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

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 (313) 832-5700

2020
T
HE
 
WHI
T
NE
Y

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Elegant Four Course 

Tea Luncheon

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