F BESTOF EVERYTHING

Mama

WI77

What A Pizza!

Italian restaurant has been a Redford destination for 33 years.

S

ome who saw the stage musical
and movie Mamma _l lia! might
have looked to see if there would
be a restaurant in it with the same name
... In this area of the country, the name
"Mama Mia" has a popularity that like the
musical and film is also an endearing and
enduring one.
More than 50 years ago, when broth-
ers Chris and John Vardouniotis came
to America from Greece, they worked
and struggled to learn whatever needed
to go into the restaurant business ... It
finally happened when opening their first
restaurant on the Wayne State University
campus in Detroit, which was to be the
springboard to bigger things.
The year 2009 is the 33rd anniver-
sary in a result of that launch pad when
Mama Mia Italian Pizzeria Restaurant,
now known as Mama Mia Italian Cuisine,
opened on Beech-Daly, just south of Grand
River, Redford ... Since that day in 1976,
more than 2 million people have come
through its doors ... The allegiance of
that many customers throughout its 33-
year existence could not be wrong.
It started out and still is a much respect-
ed family restaurant ... Chris and Helen's
son Michael, and son-in-law Jimmy
Papaionou, married to their daughter
Katrina, assist Chris in operating Mama
Mia Italian Cuisine, Redford ... When
not in school, their 19-year-old grandson,
Ari Papaionou, is in training to also be of
assistance ... Helen at one time was its
bartender and helper where needed.
Mama Mia, Redford, originally seated
only 90 persons ... The capacity today
is 140, plus six stools at an intimate and
well-stocked bar ... Booths and tables are

casually placed for relaxation
and comfort, with one wall com-
pletely mirrored, above an end-
to-end length of booths
The food has changed little
... Chris, being from the old
school of restaurant dining, is
a stickler on cuisine having a
touch of yesteryears in its prep-
arations ... An Italian pizzeria,
he feels, should have a certain
quality that will appeal to all
members in family togetherness.
Bestsellers are, of course, the pizza,
tossed in the Mama iia, Redford, kitchen
and strewn plentifully with requested
ingredients, and salads ... But the steaks,
chops and Italian specialties are all on the
restaurant's high called-for list ... With
the insistence of quality ingredients comes
the upholding of low prices ... Like 14-
ounce N.Y. sirloin, S17.95; 8-oz. steer filet,
S17.95, both with mushrooms and onion
rings; garlic-seasoned sliced tenderloin
with mushrooms and green peppers,
S14.50; tender St. Louis spare ribs, S11.95,
short ends, $11.55 long ends, whole slab
for two, 518.95; veal marsala, veal cac-
ciatore and veal picante, S14.95; etc. ... all
served with house-made soup or salad,
potato or pasta and breadbasket.
About today's economic conditions, Chris
just smiles and says, "I've been through it
before and am still here" ... Even back in
1969, Chris recalls that "Things were tough,
but we tightened our belts and worked
harder" ... With help of suppliers like
United Dairy, Chicago Beef, Vernor Packing,
etc., the ultimate result was beating the
odds that might have pointed toward join-
ing others in closing their doors.

Mama Mia, Redford, is
open Tues.-Sat., 2-11; Sunday,
noon-11.
Neighborhood restau-
rants like Mama Mia Italian
Cuisine, Redford, are what
so many other United States
cities wish for ... Wholesome
food at reasonable low prices
in a clean atmosphere of
family conviviality ... Little
wonder that Mama Mia
Italian Cuisine in Redford, is so popular.
READER MINI REVIEW ... "Our
family dined at a wonderful Middle
Eastern Restaurant on S. Main in Royal
Oak called La Feast. It has been open for
just over a month. We had hummus with
chicken, shish kabob and sauteed lamb,
beef and chicken. All came with soup or
salad and rice or french fries. My daughter
had lentil soup and my wife and I had the
salad. All portions were very generous.
We took home parts of the meals and will
probably get at least another three meals
out of it. Also, pita bread, garlic sauce and
salsa were put on our table. It was one of
the best Middle Eastern meals out that we
have had:' ... Brian Wolf
NO TRUTH to rumor that Fiddler
restaurant, Orchard Lake Road, West
Bloomfield, closed ... Just shorter hours
and days ... Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday,
5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, 5-9 p.m.... Live
music Saturday from 9, and beginning
Sunday, June 7, a breakfast buffet, 11 a.m.-
4 p.m., 511.93 adults, kids under 6 free.
NATIONWIDE ACCOLADES endors-
ing Buddy's Pizza and Tomatoes Apizza
as among America's best comes from GQ
(Gentlemen's Quarterly) magazine, by

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writer, elan Richman.
Buddy's (cheese pizza) ranked No. 15
among and beating out an impressive
list from Chicago, Boston, New York, San
Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, etc.
... "Buddy's crust is one of the best in
America': writes Richman. "The interior
slices on a Buddy's pizza are light, slightly
crunchy and extremely satisfying."
Tomatoes Apizza, Farmington Hills,
(pepperoni pie) was graded No. 21 by
Richman, who wrote, "The non-Sicilian
crust was soft, slightly charred, and entire-
ly appealing, the tomato sauce and cheese
more than satisfactory."
Two others in the Detroit area graded by
Richman were Luigi's, Harrison Township,
(gourmet veggie pizza), No. 13, and Niki's,
Detroit (cheese pizza with feta), No. 24.
If an all-around pizza would have
been selected, I think most people who
have been there might choose Una Pizza
Napoletana of New York, which was
Richman's surprising 25th choice.
HOLE IN ONE by Al Iwrey was his
second since 1986 ... Came using an iron
wood on the 179-yard 17th hole at Indian
Spring in Boynton Beach, Fla.
LET'S HEAR IT for all those in favor of
making Father's Day, June 21, as popular
as Mother's Day ... After all, mothers and
fathers do go hand-in-hand.
CONGRATS ... To Ronna Katzman on
her 60th birthday ... To Milton and Mae
Goodman on their 60th anniversary ... To
Sonny and Suzie Mondiano on their 19th
anniversary ... To V■rilliam and Carolyn
Nosanchuck on their 57th anniversary

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Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskinsbcglobal.net .

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

June 4 • ‘_

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