Located 20 minutes from downtown Detroit, Southfield is a suburban city with an array of dining options. Among the best are several Italian eateries, which range from upscale, innovative cuisine to traditional, family-friendly pizza joints. This area is home to several award-winning restaurants and dishes, such as the top-rated pizza at Shield's and accomplished head chef at Bacco.
Bacco Ristorante is located in northwest Southfield, adjacent to the Applegate Square Shopping Center. This Italian eatery was first opened in 2002 by Luciano Del Signore, who was nominated for the Great Lakes Region Best Chef Award in 2008. Accented by colorful decor and a mural that spans the length of the main dining room, Bacco offers an intimate, romantic atmosphere along with upscale cuisine. Guests can try one of the interesting pasta dishes, such as butternut squash stuffed ravioli, or savor one of the meatier dishes, such as braised veal shank served over saffron risotto. A few vegan dishes are available, along with a more casual bar menu. More than 400 vintage Italian wines are available, and the servers are happy to offer suggestions to pair with your meal. A few private dining rooms are available that can accommodate up to 70 guests.
Bacco Ristorante
29410 Northwestern Hgwy.
Southfield, MI 48034
248-356-6600
baccoristorante.com
Located just off Highway 10, Pi Restaurant and Lounge offers Italian dishes along with selections from Greek, German, French and Spanish cuisine. A full-service bar area is available for cocktails, beer and an extensive list of wines, and it often hosts entertainment and dancing on weekend evenings. Two main dining rooms and an outdoor patio offer a more traditional dining experience, with one dining room featuring a view of the brick oven used to make Pi's famous pizzas. The menu includes dishes from the featured country of the month; Italy is typically featured in June and November. Plenty of Italian selections are available year-round, however, including mozzarella caprese, traditional thin-crust pizzas, chicken marsala and penne pasta with eggplant and basil. The restaurant also offers a tapas menu with items such as meatballs, coconut shrimp and calamari.
Pi Restaurant and Lounge
28847 Franklin Rd.
Southfield, MI 48034
248-358-3355
piofsouthfield.com
Capri Pizzeria, located in north Southfield near Beaumont Hospital, was first opened in 1960. This casual restaurant features traditional pasta dinners as well as made-to-order pizzas. Specialty gourmet pizzas come in a variety of flavor combinations, including the Capri Special with pepperoni, bacon, ham, mozzarella cheese, onions and green peppers. Other menu items include oven-baked sub sandwiches, a selection of salads and pizza turnovers. This restaurant calls to fans of Italian cuisine with large windows painted red, white and green like the country's flag.
Capri Pizzeria
30735 Greenfield Rd.
Southfield, MI 48076
248-647-7770
capripizzeria.net
Shield's Restaurant is conveniently located on Telegraph Road near the intersection at 10 Mile Road. This establishment features a family-friendly atmosphere and a kids menu that includes pizza, pasta and grilled cheese. Shield's square, deep-dish pizzas, which are offered in specialty combinations or made-to-order, have been recognized by "Pizza Today Magazine" as one of the country's best. Other Italian dishes include baked lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs and meat or cheese ravioli. The restaurant includes a full bar, which is popular for happy hour specials each weekday and watching sporting events on several large TVs.
Shield's Restaurant, Bar and Pizzeria
25101 Telegraph Rd.
Southfield, MI 48033
248-356-2720
shieldspizza.com
