raskin
the best of everything
2018 — It Was a Good Year!
W
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
A look back at
the happenings
this year in the
restaurant world.
TOP LEFT TO RIGHT:
Hudson Café; Marios;
Matt Prentice.
32
December 27 • 2018
jn
hat better way to wrap up
the year 2018 in the restau-
rant world than to tell of the
numerous upsurges, welcomings, etc.,
that far overshadowed the disappoint-
ments of numerous yesteryears.
JANUARY … The continued dis-
covery of places like Moro’s Dining in
Allen Park among so many other won-
derful dining stalwarts … Sleepers like
Logan in Ann Arbor… Siegel’s Deli in
Commerce Township is sold … 1954
pricing and Animal Rescue goodness
by Jim Brady’s in Royal Oak … Brother
and sister team of Pete and Michelle
Corrati greeting people with smiles of
dining goodness enjoying their Italian
dishes at Corrati’s in Milford … New
owners of Siegel’s Deli in Commerce
Township a family team saying hello
with prideful additions … George Lukaj
takes over the former Jilly’s for his high-
ly awaited Grand Tavern in Rochester
Hills … Delicious Lebanese food by
Milake Bitar and daughter Melissa Bitar
at new Mandaloun in Bingham Farms
… Former Detroiter Sheryll Bellman’s
new book, America’s Great Delis, tells of
Darby’s on Seven Mile Road, Detroit.
FEBRUARY … Hudson Café by local
gents enjoy its seventh anniversary on
Woodward, Detroit … More strange-
looking Caesar salads found at many
eateries … Dover sole now a big feature
at Clawson Lounge in Clawson … Café
Cortina, 10 Mile, Farmington Hills, is
selected one of only 50 Most Romantic
Restaurants in America by House
Beautiful magazine … Brass Pointe,
Farmington Hills, and Boneyard, West
Bloomfield, complement each other on
their fine barbecue dishes.
MARCH … Sandy Linden the only
one not a doctor of the six in the newly
formed Tuesday Supper Club … Jodie
Polk noted for the luscious desserts at
Clawson Steak House in Clawson …
Alfoccino splits itself into two different
types of restaurants, Farmington Hills
and Auburn Hills … Bill Roberts cele-
brates 30th anniversary of Beverly Hills
Grill, Beverly Hills.
APRIL … Bella Piatti restaurant
owners in Birmingham, Nino and Liz
Cutraro, team with movie star Mark
Wahlberg in franchises of the fast-grow-
ing Wahlburger chain … Mom-and-
pop restaurants surging up again in big
numbers … Announcement is made
by Joe Vicari and his Andiamo restau-
rants of coming appearance by Bob
Anderson impersonating Frank Sinatra
… Cantoro Market and Trattoria
in Plymouth is highly acclaimed …
Outdoor dining takes another huge hold
in big way again … Steven Lelli’s Inn
On The Green, Farmington Hills, holds
a tribute to former Checker Bar-B-Q.
MAY … Steve Goldberg, now assist-
ed by his son and daughter, Ian and
Jolie, at the restaurant, celebrates 56
years of Stage Delis in Oak Park, West
Bloomfield and Troy … Beans and
Cornbread, Southfield, has its first
annual Derby Fun festival … Fifth
Tavern, Bloomfield Hills, celebrates its
fourth anniversary.
JUNE …Ciao Italian Bistro follows
six former tenants, with opening in
West Bloomfield … Coveted dining leg-
end Caucus Club is reopened at same
Penobscot Building site in Detroit …
Station Square Kitchen & Bar opens at
former Papa Vino locale in Troy … Joe
Muer Seafood gets continued response
raves on first anniversary in Bloomfield
Hills.
JULY … 1,500 attendees give huge
applauds to former Detroiter Bob
Anderson on his Frank Sinatra impres-
sions at Detroit Opera House, brought
here by Joe Vicari and his Andiamo
restaurants … Ron Asmar reveals his
new Simply Smart health bar, Oak Park,
and new Nibbles & Nuts locale, West
Bloomfield … Hungarian Rhapsody
is acclaimed again as three-time win-
ner among America’s best traditional
restaurants, at Southgate locale … Brass
Pointe celebrates 37th year at same
Farmington Hills site.
AUGUST … Another brilliant idea
for customer enjoyment by Vince
Passalacqua at his Mario’s on Second,
Detroit … Antonio’s Cucina Italian
chain continues its strength and gets
even stronger after opening in 1964 as
still-today-originally named Roman
Village … A second Cantoro Italian
Trattoria opens in Troy and shines
bright with well-noted Executive Chef