Luigi's Original Restaurant

This is our go to restaurant, the food is always fire. We have only had one bad experience with one of the waitresses but upon leaving the manager sat us in a different section and service was great! If there’s anything I’d have to pick to recommend it would be the lamb chops, Luigi style. They are phenomenal and always cooked spot on. 10/10

Second time at luigi’s and it only got better! The bread is a 10/10 with two different types. We got the pollo formaggio and linguine with tomato basil sauce with sausage. Drinks were a ghost tequila with pineapple juice and a tito’s with lemonade. Both were the perfect combo. All over a great experience and great service just a bit pricey on drinks.

I've driven past this place a bunch of times, honestly always thought it was just a pizza place, so I was very surprised and impressed with the food and drinks after finally stopping in. I would highly suggest a reservation because this place was packed and now I understand why. The bartenders did a fantastic job helping us decide what to eat and drink, for which I'm grateful as everything on the menu sounded so appetizing. All the more reason to come back and try more.

I cannot share enough good things about this place! I went with a part of 6 and every item at the table was a 10/10!! Those salmon bites were PERFECT. Steak was very tender & juicy! And those were just a couple of our appetizers. The entrees left us ALL speechless. The lasagna soup *chef’s kiss* This place was amazing. I have never been to a restaurant when EVERY item was good and EVERY person in the party was satisfied. Will be returning again!

came here for a birthday dinner and got the prime rib. it was delicious, especially with the side of mashed potatoes and gravy. everything was great but the biscoff cheesecake was absolutely the best. it was packed so it was a bit loud but not uncomfortable. will definitely be returning.

Immaculate food and service, they made sure everything was taken care of for our special event. Superb quality of pasta and fish with a comfortable environment. Cannot wait to go again. The bathrooms can be tight to get in and out of so give yourself extra time if need be. Other than that everything was perfect.

Cozy! It’s a small restaurant so it can get a little noisy, but the food is delicious

I went here for the first time with my sister and my father on Father’s Day. The service was excellent top notch and the food was even better! The bread basket you receive was delicious! I myself ordered the pizza and I’m very picky when it comes to what I believe is good pizza but the pizza here was so good 👌👌👍 I wish I took a picture of it! I’ll be coming here again for sure.

Excellent authentic Italian food!! The crab cakes are the best I've ever had. Will definitely eat here again. Warm cozy atmosphere.

Solid 4, possible 4.5 stars. Unpretentious, burnished Italian restaurant serving quality food for decades, a reliable stand-by. It looks a little clunky from the outside, parking remains 20th century. Inside it's dark, a little tight with steps and slopes built to accomodate various additions over the years. All the usual Italian accoutrements abound including checkered red and white tableclothes. One could envision the spaghetti scene from Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" reenacted here. PROS: Great service. Competent waitstaff. Old-school bread basket full of various breadsticks, crunchy and soft. Great chowder with even better house salad with even better bleu cheese dressing. Delicious arancini, two the size of raquetballs with delicious red sauce and a fantastic cheese glob in the middle. Stick-to-your-ribs cheese ravioli smothered in extra cheese and red sauce. Pan-fried crispy-edged pollo formaggio covered with cream sauce of the Gods resting on a bed of heavenly angel hair pasta. Old fashioned spumoni slices with liquor soaked cherries in the red part and toasted almond bits in the chocolate part. Salute! CONS: A little disappointed in the carry-out pizza. Got the large gourmet veggie. I wanted to say "wow" when first opening the box, however it was more like "meh". Certain toppings were quite small for that price point (see pics), like fragments of broccoli and cauliflower. I expected more from a $22 pizza. Still the taste was awesome, and it was wolfed-down by hangry East-siders. SUMMARY: Solid choice for an old-school East-side Italian meal. Go online and make a reservation, it can fill up here.

Classic old school Italian restaurant nicely decorated and a nice bar. Our server was friendly and attentive. We ordered Prime rib, classic linguine, and chicken Marsala along with oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer. All were delicious as were the Hungarian mushroom soup and salad. This restaurant is always busy so make reservations or arrive late.

