Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Giovanni's Ristorante, Detroit, MI


One of the most renowned Italian restaurants in the Detroit area, Giovanni's holds true to their high expectation and reputation. I have never heard some many people rave about an Italian restaurant like they have with Giovanni's. People say everything is perfect about it, except for the location of the restaurant. Located on Oakwood Boulevard just north of the Fisher Freeway, I would agree that the location isn't too good, but I cannot say the same about everything else. First of all, the atmosphere is a lively, but homey traditional Italian feel. The restaurant is romantic and has white table cloths, which suits Italian taste. The waitstaff is attentive, cordial, kind, and very knowledgeable on the dishes that are served at Giovanni's.
Besides the Italian food that you would find any full-blooded Italian cooking, the Italian at Giovanni's is the best in the area and is absolutely worth the price tags it is given. Homemade pasta is a specialty of Giovanni's and is always perfectly cooked al dente. The pizzas, such as the prosciutto and pecorino, are extremely popular because of their perfectly thin crusts and outstanding tastes. Going back to the pasta, Giovanni's gnocchi is absolutely, positively the greatest (besides my nana's of course). It is prepared and cooked perfectly and there are two types: gnocchi di patate and gnocchi di patate verde... potato gnocchi or spinach potato gnocchi. Giovanni's menu adds to the home-like feel by including a section called "Piati della Casa," or Dishes from Home. I do believe these dishes come from the owners' family, which is completely Italian... Giovanni, who the restaurant was started and named, immigrated from Italy, met his wife in the U.S. and started Giovanni's in Detroit. With its deep-rooted Italian tradition, Giovanni's Ristorante holds a truly first-class Italian dining experience.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Vicente's Cuban Cuisine, Detroit, MI


A unique restaurant to Detroit, Vicente's is one of the few Cuban restaurants in the area, but most certainly the best. The menu offers traditional Cuban dishes that include tapas, seafood, pork, and meat. One of their most recommended entrees is their ropa vieja, "old clothes." The dish includes thinly shredded beef that is perfectly seasoned with wine, tomato sauce, and other vegetables. It is served with a bed of rice and some plantains. Their paellas also come highly recommended, but only for those willing to wait because they do take longer to prepare than most dishes. They have four paellas that each have a unique assortment of seafood and vegetables. Vicente's menu has a long list of tapas that range from containing seafood to escargot.
On any given Friday or Saturday night, you will Vicente's to be packed and alive with music and dancing. On both nights, a live DJ performs and at 9:30 sharp on Friday and Saturday nights, salsa dancing lessons are given to any and all willing to participate.
The fare at Vicente's is higher than other local Cuban restaurants, but it far surpasses the others with its authentic Cuban atmosphere and authentic Cuban cuisine.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Al-Ameer, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, MI


A similar restaurant to La Sharm, previously La Shish, Al-Ameer has pleased many stomachs that crave a true and authentic Middle Eastern meal. The menu contains many of the same dishes as any typical Lebanese restaurant, but has some added American dishes, such as grilled or fried chicken and fries. Al-Ameer serves an array of mixed juices that are fresh and pallet-pleasing. They also serve generous portions with all of their meals, especially their combo and family platters that include shawrma, kafta, kabobs, baba ghanouj, and hommous. The atmosphere is very Middle Eastern-like, but still has an American appeal with booths with nylon cushions. The Arabic writing and authentic bread oven add greatly to the Middle Eastern feel. Overall, Al-Ameer is an inviting and taste-filled Lebanese restaurant that is fitting for people of all ages and ethnicities.

Italian-American Club, Livonia, MI


A hot spot for many Italians in the Metro Detroit area, the Italian-American Club has been a place that shelters many memorable gatherings of my family. The Italian-American Club has many things to offer, but only to members and their families. The Club has three halls that you may be able to book if you are a non-member, but I am not sure so do not take my word for it. All of the food served at the club is authentic Italian and nothing, but the best. A few years ago, my family would go every week to the club for dinner during the summer. There was a variety of food served, but the best part about the club is that in their lower level dining area they have three full-size bocce ball courts, in which they hold tournaments or allow anyone who would like to play, play. The lower dining area is very casual and nothing like the formal dining areas in the upper level. In the formal halls and ballrooms, the Club holds events, such as a Mother's Day Brunch, Carnival, Wild Dame, and Father's Day Lunch/Dinner. Every event is a full-forced Italian experience: the people, the food, and the talk.
I enjoy the Club and can never wait to go back for another party, dinner, or even bocce ball for that matter.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Fishbone's Rhythm Kitchen Cafe, Greektown, Detroit, MI


