Our recent 50th anniversary dinner party at Cafe Cortina was PERFECTION. The food presentation was outstanding- simply delicious food & impeccable service. The decor & atmosphere of the Garden Room & patio were flawless. Just beautiful! We appreciate the guidance provided by Rina & Kelley in planning & creating our wonderful family celebration. Cafe Cortina's excellent reputation for high quality & service is well deserved. Congratulations to all on the upcoming 50th anniversary of this masterpiece venue! Michele &Tom read more

My husband and I celebrated our 54th anniversary on the patio of Cafe Cortina last night. It's a magical place, especially in the evening when the lights in the trees are glowing. We were greeted at the door and wished a happy anniversary before being led to the patio where a happy anniversary card had been placed at our table. We felt pampered like this throughout our visit. The staff was very attentive. At the end of our meal, our waitress lit a special sparkler at our table and again congratulated us. This evening, we ordered vegetarian lasagna, calamari, salad and one of the specials of the day, lamb chops. Everything tasted wonderful so we were very pleased. We love celebrating special occasions like this at Cafe Cortina. The food, staff and ambiance make it the perfect place to relax and enjoy the moment. read more

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A fabulous time at a fabulous restaurant. They truly made Mother's Day special. We sat in their beautiful garden room with the patio view. The decor was very nice; rustic with elegant warm charm. The service was absolutely EXCEPTIONAL! Like no other! The food was delicious, from the appetizers to the entrees. And my cocktail was on point! Everyone's meal came out together, so that's always a plus for a big group. Everything tasted fresh and was cooked perfectly. They made our party of 11 look like easy work. It was flawless from the time we walked in to the time we departed. I'm really glad we came! read more

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We went for our 38th anniversary and the our first time to cafe cortina! The atmosphere was lovely, dim lights by the fireplace and a table off to the side alone. Service was amazing, Besnick was very helpful w the menu and treated us so special. Last but not least the food was delicious!! Looking forward to our next night out!! read more

Travelled to Michigan in the height of their lettuce and veggie scare, so couldn't have a salad which I desperately wanted. However the layered vegetarian eggplant was exquisite. Sans a salad I opted for an espresso martini despite the young, snobby, Sommelier, and it was fantastic! My boss had the meat lasagna and a glass of Sauvignon blanc. I can imagine this restaurant as a date night and family celebration spot. Tucked into a burb area it has a fantastic patio and ample parking so you don't have to pay, like downtown. I will return, when I am in town for business read more

Cafe Cortina - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Farmington Hills, Michigan

Wife and I were recommended here by a close friend claiming this was the absolute best Italian food he has had in the area hands down; he was not wrong! Let me qualify this amazing experience by telling you that I frequent a lot of up-scale Italian restaurants in the area, Mad Nice and She-Wolf in Detroit to name a few. Cafe Cortina sets the bar at a high level from the sheer freshness of the homemade pasta and the excellent waitstaff makes this whole place quite the experience! I cannot wait to come back and try something else that is a regular menu item as this time I got the waitress recommend house special, seafood pasta that did not disappoint! read more

Cafe Cortina - Italian Near Me - Farmington Hills, Michigan

I've been wanting to come here forever and finally made it out to Cafe Cortina. I've been exploring more of these areas, as I'm mainly an Eastsider. I love Italian and Cafe Cortina brought her A game! What intrigues me about this place was the ambiance from the beginning. It's quaint, romantic and simply beautiful. I loved the entire vibe of this place. The food is homemade and the chef does an exquisite job creating unique dishes. The pasta was delicious and my bf had the short rib. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and overall experience. read more

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This is a perfect place to go for date night, friends dinner, or even a small party. The vibe is perfect. It's a small dining room but layed out in a way to maximize space and privacy. The service is amazing, from the second we entered until we left, we felt pampered and special. Food was delicious but a few in our party weren't satisfied with their dishes. They said it tasted good but wasn't as good as they hoped. It was a little pricey but reasonable for the quality and service. They have complimentary valet. I was surprised they didn't have a dedicated bar you can sit at before or after reservation time. read more

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From the valet to the check, we were treated to thoughtful, impeccable service. Spanish calamari in spicy San Marzano and the Gnocchi Pomodoro went above my expectations!! My Italian great grandfather would have approved! Spinach lasagna was perfection! Will be back! read more

