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'I'll Buy!'
Royal Oak's Mt. Chalet hitting casual dining home runs.
I
n the late 1980s, after their softball
modernistic touch ... which
game, the Durst Lumber team many
was done ... Three large, par-
times would go to the little neighbor-
titioned windows now face
hood bar for perhaps a bowl of chili and a
Woodward ... The walls and
burger.
wooden floor, etc., have been
First baseman Harvey Berman often
changed ... and only that origi-
jokingly asked the owner if he wanted
nal ceiling remains.
to sell the place, and the answer would
An outdoor patio was added
always be, "No" ... Until one day, the
three years ago seating 40 ...
owner asked, "Are you kidding?"
bringing a total that includes
And Harvey then became a restaurateur
65 more in the main room and
... owner of Mt. Chalet on the southwest
12 stools at a well-stocked bar.
corner of Woodward and 14 Mile Road,
Nothing pretentious about
Royal Oak, that had been there about 80
Mt. Chalet ... in its upscale
years ... Then, a broken-down bar with no version of yesteryears ... Comfortable ...
windows, seedy-looking ceiling and walls,
and far from being the shot-and-a-beer
etc. ... But one that Harvey and the boys
place that used to be.
enjoyed so much.
The former burger and very short menu
It is 21 years since Harvey and his sister
was upgraded to include 12 appetiz-
Annette Berman took over ... He knew
ers, five salads, soups, eight sandwiches
absolutely nothing about the bar or restau- from a Reuben to chicken cordon bleu to
rant business ... Harvey and his cousins
Philly cheese steak, etc. ... plus entrees
were operating the family's Mastercraft
that include shrimp and chicken pasta,
Leather Co., which took up all his time.
whitefish and shrimp, etc. ... Even gour-
Annette, who did some bookkeeping for
met sliders served with French fries ...
the leather company, had been a waitress
Piedmontese, cod, ahi tuna, etc.
at a restaurant in Keego Harbor and as
Wouldn't be the same without chili,
the new co-partner, was immediately put
said by many to be better than before,
in charge to run Mt.
and burgers that folks
Chalet.
can now build as they
In 1999, Harvey and
like them ... plus daily
Annette gutted the
specials on both food
place with its dingy
and drink ... all bearing
look of no windows,
the label of home-style
sloping floor, dull walls,
goodness.
etc. ... Three drop ceil-
Extremely popular
ings were removed and,
items are the New York
lo and behold, there
strip, Maurice salad,
was the original ceiling
New England gumbo,
that years ago had been
mac 'n' cheese and burg-
Brother and sister Harvey
damaged.
ers.
Berman and Annette Berman
The look of today's
"Our Mt. Chalet is
Mt. Chalet is somewhat
now a cozy, comfortable,
versatile, homey and fun environment:'
of a replica of that little bar but certainly
not with its former limited food menu
said Annette. "It is a bar/restaurant where
... The brother and sister wanted to keep
people just keep wanting to come back to.
the appearance, however, with a heavy
Over decades, since built in the 1900s, it
Book one
01 our
has quietly become legendary"
It is open seven days a
week ... Monday-Saturday, 11
a.m.-2 a.m.; Sundays, noon-
midnight.
In Mt. Chalet, Harvey and
Annette Berman have done
a wonderful job in giving so
many people the type of clean
bar/restaurant they have long
searched for and look upon as
their own discovery.
MORE EVIDENCE of "food"
blood flowing in the family
veins is the lineage of young gentleman
Noah Dorfman, whose Torino restaurant
in Ferndale was named Detroit Free Press
2014 Restaurant of the Year and is highly
touted by the Detroit News and Crain's ...
His father, Joel Dorfman, and late mother,
Carol, were owners of Thorn Apple Valley
... Noah's late grandparents Henry and
Mala Dorfman founded Thorn Apple Valley.
ANOTHER ALWAYS TERRIFIC
... Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf
Invitational is this coming Monday,
June 9, at Franklin Hills Country Club,
Farmington Hills ... You can attend just
the dinner and sports panel following golf,
with honoree Tony La Russa and others
answering questions and giving some fun
repartee ... And if his schedule permits,
former Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leland
says that he will hopefully be there with
his very close friend and former fellow
World Series manager La Russa.
David Blatt, executive director of the
Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation, big
daddy of the charitable Hank Greenberg Golf
Invitational and Michigan Jewish Sports Hall
of Fame, is the new assistant coach of the
Colorado Rockies baseball team.
What? ... You never heard of the Pinto
Little League and that his and wife Hedy's
grandson, 7-year-old Sawyer Cooney, is
the Rockies' star third baseman at the Way
Elementary School field in Bloomfield
stunning private dining rooms for your next event.
Our Executive Chef and Culinary Team
will create the perfect menu
for your occasion.
Ca. " to 15ajta
. yeah
6545 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD. I WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322
WWW..R ME29STEA<HOUSE.0
PRIME 29
STEAKS - SEAFOOD - COCKTAILS
52
June 5 • 2014
[ 248-737-7463
Showers I Luncheons
Family or Business Events
Rehearsal Dinners I Customizable Menu
Township?
And you never knew that when David
"Ace" Blatt was 11 years old, he was a
star pitcher on a Little League team in
Huntington Woods?
Well, then you should know that golf-
ing at the Greenberg is all sold out ... But
you can still be at the dinner and enjoy the
always wonderful and entertaining festivi-
ties this coming Monday with La Russa,
WJBK-TV Sports Director Dan Miller,
panel emcee, etc. ... Call David, the former
strike-out king, at (248) 592-9323.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT....
Avrahom and Leah are fed up living in
a city apartment and decide to move to
the suburbs. Three weeks after the move,
Avrahom meets his friend Howard.
"So how's life treating you out in the
suburbs?" asks Howard with a smile.
"Azoy," replies Avrahom. "But don't
think it's easy for us city folks to move to
the suburbs. I personally found it very
difficult, and I was very depressed for the
first few weeks. But, I'm OK now"
"So how did you manage to get over
your depression?" asks Howard.
"Simple says Avrahom, "I got myself a
paramour."
"Oy veh," says Howard, "does Leah know?"
"Of course Leah knows:' replies Avrahom.
"What?" says Howard. "You've got a par-
amour and Leah doesn't care?"
"Of course not:' says Avrahom. "Why
should Leah care how I cut our lawn?"
CONGRATS ... To Zena Hosley on her
birthday ... To Newton Berlin on his birth-
day ... To Mickey Bakst on his birthday ...
To Angelo Georgizas on his birthday ... To
Sheryl Cohen on her 65th birthday ... To
Melvin and Marilyn Rothenberg on their
61st anniversary ... To Norman and Belle
Waldron on their 67th anniversary ... To
Gary and Barbara Pollack on their 45th
anniversary. ❑
Danny's email is dannyraskin®sbcglobal.net .