raskin
the best of everything
A Long-Awaited Opening
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
Station Square
Kitchen & Bar opens
its doors in Troy.
George Lukaj, Goni Bardhi,
Anton Lukaj and Jennifer Lukaj
A family and general public
love of informal elegance are
wrapped up beautifully in the
opening of Troy’s casually fine
new Station Square Kitchen &
Bar restaurant that has met with
much acceptance … following its
lavish four-day pre-opening and
opening last week … Between
an excellent and all-you-can eat
abundant display of food, almost
700 people attended the two-day
extravaganza.
Both days were generous and
strikingly beautiful fulfilments
by George Lukaj in partnership
with his son and daughter-in-law
Anton and Jennifer Lukaj, and
friend Goni Barhi.
The beautiful Station Square
Kitchen & Bar, which opened
at the former site of Papa Vino
on Coolidge and Maple, Troy,
joins sister eateries Georges,
West Bloomfield; Fifth Tavern,
Bloomfield Hills; Grand Tavern,
Rochester; and Village Palace,
West Bloomfield, as another
family dream come true with its
many amenities.
It is located fronting the
Midtown Square Shopping
Center … and Troy Transit Train
Station that no doubt will bring
countless people to the newest
of Troy restaurants with so much
eagerness and appeal.
Station Square’s large sprawling
beauty includes dishes enjoyed
with much relished comment …
Good solid selections that include
lamb chops, filet, beef short ribs,
Norwegian salmon, lake perch,
Celebrating our
20 th :FBSJO
8FTU#MPPNåFME
whitefish, shrimp and crab cake
combination, barbecued baby
back ribs, chicken choices, etc. …
Plus an array of wisely selected
appetizers, burgers, pastas, home-
made soups and desserts … and
even four styles of pizza … from
a most easy-to-read and sumptu-
ous menu with choice selections
…. The smartly styled interior
surroundings, with compliments
from so many visitors, seats
about 350 at tables and booths,
plus an excellently stocked bar
with almost 20 stools and a strik-
ingly large outdoor patio.
Many will also remember
the one-time, six-year man-
ager at Georges restaurant on
Northwestern … Suela Makla,
now dining room manager at
Station Square … and its highly
touted Executive Chef Chris
Hessler, former innovative dining
stalwart at Golden Mushroom,
Southfield, and Rochester’s fine
Kruse and Muer.
The Station Square Kitchen
& Bar, with its many amenities,
good food, beautiful surround-
ings, excellent smiling servers
and cordial eager-to-please
service, brings a much-accepted
down-to-earth and beautiful res-
taurant to Troy.
AN AUDIENCE OF more than
1,500 saw a miracle … Frank
Sinatra had returned … Well,
almost as former Detroiter Bob
Anderson, world-class impres-
sionist, assisted no end by
Academy award-winning makeup
artist Kazu Tsuji (Churchill) was
Joe Vicari’s and his Andiamo
Restaurants’ big gift to a many-
times standing ovation of Bob
in his one-man performance of
“Frank, the Man the Music” at
Detroit Opera House.
Of all the Sinatra impres-
sionists I have seen, plus the
real thing, Bob Anderson by far
comes the closest with his exact
gyrations, gestures and vocal
intonations …The eerie feelings
of an impersonated reincarna-
tion of Frank Sinatra by the many
attendees who listened to his
two-hours of singing and exact
impressions will attest to an
unforgettable closeness.
READER MINI REVIEW …
From Jerry Naftaly … “I recently
met my niece and nephew,
Lisa and Howard Brown, for
brunch at Anna’s House, a new
place for breakfast and lunch
on Northwestern Highway,
south of 14 Mile, Farmington
Hills. Lisa ordered the ‘Twilight
French Toast,’ baked French
bread topped with Crème
Brulee sauce, fresh berries and
raspberry melba. Howard and I
enjoyed the ‘Candied Pecan and
Banana-Stuffed French Toast’
filled with mascarpone cheese,
candied pecans and grilled
bananas topped with a house-
made banana sauce, served with
a choice of meat or vegetarian
patty.
“Howard also noticed a nearby
diner enjoying some tater tots,
and we ordered a side of those
old memory favorites for our
N OT T I N G H I L L
of W EST B LOOMFIELD
RESTAURANT
10% OFF
KIDS EAT FREE
TOTAL FOOD BILL
Each free meal from children’s
menu valid with purchase
one meal from regular menu
With Coupon. Not good with
other offers. Dine-in Only.
Expires: 7/19/18
(12 and under)
.0/%"
0/-: :
With Coupon. Not good with other
offers. Dine-in Only. Expires: 7/19/18
4301 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD
8&45#-00.'*&-%t$30448*/%41-";"
248-538-6000
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm
Sunday 12pm-9pm
www.uptownparthenon.com
R edefining E xcellence
in Rehabilitation and Skilled Care
Notting Hill of West Bloomfield offers
both short-term rehabilitation and skilled
care for residents in a serene setting while
receiving unsurpassed high quality care.
We take a team approach to patient care,
ensuring that all disciplines work together
to meet the physical, emotional and social
needs of our patients. Our goal is to help
you or your loved one regain independence
and return to life, family and community.
table. Neither Howard nor I could
finish our orders and got a box to
go. Being our first visit, we found
ourselves pointing out varieties
and portions at nearby tables for
future visits. Exiting diners com-
mented about our choices as they
walked by our table. Half-orders
can be gotten. We were thrilled to
know that Anna’s uses only cage-
free eggs, all-natural meats and
even though not completely glu-
ten-free, it includes gluten-free,
dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan
alternatives on its menu.”
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT.
… The man’s business was in such
big trouble he thought about
committing suicide but decided
to ask his rabbi what to do
“Go to the beach and read the
Bible,” the rabbi said. “A wind will
come. Rustle the pages and stop.
The answer will be on top of that
page.”
A year later, the businessman
visited the rabbi in a new tailored
suit; his wife wore a long ermine
coat;and he gave the rabbi a very
sizeable gift for the synagogue.
“You did what I told you?”
asked the rabbi.
“Yes,” said the man.
“What were the first words you
saw?” asked the rabbi.
“Chapter 11,” said the man.
CONGRATS … To Sara
Lindeman on her birthday … To
Jules Abrahams on his 35th birth-
day. •
Danny’s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
6535 Drake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322
phone 248.592.2000 | www.cienafacilities.com
AMENITIES :
% 68 Private Rooms
% Gourmet Chef
on site full-time
% Room Service
% Formal Dining
% Happy Hour
% Medical Spa
% Personal Telephones
with private numbers
% Personal Televisions
% Massage Therapy
% Luxury Transportation
% Tablets available for use
jn
Customized Upscale
Dining Program
Spacious Sitting Areas
for Socializing
July 5 • 2018
49