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Opa! A Greektown Clone!

Greek feasting at West Bloomfield’s Uptown Parthenon has never been better.

W

hen the suburban restaurant
of Chicken Marsala, made with
who cherish the restaurant as
opened 18 years ago, many
Mavrodaphne Greek wine instead
their very own.
people said it was somewhat
of Marsala Italian wine, and its
DANDY DINING DEAL …
of a mistake … After all, Greektown in
vegetarian stuffed eggplant …
9-10 ounce broiled or baked
Detroit was still considered the place to go
among other dishes not on the
salmon … with cherry sauce
for tops in Greek dining … And many cus-
menu when the restaurant opened
… Includes soup or salad, veg-
tomers admitted as much as they ventured
that have become big favorites
etable, potato and bread basket
Downtown to Monroe Street for their favor-
today.
… $8.95 … one week only,
ite Grecian dishes.
Delicious Lake Perch Lemonato
Thursday, March 10, through
Numerous diners said the Hellenic authen- is also among the bestsellers,
Wednesday, March 16 … No
ticity could not be duplicated in the ’burbs.
along with Chicken Lemonato … Danny Raskin
coupons … Georges Family
But then, brothers Polyvios and Jimmy
And Neframia, the roasted loin in Senior Columnist
Restaurant, Northwestern
Panagopoulos along with Leo Stassinopoulos natural juices … or beef tender-
Highway, east of Orchard Lake
and nephew John Stassinopoulos opened
loin with fresh garden vegetables over rice … Road, West Bloomfield.
Uptown Parthenon on Orchard Lake Road
whitefish, salmon, tsipoura (sea bass), etc.
READER MINI REVIEW … From
in West Bloomfield’s
Outside catering was
Dennis Silber … “Debbie and I and another
Crosswind’s Center …
almost nil for some time
couple recently enjoyed a most delightful
The four were determined
before catching on big …
dining experience in a seemingly hidden
that their new restaurant
Since then, catering, both at
location … The Sicilian Oven, tucked behind
would not play second
the restaurant and outside,
the Town Center Mall on St. Andrews
fiddle to Greektown.
has made massive inroads for Boulevard in Boca Raton, Fla., bills itself as
They immediately
parties, banquets, etc.
‘The World’s Best Wood-Fired Pizza’ and
lured the services of
Tony left in 2007 to help
lives up to its claim. Not only with pizza but
Executive Chef Theodore
open another Greek eatery
also with other dishes we relished.
Mitropoulos away
and was missed by many …
“Its menu describes the many choices in
from Philadelphia to
He returned two years ago to thin, well-done pizza such as the Calabrese
come cook and sing his
much delight and, without
(mozzarella, pesto, grilled chicken and
way into the hearts of
a doubt, deserves an untold
roasted peppers), which we shared among
many localites … The
amount of credit for the
the four of us and thoroughly enjoyed. Our
Polyvios Panagopoulos and
brother of Birmingham’s
tremendous further culinary Sicilian salad was refreshingly different with
popular “Dino the Tailor” Tony Hadjisofroniou
achievements in Uptown
roasted peppers, walnuts, tomatoes, red
Mitropoulos, Theodore
Parthenon’s success … Few
onions, garbanzo beans and shaved parme-
began immediately pre-
dishes leave the kitchen
san, in a ‘small size’ that was plentiful for us.
paring authentic Greek dishes for the fast-
without Tony’s OK, and, if needed, he can
“Three different entrees also gave us deli-
growing customer base at Uptown Parthenon also be found in the kitchen helping with the cious tastes of each, Fire-Roasted Shrimp
… His Reganato, the shoulder portion
cooking.
Palermo on toasted crostinis, eggplant par-
near lamb chop ribs, for example, one of
About the lamb chops at Uptown
migiana and the ‘Fughedaboutit’ (eggplant,
Theodore’s many noted dishes, became a
Parthenon … The double-boned bestselling
prosciutto, arugula and tomato).
much-ordered favorite.
racks of three or five large and tender bones
“We were very pleased to discover Sicilian
Uptown Parthenon’s opening in 1998 had
have few equals … They are rated among
Oven and will return again soon to sample
the highly liked Tony Hadjisofroniou as its
the best that can be gotten in this part of the
some of its other unique dishes
general manager, and the new 225-seat res-
country.
THERE WAS A TIME when true mom-
taurant was a success almost immediately
Uptown Parthenon has come a long way
and-pop restaurants were plentiful but still
… Today, it continues to make mouthwater-
since its opening … Thanks also to a dedi-
considered “one in a million” types of eater-
ing waves with items like its own version
cated staff of servers and kitchen employees
ies … Home cooking prevailed, personal

attention was prevalent, smiles galore met
each diner … Every visit seemed like coming
home.
Mom or pop did the cooking or greeted
the folks … both with extreme pride …
Especially the cooking and presentations
… Mom and pop were so proud of their
cuisine that they often would peek out from
the kitchen to look at closed-eyed smiles on
the faces of customers as they so thoroughly
enjoyed each bite.
But sadly, they were destined to fade …
The children of many obtained educations
in other fields … Running a restaurant was
not their bag, numerous family-oriented and
operated restaurants went by the wayside
except for perhaps a precious few as the song
would say … and precious they indeed were.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A young boy
had a sign on his bike, “Lawn mower for
sale.”
A rabbi asked to see it. They went to the
back of the house and the mower’s engine
sputtered at idle speed. The rabbi increased
the engine speed and mowed a few strips.
They then settled on a price.
Later in the day, while riding his bicycle,
the lad saw the rabbi pulling on the engine
starter rope and asked, “What’s wrong?”
The rabbi said, “I can’t get this mower
started. Do you know how?”
The boy replied, “You have to cuss at it.”
The rabbi was indignant. “I am a rabbi,
and if I ever did cuss, not saying I have, I’ve
forgotten how after all these years.”
With a wise look on his face, the lad said,
“Rabbi, you keep pulling that rope, and it’ll
all come back to ya!”
CONGRATS … To Bud Sherbow on his
birthday … To Rose Freedman on her 95th
birthday … To Bob Wander on his birthday
… To Al Holtz on his birthday … To Sandy
Hermanoff on her birthday.

*

Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.

B R I N G YO U R O W N B OT T L E

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E V E R Y T U E S D AY

* W I N E & C H A M PAG N E O N LY

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56 March 10 • 2016

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