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A Walled Lake Dining Treasure

Special touches keep customers flocking back to Pepino's.

W

hen a restaurant attains
rainbow trout, its top seller,
success and acceptance, it
plus around 200,000 pounds of
is generally received with
baby back ribs, approximately
crowded attendance.
14,000 gallons of Puerto Rican
As the years pass, a large number of cus- black bean soup, plus gallons
tomers continue to come and are accom-
galore of other soups, etc.
panied by more who hear about it ... This,
Best sellers at Pepino's are
in no small measure, is another bright sign many ... but among the top
in the world of culinary recognition.
ones are its rainbow trout and
And in celebrating its 28th anniversary,
exclusive, made-on-the-spot
it has ceased to taper off in dining audi-
meuniere sauce, chargrilled
ence, which, in many ways, is also a mark
lamb chops with mint jelly,
of restaurant goodness.
petite roadhouse-style frog legs
Pepino's on West Walled Lake Drive,
with house-made remoulade
Walled Lake, has become more than just
sauce and the charbroiled baby back ribs.
another neighborhood restaurant ... Those
Fish and seafood are delivered fresh
who hear about it return for many more
each day at Pepino's, allowing for on-
visits from points near and far.
the-spot clean texture and taste of trout,
It is owned by Kathy Kwiecinski, Carol
whitefish, perch, pickerel, swordfish, stone
Carson and Dr. Chris Hutchinson ... Kathy and soft-shell crab in season, smelt and
and Carol are the daughters of the late
numerous others.
Chef Joe Bernardi (co-owner with late
Pepino's is smart ... It doesn't make peo-
wife, Helen Bernardi), whose wonderful
ple wait too long for their food ... Hungry
original recipes are priceless, along with
diners who must linger extra time usually
new dishes created by Executive Chef
because of the order, can and sometime
Keith Couch and his excellent team ...
do become unhappy customers without a
Joe's advice of keeping all recipes clean
nibble ... Therefore, always the immediate
and simple while
placement of a dish
always using the
of marinated white
freshest, high-quality
beans and basket of
ingredients is strictly
delicious garlic/par-
adhered to in the suc-
mesan cheese toast
cess of Pepino's.
and brown soda bread
Dr. Hutchinson,
filled with raisins,
former defensive
freshly baked daily,
tackle All-American
and bread sticks.
and captain of
One of the most
the University of
important assets of
Kathy Kwiecinski, Dr. Chris
Michigan football
a good restaurant is
Hutchinson and Carol Carson
team in the 1990s,
its service ... Here,
is presently an
too, is where Pepino's
shines brilliantly ... Its servers are price-
emergency room physician at Beaumont
Hospital, Royal Oak ... Kathy is Chris'
lessly good.
mother-in-law and Carol his aunt.
And its very fine general manager/bar-
tender Rick Sinkevic is a highly popular
In 28 years, it is estimated that almost 2
million people have entered Pepino's doors
asset, the favorite of so many people with
to dine on about 350,000 pounds of fresh
those giant drinks he free-pours for every-

one, including those favorite
jumbo martinis, cosmopoli-
tans and margaritas.
Many of the dishes at
Pepino's might be seen on
other menus, but because
almost all are made from
exclusive recipes, they are
hard to compare ... Like the
rainbow trout among other
fish and seafood, braised short
ribs of beef, chargrilled giant
prawns, etc.
Additionally, the delights
not on the menu but also available ...
Sauteed calves liver with onions and
bacon, etc. ... with all orders flexible due
to special requests that require custom
preparation, such as dietary restrictions.
Pepino's is open six days a week ...
Tuesday to Thursday, 5-9; Friday and
Saturday, 5-10; Sunday, 4-8 ... with dining
room seating for 145, 16 at the bar and,
weather permitting, 40 on the outdoor
patio.
Restaurants come and go ... But those
like Pepino's never leave the hearts of
customers who almost always return with
eager anticipation.
CORRECTION ... Steven Lelli's Inn on
the Green in Farmington Hills is closed
Mondays; open Tuesdays-Thursdays,
11-10 ; Fri. 11-11; Sat. 4-11; Sunday 4-9.
EMPLOYEES USED TO join Harry
Kosins in calling their haberdashery
genius Chuck Daly's "Personal Valet" when
Stuart Silber worked at Kosins Clothes in
Lathrup Village ... He was the gent who
picked out shirts and ties that the wonder-
ful basketball coach who led the Detroit
Pistons to consecutive championship years
in 1989 and 1990 wore on those national
sports magazine covers ... Stuart and his
good friend "Dino the Tailor" Mitropoulos
were responsible for Daly being noted
as "the best dressed coach in the entire
National Basketball Association"

Stuart later worked at the Custom Shop
in Birmingham, which, at one time, was
Executive Custom Shirtmakers, owned
by Jewish activist Ernest Drucker, and
loved the name so much that when
Stuart recently opened his own business,
he immediately brought back the name
Executive Custom Shirtmakers ... located
on the second floor of the Jos. A. Bank
building on East Maple, next to Social res-
taurant, Birmingham.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... A little
gent sat in the restaurant eating his lunch
when three burly-looking motorcyclists
decided to have some fun with the little
guy. They sat at his table. One took his
coffee and drank it. Another grabbed his
sandwich and ate it. Another gulped down
his water. Without saying a word, the little
fellow got up, went to the counter, paid his
bill and left.
One of the rough-looking cyclists said
to the waitress, "Did you see that? He sure
isn't much of a man!"
The waitress replied, "He ain't much of a
truck driver, either. He just ran over three
motorcycles in the parking lot!"
CONGRATS ... To Frank Rosner on
his 60th birthday ... To Warren Silverman
on his birthday ... To Martin Diskin on
his 84th birthday ... To Linda Bass on her
50th birthday ... To Dr. Bryan Sofen on
his 30th birthday ... To Marvin Slof on his
88th birthday ... To Elizabeth Applebaum
on her birthday ... To Betty Ellias on her
birthday ... To Judy Grossman on her
birthday ... To Linda Munson on her
birthday ... To Fran Penskar on her 85th
birthday ... To Howard and Susan Dubin
on their 45th anniversary ... To Steve and
Linda Munson on their 42nd anniversary
... To Lou and Evelyn Grant on their 63rd
anniversary. ... (Correction, to Victor
Koblin on his 80th birthday not 85th.) ❑

Danny's email address is

dannyraskin®sbcglobal.net.

Patio Now Open • I

Strolling Wine Event

"Awesome Wine Buys Under $15"

A

Now Taking A
Reservations
for
•
Mother's Day
Brunch Sunday,
May 12th

0,

4

Thursday, May 2 I 7-9pm

Join Sommelier Lisa Ribaudo as we taste through 7 wines from around the globe that share
one special trait; they all retail for under $15 per bottle. Light appetizers will be served out

on our beautiful patio, and special discounts will be offered on all retail wine purchases.

Space is limited - for reservation call (248) 348-3838

$30

54

April 11 • 2013

JN

per person -
all inclusive

NOVI ITALIAN BISTRO

42705 Grand River Ave. Novi MI
andiamoitalia.com
248-348-3838