West Bloomfield & Commerce C ould the mix be any more ideal? After all, few places in south- eastern Michigan can boast such a concentration of sparkling lakes, posh residential enclaves, immense shop- ping and dining options, and a plethora of entertainment offerings as the West Bloomfield/Commerce Township area. To be sure, some bemoan the traffic woes and assorted other aches and pains associated with ever-evolving, rapidly growing communities. But overlook the few extra minutes of travel time and the vertigo-inducing signage competing for your attention and you'll relish the discovery of a world of goods and services, and a bounty of res- taurants, that other parts of town can only envy. DINING It's no coincidence that Orchard Lake Road, the backbone of the greater West Bloomfield/Commerce area, is so restau- rant heavy. Indeed, with all of the brows- ing and shopping happening here it's easy to work up a hunger. Look beyond the intrusion of chain restaurants and seek out the locally owned — they've been sating our hunger for years — including such eateries as Stage 4C OCTOBER • 2007 main STRUTS & Co. (6873 Orchard Lake, 248-855-6622), Deli Unique (6724 Orchard Lake, 248- 737 3890), Giorgio's Gourmet Diner (6215 Orchard Lake, 248 737 3636), Larco's Italian Grille (6480 Orchard Lake, 248-626-6969), The Village Place (4170 Orchard Lake, 248-682-3400) and El Nibble Nook (2750 Haggerty, 248-669- 3344). There's also Sunny's Cafe (6680 Orchard Lake, 248-626-3750) — the last word in omelets; its neighbor, the Russian- accented — literally and figuratively Fiddler (6678 Orchard Lake, 248-851- 8782); Yossi's (7325 Orchard Lake, 248- 626-0160), whose menu is a paean to the tastes of Israel and the Mediterranean, the sassy French brasserie Zinc (6745 Orchard Lake, 248-865-0500) and the expansive Sea Grille (6199 Orchard Lake, 248-487- 0326). If breakfast foods suit your mood and lunch and dinner, then pull up a chair at Gest Omelets (39560 W. 14 Mile Rd., 248- 926 0717) or Zoe's House of Pancakes (6339 Orchard Lake, 248-539-4710). Few cities have them, but West Bloomfield is about to get one: the quintessential friendly neighborhood watering hole and casual dining spot. It's called the Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern - - — - - (www.rustybuckettavern.com ) and its first Michigan location opens soon in Crosswinds Mall. It's hardly hyperbole to say that few parts of our vast metro area contain the concentration of sushi restaurants found here. There's Blue Ginger Sushi (6635 Orchard Lake, 248-737-7918), Me' Ne Sushi (6239 Orchard Lake, 248-538-7081), Yotsuba Japanese Cuisine (7365 Orchard Lake, 248-737-8282), Samurai Sushi (4157 Orchard Lake, 248-737-4408) and Samurai Steakhouse (7390 Haggerty, 248-661-8898). Not to be outdone, kabobs and grape leaves, among other Middle Eastern fare, get top billing at Mezza Mediterranean Grille (4189 Orchard Lake, 248-865- 0000), All Baba Grill (4284 Orchard Lake, 248-738-8222) and Falafel House (6540 Orchard Lake, 248-855-6929). Finally, what's regarded as the best res- taurant in greater Detroit, if not the state, and worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as some of the most exqui- site restaurants in the county, is The Lark (6430 Farmington, 248-661-4466). From its subdued setting reminiscent of an elegant southern European country inn, to the impeccably prepared cuisine and precisely selected wine list, The Lark, quite simply, is flawless. SHOPPING With no traditional department store anchor calling either city home, a handful of well-known merchants, particularly on Orchard Lake Road, do an admirable job of filling this role, due in part to their spa- cious stores and breadth of merchandise, among them Tapper's Jewelers (6337 Orchard Lake, 248-932-7715), Bricker Tunis Furs (6335 Orchard Lake, 248- 855-9200) and Sherwood Studios (6644 Orchard Lake, 248-855-1600). Expectant mothers and mothers with kids in tow head to West Bloomfield Plaza for such shops as Buddha Belly (6718 Orchard Lake, 248-855-2688) maternity wear, Baby and Me (6718 Orchard Lake, 248-855-3214), Brody's Boyswear (6690 Orchard Lake, 248-851-6232) featuring special sizes, from slim to husky, and Cinderella's Castle (6702 Orchard Lake, 248-851-0663) specializing in clothing and accessories for young and pre-teen girls, while at Orchard Mall, it's all fun and games at Toys!3 (6389 Orchard Lake, 248- 538-5203). One-off merchants worth checking out include LiP Havana (6690 Orchard Lake, 248-539-0190) for cigar aficiona- dos, Esther's Judaica (6245 Orchard Lake, 248-932-3377), Lamp Shack (6682 Orchard Lake, 248-851-5777), Slade's (6349 Orchard Lake, 248-354-0066) and Tortue Decor (4301 Orchard Lake, 248- 538-7522) for distinctive gifts and home accessories, Ruby's Balm (6917 Orchard Lake, 248-626-7829) for hard-to-find skin-care products and cosmetics and Old Ball Park (39710 W. 14 Mile, 248-669- 6670) where you can pick up memorabilia or this year's hottest jersey celebrating the