Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
raskin
the best of everything
A Sparkling Establishment
T
he ability to offer varied innova-
tions in food has many times saved
numerous restaurants from an
unwanted dread … the sudden lack of cus-
tomers … Among the reasons could be an
inability to change or add to their menus
… Even the best of dining spots must make
alterations that change with the times …
Especially when the kitchen has the ability
to offer that change if needed or wanted.
Restaurants like Diamond Jim Brady’
s
Bistro in Novi’
s Town Center on Novi
Road
off I-96 have no problem … Particularly
not when it enjoys the kitchen magic of two
executive chefs whose culinary expertise
is beyond reproach … The capabilities to
change the menu if needed would be and
are old hat for executive chef/partners Mary
Brady and Sharon Juergens.
It is now celebrating its 65th anniversary,
if in name only, from its start in 1954 on
7 Mile Road … to its present site of nine
years on Crescent Boulevard in Novi …
where so many customers continue to lav-
ish wonderful comments on Diamond Jim
Brady’
s Bistro … with its bevy of blissful
foods, classic libations and all the exquisite
charm of a bistro with the neighborhood
feel of your local bar.
In the priceless culinary hands of Mary
and Sharon, items such as potato-encrust-
ed whitefish, crispy flat bread with chevre
cheese and prosciutto, large pots of spicy
mussels or its famous age-old DJ Burger are
readily available … along with appetizers
like a beet hummus (yogurt-based with
roasted beets, tahini, garlic and lemon,
served with cucumber bites) and its grilled
feta cheese with a basil chili oil, olives and
tomato on a grilled baguette.
Diamond Jim Brady’
s Bistro, with its
chefs of many talents, also makes its own
rolls and breads … along with desserts like
pecan cinnamon bread pudding, key lime
pie, chocolate chip pretzel blondie, vanilla
crème brulee and classic cream puffs.
Best sellers on the menu include its
pan-roasted Scottish salmon over sautéed
fingerling potatoes topped with fresh aru-
gula, pistachios, mint and shaved parmesan
cheese tossed in lemon oil … and the Steak
Diane, a 6-ounce filet mignon with a mush-
room and shallot brandy demi-glace over
buttermilk mashed potatoes and grilled
asparagus.
It is easy to see why customers return for
the warm hospitality and wonderful food
… Especially the excellent custom-ground
half-pound DJB Big Burger of yesteryears …
and the house-made Diamond Jim Brady’
s
Caesar salad version topped with Boursin
cheese-filled chicken breast … along with its
variety of chalkboard features.
Seating capacity is 130, including a cov-
ered patio and bar with 12 stools … Open
Monday-Thursday lunch and dinner, 11-10,
Friday and Saturday, 11-11 and Sunday
brunch 11-4 and dinner 4-9.
It is little wonder why, seated among
antiques from the original 1954 location on
7 Mile Road, that Diamond Jim Brady’
s of
today is so high on the list of restaurants to
cherish.
REAR VIEW MIRROR … Villa Venice
enjoyed its own reputation as a favorite
Italian restaurant back in the 1970s, even
though being near the almost-always-
packed original Lelli’
s Inn on Woodward in
Detroit … Villa Venice, where the owner,
Arminio Beltramett, was his own employee,
too … He played the piano, waited on cus-
tomers, worked in the kitchen, was a fun
host, etc. … But always Villa Venice seemed
to play second fiddle to the nearby legend-
ary Lelli’
s Inn … Almost like it was with the
Hy Horenstein Deli in Oak Park, where Hy
was somewhat like Arminio, but didn’
t play
the piano.
TICKETS CAN ALREADY BE bought
for the Monday, June 15, appearance by
Bob Anderson doing his Frank the Man
impersonation of Frank Sinatra again …
Only this time at the much more spa-
cious Fox Theatre … It was a huge sell-
out last year at Detroit Opera House …
also brought then by Joe Vicari and his
Andiamo Restaurants.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE …Two elderly
ladies were discussing their husbands over
tea. “I do wish that my Ernie would stop
biting his nails. He makes me terribly ner-
vous,” said one.
The other lady replied, “My Sol used to
do the same thing, but I broke him of the
habit.”
“How?” her friend asked.
“I hid his teeth!”
CONGRATS … To Dr. Scott Sircus on
his birthday … To Lily Ann Kormen on her
birthday. ■
Danny’
s email address is
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
Creative chefs
keep Diamond
Jim Brady’
s Bistro
shining bright.
Mary Brady and Sharon Juergens
March 21 • 2019 53
jn
DIAMOND JIM BRADY’
S BISTRO FACEBOOK
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