I have never been to Fishbone's, but from what I have heard, the restaurant as a whole has changed drastically from what it used to be. The restaurant in Detroit used to be an upbeat location that served a variety of good-tasting foods, such as Cajun-inspired dishes, American dishes, seafood, steaks, and sushi. All of these foods are still served there, but the same quality and taste is definitely not there. Fishbone's came into new management recently and ever since then frequenters to the restaurant have had nothing but complaints. The classic dishes that used to be served have now been modified for the worse... many dishes have become bland, boring, and overal unappealing. The waitstaff has also decreased in quality. Waiters and waitresses are described as rude and inattentive by some people, but at times attend to their customers well. I think most who have been to Fishbone's in the past would agree that it should change back to its old ways. Although the food and waitstaff isn't terrible, they are nothing like they used to be.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

O'Sushi, Canton and Dearborn, MI


I have so much to say about this wonderful Korean-owned Japanese sushi restaurant, that I don't even know where to start. The sushi is excellent, the service is excellent (most of the time), and the atmosphere is excellent. I've only seen the O'Sushi location in Dearborn, so I will only comment on the location in Canton. Many people have told me that the exterior of the restaurant is offsetting and beat down. I would have to agree with them, but the strip mall that it is in (Lilley and Ford Road) is getting a face lift as a whole and I can see improvement in the exterior already. It's obvious that not many people judge O'Sushi from its exterior because the customer flow in the restaurant is constant. It's a smart move not to judge O'Sushi from its exterior because on the inside it is just like any other modern Japanese restaurant: sushi bar with overly friendly sushi chefs, small, cozy seating areas, and of course, modern Japanese art throughout the restaurant. As soon as you walk in, you are bombarded with "Hello's! How are you!" from the sushi chefs and shortly thereafter a hostess will greet you and get you seated as soon as possible. In the back of the restaurant's dining room are several tables that are isolated from the rest of the dining room, which seems to appeal to many customers. There are no booths, just 2-and 4-person tables and chairs along with seating at the sushi bar. It can get very crowded in the small restaurant, so I suggest eating at O'Sushi during the early hours of the evening or anytime in the afternoon.
Now, on to the sushi! The sushi is always fresh and beyond what is expected. The presentation of the rolls is just perfect. Usually when I order from their sushi menu, I get a TNT Roll, which you can order spicy or sweet, a snow corn roll, and a Philedelphia roll, but I recently went on a limb and tried some of their more involved, I guess you could say, rolls. I had their Hawaiian roll and I was pleasantly pleased and displeased. I did not like the fact that they packed the roll with loads of avocado, very unappealing to the pallet if all you can taste is avocado. I also experienced this with their eel roll, so I do not suggest getting either of these rolls unless you have a craving for avocado. The waitress recommended I try the crunch roll, so I did. Awesome. The eel sauce that they put on top added a nice sweetness that went great with the tempura shrimp in the roll itself.
I never mind going back to O'Sushi to satisfy my sushi cravings, but a new Kabuki location just opened down the street from this O'Sushi, so both restaurants will surely be competing for Canton's sushi lovers!

Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, Northville, MI

If you're in the mood for juicy, high-priced Brazilian meat, then Gaucho's is the place for you; if not, then don't even bother reading this review. Gaucho is a Brazilian steakhouse that prides itself in serving amazingly cooked meat and tasty salads. The meats and salads all come at a high price for customers, about $50 per person for the salad bar and a meat entree. A variety of meats are cooked at Gaucho's: picanha (rump roast), filet mignon, costela de porco (baby-back ribs), lombo (pork tenderloin), and many more. The salad bar is always freshly stocked. The portions are large, but still not large enough to accommodate the price.
As for the restaurant and its staff, both are exceptional. The staff constantly makes sure the customers are satisfied with everything..they may even do this too much. The interior of the restaurant is elegant and formal with traditional Brazilian art scattered throughout the restaurant.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Wah-hoo Chinese Sushi and Cocktails, Detroit, MI


