When Ramzi Naber first opened the Latin-themed Tu-Can Tango club in West Bloomfield, he did it because he wanted to stand out from the emerging trend of Mediterranean restaurants in metro Detroit.

Patrons can either lounge at one of Silk’s many tables or take to the dance floor while bands and musicians perform various types of music including Middle Eastern styles.

But soon Naber felt he had no choice but to change up the style and the menu.
“Mediterranean people began coming here so eventually it became a Mediterranean place,” he said.

The name was changed to Silk, and in came the Mediterranean food favorites like shish kabob, hummus, Iraqi salad, and beef kafta among other favorites, along with a fresh new vibe that combined the up-tempo dancing style of Tu-Can Tango with the laid-back, conversational vibe of Arabic-café style lounges. Both alcohol and hookahs are available, and different theme nights are also part of the ever-evolving landscape of Silk, which has drawn tons of positive reviews and buzz from the local press.

Thursday and Saturday nights are always popular, with belly dancers and full bands playing Arabic music on hand to keep the crowd grooving all night long. Naber said popular singers from overseas have been known to stop in and sing a few songs at a moment’s notice.

It’s all part of the spontaneously fun, outgoing-yet-classy atmosphere Silk is known for across the area.

“Lots of people come and at first don’t want to dance, they’ll just sit back and enjoy the music,” Naber said. “But by the end of the night, even people who didn’t plan on it will be up and dancing.”

Bands play on a stage near the bar area, adding to the “Las Vegas showroom” atmosphere at Silk Supper Club in West Bloomfield. PHOTOS: NIck Meyer/TAAN

Each band plays in an elevated area just beyond the bar in a “Las Vegas showroom” touch according to Naber, entertaining guests who savor the fine Mediterranean cuisine. Mezza platters featuring 11 different appetizers ranging from beef tongue to baba ghannoush are especially popular with the 21 and up crowd of multiple ages and ethnicities. A sushi bar will also soon be added to the back part of the club.
The menu was created by Naber and his seasoned, award-winning staff including Executive Chef Jeff Muncy and Manager Issa Qaqish. Tu-Can Tango was often rated as the top place for tapas (small plates) in the Detroit area and the Silk staff strives to maintain the same quality with its Mediterranean cuisine.

Between the food, argileh, drinks, dancing, and luxurious lounge areas, Silk gives patrons plenty of options for a unique entertainment experience.

Fridays are jazz nights with world-renowned jazz musician and part-owner of popular Detroit supper club Seldom Blues Alexander Zonjic, while other nights feature top 40-style club music to suit even more musical tastes.

Put it all together and it’s easy to see why Naber enjoys coming in to work every day. He often gets into the spirit of the music by clapping along with the beat and occasionally even singing a few notes to entertain his guests.

Naber acknowledges that the job is not easy, calling the restaurant business “the hardest in the world,” and keeping up both Silk and his Tu-Can Tango club location on Hollywood Beach in Florida can be difficult.

But at the end of the day, the Jordan native is proud and excited to have a restaurant that fuses Arabic food and dance with a more traditional night and supper club experience.

“I feel blessed to be a part of the Michigan Mediterranean community,” Naber said.

“I honestly can’t see myself doing anything else,” he said. “Either you’re into it or you’re not.”

Silk Supper Club is located at 6041 Haggerty Road in West Bloomfield. Hours are 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more info call 248.669.8999 or visit the club’s myspace page at //www.myspace.com/silksupperclub.