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Rustic And Sophisticated
Franklin Grill and Tavern dining is a discovered secret.
T
he usual excellent reasons why
Two of Tim's favorite dishes
neighborhood restaurants are so
are often featured at Franklin
popular are sometimes overshad-
Grill ... His delicious roast
owed by the fact that so many are kept a
duck with raspberry butter
secret by those who have been there.
sauce and spaghetti squash
They feel it is their discovery and would
and halibut with lobster
rather the secret belong with them ... It
mushrooms and chanterelles
has its normal contingent of regulars but
... Guests are raving about
the "secrecy" in many cases hurts the res-
Franklin Grill and Tavern's
taurant more than doing it any good.
made-on-premises meatloaf,
Such a restaurant at one time was
roast breast of turkey, herb-
Franklin Grill and Tavern on Franklin
roasted Amish chicken, etc.
Road, just south of 14 Mile, in Franklin
Ruth Kochensparger,
... The quietness about Franklin Grill
who operates the eatery, is
did much to hurt it ... However, after
no stranger to the restaurant business,
changing hands, the acquisition of a high-
bartending when 18 years old at the
ranking chef, among other improvements,
formerly-named Clarkston Cafe, where she
has made a tremendous difference since
"got hooked" on the dining game and con-
its excellent preparations could no longer
tinued on at Griff's Grill and Pike Street
be kept a secret.
Company in Pontiac when they opened.
It is much to the
Franklin Grill and Tavern's
credit of Franklin Grill's
kitchen hours are Monday-
present owners, Jim and
Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.;
Ruth Kochensparger,
Friday and Saturday, 11
that they immediately
a.m.-10 p.m.; closed Sunday
enlisted the services
... Seating on both the main
of Executive Chef Tim
floor and upstairs seat 49
Cikra with his more
each as does an outdoor patio
than 25 culinary years
... The main floor bar seats
experience ... Important
14 and upstairs three at the
are his 10 years with
bar and eight at bistro tables.
Florine Mark's Weight
Head Chef Citkra has made
Watcher's Group, so
a huge difference, with the
persons watching their
small kitchen brought to a
weight or with dietary
whole new level of consis-
restrictions are also
tency and productivity ...
thrilled at Tim's kitchen Ruth Kochensparger
All sauces, soups, stocks and
presence.
gravies are made in-house
His scallops prepared with salmon
and the potato fries cut by hand daily
ravioli, roasted peppers and grain mustard
... Sy Ginsberg corned beef and turkey
sauce are excellent ... And folks will enjoy
breast are cooked every day and Tim does
Tim's Pasta Bolognese cooked in a rich red-
his own butchering of meats and fishes
wine meat sauce and parmesan cheese, plus
... Also, his highly touted whitefish and
his salmon with apple cider sauce, roasted
trout pates are smoked in-house .... and
walnuts and sweet potatoes ... and crispy
the fresh fish dishes with excellent sauces
are with fresh herbs taken from Franklin
shrimp served with Asian black beans and
fresh chive sauce.
Grill's herb garden on its patio.
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The onetime 1800s buggy
works with its rustic look is
charmingly quaint and, along
with wonderful dishes like fresh
Indiana duck served with an
apple cider sauce, delightful fish
selections, etc., is now a difficult
restaurant to hide ... Most of
the customers would rather
extol its dining virtues with
excited tones ... There is a dif-
ference that truly shows ... And
can no longer be kept a secret.
HARDLY A WHISPER
about its recent opening to the breakfast
and lunch scene again as the popular Cafe
Rendezvous makes a re-appearance after a
two-year absence.
Formerly on Orchard Lake Road in
Farmington Hills, Cafe Rendezvous is still
on Orchard Lake Road, but now just north
of 14 Mile in the Robins Nest Shopping
Center, West Bloomfield.
It's the former location of Yossi's with
added new looks of a covered grill area
where co-owners Leo Stotland, former
partner at the original Cafe Rendezvous,
and Natan Sologub, partner with the
late Mike Kuchersky when they had the
Fiddler, do their excellent grill work.
Smiling and very efficient servers,
whose experience shows, give the look of
familiarity ... Folks will recognize them
... Stephanie Glazer also still works four
evenings a week at Pepino's, and Adrienne
McDonald is formerly of the Breakfast
Club and Roots.
Seating is for 50, including five stools
at the counter, with added good looks of
bright stainless steel backsplashes and
large padded booths and tables.
Seven days a week hours are Monday-
Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-
3 p.m. ... Plus the regular menu, a daily
board tells of numerous breakfast and
lunch specials.
There is sure to be waiting for the strik-
ing new and comfortable Cafe Rendezvous
... made much easier with a large padded
settee for guys and gals to sit in comfort.
THE MUCH MORE open area now at
Santorini Estiatorio Greek restaurant on
Monroe in Detroit's Greektown, operated
by sisters Athina and Stella Papas, gives
the former Mosaic eatery a very notice-
able appetizing new look ... The brighter
atmosphere and quietly elegant surround-
ings are conducive to relaxed dining ...
Although its Greek fare is on the order of
a Greek restaurant owned down the street
by their father, Jim Papas, comparisons are
definitely not fair ... Pegasus has been in
business for many years, while Santorini
is a culinary babe-in-the-woods that only
recently changed into that of Greek cuisine
but also has some American dishes for-
merly featured at Mosaic.
People will recognize some of the
employees ... General Manager Kurt
Bender was general manager at the former
Mosaic after 10 years serving at Moro's
Dining in Allen Park ... Server Chris
Hadjisofroniou, former waitperson at
Uptown Parthenon in West Bloomfield,
and numerous others from Greektown
dining operations.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... The
husband asked his wife, "Where should
we go to celebrate our anniversary, dar-
ling?" ... "Somewhere I have never been:'
she replies ... "Good, so how about the
kitchen?"
CORRECTION DEPT. ... To Melvin
Clayton, not Marvin, celebrating his 74th
birthday.
CONGRATS ... To Dr. Glendon Gardner
on his 53rd birthday ... To Boris Shain on
his 64th birthday ... To Johnny Katz on his
80th birthday ... To Robert Canvasser on
his 88th birthday ... To Allan and Shelly
Steinberg on their 44th anniversary.
❑
Danny's email address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobalmet.
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NEW YEAR'S EVE
CELEBRATION
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DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 PM
THREE COURSE DINNER WITH WINE PAIRINGS
SERVED AT 8:00 PM
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TALIAN
4 k 04 Ot)
BLOOMFIELD
For reservations call
,
$99 PER PERSON I CASH BAR
TAX & GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
(248)865 - 9300
andiamoitalia.corn
1797460
54
December 20 • 2012
JN