Luigi’s Original Restaurant
36691 Jefferson Ave, Harrison Township, MI, 48045
Luigi’s Original Restaurant Menu
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Address :
36691 Jefferson Ave
Harrison Township, MI, 48045 - Phone (586) 468-7711
- Website https://www.luigisoriginal.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
- Mon : 4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Bob P.
I went there yesterday and was told how wonderful the food is. I ordered a pasta seafood dish that was almost all soggy pasta. My wife had chicken parmessian which was at best mediocre but my mother ordered veal and it was pretty good. The waitress was about as good as I have ever had which is the only reason I give it two stars. I understand there steaks and prime rib are excellent but when I go to an Italian restaurant, I was hoping for a good Italian dish. The Olive Garden nserves a much better dish then here. Maybe I will try their pizza but don't waste your money on the Italian dishes.
(2)Neil Y.
While I fell in love with my wife in Orlando, I proposed to her in the corner booth right here at Luigi's. Luigi's was my regular Wednesday dinner choice. I am however a creature of habit and always ordered pizza, salad and yes, Luigi's homemade bread. Their bread is perhaps the best around and I can honestly admit that I carbo-loaded on more than one occasion barely making through the salad and having to take the pizza home. Regardless, I win either way. One thing I noted was that Luigi's was serving an inordinate amount of steaks. Perhaps 1/3 of all diners were enjoying these massive cuts of prime beef. Eventually, I gave in to my curiosity on the steak. I'll discuss later. The pizza for me was always a large Luigi Special which comes with ham, real pepperoni, onion, green pepper and mushroom. Add anchovies of course. The crust is crusty and chewy yielding that wonderful sesame flavor from the seeds. At around $17.00, it isn't exactly a Hot & Ready but certainly well worth the quality of ingredients that Luigi's uses. The difference is clearly noticeable and worth it. Then one day, after hitting the 4-digit lottery and claiming my prize, I decided it was a day for me. I ordered the prime rib king's cut and I can only say not only was it worth the $25.00 or so, but they gave me what looked to be a double portion. It was huge. Beyond huge it was so damn tender and flavorful. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I took enough home and made an incredible pot of beef barley from the leftovers. A few days transpire and I decided the celebration must continue. I went back and ordered the filet Rockefeller style. The addition of the bacon, spinach and cheese was fantastic and didn't at all take away from the full flavor of my filet cooked rare. Now I got it. I can vouch for the meat ravioli and the chicken Siciliano. That ammoglio sauce is incredible. I also believe that the broiled whitefish dinner is arguably one of the best in the state. If you opt to order the whitefish Siciliano, ask them to broil it without the breadcrumbs and just add the ammoglio sauce on top of it. The breadcrumbs somehow take away from the quality of the fish. Sadly, I have never made it to dessert but most of it is homemade and the tirimisu is quite popular. Folks, it ain't cheap but it's worth it. For the price, you will get yourself a quality meal and truly this is the best restaurant in the area. Pass Terry's and come right here for the same money. This location is small and wildly popular so dining in may cause you to wait at peak dining times. If I am choosing to eat at either this location or their in downtown Mt. Clemens, I choose this one every time. Don't know what it is, just have a better meal and a better experience. BTW-the young lady that I proposed to here said, "yes" and we're still married eight years later with two beautiful kids.
(5)Kristin Z.
Why did it take me this long to find out this place existed?!? Holy Cannolli Luigis is surely the treasure of Harrison Township, if not of the entire Metro Detroit area. Almost every dish I've tried has been delicious and beautifully plated. The atmosphere is quaint and friendly. It's such a great place for a night out on a date or a special occasion with it's lovely decor, music playing, and laughter heard all around. My favorite part is how they are equipped with a full carry out menu. I've let Luigis make us dinner for the last 2 days straight! Easy ordering, presentation is not spared for carryout! I love this place.
(5)Mike M.
What a disappointment. We had been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. We visited on a Sunday night. The meal started off promising, great bread basket, great soup, delicious salad. Then my meal came, I had the eggplant parmesan and my husband had a chicken dish. My eggplant parmesan was not made as ordered. No big deal, our server promptly removed it and offered a new one to be made. My husband finished eating before my dish came back. My eggplant returned to the table burned. Not just a little burned, blackened throughout and my husband could smell the burned smell across the table. Our server didn't return to make sure the dish came out ok, so a bus girl finally came by to ask if she could box it. I asked to see our server. Our server came, no apology, no offer to make something else, just asked if we wanted dessert. Um, I'm pretty sure I'm still waiting on my entree. I guess that ship sailed, and I didn't have a meal that night. We heard our server confer with the manager about my dish, but no resolution was offered. I guess we didn't matter. I wanted to like it, I really did, but with service like that I will give my business to restaurants that know how to properly handle a meal that was not prepared as ordered.
(1)Jen D.
Best pizza in town! Wish they took reservations though.
(5)Carole H.
The rave reviews gave me high hopes for Luigi's, but I just wasn't very impressed. This place is small, and popular - which equals a wait. A long wait, especially on weekends. I can't fault them for this because hey, when you're hot you're hot. But there is no real area to wait in, you have to all cram in the little entry way where the take-out counter is located. So that's no fun. The service was fine, but the food just fell flat. I was here with a party of 6, we all ordered various pasta dishes, and most all of us felt a let down, especially given the fanfare we've heard about the place. I had angel hair with a cream sauce and chicken, the chicken was very good but the pasta underneath was basically cold, and they were a little stingy on the sauce. Most of my dining companions agreed that their pasta was not hot, their dishes not memorable, and while it was an enjoyable enough meal, upon leaving we all agreed that we were in no rush to return. Maybe we should have had the pizza instead? Also, the parking lot is small and dirt, so on the day we came when it was rainy, my shoes were covered in mud and so was the car after getting splashed by cars pulling out of the lot. Overall just....eh.
(2)Bob N.
OH MAN, finally went back to have Luigi's lamb chops after having a bite my cousins last month. I don't know what they do to these chops but holy heck tender doesn't do them justice. 6 or 7 chops nicely sized and cooked medium rare with garlic, spinach and feta. Served with soup salad and a side of your choice. I'm drooling just thinking of them. Service as usual was awesome. This place is what all restaurants service and food wise should aspire to.
(5)Paul B.
Absolutely not the same. I used to live near here and frequented this place. Im upset to say I have recommended this place to freinds and family. I couldnt tell you how the food was because I never made it that far. We walked in tonight on our first wedding anniversary. We then waited in a loud obnoxious bar for 5 mins to have at least 4 waitresses not acknowledge us other than to ask us to excuse them as they walked by. I then asked to talk to the manager and was told that the man I was speaking to who had previously ignored us was infact the manager. He then said "Hopefully we can make your night better." I declined there are plenty of dive bars where I will get better service with no wait!
(1)B G.
Good food in an intimate restaurant I have been coming back for years and will continue.
(4)Wendy H.
I wish I could comment on the food but as they never sat our six top I can't say! ( Tuesday night- 7 pm- we were told it'd be 25-30 mins but after 55 mins they still had nothing for us. It wouldn't be so bad except that the host apparently was more concerned with not giving us two tables pushed together because it would "involve two different server sections" and then said the floor was too slanted (!) for those two tables to be moved together) We spent over $70 on wine and drinks while waiting and were prepared to spend the $300+ more for dinner but now not a single one of will be back! Customers always come first but not at Luigi's! Poor management, terrible service!
(1)Adam B.
If you're looking for an intimate restaurant for a get-together, or just dinner with the family, please give Luigi's a try! It's pretty busy on weekend, but well worth the wait. Supposedly Luigi's has a pizza rated in the top 50 in the United States, but there are so many great items to choose from! Initially you're greeted by the smell of heaven (also known as fresh bread and incredible Italian food). While I've tried the prime rib (amazing) and chicken Parmesan (perfect), my absolute favorite thing about this place would be the fresh bread sticks! I'm not joking when I say I would literally just order a take-out to get bread sticks (and I have.. And at only $2 a basket, they're a steal). They're wonderfully warm, perfectly dense, incredible in texture, and the butter just runs right off of them. If you're like me, you'll want to order the clam chowder and use the bread as your utensil... But you won't have much room for the entrée! Warning: you WILL fight your significant other and/or children for the last one. As for the cons, my only problem with this place is the incredibly small parking lot. You'll probably have to circle the place like a crow a few times if you're going on a weekend, or park in an adjacent lot. However, even if you had to walk a few miles in a blizzard, you'd probably say, "that was well worth it."
(5)David B.
Ribs are fantastic! Prime rib is fantastic,! The lamb chips are fantastic! If your lady wants ribs, the appetizer lamb chips ate perfect! The take out pizzas are great. We come back here time after time with the same great service.
(5)Linda S.
I like the way the carry out is done. There's a little window right in the vestibule and you dont have to go through the restaurant. I mostly pick up take out in pajamas, so that was awesome. That being said, my take out tasted like crap. I had the prime rib. Very, very generous portions. It was overlooked and bland. I ordered medium rate and there was no pink to it at all. It was just a big blob of meat. I also had a side salad. I loved the sunflower seeds on it! The dressing (ranch) was very water. The side with the meal was mashed potatoes and those were delish!!! Red skin mashed. Fantastic. I've heard a lot about Luigi's. Rave reviews. I was sorely disappointed. I'm going to try it again one day and order something different. I'll update then!
(2)Steve B.
What a great place, always a great experience. If the wait is long just chill at the bar, it's well worth it. Favorite pasta is Pasta alla Mama Luigi, angel hair pasta with bacon, scallions, soft egg, and parmesan. Otherwise I love the Luigi's style lambchops, they are perfect, or for more casual try any of their award winning pizzas. Service is always awesome, can be a little loud inside at times but still my favorite local restaurant.
(5)Ju L.
Pros: Definitely worth the long wait. Recommend hitting the bar while waiting. Bread was amazingly fresh. Food was delicious. Service was attentive. Cons: No waiting area.
(5)Alissa J.
This is a small restaurant that serves the best homemade Italian food I've had in Michigan. I have had one of the best meals ever: Chicken Neopolitan- just get it- you won't be disappointed. I've also had the GrandMa Cut Prime Rib which was enormous and very delicious- you must be a heavy eater to get the GrandPa Cut! For an appetizer we usually get the Artichoke dish which is so good it inspired me to make my own (success BTW!). The decor is underwhelming: they have grapevine lights and very, very dim lighting- too dim if you ask me. Its a very tight space- not the most comfortable seating but the quality of food makes up for any seating disappointment. Casual dress. Go there, you wont be disappointed by their food! Oh, quick tip: if they ask if you want to sit in the back room- I would recommend passing especially if you are a social eater and like to people watch. It is way more spacious but very quiet, boring and bland back there. They do not take reservations and on friday and saturday nights they have a bit of a wait - think 45minutes. Prepare to spend ~$70 on a dinner for two (inclusive of a glass of wine and beer).
(5)Lorna D.
LOVE Luigi's. It's small, cozy, upbeat, and the food is plentiful and delicious! Care is taken with even smaller elements like breadsticks (fresh-baked-OOh yeah!) and salads (sunflower seeds and onions? YES please!), and the entrees definitely follow suit. The servers are the sweetest ever-especially appreciated in the midst of a busy pace. You'll wait on the weekends, but oh is it worth it! A fun place overflowing with charm and really excellent food! Everything I've tried has been amazing. What a blessing after a hectic week to find myself rosy-cheeked from the generously poured glass o' vino in front of me, a bellyful of eggplant parm excellence, and lively conversation going on over it all. Delightful.
(5)Heather G.
First time visiting Luigi's was last night and it was AWESOME! I arrived at 9:20pm and felt kinda bad because they were only open until 10pm but I was starving so I decided to go in. My fear, of over staying my welcome was subsided because there were still a ton of people there! Our waitress was super super nice and recommended some great dishes. We started with some type of rice balls, which I highly recommend. For dinner I had the chicken neapolitan--- AMAZING! The fresh baked bread was awesome. Make sure you finish with a homemade tiramisu- so good! PS the balsamic dressing is great! Can't wait to go back again.
(5)R R.
Best Italian food I've had in Michigan.. just incredibly delicious. Absolutely try the Gnocchi entree (much better deal to get a full order for $4 more). The house bread is also out of this world (be sure to order if you get a carry-out)! Very quaint and intimate atmosphere inside the main dining room, as well. Solid and consistent 5 stars all-around.
(5)David M.
What can you say about luigi's besides classic italian fare in a classic setting. It is a smaller restaurant but they pack em in. Great place for a family dinner or a romantic evening bite. Get the Arancini balls, they are wonderful. The Chicken Neopolitan is very good as well.
(5)Robert W.
Favorite place in town. Cozy roadhouse feel. Been around forever and is always great. I was surprised at the excellent prime rib - I don't usually go for steak at a true Italian place, but it is the best around. Grab pizza for carry out all the time (can't bring myself to order pizza in as good as everything on the menu is).
(5)Kelly S.
Small parking lot out front but if you go to the back of the building there are plenty of parking spaces. I liked the cozy feel on a Friday night. This place was packed; the wait was around 30 minutes. Mom and I were seated in the back porch area where it was far more boring than all the activity, lights and ambiance in the main room. I didn't complain because mom's knees bother her so I wanted us to sit down as soon as we could...there is nowhere to sit while waiting. There is a very nice menu selection for appetizers, the main meal and alcoholic beverages. I ordered a glass of Red Diamond Merlo and mom had Lambrisco. I ordered an appetizer of Cajun Crawfish that came with small slices of garlic toast. It was very 'Cajun' tasting. It was nice to see this on the menu but I don't think I would order it again as it was too spicy and some of the crawfish tasted fishy...this is just a personal preference to not re-order. At $9.00 it was a pricey appetizer that I didn't care for. I took it home to add to some rice and beans later. Mom ordered the Lake Perch...served hot and delicious. The Eggplant Parmesan was served hot with a side of noodles (served warm) with tomatoes sauce on top. The mozzarella was generous and delicious as it was baked over the Parmesan. I opted for the clam chowder over the salad and wish I ordered the salad later. The chowder was very thick and pasty. The bread that is served before the meal is delicious. For Dessert we split home-made Tiramisu. The wine glasses were large and round allowing for a very generous portion of wine. The service was excellent!
(4)Michelle K.
Oh my gods, this place is amazing. If you only get one thing here, get the fried calamari. It was some of the best I have ever eaten. I got a half order of ravioli which were just alright and a bowl of creamy clam chowder. The chowder was really tasty and they use a lot of bacon in it which is awesome. We also tried their five cheese pizza and were pleasantly surprised at how good it was. It wasn't greasy, even with all the cheese and it had a Cajun-spiced crust. We got all this food to go but from what I saw of the dining area, it looked really cute.
