One of our go-to spots! My husband and I come here at least once a week and are never disappointed. We just had an amazing dinner and the service from Ashleigh was excellent. read more

Our waitress was absolutely wonderful--so friendly and attentive, which made the whole experience even better. The food was delicious, and the staff was very accommodating. We ordered the garlic bread and a half-and-half pizza, and it completely satisfied my craving for wood-fired pizza. The atmosphere was calm, cozy, and really inviting. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'd definitely come back! read more

Ashleigh is a really great server. She anticipates what you need before the customer even asks. She is polite, efficient, knows when to come by the table and when to give the customers space to enjoy the dining experience. Orlando, the GM, clearly knows hospitality. He came by our table to chat after our meal, letting us know about menu changes (which we LOVE!!) We've been coming to POP's since it opened. It only gets better and that's not easy in the restaurant world. We will be back soon and will ask for Ashleigh. Thank you team!! read more

The food was so good we talked about it the whole way home. First time visitor here, we tried the chopped salad, fettuccine Alfredo, and margarita pizza. My daughter didn't care for the pasta as it tasted very strongly of garlic, but the texture was amazing and the portion size was filling. The pizza was so good!! It was just the right amount of crispy, chewy, cheesy, and saucy. The chopped salad was the hit of the night and plenty big enough to share. Our server was great and I loved the interior, my only complaint would be that it was so loud. read more

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Went to the Fernadale location with a group for brunch. The restaurant is a large open space with some interesting decorations. The way our table was set up was not convenient, we were by the wall with one entrance point, so the people on the booth side, had a long way to slide in and out with 6 people to a side. The restaurant was not busy and the service was slow and inattentive. Sometimes it seems that when the tip is included for a large group, the server doesn't feel the need to exert any effort. For the most part, everyone enjoyed their food. The lobster avocado toast was the standout. I had the farmers veggie skillet and it was just ok: Eggs were barely cooked and the potatoes were over cooked and dry. I did like the cheesy veggies. As a final note, any restaurant that can't split a check in our day and age, loses points for me. read more

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We've been a few times, mostly for brunch, and it's a good solid option. It's huge inside, so you usually won't have a hard time getting a table, service is really good, drinks are great, and the menu has a ton of options to choose from, including specials. This time, hubby had the bloody Mary, which is served with a skewer of snacks and a slice of bacon. I had the espresso martini which was perfect. Not creamy, perfectly sweet and balanced; a great pick me up cocktail. We split the Italian wedge salad which was great, hubby had pizza, and I had one of the panini sandwiches - the California club. The pizza was pretty great - no complaints. Thin, crispy, chewy, flavorful. I'd definitely order that again. As for the panini, the bread was really good - appears to be freshly made - but the chicken itself was completely unseasoned and the sandwich lacked flavor overall. I also think there was like 1 slice of bacon on it. The truffle fries tasted good but weren't super hot. A very good portion though, and I devoured the whole thing, so it was still pretty good with some salt sprinkled on it. It won't stop us from coming again and trying more food. I was really tempted by the lemon ricotta pancakes, and lots of their omelets sounded good too. Service was excellent, great pizza and drinks, good vibes with music and high ceilings; we'll be back! read more

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Was in for a brunch to celebrate friend's birthday. Place is big and not overcrowded. Ordered a greek skillet it does not come with a toast as usual. My friend had pancakes no syrup instead a chocolate dip. Overall good looking dishes that were lacking some flavor. Service was ok not very attentive and not very fast either. read more

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My wife and I usually love this place. We were excited for date night. Due to health complications my wife recently went vegan. She got the vegan pizza. It was absolutely disgusting. In comparison, we recently got Johnny z's vegan pizza and it was delicious. If you are vegan DO NOT go to pops for pizza. read more

