February 7 • 2019 53
jn

to have fun and show 
some spirit,” Ann says. 
She credits the name, 
Gran Castor, which 
means “Big Beaver” in 
Spanish, to her hus-
band, Curt Catallo. 
“I am looking to 
create a space that has 
broad appeal and gives 
a feeling of home, but 
with a personal touch,” 
Ann says. “A restaurant 
is ultimately a risk, but 
it is also a joy.”
The vibrant colors, 
the beautiful lighting, 
the decorative floors 
and even the doors to the men’
s and 
ladies’
 rooms are unique and tex-
tured. Every inch offers up a bounty 
of thoughtful design and color. The 
artist in me is so happy to notice 
that nothing really matches, but it 
all fits together in a madcap orches-
tra of life and beauty. No formulaic 
color coding or safely surveyed 
neutral tones here, thank you very 
much. Bravo!
Curt and Ann are independent 
business owners and each of their 
several restaurants is individualistic 
and unique. You might be familiar 
with the Vinsetta Garage in Royal 
Oak or Honcho in Rochester or the 
Fenton Firehall. When they plan and 
create a new restaurant, they honor 
the space and the history as well as 
the surrounding culture to bring a 
flagrantly different venue to the com-
munity. They are all standouts.
Ann and Curt were very inter-
ested in maintaining Latin flavors 

and bringing a cultural 
intersection to the food 
and the space. You can 
find and enjoy Porchetta 
Mexicana or Tamale Pie 
on the menu. Rice bowls 
are very popular as well.
I inquired about an 
interesting and lonely 
photograph of a man in a 
bathrobe on the far wall 
of the restaurant that has 
been blown up to about 
3 feet by 4 feet. It turns 
out this is an older pho-
tograph of Alan Miller, 
Ann and Curt’
s attorney 
and friend. They inform 
me that he is featured in some odd 
way in each of their restaurants. 
There is another large rather jarring 
photo of him wearing only a speedo 
on the wall in the private dining area 
that seats about 30 people. So wacky 
and yet personal and fun, too. Mr. 
Miller seems like an inviting, fun 
kind of man.
Gran Castor mostly serves the 
lunch crowd in the Big Beaver busi-
ness corridor, but the bar and menu 
reach into the evening. In the warm-
er weather, the several garage doors 
around Gran Castor will open to a 
patio area offering more seating and 
fresh air.
These two owners of the Union 
Adworks are not finished yet either. 
They let it slip that they are looking 
to the city of Oak Park for their next 
restaurant venture.
I recommend the chopped salad at 
Gran Castor and the rice bowls. Both 
are delicious. ■

Gran Castor

Rochester Road, Troy
(248) 278-7777
grancastor.com


On Star’
s beautiful already 
low-priced trays

24555 W. 12 MILE ROAD

248-352-7377

www.stardeli.net

$5 OFF

Expires 3/06/19. One Per Order. Not Good Holidays. 
10 Person Minimum. With this coupon.

DELIVERY AVAILABLE

“…one of America’
s finest 
carryout-only delicatessens! 
Star’
s reputation 
has never wavered!”

— Danny Raskin
STAR
DELI

Prices subject to change

COMPARE OUR LOW PRICES WITH ANY DELICATESSEN IN TOWN!

SALAD TRAY
$13.99
per 
person
per 
person 

DAIRY TRAY
$22.99

SALAD TRAY W/ LOX & CREAM CHEESE
$17.99
per 
person 

MEAT TRAY
$12.99
per 
person

Order from Star 
for the Best Deli 
Trays in Town!

Fr
om 
the 

Star
 
Deli 
Family

24555 
West 
12 
Mi
l
e 
Road, 

Southfiel
d, 
MI 
48034

(248) 
352-7377

Mazel
 
Tov,
 

Danny 
Raski
n 

on 
your 
100th 
bi
rthday 

and 
many 
more.

Mazel
 
Tov,