(5)Cyndi J.
Everything about this place is wonderful. Space is sometimes an issue, but for me, it has never impeded service. Arancini balls are a great, hearty starter and you can never go wrong with their salad, ravioli/linguini combo, or the white fish. They do not take reservations so I would suggest to go early on Fridays and on the weekends. This is one of the only TWO places I would recommend to get a decent meal on the eastside. For what you pay, the food and service will exceed your expectations. Oh, pizza, don't forget to try the PIZZA!! Buon appetito!
(5)Kristie L.
The place is crowded and we were in the middle of the floor up against a supporting beam. But the service was good. I had the rice balls (yum!!!) and the michigan cherry chicken. I recommend this place highly!
(5)James M.
I had actually never been to this place before but then I saw they had a great write up in GQ magazine about their pizza, so I went to check it out. Needless to say, I've been going there ever since. This is my favorite place to go for pizza bar none. They have a full menu but the pizza is so good that it's a must to try. The place is super small, much smaller than their Mt. Clemens location and I would argue cooler and cozier too. A place that you'd like to sit at the bar for a couple of hours while eating pizza and drinking beer. In my book it's the best pizza I've ever had.
(5)Dean C.
I do like the one of the Lamp Chop appetizers, however it has made my friend sick to their stomach twice now? We eat the same ingredients elsewhere without issue. The Arancini tastes good, I like it.... but, it falls short of what is available a real Italian restaurants. If you do decide to go, make sure you take a cab because you aren't likely to find parking, if you do take your own vehicle consider wearing your gardening shoes as you will are bound to trash you nice shoes in their country bunker style parking lot. Once you get inside expect it to be PACKED because it is probably offers each guest about 4 square feet of space and if you like the decor of grandma's basement you will be impressed at how this "joint" takes you back. Don't expect an apology for any of this either, just a smug chuckle that insinuates you should be happy to wait two hours for a substandard experience. I notice another Yelp-er stating this is the best Italian food in Michigan! They must enjoy Italian section of the food court at the casino too. OR maybe they tripped fell and bumped their hear in the obstacle course Luigi's promotes as a dinning room. Skip the pizza all together, the carry out pizzeria two doors down is not only way better, but it's outstanding on it's own. If your from Harrison and don't want to drive far I can see why you would "deal" with this place as I do. So once your in your seat, take a deep breath and ask for Angie as she is a doll and will take great care of you. Come to think of it several of the bartenders & waitstaff have helped me get through my experience here.
(2)Brad R.
People kept telling me that I had to go to Luigi's...best pizza in town....yada, yada, yada. Hate to admit it - they were right. Luigi's has VERY delicious pizza with a cozy atmosphere. They have the type of pepperoni that curls up into a little grease-catching meat cup (you know...the best kind of pepperoni there is). Fast and friendly service. Just don't go on a busy night - they REALLY pack you in there and can make it a bit uncomfortable if you don't dig tight spaces. We did try some of the other dishes and were pleased with them...though not overwhelmed. Can't wait to return...but on a slower evening.
(4)Barry S.
Great pizza and good atmosphere.
(5)Tomas T.
This place is an experience. You drive by, and you wouldn't notice it. As you pull up to the restaurant, it feels as if you are walking into your grandmother's house. As you pull in, it looks like an old school restaurant with decorations everywhere and red and white checkered table cloths. The feel was very homey and quaint, this would get a five. We ordered a few different dishes and I can't remember exactly what it was, but I remembered really enjoying the appetizers and I also ordered the Prime rib they give you two options papa's cut and mama's cut. The Papa's cut is litterally like they cut out an entire section of a cow and it is sitting on your plate. The food is good and the staff was great. I would have loved to have given this restaurant a five, but the food just didn't strike me so that I remember it. I would however recommend this as a great date place, and even better as a surprise date place. Between this and La Dolce Vita, they are well hidden and worth the drive.
(4)Kathy W.
Crowded, noisy and overpriced .The food is pretty good, but not worth that atmosphere. The spaghetti sauce tastes like it came out of a can!
(1)John K.
This place is a treasure. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you walk in, the ambiance is cozy. Dim lights, and there are also a bunch of string lights throughout the dining room. For an appetizer i'd recommend the Arancini Balls. They are described on their website as "arborio italian rice, flavored with italian sausage, stuffed with mozzarella, baked and topped with tomato basil sauce." You get two of them, and they are decent size. Amazing taste. Not very healthy though :). As for dinner I've ordered the pizza, which isn't bad, but isn't fantastic compared to pizza places in the Detroit metro area. Would I get it again? Yes. Would I tell someone to go just for the pizza? No. The Michigan Cherry Chicken is also delcious (thats what I usually get.) The fettucine alreado is good, as is the spaghetti. As for desserts I had a cannoli. Tasted very fresh. Nothing to complain about :). Anyways, this place is good to bring a date, or go with a small group of friends for dinner and drinks. The service is pretty good too. Never had an issue with the wait staff. Always friendly, and always checking up on you.
(5)Keiths M.
The food is really good. Great Italian fare. It's all good. The place is always packed. Prepare to wait at the bar, but not too long.
(4)Brie B.
I can't believe this place got so many great reviews. The food is ok, but certainly not worth the price you're paying. $17 dollars for not so great chicken marsala with a side of some of the worst spaghetti I've ever had? Yeah, no thanks. The pizza looked pretty good, so i might go back to try that. Otherwise, i'd skip this place. There are far too many other places to get Italian from.
(2)Jennifer M.
Yummmm! This place is good! It is really small though, but that gives it more of a family atmosphere. This is definitely one of my favs!
(5)Virginia M.
The wait staff is friendly and attentive. The pasta is delicious and my steak if cooked right every time. That's something I can't even say is true on high price steak houses I've gone to. I have been going to this restaurant for over 10 years and based on the consistency of service and delicious food I'll be going for another 10 years.
(5)Jennifer C.
I have to agree with John with Luigi's being a treasure. We try to go when we are in the area, but the place fills up so quickly, we don't get there as much as we'd would like. This last time we tried it was Sunday at 5pm so we knew it would be safe to get in and seated right away and we did. At first when we being taken to the back room, (because we had a party of 6,) we thought we were getting "jipped" of Luigis ambience, but it was just as cozy and homey as the front room. Our server was Karen and she was very accomodating. We were just in for appetizers, pizza and salad so everything she recommended was right on - Small sausage pizza for the two kids to share, 1 large Luigis special for the four adults - oh and the large yummy antipasto salad for was enough for all of us to share! The desserts were yummy too. The kids ordered 1 each - the tiramisu and the brownie sundae, but they were so large that the adults got to partake in them too. This is a great little place to eat for the price. Our bill was under $100 for 6 people and that included some beers and glasses of wine. I definitely recommend this as a cozy place to grab something eat whether it with your own family or you are out with adults for a night out. Luigi's is all about the food and the service and that counts these days!
(5)Nate M.
Originally I was introduce to Luigi's on a Fathers Day dinner. Arriving we were told to wait, 45 min is not bad for a restaurant heavy holiday. Our goal was to get the Prime Rib. Man, was I in for a surprise. Not only were the Oysters on a half shell, Escargot, and Prime Rib spot on, but I also ordered the Risotto as a side.... THIS WAS A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE!!! The risotto was warm and creamy, perfectly cooked, with some al dente feel. The best risotto I've ever had, period. I have since frequented Luigi's many times and have not been disappointed with any of my selections. The wait staff is friendly and timely with their service. Prices are reasonable, considering the quality of the product. Ultimately, GET THE RISOTTO!! I do every time. You wont be sorry.
(5)Barbara Z.
Not impressed with spaghetti, BUT Pizza and anti-pasta salad were amazing! Also make good mixed drinks. Small and dark inside, very cozy.
(4)Eric J.
Some friends & I decided to end our Fat Tuesday with something other than Paczki, so we went to their favorite local restaurant, Luigi's. It was my first time eating at Luigi's, and I was delighted with my experience. The bread was mouth-watering, and I'm sure has been the demise of more than one low-carb diet. I ordered the lasagna for my main course, and although I didn't enjoy the cheeseburger soup (not my thing), the lasagna was superb! it was a HUGE slice with seemingly endless layers of pasta & filling, and I will definitely be back to eat it again. In addition to the great food, the staff was extremely prompt & friendly, and the atmosphere was very casual.
(5)Linda N.
I consider myself a food snob, and with that said, we never go more than three weeks without going to LUigi's. The wait staff is perfect; the service is on spot. Love the food- and trust me, I've had just about everything on the menu. Yes, it's crowded and you can expect to wait, but it's friendly and fun and feels like home.
(5)Joe B.
Went there last night on a Saturday. The place was packed out the door! But we waited one hour. And man was it worth the wait! The best lamb chops ever! The risotto was by far the best risotto we had ever had. Now, on to the pizza. We ordered the whaler, which was 8 toppings of pure heaven! Also, we ordered the pollo formagatto (sorry about the spelling) which was amazing. It was breaded chicken cut up and covered with a parmasen cream sauce over pasta. The staff was incredible and the owner even came to our table and talked to us. Best Italian food in Michigan!
(5)Alex K.
I was really tempted to give two stars, but went up to three for a single reason... the cajun crawfish that I got a taste of. Excuse me if my ignorance gets the best of me in this review, as I'm not certain how restaurants work exactly, but here 'goes... Came in with a group of 7 right as they opened at 4pm... we were the second group inside (the one in front of us was just two people) and we were quickly seated. My first impression of the place was that I thought it looked interesting -- kind of like someone turned their basement into a restaurant, but that it was definitely cramped. My sister insists that my family ate here fairly often when I lived in St. Clair Shores, but that was when I was about 5, so I don't recall... anyway, yeah, I quickly learned Luigi's is a poor restaurant choice for a group of probably more than four. After getting our drinks, we were given complimentary bread, which was super hot, pillowy, and tasty... great start so far, but it the waitress seemed to take ages to give us refills (she would even take our glasses and walk away with them for a few minutes at a time before they were filled), and took awhile to take our orders. As she was finally taking our orders, we saw tables around us already getting their soup and salad. What gives? It was about an hour after getting in (so, 5pm) before we finally got our main courses. A man, presumably the owner, told us the pizzas a few at our table ordered would be out in "2-3 minutes", but it was more like 10-15 before we finally got them and our other plates of food. By this time, a few groups of people had already left the restaurant because they had already eaten and gotten their bill. Also by this time, there was already a crowd of people huddled around the tiny bar area -- yeah, it doesn't take long for Luigi's to reach maximum capacity at all. After eating, it then took at least half an hour to finally get our bill. The waitress seemed to constantly walk back and forth, but never gave us it. We finally decided to leave, and by then, it was 6:30. So the waiting and waitressing was pretty awful, but how was the food...? Decent. I opted to get the Pasta Casino and wasn't super impressed with it. For about $20, you get a huge portion of pasta with a LOT of baby clams, but I would swear the bacon in it is microwaved bacon, just judging by the thin, pink transparency of it. It all tasted pretty decent, but not like something someone would ever pay $20 for more than once. The pizza is apparently Luigi's signature item (according to people I've heard talk about it, anyway), and I liked it, but it wasn't jaw-droppingly good. The crust was pretty chewy (not a con) and the sauce had a great flavor, but it's not a pizza I'd strongly suggest people to eat -- it is a pretty nice value though, considering the obvious freshness of the ingredients. Like I said from the start, the bite I had of the cajun crawfish was incredible and I'll definitely get that the next time I'm at Luigi's. Gonna wrap this up... the moral of the story is -- and I've learned my lesson -- don't come to Luigi's with a party of more than four. The restaurant is simply too small, and the service is just too slow... at the same time, that doesn't excuse quite literally everybody in the small restaurant getting their food before us, though I, again, have no idea how restaurants and their tickets work. I wasn't really impressed with Luigi's, in large part because of the wait and waitressing. The food wasn't half as good as so many of these other reviewers suggest either, but it's a place I'd certainly re-try with one-to-three other people at most.
(3)Amy B.
This is a wonderful place! Great food , from their steaks to the pasta, fish !!! It is that perfect little Italian restaurant that will hopefully never change a thing:)
(5)Laurie P.
Probably one of my favorite restaurants! I've been here many times, and have never had a bad meal or service. Everything is delicious, and the portions are very generous. Love the intimate, cozy atmosphere, too - perfect place for a romantic dinner for two. But be aware that the place is tiny; you will wait for a table on the weekend, but it's worth the wait!
(5)Jillian G.
I've been coming to Luigi's for a few years now. I've always loved the food and the atmosphere. I had my birthday dinner here for the second year in a row recently. I noticed that the portions seem smaller and the prices higher. I don't mind that if it's worth it. Here's what I don't understand, I've spent tons of money in this place. Brought all my friends and family in for two years in a row, and I'm told that there is no complimentary dessert for my birthday. My friend who was with me, who also comes to Luigi's also found that a cheap move. Bad business as far as I'm concerned. You charge enough for entrees were once a year you can give your patrons who support your business, a dessert on their birthday.
(3)Eddie A.
This is based on the fact that the place doesn't take reservations and has very little seating for walk in customers who are forced to find a place at the bar where drunk old regulars hang out waiting to sit down. If the food is good I will never know because we couldn't wait 40-50 minutes in the heat outside on the edge of the lake with bugs and humidity to eat some pasta. This is a very small place, and you can tell it is full of regulars, who happen to be elderly boaters who cant get enough alcohol in them so they keep drinking and making all kinds of racket!! The atmosphere in there is conducive to that of a race track, very loud and very tight, with old drunks leading the way!!! Forget about it!
(1)Amy L.
Hands down the best Italian in town! Great atmosphere for a date. Not good place for kids! I don't understand why people feel the need to eat at a fine dining restaurant with their toddlers.
(5)Will B.
I love this place. What they do with the kitchen they have is amazing. Last time I was here I honestly didn't like my meal, but I ordered a steak in an Italian joint. I'm a big fan of "if you're not going to do something right, get it off of the menu," but everything else I have had here has been delicious. The steak was obviously pan fried, had that weird olive oil flavor, no seasoning whatsoever, and it was over-cooked. However, like I said, I've been here 5+ times and everything else has always been great. I've always liked the ambiance, crowd, and food. Chicken Piccata was delicious, and the waitress was honest with me... Told me they order the seafood ravioli that was on special rather than making it in house. A lot of places lie. Kudos for at least being honest, but really, I wish they would just make the stuff themselves. It's faster and cheaper at the end of the day. Best oysters on the East side. Super fresh and delicious.
(4)John Q.
