Renovated Salvatore Scallopini Italian Eatery Reopens in Birmingham | Eater Detroit

"After a three-month closure, I found that Salvatore Scallopini in Birmingham has reopened with a significant overhaul: an extensive interior renovation and menu updates while remaining a family-run institution anchored on the corner of North Old Woodward Avenue and Harmon Street for more than 30 years. Founded in 1985 as a quick-service deli counter and still co-owned by patriarch Larry Bongiovanni with his son Joe, the family brought in Ron Rea of Ron and Roman to modernize the space while preserving the spirit of classic red-sauce Italian spots; the entrance now features a cozy six-seat L-shaped bar (the restaurant previously lacked a bar) leading into a dining room with dark-walnut booths and four-tops, mid-century gold-framed mirrors, and black-on-white Pinocchio cartoons. Menu changes include a shift to an à la carte format with slightly lower prices to encourage exploration, but longtime favorites remain—handmade pastas and veal are still available—and dishes have been adapted for sharing (Sal’s caesar salad is now served for two). The seafood section has been expanded to emphasize the family’s Sicilian-style cooking, and the kitchen plans to offer more adventurous specials such as squid ink linguine with calamari, olive oil, and garlic; Joe acknowledges some regulars were apprehensive about the updates, but the family is confident their Italian food “fits a niche” in the city." - Brenna Houck