Pop's For Italian - Vegan pizza. Absolutely disgusting. - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Very Highly recommended . We chose to sit at a table next to the kitchen . We were able to see magnificent plates set out to be tabled. Wife had the NONNA'S BOLOGNESE which is a plentiful dish of pappardelle. ground beef. veal. pork. pomodoro. ricotta. And parmesan. She took 1/2 home as it was so much. We split a wedge salad which had generous portions of bacon and blue cheese. I tried the RED WINE BRAISED SHORT RIBS ( they fell apart at the touch of a fork) with garlic rosemary mashed potatoes balsamic glazed baby carrots. red wine sauce. Everything was piping hot. Just a tad too much garlic in them potatoes. We complimented all this fine food with a loaf of their homemade Garlic bread . You get 4 choices of bread dip!! This is quite a fine dining experience so we topped it off with deserts! Piggy piggy 1. CANNOLI ricotta cream. orange zest. chocolate chips ( you get TWO)!!mouth watering. 2. We fought over the CRÈME BRULÉE CHEESECAKE which consisted of caramel shell top with fresh raspberries. whipped cream.- Special thanks to our server Justin and who the hell ever cooked up our felicious feast! read more

Pop's For Italian - Our table near the kitchen. - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Great brunch and great dinner! I love the mimosa tower. The bread and handmade pasta is amazing. Especially the gemelli norcina! I think the serving sizes are pretty fair, I usually go home with a little leftovers. We also enjoy the sangria flight and the meatballs. The service is mostly good but it's been questionable at times. We went there for a bday dinner with a reservation. The hostess refused to seat us without the entire party even though they were a couple minutes away. After being seated, it took our server quite some time to visit our table and she was extremely sassy when we asked questions. At the end of the meal we mentioned (for the second time) that it was someone's birthday and asked if they do complimentary desserts (we knew that they do because we frequent this place for occasions) and she looked at us and said "we don't do that here" and walked away. She came back with a dessert... very odd situation but we were thankful for the complimentary dessert. We also went to brunch with a large group and a different server didn't tell us gratuity was included so we all tipped extra on top. I know that's more our issue but I always appreciate when a server will point it out. read more

Pop's For Italian - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

SMH I will not ever try this place again! Went for Saturday brunch and the food was alllll cold! The bad part is that the restaurant wasn't even full. There was 7 of us, from the cold burger, cold fries, cold burned steak, and cold eggs. And on top of this, the food took 45mins to come out. The waiter apologized every time he came to the table but it doesn't make up for the bad experience! *UPDATE* the manager did come by and was very responsive of our concerns and took care of our bill. She explained the changes in the previous days that impacted our experience. I will give this place another try another time! read more

I love Pop's for Italian! I love its beer hall vibe, its excellent service, and its always delicious food. This time, hubby and I arrived during a limited menu interlude -- available were salads and pizzas. We opted to split a caprese salad and a pepperoni pizza. Both were delicious. The caprese consisted of a large fresh mozzarella ball with a variety of tomatoes and plenty of ribboned basil all covered in a drizzle of umami rich balsamic vinegar. The pizza had had a thin Neapolitan crust, with a savory tomato sauce and somewhat spicy pepperoni that was on top of the cheese and formed delicious crispy pepperoni cups. Turns out that Pop's has a decent mocktail menu. I got the Buzz Free Bee featuring zero proof gin -- it hit the spot. Hobby got a bloody Mary with more than zero proof vodka; it was a bit spicy for him. This is definitely a go-to spot for us whenever we're Ferndale, and I recommend you try it. read more

Pop's For Italian - Pepperoni pizza, nom nom nom - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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4 of us tried to go here on a Saturday night and the weight was two hours. Made reservations for 3 people on a Tuesday and there was plenty of seating. Romantic/girls night out vibes. Large menu for drinks and meals, I had a hard time choosing! Ended up ordering the short rib with mashed potatoes and carrots. The short rib was the tiniest bit dry, potatoes were good and homemade, carrots were a tad crunchy. Overall a great meal and a decent price for short rib. Service was prompt. I would definitely come back! read more

Finding good dining options in Ferndale is never a problem, but of course you want to know that the place you visit has what you want to eat. I was in the mood for brunch, but for some reason my wife decided to eat here. I thought, OK, I'm sure the Italian food here will be great. But, we came here on Sunday afternoon, when they were still serving brunch. This proved to be great news for both of us. She got a Moscow Mule, like she always does, and I got a Bloody Mary, like I always do at brunch. They were delicious, but shockingly small considering how much we spent. The Bloody Mary cost $14, and her drink cost $16. Yikes. She ordered the American Beauty breakfast with buttery perfect scrambled eggs and incredibly flavorful potato wedges. I got the Crab & Shrimp Cakes Benedict, which was totally worth the $23. The shrimp were the tiny kind, but they meshed beautifully with the crab. We loved the Benedict so much that we told the server we wanted one to go. When we got home, I noticed that it was in fact the classic Eggs Benedict, not the one I wanted. I was still tasty, but it comes across as more of a fancy open face Egg McMuffin with hollandaise. Service was brisk. The server was attentive, and the food came out quickly. I hate to keep bringing price into the conversation, but the drinks made it an issue. Not counting the carry out, it was around $100 including the tip, which seems like a lot for brunch. Next time, we'll skip the drinks and just get coffee. read more

