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Tequila!

New Mexican restaurant attracts large crowds in West Bloomfield.

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OTPOURRI ...
After a quiet, dinner-only
event, possibly more to train
its employees and acquaint them with
the menu, Huerto Mexican Restaurant
& Tequila Bar recently began operations
with a grand opening for lunch and dinner
seven days a week.
Huerto is located at the West Bloomfield
site of the former Big Daddy's and Sea
Grille ... Orchard Lake Road north of 15
Mile.
Like all new restaurant operations, there
is still some tweaking being worked out ...
And with highly experienced ownership,
those elements will probably be changed
for the better.
The opening crowds have been huge,
with Huerto's large kitchen continually
backed up with orders and servers rushing
around to fill them.
Regarding the site's former incarnations,
Huerto is beyond recognition ... The only
familiar decor that seems to be retained
is the main dining room fireplace ... Even
that is changed with inclusion of a false
bison head.
The main dining room seats about 170
at tables, four-tops and a couple of booths
... Also, another 80 at the spacious out-
door patio.
The Mexican version of chicken rice
soup is interesting, as is a deep-fried
cheesecake ... Of course, the true Mexican
dishes are prevalent ... And touches of
American foods like burgers, BLTs, coco-
nut shrimp, etc.
Nice to see owners like Eduardo Mayin
and Safa Zaraga working the floor and
assisting servers and other employees in
their chores ... Also looking good are the
prices, which have been kept at a mini-
mum.
Huerto Restaurant & Tequila Bar makes
a positive impression.
YOU CAN'T KEEP a good restaurant
man away ... Not when eatery blood still

flows heavily in his veins ...
And so Matt Prentice rises
again.
This time he will do a triple-
header of openings ... The
former Deli Unique on Orchard
Lake Road, West Bloomfield,
is expected to open in late
November and be named Matt
Prentice's Artisan Deli, featur-
ing Jewish deli food and fare
with an ultra-modern touch
rarely, if ever, seen before.
Matt will also open two Socialight Bistro
Bar and Cigar Lounge operations this
year ... in the West Bloomfield Shops at
Haggerty and Maple and in the Fountain
Walk Shopping Center, off 12 Mile, west of
Novi Road in Novi.
IT HAS BEEN at the same location for
30 years and celebrates its anniversary
as another fine neighborhood restaurant
that has weathered the economic storm ...
This and the Ford plant's closing across the
street were heavy setbacks.
But the economy
has gotten much
better, and Leon's
of Wixom Family
Dining, South
Wixom Road,
between 1-96 and
Pontiac Trail, can
look with large
expectations to the
shopping center
with national names
scheduled to open in
the spring of 2014.
Prices are still low, and the food is the
home-cooked style for which such eater-
ies are noted ... Meatloaf, turkey, steak,
shrimp, barbecued ribs, whitefish, roasted
chicken, etc. ... All include soup or salad,
smashed or baked potatoes or fries, veg-
etable and house-made rolls.
Owner Moe Leon, who also has Moe's

on Ten in Novi, makes all the
soups, including his popular
chicken, cream of broccoli,
tomato basil, etc.
Leon's is open for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, seven days
a week ... plus Saturday and
Sunday for brunch, 8 a.m.-2
p.m.
And what would a family
dining restaurant be without
a children's menu of chicken
fingers, burgers, etc.?
Neighborhood restaurants like Leon's
of Wixom Family Dining are favorite
standbys, and Leon's 30 years of continued
family satisfaction is a credit to its fine
reputation.
A WISE DECISION in restaurant own-
ership was made by Cholada "Nancy" Chan
by closing her Shangri-La of Farmington
Hills on Middlebelt and 12 Mile.
Cholada decided that, at the present
moment, she will concentrate her efforts
on her Shangri-La West Bloomfield in the
Orchard Mall and her Shangra-La on Cass
in Midtown Detroit.
BIG STANDOUT at New Hellas Greek
restaurant on Northwestern Highway,
Farmington Hills has people oohing in rec-
ognition from the heydays of Greektown
... It's the tender and juicy braised lamb
in a tomato sauce with choice of rice pilaf,
potatoes, peas or green beans ... The out-
standing authentic dish is a favorite in
Greece.
READER MINI REVIEW ... by Michael
Hermanoff ... "In Charlevoix, where we
spend so much of our time, my wife,
Sandy, and I recommend these fine casual
restaurants:
"Terry's, with a menu chock full of
choice things to eat with total enjoyment.
"Scovie's Gourmet on Bridge Street, with
perch and innovative soups that people
rave about.
"The Roquette Burger Bistro on Park,

with what we feel are the best burgers
anywhere.
"Edgewater Bistro on Bridge, with fresh
lobsters prepared in several different ways,
luscious and creamy mac and cheese,
bananas Foster pancakes and so many
other delicious things made from scratch.
"Jim Sinonsen's Bakery on the corner
of Bridge and Park, with its tantalizing
pancakes for breakfast, huge cookies in
various flavors, delicious sandwiches and
other eye bulgers
"Cafe Sante isn't in Charlevoix but only
15 minutes away in Boyne City, with a
very intriguing menu including Old World
classic European recipes with home-grown
vegetables. Our veal with fresh morels was
wonderful, our pizzas very creative, and
the pasta we had was made that same day."
DISH DELISH DEPT. ... Thinly sliced
veal piccata with wine sauce and slices of
lemon ... at Steven Lelli's Inn on the Green
... 12 Mile between Halsted and Haggerty,
Farmington Hills.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... A man was
chosen for jury duty who really wanted to
be dismissed from serving. He tried every
excuse he could think of, but none of them
worked. On the day of the trial, he decided
to give it one more shot.
As the trial was about to begin he asked
if he could approach the bench.
"Your honor:' he said, "I must be
excused from this trial because I am preju-
diced against the defendant. I took one
look at the man in the blue suit with those
beady eyes and that dishonest face and I
said, 'He's a crook! He's guilty!' So, your
honor, I cannot possibly stay on this jury!"
With a tired annoyance, the judge
replied, "Get back in the jury box, you
fool. That man is the defendant's lawyer"
CONGRATS ... To Scott Raskin on his
birthday ... To Sharon Schultz on her birth-
day ... To Rose Light on her birthday.

❑

Danny's email is dannyraskingsbcglobalmet.

When you book your holiday event
Now - November 21, 2013
Contact Florina Boyle, Director of
Catering & Events at 248-348-3838

Discount does not apply to events already booked or events
other than holiday celebrations. Offer not valid with any other
discounts, promotions or coupons.

andiamoitalia

42705 GRAND RIVER AVE. I NOVI, MI 48375 I 248-348-3838

46 October 24 • 2013

