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He’s Back …
P
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
Matt Prentice
prepares to open
Franklin Deli early
next year.
Matt Prentice
eople were lined up around the block
… and out the door … after he had
taken over ownership of the delicates-
sen … They had heard that, together with
his usual deli fare, would be items like flam-
ing duck, beef Wellington, tableside Caesar
salad, champagne chicken, etc.
The year was 1980 when Matt Prentice
bought Northgate Delicatessen from Dave
Raben, owner following Richard Lichtman,
on Greenfield and 10 Mile, Oak Park … and
the eventual name change by Matt to Deli
Unique.
Whoever heard of corned beef or pastra-
mi served along with dishes like Tournedos
of Beef with Bordelaise sauce, filet of sole
Marguery, poached Chicken Marnier, veal
Oscar, Crab Champagne … plus cabbage
flanken or stuffed chicken and other usual
Jewish deli suggestions.
It was the beginning of what turned out to
vault the former Culinary Institute attendee’s
venture into a mini-realm of upscale restau-
rant royalty … without the higher prices.
Matt eventually met Sam Frankel, owner
of Somerset Mall … and although only 23
at the time, he and Sam became partners
… Their first restaurant together was Café
Jardin at Somerset, which closed after 20
years and was transformed into their fine
seafood restaurant, Sebastians.
The large growth of restaurants in West
Bloomfield had Matt looking for a second
Deli Unique and after finding it on Orchard
Lake Road, he and Frankel expanded fur-
ther … Shortly after, a physical issue caused
Sam to partner with the Forbes Company at
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Somerset … Sid Forbes thought it was a bad
idea that Frankel be both the landlord and a
tenant, and a buyout had to be arranged …
But the friendship of Matt and Sam contin-
ued for many years.
With the restaurants and a growing cater-
ing business, Matt began forming a corpo-
rate structure and continued with the pur-
chase of Plaza Deli, Deli Unique Bingham
Farms and more under the new name of
Unique Restaurant Corporation … Some
failed, but others, like Tavern On The Green,
No. VI Chophouse, Northern Lakes Seafood,
etc., continued.
In the late ’90s, at the urging of Sam
Frankel, Matt opened Duet at Orchestra Hall
… It would be his first Detroit venue, later
followed by Coach Insignia … Kosher was
then also added with Milk and Honey.
In 2008, economic financial problems hit
many victims and Matt was one of them …
In order to save jobs, he sold his company in
2010 and stayed on as CEO … Matt resigned
18 months later and a non-compete was part
of the sale … A lawsuit would prohibit Matt
from executing restaurants or catering until
Oct. 21, 2018.
That date has finally come as Matt
Prentice soon may take over his former
Plaza Deli space … to open as the enlarged
newly named Franklin Deli … with seating
for 80 people … All sorts of food with a
new “Chef ’s Twist,” carry-out, huge cater-
ing, no-charge for coffee or on-tap soft
drink refills, etc. … in the Franklin Plaza,
Northwestern Highway, just south of 12
Mile, Southfield … Set to soon greet folks,
hopefully, in January of next year.
READER MINI REVIEW … From Ida
Nemzin … “Mark and I recently had dinner
at Bacco on Northwestern Highway and
were, as usual, very careful with our dinners.
Thirteen years ago, I weighed 350 pounds
and vowed that I would never ever get close
to that again. My husband, Mark, had open
heart surgery 11 years ago and has to be
very careful, too. We both had minestrone
soup, which was delicious, and a wonderful
caprese salad and the most delicious and
well-prepared pieces of grilled branzino fish
with roasted asparagus and a lot of other
grilled vegetables. Sometimes we have one
of the fantastic chicken dishes. We were so
filled this time that we both skipped a light
dessert. We know that at Bacco, owner and
Chef Luciano Del Signore always has a won-
derful menu offering an array of selections
using the freshest meats, fish, fruits, vegeta-
bles and a wonderful vegan menu that we
also order from as well.”
OLDIE BUT GOODIE QUICKIE …
The customer sat down in the delicatessen
and said, “I’ll have a corned beef sandwich
on rye, and please make it lean.”
“Yes, sir,” said the waitperson. “Which
way?”
CONGRATS … To Kathy Morley on
her birthday … To Linda Ross on her 75th
birthday … To Melissa Litvin on her birth-
day … To Henry Sharpe on his birthday …
To David Wechsler on his birthday. ■
Danny’s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
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we are challenged to change ourselves”
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October 25 • 2018
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