The Fiddler, West Bloomfield

The Fiddler’s doors only open Thursday–Sunday, but when they do, they send the smell of home-cooked Russian cuisine wafting far afield. There, you’ll find dollops of sour cream dissolving into bowls of borscht and cucumber slices circling a mound of tomatoes, dill, and red onions to form Russian summer salads. The rest of the menu reflects the vastness of the Eurasian nation, with tender morsels of lamb glistening in garlic and parsley marinade and sauteed whole cornish hens joining Turkish and Mediterranean dishes such as kebobs and sweet and savory blintzes. For dessert, guests can browse from a selection of sweets that includes the seven-layer Napolean Fiddler cake. The Fiddler hosts live music on Friday and Saturday night, occasionally welcoming the festive and folksy sounds of a live fiddler.