Luigi's is a classic Italian restaurant and one of the top places in town. All of the food is tasty and of high quality. Some of my favorites are the veal, ravioli, lasagna, and Cajun steak tips. Luigi's also has excellent pizza, which can be phoned in and picked up if you don't feel like eating out. Try the Italian sausage and banana peppers, as well as one of the flavored crusts, such as Parmesan, sesame seed, or garlic. The restaurant gets very busy and crowded. The dining room is quite small and a bit dark. I recommend coming for an early dinner or being prepared to wait a while. There is another location in nearby Mt. Clemens with the same food, so you might try that one if things get too busy.
(5)Chinmay A.
The people were super nice. The food quality highly depends on what you order. I thought the Linguine Alfredo was alright, but the Parmesan Eggplant was almost inedible, even with the 7 layers of cheese. If you're lucky you might get a seat in the quiet back room, because the main bar area seating can be deafening when crowded. Not quite the quiet dinner place we were expecting. The free bread was the best part.
(3)Tony S.
4.25 Stars I've heard good reviews years ago about this place but whenever I'm in the area and want to go this place its packed and has a line. A couple of years ago I got carry out & went to Metro Beach w/ Pepper with it. I got a linguini and seafood dish which was good although It looked like they took a short cut by using garlic from a jar pre-minced, it might not have been and it's not necessarily a bad thing but not the greatest to me. Recently I dined in with Pepper and got the whole experience: Service: extremely helpful and nice without being overbearing. Beer: On tap, Amstel I think? It was fresh and good. Bread basket: interesting array of good bread & breadsticks. Antipasto salad: good Pizza: Gourmet Vegetarian. Probably the best I've ever had. I wasn't super in the mood for pizza but after reading the pizza reviews on Yelp! I wanted to try theirs, plus on the menu it said GQ magazine gave it a rave review. Their right, it's great. The only other veggie pizza that comes close to this was one I got from the now defunct Shields that was on 12 & Mound in Warren, that was a Athenian or Greek pizza, I ordered one from another location and it was no where near as good, not sure why. I'm going to have to try other menu items next time, maybe they deserve more stars!
(4)Joseph H.
Unfortunatly I had to take star away from my previous review. The food was good, as usual, but the proces increased by $5 overall and the manager was rude to us when we addressed it to him. It's not like we went out of our way to complain, he came around to each table and asked how the experience was and if we "got enough to eat". I told him how I felt and he said "We never changed the portions, EVER! and that the plates are smaller." Rude.
(3)Tristin I.
Great food, but it's getting really expensive. I love their fish and chips, sounds weird i know but the fish is lightly breaded and crispy.
(4)Jay S.
Great food and they don't skimp on extras for carry-out!
(4)Gwen J.
This place is cozy and authentic. Since its in boat town usa there are charming nautical touches. I liked my risotto a lot. I asked for a red house wine and found it to be high quality. There was a bread basket complete with a package of Granforno Italian Breadsticks.
(4)Lynn R.
My husband and I went here for my birthday a few days ago. The food was awesome. Warning my sister told me before going here if you want to get there before the crowd for be there by 4:30pm, so we did thank god. Hubby ordered this steak that was huge and Mine was spaghetti with ravioli's on top. We were not disappointed at all. Even thou my sis said the one on Hall rd near CJ Barrymore's is better. The food was hot and fast. Great friendly waitress. Yes, the place is tiny and has been there forever.
(5)kelsey n.
Luigi's has delicious food! It is pretty small, but it has a nice atmosphere. Be sure to try the pizza!!
(5)Debbie H.
We stopped into Luigi's and were determined not to order our usual entrees. We'd heard quite often about their pizza and wanted to try it but were having trouble coordinating our "I feel like pizza" nights. Recently, when I feel like a pizza, Deb is craving sushi ... and when she has wanted pizza lately, I'll have thai food on the brain. So, we finally got in the car ... looked across at one another, and simultaneously whispered ... "Pizza?" Yes! The stars aligned, all was right in the food universe and so off we went. We ordered the personal antipasto salad to start because we'd noticed that a family of three ordered the small and it was more than enough for them. It was amazing. I know, ... strong adjective for a salad, right? No joke, this was perfect ... fresh lettuce, plentiful ham, salami, cheese, tomatoes, olives ... and best of all, the right amount of dressing. We forgot to order it on the side and we were a little nervous when it arrived ... so many places either drown the salad or barely dust it. This was the salad Goldilocks would've chosen. The pizza? Let me just say that it's going to be a while before we order our "former" usual entrees. Outstanding ... ham, artichoke hearts, tomato slices and banana peppers were our topping choices and we couldn't have been more pleased. Top notch service included a friendly visit from the owner. We're thrilled that this place gets it right so often. You should seriously consider a visit.
(5)Jilla W.
Great little place. It's been around since the 50's (I think) so they are obviously doing something right. Never had a bad meal here, all of the food is really good. Fair prices too. Picked this place to have my bday dinner with the parentals, and i was amazed they had never been here - I grew up boating around the area so i couldn't believe they had never heard of it. Once they ate there one time, they couldn't believe it either - they were impressed. Recommended!!
(5)Charlotte B.
Fantastic experience! Good food, friendly staff, nice bar & wine list. I can't say one thing over another is better, everything is good! The tables are packed tightly--which is good, otherwise we'd be waiting forever. The lighting & decor is cozy. They are always busy!
(5)Pete D.
Eat, Drink and have fun. Everything is good. I wish I still lived in the area. The pasta,salads,pizza!! And the Lamp chop are something special. better then most. If the room as bigger I would give the five stars.
(4)John P.
We go here at least once a month if not more.....the food is great and the abiance is quaint. Love Italian and they make some of the best. You get a lot for your money. I love the Veal Siciliano....bread, salad, side of pasta. What more could you want. You will have to wait to get seated as its Always packed....that should be a clue. Great place for a romantic dinner or date!!
(5)Alyson H.
Just had my birthday dinner here. Waited 15 minutes for a table with my family of 3, which we expected. Bread, salad and cheese ravioli was amazing always. But, today we ordered a special dessert since it was my birthday and all! The creme brûlée was cold, I've always had it room temp or warm. The taste was so good that I want more right now, but the coldness just didn't do it for me.
(4)Theresa T.
I was very hesitant to bring my family here after reading yelp reviews. But that's the restaurant I had picked out because it was near where my family lives. We arrived at 5 p.m. They weren't busy yet! There were five of us. Three adults and 2 children. We were seated immediately. The waitress brought out a basket of fresh bread and it includes flat everything crackers and 2 different kinds of bread sticks. Very nice. The menu was quite large with lots of selections. I spyed another table getting oyster Rockefellers and it looked amazing. We started off with Lamb chop appetizers with feta,tomato and spinach. They were fantastic. So juicy and tender. It comes with 3 chops. Our dishes were Chicken Piccatta, White Fish, Butterfly Shrimp and Ravioli. Everyone loved their meal. I had the Chicken Piccatta with additional artichokes. Awesome.. We didn't get dessert, but a Spanish coffee and cappuccino. Both were excellent. Why not 5 stars? The prices. I personally thought they were out of line. 3 adults 2 children (1 didn't eat) and the bill was $115.00. The service was excellent and worth the 20%. I will likely go back because the food and services was great. However, I'll bring more cash.
(4)Michael C.
Absolutely the worst tomato sauce I've had. Fall apart meatballs; taste and texture were terrible. Dreading for the salad ; I have no idea what they did but a nice olive oil, oregano, a little wine vinegar would have been far superior what they used. I will say the pizza looked great though I didn't try it. People at the next table had one.....I wanted to join them. I use ATT Cellular and there was no signal in the front room. I'm not one for using a phone in a restaurant however in the case of an emergency it's nice to know someone can reach you . I'm giving two stars for the pizza that looked so good.
(2)Jocelyn D.
Love Luigi's! Dependable for a really good meal and fresh ingredients. Very good service even when diners are lined up out the door! Never had a bad meal here. Expect a wait on Friday Saturday Sunday evenings. This place is ALWAYS busy. Will dine here again!
(5)Joe S.
Been going there for 52 years, went with another couple 8/21/15. The lasagna was burnt and the chicken marsalla portion was so small the waitress apologized as she was serving it and said the cost would be adjusted- it was not, nor was i offered another entree. Hope this is not a sign of thing to come after all this time.
(2)Jo N.
This GEM is my favorite. It is intimate, great for a date night or with another couple. The kitchen ALWAYS has a good night. Did I say I really love the food here? This is the real deal Italian not the Olive Garden. I find it so difficult to pick just one entrée that's why we share two or three. The kitchen is so gracious, they split the entrées in the kitchen for us. Some must trys -chicken neopaliton, gnochi, arancini, lamb chops... ENJOY there is not a bad thing on the menu. If you dine on a week day there may not be a wait.
(5)The Parnell Firm P.
This place is the Best Italian in the area. If you want homemade, from scratch, real Italian this is the place to go. I come here for all occasions and have never been disappointed. It is a true proper Italian restaurant where the Chef or the Owner will even make a trip to your table. Check out their Ravioli and meat sauce, it is out of this world. Also a great selection of wines, I recommend the Di Vinci Chianti. Love the Service, Great Food, everyone must try this once.
(5)Jeremy A.
Holy smokes! Everything we had was amazing! Cajun crawfish linguine was incredible and salmon on the bed of baked spinach was ridiculous. Tiramisu was good, but not the best I've ever had. Waitress was nice and garlic bread was really good! It's a bit pricey, but worth it!
(5)John P.
We go here at least once a month if not more.....the food is great and the abiance is quaint. Love Italian and they make some of the best. You get a lot for your money. I love the Veal Siciliano....bread, salad, side of pasta. What more could you want. You will have to wait to get seated as its Always packed....that should be a clue. Great place for a romantic dinner or date!!
(5)Ju L.
Pros: Definitely worth the long wait. Recommend hitting the bar while waiting. Bread was amazingly fresh. Food was delicious. Service was attentive. Cons: No waiting area.
(5)R R.
Best Italian food I've had in Michigan.. just incredibly delicious. Absolutely try the Gnocchi entree (much better deal to get a full order for $4 more). The house bread is also out of this world (be sure to order if you get a carry-out)! Very quaint and intimate atmosphere inside the main dining room, as well. Solid and consistent 5 stars all-around.
(5)David M.
What can you say about luigi's besides classic italian fare in a classic setting. It is a smaller restaurant but they pack em in. Great place for a family dinner or a romantic evening bite. Get the Arancini balls, they are wonderful. The Chicken Neopolitan is very good as well.
(5)John K.
This place is a treasure. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you walk in, the ambiance is cozy. Dim lights, and there are also a bunch of string lights throughout the dining room. For an appetizer i'd recommend the Arancini Balls. They are described on their website as "arborio italian rice, flavored with italian sausage, stuffed with mozzarella, baked and topped with tomato basil sauce." You get two of them, and they are decent size. Amazing taste. Not very healthy though :). As for dinner I've ordered the pizza, which isn't bad, but isn't fantastic compared to pizza places in the Detroit metro area. Would I get it again? Yes. Would I tell someone to go just for the pizza? No. The Michigan Cherry Chicken is also delcious (thats what I usually get.) The fettucine alreado is good, as is the spaghetti. As for desserts I had a cannoli. Tasted very fresh. Nothing to complain about :). Anyways, this place is good to bring a date, or go with a small group of friends for dinner and drinks. The service is pretty good too. Never had an issue with the wait staff. Always friendly, and always checking up on you.
(5)Keiths M.
The food is really good. Great Italian fare. It's all good. The place is always packed. Prepare to wait at the bar, but not too long.
(4)Brie B.
I can't believe this place got so many great reviews. The food is ok, but certainly not worth the price you're paying. $17 dollars for not so great chicken marsala with a side of some of the worst spaghetti I've ever had? Yeah, no thanks. The pizza looked pretty good, so i might go back to try that. Otherwise, i'd skip this place. There are far too many other places to get Italian from.
(2)The Parnell Firm P.
This place is the Best Italian in the area. If you want homemade, from scratch, real Italian this is the place to go. I come here for all occasions and have never been disappointed. It is a true proper Italian restaurant where the Chef or the Owner will even make a trip to your table. Check out their Ravioli and meat sauce, it is out of this world. Also a great selection of wines, I recommend the Di Vinci Chianti. Love the Service, Great Food, everyone must try this once.
(5)Jeremy A.
Holy smokes! Everything we had was amazing! Cajun crawfish linguine was incredible and salmon on the bed of baked spinach was ridiculous. Tiramisu was good, but not the best I've ever had. Waitress was nice and garlic bread was really good! It's a bit pricey, but worth it!
(5)Robert W.
Favorite place in town. Cozy roadhouse feel. Been around forever and is always great. I was surprised at the excellent prime rib - I don't usually go for steak at a true Italian place, but it is the best around. Grab pizza for carry out all the time (can't bring myself to order pizza in as good as everything on the menu is).
(5)Jennifer M.
Yummmm! This place is good! It is really small though, but that gives it more of a family atmosphere. This is definitely one of my favs!
(5)Steve B.
What a great place, always a great experience. If the wait is long just chill at the bar, it's well worth it. Favorite pasta is Pasta alla Mama Luigi, angel hair pasta with bacon, scallions, soft egg, and parmesan. Otherwise I love the Luigi's style lambchops, they are perfect, or for more casual try any of their award winning pizzas. Service is always awesome, can be a little loud inside at times but still my favorite local restaurant.
(5)Linda S.
I like the way the carry out is done. There's a little window right in the vestibule and you dont have to go through the restaurant. I mostly pick up take out in pajamas, so that was awesome. That being said, my take out tasted like crap. I had the prime rib. Very, very generous portions. It was overlooked and bland. I ordered medium rate and there was no pink to it at all. It was just a big blob of meat. I also had a side salad. I loved the sunflower seeds on it! The dressing (ranch) was very water. The side with the meal was mashed potatoes and those were delish!!! Red skin mashed. Fantastic. I've heard a lot about Luigi's. Rave reviews. I was sorely disappointed. I'm going to try it again one day and order something different. I'll update then!
(2)Alissa J.
This is a small restaurant that serves the best homemade Italian food I've had in Michigan. I have had one of the best meals ever: Chicken Neopolitan- just get it- you won't be disappointed. I've also had the GrandMa Cut Prime Rib which was enormous and very delicious- you must be a heavy eater to get the GrandPa Cut! For an appetizer we usually get the Artichoke dish which is so good it inspired me to make my own (success BTW!). The decor is underwhelming: they have grapevine lights and very, very dim lighting- too dim if you ask me. Its a very tight space- not the most comfortable seating but the quality of food makes up for any seating disappointment. Casual dress. Go there, you wont be disappointed by their food! Oh, quick tip: if they ask if you want to sit in the back room- I would recommend passing especially if you are a social eater and like to people watch. It is way more spacious but very quiet, boring and bland back there. They do not take reservations and on friday and saturday nights they have a bit of a wait - think 45minutes. Prepare to spend ~$70 on a dinner for two (inclusive of a glass of wine and beer).