Pop's For Italian - Bloody Mary with a sidecar of Short's light lager. Tasty, but overpriced at $14. - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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Pop's for Italian is consistently a great meal. Going for dinner or lunch, I know I'm about to leave happy. I went with a group after the gym and got the spicy sausage omelets. The omelet was soft and full of sausage and the service was so prompt. Pop's is a great place to go for a casual meal, or a date night. I even been for a bachelorette party and the food never misses! read more

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I've been here a few times and have always been impressed with the food. The ambiance is nice and, while somewhat loud at times, is a great place to gather with friends for cocktails and dinner. I will note that even with reservations in the past, the wait times for seating can be excessive so always make a reservation for an evening when you are not in a hurry. The service is good and attentive, but be prepared to make an evening of it. It is worth the wait. read more

As part of my trip to Ferndale, Pops For Italian was my dinner craving. Its red-blooded interior caught my attention a while back when searching for good places in the city, and I happened to want some good Italian food. But even with its supposed authentic Italian cuisine, it still feels like I'm walking into an Olive Garden. "Neapolitan" over the pizza section makes my blood boil. Don't get confused, not a specific pizza, the ENTIRE section of the pizzas that they sell. Like be serious for once. Anyways, the undercarriage tasted like dish soap, and I couldn't stand the fake, FAKE fresh mootz. The tomato and crust however were quite impressive. I was happy to wash down the bleach with some of Pop's Pesto, which some added chicken on it. Delicious, easily the highlight of our visit. The chicken was light, the noodles were soft and ready out the pot. I am also a fan of the visual brick oven that is up for looks when you first pick a table. And to the right of that I was enamored by a giant Statue of Liberty, which now makes even less sense when thinking about the whole Neapolitan thing. Sigh. One thing I will compliment this place for is the service. Did not waste a single second in getting us our food, and was super kind to throw away the drink that I rudely carried to my table after my visit to Quickly. Shame on me. 3/5 read more

Pop's For Italian - Margherita Pizza Looks pretty misleading, huh? - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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I have been here multiple times and I absolutely love Pops. The food is always beyond delicious. I have had the tortellini, the pizzas, and the lasagna, and every single dish has been incredible. The garlic bread and dipping sauces deserve a special mention because they honestly make my taste buds feel magical. On top of the amazing food, the ambience is fun, lively, and full of character, the kind of place that makes the whole experience even better. This is a spot I always look forward to coming back to and would highly recommend. read more

Savannah is the best!!! Very speedy and very attentive!' Thank you for your patience with us

We did happy hour for the first time. It was good nice pizza for half off and I added mushrooms and black olives to my margarita pizza enjoy the happy hour drinks as well. Ambience was fun and people everywhere service was excellent. read more

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Tray was amazing with service! Always a good experience! Thank you! Food was amazing As usual read more

The food was just average. Staff was very nice and attentive. Won't be back anytime soon.

Awesome Italian restaurant where we had a Michigan IP Inn of Court event. Great food, excellent service and very chill interior atmosphere. Highly recommended! read more

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Our dinner at Pop's on Jan. 2 was full of frustration and disgust. I'll start with the disgust. We were seated close to and facing the open kitchen, so I had a close-up and unobstructed view of the kitchen staff as they prepared food. I saw one cook repeatedly wipe his nose on his wrist and the back of his hand, and then go right back to preparing food with his (ungloved) hands. I saw another cook handling raw meat with ungloved hands and then immediately go on to handle vegetables, with no hand washing in between. I saw a third cook - this one's hands were gloved - coughing onto the food as he prepared it and using his hand to push the hair out of his eyes. So, many blatant and repeated violations of basic, obvious food safety and hygiene practices. On to the frustration. I ordered the lasagna. The portion was pleasantly large, and arrived steaming hot, however it was burned. Not browned. Burned. Charred. When I pushed some of the tomato sauce off the top of the lasagna, I found that most of the serving was black, with the tomato sauce used to hide the larger burned parts. Either the pan of lasagna was charred in the oven or it was burned, badly, when warmed under the broiler. As you can probably guessed, burned lasagna tastes bitter. Very bitter. A manager graciously and apologetically replaced the burned lasagna with one that had been cooked properly. At that point, there was yet another disappointment: the entree was severely oversalted. Not a bit oversalted, not some-people-like-it-saltier. Inedibly, bizarrely salty, like someone dropped the entire canister of salt into the pan. The final disappointment of the night was the volume of the music. It was so loud that conversation with the people sitting across the table was impossible. So loud we couldn't hear the waitress. When we asked the manager if the volume could be turned down, she was nice but said she was only able to turn the volume down one notch. The music got very slightly quieter for 10 minutes or so...and then it was turned up to a level louder than it had been before. We won't return to Pop's. read more

