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Tequila!
Huerto Restaurant & Tequila Bar a big first-year hit.
W
hen friends are together and talk
The first year in the restau-
about having a vision, it is many
rant business is considered the
times just that ... Nothing more
most difficult ... Huerto, as
... But when it eventually becomes a reality
a better-than-good Mexican-
for them it could be a thing of happiness ...
Southwestern eatery, had its
Notably when opening a restaurant.
share of hair-pulling but, like all
Except for one thing ... Whether or not
well-run dining operations, has
the location that is selected is considered
come out with big smiles.
important ... In this case, the site that three
Seating in the dining room is
local gents chose was one that so many
for 80 people ... plus a separate
would say just wasn't a lucky spot ... Didn't at banquet room for 128 ... The
least five other restaurants occupy the same
lounge area seats another 60 plus
locale? ... Sign of the Beefcarver, Chuck
20 stools at the bar.
Daly's Great Northern, West Bloomfield
It is a seven-day operation ... Dining,
Great Northern, Big Daddy's Parthenon, Sea
Monday-Wednesday, 11-11 p.m.; Thursday-
Grille?
Saturday, 11-midnight; Sunday, noon-11
But it was no problem for the present
p.m. ... Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11-3 p.m. ...
owners as Huerto Restaurant and Tequila
Bar, 80 different kinds of Tequilla and crafted
Bar celebrates its first anniversary on
cocktails, is Monday-Wednesday, 11-11;
Orchard Lake Road,
Thursday-Saturday,
north of 15 Mile,
hi 11-1 a.m.; Sunday,
West Bloomfield.
noon-11 p.m.
Many memo-
Huerto's Mexican
ries will be jogged
and Southwestern
in bringing back
menu includes MSG-
Mexican restaurants
free and gluten-free
of yesteryears and
selections ... It is
today on 23rd and
notable that about 98
Bagley and other
percent of the dishes
Detroit locales, but Mark Mendola, Eduardo
are freshly made
Huerto Restaurant & Zaraga
daily, truly a most
Tequila Bar may eas-
significant feature in
ily be among the better ones in the northwest Mexican style of dining.
sector of Metro Detroit
One of its fine appetizers is Huerto's best
"Our dream was to have something dif-
seller ... Flautas, a trio of flour tortillas rolled
ferent" says Eduardo Mayin, co-owner with
with seasoned ground chicken and flash-fried
Safa Zaraga and Mark Mendola, whose origi- to a delicate crunch ... The flautas are served
nal intent was to have an authentic Mexican
on a bed of lettuce, pico, sour cream and
and Southwestern restaurant with its own
guacamole and drizzled with poppers sauce,
character.
cheese and fresh cilantro ... Also, the sizzling
And so they have, with Mexican cuisine
fajita platter of marinated steak, chicken or
one might have enjoyed or heard about in
shrimp, grilled with onions, tomatoes and
varied styles ... But, at Huerto, more so along peppers, served with refried beans, pico de
the coveted lines of genuineness ... This is
gallo, lettuce, cheese, sliced jalapenos, sour
seemingly coupled with modern versions of
cream, guacamole and warm flour tortillas.
authentic styling that have already in its first
Entertainment is at 8 p.m. ... Thursday, DJ
year of existence attained loyal acclaim.
Lou Dimes playing latest rhythms and giving
salsa instruction ... Friday, rota-
tion of live bands ... Saturday,
Toty Viola and Greco Freeman.
In its first year, Huerto
Restaurant & Tequila Bar has
proven that the correct choice
was made for its location ...
Excellent Mexican food to go
with good service in a comfort-
able atmosphere will always
win out with much-appreciated
customer attendance.
LOOKS LIKE supply and
demand may show its ugly price increase
head now that sandwich chains like Subway
and Arby's are making appearances into the
delicatessen field with heavy showings of
corned beef, pastrami, etc.
And while on the deli kick, a 23-year part-
nership at K. Lefkofsky & Vienna Wholesale
Co. in Taylor has agreed to a buyout separa-
tion ... With Dan Lefkofsky looking to retire,
Marty Cook takes over the company in the
distributing of products to numerous delica-
tessens it services.
FATE MAY HAVE had a hand in
the recent first Greek Night by Uptown
Parthenon in Crosswinds Center, Orchard
Lake and Lone Pine roads, West Bloomfield
... Might have been a breakdown in com-
munications, being called for 9 p.m. and
entertainment not getting started until 10:30
p.m. ... But the later time proved to be much
more correct for a Saturday evening with the
ability to sleep in on Sunday.
Belly dancer, trio with gent playing a bou-
zouki, another on an electronic orchestral
music maker and another singing ... all in
very lively rhythms as customers danced,
flaming cheese "Opa!" filled the air, good
Greek food and drink, etc.
And fate also brought together again the
first-night uniting of Tony Hadjisofroniou as
manager and Ted Stavropoulos as server.
NUMEROUS requests to the new owners
of Golden Phoenix restaurant, Sugar Tree
Plaza, Orchard Lake Road, north of 15 Mile,
West Bloomfield, for the addition of Thai
food has been answered in a big way ... Now,
along with the good Chinese lunches and
dinners, are more than 30 choices of Thai
dishes.
Gent in the kitchen putting out the deli-
cious Thai goodies is noted Bing Zhao, father
and father-in-law of boss folks Ada and
Arthur Fung ... Golden Phoenix offering the
fusion of these two cultures is a wise choice.
SIX MONTHS IN MOST instances tells
the story of many new restaurants ... It does
if the eating experiences continue on a suc-
cessful path ... This it seems to be doing
with crowds continuing to come into 5th
Tavern, on Telegraph Road, across from
Costco in Bloomfield Township.
It was opened this past May by George
Lukaj and brothers Jerry and Luis Sanchez,
and is proving to be on a straight road to
success ... George continues to own Georges
on Northwestern in West Bloomfield.
5th Tavern, with its elegant interior, seats
240 in the roomy open dining room ... and
110 in another room that is also used for
overflowing attendees on weekends.
A spacious back room with its own bar
recently feted the victory party of 48th
District Court Judge Kimberly Small, whose
friends, family and co-workers joined her in
the celebration.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... A woman goes
to the butcher and asks the price of ground
chuck ... "$4.50 a pound" he tells her.
"But the shop across the street sells it for
$3.50 a pound," she protests.
"So go buy from across the street" says the
butcher.
"He's all out" she explains.
"Oh," says the butcher, "when I'm out of
ground chuck it's only $1.50 a pound"
CONGRATS ... To Leonard Moss on
his birthday ... To Denise Ilitch on her
birthday.
❑
Danny's email address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobalmet.
COME JOIN US FOR THANKSGIVING!
4;1
44:
THANKSGIVING BUFFET 11AM -8PM
Adults
Kids (10 and Under)
0:11_11 - c
rArcrW‘?...1\11<i.
$24.99 $12.99
Serving Traditional Carved Turkey
with All the Trimmings!
Appetizers • Cold Dips • Cold Salads
Lamb Chops
Pastas
Chicken
Fresh Fruit NIk
Greek Favorites Pumpkin and Apple Pies
(as s
< U I I tJ
40380 Grand River • Novi • Call Now for Reservations & Seating Times 248.615.2102 • Bigtommys.com
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011
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Between Haggerty & Meadowbrook on the north side
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November 20 • 2014
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