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A Rhapsody Of Flavors
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
Find authentic
Hungarian cuisine in
Southgate.
Darlene and Steve Szatmari
Honorable truly ethnic din-
ing continues to hold a coveted
place in the stomachs of many,
and among favorites is a local
Hungarian restaurant that is
going into its 25th year as among
the largest Hungarian eateries of
esteem in North America.
The outside sign says
Rhapsody, but it is best known
as Hungarian Rhapsody on
Northline Road, between I-75
and Dix Toledo Road, Southgate
… three times voted best tradi-
tional restaurant by TV channel
4 … among its many other pres-
tigious awards.
Owned by Steve and Darlene
Szatmari, the latter who also
makes its wonderful pastries
like Dobos Torte, etc., with
their daughter Jennifer Sullivan,
Hungarian Rhapsody has satis-
fied the strong desires of many
whose taste buds so often are
satisfied by the enjoyment of
authentic Hungarian cuisine as
it should be prepared and served
… Because of this rare dining
trait, Hungarian Rhapsody is
highly thought of as a sought-
after place to partake this fare.
Seating 150 people in the din-
ing room and on four bar stools,
Hungarian Rhapsody holds
its high standing with favorite
dishes like chicken paprikash,
stuffed cabbage, Hungarian
Gulyas, Steak Budapest, shrimp
Budapest, cottage cheese noo-
dles, cabbage noodles, etc. …
These and so many other dishes
have done much in vaulting it
to great dining heights … even
including centuries-old special
dishes like Fasirozott (Hungarian
hamburgers).
When overly crowded, a sec-
ond dining room for 150 more
used for private parties may be
enjoyed for further accommoda-
tion.
And where else can you hon-
estly get homemade noodles for
its kaposztas teszta or turos tesz-
ta … Very few, if any, Hungarian
restaurants also have the real
chicken or veal paprikash as
they may have enjoyed back in
Hungary … And, of course, not to
mention its wonderful national
dish of Hungarian Goulash
would indeed be a travesty …
This highly acclaimed dish with
onions, carrots, potatoes, etc., is
served at Hungarian Rhapsody
as it should be to retain so much
authenticity … from a kettle on
the table where it stands atop a
fire.
The old-world charm of
Hungarian Rhapsody, with its
wonderful truly authentic din-
ing Tuesdays through Saturdays,
11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. and Sundays,
11:30-7 p.m., is an ethnic delight
of much-satisfying proportions.
WITH A NINTH Andiamo
slated to be opened in Fenton
this October by Joe Vicari, his
son Dominic Vicari, will be
its operating partner, leaving
Joe’s wife, Rosalie Vicari, to run
the family’s Joe Muer Seafood
Bloomfield, Telegraph and Long
Lake, by herself … But quite
capably, I assure you … Although
new street fixing slated until
November on Telegraph may be
somewhat of a problem.
REARVIEW MIRROR …
When a supermarket in Oak
Park had two electric slicers
… One for kosher and one for
non-kosher … Until one of the
employees was seen slicing
everything, kosher or non-
kosher, on the same slicer …
Then no more slicer, kosher or
non-kosher, said the Council of
Orthodox Rabbis.
GOOD THINGS are being
said about the Greek salad at
Leo’s Coney Island restaurants …
And should be … with the chain
owned by brothers Leo and John
Stassinopoulis, also partners at
Uptown Parthenon Greek res-
taurant.
GRAD TIDINGS … Mumford
High class of 1956 brunch will
be at Knollwood Country Club,
West Maple, West Bloomfield,
Sunday, July 29, noon … Call Sue
Radner, (248) 669-0889.
GIVE NEW RESTAURANTS
a second chance before forming
an opinion … There is too much
at stake for owners or operators
after putting their key in the
door … If there’s a problem, tell
them … not others! … He or she
or they are in business to make
money … not to keep customers
away!
IF NEEDED, I LIKE to give a
new restaurant three tries before
forming an opinion … You’d be
surprised at how many even-
tually become huge favorites
following mediocre beginnings
… World-noted London Chop
House after Den of 40 Thieves
and London Bar … Highly
acclaimed Carl’s Bar after Grand
River Chop House … etc.
RESTAURANT RELIEF … At
Stage Deli, West Bloomfield, son
Ian and daughter Jolie Goldberg
managers/servers helping
owner Dad Steve Goldberg … At
Steven Lelli’s Inn on the Green,
Farmington Hills, sons Avi and
Michael Zarkin doing the same
in assisting Dad/owner Mark
Zarkin.
NOT A BAD IDEA … Seen at
a Cincinnati restaurant by Sam
and Shirley Samson … Gent
in tuxedo inviting folks wait-
ing for tables to enjoy his no-
charge goodies on a tray … Dick
Lichtman used to do this at his
Northgate Deli in Oak Park years
ago.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A fel-
low sends his wife a parrot that
could speak 11 languages. When
he gets home, the gent asks his
wife how she liked the new par-
rot.
“I have it in the oven for din-
ner,” she replied.
“What?” exclaimed the man.
“That parrot could speak 11 lan-
guages!”
“So,” she exclaimed, “why
didn’t he say something?”
CONGRATS … To Lorrie
Isenberg on her birthday … To
Ken Maier on his birthday … To
Hecky Lazar on her birthday. •
Danny’s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
10% OFF
TOTAL BILL
Excludes tax, tip and beverages. With this ad. Banquet Services not included.
Dine in or Carry out. Expires 8/2/18
The
Brass Pointe Food & Spirits
/RCHARD ,AKE 2D .% CORNER OF -ILE s
/PEN $AYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH DINNER
jn
July 19 • 2018
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