arts & entertainment >> the best of everything Pickles And Rye New restaurant takes seed at former Deli Unique in West Bloomfield. p OTPOURRI It is definitely established that the new Pickles and Rye Deli will soon open in the former location of Deli Unique, on Orchard Lake Road, in the West Bloomfield Shopping Center, south of 15 Mile Road. Tentative opening is in May. "I, along with my partner, Linda Collins, are the new owners and are currently in the development and conceptual stage says Rick Therrien, presently director of restaurant operations for the D Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and former direc- tor of operations for the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group ... Linda Collins is the former director of training for the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group and, most recent- ly, the Andiamo Restaurant Group. "For rumor's sake, we have no affiliation what- soever with any former owners:' Rick Therrien says Rick. WHEN IS A CIGAR bar not a cigar bar, so to speak, or whatever ... In the case of the Socialight Cigar Lounge & Bistro that recently opened on Haggerty, north of Maple, West Bloomfield, it seems to be both a fine dining operation and cigar bar. Whichever, it is certainly a very unusual type of restaurant ... with a major portion of the dining spot non-smoking, including the bar and an outdoor patio soon slated to be built. Its cigar room is completely walled off like a separate entity and diners that do not smoke can enjoy the restaurant seem- ingly like they might a regular non-smok- ing dining venture. Also, contrary to most cigar bars, the healthy affordable food menu appears to be somewhat geared for the ladies, with six salads, three soups, chicken, shrimp, eggplant, lasagna, ravioli, salmon, a seafood trio, steak filet and a half- dozen desserts ... With veg- etarian, vegan and gluten-free options ... and wine, beer and cocktail menus. IT MAY BE a full-service, authentic Greek restau- rant, but New Hellas on Northwestern Highway, Farmington Hills, is no slouch at the few American favorites it serves. Every Friday, for example, from 3-11 p.m., it features a 16-ounce prime rib dinner with meat cut the same day and cooked to order ... $24.95, including din- ner salad, baked potato and green beans. DANDY DINING DEAL ... One half roasted chicken ... Includes soup or salad, vegetable and choice of potato ... $6.95 ... 10 days only, Thursday, Feb. 27- Saturday, March 8 ... Siegel's Deli, 15 Mile Road, just west of Haggerty, Commerce Township. ALTHOUGH IT IS known to never discount its high-quality food, Saturdays have become different from 4-5 p.m. ... 35 percent off all food served is now featured during this one hour at Bacco Ristorante, Northwestern Highway, Southfield. Bacco Dining Room Manager Ray Hanson is a longtime favorite of Detroiters, one of his stops being at the original London Chop House during its heyday and 15 years as director of opera- tions at Tom's Oyster Bar, etc. ... Its new wine expert and sommelier, Massimiliano Caldini, comes from the fine Da Silvano e Morandi restaurant in New York. MAIL DEPT.... "We recently had dinner at the Fox Grill [Woodward, LUNCH & DINNER SPECIALS • CHICKEN PAPRIKASH • POLISH COMBO • SZEKELEY GOULASH • HUNGARIAN GOULASH • HUNGARIAN BEEF TIPS • MACEDONIAN MIXED GRILL • BEEF STROGANOFF - 1570 OFF YOUR TOTAL FOOD BILL With Coupon. Exp. 3.27.14 2033 Coolidge Hwy. Berkley, MI 48072 Telephone: 248.691.4441 Fax: 248.691.4495 HOURS: Mon- Fri 11 am - 8:00pm Sat 9am - 8:00pm • Closed Sunday 60 February 27 • 2014 JN Bloomfield Hills] and were highly pleased with our food choices. Among our group this evening, we enjoyed choices of prime rib meatloaf with mush- room gravy, a fine New York strip steak with a very tasty zip sauce and high-quality lump crab cakes that were presented with a well-chosen mustard sauce. The wine selections are large, and the wait persons very helpful." ... Doctor's Gourmet Group. QUESTION & ANSWER Dept. ... "We were regular customers of the Big Daddy's when it was on Orchard Lake Road [West Bloomfield] and were among so many who were sad when it closed. We never did know why it closed after so many years and have often wondered why. Did you ever know the reason? ... Sylvia and Joe Skedman. [Some said that a steady decline of the former Big Daddy's Parthenon Greek res- taurant was because of numerous reasons. Possibly among them the split-up of part- ners Tom Peristeris and Rick Rogow.] MAKING ROUNDS ... To Heroes Bar-Q & Brew, West Huron, Waterford, for Greek pasta with chicken ... To Sushi Samurai, Orchard Lake Road, Orchard Lake Township, for Crunch Roll ... To Antonio's Cucina Italiana, 12 Mile and Halsted, Farmington Hills, for Antonio Chicken. AFTER THREE journeys as restau- rants, the former site of Chili's, RJ's American Grille and Detroit Prime will undergo a change of course for its new inhabitants ... March 15 is expected to be the groundbreaking for a 107-room Holiday Inn Express near the pres- ent New Hellas Greek restaurant on Northwestern Highway, south of 14 Mile Road, Farmington Hills. It will be locally owned by private inves- tors ...and the second hotel slated to open in the area ... Hampton Inn is anticipated to develop on Northwestern Highway, just east of Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, former location of Dunham's and Mobil. OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... Many years ago, a Jewish lady was stranded at a fashionable resort that did not admit Jews and asked for a room. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, but the hotel is full." "But your sign says that you have vacan- cies:' said the lady. The desk clerk stammered and then said curtly, "We do not admit Jews:' "I'll have you know I converted to your religion:' she said. The desk clerk said, "Oh yeah, let me give you a little test. How was Jesus born?" "He was born to a virgin named Mary in a little town called Bethlehem. And he was born in a manger; she said. "That's right:' said the hotel clerk. "And why was he born in a manger?" "Because the Jewish lady said, "a jerk like you in the hotel wouldn't give a Jewish lady a room for the night!" CONGRATS ... (Senders to the Congrats Dept. must include their name and phone number along with the person's birthday date or anniversary number, or it cannot be used.) ... To Matthew "Matt" Raskin on his 27th birthday ... To Michelle Sheridan on her birthday ... To Brian "Husky" Herskovic on his 36th birthday ... To Jeremy Brand on his 59th birthday ... To Melvin "Mel" and Sybil Markowitz on their 56th anniversary. ❑ Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. 10% OFF TOTAL BILL Excludes tax, tip and beverages. With this ad. Banquet Services not included. Dine in or Carry out. Expires 3/13/14 c-re Brass Pointe H},- /e- f Air 24234 Orchard Lake Rd., N.E. corner of 10 Mile •• 476-137 Open 7 Days a week for lunch & dinner 1900160