THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

Upstairs, Downstairs

Two bands, two bashes rouse revelers at Andiamo West.

W

ith weather this year so
precarious and unpredict-
able, many folks opted to do
their New Year's Eve celebrating close to
home ... Local eateries like the Andiamo
Restaurant Group, for example, gave cele-
brants numerous area choices with dining
and entertainment frivolity in the various
addresses owned by them.
We were among those who opted for
this pattern of safety, with Andiamo West
on Telegraph and 15 Mile in Bloomfield
Township, the selected option ... And it
was a good choice as attested by those
who chose the downstairs intimacy of
about 50 people like Wendy Ruben, Lonnie
Pukoff, Karen Laub and Jay Greenspan,
enjoying the music of Joyride with electric
keyboard, synthesizer and four vocalists
who seemed to make up their own tunes
on popular melodies ... Also the sit-down
food prepared by Executive Chef Joe
Parrino (filet and lobster claws, etc.).
The upstairs dining room and bar lounge
had open seating for about 500, including
Brenda and Jerry Chudler and daughter
Stacey Underwood, whose husband Kevin
Underwood and his band, five-piece Funky
Station, were the rhythm makers.
Jerry Vitale, Andiamo West owner-part-
ner with Joe Vicari, doesn't look like he
needs it, but got plenty of exercise going
upstairs and downstairs as folks frolicked.
MANY CUSTOMERS still vacationing
out of town know nothing about Pepino's
making history by opening recently on
Sundays for the first time since its incep-
tion 24 years ago ... However, the Sunday
attendance numbers continue to rise
weekly as more and more learn about
the new dining day addition at Pepino's,

Walled Lake Road and Pontiac
I'll be among the first to let
Trail, Walled Lake ... New
readers know about it.
hours, too, on Sundays, 4-8.
Again, Ron Asmar and his
And although Pepino's may
Vineyards, Farmington Hills,
have a number of dinner selec-
have come up with blockbuster
tions, there are three items that
dining biggies ... Complete
have never made its menus ...
dinners for two as well as
All are concoctions by Kathy
single diners ... Good any day
Kwiecinski, boss-gal with
of the week ... Hot dinners
sister Carole Carson ... They
like
roasted chicken or brisket
Danny Raskin
are Millie's Rice, Millie's Pasta
of
beef,
with chicken noodle
Senior Columnist
and Millie's Salad, named after
soup or salad, roasted potatoes,
Millie Hozman (Murray), the
green beans almandine, rolls
only person who thus far orders them.
and butter and fudge brownie dessert ...
WHEN IT CLOSED years back, Joe
or a veggie dish of mostaciolli with red
Muer's on Gratiot in Detroit left a tremen-
wine marinara, vegetable lentil soup, fresh
dous void that has rarely been filled ...
grilled vegetables, rolls and butter and
Now Frank Taylor, one of Detroit's highly
fudge brownie dessert ... All three choices
respected restaurateurs, is taking a whack
are $14.95 for two or $7.95 for single diners
at it ... His recently opened Detroit Fish
... And Vineyard's 50 percent off through
Market in Detroit's Harmonie Park, is
March 1, dine in or carryout, on food buys
Frank's third presently owned restau-
(meal, sandwich, soup or gourmet salad)
rant, joining Seldom Blues and Detroit's
when showing a purchase receipt of that
week from a Metro Detroit retailer.
Breakfast House ... He is high on many
lists as someone who can fill the empti-
In West Bloomfield, Bob Bisgeier and
ness that was left when Joe Muer's closed
his Giorgio's Gourmet Diner are also doing
... Hope he'll have the favorite of numer-
their best to battle the soft economy ...
ous folks, Joe Muer's wonderful stuffed
They've come up with a special menu
flounder.
Sunday through Thursday, 4-6:30 p.m. ...
SUPER DINING DEAL of the Week ...
Six entrees (chicken picante, $9.75; chick-
en breast, $9.95; grilled salmon, $11.95;
one night only, Thursday, Jan. 15, 5:30-8
p.m. ... All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Station ...
calf liver & onions, $10.75; spaghetti with
meat or marinara sauce, $8.95; penne
chicken, meatballs, baby shrimp, salad,
and broccoli, $8.95 ... Complete dinners
four sauces, five pastas, ... $4.95 per per-
son (regular $9.95) ... George's Honey
include soup or salad, potato or vegetable
Tree, Northwestern Hwy. east of Orchard
and rice pudding or Jello dessert (penne
Lake Road, West Bloomfield.
pasta is only with soup or salad and des-
NO MATTER HOW many times a res-
sert) ... Also now available is a home
taurant or individual is mentioned here, if delivery of all menu orders $10 or more
within a five mile radius, with $5 delivery
they keep giving dining deals to help out
during the present economic conditions
fee for the deliverer, Monday, Wednesday,

Friday and Sunday, 4:30-6 p.m. ... And a
99-cent breakfast of two eggs and toast
until 10:30 a.m. seven days with beverage
purchase.
RECENT OPENING OF Five Guys
Burgers and Fries on Greenfield, north of
Nine Mile, Southfield, will be followed in
February by a second one on Hall Road,
Macomb County, and in March on 12 Mile
and Mound, Warren ... Local franchise
owners Michael Abrams, son of Ray and
the late Shirley Abrams, and Dr. Brian
Adelman, son of Jack and the late Rhoda
Adelman, are franchise-contracted to open
40 outlets within seven years.
RESTAURANTS THAT lower the
quality of their food to give lower prices
should think twice about this if they want
customers to return ... Those who think
most peope can't tell the difference are
fools ... Folks sure can distinguish, for
example, between a juicy and tender easy-
to-cut filet or chopped sirloin and the
chewy or gritty kinds.
PROUD GRANDPAPPY and grandma
are Marty and Sally Kohlenberg
Grandson Jared, son of Wendy and Larry
Kohlenberg, blew tenor sax in West
Bloomfield High's first place finish in
the marching band state finals at Ford
Field ... Jared and the WB rhythmizers
captured top honors in Flight One for
Michigan's larger high schools.
CONGRATS ... To Margaret "Peggy"
Winkleman on her 85th birthday ... To
Harold Lang on his birthday ... To Andy
Markowitz on his 50th birthday ... To
Eileen Holzman on her 70th birthday. L

Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

201 S Old Woodward Avenue • Birmingham MI 48009
248.594.7300 • www.forterestaurant.com

January 15 2009

C9