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Fine Dining Even Finer

Near future prospects brighter for Steven Lelli’s Inn On the Green.

A

mong the rewards that come with the Green became stronger as
My wife, Sylvia, and I are
reaching its fifth year in the res-
the blood line of repeatedly
originally from St. Louis and
taurant business, according to my increasing dining patronage
never tasted it so good. Can
criteria for complete success by new such
continued to bring signs of a
our friends back home get it?”
operations, is a special one that might be
long-lasting venture.
… Sam Gruder
attained soon by Mark Zarkin’s upscale
The first year was considered
(You probably mean the Sy
eatery, Steven Lelli’s Inn On the Green.
by many to perhaps be a fluke
Ginsberg of both Sy Ginsberg
As it approaches its sixth birthday the
… Like so many others …
Corned Beef and United
latter part of this year, Steven Lelli’s Inn
People said that time will even-
Meat & Deli. There sure is. Sy
On the Green may be in line to be the
tually tell … And it did … with Danny Raskin
started out in the deli game
Senior Columnist
flagship restaurant of a proposed new fine increasing activity of more
here as a counterman at the
dining eatery conglomerate being formed
and more returning customers
Mister Deli that was on Seven
in this region.
bringing even greater impetus. … Each
Mile Road in Detroit and was partner with
My five-year restaurant existence magic
of the five years brought presentations of
Al Winkler at their Pickle Barrel Deli on
number having already been
something different to extract
12 Mile Road in Southfield. I don’t know
reached and now going on to
oohs and ahhs from many,
about St. Louis, but Sy’s corned beef is also
number six, Steven Lelli’s Inn
Yearly dining achievements
well known and enjoyed greatly in many
On the Green, 12 Mile Road,
in one way or another pro-
parts outside of this region.)
between Halsted and Haggerty,
duced more and more things
MAIL DEPT. … “On the recommen-
Farmington Hills, finds itself
… with promises of many fur- dation of a friend, after work I went to
enjoying the sweet smell of
ther good entities to come.
Crispelli’s on Orchard Lake Road in West
success.
Emulating a previous
Bloomfield to try out its new way of
Its initial step occurred on
successful name in itself
ordering to see if it was anything different
the first day that Steven Lelli’s
might have been difficult to
from before. I liked not having to wait in
Inn On the Green opened to
overcome … It always is …
line anymore to give my order and then
the public, suddenly taking off
Customers expect so much
waiting for someone to bring it to me. I
with flying colors … until one Mark Zarkin
exactness … But used with
stopped going there until my friend told
realized that this could have
proper discretion and pride by me about the change. Having it brought to
been like those of so many
Zarkin and his Steven Lelli’s
me was just like my friend said it would
other dining establishments
Inn On the Green staff, it may be, and I will go back again. I’m glad
that start off with a bang and wither before have become an even greater reality.
because I enjoy the food and don’t work
the charmed “five” is achieved.
Talk of Steven Lelli’s Inn On the Green
far from there.” … Shirley Silverman
However, Steven Lelli’s Inn On the
becoming the flagship restaurant of a pos-
MAKING ROUNDS … To J. Baldwin’s,
Green jumped the hurdles with consistent
sible group of upscale culinary establish-
18 Mile, Clinton Township, for fire-
lofty ease as each year seemed to bring
ments may be further proof of its success- roasted Australian lamb chops … To
an even more constant look of flourishing
ful attainment in dining satisfaction.
Sweet Lorraine’s, Greenfield, Southfield,
endeavor … Like almost all new restau-
This is a fact and not one of those run-of- for maple-cured salmon … To Hudson
rants, it, too, may have encountered vari-
the mill, ill-founded rumors that sometimes Cafe, Woodward, Detroit, for brunch …
ous types of trials and tribulations … But
go around … When further info is received To Bigalora, Franklin Road, Southfield,
as fast as they might have come, each sign be assured that I will pass it on to you.
for Italian breakfast … To La Dulce, Main
of troubled waters seemed to have been
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. … “Is
Street, Royal Oak, for Spanish tapas … To
given an extra paddle to glide through
there really a Sy Ginsberg? And was he
Antonio’s, 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, for
with Samson-like strength.
ever in the restaurant business? Whoever
homemade gnocchi … To Bistro 12, Royal
Instead of faltering, Steven Lelli’s On
it is, they sure make terrific corned beef.
Oak, for Scottish salmon.

WINNING TEAMS at the recent 10th
Annual JCC Michigan-Florida Reunion
Dinner, Golf Classic and Games, were
(Men’s) Mike Kalt, Jeff Leib, Joel Halpern
and Dennis Silber … (Women’s) Beth
Gursky, Brenda Kovinsky, Gay Lane and
Ellen Minkin.
More than 200 attended the happenings
that brought in over $70,000 benefiting the
Jewish Community Center Day Camps …
This year’s special honorees were Renee
and Earl Ishbia of the event originally
conceived and brought to realization by
former local JCC Executive Director Mort
Plotnick, Geta Richman and their commit-
tee of 12.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. … The
place is somewhere in the 1930s when the
phone rings at the secret police headquarters.
“Hello, is this the secret police head-
quarters?
“Yes, what do you want?
“I’m calling to report my neighbor
Joseph Rabinowitz as an enemy of the
state. He is hiding undeclared diamonds in
his firewood.”
Next day, the secret police goons come
over to Rabinowitz’s house. They search
the shed where the firewood is kept, break
every piece of wood, find no diamonds,
swear at Joseph Rabinowitz and leave. The
phone rings at Rabinowitz’s house.
“Hello, Joe. Did the secret police come?”
“Yes”
“Did they chop your firewood?”
“Yes, they did.”
“OK, now it’s your turn to call. I need
my vegetable patch plowed.”
CONGRATS … To Jimmy Gottfurcht
on his birthday … To Dharlene Norris on
her birthday … To Thelma Ingber on her
birthday.

*

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

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