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Not So 'Little' Any More!

Little Daddy's grows to four locations, expands menu choices.

A

lthough the restaurant origi-
nally opened 17 years ago, the
difference was so drastic when
it changed hands two years later that its
current anniversary is noted as its 15th
birthday.
The original Little Daddy's that opened
on Northwestern and Inkster in Applegate
Shopping Center, Southfield, was noth-
ing more than a glorified Coney Island
operation with semblances of Greek dish
influence.
Its Greek symbol still shows on the out-
side sign, and continued to be served are
the good Coney Islands with regular or
Hebrew National kosher hot dogs, Greek
salad and smatterings of Greek specialties.
But the differences of today are strik-
ingly apparent as Little Daddy's makes its
mark as a full-fledged family restaurant
that is miles apart from its previous incar-
nation.
The first two years of the 17 were more
or less Coney Island-style so as not to be in
competition with Big Daddy's Parthenon,
in which the owners were also involved.
Today's menu at Little Daddy's Family
Restaurant is the
difference between
daylight and eve-
ning darkness ...
since being taken
over by the Colton
family of Domestic
Linen prominence
... Leonard, Bruce,
David and their sis-
ter, Marilyn Weiss
Leonard Colton
... with Leonard its
working partner.
The double-cut tender and succulent
lamb chops now at Little Daddy's for
example, were not served during the first
two years ... After the Coltons bought it
completely, Little Daddy's added these and
other dishes that Big Daddy's might have
featured.

But this is not a Greek res-
taurant ... There is now even
solid and delicious stuffed cab-
bage hand-ground and hand-
rolled from the recipes of their
grandmother, Helen Liebson
... And its own made-on-
premises meatloaf, salmon pat-
ties, chicken pot pie, chicken
soup (Saturday and Sunday),
cabbage soup, etc.
Also, true honest-to-
goodness roasted-in-house
turkey (not pressed and rolled) for dinner,
sandwiches or served hot with gravy and
potatoes.
Although not a Greek restaurant, there
is an Opa Burger that is grilled and then
presented with a flame ... And it also has
a personal Tommy Salad, which name it
owns along with Big Daddy's.
This is just an example of the large
selections that are featured daily by Little
Daddy's.
Big thing has to be the healthy and
ultra-clean operation ... that includes no
less than about 20 salads, including the
Mediterranean Salad brought back from
Paris by Leonard or its own version of a
noted salad Leonard had at Chin Chins in
Los Angeles, etc., plus a wonderful shrimp
salad among the amazing array.
The addition, 12 years ago, of Corporate
Chef Keith Dysarczyk from stints at
Wabeek Country Club, Alban's and
Franklin Grille has done wonders ...
There are now four Little Daddy's Family
Restaurants ... Southfield, Bloomfield
Hills, Taylor and, most recently, Livonia,
which formerly housed the closed New Big
Daddy's.
A good family restaurant is always
there for everyone to enjoy at breakfast,
lunch and dinner ... Little Daddy's on
Northwestern Highway is open seven days
a week ... Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
and Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m.-9

PRIME 29

p.m. ... Seating is for about
180 including six stools at a
counter.
No fancy napkins or frilly
looks ... The low prices reflect
this consumer savings.
It is noteworthy, too, that
all fish is delivered and served
fresh, not frozen ... not even
the beautiful lake perch or
whitefish, barramundi, salm-
on, tilapia, etc.
There is much reason for
Little Daddy's to celebrate its 15th anniver-
sary ... The distinct changes have resulted
in a successful operation of which the
Colton family can certainly be proud.
IN MANY INSTANCES, it would prob-
ably take a highly talented chef to have
the valued ability of going from one style
in food preparation and presentation to
another ... This is why one like Jeremy
Grandon, chef/owner with wife/general
manager, Paula, of what will become
the former Jeremy Restaurant in Keego
Harbor can change its finer dining eatery
ideals to those of a very casual style in a
forthcoming new restaurant and concept.
This change in dining, slated to happen
the latter part of this year, will not be dif-
ficult for him.
Being a graduate of the Culinary
Institute of America (CIA) gives Jeremy
a distinct advantage ... His training and
cooking talents, no doubt, include casual
dining presentations as well as finer fare.
Jeremy Restaurant, as is, will remain
open only through this Saturday, May 3,
5-9:30 p.m. ... and sometime this fall is
expected to reappear with a new name and
concept.
NEW RESTAURANT expected to open
today, Prime 10 Catering & Cuisine, on
10 Mile and Greenfield, Southfield, is
far from being any relation to Prime 29
Steakhouse & Seafood on 15 Mile, just east
of Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield.

Prime 10 gets its name from "prime
location and 10 Mile" ... Prime 29 is from
its steaks being aged 29 days before being
prepared and served.
Also ... and no small reason ... Prime
10 is kosher, under supervision of the
Council of Orthodox Rabbis.
Prime 10, along with Shirlee Bloom's
Kosher Catering & Carry-Out, is on 10
Mile, just west of Greenfield, behind the
New Orleans Mall ... It is the former loca-
tion of Dubb's Country Kitchen, Sara's
Kosher Delicatessen, etc.
WHEN THE NATIONAL Tour of
American Idol makes its trip this year,
too bad that Sam Woolf and company
will bypass the tri-county Detroit area ...
He was born and raised here by parents
Dr. Roy and Jackie Woolf ... and is the
grandson of late localites Sammy and
Ann Woolf ... The tour will, however, be
in Windsor.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... Three
sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house
together. One night, the 96-year-old draws
a bath. She puts one foot in and pauses.
Then yells down the stairs, "Was I getting
in or out of the bath?"
The 94-year-old yells back, "I don't
know. I'll come up and see." She starts up
the stairs and pauses. Then yells, "Was I
going up the stairs or down?"
The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen
table having tea, listening to her sisters.
She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope
I never get that forgetful."
She knocks on wood for good measure,
and yells, "I'll come up and help both of
you as soon as I see who is at the door."
CONGRATS ... To Alan Must on his
birthday ... To Illana Greenberg on her
birthday ... To Dharlene Norris on her
birthday ... To Robert "Rob" Sklar on his
birthday.

❑

Danny's email address is

dannyraskingsbcglobalmet.

&come iftga-t74 ottioPiete

STEAKS • SEAFOOD • COCKTAILS

ENJOY OUR MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH
OR DINNER MENU ON MAY 11

We are opening early at 1 1:00 am on this special day.

1110

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6545 ORCHARD LAKE RD. WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322

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May 1 • 2014

JN