arts & entertainment >> the best of everything

Destination Northern Italian Dining

Visit Moro's in Allen Park for an elegant restaurant experience.

H

e is further proof of the opportu- ones ... Especially when a
nities that many may have who
person desires a particular
work in the restaurant industry.
Northern Italian dish that they
Back in the late 1960s, Tom Moro toiled
have had there or elsewhere
for Mario Lelli at his Mario's on Second
and enjoyed ... Or just know-
in Detroit as a dishwasher among other
ing that whatever they order
chores, including waiting tables, line cook
on the recommendation of
and even butcher.
another person will not be dif-
He will soon celebrate the 33rd anniver-
ferent from what they are told.
sary of Moro's Dining on Allen Road, off
Its dependability is one of
Southfield Road, Allen Park, as the owner
the main reasons why Moro's
of a highly regarded restaurant ... It is
Dining is soon enjoying the
much more than Tom might have dreamed longevity of 33 years as a con-
of someday having ... Small and very cozy tinual example of destination
... But don't let the storefront fool you,
uniformity assurance that takes in food,
it also includes numerous overtones of
service and cleanliness among other rea-
casual fine dining like excellent dishes pre- sons of prime importance.
sented by waitpersons in elegant tuxedo
In all its years of existence, owner Tom
garb and the presence of flaming desserts
Moro and his staff have never been known
tableside.
to deviate in any way from its gained
The major portions
standing as a highly
of Moro's menu feature
satisfying dining experi-
Northern Italian cuisine,
ence.
as did Mario's when Tom
Also available are
worked there and today
items seldom found
still does, plus smatterings
on other menus ...
of Hungarian, Greek and
And where else can
French.
you receive an excel-
It is not unusual for the
lent salad, prepared
question to be asked as to
and tossed with elegant
the definition of a destina-
deftness at your table-
tion restaurant ... There
side ... at no additional
Moro's captains-waiters Mark
are many who say that
charge?
Luecke and David Galloro
a true destination din-
Most of the tradi-
ing spot is an eatery that
tional Northern Italian
people go to while passing others ... This
dishes from veal to pasta to chicken to
is only partly true.
steaks, etc., are prepared along with those
Like Moro's Dining, it may also offer a
of other cultures and presented by very
good, diversified choice of items holding
efficient waitpersons with deft knowledge
distinctive qualities of consistency that
of the right and wrong ways to serve.
definitely place it among the better pur-
If you have been to New York, California
poseful culinary operations in the minds
or Chicago and visited a like place, you
of many.
know the pleasant quaintness that is
Seating at Moro's is probably only about
received from one that has the reputation
75, but those looking for reliability in food
of being much more than just another
single it out with a sort of cult recognition
good little restaurant.
... It could be one of the more significant
From the moment that a bowl of fresh

fruit is brought to your table
after the meal, you know that
your visit to Moro's Dining
has just been enjoyed with the
elegance of gracious fine din-
ing ... at sensible prices.
HONORS KEEP ON com-
ing for Brian Henson, execu-
tive chef at Norm LePage's
Big Rock Chophouse on Eton
Street, Birmingham ... Last
year, Brian was chosen Chef of
the Year by American Culinary
Federation's Michigan Chefs
de Cuisine ... Now he is one of four final-
ists representing the ACF Central Region's
15 states in the Regional Chef of the Year
competition in Little Rock, Ark., April
18-May 1.
Brian is treasurer of the Michigan
Chefs de Cuisine and became Big Rock
Chophouse's executive chef in 2008.
DANDY DINING DEAL ... Broiled
whitefish, 10-12 ounces ... Includes soup
or salad, potato or rice, vegetable and
bread basket ... $7.95 ... One week only,
Friday, Feb. 15, through Thursday, Feb.
21 ... No coupons ... Georges Restaurant,
Northwestern Hwy., West Bloomfield.
READER MINI REVIEW ... From
Jerry Silecchia ... "Recently, my friend
Mark Heckert and I went to the Bronx
Deli on South Telegraph Road in Pontiac.
It is a converted Pizza Hut with corned
beef that would make Sy Ginsburg proud
and reminiscent of those in New York
neighborhoods with a complete bar that
very few delicatessens here have. Having a
sandwich and beer is something I haven't
seen since my visits to Katz's Delicatessen
in Manhattan.
"Bronx Deli's menu includes things to
eat like paninis on rosemary bread with
chicken breast and cheese and dill dress-
ing. Deli salads include many Asian and
Greek, and for those with really big appe-
tites, Marc's Meat Mound is a one-and-a-

half pound sandwich. Customers who eat
the entire sandwich get their photo on the
wall.
"Mark and I both had the No. 1 Big
Mouth, thinly-sliced corned beef with
coleslaw and their secret Russian dressing
on rye. We ordered ours with extra meat
and finished off on the panini grill. Mark
raved about his bowl of mushroom barley
soup, and I ordered a Dr. Brown's cream
soda like I get in New York"
GOOD SERVER DEPT. ... Doug
Murphy at Steven Lelli's On the Green, 12
Mile, Farmington Hills, with efficiency
and gracious courtesy, exhibiting the look
of extreme professionalism ... His vast
experience shows from years of pleasing
customers at Lelli's Inn on Woodward,
Bijou and Restaurant Duglass.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... While
eating at the restaurant, a man saw an
elderly couple at another table ordering
one plate for the two of them. The elderly
man carefully divided the food into two
portions, then poured half the drink into
the extra glass and put it in front of his
wife. He then began to eat, and his wife
just sat there watching, her hands folded
in her lap.
The gent asked them if they would
accept him buying them an extra meal so
they didn't have to split theirs ... "Oh, no,
that is very kind. We've been married 60
years now, and everything has always been
and will always be shared 50/50."
The fellow then asked her why she
wasn't eating. "It's his turn with the teeth:'
she replied.
CONGRATS ... To Rhonda Ginsberg on
her birthday ... To Larry Sherman on his
birthday ... To Dr. Bernard Maza on his
birthday ... To Bruce Sage on his birthday ...
To Barbara Taylor on her 63rd birthday. ❑

Danny's email address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .

VALENTINE'S DINNER
COMEDY SHOW PACKAGE

dr.

ROMANTIC DINNER, HILARIOUS COMEDY UNDER ONE ROOF

$69.95

THIS WEEKEND ONLY!

NOVI BANQUET SI EVENT CENTER

CELEBRATE

FEBRUARY 14TH & 15TH AT 8PM & FEBRUARY 16TH AT 7PM

YOUR LOVE

ENJOY A ROMANTIC VALENTINES
DINNER AT ANDIAMO

TICKETS ARE $10 EACH WITHOUT DINNER PACKAGE

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS TODAY (248) 348-3838

*Includes Two Entree from our Valentine's Show Menu & Two Comedy Show Tickets. Does not include tax or gratuity. Cannot be purchased
in conjunction with any other special offers or discounts. Other restrictions may apply. Call for reservations and further details.

42705 GRAND RIVER AVE. NOVI, MI 48375

52

February 14 • 2013

PER COUPLE *

JN

I

P: 248.348.3838

I

WWW.ANDIAMOITALIA.COM/NOVI