Having recently opened at the beginning of April 2010, Wah-hoo has become a hot, new place for sushi and Chinese food. The small restaurant is located off of Shelby Street, about a block away from Jefferson Avenue. There is a convenient public parking garage close to the location and Wah-hoo delivers, but only if you live in their 3-block radius. This may be inconvenient for people looking for delivery, but from what I have heard, the food is worth going to the restaurant. The interior of the restaurant is very chique and modern; it has a clean bar area that overlooks part of the kitchen area. The kitchen provides a variety classic and specialty sushi rolls and also many classic Chinese dishes. One of their most popular rolls is the Godzilla roll, and their Chinese dishes include: almond chicken, fried rice, dumplings, springrolls, and rangoons. The sushi is fresh and made to order, which is always a must for complete satisfaction of the customer. The waitstaff is always friendly and attentive, which will boost Wah-hoo's reputation once more people visit the restaurant.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Bourbon Steak, Detroit, MI


Straight from the pallets of New Orleans, this elegant steakhouse, located in the MGM Grand Detroit, is a highly sophisticated dining location. Bourbon Steak is a modern American steakhouse, but it does hold some influences from New Orleans; hence, bourbon in the name. First and foremost, the dishes here are very expensive and one may return back to Bourbon only once in awhile because of the prices. The food, on the other hand, is beyond what you would expect to receive for paying a high bill...$30-$80 per entree. Many of the dishes were created with seafood in mind: oysters, crabs, caviar, lobster, and prawns. And of course, being a steakhouse there is a wide selection of entrees with different meats and cuts. There is also a menu of "bar burgers" in which you order a burger and then any assortment of toppings and condiments you would like. The dessert and alcohol list is long and elegant, as would be expected. With the pricing of the meals, Bourbon Steak would be considered a once-in-awhile or special event restaurant for most people, but should be enjoyed to its fullest when given the opportunity.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Laikon Cafe, Greektown, Detroit, MI

An authentic Greek restaurant, Laikon Cafe holds its name as the one of the best Greek restaurants in Greektown. I haven't traveled to Greektown in awhile, nor have I been to Laikon Cafe, but I have always loved Greek food. Family and friends have high acclaims for Laikon, they say their food is great and authentic and their service is sociable and attentive. Most of the staff speaks Greek, and if you're lucky enough to come to Laikon Cafe on your birthday, baklava and a Greek happy birthday song may be in store for your visit.
The food at Laikon has many of the traditional Greek dishes: saganaki opa cheese, lamb, hummus, lemon rice soup, spinach pie, gyros, and many other dishes. The opa cheese is highly praised, just as it should for an authentic Greek restaurant. Their seafood salads, such as the octupus salad and the tarama salata, are delectable and truly Greek. The prices are affordable...$10-$15 per entree, especially for the authenticity and taste of the food.
Hope you enjoy your experience at Laikon! Opa!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Z's Villa, Detroit, MI


Z's Villa in Detroit is a true historic home bar and grill that offers a dining experience with the comfort of a small-home atmosphere. The first level has a bar and some tables for seating. The upper level of the house is full of tables and the outdoor patio has tables, a volleyball court, and even horseshoes. Also, if you catch Z's on the right weekend in the summertime, you may be able to enjoy live music while you eat. Z's Villa provides a shuttle service, with a free parking lot, all over the Downtown and New Center area, which is convenient for sporting events and other events.
The food Z's offer is truly excellent and homemade-tasting. They offer a variety of pizzas, fish, sandwiches, salads, and burgers. I have heard that the Zuper Vegetarian Delight pizza is their best pizza...and they do have quite a bit of pizzas.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

La Gloria Bakery, Mexicantown, Detroit, MI


Tucked away on Bagley and 23rd Street, La Gloria Bakery is a hidden gem for authentic Mexican pastries. Although I have never personally visited the bakery, I have eaten many of their pastries. A few of my favorites are las empanadas, las orejas, and los churros. All are pastries that are loaded with butter, but I don't care once I start eating them. Las empandas are generally filled with fruit and La Gloria Bakery has empandas without homemade filling and I believe they also have some with homemade filling...not too sure, but they are good nonetheless. My next favorite are las orejas, or "the ears." One could say that this Mexican pastry is a parallel to the American pastry, elephant ears. The Mexican orejas, however, are not loaded with powder sugar or any other toppings besides cinnamon and sugar. Las orejas are also much smaller and fluffier than the American elephant ears. Los churros that are sold at La Gloria Bakery are amazing and are probably my favorite. These churros are nothing like the ones that are sold at stadiums and other generic places. These are homemade churros, and everything tastes better homemade, right? I have also heard great things about La Gloria's tres leches cake, or three milk cake, and their tamales, tortillas, and cookies.
The prices at the bakery are very reasonable, each pastry is generally under $1. The bakery itself is set up cafeteria style...the customers carry a tray around the store and pick up any and all pastries that they want.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Cliff Bell's Restaurant, Detroit, MI