(5)Lorna D.
LOVE Luigi's. It's small, cozy, upbeat, and the food is plentiful and delicious! Care is taken with even smaller elements like breadsticks (fresh-baked-OOh yeah!) and salads (sunflower seeds and onions? YES please!), and the entrees definitely follow suit. The servers are the sweetest ever-especially appreciated in the midst of a busy pace. You'll wait on the weekends, but oh is it worth it! A fun place overflowing with charm and really excellent food! Everything I've tried has been amazing. What a blessing after a hectic week to find myself rosy-cheeked from the generously poured glass o' vino in front of me, a bellyful of eggplant parm excellence, and lively conversation going on over it all. Delightful.
(5)Heather G.
First time visiting Luigi's was last night and it was AWESOME! I arrived at 9:20pm and felt kinda bad because they were only open until 10pm but I was starving so I decided to go in. My fear, of over staying my welcome was subsided because there were still a ton of people there! Our waitress was super super nice and recommended some great dishes. We started with some type of rice balls, which I highly recommend. For dinner I had the chicken neapolitan--- AMAZING! The fresh baked bread was awesome. Make sure you finish with a homemade tiramisu- so good! PS the balsamic dressing is great! Can't wait to go back again.
(5)Kelly S.
Small parking lot out front but if you go to the back of the building there are plenty of parking spaces. I liked the cozy feel on a Friday night. This place was packed; the wait was around 30 minutes. Mom and I were seated in the back porch area where it was far more boring than all the activity, lights and ambiance in the main room. I didn't complain because mom's knees bother her so I wanted us to sit down as soon as we could...there is nowhere to sit while waiting. There is a very nice menu selection for appetizers, the main meal and alcoholic beverages. I ordered a glass of Red Diamond Merlo and mom had Lambrisco. I ordered an appetizer of Cajun Crawfish that came with small slices of garlic toast. It was very 'Cajun' tasting. It was nice to see this on the menu but I don't think I would order it again as it was too spicy and some of the crawfish tasted fishy...this is just a personal preference to not re-order. At $9.00 it was a pricey appetizer that I didn't care for. I took it home to add to some rice and beans later. Mom ordered the Lake Perch...served hot and delicious. The Eggplant Parmesan was served hot with a side of noodles (served warm) with tomatoes sauce on top. The mozzarella was generous and delicious as it was baked over the Parmesan. I opted for the clam chowder over the salad and wish I ordered the salad later. The chowder was very thick and pasty. The bread that is served before the meal is delicious. For Dessert we split home-made Tiramisu. The wine glasses were large and round allowing for a very generous portion of wine. The service was excellent!
(4)Michelle K.
Oh my gods, this place is amazing. If you only get one thing here, get the fried calamari. It was some of the best I have ever eaten. I got a half order of ravioli which were just alright and a bowl of creamy clam chowder. The chowder was really tasty and they use a lot of bacon in it which is awesome. We also tried their five cheese pizza and were pleasantly surprised at how good it was. It wasn't greasy, even with all the cheese and it had a Cajun-spiced crust. We got all this food to go but from what I saw of the dining area, it looked really cute.
(5)Cyndi J.
Everything about this place is wonderful. Space is sometimes an issue, but for me, it has never impeded service. Arancini balls are a great, hearty starter and you can never go wrong with their salad, ravioli/linguini combo, or the white fish. They do not take reservations so I would suggest to go early on Fridays and on the weekends. This is one of the only TWO places I would recommend to get a decent meal on the eastside. For what you pay, the food and service will exceed your expectations. Oh, pizza, don't forget to try the PIZZA!! Buon appetito!
(5)Kristie L.
The place is crowded and we were in the middle of the floor up against a supporting beam. But the service was good. I had the rice balls (yum!!!) and the michigan cherry chicken. I recommend this place highly!
(5)Tony S.
4.25 Stars I've heard good reviews years ago about this place but whenever I'm in the area and want to go this place its packed and has a line. A couple of years ago I got carry out & went to Metro Beach w/ Pepper with it. I got a linguini and seafood dish which was good although It looked like they took a short cut by using garlic from a jar pre-minced, it might not have been and it's not necessarily a bad thing but not the greatest to me. Recently I dined in with Pepper and got the whole experience: Service: extremely helpful and nice without being overbearing. Beer: On tap, Amstel I think? It was fresh and good. Bread basket: interesting array of good bread & breadsticks. Antipasto salad: good Pizza: Gourmet Vegetarian. Probably the best I've ever had. I wasn't super in the mood for pizza but after reading the pizza reviews on Yelp! I wanted to try theirs, plus on the menu it said GQ magazine gave it a rave review. Their right, it's great. The only other veggie pizza that comes close to this was one I got from the now defunct Shields that was on 12 & Mound in Warren, that was a Athenian or Greek pizza, I ordered one from another location and it was no where near as good, not sure why. I'm going to have to try other menu items next time, maybe they deserve more stars!
(4)Joseph H.
Unfortunatly I had to take star away from my previous review. The food was good, as usual, but the proces increased by $5 overall and the manager was rude to us when we addressed it to him. It's not like we went out of our way to complain, he came around to each table and asked how the experience was and if we "got enough to eat". I told him how I felt and he said "We never changed the portions, EVER! and that the plates are smaller." Rude.
(3)Tristin I.
Great food, but it's getting really expensive. I love their fish and chips, sounds weird i know but the fish is lightly breaded and crispy.
(4)Jay S.
Great food and they don't skimp on extras for carry-out!
(4)Gwen J.
This place is cozy and authentic. Since its in boat town usa there are charming nautical touches. I liked my risotto a lot. I asked for a red house wine and found it to be high quality. There was a bread basket complete with a package of Granforno Italian Breadsticks.
(4)Lynn R.
My husband and I went here for my birthday a few days ago. The food was awesome. Warning my sister told me before going here if you want to get there before the crowd for be there by 4:30pm, so we did thank god. Hubby ordered this steak that was huge and Mine was spaghetti with ravioli's on top. We were not disappointed at all. Even thou my sis said the one on Hall rd near CJ Barrymore's is better. The food was hot and fast. Great friendly waitress. Yes, the place is tiny and has been there forever.
(5)kelsey n.
Luigi's has delicious food! It is pretty small, but it has a nice atmosphere. Be sure to try the pizza!!
(5)Debbie H.
We stopped into Luigi's and were determined not to order our usual entrees. We'd heard quite often about their pizza and wanted to try it but were having trouble coordinating our "I feel like pizza" nights. Recently, when I feel like a pizza, Deb is craving sushi ... and when she has wanted pizza lately, I'll have thai food on the brain. So, we finally got in the car ... looked across at one another, and simultaneously whispered ... "Pizza?" Yes! The stars aligned, all was right in the food universe and so off we went. We ordered the personal antipasto salad to start because we'd noticed that a family of three ordered the small and it was more than enough for them. It was amazing. I know, ... strong adjective for a salad, right? No joke, this was perfect ... fresh lettuce, plentiful ham, salami, cheese, tomatoes, olives ... and best of all, the right amount of dressing. We forgot to order it on the side and we were a little nervous when it arrived ... so many places either drown the salad or barely dust it. This was the salad Goldilocks would've chosen. The pizza? Let me just say that it's going to be a while before we order our "former" usual entrees. Outstanding ... ham, artichoke hearts, tomato slices and banana peppers were our topping choices and we couldn't have been more pleased. Top notch service included a friendly visit from the owner. We're thrilled that this place gets it right so often. You should seriously consider a visit.
(5)Jilla W.
Great little place. It's been around since the 50's (I think) so they are obviously doing something right. Never had a bad meal here, all of the food is really good. Fair prices too. Picked this place to have my bday dinner with the parentals, and i was amazed they had never been here - I grew up boating around the area so i couldn't believe they had never heard of it. Once they ate there one time, they couldn't believe it either - they were impressed. Recommended!!
(5)Charlotte B.
Fantastic experience! Good food, friendly staff, nice bar & wine list. I can't say one thing over another is better, everything is good! The tables are packed tightly--which is good, otherwise we'd be waiting forever. The lighting & decor is cozy. They are always busy!
(5)Pete D.
Eat, Drink and have fun. Everything is good. I wish I still lived in the area. The pasta,salads,pizza!! And the Lamp chop are something special. better then most. If the room as bigger I would give the five stars.
(4)Tomas T.
This place is an experience. You drive by, and you wouldn't notice it. As you pull up to the restaurant, it feels as if you are walking into your grandmother's house. As you pull in, it looks like an old school restaurant with decorations everywhere and red and white checkered table cloths. The feel was very homey and quaint, this would get a five. We ordered a few different dishes and I can't remember exactly what it was, but I remembered really enjoying the appetizers and I also ordered the Prime rib they give you two options papa's cut and mama's cut. The Papa's cut is litterally like they cut out an entire section of a cow and it is sitting on your plate. The food is good and the staff was great. I would have loved to have given this restaurant a five, but the food just didn't strike me so that I remember it. I would however recommend this as a great date place, and even better as a surprise date place. Between this and La Dolce Vita, they are well hidden and worth the drive.
(4)Kathy W.
Crowded, noisy and overpriced .The food is pretty good, but not worth that atmosphere. The spaghetti sauce tastes like it came out of a can!
(1)Robert W.
Favorite place in town. Cozy roadhouse feel. Been around forever and is always great. I was surprised at the excellent prime rib - I don't usually go for steak at a true Italian place, but it is the best around. Grab pizza for carry out all the time (can't bring myself to order pizza in as good as everything on the menu is).
(5)Jennifer M.
Yummmm! This place is good! It is really small though, but that gives it more of a family atmosphere. This is definitely one of my favs!
(5)Virginia M.
The wait staff is friendly and attentive. The pasta is delicious and my steak if cooked right every time. That's something I can't even say is true on high price steak houses I've gone to. I have been going to this restaurant for over 10 years and based on the consistency of service and delicious food I'll be going for another 10 years.
(5)James M.
I had actually never been to this place before but then I saw they had a great write up in GQ magazine about their pizza, so I went to check it out. Needless to say, I've been going there ever since. This is my favorite place to go for pizza bar none. They have a full menu but the pizza is so good that it's a must to try. The place is super small, much smaller than their Mt. Clemens location and I would argue cooler and cozier too. A place that you'd like to sit at the bar for a couple of hours while eating pizza and drinking beer. In my book it's the best pizza I've ever had.
(5)Jennifer C.
I have to agree with John with Luigi's being a treasure. We try to go when we are in the area, but the place fills up so quickly, we don't get there as much as we'd would like. This last time we tried it was Sunday at 5pm so we knew it would be safe to get in and seated right away and we did. At first when we being taken to the back room, (because we had a party of 6,) we thought we were getting "jipped" of Luigis ambience, but it was just as cozy and homey as the front room. Our server was Karen and she was very accomodating. We were just in for appetizers, pizza and salad so everything she recommended was right on - Small sausage pizza for the two kids to share, 1 large Luigis special for the four adults - oh and the large yummy antipasto salad for was enough for all of us to share! The desserts were yummy too. The kids ordered 1 each - the tiramisu and the brownie sundae, but they were so large that the adults got to partake in them too. This is a great little place to eat for the price. Our bill was under $100 for 6 people and that included some beers and glasses of wine. I definitely recommend this as a cozy place to grab something eat whether it with your own family or you are out with adults for a night out. Luigi's is all about the food and the service and that counts these days!
(5)Nate M.
Originally I was introduce to Luigi's on a Fathers Day dinner. Arriving we were told to wait, 45 min is not bad for a restaurant heavy holiday. Our goal was to get the Prime Rib. Man, was I in for a surprise. Not only were the Oysters on a half shell, Escargot, and Prime Rib spot on, but I also ordered the Risotto as a side.... THIS WAS A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE!!! The risotto was warm and creamy, perfectly cooked, with some al dente feel. The best risotto I've ever had, period. I have since frequented Luigi's many times and have not been disappointed with any of my selections. The wait staff is friendly and timely with their service. Prices are reasonable, considering the quality of the product. Ultimately, GET THE RISOTTO!! I do every time. You wont be sorry.
(5)Barbara Z.
Not impressed with spaghetti, BUT Pizza and anti-pasta salad were amazing! Also make good mixed drinks. Small and dark inside, very cozy.
(4)Eric J.
Some friends & I decided to end our Fat Tuesday with something other than Paczki, so we went to their favorite local restaurant, Luigi's. It was my first time eating at Luigi's, and I was delighted with my experience. The bread was mouth-watering, and I'm sure has been the demise of more than one low-carb diet. I ordered the lasagna for my main course, and although I didn't enjoy the cheeseburger soup (not my thing), the lasagna was superb! it was a HUGE slice with seemingly endless layers of pasta & filling, and I will definitely be back to eat it again. In addition to the great food, the staff was extremely prompt & friendly, and the atmosphere was very casual.
(5)Linda N.
I consider myself a food snob, and with that said, we never go more than three weeks without going to LUigi's. The wait staff is perfect; the service is on spot. Love the food- and trust me, I've had just about everything on the menu. Yes, it's crowded and you can expect to wait, but it's friendly and fun and feels like home.
(5)Dean C.
I do like the one of the Lamp Chop appetizers, however it has made my friend sick to their stomach twice now? We eat the same ingredients elsewhere without issue. The Arancini tastes good, I like it.... but, it falls short of what is available a real Italian restaurants. If you do decide to go, make sure you take a cab because you aren't likely to find parking, if you do take your own vehicle consider wearing your gardening shoes as you will are bound to trash you nice shoes in their country bunker style parking lot. Once you get inside expect it to be PACKED because it is probably offers each guest about 4 square feet of space and if you like the decor of grandma's basement you will be impressed at how this "joint" takes you back. Don't expect an apology for any of this either, just a smug chuckle that insinuates you should be happy to wait two hours for a substandard experience. I notice another Yelp-er stating this is the best Italian food in Michigan! They must enjoy Italian section of the food court at the casino too. OR maybe they tripped fell and bumped their hear in the obstacle course Luigi's promotes as a dinning room. Skip the pizza all together, the carry out pizzeria two doors down is not only way better, but it's outstanding on it's own. If your from Harrison and don't want to drive far I can see why you would "deal" with this place as I do. So once your in your seat, take a deep breath and ask for Angie as she is a doll and will take great care of you. Come to think of it several of the bartenders & waitstaff have helped me get through my experience here.
