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Ann Arbor Gem

Family-owned Weber's restaurant and hotel offers classic food, style.

I

t stands today in gracious opulence as
Road off 1-94, exit 172, Weber's
one of Michigan's finest restaurant and Restaurant and Hotel has a new
hotel operations.
entrance to the hotel that boasts
When people speak of Weber's Restaurant of a dramatic porte cochere (cov-
and Hotel in Ann Arbor, it is with much
ered driveway arch), remodeled
reverence for this widely admired institu-
Habitat Lounge and dining
tion.
room entrance ... The strik-
But it was not always like this ...
ingly beautiful building facade
Certainly, its late founder Herman Weber
includes material chosen to cre-
may never have even attempted to dream
ate a dramatic, visual impact.
that one day his little Hi-Speed Inn on the
Weber's is still independently
outskirts of Ann Arbor in 1937 would attain family-owned and presently
such glory as it does today.
run by Herman and Sonja's son
It originally sat only about 40 people,
Ken, president, and Ken's son Michael, vice-
where Herman cooked and bused tables
president.
and, while in his white apron, sometimes
People come from everywhere to dine at
poured gas from the two Hi-Speed Gas
Weber's, whose food today is acclaimed by
pumps outside.
many as better than ever ... and where it
Herman lived to see that little beginning
has always been Weber's way of continuing
grow into one of the finest independent,
its wonderful relations with much pride by
family-owned restaurant and hotel proper-
not price-gouging its customers.
ties in the country ... A Weber's that has
Seating is for 311 inside the restaurant
many times been the recipient of four stars
and 44 outside, plus 52 in the lounge and 26
by Mobil Travel Guide and the AAA Four
at the bar.
Diamond Award among numerous other
Dining service, on elegant china dish-
honors.
ware upon white linen tablecloths
and white linen napkins, is by
As a full-service restaurant, it
was originally called Weber's, then
graciously smiling waitpersons
Weber's Supper Club ... By the
wearing black slacks and white,
mid-'50s, "Supper Club" had been
oxford-cloth shirts.
dropped from its name, which
Classic American dinners
again became just plain Weber's.
like excellent prime rib au jus, a
Herman and wife, Sonja, wanted
house-specialty since 1950, that is
to make an investment in a new
slow-roasted with special blends
Ken We ber
location that would be within the
of herbs and spices ... Also, dishes
west Ann Arbor city limits, and
that not too many, if any, other
acquired seven acres at the then-
restaurants may have, including a
new 1-94, exit 172 ... In 1963, Weber's
wonderful Salmon Oregon wrapped with
restaurant opened at the new site ... after a
a salmon mousse center and served with
$250,000 investment as the all-new Weber's
creamed corn, red onion marmalade and
Grand Cafe.
mashed potatoes ... Exceptional menu
Gone was the one-time look of a hotel
items like Trout Almondine, oven-broiled
restaurant that had the appearance of an
whitefish, Atlantic salmon, crab legs ...
old German chalet ... Today, more than $4
Live Maine lobster, steamed, broiled or
million later, at its same location on Jackson Thermidor-recipe, or with an imperial crab

BIST 0 8

ROYAL

stuffing, topped with baked
crab ... and so much more.
Outstanding steak features
include 8-ounce filet mignon,
14-ounce New York strip and
rib-eye that are all aged 28 days
... London broil is marinated,
chargrilled and thinly-sliced ...
18-ounce T-bones are also a big
favorite.
There is little doubt why so
many people will often travel
far and near for outstanding
dining experiences as presented by Weber's,
whose culinary presentations include week-
ly servings of 850 pounds of prime rib, 60
pounds of whitefish, etc. within daily hours
of Monday, 6:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Tuesday-
Thursday, 6:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Friday,
6:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.;
Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Weber's Restaurant and Hotel is an
amazing tribute to its late founder,
Herman Weber, who, after seeing it now
might have said, "I don't believe it. Then
again, maybe I do, with Ken and Mike
running the show"
READERS WHO MANY times ask
where they can get good or authentic food
of India may want to try heeding the sug-
gestions of Dr. Ashok Gupta, who greatly
enjoys ordering and eating his native dishes
... Dr. Gupta's favorite restaurants of India
are ... Rangoli, near Oakland University,
Rochester ... and Punjab Sweets on
Orchard Lake Road off 13 Mile, near ABC
Warehouse, Farmington Hills.
MANY PEOPLE ask why we have
never told of Village Family Restaurant
on Michigan and Beck Road, Canton ...
They are correct in mentioning that it is
considered among the best family restau-
rants around ... with a wide range of good
dining fare ... Owners Bechara and Janette
Barghout take much pride in their dining

operation and are one of the few eateries
that serve natural chicken, turkey and beef.
WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ... The
freshly made-on-premises jelly served at
Pickles & Rye Deli, Orchard Lake Road,
between 14 and 15 Mile ... Makes quite an
impression to many who tolerate the jelly
that comes in little cartons.
RECENT NEWS ABOUT the David Stott
Building Downtown being bought by Dan
Gilbert's Bedrock Corp. is heartwarming
... It was the second home of the Detroit
Jewish News, following first offices in the
Penobscot Building ... The latter is now
owned by a Toronto group ... So many
wonderful memories.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... Joe is
in dire trouble. His business has gone bust,
and he is in financial trouble. Joe is so des-
perate he decides to ask God for help.
"Please help me:' he prays. "I've lost my
business, and if I don't get some money, I
don't know what I'll do. Please help me win
the lottery"
Lottery night comes, and somebody else
wins it. Joe again prays, "God, please let me
win the lottery. I'm losing everything"
Lottery night comes and still no luck.
Once again he prays, "My God, why have
you forsaken me? I've lost my business and
my house. I don't often ask you for help.
Please just let me win the lottery this one
time so I can get my life back:'
Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light
as the heavens open and Joe is confronted
by God, Himself, who says, "Joe, meet me
halfway on this. Buy a ticket:'
CONGRATS ... To Pamela "Pam" Turner
on her birthday ... To Hedy Blatt on her
birthday ... To Sharon Green on her birthday
... To Dennis Wolgin on his 70th birthday ...
To Mel Selfinger on his 87th birthday.

❑

Danny's email address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

SUNDAY BRUNCH IS BACK!

View the menu at www.bistro82.com
or reservations, call 248.542.0082

61.

401 S. Lafayette4Ave. Royal Oak, MI • 248.542.0082 • Bistro82.com

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June 11 • 2015

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