Posted by Michael Perna on Friday, August 1st, 2025 2:52pm.
Metro Detroit’s culinary landscape has quietly become a haven for pasta aficionados, where artisanal craftsmanship meets inventive flavor. Whether one is living in Metro Detroit or moving to Metro Detroit, the region’s restaurants showcase everything from wood-rolled pastas and bronze-die extrusions bathed in rich ragùs to seasonal agnolotti bursting with sweet-corn and local produce. Coastal-inspired bowls pair fresh-caught seafood with hand-cut linguine, while wood-fired kitchens offer pillowy gnocchi and truffle-kissed bucatini alongside naturally leavened pizzas. Intimate family-run trattorias share neighborhood streets with chef-driven hotspots milling their own flours and curating chef’s-table tasting menus. Each spot invites guests to savor classic preparations and bold modern twists that define the very best pasta restaurants in Metro Detroit.
Adelina, Facebook
Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani’s downtown venture draws on Mediterranean influences to craft a refined yet approachable Italian menu. Under the guidance of Marco Dalla Fontana and Adam Curry, all pastas, from rigatoni ribbons to twisted casarecce, are made fresh in-house, then bathed in a rich halal wagyu beef Bolognese or showcased as a rotating weekly special. The dining room’s intimate ambiance complements a thoughtfully curated wine list, while the weekly chef’s-table experience invites guests to explore a multi-course tasting that changes with the seasons. Whether seeking classic comfort or unexpected flavor combinations, Adelina delivers a modern Italian feast at the heart of the city.
Amore da Roma holds the distinction of being Detroit’s oldest continually operating Italian restaurant, its roots stretching back to 1890 when the Marazza family first opened Roma Cafe. Under Chef Guy Pelino’s stewardship, all pastas, from house-made ravioli to classic linguine vongole, are crafted fresh in-house and bathed in traditional sauces developed over generations. The menu extends beyond pasta to include starters such as fried calamari and caprese salad, and desserts like weekly-made tiramisu that offer a genuine taste of Italy. Whether dining indoors amid historic décor or enjoying a meal on the seasonal patio, guests experience warm hospitality and timeless Italian flavors.
Since opening in 1989, Andiamo has maintained its mission of made-from-scratch Italian fine dining, sourcing seasonal ingredients daily and crafting every dish onsite. The menu spotlights a rotating array of handmade pastas, think classic tagliatelle Bolognese and lemon-kissed linguine ai frutti di mare, alongside fresh seafood preparations that honor the restaurant’s waterfront setting. Guests can pair their pasta with selections from a world-class wine list curated by in-house sommeliers or sip from cocktails mixed daily with seasonal produce. With valet parking, sweeping river views, and an elegant yet approachable atmosphere, Andiamo provides a quintessential Detroit dining experience.
Cafe Nini, a third-generation Da Edoardo family restaurant, has charmed Grosse Pointe Farms since 1956 with its intimate dining rooms and warm hospitality. The concise menu balances eight antipasti, fresh seafood and veal entrées, and a half-dozen house-made pasta selections crafted daily. Highlights include layered Lasagne Verde alla Bolognese, creamy Tortellini Romagnolo, classic Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, each tossed tableside and served with the restaurant’s signature house salad or velvety minestrone. A full bar featuring specialty coffee cocktails, a rotating wine list, and cozy ambience make every visit feel like gathering around Nonna’s table.
El Barzon brings together two worlds under one roof with a full Mexican menu alongside classic Italian dishes in a warm Southwest Detroit setting. The star of the Italian side is Linguini El Barzon, a house-made pasta tossed with little neck clams, tender shrimp, olive oil, white wine, garlic, tomato-spiked sauce and a touch of red pepper flakes, finished with crunchy croutons for texture. Chef Norberto Garita applies techniques honed in New York and at Il Posto Ristorante to every plate, ensuring each bite reflects both authenticity and innovation. Online ordering for takeout and reservations, especially for the romantic patio in warmer months, keeps locals returning year after year.
Forest, Facebook
Forest crafts its pasta entirely in-house, using a mattarello to roll tender tagliatelle, sheets of ravioli, and hand-shaped garganelli while a bronze-die extruder produces toothsome rigatoni in Birmingham. Seasonal inspirations shine through dishes like sweet pea agnolotti drizzled with parmesan, squid ink pasta in puttanesca sauce, and morels atop garganelli for an earthy flourish. A steadfast tagliatelle Bolognese, slow-simmered meat sauce clinging to every strand, anchors the rotating menu, ensuring fans of classic comfort always have a go-to. Under the guidance of culinary director Nick Janutol and chef Talia Clark, each pasta plate reflects both technical precision and the neighborhood’s elegant yet approachable spirit.
Giovanni’s transports diners into a golden age of Detroit hospitality, where black tablecloths and jacketed staff set the stage for an old-world Italian feast. All pastas are rolled and cut in-house following San Marino–rooted family recipes perfected by Frances Cannarsa Truant and Executive Chef Paulina Tarducci. The sauce lineup spans from verdant basil-bright pestos to slow-simmered Bolognese, and nightly “Daily Features” celebrate season-fresh produce sourced from local growers. House-made desserts, Key Lime cheesecake in summer or classic cannoli and tiramisu year-round, paired with an extensive Italian wine list, complete the dolce vita experience.
La Dolce Vita lives up to its name by serving up an old-world Italian experience complete with a vibrant weekend brunch and handcrafted cocktails. The arched windows and lush garden patio create a warm retreat where regional specialties shine alongside favorites like lasagna, linguine vongole and pillowy gnocchi in a rich cream sauce. Thirteen pasta options rotate to highlight seasonally inspired takes on Italian classics, inviting guests to explore something new with every visit. Whether seated indoors or enjoying the celebrated outdoor dining space, patrons will discover why this Palmer Park gem has earned acclaim for both its menu and its unforgettable ambiance.
