later
more on those kid parties without fretting where to put all
was the working partner at Pagliaci in Yonkers, N.Y....
the youngsters five years and up ... New machines, too; Ski
Zharkov's partner at Mezzaluna, Nick Gojcaj, owned the
Ball, basketball, baseball, etc., with the youngies getting
movie star "hangout" Ferrante, where Al Pacino and
Robert DeNiro were patrons ... and Joe Pesci was its maitre tickets that come out of the machines and are redeemed
for prizes at a separate counter filled with the amusement
d' ... Pacino was best man at the marriage of Zharkov's sis-
stuff.
ter Valentina, to Luke Gojcaj, son of his partner.
THIRD ANNUAL all-you-can-eat kosher Peking Kafe by
Another in the many small world examples is songster
caterer Jeffrey Rosenberg, Thursday, Jan. 26, at Adat
Sam Locricchio seeing Zharkov's brother, Tom Palushaj,
Shalom Synagogue on Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, will
often these days ... Tom was Sam's landlord when Sam
have limited attendance only ... 625 the first year was too
owned Arriva Restaurant on 12 Mile in Warren.
crowded and 425 just right the second year, so that'll be
Executive Chef Mike Lekocas, one of those types whose
the top line ... Adults $20; under 12, $10; 3 and under no
innovative ways with food preparations are noted stand-
charge ... Reservations (248) 626-5702; walk-ins accepted.
outs, came here from New York to help open Mezzaluna
HAIR STYLIST Terry Shovan, at Clipper's Salon, owned
and has never left.
by Hershal Gross in Southfield's Applegate Square, remem-
Our server, well-groomed and highly efficient Arben
Gjeka, exemplified what has become a lost art in serving ... bers when he was also specializing in men's shag cuts and
long-hair styling while at the former Charterhouse Barbers
from the back and side ... He brought me a delicate sea
... One of his youthful customers who always loved the
bass that veritably melted in the mouth, topped with truf-
long hair look came back and wanted to have it cut ...
fles on a bed of spinach and champagne sauce ... The
Terry tells Hershal that he couldn't believe his ears until
homemade ravioli wrapped around chopped meat and
the lad told him about his girlfriend saying "Daddy doesn't
porcini mushrooms came in an extremely tasty truffle
mind our being alone every night. He thinks you're a girl."
sauce.
IT ISN'T FAIR, say folks like Phyllis Tyner, who have
He is also from New York, serving at the Da-Mario
played golf umpteen years and are still looking for their
Restaurant on First and 60th ... and the former Adam's
first hole-in-one ... Local snowbird to Boynton Beach, Fla.,
Apple that is still open as Decade on 59th and First.
Bob Feldman recently hit his 38th ace since 1952 on the
Comfortable and warm IvIezzaluna, with its white linen
182-yard, 13th hole at the Turnberry Isle Resort.
napkins, while linen tablecloths over burgundy linen, crys-
CONGRATS ... to Helene and Mert Robbins on their
tal chandelier, tables, side booths, etc., is open 7 days ...
47th anniversary ... To Anita and Alan Resnick on their
Monday-Thursday, 11-10; Friday, 11-11; Saturday, 4-11;
third anniversary and Alan on his birthday ... To Julie
Sunday, 1-9 ... The lounge stays open later every day.
Backalar on her 40th birthday ... To Alan Hitsky on his
Prices at Mezzaluna are also quite reasonable ... with
60th birthday.
Chef Lekocas highly adept at preparations like chicken
MAIL DEPT.... "Just picked up a wonderful six-pack of
dishes, $16 and $17; veal, $19 and $21; 14 oz. New York
beer at Hiller's this morning. HE'BREW, the Chosen Beer.
strip steak char-grilled or lightly breaded Siciliano, is $23;
8 oz. filet char-grilled with zip sauce and mushroom cap or Don't you just love it?" ... Bob Moreillon.
lightly-breaded, $27; fish and seafood like salmon, sword-
fish, shrimp, scallops, etc., run from $17 for salmon to $23
Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
for center cut swordfish.
This eastside dining sleeper is certainly an epitome in
❑
MORE
THEATRE
•
Laughter will fill the theatre ... a musical comedy
I LOVE YOU,
YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
Jan. 13 - Feb. 5,'06
A toe-tapping score in a musical spoof
ZOMBIES
FROM THE BEYOND
Feb. 24 - March 12, '06
An award-winning musical score
RAGTIME
May 26 - June 18,'06
Tickets $14 - $18
RAO,
Winner of 2000 Pulitzer for Drama
WITH FRIENDS
DINNER March
31 - Apr. 16, '06
Based on Carol Burnett's memoirs
HOLLYWOOD
ARMS
Apr. 28 - May 7, '06
Tickets S12 - S16
248-541-6430
crafters
YEARS OF THEATRE
415 S. Lafayette Ave.
Royal Oak, MI 48067
A// Seats Reserve()
0:sa & MasterCaro'Acceptea
www.stagecrafters.org
January 5 • 2006
57