Big Tommy’
s Parthenon
celebrates eight years.
the best of everything
Raskin
A Greek
Treasure
A
local dining legend
many people remember
and continue to enjoy
not only has the restaurant
named for him but also helps
carry on his highly respected
name.
This is the
years-ago
owner of the
Parthenon and
New Parthenon
Greek eateries
in Greektown,
Detroit, and
co-owner of former Big Daddy’
s
Parthenon, West Bloomfield,
that closed because of internal
problems.
When his son, Andrew
(Andy) Stylianou, who grew
up in the restaurants with his
dad, was only 18 years old, he
worked as chef at Dimitri’
s in
Trenton … and around age 20
when working for his future
father-in-law, Tom Peristeris,
waiting tables … Then he
opened his own restaurants.
When Andy’
s wife, Elena,
who worked with her dad Tom
since she was 12, and Andy
came across an opportunity to
buy and open a Greek restau-
rant in 2012, both immediately
decided to name it Big Tommy’
s
Parthenon … on Grand River,
near 12 Mile, between Haggerty
and Meadowbrook, Novi.
Along with Tom’
s influence,
guidance and recipes, they
brought in a highly skilled chef
from Greektown to head the
kitchen … and to also journey
daily in the early morning to
Eastern Market to hand-pick the
vegetables, meats, etc.
Now going into its eighth
anniversary, Big Tommy’
s
Parthenon has become highly
noted for its authentic Greek
dishes, many from old family
recipes, and its American-style
seafood selections.
Best sellers include lamb
chops, Lamb Riganato, grape
leaves, grilled octopus, stuffed
chicken, etc.
Big Tommy’
s makes its own
Parthenon Cake, (pineapple
custard) baklava, Greek custard,
Greek yogurt and chocolate
mousse.
Hours are seven days …
Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-
10 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-11
p.m., Saturday. 8 a.m.- 11 p.m.,
Sunday, 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. …
Seating is 200 in the restaurant
and another 200 in its lower
level Comedy Club and Banquet
Room … A bar has 15 stools
… The Comedy Club, with
live performers on Friday and
Saturday evenings, is $15 per
person, depending on the per-
former … and a limited menu
show package is $27.
Big Tommy’
s Parthenon is a
Greek dining winner … named
after a very well-liked person,
whose many times proud pres-
ence with his son-in-law and
daughter is a wonderful delight
… So is the food!
ADVICE TO restaurant own-
ers … If sport banners are dis-
played, do not favor one or the
other team … Put up those of
both squads or suffer the loss of
customers … regardless of how
good your food may be.
QUESTION & ANSWER
DEPT. … “I have a dinner bet
with Alvin Selegman. He says he
remembers when Sonny Eliot
was in the restaurant business.
When Al loses, he will take me
and my wife, Joyce, for a good
steak dinner. Where should we
go?” … Sam Tuchman.
(You’
re taking him, Sam.
Former weathercaster Sonny
(Marvin Schlossberg) Eliot used
to have Sonny’
s Weather Station
Lounge & Restaurant at the
Detroit City Airport. Plenty of
good places to have a fine steak.)
OLDIE BUT GOODIE …
The man moaned about the
doctor’
s fee. “I can’
t pay that
much,
” he said.
So the doctor set a lower fee.
The fellow said it still was too
much, and the doctor asked why
he was there to see him when he
couldn’
t afford his price.
“Listen, Doc,
” said the man,
“when it comes to my health,
money is no object.
”
CONGRATS … To Jerry
Parr on his birthday … To Ethel
Komer on her birthday.
Email dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist
BIG TOMMY’
S
BIG TOMMY’
S
Andy and Elena Stylianou and Tom Peristeris
JANUARY 9 • 2020 | 53
Reservations at www.thewhitney.com
(313) 832-5700
2020
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HE
WHI
T
NE
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