ri

BEST OF EVERYTHING

Brasserie A Big Hit

Zinc adds its own twist to Redcoat's recipe for success.

W

ell before it finally opened,
speculation was high as to
what kind of restaurant would
replace the one that had closed.
Surely, thought many, the new owners
having tasted huge success at another of
their dining spots would also follow this
avenue ... That their current highly popu-
lar Royal Oak restaurant would be opening
a second location.
But owners Mark and Matt Brown
had other ideas much farther in another
direction ... And so, after about two years
of outside guesswork, Zinc Brasserie &
Wine Bar finally opened its doors on
Orchard Lake Road, south of 15 Mile, West
Bloomfield.
Now celebrating its second anniversary,
Zinc opened on Feb. 13, 2004, for lunch
and dinner, serving food with a French
theme at moderate prices.
Their 35-year-old operation on
Woodward, Redcoat Tavern, had achieved
many high marks for its continuous flow
of customers who branded the hamburg-
ers as among Michigan's best.
Well-traveled Mark and Matt had fallen
in love with the brasseries they visited in
Belgium and France ... and came back
determined to open one with everyday
food in an informal but upscale atmo-
sphere and affordable prices.
The wine-loving brothers even felt that
vino prices elsewhere were too much
out of reach and wanted a somewhere to
rectify this with heavy emphasis on good
wines at reasonable cost.
In its first month, about 12,000 custom-
ers entered the new Zinc Brasserie's door
... Its two-year consistency has surpassed
that number, with now over 15,000 the
monthly count.
Although certainly nowhere near like

its Redcoat Tavern sister, Zinc had its own
Brasserie cheeseburger with burnt onions,
baby greens, tomato and sauce ... it was
$8 then and still is as a Brasserie ham-
burger with Gruyere cheese, caramelized
onions, Romaine, tomato and Dijon mus-
tard ... At lunch there are three burgers
(Brasserie, Redcoat and Cheval), dinner
has two (Brasserie and Redcoat).
Not on the menu, lunch or dinner, is
the big favorite, chopped sirloin with
potatoes and vegetable, $14 ($2 extra
for Piedmontese beef) ... The fine staff
is headed by restaurant veterans whose
every move are complements to a finely-
run dining operation ... Juan Garcin, cor-
porate manager at both Zinc and Redcoat,
spends most of his time at Zinc, and with
maitre d'/manager Zoran Smolcic, com-
bine to add much quality.
In the kitchen, Executive Chef Louai
Sharkas, among the more highly accom-
plished chefs around, has turned a major
challenge into a remarkably wonderful job.
Juan is at Zinc after being maitre d' at
Opus One and manager at 220 Merrill ...
Zoran is known by many for his grace
and knowledge while at Rugby Grill in the
Townsend Hotel.
Seating at Zinc is 135 in the dining room,
with dark mahogany wood walls, tables,
chairs, floor and gracious appointments
in a warm decor styled by Mark and Matt
... The bar-lounge with 25 seats, including
seven two-top tables and zinc-styled cop-
per-top bar counter, is a warm favorite.
Hours are Monday-Saturday, lunch and
dinner, 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. kitchen, and
until 2 a.m. bar.
Daily dinner features, Monday, coq
au vin, $14; Tuesday, Cassoulet, $16;
Wednesday, Basque-style fish, $25;
Thursday, Bouillabaisse, $28; Friday,

Monday, June 12, in Ritz-
braised shortribs, $18; Saturday,
Carlton, Dearborn's Presidential
Paella, $28; can also, all but
Ballroom ... Call Suzanne
Cassoulet, Basque-style fish and
Wolfe Gilson, (248) 489-5400.
shortribs, be ordered any other
BEST SHOW DEAL in Las
day.
Vegas, says entertainment bro-
Salads are big at lunch but
ker Joel Schwartz of Southfield's
among other good values are the
Big Time Worldwide Concert
Zinc's mini baguette sandwiches
and Sports Club, is amazing
with soup or salad or fries, $6
Danny Raskin
comedian George Wallace at
or $7 ... A new daily favorite is
Senior Columnist the Flamingo Hotel & Casino
the 10-ounce filet with potato,
on the L.V. strip ... $50 for 90-
spinach casserole and roasted
minutes or more of side-splitting humor
tomato, $28.
Zinc Brasserie took a while before open- by the master of timing.
CONGRATS ... To Don Rudick on
ing two years ago, but has proven much
his 60th birthday ... and to his son, Andy,
worth the patience.
on his 31st birthday the same day ... To
PROCEEDS FROM THE 10th
Pamella Shriman on her birthday ... To
Anniversary celebration by upscale
Terri and Michael Himelson on their 29th
Tribute restaurant, 12 Mile, west of
anniversary ... To Mae and Milton Bell on
Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills,
their 65th anniversary
Monday, June 5, will go to Women's
MOTHER'S DAY is the most popu-
Survival Center in Pontiac ... Only 300
lar holiday for dining out, according to
will be allowed to attend, with the mini-
the National Restaurant Association,
mal $50 charge including passed hors
and few are bigger than Bavarian Inn,
d'oeuvres, food stations and wine ... Call
Frankenmuth ... It expects to serve 4,000
Tribute, (248) 848-9393.
dinners, May 14.
WHILE RECENTLY appearing here,
MAIL DEPT. ... "We made a
magician-illusionist David Copperfield
great
move when deciding to retire to
made his regular visit to see friend
Hendersonville,
N.C. We have a nice-size
Marvin Yagoda at Marvin's Marvelous
temple,
made
many
friends, love the
Mechanical Museum on Orchard Lake
weather
and
belong
to
the 'Michigan Club'
Road, Farmington Hills ... and enter-
of
over
220
former
Michiganian
members.
tained Marvin's guests with astounding
"There
are
two
things
that
mouth-openers he is incorporating into
Hendersonville lacks. Good bagels and a
his Las Vegas act.
real deli. Maybe some of your readers are
LITTLE WONDER that the event
looking
to make a retirement move. We
is over 90 percent sold out, what with
recommend
this area. My e-mail address
its astounding chef lineup ... About 22
" Syd and
is
sydneyharris@msn.com
high-ranking restaurant kitchen chow
Roz
Harris,
former
Oak
Parkers.
magicians will present their excellent
wares at the charity reception and din-
Danny's e-mail address is
ner,"Flavors of Michigan:' by American
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net
Liver Foundation, Michigan Chapter,

Italian Grill

Home of the
Eggstra Big Breakfast

HAPPY HOUR 4-7

Three eggs any style with
choice of sausage links, bacon
or ham with toast and jelly
Mon thru Fri
Only $2.99 5am-11am only

MONDAY - FRIDAY

in our friendly bar & lounge

1/2 OFF drinks-
pasta & burgers

• CERTIFICATE

This certificate entities bearer to: Redeemable at both locations.
$1000 off with minimum purchase of 40 00 (exciuding tax, tip &
alcoholic beverages). Maximum discount $10 00. Offer not valid
on Holidays and subject to Rules of Use Tipping should be 15%
to 20% of the total bill before discount. Offer expires 6/18/06.

Banquet Facility & Outsi•e Catering Avai a• e

• Dine-in or Carry-out

FAMILY RESTAURANT

• Senior Citizen Discount 10%

No Senior Citizen Discount with any daily specials

26200 W. 12 Mile Rd. • Southfield • 248-353-3232

Some c6aste the Virence!

7arco's restaurants -jamtfy ozoneago . r over 50 years.

1

6480 Orchard Lake Rd. I West Bloomfield 1248-626-6969

iN

May 4 e 2006

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