Category: Restaurants

Porch of the Maidens – 6008 W. Central Ave.

Porch of the Maidens was located on the northwest corner of Central and Warner Avenue. Formerly Michael Angelo’s and Imperial Coffee Shop (“Home of the Imperial King Hamburg”).

“Before the building became the [ancient Greece and Roman themed] Porch, it was [Italian themed] Michael Angelo’s, where Chef Henk Vandersteen was best known for his lasagna and chicken cacciatore. Now, Chef Henk is back in the kitchen, to assist the head chefs, Deiphino Martinez and Dave Pelow, and the Italian dishes have been given fanciful names. The cacciatore is listed on the menu as polio petro cacciatore for $7.95 and the lasagna is lasagna a la milanese, $6.95. For the latter, the sauce will be heated at the table. The gazpacho has given way to cream of potato with sherry and the complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries are being replaced with mini-chocolate cups holding custard.” – Blade food editor Mary Alice Powell, December 7, 1978.

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Hing Mee, 6256 W. Central Ave.

Formerly the Swinger Night Club. Hing Mee opened in 1979 and was owned and operated by Yuk (Hank) Hing Lee. The building was demolished to make way for Taylor Kia.

Hank, 26, emigrated to the U.S. from China via Trinidad where he was the proprietor of a dry goods shop. He made is home in Toledo, while working at various Chinese restaurants before opening the Hing Mee Restaurant with his sister Mee. The restaurant ran for 11 years before Hank closed the business to work with his Uncle Kim and Aunt Garling Wong at Kim’s Gardens of Novi, Michigan. Hank retired at the age of 65 and spent his remaining years dividing his time between Toledo and Akron with his family. He was an active member of the Asian Senior center of Toledo and spent his free time gardening, observing nature and daytripping. – from obituary. 

2-2-1979