MAY 21 • 2020 | 45 A second year in the restaurant business is considered to be the hardest for many new dining enterprises … Original impres- sions have a lot to do with it but, in the long run, what many may consider as flaws are mostly cor- rected. The lucky ones are those whose restaurant experiences would allow them to either correct negligible blemishes or none at all. Among them is the temporar- ily closed Empire Kitchen and Cocktails, corner of Woodward and Erskine in Downtown Detroit, whose boyhood owner friends will hopefully soon cel- ebrate a better-than-expected second anniversary. Owners Mike Abrams and Brian Adelman have yet to find any serious flaw, and when the current coronavirus crisis is over can look forward to enjoy- ing their second year of success … Perhaps previous successful experiences with ownership of Five Guys, Mr. Joes, etc. has much to do with it … along with that of its fine executive chef, Aaron Lowen. Their outdoor patios during the summer months may still see some days of high success as they probably present dining features like big-sellers dry-rub chicken wings, pizzas, burgers, branzino, etc. Highly accepted entrees of mushroom pasta, lamb chops, shrimp pasta and cauliflower fried rice have gone over big along with salmon, chicken scallops, steak, including New York Strip, aNd six styles of pizza, regular or available with gluten-free crust … Past experi- ence with beer on draft and bot- tle or wine by the glass or bottle have gone over in a large way. The 30-foot bar, when avail- able, ordinarily serves a large variety of specialty cocktails, wine and beer … Much good- ness at the table when the health problem has past is again expected with Empire in full swing. DJ entertainment may also be available on Friday and Saturday nights, if allowed. Seating capac- ity, when available, at Empire is 200 … with a large bar seating 20 … a Happy Hours segment is on Saturdays, 11 a.m-1 p.m. That the new Empire Kitchen and Cocktails has enjoyed a suc- cessful first year is indicative of its further acceptance to come with many additional visits after the dreaded crisis has passed. REARVIEW MIRROR … The House of Hunan took over the site of two former delica- tessens, Point After Deli and Nosherie Deli … When asked why he didn’ t open a Jewish Chinese delicatessen, owner Joe Chue replied, “Did you ever taste an egg roll made with chopped liver?” OLDIE BUT GOODIE … A funeral service is being held at the synagogue for a man who had just passed away … At the end of the service, the pallbear- ers are carrying the casket out, when they accidently bump into a wall, jarring the casket … They hear a faint moan, open the casket and find that the man is actually alive … He lives for 10 more years and then passes away … A ceremony is again held at the same synagogue and, at the end, the pallbearers are again carrying the casket … As they are walking out, the wife cries, “Watch out for the wall!” CONGRATS … To Linda Nudell on her birthday … To Michael Layne on his birthday. Email dannyraskin2132@gmail.com. Danny Raskin Senior Columnist VIA EMPIRE KITCHEN FACEBOOK Mike Abrams, Aaron Lowen and Brian Adelman the best of everything Raskin COURTESY OF EMPIRE KITCHEN An Empire State of Mind Looking forward to the return of Empire Kitchen and Cocktails once the crisis is over. thejewishnews.com/newsletter FRESH Weekly Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox.