Troy, Mich., located about a half hour north of Detroit, is home to world-class shopping at the Somerset Mall, great schools and a wide variety of restaurants. There's no shortage of Italian restaurants, from the small mom-and-pop Italian eateries, to the large, upscale restaurants, there are plenty of options for Italian food lovers.
Don't let the strip mall location of Franco's Cafe deter you: this place offers excellent Italian food in a relaxed, intimate setting. All dishes are made from scratch and are an affordable alternative to some of the higher priced restaurants in the area. The decor is contemporary, with bright, multi-colored walls, tile floors and wood tables. The restaurant won the "Best of the Best" award in 2006 from local newspaper, The Oakland Press. Some of the chef-recommended plates include the Italian sausage sandwich, and the homemade gnocchi with tomato sauce and linguine in white clam sauce. You can also choose a combination plate, which features choices such as ravioli, manicotti, lasagna or chicken parmesan.
Franco's Cafe
3614 Rochester Road North
Troy, MI 48083
248-528-0153
myfrancoscafe.com
Brio Tuscan Grille is located in the famous Somerset Mall in the heart of Troy and has a villa reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, with soft lighting and Italian decorations adorning the walls. The food is a hit among consumers, with an 81 percent approval rating on Urban Spoon and 4-star review on City Search. Some of the menu specialties include the Brio's bruschetta quattro, a sampling of four different flat breads, chicken limone, Brio's version of chicken piccatta that features a white wine, lemon and caper sauce and pasta Brio, featuring chicken, seared mushrooms and roasted red pepper sauce. There are also plenty of chicken, steaks and chops on the menu as well. Brio has a separate kid's menu and dessert menu with small samples that come in shot glasses, including creme brulee, tiramisu and cheesecake.
Brio Tuscan Grille
2801 West Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48084
248-643-6045
bestitalianusa.com
Maggiano's Little Italy has a casual, comfortable ambiance and serves up huge portions of Italian and American food. Maggiano's boasts an 83 percent approval rating on the Urban Spoon website. The interior decor is large and spacious, with huge wood booths, hardwood floors and lots of windows. The menu is vast and is filled with soups, salads, pastas, veal, fish, steak and chicken dishes, with house specialties such as baked ziti and sausage, lobster ravioli and beef braciole. They offer family-style dining for those who like to share, and have a kids menu, dessert wine and extensive wine list.
Maggiano's Little Italy
2089 West Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48084-3403
248-205-1060
maggianos.com
Picano's, opened in 1985, is one of the highest rated Italian restaurants among consumers in Troy, with an 84 percent approval rating on Urban Spoon and a 5-star review on City Search. The restaurant focuses on a traditional Italian dining experience, with each entrée preceded by soup or salad and served with pasta and warm bread. House specialties include linguine con frutti di mare, which features shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and linguine in a white seafood sauce and tortellini alla nonna, featuring pancetta, onions, tomatoes and tortellini in a tomato cream sauce. An extensive wine list specializing in vintages from Italy and California is available.
Picano's
3775 Rochester Road South
Troy, MI 48083
248-689-8050
picanos.com