My husband and I came to celebrate our anniversary. The restaurant has a very romantic vibe and we were seated in a cozy booth. The wait staff were very attentive and the wine and food list were extensive with a lot of great choices. We enjoyed the gulf shrimp appetizer, house salad with a great vinaigrette and I had the lobster pasta special and my husband the gnocchi. The lobster pasta had 3 lobster claws and the gnocchi was very tender. We will definitely be back! read more

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We celebrated a friend's birthday at Cafe Cortina. This restaurant reminded me of an old school Italian restaurant that one would find in Chicago or New York. The rooms were dimly lit. There was a large brick fire place, the walls were brick and wood and the floors had dark carpet. The tables had crisp white linen coverings. The place had an old world feel to it which made the experience unique and nostalgic. The service was prompt and friendly, and the food was well prepared. We enjoyed the Italian wines on the wines by the glass list. This is a great place for celebrating an event with friends and family. read more

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I do not understand why CC does not get more Yelp Love. Yes, it is spendy! Now that Bacco is dust, CC is my favorite (west side) place for an Italian splurge night. Modern, tasteful interior. Superior service. The kitchen knows their craft. The ingredients have never disappointed. Valet does not cop an attitude when I decline their services. Bartender has yet to embarrass themselves by visiting the table and asking, what is a Rusty Nail? (Yes; Lelli's, I have not forgotten and the snotty reply from the bartender when I asked Siri for the recipe.) Will I return? Absolutely, yes! read more

Cafe Cortina - Italian Near Me - Farmington Hills, Michigan

Forget 5 stars. The food was 9 stars, the service gets the 10! Every element of our celebration dinner was EXQUISITE! Their 50th, my 70th and America's 250th were all in play. What a great night we had during our 2-1/2 hour stay. The city blacked out that night but we didn't. So appreciative to Adrian, Rina, Mohammed and staff. I'll never get over it, or forget! See you again soon- Don Cucco read more

I surprised my wife (well until we got about a mile and a half from the restaurant when she figured it out) for a birthday dinner for a special birthday. We had never been there together and neither of us had been here in more than 33 years. After our experience last night we realize what a mistake that has been! The restaurant is as charming as our memories recall it being. From the moment you enter, you are treated as valued guests. Everyone we came into contact with were both warm and professional. We started with two appetizers to share, the pera cotta and the fiora di carciofi fritta. Both were delicious. We particularly enjoyed the fiora. Prior to the appetizers arriving we were greeted by the sommelier to answer any questions we had about the wine as well as one of the most important people in the restaurant, the young man who kept bringing by very good warm rolls. We never had to request more. We knew Cafe Cortina was known for its lasagna so we decided to get one of each, the Emiliana and the Lasagna Vincigrassi. We did not know that these came with a house salad until the salads arrived which were very nice. The lasagna? Both were decadent in a good way, rich, flavorful and in generous portions. It's not often I can't finish a meal at a restaurant but we actually took quite a bit home. Multiple rolls (I won't admit how many I ate) probably contributed to my inability to finish the lasagna. Neither of us could decide which lasagna was better.....they are different but both outstanding. Dessert was just not going to happen though we saw something chocolate with many layers that looked fantastic. The overall experience at Cafe Cortina was worthy of a rare 5 star for me. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and my personal thanks to the chef and all the employees we encountered for helping make my wife's birthday dinner special. We will definitely be back! Oh, one very minor gripe..maybe gripe is the wrong word. Most every restaurant of this caliber we have been to for a birthday or anniversary offers a complimentary dessert when they have been informed you are celebrating something. They did have a happy birthday card on our table but no dessert (not that we needed one as I mentioned) but it is a nice touch. read more

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After many years of having office parties and dinners in this establishment, we were looking forward to entertaining two special friends from Savannah to a delightful evening. We were disappointed. Party of nine men came in right after us and served before us and were loud. Our service was slow. Our waiter seemed impatient taking our order and generally not pleasant. Never have we been treated so poorly at Cortina. We were extremely embarrassed. This is not the Cafe Cortina it use to be. read more

Our reserved table was given away by Hakim even though we arrived on time. We were seated in Siberia, in the EMPTY event space. Our waiter, the 60ish European guy we've had before, was wonderful as usual. His support staff could have used some training. The beverage guy wanted us to choose wine to accompany our meals BEFORE WE HAD BEEN GIVEN MENUS!!! Quote a disappointing birthday dinner, very much unlike the previous 20 years. read more

