Out of the hundreds of restaurants we’re likely to patronize, a few stand out for being above the ordinary. There’s a history, a family connection, and a unique perspective on hospitality. And we are fortunate to have enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Diamond Jim Brady’s Bistro in Novi. But more than customers, we consider them friends.

Jim Brady founded the original restaurant on the east side of Detroit in 1954, serving burgers, salads and other tavern food in a neighborhood hangout. Jim’s son Tom took over the business and moved it to Southfield, and eventually to Novi. Tom also had the good fortune to be married to a certified executive chef – the first female CEC in Michigan. Tom and Mary Brady built a faithful clientele with a menu that combined the traditional dishes from Detroit – the Seven Mile burger, caesar salad, chili – along with the bistro food that Mary brought to the kitchen. Tom was the affable host who greeted guests – nobody was a stranger more than once – and Mary kept the kitchen humming, turning out dishes tried and true as well as fast-forward cuisine. Continue reading “Diamond Jim Brady’s Bistro”

I won’t go into how this is an unprecedented time in human history because everyone else is saying it. But it has changed the dining dynamic, certainly limiting options for those who enjoy having someone else do the cooking for a change. And since atmosphere and service is a big part of dining out, we’ll have to make do with candles on the kitchen table or a blanket by the riverbank as our environment for the next little while. Continue reading “Dining in a pandemic”

We’ve been going to Chicago for years – usually just for the weekend but we’ve taken extended trips, usually staying on the Magnificent Mile or in the Loop. One restaurant we repeatedly passed by but never checked out is Rosebud on Rush. A few years ago we finally made a reservation and had dinner at the Rush Street location and we were instantly hooked, and we make it a point to visit Rosebud once or twice a year. In addition to two bustling levels indoors, there’s outside dining at sidewalk tables that are closed off in the winter and kept warm with patio heaters. We enjoy sitting outside during the warmer months.

With nine locations in and around Chicagoland, the Rosebud group was founded in 1974 by Alex Dana and features Italian and steakhouse dining. Continue reading “Rosebud on Rush”