THE BEST OF EVERYTHING Italian Success Loccino takes another's site to great heights. T out the "A" and "f" in Alfoccino. aking over the location of a The usual Italian dining former restaurant, whose prices specialties are among a large were considered much above the norm and its location a bit off the beaten variety at Loccino, interspersed path, may not be looked upon as too wise with seldom-found favorites like Vitello La Florence (sau- a decision. teed veal or chicken in garlic, But if the takeover is by restaurant olive oil with mushrooms, owners whose similar dining operations plum tomatoes, spinach and are already labeled as local destination eating places, that choice may have sound sprinkled cheese ... Its Frutti Di Mare, $18.95 (shrimp, scal- reasons of validity. lops and mussels with spinach, This was the case with Loccino Italian diced tomatoes and light lemon Grill & Bar, Crooks Road, north of 1-75, cream sauce, tossed with linguine), is Troy, that opened on the former site of among numerous, heavily-ordered entrees Troy Palm restaurant, which, although a destination eatery in its own right in New ... One, Roman Chicken, $15.95, is an exclusive presentation, breast marinated a York, could not cut the needed mustard couple of days in saffron and onion juice as a destination restaurant with local and then barbecued. masses here. Soup of the day includes the full-bod- Loccino Italian Grill celebrated its ied clam chowder on weekends, along second anniversary last October with with the daily favorite of Loccino's popu- the serving of much lighter fare than its lar, premises-made minestrone ... At site predecessor, more comfortable and least five fish choices are featured each relaxing surroundings ... and prices that day. coincided more with today's pocketbooks Loccino is a seven- ... Where once the cari- day-a-week operation, catures of local personali- Sunday, 4-9; Monday- ties lined the walls at the Thursday, 11-11; Friday, former Troy Palm are now 11-midnight; Saturday good-looking contempo- 3-midnight, with dining rary Italian hangings. room seating for 160, This is the third res- plus a large bar/lounge taurant owned by Frank with about 16 stools and Tony Sushtari, both and four booths. the first male waiters All day Sunday is at the one-time Mitch's one big Early Bird k Shustari Tony and Fran Tavern on Cass-Elizabeth with selection from Lake Road, and each or seven entrees (N.Y. steak, chicken piccata, both always at their Loccino ... They also salmon, etc.), salad, dessert of ice cream, own the Alfoccino's Italian restaurants on cannoli or cheese cake, coffee or soft Grand River and Haggerty in Novi and drink and house-made flat bread, $15.95 on Opdyke in Auburn Hills ... The name ... The Early Bird as listed, is also avail- Loccino, in fact, was arrived at by taking able Monday-Saturday, 4-6, $15.95. Lunch includes five choices of pizza prepared on Loccino's house-made flat bread, seven pannini sand- wiches served with French fries, and 11 salads ... (all except an antipasto salad are also served at dinner). Frank and Tony Shustari are a couple of gentlemen whose restaurant successes are the result of good dining know-how, hard, dedicated work and customer satis- faction ... All prime facets that show as they continue successfully in the second anniversary of their Loccino Italian din- ing venture. SO MANY GOOD things to talk about being prepared at Big Rock Chop House, Eton Street, Birmingham, with the excel- lent food served there, including continu- ous raves about a couple of salads ... One, the house salad no less, a full-size baby iceberg lettuce with tomatoes and bacon bits, covered with bleu cheese dressing and the fine crumpled Maytag bleu cheese ... Also Big Rock's tasty Caprese Salad, slices of elegant Buffalo Mozzarella and tomatoes ... You wouldn't expect less from owner Norm LePage, one of the best res- taurant operators around. ADD ANOTHER five star item to the growing new selections at D'Paulis, Sugar Tree Plaza, Orchard Lake Road north of Maple, West Bloomfield ... Its small lake perch is sauteed in vermouth, lemon butter and garlic, and accompanied with soup or salad, artichokes, capers, potato and vegetable, $13.99. MAIL DEPT. ... "When I was a server years back, we had a daily inspection of hands, nails, hair, collar and shoes ... Jewelry was not permitted to be worn ... Today's servers fall far short of that stan- dard and frequently far short of cleanli- ness." ... Charles Herman Gould. ANNUAL PRE-PASSOVER Chinese Kosher Kafe by kosher caterers Jeff Rosenberg and Al Kovolenko of A & J Kosher Catering is Sunday, March 28, 6-8 p.m. at Adat Shalom Synagogue, Middlebelt between Northwestern and 13 Mile, Farmington Hills ... $20 adults, $10 youngsters 6-12 ... Call (248) 626-5702. SHE LOVES HER Chinese food, but no more than the competitive dancing that stirs her adrenalin ... And another loving contest comes Dee Shapiro's way as she again competes in the 10th annual Michigan Dance Challenge at Hyatt- Regency in Dearborn ... She will do her fine terpsi thing in the pro-am compe- tition on Friday afternoon, March 26, around 3 p.m., showing her talents in fox trot, tango, Viennese waltz and quick step ... Saturday evening, 7:30, will be the professional competition by MDC found- er and organizer Mark Brock ... Dee and Monica Del Signore are both instructed in dancing by Mark ... Monica and Luciano Del Signore, owners of Bacco Italian Ristorante in Southfield, are among the Michigan Dance Competition sponsors. Almost 1,000 dancers are expected to compete for awards in what Dee might enjoy better than her love for chow mein. CONGRATS ... To William "Willie" Stone on his 86th birthday ... To Michael Hermanoff on his 71th birthday. O Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobalmet. Last Minute Bloom's Passover Dinner & Ala Carte Takeout Order Now!!! FREE Seder Plate • FREE Passover Matzo with complete Dinner orders of 10 or more Complete Dinners; 10 person minimum • • • • • • • • HERB ROASTED 1/2 CHICKEN CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED HONEY WALNUT 1/2 BAKED CHICKEN LEAN ROAST BEEF BRISKET FREE 7-layer cake "t• with &au order ' A °Marlowe Complete dinners includes Beef Chopped Liver, Roasted Potatoes Anna or Potatoes Kugel, Chicken Matzo Ball Soup, Carrot Tzimmes, FREE Seder plate & FREE Passover matzo DELICIOUS PASSOVER BAGELS PASSOVER CAKES, DESSERTS, CHOCOLATES PASSOVER GIFT BASKETS & TRAYS DELIVERED COMPLETE DINNERS & ALA-CARTE - AVAILABLE ON ONLINE 32418 Northwestern Hwy. between Middlebelt & 14 Mile Bloom' s 248.855-9463 www.JewishCatering.com March 18 2010 • • • 47 •