44 January 24 • 2019
jn

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

raskin
the best of everything

Big Difference at Village Palace!
I

t originally opened back in 1974 as 
another restaurant that served a purpose 
for fast breakfasts and lunches. 
Then restauranteur George Lukaj bought 
the little eatery about 10 years ago, changed 
the name from Village Place to Village 
Palace, added more breakfast and lunch 
items plus some dinners … and son Robert 
took over as operator/manager.
Now has come an addition that has vault-
ed Village Palace on Orchard Lake Road, 
near Pontiac Trail, Orchard Lake Village, 
into a new category … an executive chef 
whose track record is a huge step in the 
immediate making of a major dining estab-
lishment. 
Executive Chef Victor Malaric has 
upgraded the menu to his ways, which 
include stops at the very fine 
Charlie Trotters in Chicago and 
Farmer’
s Table in Boca Raton, 
Fla., where he served as executive 
chef … Among his huge culinary 
assets, Chef Victor also brings a 
full array of seafood presentations 
that include a lot of shellfish … 
Like his excellent crab cakes and, 
with one-day notice, bringing 
folks a lobster dinner they won’
t 
easily forget, etc. … No advance 
request is needed for his whitefish 
as-is or creatively atop a mound 
of risotto, or ruby red trout as-is 
or over a potato mound and 
surrounded by braised onions 
and elegant black mushrooms, a 
Florida-styled fish soup so much different 
than the traditional, braised beef with pearl 

onions, etc.
Each day now include specials, too, 
that are served with house-made soup or 
salad … as is a super special of the day … 
slow-braised pot roast, house-made chili 
Colorado, etc.
Village Palace still has the wonderful 
omelets, salmon, spaghetti, stir-fry items, 
salads, Italian dishes, etc. … plus home-
made meat loaf, spinach pie, etc. … and is 
open seven days from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. … 
Seating is for 115 with 10 seats at a count-
er, four tables for four each and the rest 
leather-covered booths … When weather 
permits, there is also seating on its outdoor 
patio … Further striking renovations will 
also be made this year.
A dessert list of about 25 luscious yum-
mies is unbelievable … with just about 
every selection a delicious tummy-patting 
eye-popper.
The Village Palace of today will certainly 
bring customers back … The addition of an 
executive chef with excellent culinary styles 
and no high price tags are certainly choice 
assets to enjoy.
NEW MANAGING partner with Rick 
Therrien, after the amicable departure 
of Linda Collins at Pickles & Rye Deli, 
Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 
is Greg Costigan, taking over with their 
dissolved partnership … “There is no one 
like Linda,
” Rick says. “Linda treated our 
customers as though they were guests in her 
own home.
”
BOTH WITH THE SAME LAST 
NAME … same former football greats at 
University Michigan … Steve Hutchinson 

finalist for Professional Football Hall of 
Fame … and Chris Hutchinson, partner 
at Pepino’
s Restaurant, Sylvan Lake … No 
relation.
GOOD SERVER DEPT. … Nabill Elali, 
50 years, and Philip Capraro, 25 years at 
Mario’
s on Second, Detroit … Wai Yee U, 
since opening of Shangri-La 25 years ago, 
on 15 Mile and Orchard Lake Road … All 
still favorite servers of many.
TRIPLE NICKEL on Old Woodward, 
Birmingham, former site of Archibald’
s, has 
Happy Hours all day on Mondays … Also, 
live music on Thursdays, 8-11 p.m.
NO SUCH THING AS one Italian 
restaurant being like another … Reason 
why so many Italian restaurants are not 
the same as others might be because some 
are Northern Italian and others Southern 
Italian, for example … A majority, though, 
could feature both … Recently opened 160 
Main in Northville, for example, serves both 
but features mostly Southern.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … He is out to 
dinner with his wife to celebrate her birth-
day … “So, what would you like, Geraldine? 
A sable coat? A Cadillac? A diamond neck-
lace?”
“Morris, I want a divorce,
” she says.
“I wasn’
t planning on spending that 
much,
” he says.
CONGRATS … To Suzie Radner on her 
birthday … To Ed and Suzie Radner on 
their 60th anniversary. ■

Danny’
s email address is 

dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

New executive 
chef brings much 
more to the menu.

Robert Lukaj and Executive Chef 

Victor Malaric

Daily Special: Soup and Salad or Sandwich and Salad for $8

1/31/19

1/31/19
The Caucus Club 
Penobscot Building
150 W. Congress
Detroit, MI 48266
313.965.4970
www.caucusclubdetroit.com
info@caucusclubdetroit.com

Birthday Wishes
to Danny 
on his 100th!