(2)Brad R.
People kept telling me that I had to go to Luigi's...best pizza in town....yada, yada, yada. Hate to admit it - they were right. Luigi's has VERY delicious pizza with a cozy atmosphere. They have the type of pepperoni that curls up into a little grease-catching meat cup (you know...the best kind of pepperoni there is). Fast and friendly service. Just don't go on a busy night - they REALLY pack you in there and can make it a bit uncomfortable if you don't dig tight spaces. We did try some of the other dishes and were pleased with them...though not overwhelmed. Can't wait to return...but on a slower evening.
(4)Barry S.
Great pizza and good atmosphere.
(5)Joe B.
Went there last night on a Saturday. The place was packed out the door! But we waited one hour. And man was it worth the wait! The best lamb chops ever! The risotto was by far the best risotto we had ever had. Now, on to the pizza. We ordered the whaler, which was 8 toppings of pure heaven! Also, we ordered the pollo formagatto (sorry about the spelling) which was amazing. It was breaded chicken cut up and covered with a parmasen cream sauce over pasta. The staff was incredible and the owner even came to our table and talked to us. Best Italian food in Michigan!
(5)The Parnell Firm P.
This place is the Best Italian in the area. If you want homemade, from scratch, real Italian this is the place to go. I come here for all occasions and have never been disappointed. It is a true proper Italian restaurant where the Chef or the Owner will even make a trip to your table. Check out their Ravioli and meat sauce, it is out of this world. Also a great selection of wines, I recommend the Di Vinci Chianti. Love the Service, Great Food, everyone must try this once.
(5)Jeremy A.
Holy smokes! Everything we had was amazing! Cajun crawfish linguine was incredible and salmon on the bed of baked spinach was ridiculous. Tiramisu was good, but not the best I've ever had. Waitress was nice and garlic bread was really good! It's a bit pricey, but worth it!
(5)Jocelyn D.
Love Luigi's! Dependable for a really good meal and fresh ingredients. Very good service even when diners are lined up out the door! Never had a bad meal here. Expect a wait on Friday Saturday Sunday evenings. This place is ALWAYS busy. Will dine here again!
(5)William S.
My wife and I decided to try Luigi's thanks to a reference from a good friend. We were told the Veal was the best in town. Well, that's just not quite correct. We started by being seated at the bar while we waited for our table. The place was SLAMMED on a Sunday evening. Pretty impressive. We had a nice bartender who was hustling and doing a great job. We finally got our table and ordered our food. Our service was wonderful by the way. No complaints at all there. I did try the Veal Parm. It was ok, even good I guess. I got a huge helping along with some pasta. The sause is average at best. It's sort of bitter IMO. There is much better to be had in the Detroit area. My wife had Chicken picata which she liked but was not thoroughly impressed. All in all, this place is a nice little haunt on Jefferson and worthy of a try. I would never say the food was bad. But what I would say is that it is merely average or maybe just a hair better than average. I think there is much better Italian food to be had in the metro area.
(3)Theresa T.
I was very hesitant to bring my family here after reading yelp reviews. But that's the restaurant I had picked out because it was near where my family lives. We arrived at 5 p.m. They weren't busy yet! There were five of us. Three adults and 2 children. We were seated immediately. The waitress brought out a basket of fresh bread and it includes flat everything crackers and 2 different kinds of bread sticks. Very nice. The menu was quite large with lots of selections. I spyed another table getting oyster Rockefellers and it looked amazing. We started off with Lamb chop appetizers with feta,tomato and spinach. They were fantastic. So juicy and tender. It comes with 3 chops. Our dishes were Chicken Piccatta, White Fish, Butterfly Shrimp and Ravioli. Everyone loved their meal. I had the Chicken Piccatta with additional artichokes. Awesome.. We didn't get dessert, but a Spanish coffee and cappuccino. Both were excellent. Why not 5 stars? The prices. I personally thought they were out of line. 3 adults 2 children (1 didn't eat) and the bill was $115.00. The service was excellent and worth the 20%. I will likely go back because the food and services was great. However, I'll bring more cash.
(4)Michael C.
Absolutely the worst tomato sauce I've had. Fall apart meatballs; taste and texture were terrible. Dreading for the salad ; I have no idea what they did but a nice olive oil, oregano, a little wine vinegar would have been far superior what they used. I will say the pizza looked great though I didn't try it. People at the next table had one.....I wanted to join them. I use ATT Cellular and there was no signal in the front room. I'm not one for using a phone in a restaurant however in the case of an emergency it's nice to know someone can reach you . I'm giving two stars for the pizza that looked so good.
(2)Alyson H.
Just had my birthday dinner here. Waited 15 minutes for a table with my family of 3, which we expected. Bread, salad and cheese ravioli was amazing always. But, today we ordered a special dessert since it was my birthday and all! The creme brûlée was cold, I've always had it room temp or warm. The taste was so good that I want more right now, but the coldness just didn't do it for me.
(4)Jo N.
This GEM is my favorite. It is intimate, great for a date night or with another couple. The kitchen ALWAYS has a good night. Did I say I really love the food here? This is the real deal Italian not the Olive Garden. I find it so difficult to pick just one entrée that's why we share two or three. The kitchen is so gracious, they split the entrées in the kitchen for us. Some must trys -chicken neopaliton, gnochi, arancini, lamb chops... ENJOY there is not a bad thing on the menu. If you dine on a week day there may not be a wait.
(5)Joe S.
Been going there for 52 years, went with another couple 8/21/15. The lasagna was burnt and the chicken marsalla portion was so small the waitress apologized as she was serving it and said the cost would be adjusted- it was not, nor was i offered another entree. Hope this is not a sign of thing to come after all this time.
(2)Jillian G.
I've been coming to Luigi's for a few years now. I've always loved the food and the atmosphere. I had my birthday dinner here for the second year in a row recently. I noticed that the portions seem smaller and the prices higher. I don't mind that if it's worth it. Here's what I don't understand, I've spent tons of money in this place. Brought all my friends and family in for two years in a row, and I'm told that there is no complimentary dessert for my birthday. My friend who was with me, who also comes to Luigi's also found that a cheap move. Bad business as far as I'm concerned. You charge enough for entrees were once a year you can give your patrons who support your business, a dessert on their birthday.
(3)Eddie A.
This is based on the fact that the place doesn't take reservations and has very little seating for walk in customers who are forced to find a place at the bar where drunk old regulars hang out waiting to sit down. If the food is good I will never know because we couldn't wait 40-50 minutes in the heat outside on the edge of the lake with bugs and humidity to eat some pasta. This is a very small place, and you can tell it is full of regulars, who happen to be elderly boaters who cant get enough alcohol in them so they keep drinking and making all kinds of racket!! The atmosphere in there is conducive to that of a race track, very loud and very tight, with old drunks leading the way!!! Forget about it!
(1)Amy B.
This is a wonderful place! Great food , from their steaks to the pasta, fish !!! It is that perfect little Italian restaurant that will hopefully never change a thing:)
(5)Alex K.
I was really tempted to give two stars, but went up to three for a single reason... the cajun crawfish that I got a taste of. Excuse me if my ignorance gets the best of me in this review, as I'm not certain how restaurants work exactly, but here 'goes... Came in with a group of 7 right as they opened at 4pm... we were the second group inside (the one in front of us was just two people) and we were quickly seated. My first impression of the place was that I thought it looked interesting -- kind of like someone turned their basement into a restaurant, but that it was definitely cramped. My sister insists that my family ate here fairly often when I lived in St. Clair Shores, but that was when I was about 5, so I don't recall... anyway, yeah, I quickly learned Luigi's is a poor restaurant choice for a group of probably more than four. After getting our drinks, we were given complimentary bread, which was super hot, pillowy, and tasty... great start so far, but it the waitress seemed to take ages to give us refills (she would even take our glasses and walk away with them for a few minutes at a time before they were filled), and took awhile to take our orders. As she was finally taking our orders, we saw tables around us already getting their soup and salad. What gives? It was about an hour after getting in (so, 5pm) before we finally got our main courses. A man, presumably the owner, told us the pizzas a few at our table ordered would be out in "2-3 minutes", but it was more like 10-15 before we finally got them and our other plates of food. By this time, a few groups of people had already left the restaurant because they had already eaten and gotten their bill. Also by this time, there was already a crowd of people huddled around the tiny bar area -- yeah, it doesn't take long for Luigi's to reach maximum capacity at all. After eating, it then took at least half an hour to finally get our bill. The waitress seemed to constantly walk back and forth, but never gave us it. We finally decided to leave, and by then, it was 6:30. So the waiting and waitressing was pretty awful, but how was the food...? Decent. I opted to get the Pasta Casino and wasn't super impressed with it. For about $20, you get a huge portion of pasta with a LOT of baby clams, but I would swear the bacon in it is microwaved bacon, just judging by the thin, pink transparency of it. It all tasted pretty decent, but not like something someone would ever pay $20 for more than once. The pizza is apparently Luigi's signature item (according to people I've heard talk about it, anyway), and I liked it, but it wasn't jaw-droppingly good. The crust was pretty chewy (not a con) and the sauce had a great flavor, but it's not a pizza I'd strongly suggest people to eat -- it is a pretty nice value though, considering the obvious freshness of the ingredients. Like I said from the start, the bite I had of the cajun crawfish was incredible and I'll definitely get that the next time I'm at Luigi's. Gonna wrap this up... the moral of the story is -- and I've learned my lesson -- don't come to Luigi's with a party of more than four. The restaurant is simply too small, and the service is just too slow... at the same time, that doesn't excuse quite literally everybody in the small restaurant getting their food before us, though I, again, have no idea how restaurants and their tickets work. I wasn't really impressed with Luigi's, in large part because of the wait and waitressing. The food wasn't half as good as so many of these other reviewers suggest either, but it's a place I'd certainly re-try with one-to-three other people at most.
(3)Laurie P.
Probably one of my favorite restaurants! I've been here many times, and have never had a bad meal or service. Everything is delicious, and the portions are very generous. Love the intimate, cozy atmosphere, too - perfect place for a romantic dinner for two. But be aware that the place is tiny; you will wait for a table on the weekend, but it's worth the wait!
(5)Chinmay A.
The people were super nice. The food quality highly depends on what you order. I thought the Linguine Alfredo was alright, but the Parmesan Eggplant was almost inedible, even with the 7 layers of cheese. If you're lucky you might get a seat in the quiet back room, because the main bar area seating can be deafening when crowded. Not quite the quiet dinner place we were expecting. The free bread was the best part.
(3)Bob P.
I went there yesterday and was told how wonderful the food is. I ordered a pasta seafood dish that was almost all soggy pasta. My wife had chicken parmessian which was at best mediocre but my mother ordered veal and it was pretty good. The waitress was about as good as I have ever had which is the only reason I give it two stars. I understand there steaks and prime rib are excellent but when I go to an Italian restaurant, I was hoping for a good Italian dish. The Olive Garden nserves a much better dish then here. Maybe I will try their pizza but don't waste your money on the Italian dishes.
(2)Neil Y.
While I fell in love with my wife in Orlando, I proposed to her in the corner booth right here at Luigi's. Luigi's was my regular Wednesday dinner choice. I am however a creature of habit and always ordered pizza, salad and yes, Luigi's homemade bread. Their bread is perhaps the best around and I can honestly admit that I carbo-loaded on more than one occasion barely making through the salad and having to take the pizza home. Regardless, I win either way. One thing I noted was that Luigi's was serving an inordinate amount of steaks. Perhaps 1/3 of all diners were enjoying these massive cuts of prime beef. Eventually, I gave in to my curiosity on the steak. I'll discuss later. The pizza for me was always a large Luigi Special which comes with ham, real pepperoni, onion, green pepper and mushroom. Add anchovies of course. The crust is crusty and chewy yielding that wonderful sesame flavor from the seeds. At around $17.00, it isn't exactly a Hot & Ready but certainly well worth the quality of ingredients that Luigi's uses. The difference is clearly noticeable and worth it. Then one day, after hitting the 4-digit lottery and claiming my prize, I decided it was a day for me. I ordered the prime rib king's cut and I can only say not only was it worth the $25.00 or so, but they gave me what looked to be a double portion. It was huge. Beyond huge it was so damn tender and flavorful. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I took enough home and made an incredible pot of beef barley from the leftovers. A few days transpire and I decided the celebration must continue. I went back and ordered the filet Rockefeller style. The addition of the bacon, spinach and cheese was fantastic and didn't at all take away from the full flavor of my filet cooked rare. Now I got it. I can vouch for the meat ravioli and the chicken Siciliano. That ammoglio sauce is incredible. I also believe that the broiled whitefish dinner is arguably one of the best in the state. If you opt to order the whitefish Siciliano, ask them to broil it without the breadcrumbs and just add the ammoglio sauce on top of it. The breadcrumbs somehow take away from the quality of the fish. Sadly, I have never made it to dessert but most of it is homemade and the tirimisu is quite popular. Folks, it ain't cheap but it's worth it. For the price, you will get yourself a quality meal and truly this is the best restaurant in the area. Pass Terry's and come right here for the same money. This location is small and wildly popular so dining in may cause you to wait at peak dining times. If I am choosing to eat at either this location or their in downtown Mt. Clemens, I choose this one every time. Don't know what it is, just have a better meal and a better experience. BTW-the young lady that I proposed to here said, "yes" and we're still married eight years later with two beautiful kids.
(5)Kristin Z.
Why did it take me this long to find out this place existed?!? Holy Cannolli Luigis is surely the treasure of Harrison Township, if not of the entire Metro Detroit area. Almost every dish I've tried has been delicious and beautifully plated. The atmosphere is quaint and friendly. It's such a great place for a night out on a date or a special occasion with it's lovely decor, music playing, and laughter heard all around. My favorite part is how they are equipped with a full carry out menu. I've let Luigis make us dinner for the last 2 days straight! Easy ordering, presentation is not spared for carryout! I love this place.
(5)Mike M.
What a disappointment. We had been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. We visited on a Sunday night. The meal started off promising, great bread basket, great soup, delicious salad. Then my meal came, I had the eggplant parmesan and my husband had a chicken dish. My eggplant parmesan was not made as ordered. No big deal, our server promptly removed it and offered a new one to be made. My husband finished eating before my dish came back. My eggplant returned to the table burned. Not just a little burned, blackened throughout and my husband could smell the burned smell across the table. Our server didn't return to make sure the dish came out ok, so a bus girl finally came by to ask if she could box it. I asked to see our server. Our server came, no apology, no offer to make something else, just asked if we wanted dessert. Um, I'm pretty sure I'm still waiting on my entree. I guess that ship sailed, and I didn't have a meal that night. We heard our server confer with the manager about my dish, but no resolution was offered. I guess we didn't matter. I wanted to like it, I really did, but with service like that I will give my business to restaurants that know how to properly handle a meal that was not prepared as ordered.
