OC Restaurant Quest: Stage Deli in West Bloomfield
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 16, 2024)
West Bloomfield, MI – The quest to try every restaurant in Oakland County continues with carryout from Stage Deli in West Bloomfield. There were so many interesting choices on the eclectic menu, that I had to enjoy a few meal choices.
First off, the brick chicken was the most amazing chicken I’ve had in my life. Absolutely perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection. And because it comes with a choice of sides this could easily be a go-to healthy meal, with leftovers. I had mine with creamed spinach, roasted cauliflower, and a dinner salad with bleu cheese dressing.
For a less healthy comfort meal I decided to have a Swankee Frankee with baked beans for the side. This right here is pure flavor indulgence, with the bacon-wrapped, cheese-stuffed hotdog grilled so the meat gets all caramelized and the grease soaks into the bun when you bite in. That greasy goodness is only further enjoyed by the sweet and hearty flavor of the baked beans drenched in sauce. Also, it came with one of those nice, big, crispy deli pickles that tastes amazing, especially amidst the the other flavors going on here.
Swinging back to something healthy, I opted for a salad. Stage Deli made that easy by having salads you can easily customize. I had mine a Custom Beltaire Salad topped with bacon, feta, burnt onion, green pepper, and a hard boiled egg, chopped and served with lemon pepper vinaigrette. There are a number of toppings to chose from so your salad can be unique and the possibilities are endless.
I also wanted to try some items I’d not had before. The Knish is basically like a giant meatball wrapped in golden dough, a Jewish creation often sold as street food. The Pistachio Halva is is a dessert made with tahini sesame paste, pistachios, and powdered sugar. This is a substantial treat with a satisfying texture and a rich flavor.
I also ordered the Kasha Varnishkas, which is also a traditional Jewish dish made with bow-tie noodles and buckwheat. Except they were out so now I have good reason to eat there again because my curiosity is piqued. The lack of Kasha Varnishkas did give me a chance to try something else that I would not otherwise have gotten. Since the cook let me pick whatever I wanted from the case, I had tuna pasta salad. And it was absolutely amazing! I loved the mayo-based sauce with a hint of citrus and the fact that it has spinach in it. This is another relatively healthy option that would be easy to pick up for a picnic or easy meal.
It’s hard to even know where to start with the rest of the menu. There are a slew of deli classics like the triple decker Dinty Moore sandwich, the Oceans 11 tuna salad wrap, and “off the bone” turkey breast. There are burgers, and chicken sandwiches, big dogs, and turkey burgers. Enjoy smoked fish plates like kippered salmon, smoked whitefish, and hot-smoked sable. Among the salad choices are the shrimp Louie, the stone canyon, and the Seinfeld. Breakfast is served any time, with dishes like egg white pizza, chicken and waffles, and shakshuka.
The Stage Deli has it’s roots in Oak Park, opening in 1962 and run by husband and wife team of Jack and Harriet Goldberg. The deli was originally located near the Northland Playhouse, and the booths were often filled with play-goers and actors and actresses, hense the “Stage” name.
Now located at 6873 Orchard Lake Road, The Stage Deli continues on with the next generation providing the authentic Jewish deli experience. Learn more and order online at https://stagedeli.com
Oakland County Times is on a QUEST to enjoy every local restaurant in Oakland County. This long-term project is a labor of love, supported by our friends at White Castle. White Castle is a family-owned company that is proud to be one of only 20 large employers to make the Fortune Best Places to work list in 2022. With steam-grilled sliders, crispy golden french fries, fantastic slides like onion chips or fried clams, and the best chocolate shakes, White Castle is a by far our top choice for a fast food meal. Check out their website at www.WhiteCastle.com.
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