Arts & Entertainment BEST OF EVERYTHING Better Make A Reservation Cozy Elio's Bistro will thrill you with traditional Detroit favorites. y ears back, when Benno Steinborn had his Benno's bistro in Indian Village, dinner reserva- tions were required even if there Nve re nobody in the restaurant ... Just a strange quirk of his. Today, another dining spot takes dinner reservations only ... But through necessity since very limited seating makes it an essential need. Capacity is only about 38 at the little Elio's Bistro on Orchard Lake Road, just south of 13 Mile, Farmington Hills, and so the dinner reservation policy. Owner-Executive Chef Elio Petrovich is no stranger to many who are thrilled to be able to get food like the places of yes- teryears at which he worked ... Joe Muer's on Gratiot, Lelli's on Woodward, London Chop House on Congress and Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion ... At the last one, Elio was its exec- utive chef from 1985 to 1995. Just give Elio a day's notice, and, if he has the ingredients in house, he'll make you the stuffed flounder, sauteed perch, whitefish, poached salmon or creamed spinach and stewed tomatoes, enjoyed at Joe Muer's; the filet and zip sauce, pasta and veal dishes as at Lelli's on Woodward; the Dover sole or other favorites while with Milos Cihelka at London Chop House, etc. There's nothing fancy about Elio's Bistro, and the food con- 454ettee sell, sauteed with wild centrates solely on mushrooms, flambeed two important fac- with cherry wine and tors, excellent taste served over fettuccine, and low prices ... $16.95 ... Poultry Elio is from the old favorites are his school of cooking, Chicken Delight, bone- where flavor was so less breast sauteed much more impor- with portabello mush- tant than good rooms and fresh spin- looks ... Not that ach and topped with his presentations shrimp, $13.95; and aren't colorful, but Traverse City Chicken, boneless having tongue-tingling along breast sauteed and flambeed with good appearance is of with cherry brandy, $12.95. much significance to him. Elio's choice meat selections It is a huge added plus when are much desired, too ... Like a restaurant's executive chef is the six-ounce petite filet, $18.95; also an owner ... Pride seldom goes much higher than that of a- char-grilled Delmonico steak, $17.95; and grilled tenderloin good chef whose kitchen talents tips sauteed with onions, mush- are his or her hallmark ... And rooms and peppers, $14.95. even higher when every dish Presenting his preparations prepared bears their signature as only an "old school" advocate as an owner too. can do may make Elio Petrovich Elio's Bistro is a six-day oper- seem old-fashioned, too ... ation, open Monday-Saturday, But at his little Elio's Bistro it is 11-9; closed Sunday ...The certainly a trademark that will menu is the same lunch and dinner, but customers can easily never go out of style. This October will be the first tell what to order at either time ... Other than the daily specials, year since Elio's Bistro opened its doors, and the sleeper image lunch features five salads, five has given way to a fine dining gourmet pizzas, 11 sandwiches, awakening. six pastas, four poultry choices, IT WAS ALMOST inevi- three fish dishes along with table that Peter Bershaj, for- signature presentations, three mer owner of Gateway Deli steaks and three veal dishes. Entrees include soup or.house in Southfield and Sky Deli in salad, vegetable, daily starch and Farmington Hills, would resur- face locally in returning to the bread basket. restaurant business ... He is Best pasta seller is the sea- owner of the 70-seat Gateway food pasta with large gulf Deli on the corner of Livernois shrimp, scallops, crab and mus- Ve~a.V Jewish Cuisine and Big Beaver, Columbia Center, Troy ... When Peter sold Gateway Deli in Southfield, he says it was with permission to use the name ... In October, Peter plans to open the Sips Sports Bar & Restaurant on Grand River, east of Middlebelt, Farmington Hills ... This November, he intends to open another Gateway Deli on Fort and Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit. READER REVIEW ... "The Bonfire Bistro & Brewery in Northville, has great food and staff. Most importantly to our family, Chef Will Armstead is also trained in food-allergy-safe cooking. Our son, Jacob, is aller- gic to tree nuts, peanuts, mango, wintergreen and shea nuts, and it is the only upscale restaurant where he can eat and enjoy himself." ... Sharon and Martin McGladdery, Farmington Hills. MAIL DEPT. ... "I left Detroit to live in Florida and am thrilled to be back home again and working in the same loca- tion as one of my favorite res- taurants. I am again manicuring at Anna's Barbers in Simsbury Plaza, 14 Mile and Farmington Road, in the same area as Sposita's restaurant. I have with found a place anywhere with Italian food and complete din- Russi ners like Sposita's." Arden. ERRATA, TYPO, ETC. Dept. ... There were four Egg & I restau- rants ... Abe Duke was a part- . A la Carte & Full Dinners • Holiday Trays Shipped Nationwide NibblesandNuts.co to 32418 Northwestern Hwy. Farmington Hills, MI 248 855-9463 ner in the one on Woodward, Royal Oak ... Owners in all four were Al and wife, Tess Burg, and their nephew Sol Burg. IT'S BACK TO its origi- nal site, Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, after last year's one-timer at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills ... for the 22nd annual Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame dinner. Date is Monday, Nov. 6, inducting Mathieu Schneider, Red Wing defenseman and National Hockey League's all- time Jewish scorer ... Also entering the Hall will be the late Bert Ruby, local wrestler; community-ite Larry Stark (tennis); and Marianne Ring Caplan (tennis), daughter of Milt and Eunice Ring ... Retired Pittsburgh Steeler and last season's Super Bowl star Jerome Bettis will accept the Alvin Foon Humanitarian Award. For tickets call Elayne Wolfson, director of community relations, (248) 788-0921. CONGRATS ... To Jerry Simons on his 80th birthday ... To Bea Schwartz on her birth- day. GET WELL WISHES ... To Sandy Levine ... To Blanche Duke ... To Sy Raskin on his 78th birthday. Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. We use only the finest and freshest Kosher products in our preparation and cooking. • Holiday wines available. See Ida Nemzine. • Carryout and catering online www.VineyardDeli.com September 21 • 2006 131