Met up with friends,at this classic old time place. Service was excellent! Large prime rib shared was great and enough for small lunch the next day. Salad with house dressing- good also. Homemade bread. Ordered lasagna for next day's dinner- excellent also - plus all was packed great. Bottle of wine added in - didn't break the bank . Friends had whitefish & chicken Alfred. No complaints

Not near as good as it used to be. Lamb chops very dry overcooked last visit. Overpriced for what you get.

Great local Italian restaurant with delicious food and wonderful staff. If you are in the area, must stop and at least try a pizza!

Excellent food, very authentic, the waitress and staff were wonderful and the setting was very clean and warm.

I love Luigi's. I ordered the fried artichokes and the pasta casino. Both of excellent. My dad ordered steak tips. He really liked them. Plenty of food so I took it home and had another meal. Plus the bread is good!

We were unaware that they only take reservations, which makes sense since it is a small dining room. They were still able to accommodate my husband and I at the bar. But the food was just not as good as we remember it. Certain things were better than others.

The most awesome food and service, they even seated me without a reservation on a Friday evening early. The waitress was knowledgable and attentive. A hidden hole in the wall gem with great food! Their escargot is fantastic and the tarragon ravioli with lobster, a special that night, was fantastic! They even went above and beyond when packing left overs and i asked for more bread sticks to go and received them! Great place and reasonable pricing.

Charming Lake area vintage ambiance. A fave haunt in my teens in the mid-60's that my BFF & I just revisited. In the neighborhood, the two of us walked in about 5:00 on a Friday. They were starting to get busy & asked if we had a reservation. (No) But the staff was very friendly & found us a table. We enjoyed sharing a few short bits of Luigi's history with our waiter--some of it news on both sides. The house salad w balsamic dressing was a generous serving of very fresh, baby greens/veg mix. We chose the top of the list "Luigi's" pie with sesame crust--SO good! It was a bit noisy--hard to avoid in such a small place). We had declined the offer of a table in the remote back room, but nice that that's an option. I do think, though. that a place asking for reservations & with a slightly upscale menu (this is more than just the corner pizza joint of my youth;) should have linen tablecloths--not vinyl. (Come on! Not that many tables to cover;) OK, maybe just consider that a nostalgic nod to the Happy Days? We'll be back Sorry I didn't take a photo.

Yes, we have eaten here a few times and its always a friendly atmosphere. Great waitstaff and the food is exceptional. We will definitely be making our way back.

Our favorite date night spot. My husband and I love sharing the calamari, two pasta dishes and a dessert. Their house salad and dressing is delicious.

Service was great. Food was delicious. I grew up in the kitchen at Luigi's helping my aunt uncle run the kitchen and I always tell my staff how wonderful the food special the pizza was So for our company Christmas party this year I chose to take everybody to Luigi's for dinner. I let them order from the menu from stakes to pasta. Everything was outstanding. Our waitress was wonderful. She answered all our questions. I can't say enough about this almost historic restaurant come early and make a reservation Because they are always busy.

I am struggling to determine how this location has such a high rating. I understand it has been in the community for decades, love that, and supporting local. I have tried it multiple times wanting to at least like it little bit, after the most recent experience I just cannot justify it. Service-I know many restaurants are understaffed. Therefore those working are overwhelmed, I get it. I really try to show some grace. However, when you try multiple times to flag your server down and are ignored, when they are clearly irritated as soon as you're seated, It is hard not to feel uncomfortable, and like you're a burden on them. There were not enough please and thank yous I could offer to soften our serve up. While the manager was kind, it didn't make up for the clear displeasure of the wait staff. Drinks-stick to absolute basics here. Even basic cocktails were not made properly. Food-there are places you go where you have a safe item. Like pizza or a burger because it's hard to make those taste bad. This place has become that place. Likely pizza only. I have tried pasta several times here, it is boxed pasta always over cooked mush. Just because there is mass quantity on the plate, it doesn't make up for bad flavor, no flavor and lack of seasoning. arancini is good, we had a hiccup at first attempt coming out still cold in the middle, second attempt was better. Lamb chops overall table enjoyed. Pizza again..safe here. Michigan cherry chicken was extremely sweet. The overall consensus at the table was we couldn't escape fast enough, very unlikely to return.