(1)Amy L.
Hands down the best Italian in town! Great atmosphere for a date. Not good place for kids! I don't understand why people feel the need to eat at a fine dining restaurant with their toddlers.
(5)Jen D.
Best pizza in town! Wish they took reservations though.
(5)Will B.
I love this place. What they do with the kitchen they have is amazing. Last time I was here I honestly didn't like my meal, but I ordered a steak in an Italian joint. I'm a big fan of "if you're not going to do something right, get it off of the menu," but everything else I have had here has been delicious. The steak was obviously pan fried, had that weird olive oil flavor, no seasoning whatsoever, and it was over-cooked. However, like I said, I've been here 5+ times and everything else has always been great. I've always liked the ambiance, crowd, and food. Chicken Piccata was delicious, and the waitress was honest with me... Told me they order the seafood ravioli that was on special rather than making it in house. A lot of places lie. Kudos for at least being honest, but really, I wish they would just make the stuff themselves. It's faster and cheaper at the end of the day. Best oysters on the East side. Super fresh and delicious.
(4)John Q.
Luigi's is a classic Italian restaurant and one of the top places in town. All of the food is tasty and of high quality. Some of my favorites are the veal, ravioli, lasagna, and Cajun steak tips. Luigi's also has excellent pizza, which can be phoned in and picked up if you don't feel like eating out. Try the Italian sausage and banana peppers, as well as one of the flavored crusts, such as Parmesan, sesame seed, or garlic. The restaurant gets very busy and crowded. The dining room is quite small and a bit dark. I recommend coming for an early dinner or being prepared to wait a while. There is another location in nearby Mt. Clemens with the same food, so you might try that one if things get too busy.
(5)Carole H.
The rave reviews gave me high hopes for Luigi's, but I just wasn't very impressed. This place is small, and popular - which equals a wait. A long wait, especially on weekends. I can't fault them for this because hey, when you're hot you're hot. But there is no real area to wait in, you have to all cram in the little entry way where the take-out counter is located. So that's no fun. The service was fine, but the food just fell flat. I was here with a party of 6, we all ordered various pasta dishes, and most all of us felt a let down, especially given the fanfare we've heard about the place. I had angel hair with a cream sauce and chicken, the chicken was very good but the pasta underneath was basically cold, and they were a little stingy on the sauce. Most of my dining companions agreed that their pasta was not hot, their dishes not memorable, and while it was an enjoyable enough meal, upon leaving we all agreed that we were in no rush to return. Maybe we should have had the pizza instead? Also, the parking lot is small and dirt, so on the day we came when it was rainy, my shoes were covered in mud and so was the car after getting splashed by cars pulling out of the lot. Overall just....eh.
(2)Bob N.
OH MAN, finally went back to have Luigi's lamb chops after having a bite my cousins last month. I don't know what they do to these chops but holy heck tender doesn't do them justice. 6 or 7 chops nicely sized and cooked medium rare with garlic, spinach and feta. Served with soup salad and a side of your choice. I'm drooling just thinking of them. Service as usual was awesome. This place is what all restaurants service and food wise should aspire to.
(5)Paul B.
Absolutely not the same. I used to live near here and frequented this place. Im upset to say I have recommended this place to freinds and family. I couldnt tell you how the food was because I never made it that far. We walked in tonight on our first wedding anniversary. We then waited in a loud obnoxious bar for 5 mins to have at least 4 waitresses not acknowledge us other than to ask us to excuse them as they walked by. I then asked to talk to the manager and was told that the man I was speaking to who had previously ignored us was infact the manager. He then said "Hopefully we can make your night better." I declined there are plenty of dive bars where I will get better service with no wait!
(1)Wendy H.
I wish I could comment on the food but as they never sat our six top I can't say! ( Tuesday night- 7 pm- we were told it'd be 25-30 mins but after 55 mins they still had nothing for us. It wouldn't be so bad except that the host apparently was more concerned with not giving us two tables pushed together because it would "involve two different server sections" and then said the floor was too slanted (!) for those two tables to be moved together) We spent over $70 on wine and drinks while waiting and were prepared to spend the $300+ more for dinner but now not a single one of will be back! Customers always come first but not at Luigi's! Poor management, terrible service!
(1)B G.
Good food in an intimate restaurant I have been coming back for years and will continue.
(4)Adam B.
If you're looking for an intimate restaurant for a get-together, or just dinner with the family, please give Luigi's a try! It's pretty busy on weekend, but well worth the wait. Supposedly Luigi's has a pizza rated in the top 50 in the United States, but there are so many great items to choose from! Initially you're greeted by the smell of heaven (also known as fresh bread and incredible Italian food). While I've tried the prime rib (amazing) and chicken Parmesan (perfect), my absolute favorite thing about this place would be the fresh bread sticks! I'm not joking when I say I would literally just order a take-out to get bread sticks (and I have.. And at only $2 a basket, they're a steal). They're wonderfully warm, perfectly dense, incredible in texture, and the butter just runs right off of them. If you're like me, you'll want to order the clam chowder and use the bread as your utensil... But you won't have much room for the entrée! Warning: you WILL fight your significant other and/or children for the last one. As for the cons, my only problem with this place is the incredibly small parking lot. You'll probably have to circle the place like a crow a few times if you're going on a weekend, or park in an adjacent lot. However, even if you had to walk a few miles in a blizzard, you'd probably say, "that was well worth it."
(5)David B.
Ribs are fantastic! Prime rib is fantastic,! The lamb chips are fantastic! If your lady wants ribs, the appetizer lamb chips ate perfect! The take out pizzas are great. We come back here time after time with the same great service.
(5)John K.
This place is a treasure. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you walk in, the ambiance is cozy. Dim lights, and there are also a bunch of string lights throughout the dining room. For an appetizer i'd recommend the Arancini Balls. They are described on their website as "arborio italian rice, flavored with italian sausage, stuffed with mozzarella, baked and topped with tomato basil sauce." You get two of them, and they are decent size. Amazing taste. Not very healthy though :). As for dinner I've ordered the pizza, which isn't bad, but isn't fantastic compared to pizza places in the Detroit metro area. Would I get it again? Yes. Would I tell someone to go just for the pizza? No. The Michigan Cherry Chicken is also delcious (thats what I usually get.) The fettucine alreado is good, as is the spaghetti. As for desserts I had a cannoli. Tasted very fresh. Nothing to complain about :). Anyways, this place is good to bring a date, or go with a small group of friends for dinner and drinks. The service is pretty good too. Never had an issue with the wait staff. Always friendly, and always checking up on you.
(5)Keiths M.
The food is really good. Great Italian fare. It's all good. The place is always packed. Prepare to wait at the bar, but not too long.
(4)Brie B.
I can't believe this place got so many great reviews. The food is ok, but certainly not worth the price you're paying. $17 dollars for not so great chicken marsala with a side of some of the worst spaghetti I've ever had? Yeah, no thanks. The pizza looked pretty good, so i might go back to try that. Otherwise, i'd skip this place. There are far too many other places to get Italian from.
(2)Tomas T.
This place is an experience. You drive by, and you wouldn't notice it. As you pull up to the restaurant, it feels as if you are walking into your grandmother's house. As you pull in, it looks like an old school restaurant with decorations everywhere and red and white checkered table cloths. The feel was very homey and quaint, this would get a five. We ordered a few different dishes and I can't remember exactly what it was, but I remembered really enjoying the appetizers and I also ordered the Prime rib they give you two options papa's cut and mama's cut. The Papa's cut is litterally like they cut out an entire section of a cow and it is sitting on your plate. The food is good and the staff was great. I would have loved to have given this restaurant a five, but the food just didn't strike me so that I remember it. I would however recommend this as a great date place, and even better as a surprise date place. Between this and La Dolce Vita, they are well hidden and worth the drive.
(4)Kathy W.
Crowded, noisy and overpriced .The food is pretty good, but not worth that atmosphere. The spaghetti sauce tastes like it came out of a can!
(1)Virginia M.
The wait staff is friendly and attentive. The pasta is delicious and my steak if cooked right every time. That's something I can't even say is true on high price steak houses I've gone to. I have been going to this restaurant for over 10 years and based on the consistency of service and delicious food I'll be going for another 10 years.
(5)Jennifer C.
I have to agree with John with Luigi's being a treasure. We try to go when we are in the area, but the place fills up so quickly, we don't get there as much as we'd would like. This last time we tried it was Sunday at 5pm so we knew it would be safe to get in and seated right away and we did. At first when we being taken to the back room, (because we had a party of 6,) we thought we were getting "jipped" of Luigis ambience, but it was just as cozy and homey as the front room. Our server was Karen and she was very accomodating. We were just in for appetizers, pizza and salad so everything she recommended was right on - Small sausage pizza for the two kids to share, 1 large Luigis special for the four adults - oh and the large yummy antipasto salad for was enough for all of us to share! The desserts were yummy too. The kids ordered 1 each - the tiramisu and the brownie sundae, but they were so large that the adults got to partake in them too. This is a great little place to eat for the price. Our bill was under $100 for 6 people and that included some beers and glasses of wine. I definitely recommend this as a cozy place to grab something eat whether it with your own family or you are out with adults for a night out. Luigi's is all about the food and the service and that counts these days!
(5)Nate M.
Originally I was introduce to Luigi's on a Fathers Day dinner. Arriving we were told to wait, 45 min is not bad for a restaurant heavy holiday. Our goal was to get the Prime Rib. Man, was I in for a surprise. Not only were the Oysters on a half shell, Escargot, and Prime Rib spot on, but I also ordered the Risotto as a side.... THIS WAS A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE!!! The risotto was warm and creamy, perfectly cooked, with some al dente feel. The best risotto I've ever had, period. I have since frequented Luigi's many times and have not been disappointed with any of my selections. The wait staff is friendly and timely with their service. Prices are reasonable, considering the quality of the product. Ultimately, GET THE RISOTTO!! I do every time. You wont be sorry.
(5)Barbara Z.
Not impressed with spaghetti, BUT Pizza and anti-pasta salad were amazing! Also make good mixed drinks. Small and dark inside, very cozy.
(4)Eric J.
Some friends & I decided to end our Fat Tuesday with something other than Paczki, so we went to their favorite local restaurant, Luigi's. It was my first time eating at Luigi's, and I was delighted with my experience. The bread was mouth-watering, and I'm sure has been the demise of more than one low-carb diet. I ordered the lasagna for my main course, and although I didn't enjoy the cheeseburger soup (not my thing), the lasagna was superb! it was a HUGE slice with seemingly endless layers of pasta & filling, and I will definitely be back to eat it again. In addition to the great food, the staff was extremely prompt & friendly, and the atmosphere was very casual.
(5)Linda N.
I consider myself a food snob, and with that said, we never go more than three weeks without going to LUigi's. The wait staff is perfect; the service is on spot. Love the food- and trust me, I've had just about everything on the menu. Yes, it's crowded and you can expect to wait, but it's friendly and fun and feels like home.
(5)James M.
I had actually never been to this place before but then I saw they had a great write up in GQ magazine about their pizza, so I went to check it out. Needless to say, I've been going there ever since. This is my favorite place to go for pizza bar none. They have a full menu but the pizza is so good that it's a must to try. The place is super small, much smaller than their Mt. Clemens location and I would argue cooler and cozier too. A place that you'd like to sit at the bar for a couple of hours while eating pizza and drinking beer. In my book it's the best pizza I've ever had.
(5)Dean C.
I do like the one of the Lamp Chop appetizers, however it has made my friend sick to their stomach twice now? We eat the same ingredients elsewhere without issue. The Arancini tastes good, I like it.... but, it falls short of what is available a real Italian restaurants. If you do decide to go, make sure you take a cab because you aren't likely to find parking, if you do take your own vehicle consider wearing your gardening shoes as you will are bound to trash you nice shoes in their country bunker style parking lot. Once you get inside expect it to be PACKED because it is probably offers each guest about 4 square feet of space and if you like the decor of grandma's basement you will be impressed at how this "joint" takes you back. Don't expect an apology for any of this either, just a smug chuckle that insinuates you should be happy to wait two hours for a substandard experience. I notice another Yelp-er stating this is the best Italian food in Michigan! They must enjoy Italian section of the food court at the casino too. OR maybe they tripped fell and bumped their hear in the obstacle course Luigi's promotes as a dinning room. Skip the pizza all together, the carry out pizzeria two doors down is not only way better, but it's outstanding on it's own. If your from Harrison and don't want to drive far I can see why you would "deal" with this place as I do. So once your in your seat, take a deep breath and ask for Angie as she is a doll and will take great care of you. Come to think of it several of the bartenders & waitstaff have helped me get through my experience here.
(2)Brad R.
People kept telling me that I had to go to Luigi's...best pizza in town....yada, yada, yada. Hate to admit it - they were right. Luigi's has VERY delicious pizza with a cozy atmosphere. They have the type of pepperoni that curls up into a little grease-catching meat cup (you know...the best kind of pepperoni there is). Fast and friendly service. Just don't go on a busy night - they REALLY pack you in there and can make it a bit uncomfortable if you don't dig tight spaces. We did try some of the other dishes and were pleased with them...though not overwhelmed. Can't wait to return...but on a slower evening.
(4)Barry S.
Great pizza and good atmosphere.
(5)Joe B.
Went there last night on a Saturday. The place was packed out the door! But we waited one hour. And man was it worth the wait! The best lamb chops ever! The risotto was by far the best risotto we had ever had. Now, on to the pizza. We ordered the whaler, which was 8 toppings of pure heaven! Also, we ordered the pollo formagatto (sorry about the spelling) which was amazing. It was breaded chicken cut up and covered with a parmasen cream sauce over pasta. The staff was incredible and the owner even came to our table and talked to us. Best Italian food in Michigan!
(5)Jocelyn D.
Love Luigi's! Dependable for a really good meal and fresh ingredients. Very good service even when diners are lined up out the door! Never had a bad meal here. Expect a wait on Friday Saturday Sunday evenings. This place is ALWAYS busy. Will dine here again!
(5)William S.
