L
IM 1 .1 1 .1 1 1 1 1 1. 1 1. 1 1 1. 1 1. 1 1. 1 1 1. 1. 1 1 1 1 1 .1 61. 1 1 1 1 1 1 .1 1 1. 1 1 1. "1". ". 1". . "1". 1. 1 1 1 1 .1". r."1 °" mil ". "1 1 1.01MOM INMEMPION
Arts & Entertainment
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING
Smooth Sailing
Pepino's enters its 24th year on an even keel.
A
s time grew closer to the begin-
ning of another year in the
restaurant business, the ques-
tion still remained as to why a seemingly
smooth-sailing boat would be rocked.
But the transition has obviously been
on an even keel as the very popular fam-
ily-owned-and-operated Pepino's, Walled
Lake Road and Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake,
celebrates its 24th year of exceptional and
constant dining value.
The former manager-hostess duo of sis-
ters Kathy (Benardi) Kwiecinski and Carol
(Benardi) Carson, have left the restaurant
business and work with Carol's daughter,
Melissa Hutchinson, at her Storybook
Photography in Plymouth ... Kathy's
husband, Ray Kwiecinski, who has been at
Pepino's since it opened on April 24, 1984,
remains behind the bar, as does Kathy and
Ray's son, Rick.
Former hostess Judy Bernardi, now
assistant general manager, and Dave
Bernardi (Kathy and Carol's sister-in-
law and brother), sharing time with
another brother and his wife, now General
Manager Bob and Cheryl Bernardi, in
operational roles at Pepino's.
The change came about following the
passing of family patriarch, Joe Bernardi,
owner with wife, Helma, and rumors were
rampant ... Even to the silly and hugely
untrue tale that Pepino's had been sold ...
But the all-important factors of wonder-
ful food by longstanding Pepino's chef,
Keith Couch and his staff, from a superb
pan-fried rainbow trout, Joe's favorite
recipe, which numbers almost 400 pounds
served weekly, to the Tuesday night special
of short ribs to Friday evening's wonder-
ful New England Clam Chowder soup to
Saturday's magnificent prime rib, etc.,
Bloom's
along with wonderful service
by the same congenial and very
efficient servers of whom there
are very few finer, plus reason-
able prices, continue to be
highly prevalent features.
And the crowds are still
wall-to-wall, with people pre-
ferring to wait in the anxious
knowledge of what lies ahead
... Customers thoroughly enjoy
their dining out evenings at
Pepino's while also mingling
with folks they may not have seen in
many years or who are regular friends and
acquaintances.
Back in 1984, before Helma and Joe
Bernardi took over the former Town Pump
bar spot in Walled Lake, its seedy look,
bare walls and run-down appearance was
a total eyesore ... But the needed altera-
tions were made for complete transfor-
mation into a brighter, ultra-clean atmo-
sphere of warm, informal pleasantness.
Nothing beats cleanliness in a restau-
rant, and it is to the credit of family and
employees at Pepino's that the restaurant
is spotless ... Even the bus-persons and
excellent waitstaff are neatly attired in
smiling cleanliness ... There are not many
things, if any, in a restaurant that come
before dining in clean surroundings ... It
also tells so much about a place.
Still there at Pepino's is the dish of those
delicious marinated white beans and
basket of fresh garlic toast, raisin-filled
brown soda bread and bread sticks that
are brought to every table.
Seating is for 112 in three rooms, main
dining with all tables, an all-booth sec-
tor and another private-like room with
only tables ... The long bar from where
other's Day
Deli/Dairy Tray Special
• Free dessert tray special with any tray order
for 10 or more.
LOX
those large oversized drinks
are poured has 18 stools ...
It is open five days for din-
ner only, Tuesday through
Thursday, 5-9:30; Friday and
Saturday, 5-10.
There are few better neigh-
borhood restaurants than a
family-operated one ... It is
a great Pepino's pride that
can always be noticed by the
presence of family members
... To be sure they are on
the premises making certain that every
customer is given reason for full satisfac-
tion ... a major motivation for the return
of patrons.
It may be considered a neighborhood
restaurant, but people come from every-
where to enjoy the same dining experience
they have heard so much about.
As people continually enhance its repu-
tation with exclamations like "I've never
had a bad meal yet at Pepino's," the well-
liked and value-packed favorite restau-
rant of so many enjoys a lot of deserved
pleasure in entering year number 24 as
the same Bernardi family-owned-and-
operated restaurant that has brought a
maintenance of its very highly-acclaimed
and immense popularity.
GOOD WAITRESS DEPT. ... And
certainly a gal who may have one of the
longest names in the restaurant business
... Delightful, smiling and efficient Indre
Talandzeviciute, also a Lawrence Tech cre-
ative design student, at Stage Deli in West
Bloomfield.
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Beau
Jack's, 15 Mile west of Telegraph,
Bloomfield Township, for one of the 11
featured hamburgers and homemade
Jilly Rizzo coleslaw ... To Beverly Hills
Grill, Southfield Road, between 13 and
14, Beverly Hills, for crab cakes benedict
or marinated veal flank ... To Hong Hua,
Orchard Lake Road, just north of 12 Mile,
Farmington Hills, for sliced filet with
mushrooms, carrots and asparagus ... To
Little Italy, E. Hutton, Northville, for veal
pizzaiola ... To Detroit Breakfast House
and Grill, Woodward, Detroit, for French
toast stuffed with cream cheese and apple
filling.
THERE'S A LOT OF laughs in store
for folks who see The Nose at the Lenore
Marwil Detroit Film Festival, Saturday,
May 12, 5 p.m., at the UA Commerce
14 theater on 14 Mile Road, Commerce
Township ... Filmmaker with local
ties, Gale Kirschenbaum (A Dog's Life
on HBO, etc.), does the documentary
in which her mother, Millie (Mildred
Kirschenbaum), continually bugs Gayle
to have her nose done over with plastic
surgery, but Gayle likes the shnoz as it is
... My Nose has her mom, friends, plastic
surgeons, strangers, etc., getting into the
act in a very humorous fun film ... Gayle
is a first cousin of localite podiatrist Dr.
Stuart Kirschenbaum, as is her brother, Dr.
Robert Kirschenbaum, also a podiatrist,
who lived in Detroit for many years ...
Stuart's dad, Albie Kirschenbaum, and
Gayle's father, Gerry Kirschenbaum, were
brothers.
CONGRATS ... To Dr. Larry Adler on
his 50th birthday ... To Mikki Hill on her
birthday ... To Jim Gottfurcht on his 68th
birthday ... To Dora Mendelson on her
96th birthday. ❑
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
Nova Lox
Special
$12.99 LB
Breakfast to go $15.00
• 1/2 LB Novi Lox
• Whipped creme cheese
• Sliced tomatoes and onions • 4 N.Y. Bagels
32418 Northwestern Hwy. • between Middlebelt & 14 Mile • 248.855-9463 • www.JewishCatering.com
May 1 2008
1384290
C13