Wish I could say this review would be better. Don't even think of going without a reservation. you'd think this was a 5 star Michelin grade place. No! The best part are the waitresses, very kind, attentive and quick. Manager in and out of back room trying to look attentive with this clip board, checking to see who was still there. We had their pizza, very basic, crust underwhelming, toppings seemed scant, if you are charging 18 bucks for a medium pizza, but some good on it, otherwise your just eating dough. suggest eating in back room, not so close and bundled together, main dining room is congested. Probably won't be back.

AMAZING!! This place hasn't changed at all over the years and I love that. They are consistently great and never disappoint. Although it's small, they move pretty quick and everything is top notch - food, services atmosphere

We have been here a few times. And the food is always amazing! Service was great ! You won't be disappointed!

I've been coming to Luigi's my whole life or so it seems. It's a favorite spot. A destination dinner place for this Grosse Pointer. I like the drive down Jefferson to Luigi's on a sunny day. It's an oldie and a goodie. I like the bread baskets, I love their dinner salads with red onions and sunflower seeds. I love their escargot and toasted points. They do it the old school way. I like old school. Until last night I had always ordered pasta at Luigi's this visit we went for a pizza pie. It was very nice and get this even better cold the next day. So my advice is: eat here, it's worth the drive, make a reservation, order the pizza or the pasta and order the wine. You only have this moment! Mangiare!

Luigi's is an absolutely fantastic Italian spot, tucked away in HTP! One of my long-time local faves! The intimate, dimmed setting makes for a romantic, cozy date night or memorable evening with family. Their staff is always so attentive and welcoming! We've had the same server the last few times (can't recall her name) and she's fantastic! The calamari and salmon bites are solid appetizers, along with the hot, pillowy, amazing garlic bread! There are so many phenomenal entrees, you can't go wrong. Some of my favorites are the perch, pollo formaggio, and chicken parmesan. Their huge portions will definitely leave you with some yummy leftovers! Of course you have to save room for their luscious and delightful homemade tiramisu! It's small and charming which also means reservations are a must. FYI- if you are making a same-day reso, they do close their online portal after 2:30p, so you will just need to call them for availability that day

I wish I could give this place 6 stars! Everything was so fantastic that I almost forgot to take a picture ... but I managed one of the last few bites of my 8oz filet! It was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth. How have I never been here before?! It's dimly lit but in a classic kind of way. Red and white checkered tablecloths give it an old world feel and the booths are adorable! We were approached by the staff a few times, wanting to make sure everything met our expectations. We were so happy announce that this meal exceeded them! Exceptional! Cannot wait to go back!

Service is amazing and the food is always outstanding. I typically order off the daily specials but the lamb chops and veal Ala Oglio are also favorites. Best house salad dressing. Our favorite spot for really great meals as well as a great selection of wine.

This place is consistently amazing. We sat in a booth instead of the barstool, and it was nice to face each other and talk. I ordered appetizers for dinner and I'm so happy I.

Well, it's not often I have had an unpleasant experience here, as LUIGI'S is our favorite Italian go to. However last night was the exception, and the reason I'm reporting this, is I want the owners to understand how disorienting last night's experience was. From the time we sat down we felt like we were rushed. Not just our server but all the servers were running around in a rush. Our server was nice and did fine, but she and the bus staff gave us a feeling of hurry up. Mind you, we are probably the quickest patrons this restaurant has ever seen. So for us to feel rushed, this was not our imagination. Food is five stars as usual, just wanted to relax a little bit, but that did not happen last night. Will still give this restaurant for if not five stars, because I am sure they were correct us.

I don't understand the positive reviews. The place had an old, musty smell to it. Kind of ruins your appetite. Our server was cold and indifferent, absent for most of our meal. The chicken Marsala I had- it was obvious to me as someone who has had chicken Marsala everywhere- was made with extremely cheap wine. I'm talking like Holland House they sell at Meijer $2.89 a bottle cheap. The pasta side was lukewarm and the noodles were overcooked. There is much better Italian in the area. Won't be back.

If you have more than 4 people reservation over the phone only. Ordered an appetizer, never arrived. Kids liked the pizza, thats not that hard to do.. Chicken was good. but pasta was straight from the box. Handed the plate of pasta back. the empty flavorless calories were not worth the 26 i spent. You are paying four star prices but are receiving 3 star (at best) food. You can get the same, if not better at a chain restaurant.