Located on Park Avenue between Elizabeth and Adams, Cliff Bell's is a must see restaurant of Detroit. The current jazz club has had a rough past, but after being closed down and then reopened, the bar is up and running like never before. The restaurant serves a 1920s jazz and blues theme, with a jazz or blues band constantly playing live music. The architecture plays a big role in the 1920s atmosphere as well. I have never been to Cliff Bell's, but I have heard that the food there is excellent. Most of the food is French-inspired, but there are American items on the menu as well. The menu has items from steak to duck and soups to oysters. The food has great taste, but when the club gets busy, the service gets slow. I guess you could expect a popular restaurant to have slow service with large crowds, but they should be able to manage. I have also heard that meals are more likely to be undercooked or overcooked when the tables are filled. That's common sense, but there is no excuse for it. So, I suggest that if you want to experience your Cliff Bell's experience fully and flawlessly, then go to the restaurant during its less popular hours. But if you do prefer the hustle and bustle of a hype jazz club, then be sure to stop by during the later hours of the evening.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Los Galanes, Detroit, MI


Spanish for "the gallants," Los Galanes is a super-restaurant located in Mexican Town, Detroit. Based on opinions, Los Galanes is one of the top super-restaurants in Mexican Town today. The restaurant has plenty of room for parking, plenty of dining space, and plenty of authentic Mexican dishes ready to be served. Galanes also has an outdoor patio that is very popular in the summertime. As for the food, seafood and Al Pastor tacos seem to be popular items on the restaurant's menu. Galanes has an open seafood bar in which the seafood dishes are prepared, and they also prepare handmade tortillas right in front of you. The atmosphere of the restaurant really gives off an authentic Mexican feel, along with the Mexican music and Spanish speaking staff. The staff is attentive and getting a table quickly is no problem since the restaurant is large and has plenty of seating. If you're looking for a new and delicious Mexican Town experience, I suggest dining at Los Galanes to be your choice.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Cantoro's Italian Market, Livonia, MI


If you're looking for anything Italian, relating to food or drink, then Cantoro's Market is where to go. It is a small little store located on Middlebelt Road between 7 and 8 mile that is tucked away, so be sure to look out for their sign. The parking lot is small, but if you get there at the right time, there will be no hassle. During the day, during the week is the best time to go to to Cantoro's, if you go on the weekends prepare to park in cramped quarters. Christmas and Easter time is just a zoo at Cantoro's and I would recommend doing seasonal food shopping there a week or two before. The market itself is actually quite small, but you would never realize that with the abundance of Italian foods that it holds. Any Italian food you want, you will find at Cantoro's...they have a whole aisle of pasta, freezers full of pasta, a deli full of imported meats and cheese, a counter specifically for squid, olives, and other antipasti, an abundance of pannetone and other desserts, a small bakery with bread and pastries all cooked on site, and even travel-size Nutella packages. Almost everything is imported and Cantoro's, by far, has the best prosciuto di Parma that I have ever tasted, and I have had a lot of prosciutto in my Italian family. Whether it's for a quick Nutella fix or for a large gathering, Cantoro's Market is your place to go for any and all Italian foods you may need.

Friday, May 7, 2010

New Seoul Garden Restaurant, Southfield, MI


Located just off of the Northwestern Highway in Southfield, New Seoul is a good-sized authentic Korean restaurant. I ate at New Seoul once for my cousin's baby's 1st birthday party. My cousin's wife is 100% Korean; therefore, her parents planned a 1st birthday party for their child which is customary and traditional in the Korean culture. When first walking in, impressions of Korean culture are given from the doorway and the foyer area. In the foyer, a whole wall is devoted to a quaint pond/waterfall exhibit and the walls are lined with authentic Korean art. Most of the people who worked at New Seoul were Korean, or of Asian descent, and spoke both Korean and English. Most of the customers as well spoke Korean and English. The party was held in a private room that could comfortably accommodate 80 people. As I toured the restaurant, I was impressed with the authentic tables that were 1-2 feet off the ground and the floor cushions that accompanied them. These were obviously for people who wanted to experience true Korean dining. Once the birthday dinner began, it was a feast of many foods! I'm not sure if all the food was Korean, but it was definitely all East Asian cuisine. There were spicy vegetables and rice, assortment of tempura, sushi, beef, and plain-old white rice. The tempura was the most popular dish among the Italians and Americans there, but personally I enjoyed all of it. Many of the dishes were spicy, so beware of that if and when you dine at New Seoul. Following dinner came dessert. A big surprise came to all of the Italians and Americans. Sweet-looking pastries were set up on a dessert table along with fresh fruit. Let me tell you, these pastries were not sweet at all. There were two types: a brightly-colored rice cake and a chocolate-colored rice ball. I certainly thought that both would be very good and I was quite excited to try them, but after one bite, I stuck to eating the fruit until the birthday cake was brought out.
Although dessert was not a highlight, I enjoyed New Seoul and hope to return very soon.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Cafe Kabob Mediterranean Grille, Southfield and Detroit, MI