Came here for an anniversary dinner with my husband and I've been wanting to come here for quite a long time but we live over an hour away. So when we had the chance to come, I knew this was the place to go! I met the executive Chef, Ernesto Antonia when I was going to culinary school and followed him on Instagram for years. He came out to talk to us after we got seated and it was truly a pleasure to eat here. Our host for the evening was fantastic. He explained the menu and how a lot of things were grown in their garden next to the restaurant. We started with bread, thinly sliced eggplant wrapped around buffalo mozzarella and sprinkled with chili oil. It was SO good. Then the garden salad came out and then a lemon sorbet to help cleanse the palate. I ordered the scallops over truffle risotto with a red pepper puree (Capasante) and my husband had the short rib braised pasta pillows (Agnolotti Piedmontese) and everything was divine! They brought us a really wonderful cake to end our meal and wrote "Happy Anniversary." The ambiance was wonderful, the food was absolutely amazing and we are definitely coming back to try the lasagne (which we heard alot about) and some of the other items that sounded delicious! read more

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You could fly to Italy and have dinner for what Cafe Cortina charges. It is a wonderful dining experience, but the food isn't the greatest and very overpriced. read more

The ambiance in this lovely restaurant was exceptional as was the service. Water glasses were always refilled promptly. The Burratta was my favorite. And the red sauces were a little spicy but very good. read more

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We celebrated my girlfriend's birthday at Cafe Cortina and noted it on the reservation. We were also asked at the restaurant if we were celebrating anything, so we expected at least a simple birthday acknowledgment. While the food and atmosphere were great, we were disappointed that there was no mention of his birthday throughout the evening. A small gesture or even a "Happy Birthday" would have made the experience feel more special. read more

We hosted a small family party for a special occasion here. First off, initial impression was not that great due to some awkward comments from the Waiter , but once seated it seemed better . Overall the food was Delicious and they accommodated all dietary preferences and allergies with ease. The sommelier was great and the wines we had were excellent. It took a good 45 min between salad and entree courses so the kids were a bit hangry. Overall we enjoyed it- pricy but worth it. read more

Was there for a wedding food and service was fabulous .. ambience was amazing beautiful best small wedding setting ever .. premium service read more

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I don't give out 5 stars much but this was one of those times. Didn't look like much from the outside but the inside was nicely arranged. There is seating by the fireplace with other areas for large or small groups. It was like the freaking Tardis. :) Prices are on the high side - expect $100/person. I was hoping for more chicken options - most were beef which is not unusual for italian menus. I can see going here once/year. Lastly, try to book early as later in the evening it can be a little noisy. read more

We had our wedding at Café Cortina on 6/21/25 and it was truly perfect. Everyone is still raving about how incredible the food was -- hands down the best wedding meal we've ever had, and clearly our guests agreed. But what truly made the experience unforgettable was Kelley. She was AMAZING. Cool, calm, collected, and so incredibly kind. She met with us multiple times to go over every detail, and even took the time to meet just to reassure me when I was stressed -- something I'll never forget. Her warmth and professionalism made the day feel effortless. The venue itself is stunning. It has the most romantic candlelit atmosphere, and honestly didn't need much decor at all -- just candles and the natural charm of the space. Café Cortina gave us the wedding of our dreams. We cannot recommend it enough! read more

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We went for our anniversary, as we do every year, and were very disappointed. In the past, we've always experienced exceptional service and outstanding food, but this visit fell short on both. We had to ask for drink refills, and we had to request both fresh-ground pepper and Parmesan -- the Parmesan never came. My meal was bland, and even though I barely touched it, the server simply boxed it up without asking if something was wrong. The overall experience felt rushed and inattentive. We also didn't see a manager at all -- in previous visits, the manager has always checked in, which made a big difference. We planned our wedding with Rina many years ago and this has always been such a special place to celebrate. Unfortunately, this visit was not enjoyable, and we won't be returning. read more

