arts & life
the b e s t o f
e ve r y t h i n g
The ‘Mark’ Of Success
Mark Zarkin fulfills a noble tradition at Steven Lelli’s Inn On the Green.
C
ontinuing even the partial use of
a famed restaurant name that has
lived for more than 71 years is a
difficult task.
So many memories are affiliated with
the name that even the mere mention
of the former restaurant commands the
highest respect obtainable in the dining
business.
Success of its namesake’s continuance
cannot be accomplished by anything but
absolute perfection … Being just fine is
not enough … It must be very good …
There are too many yesteryears’ remem-
brances that demand nothing but the best.
Owners of the Steven Lelli’s Inn On the
Green opened Nov. 10, 2010, with two
strikes immediately against it … The bad
economic conditions then and “show me”
attitudes that would demand so much …
Steven Lelli and Mark Zarkin chose to
travel this very rough road toward success.
Upon opening, reviewing a new restau-
rant such as this even before three months
would not do it justice … A legendary
name demands the honorable respect of
more time.
Last year was the coveted five-year
milestone for being able, honestly, to use
the word “success” … Now in its sixth
year, the report card is in
solidly for Steven Lelli’s
Inn On the Green, 12 Mile
Road, between Halsted
and Haggerty Roads in
Farmington Hills.
Steven Lelli’s Inn has effec-
tively weathered all of what-
ever storms may have been
present.
But restaurant business
ownership such as Steven
Lelli’s Inn On the Green never
entered Mark Zarkin’s mind.
Mark Zarkin
The memories of past
years were many and might
help … never once realizing
have jogged back recently when
their venture would grow
he catered the lavish all-dairy
into one of Michigan’s finest
brunch reception for Rachel
Italian restaurants.
Victor and Kevin Konkle, given
But like most restaurant
at Steven Lelli’s Inn, honoring
openings, many problems
the couple’s marriage two-weeks
greeted the beginning with
prior at Zingerman’s Farm in
early snags… Like the fire
Dexter.
at a golf course maintenance
Her mother and father, Cheri
building next door that
and Dean Victor, no doubt never Danny Raskin
caused a restaurant shut-
Senior Columnist
realized that the event for 92
down, plumbing problems
people would trigger a reminis-
and not enough room for its
cence for Mark that went back to when he
customers at the former Loving Spoonful
was 6 years old … Smoked salmon, lox,
restaurant … Whatever the troubles, they
whitefish, cream cheese, bagels, salads,
were all eventually taken care of … Even
vegetarian chopped liver, French toast,
more space by enlarging and beautify-
Bananas Foster, cheese blintzes, potato
ing the outside porch into a magnificent
pancakes, salmon patties, noodle kugel,
indoor and outdoor heated terrace that
waffle sundae, Bloody Marys, etc.
also upped the capacity of Lelli’s Inn On
It was while peeling potatoes for Lil and the Green to a much larger figure.
Shirley Bloom at Lil’s Kosher Catering in
Over the years, few dishes left the kitch-
Oak Park and going through his youth-
en without careful food tastings, a major
ful formative years doing everything he
requirement of which top restaurateurs
could for them … Mark would sometimes
Sam Boesky, Les Gruber, etc., were stick-
dream of one day going into the restaurant lers … Today, most food exits the kitchen
business, but he never reached the big-
only after being tasted by Mark and
gie, owning Towers Pizza in Troy, making
Executive Chef John Somerville, whom
pizza, ribs, etc. … and cafeterias in Troy’s
Mark obtained from the same post after
corporate office buildings.
the closing of the Lark Restaurant.
When Steven Lelli called
The Victor brunch party is just one
him, Mark was a successful of the many Jewish, French, Italian, etc.,
lighting store owner in the
events that Mark and his right- and left-
early stages of LED light-
hand gal, Fran, have become so well noted
ing … Steve knew Mark
for along with the restaurant’s wonderful
from the original Lelli’s on
menu and excellent reputation.
Woodward, owned by his
Six years of existence may not seem
grandparents Nerio and
like a lot, but, in the restaurant business,
Irene Lelli, where Mark
Steven Lelli’s Inn On the Green’s achieve-
used to work in the kitchen ment is looked upon with much reverence.
making pasta, and going
PERCY KEPT WAGGING his tail,
there on holidays to help
but still was insulted … Everybody ate
seat people … Steve want-
except him … The little pug isn’t vegan
ed to break away from the like his master, former Michigan State
family and needed Mark’s
Chief Boxing Commissioner Dr. Michael
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Sherbin, who gave Percy two hot dogs that
day … None of the 50 or so who attended
Mike’s and Lenore Gimpert’s annual
Thanksgiving dinner in Bloomfield Hills
shared vittles with little Percy.
The catered event with appetizers, side
dishes, open bar, conviviality, etc., and
very good temporary employees helped
make for an enjoyable evening … But no
more than the excellent singing and gui-
tar-playing versatility of Joel Palmer, who
contributed much to a pleasant event.
Little Percy probably wasn’t mad for
long … After all, he perhaps thought
that if master Mike didn’t eat turkey on
Thanksgiving, neither would he.
GOOD WAITPERSON DEPT. … Abbie
Spangler at Andiamo Ristorante, Telegraph
and 15 Mile, Bloomfield Township … big
smile, very efficient and courteous atten-
tion that included not removing my dish
without first asking if I was finished …
among other fine attributes.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … Two Jewish
women were speaking about their sons,
each of whom was in the state peniten-
tiary.
The first says, “Oy, my son has it so
hard. He is locked away in maximum
security. He never even speaks to anyone
or sees the light of day. He gets no exercise,
and he lives a horrible life.”
The second says, “Well, my son is in
minimum security. He exercises every day,
spends time in the prison library, takes
some classes and writes home each week.
“Oy,” says the first woman. “You must
get such nachas (pleasure) from your son.”
CONGRATS … To Rita Geringer on
her birthday … To Gary Schwartz on his
birthday … To Sondra Lichtman on her
birthday.
32418 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills
248-862-5747
M-Thurs 10a-10p; F-Sat 10a-12mid; Sun 11a-8p
Visit us at CorkandRye.com
Lunch Delivery Available
2117870