arts & entertainment >> the best of everything A Sporty New Joe After a million-dollar upgrade, Mr. Joe's delights the fans. I t almost became a National City Bank and Dave stopped their nickel- fresh daily, not frozen and branch, but instead was saved to and-dime alterations and did defrosted like at many other become one of this area's more popular a major renovation of almost a spots ... Fish and chips casual and upscale sports bars ... Former million dollars ... The people are battered on site, chili is owner Joe Machiorlatti had a deal in hand who had stayed away because of on-premises-made ... The with the bank officials who intended to the smoke returned as did those previous Mt Joe's sheet of tear down the 30-year-old or more build- who were happy to come back laminated paper menu has ing and put up their own style of edifice. with the previous heavy noise been replaced by one very When Michael Abrams heard it was somewhat lessened ... The lat- conducive to the ways of a for sale, he convinced Joe to preserve the ter was taken care of by a new modern sports bar operation. Danny Raskin name ... And Mr. Joe's, 12 Mile, east of acoustical ceiling that had never Dining room at Mr. Joe's Senior Columnist Northwestern Highway, Southfield, was been changed before and even seats around 200 plus 25 sold to Mike and Dave Priehs. with the no smoking law, Mr. stools at the beautiful bar ... The two new owners used to be regular Joe's saw an customer increase seven-day hours are Monday- "hang out" customers at the old sports of more than 30 percent. Saturday, 11-2 a.m.; Sunday, noon-10. bar ... Their acquaintanceship became a With this also came the looks of a strik- The immensely popular Wednesday fea- friendship that today ing upscale sports ture from 4 p.m. on of a full-size burger and is also a partnership bar with a glamor- fries, $3.50, has been retained and packs in ... And, Dave being in ous face and new a lot of people saying hello to each other. the food business as menu, plus silver- Another most important factor is the owner of Davis-Stevens ware and plates in presence always of Mike or Dave or both. Foods, also became the night-and-day A seven-year unprecedented success by the exclusive sup- transformation from Mr. Joe's has become that and even more plies provider for Mr. an old-fashioned with a popularity that keeps growing. Joe's and the former interior and exterior WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ... The Cushion & Cue, owned to one of a 2011 lamb ribs now at Siegel's Deli, 15 Mile, just by Mike and his late sports bar styling. west of Haggerty, Commerce Township ... Mr. Joe's owners Dave Priehs and father Ray Abrams ... Seven years have eight-piece rack, with barbecue sauce on Mike Abrams Today, all Mike's other seen almost a mil- the side, soup or salad, potato, vegetable restaurants (McVee's lion people come and bread basket, $8.95 ... The birthday in Southfield, four Snookers Pool & Pubs through the Mr. Joe's doors. parties at Marvelous Marvin's Mechanical including Royal Oak, and Lu & Carl's and Five years ago, pizza with 14 types of Museum, Orchard Lake Road, south of 14 Stout, both in Brighton), receive their toppings were added to the new menu Mile, Farmington Hills. goods only from Dave's company ... All which now includes its very popular onion DANDY DINING DEAL ... 10-12 ounce except Mike's Five Guys Burgers and Fries rings, piled-high nachos smothered in whitefish, plus soup or salad, potato and operations whose buying is controlled by tasty ingredients, fried pickles, Coney vegetable, $7.95, Thursday, May 5, through the franchiser. Island-style chili, premises-made soups, Thursday, May 12 ... Grand Tavern res- Now celebrating Mr. Joe's seventh anni- five styles of burgers including the healthy, taurant (between Wal-Mart and Meijer in versary, Mike and Dave have not only low-fat Piedmontese meat, 11 other types Market Place Circle), M-59 and Adams, preserved the late Joe Machiorlatti's name, of sandwiches (chicken, fish, cheese, etc.) Rochester Hills. but folks hardly recognize the place from ... The previous Mr. Joe's had only a small MAIL DEPT.... "Regarding your article before ... Through the seven years they side salad ... The new Mr. Joe's has seven mentioning Nate's Delicatessen on Dexter, had done bits and pieces of remodeling of them, including Caesar-style, Greek, Nate Remer was the original owner and that seemed to be just touching the surface Julienne, etc. sold it to my father, Joe Mosten and his ... Now, with the no-smoking law, Mike Its popular turkey burgers are made partner, Isadore Atler before Nate moved MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH SPECIAL FOR 2 $15.99 CHOICE FISH PLATE & EGGS • Nova Lox & Whitefish Salad Plate • Scrambled Eggs 0 F, i . • IleanishebcrztnhPo Vegetable Garnish • Cream Cheese & 2 Bagels OMELET SPECIAL OR • Your choice of Any (2) Omelets • Hashbrown Potatoes • Served with Vegetable Garnish • Bacon, Ham or Turkey Sausage • Cream Cheese & 2 Bagels Good only with purchase of 2 beverages No Coupon on Brunch Packages • Dine in Only Bagel & Lox For 4 $15.99 Includes: • 1/2 LB Nova Lox • Whipped creme cheese • Sliced tomatoes and onions • 4 N.Y. Bagels May 5 . 2011 Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. Deli For 4 $15.99 To-Go Includes; 1. LB or corned beef or turkey 1111 slaw or potato salad 1 LB Jewish Rye Old and. new kosher dills Russian dressing 32418 Northwestern Hwy. • between Middlebelt & 14 Mile * 248.855-9463 • www.JewishCatering.com 56 to California to open Nate 'n Al with Al Mendelson." ... Beverly Mosten Share READER MINI REVIEW ... "You can literally smell the taste. Have you ever gone to a restaurant and know it is going to be good simply from the aroma emanating from the kitchen? Giovanni's Ristorante, on Oakwood Boulevard across from the Rouge Plant in Detroit, is one such place. "This is a classic, old-style Italian restau- rant. Hand-made pastas, with sauce choices like Bolognese, Tomato Pesto, Alfredo o Pomodora, are prepared daily, but that's just the beginning. Choice Italian specialties like Osso Buco, various beef, chicken, fish and veal dishes along with a most generous wine list to complement any meal. "Owner Fran Truant saunters around like Martha Raye, welcoming each guest as if they were eating in her home. Her son Randy oversees the kitchen, and no wonder that so many show business celeb- rities (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Larry King, Red Skelton and others) have chosen Giovanni's when appearing in Detroit. It is warm, elegant and worth every penny." ... Jerry Silecchia GOOD EMPLOYEE DEPT. ... Customers are taking notice of Marcy Wasserman, pharmacist at Busch's mar- ket on 14 Mile and Farmington, West Bloomfield ... She is among major reasons why they return for her pleasant efficiency with much appreciation for Marcy's help- ful assistance. CONGRATS ... To Wendy Spira on her birthday ...To Joey Minc on his 59th birthday ... To Morrie Schwarz on his birthday ... To Dharlene Norris on her 59th birthday ... To Linda Stone on her 70th birthday ... To David Sachs on his 60th birthday. I 1 VINEYARDS DELI • CAFE • CATERING