I have never eaten at any Cafe Kabob location, but I have heard great things about their food. Cafe Kabob has two locations, one in Southfield and one in Detroit . The owners of the restaurants are the same people who own Mr. Kabob in Berkley, MI. The style of the restaurant is almost cafeteria-like, but a closer comparison is to the Panera Bread restaurant style of serving: placing your order and then waiting for your food to be served to you over a counter when your name or number is called. I have been told that their meals are a bit pricey, but the large portions seem to compensate for it. Many people have raved about their food, espeically their schawarma chicken sandwiches. Their tabouli, vegetables, smoothies, and rice are also supposed to be very good. Cafe Kabob in Detroit is the newest location and is located on Monroe Street in Downtown Detroit.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Kabuki, Farmington Hills, Dearborn and Canton, MI


Kabuki is a well-known Japanese restaurant in the metro Detroit area. Although most of their orders are sushi, they do serve a wide variety of Japanese and Korean dishes, excluding sushi. I have had experiences at each of their two locations and the restaurant in Farmington Hills is by far, much better. I first experienced Kabuki at their Farmington Hills location and enjoyed it very much. My party and I were seated quickly and not served for about 5-10 minutes. After we got a waitress, we were immediately brought ice water and complimentary miso soup and from then on, the service was very, very good. The miso soup and the seaweed salad (which we ordered on our own) were excellent. One suggestion is to not eat all of the seaweed salad until you are done with your sushi, if you get sushi. The salad acts as a pallet cleaner, especially if you dislike the taste of ginger. After our soup, we ordered a rather large order of sushi for three people: 1 dragon roll, 2 East rolls, 1 shrimp tempura roll, 2 California rolls, and 3 spicy crab and shrimp rolls. I believe the spicy crab and shrimp roll is a specialty roll, but I have seen variations at other sushi bars, like O'Sushi. Our sushi was served on a wooden boat that fit on our table. It was an impressive serving platter, but it seemed you had to order enough sushi to fill the boat. Surprisingly enough, we managed to eat most of the sushi we ordered, solely because it was excellent. I have had other sushi from a variety of places before and none have been as fresh as the sushi that Kabuki served us. We eventually left, full to the brim and completely satisfied.

Sadly, I cannot say that the Dearborn Kabuki was as impressive as the one in Farmington Hills. First of the all, the Dearborn Kabuki's waitstaff are nowhere near good at what they do. My family and I were seated qucikly when we went, but were not served until we asked to be served, which was about 15 minutes thereafter. We ordered drinks from one waitress and ordered food from another...very confusing and frustrating. we ordered a variety of foods, sushi, chicken, and tempura. The timing of serving the food was terrible. The people that had ordered the chicken and tempura finished eating before I was served my sushi. The chicken was tough and dry, and the sushi we ordered had been sitting up on the sushi bar with about 4 other plates of sushi for 15 minutes. After the chicken and tempura were served, we hadn't seen our waitress for nearly 20 minutes. And when she came back, all she asked us was if we would like more water; she could have at least updated us about our sushi, that for no apparent reason was sitting on the sushi bar rotting away with the other orders of sushi. We eventually got our sushi, but didn't see our waitress until she did us the fine favor of giving us the bill. After that, she never even came back for the bill, so we gave it to the waitress who served us our drinks. The sushi was not bad; the avocado was warm and the rice was dry, which was not appealing to our stomachs, but we ate it nonetheless.