I almost don't want to write this up because they get enough business. Was taken out for a celebration last night. We had a table for 5. They have a section for larger parties. It was extremely noisy in this section. That's the only reason for 4 stars. Our waitress was very friendly. We love great service! She delivered and she was able to answer questions about the menu. My partner and I decided to go with all small plates. It's a wonderful option and they have great options. He lived the Luigi style lamb chops. I had the peppered shrimp. Not a big fan of cream sauce, but these were prepared well with toast points. We also had roasted asparagus, calamari, and sautéed artichokes. Everything was delicious including my Old Fashioned. We plan to come back on a less busy day or night. The unexpected acoustics of this room causes voices, particularly shrill ones to carry. They could use noise dampening boards on the ceiling and walls. They are relatively cheap. All said, excellent food and service!

I always order carry out .. but their pizza .. wow .. unmatched by any other, the crust is .. and I like extra lite sauce .. it only comes in round, but we look at each other, hoping the others are full so we can get the last piece .. always polite over the phone, it's always hot, and delicious, good to the very last bite, I've never been disappointed, only that they don't make an extra large round, hands down by far my number one favorite round pizza .. all the toppings are fresh, delicious & the perfect combination no matter what combination you order. Thank you Luigi's .. your round pizza is the best anywhere around .. thank you !!

Luigi's Original Restaurant has gone from one of our favorites to a sad disappointment lately. We love the food and staff, but since covid its either reservations only or an hour wait when tables are wide open and the lots empty. The same older male host is always not polite and we are only ever turned away when he works which is odd. It a shame because we truly love Luigis, but when you are constantly turned away even late on a weeknight multiple tomes we sadly must move on Thank god Terrys Terrace hooked us up!

Haven't been in years, so we were glad food was still delicious. Service was good and we thought prices were very reasonable. Place was packed so it was a little loud and hard to hear the others we were with. Will be back soon for sure.

Service was good....food not so. Ordered off the menu steak and shrimp with blue cheese with a side of fettuccine Alfredo. The Alfredo sauce was so garlicky I could not eat it. Steak was just so so. mushy and lacking flavor. Husband ordered the veal piccata it was loaded with mushrooms and not great.

The food is amazing and the service is absolutely outstanding. Would highly recommend. Make sure you make a reservation. They fill out fast.

We were excited to try this place since all of the pictures online looked great. I love the old school vibe of the inside and our server and busser were fantastic; the service was top notch. Unfortunately we were disappointed in our food. The bad: My husband did not like the clam chowder. I ordered the Pollo Formaggio and it had no flavor. I added salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to provide some flavor. I added even more seasoning when I reheated it at home. I think I would have preferred a red sauce since the sauce itself just seemed to be creamy, but flavorless. My husband ordered the Pasta alla Mama Luigi which looked great, but only tasted oily and like the peprika that was tossed all over the dish. The good: I liked the house dressing and the sunflower seeds that came on the salad. The homemade bread was great. We like to the pepperoni pizza.

My husband and I made a reservation here for our anniversary. Upon entering, I was overwhelmed by the smell of musty old carpeting. We were seated in the back in a small room , with only our small table next to a large group with small children. The noise level was quite high , considering how small the room was . It was hard to even hear each other talk. We asked if we could possibly move , and the waiter laughed in our faces and talked down to us like we were stupid. It was very uncomfortable , so we walked out and don't plan on returning.

Cute and authentic feeling old school Italian restaurant. Red checkered table cloths and twinkle lights sets the mood. Portion's were large with many choices. We had ravioli (very large) sea bass fish and angel hair pasta with shrimp (very excellent). Started it escargot and salads. Every was very good.

Apparently, the customer is not always right. The 4 of us sat down, and we knew what we wanted to order. But, the waitress told us that she wanted to only take the drink order. We asked if we she could take our food order, but she said she'd come back for the food order later. It took a few minutes, but we got water and place settings. After about 10, we got our drinks, and we were expecting to place the food order. But, once again, the waitress said she'd be back later to take the food order! My wife got upset about this second delay, but the waitress told us that she had just gotten 4 tables seated, which still doesn't explain why not taking our food order was somehow helping the situation. She could have easily have taken the order the first (or second) time, like literally any other server who's ever waited on me. She ended up finding another waitress to take our order, and the rest of the evening was what we've come to expect from Luigi's. The antipasto is robust, with high quality meat and cheese, and a rich vinaigrette. The bread basket has a nice selection of packaged and freshly baked bread. The pizza is how pizza is supposed to be: a nice chew to the crust, but the right amount of sauce that sings with San Marzano tomatoes and seasoning. But, boy oh boy, the weird service we got today certainly puts a damper on what should have been a great experience.

