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