 OCTOBER 10 • 2019 | 61

the best of everything
Raskin

A Name 
to Live Up To
Morrie would be proud of his 
grandson’
s restaurant.
N

aming a restaurant after some-
one is rarely easy … especially 
when it is that of a relative 
… The Morrie, named after the late 
Morrie Fenkell and celebrating its third 
anniversary, is more than just the name 
of someone’
s grandfather.
Morrie passed on in 2007 and is 
remembered as “
one of the boys” … 
He led a life that included being a 
medic during World War II and chair-
man of the board of Liberty State Bank 
& Trust in Hamtramck.
Located on North Woodward, north 
of Maple, Birmingham, The Morrie 
is much like a roadside-styled eatery 
with cuisine that includes Nashville 
hot chicken sandwich, roadside ribs, 
smoked fried chicken wings, the 
Morrie burger, etc. … It is also known 
for its décor styling that includes a bar 
surrounding a large, elevated stage for 

musical performances.
Entrees that go over in a big way 
include steak frites with parmesan 
fries, freshly caught seafood, roasted 
half-chicken, etc.
There is seating for 214 with a bar 
that includes 33 stools … It does much 
of its own baking … fresh bread, sand-
wich buns, desserts like a banana bread 
pudding and other dishes.
The Morrie in Birmingham is open 
Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 
Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday, 11 
a.m.- 2 a.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. 
and Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Morrie also has a private dining 
room that accommodates 36 guests 
with noise control and fabric ceiling 
… A raised stage can be seen from 
anywhere in the restaurant, with five 
80-inch screens … much wanted for 
viewing games, events, etc.
If Morrie were alive today, he’
d be 
proud to have his name associated with 
grandson Andrew Belen’
s fine eatery.
A BIG REQUEST at many restau-
rants, mostly delicatessens, years 
ago … mainly at lunchtime but also 
enjoyed by evening palates … was for 
a hot beef sandwich … And that is 
what the customer received … A deli-
cious prime or top-choice beef brisket 
with wholesome gravy and usually 
potatoes …. on choices of bread, white 

and sometimes rye or challah … Not 
so today at numerous delis … many 
hot beef sandwiches are now distant 
shadows of the one-time real thing 
… Especially take-outs with the meat 
many times clinging to the paper on 
the bottom of a Styrofoam container, 
and served with thinly sliced meat 
instead of the better brisket grades … 
In some delis where the skimpy “hot 
beef sandwich” is served, much of the 
slices are thin pieces and perhaps hid-
den shavings from the meat slicer. 
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A few 
days after seeing him, the doctor saw 
his elderly patient walking down the 
street with a gorgeous young lady … 
The doctor bumped into him the next 
day and said, “You’
re really doing great, 
aren’
t you?”
The aged gent replied, “Just doing 
what you said, Doc, ‘
Get a hot mamma 
and be cheerful.
’
” 
The doctor said, “I didn’
t say that. I 
said, ‘
You’
ve got a heart murmur. Be 
careful.
’
”
CONGRATS … To Karrie 
Slominski on her birthday… To 
Pamela Smith on her birthday … To 
Robert Soper on his 80th birthday …
To Jon and Lorrie Isenberg on their 
34th anniversary. 

Email Danny at dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

COURTESY OF THE MORRIE/TERENCE WARDE

For info www.thewhitney.com
 (313) 832-5700

201
9
T
HE
 
WHI
T
NE
Y

 Pre-Theater Dinner Menu 

Enjoy this special menu 
before all theater, 
DSO, LCA events.

Three Courses 
$39.95

Valid on performance date

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