It's been awhile since I've been to Luigi's probably because I live on the west side now. Their food is really good! Especially their pizza and lasagna. They are usually busy so you need to make sure you make a reservation. I need to get back there for dinner soon! Highly recommend.

Holy moly restoring my taste buds! THANK YOU. And this is the biggest compliment to the chef....'I cannot stop eating it!!! I've relocated recently and previously have been a corporate chef for some of the best in the world. Thank you for an awesome meal and accommodating my request. I needed a calorie catching up day!!! Hearts all day and I will be back...ROCK STARS.

Made reservations for 4:30; promptly seated. Ordered appetizer, escargot, they were tough as rubber. Husband had beef shank that you could cut with a fork as it was so tender. I had the Michigan cherry chicken which was also very good. Topped it off with pumpkin cheesecake which was very yummy. Waitress was very attentive and very friendly. We love this place but the escargot has to go.

Just exquisite.! Service and food are always on point.Order an amazing pizza to go or sit down with the whole family and share easily the best Italian food Michigan has to offer!!

Don't leave many reviews but hopefully the owner of this place reads this and takes constructive criticism well. Made reservations for 4 at 7 oclock. Show up 10 minutes early and we waited till 5 after 7 to get seated. No problem with that. Mindful we have a 8 and 9 yr old with us and 7 is a late dinner so they are hungry. Get seated and takes a good 8-10 minutes before waitress comes to our table to get our drink order. 5 minutes later drinks come. Now there are two parties of 5 in the room we are seated at and obviously they are regulars on how they were speaking to our waitress so indeed so they are getting preferential treatment. Waitress comes back and I order an appetizer for table and that comes out fairly quick. We got the Arancini and it was spot on. Delicious and the kids devoured it. Got a basket of some fantastic bread choices and they devoured that as well. Assuming the waitress would promptly come back to take our order after the appetizer was dropped we were sorely mistaken. Almost 25 minutes passed before she came and even took our order. I'm in good service and sorry there was some mismanaged time happening and not sure the waitress was entirely to blame. Twice another girl came and look at our table only to walk away. Finally the waitress takes our order and says she's doing the best she can. We order our food and within the time we got food ordered and served the two parties had checked out. Then finally we got some service but that was way after 90 minutes of sitting there with two hungry and now tired kids. Food was spectacular and our meals were huge and delicious. Service definitely didn't match the food and that's sad. I was saying how I wanted to come back a few more times while we are here on vacation this summer but pretty sure the service ruined that for me. Being a business owner in the restaurant industry I know the trouble of hiring skilled staff. I just hire extra and make sure our customers are happy. Sometimes you can't just make it on food alone so hopefully you can turn things around.

Love this place, I think it use to be better but can't beat it still for the area! Love the pizza

I've been to Luigi's two or three times, I can't remember exactly but it was throughout a handful of years. It's my favorite restaurant. It doesn't matter how small the place is, because the ambiance is amazing. It's very cozy. The food is delicious. I requested Luigi's for my birthday one year just for the tiramisu. If you want real, home cooked taste Italian, I highly recommend. Even when the bread is overdone a tad (we can't be perfect, we're not robots!), it's gobbled up. When your bread and house salad are great, I'm already pleased. Add the desserts and pasta and I'm set. I love their grated cheese they top with.

Thank you, we were lucky to get a couple of chairs at the bar last minute. The food, the service and the ambiance make me sorry I'm only in town for 1 night but the experience makes me want to return soon.

Used to love going here. Last few times the very rude host turned us away, all the tables were empty! Never going back, the attitude is crazy.

Excellant place. Food is excellent. Great place to relax and enjoy good italian food.

Great food! Unfortunately they're always packed, but that in itself lends credibility to their quality menu! And there's always pizza carry out!

Been attending Luigi's for 30 Years. One of the best local favorites, have never had a bad meal.

In a heart beat everything my family had was Excellent. I will return and recommend Luigi's To everyone who are looking for a great family restaurant.