OCTOBER 22 • 2020 | 45

L

ooking back to the 
future … The wonderful 
Wonder Bar, and that it 
certainly was, on Washington 
Boulevard … 
enjoyed a beauti-
ful reputation as 
one of Detroit’
s 
most cosmopol-
itan restaurants 
… considered a 
direct heir of one 
of the city’
s most 
elegant “
clubs” in the 1920s.
Sammy Sofferin, affable 
proprietor of the Wonder 
Bar, parlayed a cigar stand, 
an apartment house and the 
old Powatan Club into the 
very successful Washington 
Boulevard supper club.
In addition to an excellent 
menu, the Wonder Bar fea-
tured a delightful cocktail bar, 
dancing on an intimate floor to 
the music of the orchestra and 
a glittering clientele.
In keeping with his belief 
that “
good soups and sauces 

are the hallmark of a good 
restaurant,” Sofferin’
s Wonder 
Bar listed black bean soup on 
its daily luncheon menu and 
turtle soup spiked with brandy 
on the dinner menu.
Other specialties of the 
house included shrimps a la 
Powatan, which consisted of 
bread shaped into a pyramid 
to which were attached fried 
shrimp, chicken livers, ancho-
vies and scallops. Around the 
base were frog legs.
Sammy insisted that prime 
rib was another key to run-
ning a successful restaurant … 
The Wonder Bar was the first 
restaurant in Detroit to intro-
duce the boneless strip sirloin, 
known as the New York, and 
this entrée continued as one of 
its biggest sellers.
Sammy was the first to admit 
that the success of the Wonder 
Bar was in a great measure, due 
to his wife.
In fact, the business was 
pretty much a family affair… 

In addition to Sammy and 
Margaret, sons Sammy Jr., Lee 
and Don were also employed 
there.
Margaret’
s role was tradition-
ally that of a taster… All food 
had to pass her inspection.
Many will always remember 
the very fine Sammy Sofferin’
s 
Wonder Bar for the many 
athletes who loved its famed 
Powatan Salad … But mostly, 
other than loving it, Hank 
Greenberg hitting his league-
high home runs for the Tigers 
at old Navin Field … After the 
game, Greenberg was almost 
sure to be at the Wonder Bar 
for his regular steak dinner.
THERE IS NO STOPPING 
him … Now Joe Vicari will 
open three more restaurants in 
this area the end of the year … 
remodeling and taking them 
over in Birmingham, Grosse 
Pointe and Shelby Township … 
He’
ll also open a couple more 
in Las Vegas, where Joe already 
has two, and Nashville … The 

future begins?
OLDIE BUT GOODIE 
… (Still another version of a 
favorite) … A Reform rabbi, 
direct from the golf tee, was so 
compulsive a golfer that once, 
on a very sacred high Jewish 
holiday, he left the house early 
and went for a quick nine holes 
by himself.
An angel, who happened to 
be looking on, immediately 
notified his superiors that a 
grievous sin was being com-
mitted on Earth.
On the sixth hole, God 
caused a mighty wind to take 
the ball from the tee to the cup 
for a hole in one … The angel 
was shocked! “Look, Lord,” 
he said, “you call this punish-
ment?”
“Sure,” said God with a 
smile. “Who can he tell?”
CONGRATS … To David 
Wechsler on his birthday. 

Danny’s email address is 
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

RASKIN
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

Who 
Remembers 
Sammy’s 
Wonder Bar?

Wonder Bar

memorabilia

WIKIPEDIA

EBAY

Hank Greenberg would 
go to the Wonder Bar 
after a Tigers’ game.

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