MINNESOTA, MICHIGAN and WISCONSIN
Minneapolis
Delmonico’s Italian Foods (Grocery)
1112 Summer St. NE, Minneapolis, MN, 612-331-5466
An old-school market that never gets old. It’s small and cramped but packed with Italian necessities, such as homemade pastas, sauces and meatballs. Samples and chats with the friendly proprietor are free.
St. Paul
Osteria I Nonni
www.buongiornoitalia.biz
981 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Saint Paul, 651-905-1080
Named “Best Italian” in Mpls/St. Paul magazine, this stylish, suburban favorite boasts intensely flavored starters and heady entrées such as pasta with tomato-hot pepper marinara and chunks of thick Italian bacon.
Ann Arbor
Gratzi
www.gratzirestaurant.com
326 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, 734-663-6387
Patrons can’t get enough of the flavorful pastas and creamy cannoli at this upscale, neighborhood favorite. Elaborate murals and strolling violinists make for a charmingly dramatic atmosphere.
Metro Detroit
Andiamo
www.andiamoitalia.com
42705 Grand River Ave., Novi, 248-348-3838
Andiamo Dearborn
21400 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, 313-359-3300
Andiamo Italia
7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren, 586-268-3200
Andiamo Italian Bistro
14425 Lakeside Cl., Sterling Heights, 586-532-8800
Andiamo Italia West
6676 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Township, 248-865-9300
Andiamo Lakefront Bistro
24026 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, 586-773-7770
Andiamo Osteria
401 N. Main St., Rochester, 248-601-9300
Trattoria Andiamo
20930 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods, 313-886-9933
Andiamo Riverfront
400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 313-567-6700
The Andiamos, Detroit’s first family of Italian dining, own and operate ten award-winning restaurants in the city and surrounding suburbs. Andiamo Italia is the jewel in the crown, named best Italian in Detroit by AOL’s 2006 CityGuide, which raves, “Each of the Andiamo restaurants emphasizes quality service, unique ambience and outstanding fare.”
Bacco Ristorante
www.baccoristorante.com
29410 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield, 248-356-6600
“Dining at Bacco is like taking a tour of Italy without leaving home,” raves Citysearch, and it’s no wonder; chef Luciano Del Signore travels to Italy each year to find the dishes that keep his menu current and authentic.
Il Posto
29110 Franklin Rd., Southfield, 248-827-8070
Tuxedoed waiters present your food beneath shiny silver domes and perform the finishing touches—boning a whole fish or tossing the salad—tableside. Named one of Detroit’s top 10 dining experiences by the Detroit Free Press.
Ristorante Café Cortina
www.cafecortina.com
30715 W. 10 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, 248-474-3033
According to La Cucina Italiana magazine, Café Cortina is a place “where comfort meets style, locals meet celebrities, and simplicity meets refinement,” thanks in no small part to the exquisite pastas and seafood.
Upper Peninsula
Angeli Foods
833 Riverside Plaza, Iron River, 906-265-2817
1401 8th Ave., Menominee, 906-863-5575
At this neighborhood market, customers enjoy fresh seasonal foods, baked goods prepared daily from scratch and a fine selection of meats and imported olive oil.
Milwaukee
Il Ritrovo
515 S. 8th St., Sheboygan, 920-803-7516
Self-taught chef Stefano Viglietti wows patrons with his Neopolitan pizzas, certified “authentic” by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples. Try the pie of the day, topped with local produce, and be sure to specify the desired crispiness of your crust.
Tenuta’s Delicatessen (Grocery)
www.tenutasdeli.com
3203 52nd St., Kenosha, WI, 262-657-9001
Tenuta’s is famous in the Midwest for being, well, the best Italian grocery in the Midwest. The aisles are jam-packed with reasonably priced Italian goods: wines, cheeses, canned goods, even cigars. It’s such a staple that President George W. Bush, perhaps to prove his mettle, made an unannounced stop there to chat with locals during a 2004 campaign swing through Wisconsin. Be sure to grab one of Tenuta’s renowned panini, in addition to your groceries.