We had our first experience there in Dec 2025. It was magical so the perfect place to celebrate my husbands 75th birthday. I spoke to staff in advance for table location. I took a star off this time for a couple of missteps that are easily resolved but impacted my evening as the host. When you detail the specials for the evening it should include the price. If you are charging $85 for lamb chops and $65 for scallops all parties should be aware. The host won't ask and the guest doesn't typically want to order the most exp thing on menu. Would I have still had scallops instead of the awesome $39 clams and linguine? Who knows. I inquired whether I should bring in a cake and was told they would do a sparkler and dessert. They did and charged me $18. I presented my Amex as I visited the powder room and planned to handle away from table. They put it on the table. This removed any opportunity to question anything. We eat out a lot and are fine dining foodies. The staff was friendly, food was hot and good but I'm not sure it takes a lot of skill to shake some Grey Goose with ice and pour into a martini glass vs $21 for a curated cocktail that takes skill and chemistry. Will I go back? Yes, but I'll walk not run. And please bring the grilled octopus back. I did run back for that and it wasn't on menu. read more

Unfortunately, we were disappointed in our visit tonight. My husband and I always go out for a nice meal on our anniversary and finally decided to try Cafe Cortina. We made a reservation and indicated that we were celebrating our anniversary on the site but it was not acknowledged at all during our visit. We weren't greeted upon entering, then about 3 different employees walked by and said someone would be with us in a moment. We waited almost 10 minutes to be seated and we were the only ones in the entrance at that time. The decor is slightly dated and isn't as "romantic" as advertised. We did not enjoy a majority of the food: the rolls were slightly stale; the fried scallop tasted like a dirty fryer and was very greasy and had no real flavor or sauce; the pasta courses were very heavy, under seasoned, lacked freshness - it was hard to eat more than a couple bites. The salads were pretty good and the crème brûlée dessert was fine. The food overall was underwhelming. The employees were polite but service overall was lackluster - it was just the bare minimum customer service; no personalization, no explanation of menu, no suggestions or friendly chatter. We just expected so much more overall, especially for the restaurant reputation and the price of the meal. :( read more

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Had a very less than satisfying experience at Cafe Cortina. Very loud and could not even communicate with our group. Service poor and not attentive. Food OK but extremely overpriced. $42 for an average vegetarian pasta. Maybe we are spoiled coming from the SF Bay Area. read more

This was a fantastic experience all the way around. I had reservations and was running late due to traffic and construction. I recieved a call from the restaurant and they kept my reservation. Upon arrival we were greeted and seated in a beautiful corner booth. The service just went up. It was wonderful. The wine and water service was on point. The food was so delicious. I was so surprised at the number of vegan dishes that were available. It is definitely a place to return to. read more

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Not impressed with the food for the price. Service was not that great either. Portions small.

Food was fabulous! Service attentive, but not hovering. Great place to celebrate an Anniversary. So glad we went here! read more

Visited for the first time on 2/12/26 after hearing many, many great things about this restaurant. Had no idea until after we were seated it was a pre determined menu (not even pre fixe because everything was priced a la carte) so we naturally had to pivot from what we thought we were going to order from their online menu. It was SO DARK at our table we needed to use our phone flashlights, some tables had little touch lights but for some reason ours did not. Service was mediocre, AT BEST. Maitre d was friendly for whatever that's worth. We each ordered a $42 & $45 pasta dish respectively (with a red sauce) and no cheese was offered at all, at any point, nor was it on the table. At that price point we should not have to ask for that. Start to finish, everything just fell short. I don't see what the hype is about, there's far better options around. read more

Can't believe it took me eight years to try this place! Great staff, great food, great drinks/wine! Seafood cooked to perfection!!! This is not a budget friendly establishment but if money is not an option this is definitely the place!! read more

Classic old school Italian restaurant. A Detroit classic. It's a must try. I've been many times over the years. Try the bolognese.

I found Cafe Cortina on Instagram and was super excited to finally try it out especially since it's been voted the most romantic restaurant. Who doesn't want to check out a magical place?! I made reservations on open table. It was super easy. You can add if you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary too. Once we arrived, we were greeted by a very friendly valet person. Valet is complementary. If you prefer to park yourself, there is self-parking in the back. Just ask! After we parked, we walked into the restaurant. We were greeted by the friendly staff who coat checked my jacket. Shortly after, we were seated at our booth. Once seated, we were greeted by a young man that helped us with our drink order and fresh bread. I love seeing the younger generation working especially in the current world we live in! Super minor, but our meal was Uber expensive. When opening our bottle of wine, a piece of cork fell in and I swallowed it during the initial taste. My husband noticed it as I was literally swallowing it. For dinner, we started with calamari. It was okay. To follow, my husband got the tomahawk steak and I got the Alaskan halibut, both on special. For newbies when it came to a tomahawk steak, we both prefer a filet for multiple reasons. For taste alone, I would go with a filet. The tomahawk was fattier, which is a choice preference. For the price, I would go with a filet as well. My Alaskan halibut was good! Entrees comes with pasta and a vegetable, however specials come with a salad, potato, and vegetable. I wish I knew that prior to ordering. I would have went with a pasta dish, but that will give me a reason to come back when the patio is open. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate grappa and the affago. Both were great! If you had grappa before, this is a wonderful surprise. I would definitely come back for the service. The food was good, but definitely would try something different. It was extremely expensive, so I would come back for a celebration. read more

