FOOD
FOODIE
Big Tommy's
Parthenon
By Esther Allweiss Ingber
know about you, but I've got
wonderful memories of hanging
Don't
out in Greektown
during the late
1960s and '70s. The Monroe Street dis
trict in Downtown Detroit bustled with
great
restaurants and other tenants in
atmosphere decidedly more Greek
than it is today.
I'm glad to report finding the same
an
delicious, authentic fare served up
in hearty portions at Andy and Elena
Stylianou's Big Tommy's Parthenon, a
restaurant-bar in Novi.
The Greektown pedigree is for real.
The Stylianous, married 20 years with
three children, met as co-workers at
her father's New Parthenon restaurant
in
Greektown, the successor to Tommy
Peristeris' Old Parthenon. Several cooks
who worked for Peristeris prepare his
classic recipes at Big Tommy's Parthe
non.
Elena's dad went on to operate
the former Big Daddy's restaurant on
Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield,
while his
original
Little
Daddy's location
remains in business
on
Northwestern
Highway in Southfield.
Andy's relatives also owned family
restaurants, so being on premises is
the lifestyle he and Elena grew up with.
As Big Tommy's owner-managers for
nearly three years, they and their staff
make customers feel welcome.
Big Tommy's formerly was a Leo's
Coney Island and the dancing Manhat
moussaka (made with egg
plant), a stuffed grape leaf
and vegetable of the day. We also
split
Big T's Original Parthenon Salad, a pe
rennial favorite that includes tomatoes,
beets, Feta cheese, olives and more. The
salad is served with its trademark dill
enhanced creamy dressing.
We had
much to eat, but as Elena
said, "Greeks have large portions so you
can take food home for the next day.
Club before that. Today's spacious
dining room is dotted with television
screens. Framed sports pictures and
memorabilia hang on the walls. Bare
tan
Just like
tables at lunchtime lend an unpreten
tious feeling, while cloth tablecloths
and napkins come out each evening
for more formal dining. Some guests
currently choose to sit at wrought-iron
on the patio. Additionally, a ban
tables
with separate entrance can
accommodate up to 200.
Are you ready to hear about the fresh,
quet
offers the sauteed lamb
along with spinach pie,
room
Greek food?
so
family:'
Big Tommy's offers variety for inde
cisive guests with its special appetizer
plate ($12.99). The sampler consists of
sliced gyro, spinach triangle, fried cala
mari, boureki (cheese pie), spinach leaf
and chicken meatball, better described
as a full-flavored Greek chicken patty.
Saganaki
tableside
-
Kasseri cheese flamed at
(just say:"Opa!")
-
is another
mouthwatering
I adore Big Tommy's lamb shanks, so
popular appetizer.
tender that the meat falls off the bone.
Lamb is ordered with a side, such as
peas, rice, potatoes or green beans (my
salads, sandwiches and burgers served
on artisan-style buns, Big Tommy's
offers several fish, chicken and pasta
favorite since Greektown), and a deli
cious tomato-on ion-herb sauce covers
all.
At lunch recently, my friend Sue and I
shared the Combo Plate ($13.99), which
dishes. Three
Elena herself bakes the restau-
rant's standout Parthenon cake, her
grandmother's recipe featuring layers
of pineapple sponge and pudding
custard. It's been ordered for wedding
cakes. Baklava and rice pudding are
other house-made desserts. I'm not
but couldn't get enough
of the creamy white stuff topped with
plump cherries in a syrup.
Michigan-made wine is part of the
full-service bar, as well as "Happy Hour"
discounts from 3-6 p.m.
Big Tommy's, open daily for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, offers brunch special
ties on Saturdays and Sundays till 2:30.
Also
on
weekends is
a
live
comedy club
downstairs. Admission is $15 at 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, or pay $10 addi
tional for the dinner-show
package. RT
In addition to the extensive array of
double-split and marinat
ed center-cut lamb chops are a favorite
lunch
from the broiler. Dinner and
specials are available if the full
menu
isn't
entree
BIG TOMMY'S PARTHENON
40380 Grand River
Novi, MI48375
(248) 615-2102
www.bigtommys.com
$$ 112
out of
$$$$
quite enough.
COME VISIT OUR OUTSTANDING SHOWROOM
1977 E. West
PLUMBING SUPPLY COMPANY
a
big yogurt fan
Maple
248-669-7474
•
Road. Walled Lake, MI 48390
95
YEARS
www.advanceplumbing.com
1920-2015
1950700
nID TlmUID I August 201533