May 9 • 2019 57
jn

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

raskin
the best of everything

Empire State of Mind
A

long with the resurgence of new 
restaurant openings in Downtown 
Detroit bringing much joy, may 
also be some cause for alarm … Closings 
may come, in and outers, too … But all 
said, the current presence of new restau-
rants is welcomed.
Toots Shore of New York dining fame used 
to say that a good restaurant might start when 
customers smile after lifting their forks and 
having the first bite.
He had something there. 
This is where a restaurant such as the new 
Empire Kitchen and Cocktails on Woodward, 
corner of Erskine, two blocks north of Little 
Caesars Arena, Detroit, shines so high … 
Owned by friends Michael Abrams, Brian 
Adelman and Dave Pittaway, with working 
partner/chef Aaron Lowen, it presents some-
thing so many other like operations might 
sadly fail to offer … Its very own cooking 
styles with big features on simplicity, too …an 
important factor today for success. 
Chef Lowen, trained at the prestigious 
Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, 
New York and was former director of oper-
ations and events for Cutting Edge cuisine, 
is noted for having his own casual American 
fare along with an approach that also brings 
out numerous Italian and other influences in 
many food preparations. 
The diversified style of Empire’
s menu 
selections has brought many return visits … 
with choices from prime steak, Empire burg-
er, turkey burger, dry-rub wings, pan-seared 
salmon, scallops, grilled lamb chops, pizzas, 
seafood pasta, even corned beef hash, 14-oz. 

New York strip, spicy chicken, corn-on-the 
cob, etc.
A new 2019 menu also includes sea-
sonal items, Brisket French Dip, citrus 
salad, artichoke pizza, sausage orecchiette, 
smoked whitefish dip, salted caramel 
cookie skillet, etc.
Friends since boyhood, Mike Abrams 
should know the goodness of its burgers, also 
being owner of Mr. Joe’
s in Southfield … and 
Brian Adelman, who’
s name many remem-
ber from the family once owning Adelman’
s 
Department Store in Windsor … Mike and 
Brian own the 30 Five Guys Burger and Fries 
spots in Michigan and two in Illinois as well. 
Empire Kitchen and Cocktails makes its 
own monkey bread, spice cake, brownies, 
bread sticks, etc.
Closed Mondays … Open Tuesday 4-10, 
Wednesday and Thursday 4-12, Friday, 4-1, 
Saturday, 11-1, Sunday, 10-10 … Saturday 
and Sunday brunch from menus, 11-3, fol-
lowed by dinner menu … Complete seating is 
135 plus 20 stools at its well-stocked bar.
Empire Kitchen and cocktails is the casual 
but interesting and good American bistro that 
so many people look for when visiting Detroit 
… or living and working in its Downtown 
area … along with the many who come from 
the suburbs.
Relaxed dining with simplicity as evi-
denced by Empire Kitchen is highly wel-
comed.
PRE-BROADWAY SHOW of Bob 
Anderson and his amazing impression of 
Frank Sinatra in “Frank The Man. The 
Music,
” presented by Joe Vicari and his 
Andiamo and Joe Muer Seafood restau-

rants … Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m. at the Fox 
Theatre … will also include Johnny Trudell 
and his 31-piece orchestra … Bob’
s uncanny 
impression will include many top-drawer 
Sinatra favorite songs he did not do last year 
at the much smaller Detroit Opera House … 
It hits Broadway with Bob doing his Sinatra 
show this fall … Like Tony Bennett says, 
“Frank would have loved this show!” … You 
will, too.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … Isaac is out 
shopping when he sees a sign in a window 
saying, “Jacob’
s Custom-Made Clothing.
” … 
He isn’
t sure whether to go in because it looks 
so expensive. But Jacob, the owner, sees him 
hesitating and quickly invites him in.
“What are you looking for?” he asks. 
“
A suit for my grandson’
s bar mitzvah,” 
says Isaac.
“Good,
” said Jacob, “you’
ve come to the 
right place. When we make a suit here, you’
ll 
be surprised at how we go about it. First, dig-
ital cameras take pictures of every muscle and 
we download the pictures to a special com-
puter to build up your image. Then we cul-
tivate sheep in Australia to get the very best 
cloth. For the silk lining, we contact Japan for 
their silkworms, and we ask Japanese deep 
sea divers to get the pearl buttons. When do 
you need it?”
“This week,
” says Isaac.
“You’
ll have it!”
CONGRATS … To David Sachs on his 
birthday … To Eleanor Pearl on her 
birthday. ■

Danny’
s email address is 

dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Detroit’
s Empire 
Kitchen and 
Cocktails offers 
relaxed dining.

Michael Abrams, Aaron Lowen and 

Brian Adelman

COURTESY OF EMPIRE KITCHEN AND COCKTAILS 

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