Ugh so disappointing and we were trusting them with a big birthday dinner :/ 20+ minutes no water no waiter... sh was apologetic and just said "they have me everywhere" We ordered drinks apps and dinner altogether afraid she'd never be back- and we were correct- before even cocktails they brought out the loaf of bread- the. Frito Misto (greasy and soggy and chewy all at the same time... could've used those drinks to wash it down) We were there for over 90 minutes, no second round of drinks offered, no dessert.. worst birthday experience ever.. I was embarrassed We're in the industry and I see you have parties and you're short of help, etc I see bartenders hustling from behind the bar to all over the floor but you seriously have to offer something in a disaster like this- half the apps on the menu cost the nothing (moz sticks, garlic bread, etc) and they offered nothing- they didn't even offer anything I was willing to pay for Bright side? We saved $100+ with no extra drinks or dessert or apps and the pasta vodka was really good- but the experience and service was so awful, the good points just get lost Would never recommend or go back Saturday and by 8:30 the bar was half empty and they were still struggling read more

Andre was a great server! Great energy!! The food was great, pizza dough is amazing, drinks are super good, and service was wonderful. What more could you ask for?!! Just as good (but maybe even better) than it's ever been!!! read more

Great brunch catching up with friends!! Valencia was excellent and ensured we had everything we needed despite having a large group. Andre served me another time and was great recommending drinks to pair with my meal when I was feeling indecisive. Awesome servers here read more

Pop's For Italian - Mussels - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

We have been here once or twice prior to eating there on Friday night. There were 7 of us. Waiter was good but handicapped by the VERY LOUD ambiance and still did a nice job. Was amazed to see a prior review saying the place is "... calm, cozy and inviting". Huh? It is a Beer Hall Loud vibe for sure. We had 2 of the Garlic Loafs with spreads and enjoyed them. The Risotto, Carbonara and Wild Mushroom Cream got good reviews from the table though the Mushroom could have used less oil. Nonna's Bolognese and the Gemaelli Alla Vodka Rosa were not well received along with another red sauce-based entree that I can't remember. The red sauce used was plain and tasted like Chef Boyardee out of a can. One really odd thing is that wine by the glass came in either 3 or 6 ounce pours. I asked the waiter if he ever sold a 3 oz pour and he said "rarely". I asked if the restaurant had ever thought of dumping the 3 for a 9 oz pour that we see in many restaurants these days. "No" was the response. Don't plan on returning. Too many other choices. read more

Tucked in the heart of downtown Ferndale, Pops for Italian delivers a warm, inviting atmosphere with a menu that strikes a perfect balance between classic comfort and elevated Italian fare. We came in with high expectations--and they were met with bold flavors, hearty portions, and a clear attention to detail. To start, we shared the Garlic Loaf Trio, a must-try appetizer. The loaf arrives golden and crusty, laced with garlic butter, herbs, and parmesan, and is meant to feed 2-3, though you might not want to share. We sampled the aglio e olio, basil pesto, and ricotta honey spreads--each one adding a distinct layer of flavor. The aglio e olio was boldly garlicky, the pesto fresh and earthy, and the ricotta honey brought a beautiful touch of creamy sweetness. Pro tip: spring for an extra spread or two--you won't regret it. For our entrées, the Sorrentina Gnocchi stood out with its pillowy texture and bright pomodoro sauce. It was comforting, fresh, and perfectly balanced with melted mozzarella and a sprinkle of basil. The Lobster Ravioli came next, rich and indulgent with its saffron and sherry cream sauce. The ravioli were generously filled, and the sauce was luxuriously smooth--creamy, yet never too heavy. We also tried the Chicken alla Parmigiana, a hearty classic done right. Crispy, golden chicken cutlet topped with melty mozzarella and pomodoro sauce, paired with a creamy herbed linguini that was unexpectedly delicious on its own. It's the kind of dish that satisfies both nostalgia and appetite. And just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite, we made room for the Tiramisu--and we're so glad we did. This version features a velvety rum mascarpone mousse layered with coffee-soaked ladyfingers, dark chocolate, and crushed amaretti cookies, all finished with a dusting of cocoa powder. Every bite was silky, decadent, and wonderfully balanced between sweetness and bold espresso notes. From start to finish, Pops delivered a meal that was comforting, flavorful, and memorable. Whether you're out for a date night or just in the mood for really good Italian, this spot is worth the reservation. read more