My wife and I decided to try Luigi's thanks to a reference from a good friend. We were told the Veal was the best in town. Well, that's just not quite correct. We started by being seated at the bar while we waited for our table. The place was SLAMMED on a Sunday evening. Pretty impressive. We had a nice bartender who was hustling and doing a great job. We finally got our table and ordered our food. Our service was wonderful by the way. No complaints at all there. I did try the Veal Parm. It was ok, even good I guess. I got a huge helping along with some pasta. The sause is average at best. It's sort of bitter IMO. There is much better to be had in the Detroit area. My wife had Chicken picata which she liked but was not thoroughly impressed. All in all, this place is a nice little haunt on Jefferson and worthy of a try. I would never say the food was bad. But what I would say is that it is merely average or maybe just a hair better than average. I think there is much better Italian food to be had in the metro area.
(3)Theresa T.
I was very hesitant to bring my family here after reading yelp reviews. But that's the restaurant I had picked out because it was near where my family lives. We arrived at 5 p.m. They weren't busy yet! There were five of us. Three adults and 2 children. We were seated immediately. The waitress brought out a basket of fresh bread and it includes flat everything crackers and 2 different kinds of bread sticks. Very nice. The menu was quite large with lots of selections. I spyed another table getting oyster Rockefellers and it looked amazing. We started off with Lamb chop appetizers with feta,tomato and spinach. They were fantastic. So juicy and tender. It comes with 3 chops. Our dishes were Chicken Piccatta, White Fish, Butterfly Shrimp and Ravioli. Everyone loved their meal. I had the Chicken Piccatta with additional artichokes. Awesome.. We didn't get dessert, but a Spanish coffee and cappuccino. Both were excellent. Why not 5 stars? The prices. I personally thought they were out of line. 3 adults 2 children (1 didn't eat) and the bill was $115.00. The service was excellent and worth the 20%. I will likely go back because the food and services was great. However, I'll bring more cash.
(4)Michael C.
Absolutely the worst tomato sauce I've had. Fall apart meatballs; taste and texture were terrible. Dreading for the salad ; I have no idea what they did but a nice olive oil, oregano, a little wine vinegar would have been far superior what they used. I will say the pizza looked great though I didn't try it. People at the next table had one.....I wanted to join them. I use ATT Cellular and there was no signal in the front room. I'm not one for using a phone in a restaurant however in the case of an emergency it's nice to know someone can reach you . I'm giving two stars for the pizza that looked so good.
(2)Alyson H.
Just had my birthday dinner here. Waited 15 minutes for a table with my family of 3, which we expected. Bread, salad and cheese ravioli was amazing always. But, today we ordered a special dessert since it was my birthday and all! The creme brûlée was cold, I've always had it room temp or warm. The taste was so good that I want more right now, but the coldness just didn't do it for me.
(4)Jo N.
This GEM is my favorite. It is intimate, great for a date night or with another couple. The kitchen ALWAYS has a good night. Did I say I really love the food here? This is the real deal Italian not the Olive Garden. I find it so difficult to pick just one entrée that's why we share two or three. The kitchen is so gracious, they split the entrées in the kitchen for us. Some must trys -chicken neopaliton, gnochi, arancini, lamb chops... ENJOY there is not a bad thing on the menu. If you dine on a week day there may not be a wait.
(5)Joe S.
Been going there for 52 years, went with another couple 8/21/15. The lasagna was burnt and the chicken marsalla portion was so small the waitress apologized as she was serving it and said the cost would be adjusted- it was not, nor was i offered another entree. Hope this is not a sign of thing to come after all this time.
(2)Alex K.
I was really tempted to give two stars, but went up to three for a single reason... the cajun crawfish that I got a taste of. Excuse me if my ignorance gets the best of me in this review, as I'm not certain how restaurants work exactly, but here 'goes... Came in with a group of 7 right as they opened at 4pm... we were the second group inside (the one in front of us was just two people) and we were quickly seated. My first impression of the place was that I thought it looked interesting -- kind of like someone turned their basement into a restaurant, but that it was definitely cramped. My sister insists that my family ate here fairly often when I lived in St. Clair Shores, but that was when I was about 5, so I don't recall... anyway, yeah, I quickly learned Luigi's is a poor restaurant choice for a group of probably more than four. After getting our drinks, we were given complimentary bread, which was super hot, pillowy, and tasty... great start so far, but it the waitress seemed to take ages to give us refills (she would even take our glasses and walk away with them for a few minutes at a time before they were filled), and took awhile to take our orders. As she was finally taking our orders, we saw tables around us already getting their soup and salad. What gives? It was about an hour after getting in (so, 5pm) before we finally got our main courses. A man, presumably the owner, told us the pizzas a few at our table ordered would be out in "2-3 minutes", but it was more like 10-15 before we finally got them and our other plates of food. By this time, a few groups of people had already left the restaurant because they had already eaten and gotten their bill. Also by this time, there was already a crowd of people huddled around the tiny bar area -- yeah, it doesn't take long for Luigi's to reach maximum capacity at all. After eating, it then took at least half an hour to finally get our bill. The waitress seemed to constantly walk back and forth, but never gave us it. We finally decided to leave, and by then, it was 6:30. So the waiting and waitressing was pretty awful, but how was the food...? Decent. I opted to get the Pasta Casino and wasn't super impressed with it. For about $20, you get a huge portion of pasta with a LOT of baby clams, but I would swear the bacon in it is microwaved bacon, just judging by the thin, pink transparency of it. It all tasted pretty decent, but not like something someone would ever pay $20 for more than once. The pizza is apparently Luigi's signature item (according to people I've heard talk about it, anyway), and I liked it, but it wasn't jaw-droppingly good. The crust was pretty chewy (not a con) and the sauce had a great flavor, but it's not a pizza I'd strongly suggest people to eat -- it is a pretty nice value though, considering the obvious freshness of the ingredients. Like I said from the start, the bite I had of the cajun crawfish was incredible and I'll definitely get that the next time I'm at Luigi's. Gonna wrap this up... the moral of the story is -- and I've learned my lesson -- don't come to Luigi's with a party of more than four. The restaurant is simply too small, and the service is just too slow... at the same time, that doesn't excuse quite literally everybody in the small restaurant getting their food before us, though I, again, have no idea how restaurants and their tickets work. I wasn't really impressed with Luigi's, in large part because of the wait and waitressing. The food wasn't half as good as so many of these other reviewers suggest either, but it's a place I'd certainly re-try with one-to-three other people at most.
(3)Jillian G.
I've been coming to Luigi's for a few years now. I've always loved the food and the atmosphere. I had my birthday dinner here for the second year in a row recently. I noticed that the portions seem smaller and the prices higher. I don't mind that if it's worth it. Here's what I don't understand, I've spent tons of money in this place. Brought all my friends and family in for two years in a row, and I'm told that there is no complimentary dessert for my birthday. My friend who was with me, who also comes to Luigi's also found that a cheap move. Bad business as far as I'm concerned. You charge enough for entrees were once a year you can give your patrons who support your business, a dessert on their birthday.
(3)Eddie A.
This is based on the fact that the place doesn't take reservations and has very little seating for walk in customers who are forced to find a place at the bar where drunk old regulars hang out waiting to sit down. If the food is good I will never know because we couldn't wait 40-50 minutes in the heat outside on the edge of the lake with bugs and humidity to eat some pasta. This is a very small place, and you can tell it is full of regulars, who happen to be elderly boaters who cant get enough alcohol in them so they keep drinking and making all kinds of racket!! The atmosphere in there is conducive to that of a race track, very loud and very tight, with old drunks leading the way!!! Forget about it!
(1)Amy B.
This is a wonderful place! Great food , from their steaks to the pasta, fish !!! It is that perfect little Italian restaurant that will hopefully never change a thing:)
(5)Laurie P.
Probably one of my favorite restaurants! I've been here many times, and have never had a bad meal or service. Everything is delicious, and the portions are very generous. Love the intimate, cozy atmosphere, too - perfect place for a romantic dinner for two. But be aware that the place is tiny; you will wait for a table on the weekend, but it's worth the wait!
(5)Chinmay A.
The people were super nice. The food quality highly depends on what you order. I thought the Linguine Alfredo was alright, but the Parmesan Eggplant was almost inedible, even with the 7 layers of cheese. If you're lucky you might get a seat in the quiet back room, because the main bar area seating can be deafening when crowded. Not quite the quiet dinner place we were expecting. The free bread was the best part.
(3)Bob P.
I went there yesterday and was told how wonderful the food is. I ordered a pasta seafood dish that was almost all soggy pasta. My wife had chicken parmessian which was at best mediocre but my mother ordered veal and it was pretty good. The waitress was about as good as I have ever had which is the only reason I give it two stars. I understand there steaks and prime rib are excellent but when I go to an Italian restaurant, I was hoping for a good Italian dish. The Olive Garden nserves a much better dish then here. Maybe I will try their pizza but don't waste your money on the Italian dishes.
(2)Neil Y.
While I fell in love with my wife in Orlando, I proposed to her in the corner booth right here at Luigi's. Luigi's was my regular Wednesday dinner choice. I am however a creature of habit and always ordered pizza, salad and yes, Luigi's homemade bread. Their bread is perhaps the best around and I can honestly admit that I carbo-loaded on more than one occasion barely making through the salad and having to take the pizza home. Regardless, I win either way. One thing I noted was that Luigi's was serving an inordinate amount of steaks. Perhaps 1/3 of all diners were enjoying these massive cuts of prime beef. Eventually, I gave in to my curiosity on the steak. I'll discuss later. The pizza for me was always a large Luigi Special which comes with ham, real pepperoni, onion, green pepper and mushroom. Add anchovies of course. The crust is crusty and chewy yielding that wonderful sesame flavor from the seeds. At around $17.00, it isn't exactly a Hot & Ready but certainly well worth the quality of ingredients that Luigi's uses. The difference is clearly noticeable and worth it. Then one day, after hitting the 4-digit lottery and claiming my prize, I decided it was a day for me. I ordered the prime rib king's cut and I can only say not only was it worth the $25.00 or so, but they gave me what looked to be a double portion. It was huge. Beyond huge it was so damn tender and flavorful. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I took enough home and made an incredible pot of beef barley from the leftovers. A few days transpire and I decided the celebration must continue. I went back and ordered the filet Rockefeller style. The addition of the bacon, spinach and cheese was fantastic and didn't at all take away from the full flavor of my filet cooked rare. Now I got it. I can vouch for the meat ravioli and the chicken Siciliano. That ammoglio sauce is incredible. I also believe that the broiled whitefish dinner is arguably one of the best in the state. If you opt to order the whitefish Siciliano, ask them to broil it without the breadcrumbs and just add the ammoglio sauce on top of it. The breadcrumbs somehow take away from the quality of the fish. Sadly, I have never made it to dessert but most of it is homemade and the tirimisu is quite popular. Folks, it ain't cheap but it's worth it. For the price, you will get yourself a quality meal and truly this is the best restaurant in the area. Pass Terry's and come right here for the same money. This location is small and wildly popular so dining in may cause you to wait at peak dining times. If I am choosing to eat at either this location or their in downtown Mt. Clemens, I choose this one every time. Don't know what it is, just have a better meal and a better experience. BTW-the young lady that I proposed to here said, "yes" and we're still married eight years later with two beautiful kids.
(5)Kristin Z.
Why did it take me this long to find out this place existed?!? Holy Cannolli Luigis is surely the treasure of Harrison Township, if not of the entire Metro Detroit area. Almost every dish I've tried has been delicious and beautifully plated. The atmosphere is quaint and friendly. It's such a great place for a night out on a date or a special occasion with it's lovely decor, music playing, and laughter heard all around. My favorite part is how they are equipped with a full carry out menu. I've let Luigis make us dinner for the last 2 days straight! Easy ordering, presentation is not spared for carryout! I love this place.
(5)Mike M.
What a disappointment. We had been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. We visited on a Sunday night. The meal started off promising, great bread basket, great soup, delicious salad. Then my meal came, I had the eggplant parmesan and my husband had a chicken dish. My eggplant parmesan was not made as ordered. No big deal, our server promptly removed it and offered a new one to be made. My husband finished eating before my dish came back. My eggplant returned to the table burned. Not just a little burned, blackened throughout and my husband could smell the burned smell across the table. Our server didn't return to make sure the dish came out ok, so a bus girl finally came by to ask if she could box it. I asked to see our server. Our server came, no apology, no offer to make something else, just asked if we wanted dessert. Um, I'm pretty sure I'm still waiting on my entree. I guess that ship sailed, and I didn't have a meal that night. We heard our server confer with the manager about my dish, but no resolution was offered. I guess we didn't matter. I wanted to like it, I really did, but with service like that I will give my business to restaurants that know how to properly handle a meal that was not prepared as ordered.
(1)Amy L.
Hands down the best Italian in town! Great atmosphere for a date. Not good place for kids! I don't understand why people feel the need to eat at a fine dining restaurant with their toddlers.
(5)Jen D.
Best pizza in town! Wish they took reservations though.
(5)Will B.
I love this place. What they do with the kitchen they have is amazing. Last time I was here I honestly didn't like my meal, but I ordered a steak in an Italian joint. I'm a big fan of "if you're not going to do something right, get it off of the menu," but everything else I have had here has been delicious. The steak was obviously pan fried, had that weird olive oil flavor, no seasoning whatsoever, and it was over-cooked. However, like I said, I've been here 5+ times and everything else has always been great. I've always liked the ambiance, crowd, and food. Chicken Piccata was delicious, and the waitress was honest with me... Told me they order the seafood ravioli that was on special rather than making it in house. A lot of places lie. Kudos for at least being honest, but really, I wish they would just make the stuff themselves. It's faster and cheaper at the end of the day. Best oysters on the East side. Super fresh and delicious.
(4)John Q.
Luigi's is a classic Italian restaurant and one of the top places in town. All of the food is tasty and of high quality. Some of my favorites are the veal, ravioli, lasagna, and Cajun steak tips. Luigi's also has excellent pizza, which can be phoned in and picked up if you don't feel like eating out. Try the Italian sausage and banana peppers, as well as one of the flavored crusts, such as Parmesan, sesame seed, or garlic. The restaurant gets very busy and crowded. The dining room is quite small and a bit dark. I recommend coming for an early dinner or being prepared to wait a while. There is another location in nearby Mt. Clemens with the same food, so you might try that one if things get too busy.
(5)Carole H.
The rave reviews gave me high hopes for Luigi's, but I just wasn't very impressed. This place is small, and popular - which equals a wait. A long wait, especially on weekends. I can't fault them for this because hey, when you're hot you're hot. But there is no real area to wait in, you have to all cram in the little entry way where the take-out counter is located. So that's no fun. The service was fine, but the food just fell flat. I was here with a party of 6, we all ordered various pasta dishes, and most all of us felt a let down, especially given the fanfare we've heard about the place. I had angel hair with a cream sauce and chicken, the chicken was very good but the pasta underneath was basically cold, and they were a little stingy on the sauce. Most of my dining companions agreed that their pasta was not hot, their dishes not memorable, and while it was an enjoyable enough meal, upon leaving we all agreed that we were in no rush to return. Maybe we should have had the pizza instead? Also, the parking lot is small and dirt, so on the day we came when it was rainy, my shoes were covered in mud and so was the car after getting splashed by cars pulling out of the lot. Overall just....eh.
