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Former Larco's in Troy has a new name, new menu and hipper, tavern-like ambience.
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OTPOURRI ...
The end of a tradition at one
locale may be the name chang-
ing of the former Larco's Chophouse, E.
Big Beaver, Troy ... Now name-changed
to Big Beaver Tavern, it continues to retain
a few of the favorites (the former Shrimp
Larco is called Lemon Shrimp), the menu
is almost completely different, with burg-
ers, nachos and typical bar food the major
yummies ... No more reference to the
original founders of Larco's Inn, owner
Mark Larco's dad Pete and uncles Mike
and Nick Larco ... The picture of them is
gone and instead is one of three beavers
wearing tuxedos ... Speaking of tuxes,
the waitpersons no longer wear them ...
the eatery's style is now T-shirts ... No
more intimacy decor with open room,
new paint job, 19 HD TV's, stone covering
on the walls, etc. ... The former Larco's
Chophouse in Troy, now called Big Beaver
Tavern, certainly has taken a different
direction ... The West Bloomfield loca-
tion, also solely owned by Mark and wife
Susan Larco, remains the same.
THE WORD HAS spread like loose
desert cactus in a wind storm of his
being back in the northwest area res-
taurant scene ... Those finding out are
clapping their hands in learning that
Achille Bianchi, one of this areas more
popular gents, is the new sommelier at
Bacco, Northwestern, Southfield ... Many
remember Achille from his waiter days
at Mario's Detroit; and then maitre d'
for Epoch Restaurants' Raphaels, Chez
Raphael, Too Chez, Tribute, Forte and
Latitude in Bay Harbor.
THE ORIGINAL intent was for rock
and roll and jazz music along with dining
on the outdoors deck, but own-
ers Dale Cassady and Charles
"Doc" Schuler, decided against
having a golfer missing a putt
on the final hole and throwing
his or her club at the distrac-
tion ... So no music outdoors at
the new Doc and Dale's Copper
Creek Tavern on the Copper
Creek Golf Course, 12 Mile
between Halsted and Haggerty,
Farmington Hills ... Still
American style dining on the deck, but
music Wednesday evenings is in its dining
room ... Doc and Dale's is open Monday
through Saturday 11 to midnight; Sundays
noon to midnight.
BACK FROM six months in Israel and
Ethiopia, Seifu Lessenwork, owner of Blue
Nile, 9 Mile, west of Woodward, Ferndale,
will soon unveil new recipes garnered
from the regions visited.
DINING DEALS DEPT. ... Dinner spe-
cials at Beans & Cornbread, Northwestern,
between 12 and Inkster, Southfield,
Monday through Friday, 4-7, include
entree, two side dishes, sweet potato muf-
fins, cornbread and dessert, $8.99 ...
Daily lunches are $5.99.
MAKING ROUNDS ... To Vince's,
Springwells, Detroit, for premises-
made gnocchi ... To Antonio's 12 Mile,
Farmington Hills, for linguine with red
clam sauce ... To P.F. Chang's, Big Beaver,
Troy, for orange peel beef.
REMEMBERING DEPT. ... from
Michael Kellen ... "When a big night out
was going to Al Siegel's Elmwood Casino
in Windsor. From the '50s to the '70s, it
was almost like being in Las Vegas. I saw
everyone there from Sammy Davis Jr., to
Bobby Darin to Torn Jones
to Carol Channing. Even
the Supremes' last Detroit
appearance as a group.
"It was always fun to go
to the opening night of a
new act at places like the
Michigan Palace, Lofy's,
Center Stage in Livonia
and DB's at Hyatt Regency
in Dearborn. Before the
Locricchio family owned
Pine Knob Music Theater, Joe L. had a
band and played at clubs around town.
People would line up to see them, much
the same way they lined up in Las Vegas,
to see Checkmates Ltd.
"Dinner at Topinka's on 7 Mile and
Telegraph was a real treat. There was
another one on Grand Blvd., but Seven
Mile was a favorite. Al Balooly owned it
then and was always a great host. Back in
the '50s and '60s, I took most of my dates
to dinner at Darbys on Seven Mile and
Wyoming, the hottest place in town. A deli
on one side and a bar on the other, it was
the place to be seen. There has never been
another restaurant like it.
"I still hear debates on who had the
best ribs, Zukin's, Tunnel Barbecue or
Checker Barbecue. My favorite restaurant
was Mitch's in Waterford. Just a yellow
house at that time, but the food was won-
derful. Much like the old Ginopolis' in
Farmington Hills, it was also a converted
house.
"I always looked forward to breakfast
at Dubb's in Oak Park. It was a true fam-
ily restaurant. We had a favorite waitress
named Shelly, who later was at Ron's Bagel
Deli on 14 Mile [that would be Shelley
Old Fashioned
wee kend Breakfast
Rogow]. Many couples who are still
together today met at the Scotch 'n' Sirloin
in Detroit with its wonderful food and
atmosphere."
IN ANSWER TO numerous inquiries
by readers, yes, Marvin Yagoda, owner of
Marvelous Marvin's Mechanical Museum,
Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, is
a registered pharmacist ... He also owns
Sam's Drugs, Fenkell, corner of Ardmore,
Detroit, which Marvin operates daily
except his Wednesday off-day ... Sam's
Drugs was originally opened by his dad
and mother, Sam and Fanny Yagoda, in
1932 at the corner of Fenkell and Cruse, its
site before moving in 1937 to the present
location ... Marvin and his son Jeremy
both run the mechanical fun museum.
REUNION DEPT. ... 30-year biggie by
Southfield High class of 1979 is Saturday,
Sept. 5, 7 p.m., at Wonderland Lanes,
Commerce Township ... For more info
contact Stacie Goodwin Rein, (248) 737-
2711, srein123@hotmail.com , or Annette
Lichtman Mulcahy, (248) 978-4335 ... All
years from 1954 to 1978 shindig by for-
mer Paul L. Best Elementary, now named
John F. Kennedy Elementary, Oak Park, is
Sunday, Aug. 16, 1-5, at Como's, Woodward,
Ferndale ... Call Mike Gerber, (586) 731-
7873, or e-mail bestschool@hotmail.com .
CONGRATS ... To Ethel Klavons
on her 99th birthday ... To Adrienne
Gordon on her 50th birthday ... To Donna
Weingarden on her 60th birthday ... To
Dr. Abe and Sylvia Pearlman on their 69th
anniversary. ❑
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcgiobal.net .
aiket
Dctroit's
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EGGS, OMELET'S, PANCAKES MATZAH BREI ALONG WITH A
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OPOIP
July 23 • 2009 C11