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Don’t Forget Leo’s

Danny Raskin

Senior Columnist

Another successful
Michigan Coney
Island operation.

ABOVE: Leo Stassinopoulos

Still on the Coney Island hot
dog kick … it would be remiss
not to mention a big favorite …
Leo’s Coney Island, another tre-
mendous success story.
The current Leo’s Coney
Island chain, owned by Leo and
Peter Stassinopoulos, neph-
ews of Gus Keros, founder of
American Coney Island, and
brother Bill Keros, originator of
Lafayette Coney Island, initially
began in Southfield as Souvlaki
Coney Island and in 1982 added
another in Farmington Hills …
When one also opened in Troy,
the chain became Leo’s Coney
Island.
Back in the 1970s, hot dogs
and chili hamburger sandwiches
were its big favorites … Today,
the Greek salads with a noted
family recipe for dressing passed
down from generations is also a
biggie … As are the potatoes for
its fresh hashed brown potatoes
peeled and cut by each location
… along with soups, etc. … Plus,
both regular and kosher hot
dogs.
From that local beginning,
Leo’s and Peter’s Leo’s Coney
Island chain is now ranked
among the nation’s largest
Coney Island hot dog franchises.
READER MINI REVIEW …
From Jerry Naftaly … “I enjoyed
lunch at the new Montage Grill
on South Main Street, Clawson,
along with Jim Luxton, Mike
Soave and Phil Lampos … A true
Greek flair was apparent with
home-styled Mediterranean

touches in its varied presenta-
tions. We enjoyed choice appe-
tizers with their own stylings
that included seasoned chicken
and garlic dip plates with
cucumber slices and pita chips.
My lemon-herb grilled Atlantic
salmon was superb.
Jim and Mike wisely opted
for authentic Greek salads.
Jim’s was with homemade
gyros and Mike’s with jumbo
Mediterranean shrimp. Along
with these succulent selections,
our group enjoyed a chicken
shawarma platter with a flavor
to satisfy discerning taste buds.
Even the noted Greek specialty
flaming saganaki had a distinc-
tively different taste. Although
the Montage Grill has a full bar
with choice beers and wine from
Greece and Italy along with
unique cocktails, we opted for
luncheon favorites of seltzer
and lemonade. All in all, it was
a most delightful true Grecian
dining experience.”
WORD COMES AGAIN
that those luscious whole live
lobsters are also low in fat,
cholesterol and calories …
And, according to the internet,
are among the healthiest and
leanest proteins available …
Less fat than beef or light meat
of chicken … This, no doubt,
brings more smiles to the
face of Cholada Chan, owner
of Shangri-La in the Orchard
Mall, Orchard Lake Road, West
Bloomfield … Her big-selling
delicious Lobster Cantonese,

mixed with scallions and ginger
and cut up for easy eating, is a
huge favorite … And now with
even better reason.
MAIL DEPT. … From Joyce
Kliger … “If your readers are
looking for a restaurant that
is unique and serves delicious
food, the Wok-Asian Bistro
on Mary Alexander Court in
Northville is an undiscovered
treasure that will interest them.
I have multiple food allergies,
but Wok-Asian Bistro has a
philosophy that I love. Its think-
ing is based on serving natural,
organic and locally sourced food
and creates each dish on a ‘fresh
cooking surface’ on which aller-
gens cannot exist.”
DANDY DINING DEAL …
Beef Tenderloin … complete
meal includes soup or salad,
potato, vegetable and bread
basket … $7.95 … 10 days only,
Thursday, April 27, through
Saturday, May 6 … Siegel’s
Delicatessen, Maple (15 Mile
Road), just west of Haggerty,
Commerce Township.
READERS REMEMBER …
From Sandy Hermanoff … “After
Michael and I moved to Detroit
from Toronto over 40 years
ago, we found a small Chinese
restaurant near our house that
turned out to be one of the best
dining moves we have ever
made for lunch or dinner …
New Mandarin Garden owner
Michael Che greeted us in front
and his wife, Chu, was a cook in
the kitchen. I had started a five-

year Chinese cooking course
and could immediately recog-
nize the fine ingredients used
by them. Their two sons, Gary
and Jerry, and daughter, Susana,
began working with their father
while very young. When Michael
was suddenly killed in an auto
accident, the restaurant was
taken over by their children
and his wife. Today, a larger
New Mandarin Garden is still in
operation in Farmington Hills
and a big favorite. Chu is retired,
Susana is married and the two
sons run the restaurant. Gary is
in front and Jerry a chef.”
TYPO, ERRATA, ETC. DEPT.
… Congrats are to Jerry and
Rose Light on their 63rd anni-
versary … not Jim and Rose
Light.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT.
… An Internal Revenue agent
walks into a synagogue and
asks to see the rabbi. He is
shown into the rabbi’s office and
offered a seat.
“Rabbi, I believe that a mem-
ber of your synagogue, Mr.
Joseph H. Klutz, states on his
tax return that he has donated
$200,000 to the synagogue. Tell
me, rabbi, is this correct?”
“Yes, he will,” says the rabbi.
CONGRATS … To Dharlene
Norris on her birthday … To
Illana Greenberg on her birth-
day … To Robert Sklar on his
birthday. •

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

W E D N E S D AY S

WINE DOWN

1 / 2 O F F S E L EC T B OT T L E S

D I S CO V E R YO U R N E W FAV O R I T E W I N E

6545 ORCHARD LAKE RD. WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322

WWW.PRIME29STEAKHOUSE.COM

jn

April 27 • 2017

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