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November 10, 2011 - Image 52

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 2011-11-10

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arts & entertainment >> the best of everything

New Joe At The Helm

Reviving the legend of Joe Muer Seafood in downtown Detroit.

U

sing an exalted former name
in the restaurant business is no
guarantee of success ... It will
bring in some customers, but mainly out
of curiosity.
Many will give careful scrutiny to see if
the same standards and favorite dishes as
before still remain ... as well as to answer
the questions of younger folks who had
asked their parents and others about how
the restaurant used to be.
In most cases, it has been somewhat of
a detriment ... There
are many memories to
pursue, and those who
recall the restaurant of
before and those told
about it will look care-
fully for likenesses.
The reviewing of
a restaurant that fol-
lows the footsteps of a
legend must be treated in
a different way because of this ...
The restaurant, such as Joe Muer Seafood,
which opened in the Renaissance Center,
Detroit, should be given the time needed
to capture much of the elements that
made its namesake such a previous suc-
cess.
Having two more-than-good seafood
restaurants is a big plus for Detroit and
suburbs ... Folks already know that
Detroit Seafood Market on Randolph,
downtown, has made its presence very
welcomed ... Now it is time for Joe Muer
Seafood to capture the same acclaim.
The yesteryears of Detroit dining at one
time catapulted it into the same breath
as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San
Francisco ... and in seafood with Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc. ... Having
good seafarin menus did much in achiev-
ing this reputation.
When it comes to dining out, people are

impatient... especially those
who have fond memories with
expectations of them being
lived up to ... This is hardly
an inevitability ... The jury is
still out on Joe Muer Seafood,
but there really shouldn't have
been one yet ... Give owner Joe
Vicari, Andiamo head, and his
staff some time ... Following
a legend is never easy ... and
time has a way of smooth-
ing things out,
especially when
someone with a vast res-
taurant knowledge like Joe
Vicari is at the helm.
The menu has adequate
selections ... and eyes
of today not yesteryears,
should be the focus, like
seeing a sushi bar ... The
former site of Seldom Blues
is beyond recognition except for the
picturesque view of the Detroit River and
Windsor ... Bow-tied waitpersons and
familiar faces like General Manager Dave
Duey, onetime Chuck Muer Restaurant
stalwart and Kevin Downey's head honcho
at Fox and Hounds, are amid splendid
surroundings that easily make it one of
Michigan's most beautiful better-dining
establishments.
READER MINI-REVIEW
From
Marty Burnstein ... "My wife, Barbara,
and I recently took my brother and his
wife, Bob Burnstein and Arlene Lullove, to
the new Joe Muer's to celebrate their first
wedding anniversary. The entire experi-
ence was excellent. First, the new restau-
rant is great looking. Second, the crowd
was eclectic, young, old, black, white, East
Side, West Side, urban and suburban.
Third, the food and service were top-
notch.

JOE M
SEM '
611114"

...

Five Course Lov

"My brother and I had the
flounder stuffed with crab-
meat, an original from the old
Joe Muer's. We also had the
stewed tomatoes and creamed
spinach, which was even better
than what I had remembered.
Arlene had the tuna, which
she loved. My vegetarian wife
had a meal of vegetables and
lentils that she thought were
so good, very fresh and cooked
just right to her liking.
"Our party had two appetiz-
ers, oysters and mussels that were very
tasty. We also had a bottle of rose wine
from Oregon that was enjoyable. Just as
at the original Joe Muer's restaurant, they
served the bean salad and the great bread.
All in all, with an excellent piano bar, it was
a big hit. I give it three-and-a-half stars."
BACK FROM a trip to New York, Dr.
Michael Salter speaks volumes about
his visit to three noted Lower East Side
nosh spots ... The Donut Plant, where
he had a square donut with a round hole
in the middle filled with jelly ... Yonah
Schimmel Knish Bakery, where the knish-
es are considered among the world's best
... and Russ and Daughters with offerings
of smoked and cured salmon, homemade
salads and cream cheeses.
GUEST SPEAKER Deborah Dash
Moore, director of University of Michigan's
Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, paid
tribute recently to Jewish servicemen in
World War II getting by without kosher
food in her talk, "Eating Ham for Uncle
Sam," as a prelude to Veterans Day ... But
it almost put Congregation Beth Ahm's
Paul Wertz of Dish Kosher Cuisine in a
bind ... He had to come up with a dinner
menu on the topic ... using no ham.
However, Paul's creative juices took over
to stir the vets' military memories with a

smile ... Dressed in military fatigues, Paul
served up navy bean soup, Jungle Ration
salad (with dried apricots and raisins),
sides of government-issue mashed pota-
toes and green beans, chicken pot pie ...
and the main course that went over big ...
his brisket of beef in place of the chow-
line mainstay "chipped beef on toast."
LOADS OF FOLKS will be happy to
know that Gina Lysak is back at the host-
ess desk seating them at Beau Jack's Food
and Spirits, 15 Mile, west of Telegraph,
Bloomfield Township, on Monday and
Saturday evenings ... Very personable and
vastly liked, Gina was there when Beau
Jack's first opened, and left after 18 years
... 15 years later, she is back much to the
joy of many.
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT.
"We
used to love the Greek food at Big Daddy's.
Is there any truth that it may open again?
... Marian Cassells.
[As of now, rumors of its reopening
in the same area are just that, nothing
more yet ... But one of the former own-
ers, Tommy Peristeris, says that he owns
the name and is opening a Big Daddy's in
Livonia ... The other former owner, Rick
Rogow, says he has no intention of ever
going into the restaurant business again
and looks good minus 170 pounds.]
CONGRATS To David Lewis on his
birthday ... To Marvin Tamaroff on his
86th birthday ... To Jeff Markowitz on his
61st birthday ... To Bruce Markman on
his 60th birthday ... To Martin Garfinkel
on his 75th birthday ... To Helen
Schneider on her 90th birthday ... To
Mary Mitchell on her 90th birthday ... To
Robert Steinberg on his 80th birthday ...
To Evelyn Gray on her 95th birthday ...
To Aaron and Julie Feinberg on their third
anniversary. II

...

...

Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .

November 3 - November 27

Tickets: $15, $20 Dinner/Show for Two: $49.95, $59.95

Novi TI-I

Five dates, five restaurants, and one fateful night. Will any of the lovers find the recipe for romance? This
fabulous Off-Broadway hit adds a delicious twist to the tried-and-true dinner date as three actors play a
host of characters whose hearts are hungry for love. With an impressive array of musical styles to match the
varied cuisine, Five Course Love serves up a fast-paced feast of clever lyrics, catchy tunes and lots of laughs.

248-348-3838 42705 Grand River Ave. Novi, Ml 48375

52 November 10 • 2011

,IN

For additional shows, visit andiamonovitheatre

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