Let me tell you about our friends, the Ansaras

Two of our best friends are Marlene Ansara-Lederman and her husband Scott. We first met Marlene while hanging out at our favorite "watering hole" where she was the service manager. Over time, a bunch of us - at least a dozen - developed relationships that included lots of parties, weddings and other fun events.

Over the years, we developed even closer friendships with not only Marlene and her son Samuel, but also with several of her siblings and their spouses and kids. We'd heard about her brother Kameel who with his wife Jackie owned Ansara's Boardroom, a popular downtown Toledo restaurant, but we never went there.

Kameel suffered a severe work-related injury and was forced to close the Boardroom. He vowed to never go into the restaurant business again. (Aside: Restaurants have always been the lifeblood of this Ansara family - from the Bungalow to Joey's Supper Club and others.)

But in October of 2004, Kameel and Jackie opened Ansara's Steakhouse on Laskey Road near Douglas in the old "Adam's Place/Adam's Ribs" building.

And thus another relationship began - one with not only Kameel and Jackie, but with their food. You will find us at Ansara's Steakhouse one to three nights a week. Sure we love the people, but, man, do we love the food.

There's always people we know - some of the old gang have fallen by the wayside, but even more great folks joined the fold. We take other people there frequently, both singles and couples. If the restaurant was open at lunch, they would see even more of us. But, alas, they're not.

So how can I convince everyone who reads this blog to give them a try? Their food is fantastic - some traditional American fare, Lebanese favorites, homemade desserts to die for . . . you get the idea. Special features every week (http://www.ansarassteakhouse.com/) always including an $8.95 "comfort food" special.

Marlene is manager and bartends every night of the week except one (they're open Mon-Sat). She's been voted "best bartender in town" in the Toledo City Paper poll. Wait staff is attentive and friendly (one of them, Bonnie, works for me part-time in the store). Kameel is the cook - he humbly says he is "not a chef, just the cook." But you will always find him out in the restaurant whenever he gets a spare minute - mingling with the patrons, making sure everything is okay and everyone's having a good time.

When you check them out, look for us in the bar.

So what is your favorite hangout and what makes it special?