Cafe Cortina

  4.6 – 1,211 reviews   • Italian restaurant

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In its over four decade long history, Café | Cortina has consistently strived to be more than just a restaurant. Founded on the site of a former apple orchard in 1976 by the Tonon family, Café | Cortina started out as a “best kept secret” restaurant that has turned into a nationally-celebrated foodie destination.

Elegant eatery in an apple orchard serves handmade pasta alongside produce & herbs grown on-site

✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in Cafe Cortina 48336

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Reservations: opentable.com

cafecortina.com

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Reviews

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. It’s not often I can’t finish a meal at a restaurant but we actually took quite a bit home. Multiple rolls (I won’t 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 wife’s birthday dinner special. We will definitely be back!
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Dreamer RT 21
This was a fabulous evening! The lasagna is to die for. Make sure someone at your table orders it so you can try and thank me later!

Valet, coat check, multiple servers. It’s everything you’d expect from an elite level restaurant from the moment you turn off the road.

The pacing was perfect and we didn’t leave too full to the point of misery or still hungry.

My mate had the ravioli which was only rivaled by the lasagna. Taste, flavor and quality, I mean this place is all over it!

I can’t believe it’s taken me nearly four decades of dining out in Metro Detroit to come across this place but the words, better late than never are fitting. We will definitely be back, and SOON!
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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!
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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!
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Larisa Ujkashaj
I recently hosted my baby shower here, and I can’t recommend this restaurant enough for any special event! From start to finish, everything was beyond my expectations.

The food was absolutely incredible—every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Our guests are still talking about it! If you’re planning an event, you MUST include the Wheel of Parmigiano experience—it was unforgettable and truly worth it 100%.

The outdoor space is breathtaking, offering the perfect backdrop for photos and creating such a warm, elegant atmosphere.

The staff was outstanding—attentive, professional, and genuinely kind. A special thank you to Kelly, the event coordinator, who was a dream to work with. She made planning effortless and ensured every detail was perfect. The manager was fantastic as well, going above and beyond to accommodate all of our requests.

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, look no further. This venue doesn’t just meet expectations—it exceeds them. I would host another event here in a heartbeat!
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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!
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Paige Bongero
Absolutely loved this place and everything about it. Service was incredible, we especially appreciated Arturo and Besnik! The food was outstanding- highlighting the bruschetta, cacio e peppe, agnolotti, Emiliana lasagna, and the dessert was amazing. Not one bite of food we didn’t like. The drinks were delightful, with a nice wine selection and tasty cocktails. Will definitely be coming back and recommend this place to anyone!
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Natasha Gee
Wow! This was the best meal I’ve had in a long time. My husband and I went for our wedding anniversary, it’s our tradition to try a new Italian restaurant each year after our honeymoon in Italy. This was by far the closest I’ve been to being back there. From the staff welcoming you with “buona sera”, the amazing decor and ambiance, and the fresh grown ingredients on site, this restaurant understood the assignment. The bread and olive oil are to die for, the fresh salad and unique dressing was delicious. We got the tuna tartar appetizer. I got the braised beef pillows (agnolotti) and my husband got the mushroom gnocchi. The layered crepe cake was gone in about 2 minutes. They also had a great selection of wines and cocktails. 100/10 would recommend anyone go here for a dinner worth drooling over. I also just found out they can their sauces and sell them at Busch’s!
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Nikol B
Our server Besnik What is the best server I ever had? He was very knowledgeable and made the best recommendation He made us feel very special. We definitely come back.
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Lauren Krieger
My husband made a reservation for my birthday dinner at Cafe Cortina because we had never been there and it was highly rated. We were not disappointed! We both had a fantastic experience. The food was delicious, the presentation impeccable, and the service was top notch. I ordered cremoza, an appetizer made with tomatoes fresh from their garden and mafaldine, a pasta entree with lobster meat and a creamy tomato sauce. My husband had the tomahawk, which he said was the best steak he’d ever eaten. Whatever you do though, save room for dessert because the millafoglie, a slice of 16 layer chocolate cake with espresso flavored Chantilly creme filling was to die for. The only thing as good as the food was our server, Besnik who was attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful. He was able to accommodate my husband’s food allergies at every course and offered alternatives where necessary. He made a fine dining experience even finer and endlessly enjoyable. We will certainly be back!
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