arts & life the b e s t o f e ve r y t h i n g Howdy, Neighbor! Road blockades are gone, and Georges fetes its 14th anniversary with a new interior look. A mong whatever good might have Complete table seating in the closure of the dining institution’s come from the recent construc- center … New food items, same former site this past November. tion of the roundabout at 14 seven-day hours, etc. It was almost like old times Mile and Orchard Lake Road/Northwestern The enlarged menu at again being among crowds Highway is the renewed appeciation of a Georges now includes 10 appe- of people who didn’t appear longtime favorite neighborhood restaurant tizers, 20 salads, 36 entrees to mind waiting to be seated, … As the saying goes, one never misses the (steaks, chicken, fish and pasta), knowing the experience that water until the well runs dry. three soups, 16 sandwiches and awaited them … The memory In the case of Georges Family wraps, etc. … plus a children’s of yesteryears was even further Restaurant on Northwestern, south of menu for ages 10 and under, emphasized with the gracious Danny Raskin Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, on eight entrees at $4.99. welcome by sister owners Kathy Senior Columnist the occasion of its 14th anniversary, it New regular menu items Kwiecinski and Carol Carson … might have been told by many customers include Mahi-Mahi pan sauteed and being waited upon again by who have returned that they stayed away with fresh spinach, onions, potato and roast- excellent smiling server Gina Ahrens among rather than nervously ed red pepper … Spicy the usual efficient wait persons. fight the huge trucks, Pasta Rialto Linguini with The new location of Pepino’s on Orchard cement mixers, garlic and red pepper sau- Lake Road, about a half mile southwest of bulldozers, blocked teed in house-made spicy Middlebelt, Sylvan Lake, was crowded over streets, etc. cream tomato sauce … capacity in the clean atmosphere of its pres- However, instead of Blackened Chicken Pasta ent site … Demolition of the fire-ravaged again taking Georges grilled with mushrooms former location has been started, and com- for granted as they and tomato and house- munity issues and architectural decisions might have done made blackened cream will be addressed regarding whether to before, diners realized sauce … Mahi Mahi Tacos return or remain at the new locale. that here was a nearby topped with lettuce, pico Dancing, usually on music evenings every restaurant whose de gallo, pickled onion, third Saturday, is expected to return when valued patronage avocado and red peppers. things settle down … Although the present Teresa and George Lucaj undoubtedly classed it Weekly customer volume is more than before, room for the among the region’s best ordering includes 1,200 rented portable dance floor might be dif- values … in quality, Greek salads, 250 white ficult to find. quantity and low prices … Easily placing it fish orders, 300 chicken stir fry requests, 250 However, people have gone to Pepino’s not among the front-runners in neighborhood skirt steak orders, etc. to dance, but for the wonderful food, home- dining. The large menu, low prices and good like atmosphere, reasonable prices, warm con- The construction caused a lot of inconve- quality value at Georges Family Restaurant viviality, smiling service plus much more … nience in the area … But rather than mope combine with attentive service to create The Pepino’s whereabouts, new or old, tem- about the dreaded situation, owners George what a first-rate neighborhood restaurant porary or permanent, is so very secondary. and wife, Teresa Lucaj, performed a major is all about … And certainly happy people READER MINI REVIEW … From internal remodeling of the restaurant that are returning with many big thanks for an Dennis Green … “My wife, Sharon, and can be considered as a gift to them and their end of the too-long construction … But one I recently enjoyed a wonderful dinner at diners now that the roundabout has been that did not prevent the celebration of a 14th Lucky’s Prime Time on Walton Boulevard, completed. anniversary. just west of Livernois in Rochester Hills, Georges was never shut down for any AFTER SO MANY years attending din- referred to us by our friend Marty Snyder. length of time, but, instead, bit the bullet ners at the restaurant when in Walled Lake, “After her fresh house salad, Sharon thor- so to speak and executed an almost com- it seemed strange being at Pepino’s for the oughly enjoyed the filet medallions with pletely new-looking and much more striking first time in its present Sylvan Lake location portobello mushrooms and balsamic cream interior … New booths around the sides … following the devastating fire that forced sauce. I had delicious chicken soup and a Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere 851-7000 10 OFF OUR PETITE FILET DINNER IS HAPPENING AGAIN! Offer Good Sunday- Good Friday- dine-in Saturday, dine-in 10% Offer 15% Thursday, only. Not valid only. Not valid any other offer. any other offer. Off with Off with With coupon only. With coupon only. food bill Not valid on holidays. 46 March 17 • 2016 food bill Not valid on holidays. % WE ARE OPEN EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 27! TOTAL BILL (248) 538-8954 33210 W. 14 Mile Rd In Simsbury Plaza, just east of Farmington Rd. West Bloomfield Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pmtFri: 11am-11pm Sat: 4pm-11pmtSun: 4pm-9pm &YDMVEJOHUBY UJQBOECFWFSBHFTt8JUIUIJTBEt$BSSZPVUPS%JOFJOt&YQJSFT+/ /PUWBMJEPO)PMJEBZT 2086270 Includes Petite Filet, antipasto plate, side of pasta, salad, soup, potato and vegetable. Dine-in only, not valid with any other offer. Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. Orchard Lake Rd. South of 14 Mile t Farmington Hills RISTORANTE $ 22.95 * Try Our New Boneyard Beef Ribs! SPOSITA’S Sunday March 20 through Thursday, March 24 delectable combination plate of half slab ribs with a generous portion of prime rib and a large baked sweet potato. “I could only eat about half and took the rest home. It was delicious both times.” QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. … “Do you remember the name of the seafood restaurant that was on the southeast corner of 12 Mile and Orchard Lake Road? It used to have a delicious garlic bread served in a paper bag.” … Linda Warner. (You probably mean Steamers, owned by Norm Pappas and Joel Shapiro, on 12 Mile, just east of Orchard Lake Road.) SHAWN GREEN, two-time all-star Major League Baseball outfielder, who will receive the 2016 Hank Greenberg Memorial Life Achievement Award, like Greenberg and Sandy Koufax is also noted for refus- ing to play on Yom Kippur … Green is also known for lending his name to many Jewish charities, plus much involvement with the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) and other Jewish charities. This year’s 26th annual Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf Invitational is set for Monday, June 13, at Franklin Hills Country Club, Farmington HIlls. OLDIE BUT GOODIE … Two Chasidic young men wearing yarmulkes are riding a motorcycle and stopped by a bigoted cop who follows them hoping to catch them doing something wrong. After a long ride, frustrated, he stops the gents anyway and says, “I’ve been following you and watching to see if you did anything to break the law, but you seem to be perfect. How do you do it?” One of them replies, “HaShem is with us.” “That’s it!” exclaimed the policeman. “Three people on a motorcycle!” CONGRATS … To Sharon Bender on her birthday … To Mark Sherbow on his birth- day … To Elaine Wander on her birthday. $BUFSJOHGPSBMM0DDBTJPOTt$BSSZ0VUt0VS4QFDJBMJUZ-PX$BSC3JCT$IJDLFO-BNC3JCT