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Local partners keep Fleming's steakhouse top-notch.

T

he makings of a good restau-
rant many times depends on a
winning combination ... Not
just food, service and ambience ... but
coupled with, of course, cleanliness.
And Fleming's Prime Steakhouse &
Wine Bar might have it for its 64 locations
in the United States.
However, in so many instances one or
more of a chain can be boasted as shining
standouts.
This is true of the restaurant business
where the local Fleming's steakhouse on
Old Woodward, Birmingham, is being
accepted among its biggest favorites.
The concept of founder Paul Fleming
is for each of his restaurants to have an
operating partner and a chef partner ...
Fleming's in Birmingham is run with a
precise experience of major proportions
by an operating partner whose dining
knowledge and communal approval have
proven highly credible.
Celebrating its fourth anniversary,
Fleming's, Birmingham, seems to have
gained further popularity since Robert
Loomis came aboard as oper-
ating partner a year after its
opening in 2007 at the former
Jacobson's department store
locale, so unrecognizable with
its strikingly beautiful interior
decor.
Loomis' prior dining track
record is quite impressive ...
Assistant manager at Capitol
Grille in Troy, which he assist-
ed in opening; general manag-
er at Forte, Birmingham; general manager
at Andiamo Italia, Joe Vicari's flagship in
Warren; and manager at Andiamo West on
Telegraph in Bloomfield Township.
This from someone who started out in
the restaurant business throwing knives
in the air as a youthful head chef for nine
years at Moy's, owned by Sam and Sue

Moy in Livonia, one of the first
145,000 pounds of prime beef, was the best in Detroit's Greektown, New
Japanese steakhouses in this
more than 18,000 pounds of
Hellas Cafe. Its lamb chops are succulent
area, where folks remember
calamari, about 900 gallons of and contagious, necessitating just one
going years ago for Japanese
soup, etc.
more: and the Greek salad is so fresh and
cuisine on one side and
It is open seven days ...
amazing. The mainstays like souvlaki,
Chinese on the other.
Monday-Thursday, 5-10; Friday moussaka and pastitsio in the opinion of
Loomis, of Japanese descent,
and Saturday, 5-11; Sunday, 4-9 so many former Detroiters who now live
whose father served with
... Seating in the dining room
here cannot be equaled. The Taverna has
the U.S. Army in Korea and
is for 120, in the lounge, 40, and an authentic Greek island interior and
Vietnam, was born in Nevada,
at bar stools, 11 ... Plus two
an outdoor patio for dining on a balmy
Dann y Raskin
raised in the Monterey, Calif.,
Senior Columnist private rooms for small parties, Florida evening. Whether a former Detroit
area, and has steadily climbed
bar mitzvahs, wedding rehears- resident or a 'snowbird' on vacation or
the ladder to the lofty position
als, etc., 72 and 36.
spending the winters here, Greek Islands
he holds today.
Wine glasses for its 100-count sup-
Taverna is a must."
Executive Chef and partner Chris
ply are made especially for Fleming's 64
HOPES ARE MANY that wonder-
Gadulka is also well noted by localites for
restaurants in the United States ... The
ful localite songstress Jo Thompson will
his admirable track record ... Tribute,
manufacturer has only one other client ...
bring her very fine "Thank You Lena!!!"
Farmington Hills; Ernesto's, Plymouth
the White House.
tribute to Jo's friend the late Lena Home,
with Chef Ernie DeMichelle; Ritz-Carlton,
Bread is made from scratch, as is the soft, to the region here that loves her so much
Dearborn; and Pike Street, Pontiac with
fluffy and delicately delicious cheesecake.
... Jo recently appeared with her musical
Chef Remy Berdy.
For trivia lovers, corporate owner Paul
director Walt Szymanski at Philadelphia's
Chains have set menus for their loca-
Fleming is the P.F. in P.F. Chang's.
historic Clef Club.
tions, but at many it is the overall operation
There is little doubt that Fleming's Prime
OFFICIAL DATE when William
from front door to dining room to kitchen,
Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Birmingham
Beaumont Hospitals take over ownership
etc., that counts most ... And this is where
must rank among the more popular restau-
of Cardiovascular Specialists on 14 Mile,
Fleming's in Birmingham shines the largest. rants in this region ... The clever concept
West Bloomfield, is Sept. 1 ... All pres-
With Loomis and Gadulka
of having an operating partner and a chef
ent doctors, whose heart care includes
at their respective helms, huge
partner is a proven success ... But no
lifestyle changes with healthy diets, etc.,
popularity is given to the deftly
more than having gentlemen at the restau-
will remain except Drs. Lary Goldman and
served moist and tender roasted rant helm like Robert Loomis and Chris
Lynn Miller, who will leave to open their
chicken with a luscious taste all
Gadulka.
own practice together in another area ...
its own that incorporates a deft
READER MINI-REVIEW ... By Dennis Remaining will be Drs. Alan Silverman,
blending of herbs ... Barbecued Silber ... "Greektown Detroit's Monroe
Mark Goldberg, Allan Chernick, Melissa
(or any style desired) salmon,
Street in Florida? Michigan transplants
Stevens and Demetris Demetriou.
prepared from Copper River or
living full time in Florida cannot help
CONGRATS ... To Avery and Marilyn
organic Scottish, is a big favorite themselves when speaking about their
Warnidc on their same-day birthdays ...
... As is the No.1 seller, its ele-
`Detroit — the only city with great res-
To Alan Borsen on his birthday ... To
gant 8-ounce petite filet mignon, taurants' until discovering Greek Islands
Bennett Terebelo on his birthday ... To Jim
tenderly prepared with an eyes-closing taste
Taverna in Ft. Lauderdale, where memo-
Weitzman on his birthday ... To Bennett
and succulent consistency ... Second is the
ries beckon back to the lines-around-the-
and Suzi Terebelo on their 25th anniversary
16-ounce juicy rib-eye steak with its 10-hour corner at the former New Hellas Cafe on
... To Albert Freud on his birthday ... To
preparation notoriety.
Monroe in Greektown.
Myron and Ellen Gruskin on their 56th
In the three years that Bob Loomis
"We former Detroiters here in Boca
anniversary ... To Alex and Diana Kovnat on
has been at Fleming's, almost 200,000
Raton and other Florida cities compare
their 30th anniversary. II
people have come through its doors in
Greek Islands Taverna on North Ocean
Birmingham ... consuming around
Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale, to what we feel
Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .

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38 July 7 • 2011

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BLOOMFIELD 'TOWNSHIP

6676 Telegraph

Bloomfield, MI 48301 a 248-865-9300

