Arts & Entertainment BEST OF EVERYTHING Trash The Tuxes! Mario's Italian Grill in Troy opts for informality, family pricing. I t is not out of the ordinary by any means ... Opening a restaurant and discovering that the intended concept was a mistake ... Many restaurateurs around the country sometimes realize it too late, with the end result being forced to close because of losses incurred through their wrong step. The lucky restaurateur will realize it' n time to make necessary changes ... And be wise enough to bury self-pride, take the financial licking it may have imposed and go to something that hopefully will work. This is the case with the formerly titled Cafe Mario's of Troy ... Its new name of Mario's Italian Grill, John R, just south of 15 Mile, Troy, has gone in another direction without looking back. No more tuxedoed server uniforms with bows and vests ... The more casual look is of polo shirts and black pants ... A more streamlined, same lunch and dinner menu, has done away with out-of-budget prices with many of the favorite items retained at more within-reach cost ... Like the signa- ture filet with zip sauce; complete meal at dinner is $21 ... At Mario's of Detroit, it is $29 ... In Troy, a 6-ounce filet can now also be gotten for $15.95 ... The five veal dishes are all $15.95, and four chicken orders, $13.95 ... With complete dinner (soup, salad, entree, potato, vegetable, pasta, add $5) at Mario's Detroit, the veal dishes are $26. Being more of a family oriented spot now, with informality more the motif, a Monday night special is featured of all-you-can eat pasta and pizza, $9.95 adults, youngsters 12 and under, $6.95 ... Also a half-pound Black Angus hamburger and beer on Saturdays, lunch and dinner, LOOKS LIKE A lot of moms $4.95. and dads won't have to be con- A daily all-you-can-eat, cerned with gas costs to amuse made-to-order pasta bar has the kids ... No more traveling to been added ... with prices Canton for their fun time at Jungle ranging from $6.95 to $8.95 ... Java ... Second one will come After selecting your pasta, it is this fall to the northwest on 12 brought to you at the table ... Mile and Middlebelt, Farmington An important thing at lunch, Hills ... The former Merchamnt particularly when time may be of Vino spot in Merchant's Danny Raskin of the essence, is folks served Senior Columnist Marketplace will be divided for and able to be out in half-an- the youngsters' entertainment hour. while their parents relax. Inside seating is about 150, with another WHERE TO GO FOR lunch will now 150 on the popular well-appointed outdoor be like a smorgasbord decision for urol- patio ... Hours are seven days, Monday- ogy doc Scott Sircus and his staff ... After Thursday, 11-10; Friday, 11-midnight; years on 12 Mile, between Greenfield and Saturday, noon-midnight; Sunday 1-10. Southfield, Southfield, where his favorites And, of course; the one-pound lobster included Sweet Lorraine's and Beverly Hills for $11.95 is still every Tuesday at both the Grill, Dr. Sircus has moved his offices to the Mario's Italian Grill in Troy and Mario's Beaumont Medical Center, Orchard Lake Detroit. Road, south of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield ... Informality, more features of family inter- You can imagine the staff's many smiles est and lower prices may be the key that with their new location smack dab in the owner Vince Passalaqua has been, searching middle of Michigan's most populated res- for to gain success at the Troy location. taurant area. FORMER LOCALE of Angelo's Bistro ALTHOUGH ALREADY taken over in Sugar Tree, Orchard Lake Road north by new owners, Caffe Milano, Northwestern of 15, has been completely gutted and will at Franklin and 12 Mile, Southfield (former open as Noor, a Middle-Eastern bakery and Excalibur), won't unveil its more varied and market ... To my recollection, it will be the lower-priced menu until the liquor license is first non-restaurant in that space. officially transferred in October and the name NO MORE RE OPENINGS or leasing formally changed to Pi ... Until then, free bev- to another restaurant by the previous owner erage will come with all pizza, pasta, chicken, of its former Orchard Lake Road, Farmington veal or fish dishes at lunch ... Fish and meats Hills, location ... Tirami-Su is closed again, will include a salad at no charge as well. but this time the building and land have been HE HAD ALWAYS expressed a strong sold lock, stock and barrel ... New tenant will desire to some day sing at a Detroit Tigers be Taco Bell and/or a subsidiary. baseball game, but never expected that - it would one day also be with Hollywood superstars Tom Hanks and Ron Howard, among over 41,000 screeching fans at Comerica Park. After Eugene Zweig made his wish years ago, local ad son, Marshall Zweig, had him record the national anthem at a local record- ing studio ... Marshall forgot about the disc before mentioning it to a client, who sent the recording to the Tigers' office and Eugene was given his wish. He has been a member of the Congregation Shaarey Zedek choir and choir conductor over 20 years ... plus being a cantorial soloist at other temples and synagogues. No, Eugene wasn't auditioning for Hanks or Howard, here on tour, but wife Barbara says his singing might have helped in beat- ing the Chicago White Sox. REUNION DEPT. ... Togetherness by Oak Park High grads will be a combined one for both the 1965 and 1966 graduating classes ... Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Westin Hotel, Southfield ... Contact Linda Ketterer at (248) 661-0193, or e-mail her at lkett24@hotmail.com . CONGRATS . . To Lou Grant on his 80th birthday ... To Sol and Shoshana Winkler on their 60th anniversary ... To Kim Botsford on her 50th birthday, cel- ebrated with table for five at Pepino's To Dr. Michael and Marilyn Kent on their 35th anniversary ... To Philip Reggio on his birthday ... To Craig Stoller on his birthday ... To Michael Freud on his birthday. Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. • Restaurant THE GALLERY RESTAURANT Italian Cuisine 248.476.0044 Enjoy gracious dining amid a beautiful atmosphere of casual elegance For the month of July, take an additional 10% Off your entire bill if your name is BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER OPEN 7 DAYS: MON.- SAT. 7 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. SUN. 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. Bloomfield Plaza • 6638 Telegraph Road and Maple • 248-851-0313 Carla not valid with any other offer 141950 "Any Event" Catering • Banquet Room Available Buy any dinner entree and receive f,00 off / 0 off the second dinner entree 4700 Salads, pizza, sandwiches and ribs for 2 excluded. One coupon per table Expires: 8/31/06 Farmington Hills • Corner of Grand River & Haggerty Road Auburn Hills • 1 1/2 miles south of the Palace of Auburn Hills 1136730 August 3 • 2006 51