Mabel Gray isn’t your typical Italian spot, yet it consistently surprises with one of the region’s most eagerly anticipated linguine and clams, the winter-only special that appears each December. Chef James Rigato and his team keep diners guessing by rotating seasonal, handcrafted pastas alongside their acclaimed tasting menu, ensuring every visit feels like a fresh discovery. A few times annually, the restaurant transforms into “Nonna’s Italian American Takeover Sunday,” featuring generous family-style spreads of chicken cutlets, meatballs and sweet corn cavatelli that capture the heart of home cooking. Whether it’s a fleeting pasta feature or the full tasting menu experience, Mabel Gray’s unwavering commitment to fresh, locally sourced ingredients and inventive preparations makes every dish memorable.
Chef Jared Gadbaw’s award-winning restaurant redefines Italian fare in Detroit by centering its menu on globally sourced seafood paired with house-made pastas. Signature dishes include snapper with shellfish ragù, octopus & tuna Bolognese served over tender pasta, and striking squid ink noodles that showcase the kitchen’s bold flavor palette. Guests can explore at least one handcrafted pasta on the multi-course tasting menu ($109 per person, $95 on Sundays), blending local produce with ocean-fresh ingredients for a journey from antipasti through dolci. After dinner, The Upright cocktail lounge downstairs offers a cozy speakeasy vibe for nightcaps and craft cocktails.
Ottava Via reimagines Italian dining in Corktown with a contemporary twist, offering everything from house-cured charcuterie boards to craft cocktails before a robust pasta-and-wine-centric menu. Pasta lovers can indulge in classics such as penne all’arrabbiata and fettuccine Alfredo or explore richer offerings like bucatini tossed in truffle butter. When the weather warms up, the outdoor fireplace and bocce ball lanes draw crowds eager to pair their meal with fresh air and a glass of Italian red. Reservations are easily secured on Resy, ensuring a seamless experience from aperitivo through dessert.
Pop’s For Italian in Ferndale brings a modern twist to traditional coastal flavors with its Neapolitan-certified wood-fired pizzas and daily-made pastas that rotate to highlight the season’s best ingredients. The pasta selection spans delicate carbonara ribbons to zesty shrimp scampi tossed in a bright white-wine, lemon and garlic-butter sauce. The Pasta Al Forno section features rich, oven-baked classics such as layered lasagna and pillowy gnocchi gratinée for those craving comfort with a crisp top. With Resy reservations and online carryout, it’s easy to secure a seat in the energetic dining room or savor Pop’s signature dishes at home.
San Morello, Facebook
San Morello anchors the Shinola Hotel with a stylish focus on southern Italian fare, where each pasta creation reflects the simple luxury of coastal recipes. Diners can join the Pasta Club to take home curated kits, or stay in for handmade tagliatelle bathed in a rich lamb Bolognese that offers deep, savory warmth. The marquee “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” carries forward a cherished recipe from Andrew Carmellini’s New York tenure, marrying nostalgia with precise technique. An elegant evening here unfolds over small plates at the Spritz Bar, then segues into a candlelit dining room where every dish, from pappardelle to orecchiette, celebrates authentic flavors alongside craft cocktails and an Italian-driven wine list.
Selden Standard anchors Detroit’s Cass Corridor with a New American menu that spotlights fresh, seasonal ingredients and ever-changing pasta creations. In spring, diners can savor house-made orecchiette tossed with rapini, creamy stracciatella, anchovy and bright lemon. Summer brings sweet corn agnolotti that fans clamor for, while rigatoni with fennel sausage or cavatelli in chicken sugo rotate through as local produce peaks. Carryout orders are available online, making it just as easy to enjoy Selden’s inventive pastas at home.
SheWolf Pastificio & Bar elevates Italian dining in Midtown by milling its own flour for handmade pasta and focaccia, placing chef-driven, modern Roman cuisine center stage. Guests will find classics like cacio e pepe crafted with house-milled semolina and silky carbonara that blends rich egg yolk and crispy guanciale into every strand. The menu shifts with Michigan’s seasons, from spring vegetable-forward pastas to squash-filled ravioli in autumn, ensuring both freshness and innovation on each visit. To finish, patrons can indulge in velvety panna cotta or artisanal gelato alongside an Italian-centric wine list and thoughtfully curated cocktails.
Tiliani brings a coastal Italian flair to Dearborn with an all-halal, seafood-driven menu that honors seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Pasta offerings showcase inventive twists on classics, cappelletti bathed in a white sausage Bolognese, cacio e pepe crowned with crisp mushrooms, and linguine paired with smoked lamb belly for savory depth. Seafood lovers can dive into mafaldine tossed with shrimp, clams and scallops in a fermented chile-butter emulsion, while wood-fired, naturally leavened pizzas round out the menu. Guests can secure tables or place takeout orders through Tock, ensuring a seamless fine-dining experience at home or in the dining room.
As feast seekers explore every corner of the region, the best pasta spots in Metro Detroit prove that exceptional Italian cuisine can be found from suburban havens to urban hotspots. Whether one is settling in or scouting neighborhoods, these chef-driven kitchens and family-owned trattorias elevate every forkful with house-made noodles, seasonal ingredients and innovative sauces. For anyone living in Metro Detroit or moving to Metro Detroit, this curated collection of pasta destinations offers both comforting classics and modern twists that capture the area’s vibrant culinary spirit. From first bite to last, these restaurants exemplify why Metro Detroit has become a must-visit for pasta lovers everywhere.
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