Arts & Enterta nme
THE BEST OF EVFRYTH NG
Sea Change
Expanded menu, luncheon hours ensure Sea Grille's success.
I
t takes a smart restaurateur, and
one with longstanding esteem in
the dining game, to recognize that
after opening, some customers were a bit
dissatisfied with their experience ... The
food and service, they felt, was not on the
level expected ... And he, himself, could
recognize that neither element was as he
wanted it to be.
Craig Dilworth, owner of Sea Grille,
Orchard Lake Road, north of 15 Mile, West
Bloomfield, is a 48-year restaurant veteran
... the former director of operations for
all Chuck Muer Restaurants 1979-1989
and before that 10 years heading the
Stouffer's Roof Top restaurants including
Detroit's Top of the Flame ... all prior
to his former Ocean Grille restaurant in
Birmingham.
Sea Grille this year will celebrate its sec-
ond anniversary on a much different note
than when it first opened ... With good
reason, many customers now consider it
one of their favorite restaurants, following
the necessary changes that have vaulted
Sea Grille to its present status among bet-
ter places to dine.
When it opened two years ago, Sea Grille
was strictly a dinner operation ... This
past January, though, saw the addition of
luncheon hours, along with a well-priced
menu selection that includes seven salads,
nine sandwiches, around 12 entrees, etc.
Craig's fine background in the restau-
rant business might have hurt him a bit at
the beginning ... Sea Grille is very high
on numerous lists as an excellent fresh fish
and seafood restaurant ... But it is also
much more, with meat items that many
of the general public may not have been
aware of.
Since opening, Sea Grille has
gone through more than 3,000
pounds of rack of lamb, 2,000
pounds of New York strip steak,
1,500 pounds of flat iron steak,
4,000 pounds of chicken for its
rotisserie roasted and sauteed
breast, 1,500 more pounds of
chicken for pastas, salads, etc.,
2,000 pounds of duckling, etc.
Other than fish, among the
biggest dinner sellers at Sea Grille, are its
slow-roasted duckling ($19.95), excellent
half-chicken, $16.95 and a very popular
oven-roasted rack of lamb ... Beginning
this June, Sea Grille will feature a braised
beef brisket slow-roasted in its own juice
... Cooking five to six hours will virtually
eliminate all excess fat, says Craig.
Fresh fish and seafood orders are
received daily by Sea Grille, from purveyors
who know that Craig's reputation calls for
high-quality assurance ... From day one,
more than 10,000 pounds of fresh whitefish
has been sold ... One of the few holdovers
from Craig's former Ocean Grille is a popu-
lar stuffed whitefish which can also be
gotten broiled or picatta (in lemon sauce)
... Also, 10,000 pounds of salmon, stuffed,
salmon Reuben, poached, etc. ... Sea Grille
is one of the very few places that serves
arctic char, the delicious fish with looks a
cross between a salmon and trout, that is
prepared only on the daily specials list.
The next-door banquet room with a
separate entrance and its own bar, has
been redone into a beautiful area with
added brightness and food cooked to
order by the same executive chef as at the
restaurant, Mark Rochelle
... A popular, good-looking,
small private dining room is
also available.
Craig and wife, Bobbie, are
among the few restaurant
owner-operators with on-the-
premises personal interest, for
both restaurant and banquet
attention ... This is a huge
reason for restaurant success.
The fine Sea Grille wine
list includes selections by bottle and glass
... Every Wednesday at its Wine Pour, about
25 varieties of wine are sold at half-price.
Almost 3,000 pizzas have been sold
since opening ... And since all are made
to order, whatever sane or crazy concoction
people want may possibly be obtained.
It is open seven days, Monday through
Saturday, lunch, 11:30-3, and dinner from
5, with the many requests for Sunday open-
ing also answered to include hours 4-8 now.
Hands-on restaurant ownership is very
important ... Craig and Bonnie Dilworth,
show employees and customers that they
care ... that the owners are working with
them in togetherness.
This and the wonderful food and ser-
vice at Sea Grille is why so many smiles
of pleasure are resulting in a multitude of
returning customers.
BIG PROMOTION has Detroit Tigers
tickets for the 1 p.m. game against World
Champion St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, May
20 ... $75 buys a good seat, dinner after the
game at Forte Restaurant, Old Woodward,
Birmingham, (short ribs, whitefish, roasted
chicken or Forte burger, plus refillable soft
drink or iced tea) and bus to and from
moTHERS DAY BRUNCH
Marketplace Buffet
Sunday 10-3 pm
Over 10 food stations with fabulous food selections of eggs,
omelets, sausage, bacon, gourmet salads, smoked fish, veggies,
cheeses, dips, breads, hot entrées of beef chicken, vegetarian,
fish, decadent desserts, hot chocolate fountain, fresh fruit, cookies
& brownies and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Also featuring carving station of breast
of turkey, beef brisket & poached salmon.
DELI • CAFE • CATERING
Comerica Park ... Call Forte, (248) 594-
7300, or visit the restaurant.
REGARDLESS OF what you may have
heard or read about an early summer
opening, the new Pei Wei, P.F. Chang's
"little brother',' slated to open on 14 Mile
and Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills,
next to Potbelly's, is scheduled to greet
people in September.
FEWER THAN 60 tickets are left ...
Then comes a "Sold Out" sign for the
Michigan biggie fundraiser, Flavors of
Michigan by American Liver Foundation,
Michigan Chapter ... The third annual
event Monday, June 11, at Ritz-Carlton,
Dearborn, is a most unusual and highly
entertaining culinary affair not to be
missed ... 6:30, passed gourmet hors
d'oeuvres, and 7:30, 5-course epicurean
dinner with wine pairings.
Imagine 23 great local chefs who con-
tribute their time, talents and ingredients,
cooking in the center of half-moon tables
of 10 and answering questions thrown at
them by happy diners.
Check to see if any ducats are left, call
Suzanne Gilson, (248) 561-0777 ... All
the proceeds go to fight liver diseases in
Michigan, where over 170,000 are affected
and almost 400 await life-saving liver
transplants.
CONGRATS ... To Pam Shriman on her
birthday ... To Frances Sonne on her 89th
birthday ... To Dr. Richard Stoler on his
60th birthday ... To Dr. Sam Talmer on his
birthday ... To Dr. Sam and Ruth Talmer
on their 37th anniversary. II
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
BLOOM'S DAIRY &
FISH TRAYS to go
Free Seven-Layer & Coffee Cake
with Every Mother's Day Tray
*Please Order Early*
1495 per person
(kids S & under FREE)
FREE CHOCOLATE
STRAWBERRY ROSE FOR
EVERY MOTHER!
32418 Northwestern Hwy. • between Midd
May 10 • 2007
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