Columnist Muriel Stevens: Stars to turn out for Motown’s grand opening

Friday, Jan. 10, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

MOTOWN CAFE in New York-New York will celebrate its arrival with a star-studded invitational grand opening at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Fans are invited to join in the festivities outside. Entertainment by the Temptations, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, the Four Tops and Queen Latifah is part of the grand opening.

Among the stars expected are Sinbad (he'll host the event), Paula Abdul, Tyra Banks, Lionel Richie, Martha Reeves, David Hasselhoff, Sela Ward, Molly Ringwald, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Halle Berry and many more.

I sure hope they're serving some of Chef John Botkin's scrumptious pecan-sweet potato pie. It's almost as good as the one made by my sainted Aunt Sara.

Birthday dinners

There's nothing I like better than celebrating a birthday at a favorite restaurant. This year I hit the jackpot with two dinners.

First came a family dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Manager Antonio and his staff created a table setting that was gorgeous. Sheer white cloths trimmed in gold, matching napkins, glassware and flatware, and fresh flowers were stunning.

The chairs were covered in white and tied with fat gold bows. The effect was worthy of the finest restaurant.

We dined on all of our favorites: Caesar salad, filet mignon, double-cut lamb chops, creamed spinach and Lyonnaise potatoes (arguably the best in town).

It was a lovely celebration.

The next night I dined at Spago. It was perfect timing, for Chef David Robins had just added some wonderful items to the menu. We began with a sampler plate of Asian-inspired appetizers, so eye appealing we were almost reluctant to disturb the plate.

For an entree, I chose the sweet corn gnocchi with steamed Maine lobster and porcini mushrooms. The gnocchi were perfect -- light and airy, yet so satisfying. David incorporates a bit of ricotta cheese into the potato mix to achieve the ideal texture.

We finished our meal with a sampling of Mary Bergin's wickedly good desserts. An ideal ending to any Spago dinner.

Two fine meals on two consecutive nights -- a birthday doesn't get much better than that.

More Ruth's Chris

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on Paradise Road has added an enclosed garden room and expanded other areas of the restaurant. The garden room is filled with plants and comfortable seating. The decor completes the illusion of outdoor dining. It's a fine place to lunch.

Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Featured on the menu are appetizers ($4.50-$7.50), salads ($3.25-$11.50) and grilled and speciality items ($9.25-$18.25) such as a filet sandwich, crab cakes, pasta, a mixed grill and petit filet. Included with the grilled and speciality items are vegetables and potatoes.

More Spago

Spago's menu, with the new items, changes daily, but usually includes Sonoma lamb and grilled free-range chicken atop a bed of the justifiably famous roasted-garlic mashed potatoes. Other new dishes tasted recently were the roasted beet salad with goat cheese and Anjou pears -- a savory mix dressed with aged balsamic vinegar; pancetta-wrapped (Italian bacon) venison with parsnip puree and roasted duck breast with crisp potato galette, watercress and a white port glaze.

The cafe menu changes regularly, too, but the popular Spago meatloaf with grilled onions and roasted-garlic mashed potatoes is usually featured.

Sheraton Desert Inn

New menus are in place at Portofino and Monte Carlo restaurants in the Sheraton Desert Inn. Portofino has new decor as well and smashing Italian country-style accessories and serving dishes. Included among the many rustic dishes are braised oxtail in warm truffle brioche with baby arugula, mussels mariniere or Gisele, Mediterranean fish soup, braised lamb shank and a fricassee of seafood.

Portofino's menu includes appetizers, pastas, seafood, meat and poultry and dishes designed to be shared by two. The price range from salads to the dishes for two is $6.50 to $64.

New dishes have been added to the classic Monte Carlo menu and the prices are slightly higher. Rack of lamb for two at Portofino is $64; at Monte Carlo, it's $76.

Both dining rooms offer fine food and excellent service.

Short orders

* Triple 7 Brewpub in the Main Street Station is offering a number of well-priced lunch specials. Included are the Meister Burger ($5.25) topped with Canadian bacon and cheese, a broiled half-pound chicken sandwich ($4.50), a quesadilla with the signature sirloin-black bean chili ($4.95) and a barbecued chicken pizza with sliced red onions and smoked Gouda ($6.75).

Lunch specials are available from 11 a.m. Happy-hour items ($2.95, each), served from 4-6 p.m. nightly, include Southern-fried chicken tenders, 20 Brewhouse boiled shrimp or 12 chicken wings with a choice of sauce.

* Tasty, authentic tacos ($2.25) and burritos ($3.75) and other fast Mexican foods are available at the first Las Vegas location of the California company La Taqueria. Good-sized tacos and burritos, generously filled are found here. La Taqueria is at 1710 E. Charleston Blvd. The sampling of dishes sent to my office rated an ole!

* Chang of Las Vegas has opened a second location in Bally's featuring daily dim sum service and a complete menu of Chinese specialities.