The Detroit area has always been blessed with fine choices of Italian restaurants.
But the real question is: Which ones are worth going to?
Nicole Rupersburg lists "The 11 Best Italian Restaurants in Detroit" -- though only four are actually in the city.
Recommendations include Southfield's Bacco Ristorante, 29410 Northwestern Hwy.:
Luciano del Signore is the Godfather of Detroit food. Seriously. He's Capone. He's Pacino. He's the kind of guy who walks into a room and you just want him to make you an offer you can't refuse. He's a badass, and so is Bacco. This three-time James Beard Best Chef: Great Lakes semifinalist is now the head of a burgeoning culinary empire with three Bigalora locations under his belt in addition to Bacco.
But Bacco will always be his flagship, and is still one of the only Italian restaurants in metro Detroit that takes a modern approach to fine Italian dining -- meaning no red- and white-checkered tablecloths, and no heavily accented waiters in tuxes.
Others:
- Due Venti, 220 S. Main St., Clawson.
- Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina, Multiple locations
- Cucina Medoro, 768 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham
- Selden Standard, 3921 Second Ave., Detroit (Not really Italian, but makes some Italian dishes)
- Roman Village Cucina Italiana, 9924 Dix, Dearborn
- Trattoria da Luigi, 415 S. Washington, Royal Oak
- Ottava Via, 1480 Michigan Ave., Detroit
- Giovanni's Ristorante, 330 S. Oakwood, Detroit
- Café Cortina, 30715 W. 10 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills
- Angelina Italian Bistro, 1565 Broadway, Detroit
