Heritage Days Grand Marshall Steve Szatmari

Steve Szatmari will be the Grand Marshall of this year’s Southgate Heritage Days Parade.

You may or may not know Szatmari, but if you live in Southgate, or anywhere Downriver for that matter, you almost surely know his business – The Hungarian Rhapsody Restaurant.

The Rhapsody, which owns the distinction of being the largest Hungarian restaurant in the United States, has been around for more than 30 years and is widely loved for its great ethnic European food.

From chicken paprikash, to Hungarian goulash and cabbage rolls to the restaurant’s wonderful eggy dumplings, the food is amazing at the Rhapsody. The restaurant’s website is full of reviews from people, most claiming the food tastes “just like grandma used to make.”

Szatmari, who runs the business with his wife Darlene and his daughter Jennifer, loves hearing it.

He learned to cook in culinary school in Budapest. It was there in his home country that Szatmari fell in love with a girl from Southgate who was traveling in Hungary with her father. That girl was Darlene and he followed back to Michigan.

The couple lived in Southgate for many years before moving out to Grosse Ile a couple of decades ago. They also own a condo in Hollywood FL, where Steven and Darlene now spend the winters.

In 1971, he and Darlene opened The Rhapsody and the rest – as they say – is history.

“It’s just wonderful to see a business like this succeed,” said Southgate Mayor Joe Kuspa.

The Southgate mayor said that Szatmari being Heritage Days Grand Marshall is an honor long overdue.

“Steve has always been supportive of community events and activities,” said Kuspa. “Being this year’s Grand Marshall is a tribute to Steve for all that he has meant to the business community.”

Heritage Days begins June 15 this year and at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, Szatmari will help helm the parade that runs down Burns Street and ends at Market Center Park in the Southgate Shopping Center. Steve will be the one waving from a convertible.

The Rhapsody has become more than a local legend. Several of the reviews on its website mention traveling sometimes more than an hour to eat there.

And, recently Tom Daldin, host of the popular PBS show Under the Radar Michigan, was in town to talk with Szatmari and sample the Rhapsody’s food. Under the Radar is seen through Michigan and parts of Ohio.

Szatmari still does all the cooking at the Rhapsody. You can find him in the kitchen hard at work over a big batch of paprikash or goulash or you can find him in the bar or dining area, greeting guests with his welcoming smile.

The restaurant employs around 45 people and many of them have been with Szatmari for decades, some from before The Rhapsody opened

The Rhapsody offers carryout service, but if you use that you will miss the “Old World” ambiance of the restaurant’s dining room. Rhapsody also has a full catering service to suit every need.

And while Szatmaris live on Grosse Ile and spend three winter months in Florida, Steve says Southgate holds a special place in his heart.

“To me, Southgate is always home,” he said.