Cafe Cortina - Alaskan halibut - Italian Near Me - Farmington Hills, Michigan

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I went here for dinner with family. The host was accommodating for moving our party to a new location when we walked in initially which is greatly appreciated. Our server Paul was fantastic and helpful and quick. All food (albeit pricey) was incredible. Honestly probably my favorite restaurant in metro detroit. The wine list is solid and reasonably priced. Great atmosphere with warm lighting and comfortable tables. Go here and you won't be disappointed! read more

Outstanding restaurant for small private dinner or larger party. Event manager Kelley and her team were simply the best. The service for thirty guests was great all the way from the hors d'oeuvres and cocktail hour, plated multi-course dinner, and finally dessert. I can't say enough about the excellent tasting foods, a sentiment shared by all of our guests. Grazie per una serata perfetta! read more

Cafe Cortina has been on my list for a few years. I was happy when an opportunity manifested for me to celebrate a friend's birthday. Making reservations was fairly easy which surprised me given it was near a holiday. When we arrived, we opted to park our vehicle ourselves as the car has a handicap plate and an available spot was next to the the door. As we got out of the car, I noticed a parking lot attendant was standing behind our car. He then in an accusatory nasty and rude tone said do you have handicap permit, a little startled we replied yes. He said I don't see it. He then continued to look at the vehicle as if we were lying. Upon seeing the plate finally, he walked away with no apology. Needless to say, this parking lot experience almost made us decide to leave. But, it was 8 pm and a birthday celebration so we decided to stay. Upon entering the restaurant, we stood at the hostess area for 15 minutes which was awkward because it is basically positioned inside of the dining by room where the other guests can see you. There are no chairs. Just a place to stand. After finally being seated and our water order taken, which was one still and one sparkling, we sat another 25 minutes before anyone ever came back to the table. When someone did come back, it was our waiter. He asked us for our water orders again and we told him they were already taken. Shortly after that two still waters showed up to the table. We placed our order for appetizers and for our meal at the same time with the appetizer to be brought out first. The appetizer took another 30 minutes to reach the table and then the dinner was delivered literally five minutes after the appetizer. The only item that worked out well for timely service was dessert. I will admit that the food was amazing. As a Vegan, the menu has many options for me to select from including a wonderful dessert. The server was nice. However, did not make up for the extreme service slowness. Also, we did see other tables sat after us and their dining experience moved much faster than ours. Not sure that I will return...still deciding. The parking lot experience started off what should have been a beautiful evening as horrible. read more

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Cafe Cortina is the nicest restaurant around, first class all the way. There is a comfortable feel when you enter. The food is amazing and only the freshest ingredients available are used. The hand made ravioli is exceptional and one of my favorites. Actually everything is my favorite. They have an incredible wait staff that will always take care of whatever you need. During the summer the outdoor patio is available to have a cocktail and appetizers or dinner if you prefer. This space takes you away from all of the stresses of the day and puts you in a zen state. Remember this is a first class place and can cost a bit more but everything is worth it. read more

We had a wonderful experience at Café Cortina. We are from Salt Lake City, Utah and are in town to visit family. As our final dinner in town, before leaving for home, we created a reservation as a last hoorah. And let me tell you, we were NOT dissappointed. As we entered the restaurant, there is an immediate 70's Italian ambiance. It is dimly lit and we were warmly welcomed in. We ordered many dishes like the Mafaldine lobster special and the agnolotti with beef. Everything was absolutely divine. Each bite was mouthwatering and intrigued my tongue for another. The dessert was delightful, particularly the pistachio pana cotta and the terrific tiramisu - our waiter's reccomendations were spot-on. Our server, Besnik, was extremely inviting and helpful. He made our experience very enjoyable and we would come back for him alone. Come here if you want a yummy meal and an awesome experience. read more