Where the Wealthy Eat: Top 2 Luxury Restaurants in Farmington Hills, MI

Anthony R It had been a few years since our last dinner at Steven Lelli’s, and once again, the experience did not disappoint. This visit was extra special, as we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. Arriving late on a Sunday afternoon, the restaurant wasn’t crowded, which gave us the luxury of choosing our preferred seating. We started with the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail—four large, perfectly fresh shrimp with a sweet cocktail sauce. The seafood was excellent and left me eager to try the Famous Checker Barbecue Ribs on our next visit. For our entrées, we ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and the Steakhouse Gnocchi. On the side, we added the Spaghetti Bolognese and a Caesar Salad. The Fettuccine Alfredo was outstanding—the kind of pasta that hooks you from the very first bite. The Steakhouse Gnocchi was equally impressive, with steak that was tender, juicy, and paired beautifully with broccolini, mushrooms, and a rich demi-glace. Portions were generous, easily enough for two, so we took the rest home to enjoy later. The Spaghetti Bolognese had good flavor, though it was softer than our preference—we’ll be sure to request firmer pasta next time. The Caesar Salad was decent, but I’d recommend asking for the dressing on the side. One tip: don’t overlook the back of the menu—it’s full of tempting dishes you might miss if you only focus on the front. The atmosphere inside was calm, relaxing, and pleasantly quiet. While the waitstaff seemed a bit stretched, our server managed well overall. Service wasn’t flawless, but there was nothing to complain about. All in all, we had a wonderful evening and are already looking forward to our next visit to Steven Lelli’s.

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!