THE BEST OF EVERYTHING Good Things In Store Uptown Grille in Commerce puts fine food first. T he new dining kid on the block opened this past July 21st ... and has proven to be much more than just another restaurant with a concept. When Uptown Grille, 15 Mile Road, just west of Haggerty, Commerce Township, originally revealed its intended idea, word on the street was, "Well, here we go again" ... others had tried it and came out in last place. But Uptown Grille owners, Ryan Adam, Joe Hibbert, chef, and Brandon Richardson, general manager, were smart ... They didn't put their eggs all in the concept basket ... The gents made it secondary, with the restaurant first ... A novelty wears away, a good restaurant doesn't, and in cases such as this sensible reasoning has paid off. As a result, the store-in-front thought used by others down through the years has at Uptown Grille become only what it was intended to be ... more than just a cute look-see ... Different to be sure, but serving a purpose instead of something just to look at ... Kids love it ... There's T- shirts to pick from, candy to buy, a video game to play for all the family to enjoy while waiting, etc. ... And Mom and Dad can browse or buy from the large wine display, beers, art, coffee, tea, etc. Uptown Grille has already proven itself to be a good family-oriented restaurant with two dining rooms for lunch and din- ner, plus a large separate bar-lounge area with televisions galore, lots of fun, much banter, etc. ... The two dining rooms seat 101 and 70, respectively, and the Stage 30 Lounge has 35 stools at a large 70-foot bar plus table seating for 100 ... Also available is a 65-person special occasions etc., plus Lake Superior party room and a VIP room for whitefish, salmon and sea 16. bass among the sea and In the smaller, 70-seating ocean varieties. dining room, an addition was Uptown Grille has only once part of the original Ryan's been open a short while, but Tavern site owned by Dan hasn't taken long to make a Lublin and son Ben ... Plus its point ... "Come try us:' say historical feature, the room has Ryan, Joe and Brandon ... ceiling light fixtures with bulbs "We'll be thrilled when wel- Danny Raskin inserted in 40 empty wine bot- Senior Columnist coming you back again." tles whose insides Joe says were THE LINGERING open- all imbibed by him and Ryan. ing date question of one In addition, Uptown Grille might have restaurant with more stumbling-block set- hit upon something of which few, if any, back holes than a target-practice banner other places can boast ... Others may has evolved into, not one, but two upcom- tout their wine cellars, but Ryan, Joe and ing dining operations by the same owner Brandon take huge pride in their beer cel- on nearby locales. lar with service of about 30 bottle labels Two sisters, but of different nationali- and around 36 on draft from metal bar- ties, sects and styles ... and as apart as rels. can be gotten ... that's how the area that It is a seven-day-a-week operation, with formerly based Macaroni Grill and Chili's the kitchen open Mon., Tues., Wed. and Bar & Grill restaurants is shaping up on Sunday until 11 ... and Thurs., Fri. and Northwestern Highway, Farmington Hills. Sat. until 1:30 a.m. to accommodate the The former Macaroni Grill site will after-theater crowd ... Dancing is to live become the scheduled Mykonos Greek entertainment on Thursday and Saturday Taverna, with traditional and upscale evenings, and a d.j. on Friday nights. Greek dishes ... And the one-time Chili's The kids, other than having their own locale will be R.J's American Grill, seating menu selections, and adults, too, are 224 and serving American comfort food not forgotten with eight burgers and 10 for breakfast, lunch and dinner. choices of pizzas ... along with 10 more Both properties are owned by developer sandwiches and 12 salads ... But neither Robert Asmar, with Tony Hadjisofroniou are those folks looking for more to stick his director of operations for the two to their ribs ... Choice appetizers like a restaurants, and Nicko Moraitis, R.J.'s tenderloin calamari dish or crab-stuffed American Grill executive chef. mushrooms among 18 ... along with Mykonos has had target date changes Uptown Grille's signature 20-ounce bone- that had to be altered because of contin- in ribeye steak is a New York cut stuffed ued permit holdups ... But according to with blue crab, king and queen cut filets, Asmar, the new one is expected to be April 1 of this year ... And R.J.'s American Grill is slated to open around the latter part of February. The best part is that they are each past continually proposed opening stages and can now boast looks of eventual reality both inside and out. GOOD DEAL DEPT. ... At Sea Grille, Orchard Lake Road, north of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield, 4:30-6 p.m., Tuesday thru Sunday ... 10 hot entrees on its new Value Dinner Menu ... Four at $11.95 (fish & chips, chicken piccata, linguine with clam sauce, chicken pasta); four at $12.95 (whitefish pomodoro, coconut shrimp, frog legs, shrimp pesto pasta); two at $13.95 (wood-grilled apple cider salmon, beef brisket) ... All include salad, vegetable, potato or rice. EGG FOO YOUNG with egg whites instead of the yolk is available on request at Golden Phoenix, Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield ... Owners Shaw and Helen Ng are able to provide this because their Egg Foo Young is prepared to order and not pre-made ... It is slightly darker than the traditional golden brown color- ing, but has the same great taste ... No wonder cholesterol watchers and health buffs are smiling. CONGRATS ... To Zanetta Moser on her 59th birthday ... To Joe Sposita on his 75th birthday ... To Jerry Light on his 80th birthday ... To Abram Weberman on his 84th birthday ... To Lou and Evelyn Grant on their 59th anniversary. Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net . likwoor -ow. Marty Trap" Spealfaii FREE Swedish Meat h FREE Vegetable Vweigts :I eacChruddip n ite's Try our Premium Deli Basket Includes: • Choice of Four Meats (Lean Corned beet Turkey Pastrami, Salami, Turkey Breast, Roast Beet Ham) • Choice of Two Cheeses (American, Muenster, Swiss) • Potato Salad & Cole Slaw Also...Old & New Dill Pickles, Sweet Pickles, Hot Peppers, Red Pimentos, Tomatoes, Russian Dressing, Mustard, Mayo, and Double Baked Jewish Rye Bread. only$ Double Fudge FREE Brownies With any tray order of 10 or more people. 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