arts & life the b e s t o f e ve r y t h i n g Still Going Strong Tom’s Oyster Bar continues in Royal Oak with much favor. B ack in 1985 when Tom Brandel opened his first Tom’s Oyster Bar in Grosse Pointe Park, it was to appease the many seafood-loving people who wanted a restaurant of this dining selection in their locale. It later became so successful that Brandel opened another one in September 1994 in Royal Oak … And then came more … Today, that Royal Oak location is the only one left … owned by Nick Ritts, who had purchased it from Tom to become still another good restaurant under his Ritts Hospitality Group umbrella … Nick’s Terry’s Terrace and Ale Mary’s are also din- ing favorites. When it recently turned 22 years old as the only remaining Tom’s Oyster Bar, it had maintained a reputation of high esteem in continu- ance of what has always been considered a widely respected small chain … So much so that it’s huge success at the time created need for expansion and so came the Royal Oak site on South Main, between East Third and East Fourth streets. It is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. … Saturday and Nick Ritts Sunday, noon to 1 a.m. … Seating in the dining room is for 65 … A large outdoor patio is also available when weather permits. Best sellers among the bevy of selections at Tom’s Oyster Bar in Royal Oak include items like Tempura Fish N’ Chips, battered fresh cod, malt vinegar fries, gribiche, Brussels sprouts slaw, Lake Perch (lightly breaded and pan-fried) served with red- skin potatoes, vegetable and coleslaw, etc. In additions to its seafood macha, a spicy sauce. The lovelies, Tom’s Oyster Bar is wings were very meaty but not also much noted for its Spanish spicy enough for Mark. We coffee … Over the last 20 also tried the grilled chicken years, it is estimated that more sandwich with pickles, lettuce than 100,000 orders have been and tomato and a cheesy white served … Weekly fresh fish sauce on the sandwich. This, catches and daily features are of too, was very good.” much note. MAIL DEPT. … From About the oysters, which Rachel Kapen … “After the Danny Raskin Tom’s Oyster Bar orders with closing of Jerusalem Pizza in Senior Columnist pride, much note is made on the Jewish Community Center, the large orders of more than West Bloomfield, many resi- 100 cases per month … And the shipment dents who adhere to the laws of kashrut of fresh seafood six days a week is also an didn’t have a kosher restaurant in West eye-opener. Bloomfield until the recently opened Soul Tom’s Oyster Bar has maintained a top Cafe as part of the Farber Center at the cor- stature of quality that gives much satis- ner of Walnut and Drake. faction and is still held in “I checked out the place when my noted esteem … What Tom strictly observant granddaughter, Michaela Brandel started has been in Kapen, flew in from Virginia a couple of the very good hands of Nick days before Rosh Hashanah; and I was Ritts in the carry-on of a glad to take her to a kosher place. We had fine tradition. dinner in mind, but Michaela found out READER MINI REVIEW that it serves only breakfast and lunch. We … From Susan Sherbow … opted for lunch. She also found out the “Mark and I were impressed varied menu it serves, so we went there by the breakfast, lunch all prepared, and the place exceeded all and dinner items that are expectations. It is very pleasing to the eye, served at the O.W.L. res- the food is varied and delicious, no meat, taurant, a 24-hour diner on the service is great, too, and, last, but not Woodward in Royal Oak. least, it employs many special needs young The little restaurant is billed people.” as a Mexican-American res- GOOD SERVER DEPT. … Lina Shabi taurant, but readers should … Very competent, fast, smiling and effi- not expect the usual Mexican fare. ciency that highly satisfies customers who “I tried the avocado toast, which was enjoy having her wait on them … Siegel’s delicious — sesame bread covered with Deli, West Maple, Commerce Township. avocado spread and topped with thinly MAKING ROUNDS … To Hungarian sliced carrots, radishes, sprinkled with Rhapsody, Northline, for Hungarian cilantro and topped with a hardboiled egg. goulash … To Bistro 82, Royal Oak, for The combination made an unusual but stuffed peppers … To Cafe Sushi, Troy, delicious breakfast treat. for Mongolian beef … To Antonio’s, “Mark opted for chicken wings with Farmington Hills, for linguini with red 01&/%":4t%*/&*/t$"33:065t$"5&3*/( Deli Trays $ 99 only 9 per person pick up or delivery 3258 Orchard Lake Rd. Orchard Lake (Just North of Commerce Rd.) Visit Facebook for Full Menu Sandwiches, Soups, Salads, Party Trays and more! )0634.PO'SJBNQNr4BUBNQNr4VOBNQN 48 November 3 • 2016 clam sauce …To Sposita’s, West Bloomfield, for baby perch …To Big Rock Chophouse, Birmingham, for roasted salmon … To Franklin Grill, Franklin, for roasted Indiana duck IF THEY HAD A Jewish Mother Dept. … To George Washington, “Next time I catch you throwing money across the Potomac, you can kiss your allowance goodbye!” OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. … An elderly Jewish man is bumped by a car while crossing the street. He is unhurt, but his wife persuades him to go to the doctor, just in case. He returns home and his wife asks, “What did the doctor say?” “The doctor says I have a flucky.” “Terrible! What do you do for a flucky?” “I don’t know. He didn’t say.” She tells her neighbors, “My husband was hit by a car and now he has a flucky!” Neighbor No. 1 says, “In the old country, when someone has a flucky, we always applied cold. Cold is the best thing for a flucky.” Neighbor No. 2 says, “What are you talking about? Cold is absolutely the worst thing you can do for a flucky! We always applied heat. That’s the only thing to do for a flucky.” Cold, heat! Now thoroughly agitated the wife calls the doctor herself, “Doctor, please tell me what’s wrong with my hus- band?” “I told him that nothing is wrong. He got off lucky.” CONGRATS … To Robert Steinberg on his birthday … To Linda Gold on her birth- day … To Dennis “Denny” Green on his birthday … To Irving and Marilyn Markel on their 57th anniversary. * Danny’s email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net. 2 OFF $ purchase of $15 or more Dine-in or Carry-Out. With JN coupon only. Not valid with any other offers. 4 OFF $ purchase of $25 or more Dine-in or Carry-Out. With JN coupon only. Not valid with any other offers. %&-*'03 $BSSZPVUPOMZ 1lb. choice of Meat, 1 Loaf of Bread, 1lb. Potato Salad or Cole Slaw, 1 Quart of Soup, Pickles & Russian Dressing. $25.50 With JN coupon only. Not valid with any other offers. 1998780 2132140