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Pops for Italian seems like a nice place to get a pizza. The Caesar salad not so good. The lettuce was old and felt not rinsed. Couldn't eat. But the pizza was very very good. The service was good. I just stopped in for a pick up. First time here and definitely won't be my last. I will be stopping in again for a pizza . We ordered the Carne de maiale. It was delicious, has a sweet taste to it as well. It's a must try if you eat meat. The Caesar looked edible until I opened the container and immediately realize the lettuce were old. Was disappointed because I love a good Caesar. That's the only con. read more

Pop's For Italian - Caesar Small - Italian Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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Place was very busy when we came, but the group was seated right away which was nice. Service was attentive and wait time for food was reasonable. The food itself did nothing for me though. I ordered the chicken parmesan. It was average at best. It just didn't have the parm flavor coming through nor was the chicken particularly crispy. Good service. Cool atmosphere. Disappointing food. read more

Marginal food and experience - nothing special. Inattentive, sporadic service - our table spent a lot of time waiting. The restaurant feels more like a cafeteria. The food was "heavy", with too much butter and salt. Do not order the goopy risotto! read more

Pops has been one of my go-tos in Ferndale but the ever changing menu seems to be stripping away everything I love about the restaurant. Drinks are still top tier, just don't order the RISOTTO I'ESTATE- flavorless and oily. read more

Loved my experience at Pops Italian. Trey was absolutely wonderful! My friend and I truly enjoyed ourselves.

Jose was incredible! Service and friendliness was A+. Everything we ordered was delicious.

I really love this place and would recommend it to anyone! The pasta and produce is so fresh and I haven't ordered a single thing I haven't liked yet. Their cocktails are also really great. The staff is all very friendly and overall ambience of the restaurant is great with the decor and set up. read more

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Andre made our dinner experience awesome ! Food and drinks were fabulous - lasagna was a big hit! recommend the smoked old fashioned too read more

Pops is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area hands down. Very nice ambiance and beautiful bar in the center of the restaurant. Conveniently located with great parking. The staff is always amazing and the food is great. I'm going to sing the praises of all the dishes I like, but I have to start with the not so good first. Never order the Shrimp Scampi, bland and not good. Ok done lol. Fritto Misto (Calamari), Garlic Loaves, Classic Caesar Salad, Wild Mushroom Cream Pasta with Shrimp, and Lobster Ravioli all AMAZING. read more

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What didn't go well? Service, ambiance, food. All were chefs kiss to my experience. We never had an empty drink, and loved the flavors

Came in for the first time since before Covid, and was simply surprised. Surprised that this place has managed to stay open given the poor quality of food and wine. (The service was on point, hence the 2 stars) Started out with a martini and a $14.5 glass of Chardonnay, which had probably been left open for more than 2 weeks. Maybe it was just a bad choice... But it tasted like almost nothing but stale wine. Next we ordered garlic bread, cucumber tomato salad, salmon, and pizza. The bread was a joke. It was extremely stale, hard, and not even edible. Why or how they would even serve this if it were free would be questionable, but for $10?! No thanks. Just as disappointing was the cucumber tomato salad. You would expect this to be a little chopped, maybe even consistently style of chopped - but no. It was a pile of quartered tomatoes and then piles of sliced cucumber with some sliced onions and some quartered. As well, there was no dressing to speak of. However, the kids did enjoy the pizza! I think that's what we'd stick to if we ever go back. Props again to our wonderful and friendly server! read more