Torino restaurant in Ferndale was award winning. It got some pretty flattering reviews. In February, Hour Magazine named Torino the 2015 Restaurant of the Year.
It opened in 2013 and it served its final meal this past Saturday. Sylvia Rector of the Free Press reported that the restaurant was known for its contemporary, Scandinavian-influenced chef's tasting menus.
Last week, Rector reported about the restaurant's closing and quoted head chef Garrett Lipar:
"We underestimated the demand for what we do, and we grew too quickly and were unable to keep up with Health Department codes for space for cooking."
Victoria Trudeau of Eater Detroit writes about the final night in an article posted Tuesday:
On Friday, June 5, award-winning Ferndale restaurant Torino announced its sudden closure. The last dinner service was held Saturday and every seat in the small restaurant was filled with friends, regulars, and fans of the tasting-menu only establishment.
Chef Garrett Lipar prepared 14 courses with wine pairings chosen by manager Ian Redmond. The restaurant's owner, Noah Dorfman, and his girlfriend Michelle sat nearest the kitchen at the bar, interacting with staff and guests throughout the evening, graciously hosting as they enjoyed one last meal in the espresso bar turned nationally recognized restaurant.
The mood was both emotional and celebratory, like a going away party for a very good friend. The service was excellent as always, but there were even more interactions between the servers, Garrett, Ian, and the guests than usual, making the whole evening feel particularly welcoming and warm.