Kabuki is currently in the process of building a new location in Canton, MI, and hopefully they can improve service there in order to keep customers coming back. The below picture is my favorite roll, the spicy crunchy shrimp and crab roll:

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

La Sharm, Dearbon and Canton, MI


La Sharm, having two locations in Dearborn and in Canton, is an authentic Arabic restaurant. The restaurant supplies an authentic Arabic atmosphere with its dark stone flooring, light colored walls, and hanging floral arrangements. The Arabic-styled brick oven, which is used to make fresh pita bread, also adds to the authentic Arabic feel. The food, too, was very authentic and very good.
My cousin and his wife invited me to La Sharm one weekend for two reasons: one, the food was excellent and two, I had never eaten Arabic food before. I walked into the restaurant having no clue what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. Pita bread and hommous were brought to our table as well as a plate of tabouli and baba ganoush. My cousin ordered for me a platter that included chicken, beef, and kafta all served over rice and grilled vegetables. The kafta, or lamb, was my personal favorite. There was no doubt that the platter could feed at least two people, but it was nice to enjoy a restaurant that gave generous portions instead of stingy portions.
I do not think I can speak of the waitstaff as highly as I can of their food. Although they weren't bad, they weren't excellent either. We had to ask multiple times for things like water, pita bread, or even silverware, but other than that, the food and check were on our table in good time.
Having only been to La Sharm once and only trying one dish, I am excited to go back in order to try their other dishes.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Volare Ristorante, Wixom, MI



In the heart of Wixom, Michigan, is the ambrosial authentic Italian restaurant that has a menu full of traditional Italian dishes that are quite exquisite. The restaurant, having opened only six years ago, has attracted many people in the area.

Coming from a strong Italian heritage, my family and I appreciate the truly authentic cooking that tastes just how my Nana and aunts cook at home. I have had the opportunity to enjoy Volare only a few times, but each time I loved my experience and I loved every bit of food put on my plate. Their most delectable dish, in my opinion, is their veal saltimbocca, or in simpler words, veal cooked with prosciutto, cheese, and olives on top.
My last experience there was a birthday party and the pastry chef at Volare had baked a cannoli creme cake that was like nothing I had ever tasted before. My friends who held the party expressed that the people at Volare were extremely accommodating in changing the standard dinner menu that was made for large parties especially. They were able to add appetizers, switch main courses, take out soup, and pretty much customize their party's dinner menu however they wanted to.
The dinner started out with appetizers: crudo, prosciutto pizza, and a full antipasti plate filled with Italian meats, cheeses, and bread. Salad and bread were served next to begin the dinner courses (there were many seeing that it was an Italian restaurant). The salad was lightly tossed in a sweet balsamic vinegar which paired perfectly with the bread. Pasta, with a meaty pomodoro sauce, flowed onto our plates next, and I have to say although it was very delicious, more than enough sauce was put on the pasta. Nevertheless, the pasta was forgiven with the vegetables and main courses. Rapini, veal saltimbocca, and chicken marsala were served all together. The veal saltimbocca was, of course, the favorite among the many Italians attending the party because of the rich combination of cheese, veal, and prosciutto that came from the wonderful cooking of the dish. For the rest of the non-Italian guests, the chicken marsala seemed to do much good for their appetites. A short break was taken between dinner and dessert, but needless-to-say the dessert pleased every single one of the guests at that party. The pastry chef was very accommodating in the fact that he carved a large piece of chocolate into the shape of Italy for the cannoli creme cake, when Volare does not offer that specifically. Most of the food on the main menu may not be appealing to young children, but Volare does have a children's menu with chicken, pasta, etc.

Now that I have established that Volare has commendable food, I will comment on their amiable atmosphere. First of all, one should not plan to eat at Volare if they intend to wear sweats and a hoodie. Volare's tables are covered with white table cloth, but formal attire does not seem to be required. A nice looking outfit, such as slacks and a button down shirt, will do just fine. Volare offers a truly authentic Italian atmosphere to complement their truly authentic Italian food. Scattered around the restaurant are photographs of Italian actors, including the cast of the Sopranos and even one of Al Pacino in Scarface. Along with those are other Italian pieces of art. The restaurant itself has a main dining area along with a bar area (with a flat screen TV) that leads to the restrooms and a semi-private dining area, in which private parties are held or overflow from the main dining area are seated. The bar has a very warm feel, and the semi-private dining area has a very Italian feel. With a large mural of a small Italian city street that spreads the whole length of one wall, you may find yourself believing that you are no longer in Wixom, but instead in small piazza, or gathering place, outside of Rome. The Italian music and menus written in Italian also amplifies Volare's Italian atmosphere. (Menus have English explanations of dishes)

As for the price of Volare's meals, one should not worry if they are looking for good food worth paying for. But I will say that a bill for a party of four that I went with came out to be around $150. This included 2 bottles of wine, 2-3 appetizers, 4 main courses with salad, and also 4 desserts. One shouldn't worry about location or price with Volare, as long as they are looking for a true Italian dining experience that will please themselves, and their pallet, too.