Cafe Cortina - Farmington Hills (MI)

5 /5 David Furstenberg: 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. Its not often I cant finish a meal at a restaurant but we actually took quite a bit home. Multiple rolls (I wont 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 wifes birthday dinner special. We will definitely be back!

5 /5 Meg Watt: Cafe Cortina is truly a five-star experience. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm, elegant, and absolutely beautiful. The atmosphere alone makes you feel like you’re stepping into something special. The food was phenomenal — everything we tasted was absolutely delicious. Each dish was crafted with care and full of rich, memorable flavor. And the service? Outstanding. Manuel and Besnick were exceptional — friendly, attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure everything was perfect. They worked seamlessly as a team and made our evening unforgettable. If you’re looking for incredible food, amazing ambiance, and top-tier customer service, Cafe Cortina is the place. Highly recommend.

5 /5 Adrianna Pisano: We had both our wedding ceremony and reception at Cafe Cortina over the weekend. Around 100 guests attended. Honestly can’t put into words just how amazing it was from start to finish. Our guests are blown away and so are we. Every detail was perfect. The food was AMAZING, the service was TOP notch, and the ambience and overall venue was absolutely stunning! Every server went above and beyond and did it with a smile all night. The patio exceeded our expectations x1000. It was magical with the trees and greenery lit up , fire place, stone, and just so many beautiful details that were amplified at night with the special lighting throughout. Reception dinner and cake cutting/speeches were held inside and then the guests danced on the patio and mingled throughout the whole night, having an amazing time. We will recommend Cafe Cortina to anyone looking for a wedding venue. It’s a night we will never forget! We did have a day of planner and she said working with Kelley and the other staff was accommodating like nothing they’ve experienced before at a wedding. Thank you Kelley, the venue coordinator, who provided a 5 star service throughout the wedding, was so kind, and answered all of our questions leading up to it. Just trust that her and the other staff at Cafe Cortina know what their doing and will execute beautifully!

5 /5 Anuja Deshmukh: Top-notch service, amazing food, and the kindest team — Café Cortina turned our special day into a beautiful memory! We recently celebrated my husband’s birthday here, and everything was perfect from start to finish. Kelly, the event coordinator, was absolutely wonderful — she took care of every detail with such warmth and precision, ensuring the evening flowed exactly as I had planned. We enjoyed a beautifully curated five-course menu, with each dish served at the perfect time. The Capesante (seared scallops) appetizer was incredible — tender, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The Trancio di Salmone Alla Griglia (grilled salmon with citrus and fennel) and Pollo Arrosto “Al Mattone” (roasted chicken with seasonal vegetables) were both outstanding, and the Rigatoni pasta was rich and comforting. Dessert was the highlight - the Millefoglie, a stunning 16-layer chocolate cake that was truly mind-blowing. The sweetest surprise was a refreshing lemon sorbet with a sparkling fire candle, adding such a magical and thoughtful touch to the evening. The ambiance was cozy and elegant, with soft lighting and gentle music creating the perfect mood. Thank you, Kelly and the Café Cortina team, for making our celebration unforgettable — we’ll definitely be back and highly recommend it for any special occasion!

5 /5 Nassif Abi-Samra: I had a fantastic dinner with great friends! This was my first time and I would love to return. One of the specials of the night was a creamy lobster pasta and it was exceptional! Every bite was delicious and there was an abundance of lobster to be enjoyed!! The tiramisu was one of the best I ever had! My only bites which were underwhelming were the caesar salad. It was good but not great and it was quite small with just a few pieces of romaine lettuce. It was still tasty but relative to the quality and standards of the entrees and desserts, the salad was not so impressive. Overall the meal was simply delicious! The only thing better than the food was the exceptional service from the entire team that took care of our group. They were truly incredible. Exceptionally kind and courteous with incredible attention to all details making sure our experience was exceptional!