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Sweet Times

George's Honey Tree is a bigger hit than the original.

T

here's little denying that so many
times things seem to happen for
the best ... In at least one case, it
has happened with a resounding welcome
of success.
When the mall bosses did not renew the
leases of Honey Tree and Anita's Kitchen
restaurants at their previous location in
Farmington Hills to make room for a large
restaurant chain, Honey Tree was forced to
relocate elsewhere or call it quits.
Owner George Lukaj put his faith in old
and new customer loyalty by vowing that
his new place would be large enough to
accommodate George's former overflow
of patrons ... He also altered the name
and menu, and it has been going gung-ho
ever since.
Celebrating its third anniversary,
George's Honey Tree on Northwestern
Highway between 14 Mile and Orchard
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, is today
almost three times as large, going from
2,700 to 6,700 square feet, and seating
184 as compared to its former 98 capacity
in Farmington Hills ... Included are two
private 35-person capacity rooms with
open seating or for use if needed for small
functions.
The former Honey Tree name some-
what stymied George in his desire for
total freedom in the ability to add numer-
ous menu items ... This problem was
solved in the resulting addition of his first
name for the presence of an independent
autonomy ... Its end result is a menu that
has doubled in size and content, oozing of
Greek and American items with smatter-
ings of foods from other world locales and
low prices to ease many pocket books.
The three-year anniversary of George's

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Honey Tree has brought resound-
ing success as it puts neigh-
borhood family dining in an
elite class of low cost and high
quality ... Since Feb. 7, 2005,
George's staff has served more
than 875,000 people with around
170,000 pounds of chicken,
upwards of 17,000 pounds of
salmon, 33,000 or so pounds of
lamb, etc.
Biggest seller remains the
Greek salad with chicken, but immense
pride is taken in the preparation of
lamb, veal, steaks, seafood, etc., at dif-
ficult to believe prices ... And another
source of food preparatory satisfaction is
something that George never had before
at his former Honey Tree restaurant in
Farmington Hills ... Black Angus meats
for his 14-ounce rib-eye steak, $11.95;
14-ounce New York strip, $12.95; sizzling
Cowboy Steak feature about three times a
week, $12.95, etc. ... There are also two
or three specials every day (beef tender-
loin, stuffed filet, steak Siciliano, parme-
san-encrusted whitefish, etc.), another
thing George never had at the previous
locale ... Dinners include soup or salad,
vegetable and potato or rice.
The menu is large and extremely var-
ied, but does not include items that can
also be ordered without suggestive sight
... Like barbecued salmon, $11.95; tila-
pia, $9.95; shrimp scampi, $11.95; short
ribs, $9.95; even the great Greek favorite,
tender lamb shank Regganato in tomato
sauce, $12.95.
George's Honey Tree is open for
breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days
... Monday-Friday, 10-9; Saturday and

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Sunday, 9-9 ... No more
standing and waiting as an
area is now dedicated with
soft seats and magazines
for total time-passing
comfort ... The soft colors,
feeling of intimacy, high
ceiling, art deco coloring
and bright no-smoking
atmosphere bring a new
delight.
The mall owners might
oddly deserve thanks for not renewing
George's lease on his previous popular
neighborhood restaurant that had its
successful life all but snuffed out ... Its
second chance is proving even better than
the first and has turned into somewhat of
a disguised blessing for George and wife,
Theresa, and their son Robert, who have
achieved an even greater over-whelming
success ... Their confidence in previous
and new customer faithfulness has paid
off big time ... George's Honey Tree's
three-year anniversary brings about the
realization of another neighborhood fam-
ily restaurant to be placed in the coveted
realm of true dining satisfaction.
IT'S NO RUMOR ... Yes, a restaurant
is expected to again open at that same
location on Orchard Lake Road and
Pontiac Trail, Orchard Lake ... I mean the
locale where Chef Theodore lasted just
one week, and so many others before him
soon closed their doors ... Fine chef Sam
Sharkas is slated to greet diners sometime
this month at his new Italia Fresca
He was sous chef opening Andiamo Novi
with brother, Executive Chef Lee Sharkas,
and before that was executive chef at
Andiamo Rochester.

MI NM MI I= MI Ell

WHOEVER HEARD OF paying only
$20 for lunch at the high-end Tribute
Restaurant, 12 Mile just east of Orchard
Lake Road, Farmington Hills? ...
Especially with a choice of 10 entrees,
plus exotic soup or salad ... Petite filet,
braised beef short rib, rack of lamb, veal
liver, seared haddock, sauteed beef tips,
roasted salmon, roasted chicken, etc. ...
Selections also include added sides on the
plate ... Lunch hours are Monday-Friday
11-2 with a la carte prices listed under
each item.
FOURTH ANNUAL all-you-can-eat
Glatt Kosher Chinese Buffet by caterer Jeff
Rosenberg, is set for Wednesday, Feb. 13,
6-8, at Adat Shalom Synagogue, Middlebelt,
off Northwestern, Farmington Hills.
MAIL DEPT. ... "I heard on the radio
that Carl's Chop House, Detroit, has applied
for a topless permit. See what is considered
news today? If a synagogue went "topless"
without yarmulkes, would it make the
WJR news, too?" ... Dennis Green.
READER'S GOOD WAITER Dept.
... "Richard Hendrien at the Avenue
Restaurant, Woodward, north of 13 Mile,
Royal Oak, didn't mind that I sat at his
table for 45 minutes during the busy
lunch hour just sipping coffee while wait-
ing for my friends to arrive. He was polite,
friendly and funny." ... Pat Klein
CONGRATS ... To Joan Zager on her
65th birthday ... To Norm LePage on
his 67th birthday ... To Bonnie LePage
on her birthday ... To Sameer Eid on his
68th birthday ... To Rod Faudem on his
80th birthday ... To Howard Levin on his
65th birthday. ❑

Danny's address is dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet.

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Deli Dinner
for Two
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1 Deli Dinners Include Your Choice of Any:

I.• Two Sandwiches from
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I Roasted Turkey Breast, Pastrami,
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CAFE • CATERING

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February 7 • 2008

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