(2)Bob N.
OH MAN, finally went back to have Luigi's lamb chops after having a bite my cousins last month. I don't know what they do to these chops but holy heck tender doesn't do them justice. 6 or 7 chops nicely sized and cooked medium rare with garlic, spinach and feta. Served with soup salad and a side of your choice. I'm drooling just thinking of them. Service as usual was awesome. This place is what all restaurants service and food wise should aspire to.
(5)Paul B.
Absolutely not the same. I used to live near here and frequented this place. Im upset to say I have recommended this place to freinds and family. I couldnt tell you how the food was because I never made it that far. We walked in tonight on our first wedding anniversary. We then waited in a loud obnoxious bar for 5 mins to have at least 4 waitresses not acknowledge us other than to ask us to excuse them as they walked by. I then asked to talk to the manager and was told that the man I was speaking to who had previously ignored us was infact the manager. He then said "Hopefully we can make your night better." I declined there are plenty of dive bars where I will get better service with no wait!
(1)Wendy H.
I wish I could comment on the food but as they never sat our six top I can't say! ( Tuesday night- 7 pm- we were told it'd be 25-30 mins but after 55 mins they still had nothing for us. It wouldn't be so bad except that the host apparently was more concerned with not giving us two tables pushed together because it would "involve two different server sections" and then said the floor was too slanted (!) for those two tables to be moved together) We spent over $70 on wine and drinks while waiting and were prepared to spend the $300+ more for dinner but now not a single one of will be back! Customers always come first but not at Luigi's! Poor management, terrible service!
(1)B G.
Good food in an intimate restaurant I have been coming back for years and will continue.
(4)Adam B.
If you're looking for an intimate restaurant for a get-together, or just dinner with the family, please give Luigi's a try! It's pretty busy on weekend, but well worth the wait. Supposedly Luigi's has a pizza rated in the top 50 in the United States, but there are so many great items to choose from! Initially you're greeted by the smell of heaven (also known as fresh bread and incredible Italian food). While I've tried the prime rib (amazing) and chicken Parmesan (perfect), my absolute favorite thing about this place would be the fresh bread sticks! I'm not joking when I say I would literally just order a take-out to get bread sticks (and I have.. And at only $2 a basket, they're a steal). They're wonderfully warm, perfectly dense, incredible in texture, and the butter just runs right off of them. If you're like me, you'll want to order the clam chowder and use the bread as your utensil... But you won't have much room for the entrée! Warning: you WILL fight your significant other and/or children for the last one. As for the cons, my only problem with this place is the incredibly small parking lot. You'll probably have to circle the place like a crow a few times if you're going on a weekend, or park in an adjacent lot. However, even if you had to walk a few miles in a blizzard, you'd probably say, "that was well worth it."
(5)David B.
Ribs are fantastic! Prime rib is fantastic,! The lamb chips are fantastic! If your lady wants ribs, the appetizer lamb chips ate perfect! The take out pizzas are great. We come back here time after time with the same great service.
(5)Linda S.
I like the way the carry out is done. There's a little window right in the vestibule and you dont have to go through the restaurant. I mostly pick up take out in pajamas, so that was awesome. That being said, my take out tasted like crap. I had the prime rib. Very, very generous portions. It was overlooked and bland. I ordered medium rate and there was no pink to it at all. It was just a big blob of meat. I also had a side salad. I loved the sunflower seeds on it! The dressing (ranch) was very water. The side with the meal was mashed potatoes and those were delish!!! Red skin mashed. Fantastic. I've heard a lot about Luigi's. Rave reviews. I was sorely disappointed. I'm going to try it again one day and order something different. I'll update then!
(2)Steve B.
What a great place, always a great experience. If the wait is long just chill at the bar, it's well worth it. Favorite pasta is Pasta alla Mama Luigi, angel hair pasta with bacon, scallions, soft egg, and parmesan. Otherwise I love the Luigi's style lambchops, they are perfect, or for more casual try any of their award winning pizzas. Service is always awesome, can be a little loud inside at times but still my favorite local restaurant.
(5)Ju L.
Pros: Definitely worth the long wait. Recommend hitting the bar while waiting. Bread was amazingly fresh. Food was delicious. Service was attentive. Cons: No waiting area.
(5)Alissa J.
This is a small restaurant that serves the best homemade Italian food I've had in Michigan. I have had one of the best meals ever: Chicken Neopolitan- just get it- you won't be disappointed. I've also had the GrandMa Cut Prime Rib which was enormous and very delicious- you must be a heavy eater to get the GrandPa Cut! For an appetizer we usually get the Artichoke dish which is so good it inspired me to make my own (success BTW!). The decor is underwhelming: they have grapevine lights and very, very dim lighting- too dim if you ask me. Its a very tight space- not the most comfortable seating but the quality of food makes up for any seating disappointment. Casual dress. Go there, you wont be disappointed by their food! Oh, quick tip: if they ask if you want to sit in the back room- I would recommend passing especially if you are a social eater and like to people watch. It is way more spacious but very quiet, boring and bland back there. They do not take reservations and on friday and saturday nights they have a bit of a wait - think 45minutes. Prepare to spend ~$70 on a dinner for two (inclusive of a glass of wine and beer).
(5)Lorna D.
LOVE Luigi's. It's small, cozy, upbeat, and the food is plentiful and delicious! Care is taken with even smaller elements like breadsticks (fresh-baked-OOh yeah!) and salads (sunflower seeds and onions? YES please!), and the entrees definitely follow suit. The servers are the sweetest ever-especially appreciated in the midst of a busy pace. You'll wait on the weekends, but oh is it worth it! A fun place overflowing with charm and really excellent food! Everything I've tried has been amazing. What a blessing after a hectic week to find myself rosy-cheeked from the generously poured glass o' vino in front of me, a bellyful of eggplant parm excellence, and lively conversation going on over it all. Delightful.
(5)Heather G.
First time visiting Luigi's was last night and it was AWESOME! I arrived at 9:20pm and felt kinda bad because they were only open until 10pm but I was starving so I decided to go in. My fear, of over staying my welcome was subsided because there were still a ton of people there! Our waitress was super super nice and recommended some great dishes. We started with some type of rice balls, which I highly recommend. For dinner I had the chicken neapolitan--- AMAZING! The fresh baked bread was awesome. Make sure you finish with a homemade tiramisu- so good! PS the balsamic dressing is great! Can't wait to go back again.
(5)R R.
Best Italian food I've had in Michigan.. just incredibly delicious. Absolutely try the Gnocchi entree (much better deal to get a full order for $4 more). The house bread is also out of this world (be sure to order if you get a carry-out)! Very quaint and intimate atmosphere inside the main dining room, as well. Solid and consistent 5 stars all-around.
(5)David M.
What can you say about luigi's besides classic italian fare in a classic setting. It is a smaller restaurant but they pack em in. Great place for a family dinner or a romantic evening bite. Get the Arancini balls, they are wonderful. The Chicken Neopolitan is very good as well.
(5)Kelly S.
Small parking lot out front but if you go to the back of the building there are plenty of parking spaces. I liked the cozy feel on a Friday night. This place was packed; the wait was around 30 minutes. Mom and I were seated in the back porch area where it was far more boring than all the activity, lights and ambiance in the main room. I didn't complain because mom's knees bother her so I wanted us to sit down as soon as we could...there is nowhere to sit while waiting. There is a very nice menu selection for appetizers, the main meal and alcoholic beverages. I ordered a glass of Red Diamond Merlo and mom had Lambrisco. I ordered an appetizer of Cajun Crawfish that came with small slices of garlic toast. It was very 'Cajun' tasting. It was nice to see this on the menu but I don't think I would order it again as it was too spicy and some of the crawfish tasted fishy...this is just a personal preference to not re-order. At $9.00 it was a pricey appetizer that I didn't care for. I took it home to add to some rice and beans later. Mom ordered the Lake Perch...served hot and delicious. The Eggplant Parmesan was served hot with a side of noodles (served warm) with tomatoes sauce on top. The mozzarella was generous and delicious as it was baked over the Parmesan. I opted for the clam chowder over the salad and wish I ordered the salad later. The chowder was very thick and pasty. The bread that is served before the meal is delicious. For Dessert we split home-made Tiramisu. The wine glasses were large and round allowing for a very generous portion of wine. The service was excellent!
(4)Michelle K.
Oh my gods, this place is amazing. If you only get one thing here, get the fried calamari. It was some of the best I have ever eaten. I got a half order of ravioli which were just alright and a bowl of creamy clam chowder. The chowder was really tasty and they use a lot of bacon in it which is awesome. We also tried their five cheese pizza and were pleasantly surprised at how good it was. It wasn't greasy, even with all the cheese and it had a Cajun-spiced crust. We got all this food to go but from what I saw of the dining area, it looked really cute.
(5)Cyndi J.
Everything about this place is wonderful. Space is sometimes an issue, but for me, it has never impeded service. Arancini balls are a great, hearty starter and you can never go wrong with their salad, ravioli/linguini combo, or the white fish. They do not take reservations so I would suggest to go early on Fridays and on the weekends. This is one of the only TWO places I would recommend to get a decent meal on the eastside. For what you pay, the food and service will exceed your expectations. Oh, pizza, don't forget to try the PIZZA!! Buon appetito!
(5)Kristie L.
The place is crowded and we were in the middle of the floor up against a supporting beam. But the service was good. I had the rice balls (yum!!!) and the michigan cherry chicken. I recommend this place highly!
(5)Tony S.
4.25 Stars I've heard good reviews years ago about this place but whenever I'm in the area and want to go this place its packed and has a line. A couple of years ago I got carry out & went to Metro Beach w/ Pepper with it. I got a linguini and seafood dish which was good although It looked like they took a short cut by using garlic from a jar pre-minced, it might not have been and it's not necessarily a bad thing but not the greatest to me. Recently I dined in with Pepper and got the whole experience: Service: extremely helpful and nice without being overbearing. Beer: On tap, Amstel I think? It was fresh and good. Bread basket: interesting array of good bread & breadsticks. Antipasto salad: good Pizza: Gourmet Vegetarian. Probably the best I've ever had. I wasn't super in the mood for pizza but after reading the pizza reviews on Yelp! I wanted to try theirs, plus on the menu it said GQ magazine gave it a rave review. Their right, it's great. The only other veggie pizza that comes close to this was one I got from the now defunct Shields that was on 12 & Mound in Warren, that was a Athenian or Greek pizza, I ordered one from another location and it was no where near as good, not sure why. I'm going to have to try other menu items next time, maybe they deserve more stars!
(4)Joseph H.
Unfortunatly I had to take star away from my previous review. The food was good, as usual, but the proces increased by $5 overall and the manager was rude to us when we addressed it to him. It's not like we went out of our way to complain, he came around to each table and asked how the experience was and if we "got enough to eat". I told him how I felt and he said "We never changed the portions, EVER! and that the plates are smaller." Rude.
(3)Tristin I.
Great food, but it's getting really expensive. I love their fish and chips, sounds weird i know but the fish is lightly breaded and crispy.
(4)Jay S.
Great food and they don't skimp on extras for carry-out!
(4)Gwen J.
This place is cozy and authentic. Since its in boat town usa there are charming nautical touches. I liked my risotto a lot. I asked for a red house wine and found it to be high quality. There was a bread basket complete with a package of Granforno Italian Breadsticks.
(4)Lynn R.
My husband and I went here for my birthday a few days ago. The food was awesome. Warning my sister told me before going here if you want to get there before the crowd for be there by 4:30pm, so we did thank god. Hubby ordered this steak that was huge and Mine was spaghetti with ravioli's on top. We were not disappointed at all. Even thou my sis said the one on Hall rd near CJ Barrymore's is better. The food was hot and fast. Great friendly waitress. Yes, the place is tiny and has been there forever.
(5)kelsey n.
Luigi's has delicious food! It is pretty small, but it has a nice atmosphere. Be sure to try the pizza!!
(5)Debbie H.
We stopped into Luigi's and were determined not to order our usual entrees. We'd heard quite often about their pizza and wanted to try it but were having trouble coordinating our "I feel like pizza" nights. Recently, when I feel like a pizza, Deb is craving sushi ... and when she has wanted pizza lately, I'll have thai food on the brain. So, we finally got in the car ... looked across at one another, and simultaneously whispered ... "Pizza?" Yes! The stars aligned, all was right in the food universe and so off we went. We ordered the personal antipasto salad to start because we'd noticed that a family of three ordered the small and it was more than enough for them. It was amazing. I know, ... strong adjective for a salad, right? No joke, this was perfect ... fresh lettuce, plentiful ham, salami, cheese, tomatoes, olives ... and best of all, the right amount of dressing. We forgot to order it on the side and we were a little nervous when it arrived ... so many places either drown the salad or barely dust it. This was the salad Goldilocks would've chosen. The pizza? Let me just say that it's going to be a while before we order our "former" usual entrees. Outstanding ... ham, artichoke hearts, tomato slices and banana peppers were our topping choices and we couldn't have been more pleased. Top notch service included a friendly visit from the owner. We're thrilled that this place gets it right so often. You should seriously consider a visit.
(5)Jilla W.
Great little place. It's been around since the 50's (I think) so they are obviously doing something right. Never had a bad meal here, all of the food is really good. Fair prices too. Picked this place to have my bday dinner with the parentals, and i was amazed they had never been here - I grew up boating around the area so i couldn't believe they had never heard of it. Once they ate there one time, they couldn't believe it either - they were impressed. Recommended!!
(5)Charlotte B.
Fantastic experience! Good food, friendly staff, nice bar & wine list. I can't say one thing over another is better, everything is good! The tables are packed tightly--which is good, otherwise we'd be waiting forever. The lighting & decor is cozy. They are always busy!
(5)Pete D.
Eat, Drink and have fun. Everything is good. I wish I still lived in the area. The pasta,salads,pizza!! And the Lamp chop are something special. better then most. If the room as bigger I would give the five stars.
(4)John P.
We go here at least once a month if not more.....the food is great and the abiance is quaint. Love Italian and they make some of the best. You get a lot for your money. I love the Veal Siciliano....bread, salad, side of pasta. What more could you want. You will have to wait to get seated as its Always packed....that should be a clue. Great place for a romantic dinner or date!!
(5)