The Cook's Shop

Love the rustic design, very intimate and the waiters give excellent service. The owner was there and made sure to chat with the customers which I thought was touching. The bread id baked fresh with delicious garlic butter cream. The pasta is well seasoned and cooked to perfection. This is my second time here and it’s always a great experience

This place is a fabulous dining experience. It’s dark and cozy. Service is excellent. The food is rich and satisfying. The bread is so good. It’s coated in a rosemary salt and served with a whipped garlic butter. Decent wine selection as well.

An unexpectedly exquisite experience! Tucked away in what might appear to be a basement apartment (only at night time), this restaurant has ambience, menu and taste of one of finest Italian restaurants I have ever visited! A definite must visit while in the City of Roses, Windsor.

We visited The Cook’s Shop for the second time, and sadly, it will be our last. Our first experience left us impressed, so I did give a very positive review, but this time around was a major letdown so I had to delete the review and write this one. We came as a group, and not only was the food disappointing, but the service was shockingly rude. We ordered a NY Striploin, asking for it medium rare. What we received was well-done, or at best, medium well. It was so overcooked, it was hard to cut or chew. When we politely pointed this out, the server bluntly told us, "No, I believe that's medium well," as if we didn’t know what we ordered. Then the server’s boss comes up and says “What did you order again”, we replied medium rare. And his reply was, “I believe that’s medium rare”. It’s just so disrespectful to say it like that. His chef made a mistake but they are making the mistake look right. Disgusting behaviour. He was even looking low on us. The whole group was stunned, especially since another friend ordered medium rare, and their steak came out pink and juicy like it should. The pasta, which we loved last time, had also dropped in quality. They said they no longer add the cheese crust, without any notice. To top it off, we were overcharged for an appetizer because they doubled the order to "make sure everyone got a piece" without telling us. Funny part, when the bill came out, it had a separate section written Alcohol total. We didn’t even order Alcohol, but taking so much money and can’t fix these issues is just ridiculous. The staff’s attitude throughout was stubborn and dismissive, as if they didn’t care about our concerns. Overall, we left feeling extremely disappointed and won’t be back.

It was our first time here. We heard so much about The Cook's Shop that we had to try. Very nice romantic atmosphere. Food was delicious and the service was top notch. Definitely recommend!

What a wonderful night. A great experience, and a must try for the food conasour in the area. Delicious food, great service, and a beautiful resteraunt. A delight for your taste buds. Lots of Parking in rear.

Very romantic spot, my husband and I went there this past Saturday for his birthday. The lasagna was delicious..my husband had 12 oz New York strip dinner. It was cooked perfectly! Seasoning on food was so perfect! We will be back 💯 My photos are not the best, but it was such an intimate romantic spot I didn't want to even use my phone!

Beautiful and cozy, my husband and I had a fantastic night there, perfect for a quiet date, and the food is "finger-licking good." The gentleman that helped us was very friendly and polite, he speaks Portuguese and Understand Spanish and talked to us in fantastic manners, I can recall his name but he was great at his job. My favourite food was the dessert it was like an explosion of creamy and toasted coconut in your mouth. 100% recommend.

The ambiance was quaint and cozy. The food was delicious!!!! It was the perfect spot to celebrate a customer partnership.

Amazing experience last night at The Cook's Shop! Everything was spot on. The atmosphere was quiet and romantic. The service was exceptional. The food was 5 star all the way. They start you off with a petite loaf of savory garlic bread that is complimented with a creamy dollop of real butter. Of course we enjoyed the bread with a mint mojito and a glass of cab. Now the mojito wasn't quite sweet enough for my taste but the wine was crisp and flavorful. The lamb was the absolute best lamb we have ever tasted. The meat quality was excellent and the chef cooked it to perfection. Melt in your mouth and seasoned to perfection. The risotto was cheesy and the asparagus was fresh and crisp. The portion was large and a great value. The salmon was also perfectly cooked. The lemon balanced the dish out with the seasoning. This dish also came with the risotto and asparagus. I can't even say enough about the service! From the greeting at the door to every server who assisted our table, simply excellent We finished our evening splitting a creamy, sweet crème brûlée. The meal was $147 US and worth every penny and more! Don't sleep on this place! You won't find a better date night restaurant.

Coming to Dearborn for a car show, we thought ahead and brought our passports so we could have dinner in Canada. Yelp to the rescue again for us. We didn't have reservations for a Friday night but they were able to seat us on the patio. Service was top notch here and the food was delicious. We were told that everything is made in house and they have been here since 1980. A round of drinks with some fresh bread started our meal, salads for the table, then the main course. It was all timed well, we had time to finish before the next round. We never felt rushed, but we also didn't wait for the meal to come out. Sitting outside allowed us to converse casually without the normal noise that restaurants have, although when we ventured inside to use the facilities, the inside volume was pleasantly low as well. ( something that is sorely lacking in some stateside establishments) Dinner was exceptional, everyone enjoyed something different and no one had a complaint.

The Cook's Shop is a Windsor staple for romantic date nights. I haven't been here in over 5 years, and had recently come for a date night when I was in town visiting my family. This was the 1st time that I had been here under the new management and I am thrilled that the new management has kept up the same romantic vibe, delicious food and impeccable service. It was still as every bit as amazing as it has always been. I cannot wait to visit again. Their prices are fantastic for the amount of food and experience you get.

We had the most wonderful evening at The Cook's Shop! The food was delicious and the service impeccable! Thank you Spencer for an excellent dining experience!

Can never go wrong at the cook's shop! Fantastic drinks and delicious food. Scallops were out of this world with some bacon cranberry jam! It is expensive here, no different than going to the keg BUT cooks shop is better! Servers were very helpful and the ambiance is always spot on (romantic).

Went here for a birthday dinner. Service was pretty dreadful; so bad that a party was asking the staff to box their dinners up because they'd been waiting so long to eat. The food was nothing to write home about; octopus was charred a bit too much. It really wasn't very memorable overall but for the price you'd think it would have been. The atmosphere was just a bit stiff and some of the service touches you're likely used to with most fine dining ventures just will not be met here. We would not return.

This is an awesome restaurant. Perfect atmosphere for a date, or dinner with friends. Food was good and service was excellent. This is a family owned restaurant where everyone interacts with guests to ensure a memorable experience. We loved it!

For my Birthday dinner my wife and I went here. This isn't the first time. They have spruced up the restaurant and it looks great. We noticed one thing. When you went in you would just smell the garlic. Heaven. But for some reason we were not getting this attractive odour. We asked about it and our waitress said that they stopped it. Apparently garlic was hang up all over the restaurant. Something that will be missed. Others have mentioned this too. If you want a nice romantic dinner. This is the place to go! Side note. All of my times going there, there were no kids. So it was great. I'm not a kid hatter, I have some. Not that kids are not allowed, it's the atmosphere of the restaurant that it's not a place to bring them. We started out with there home made bread followed up with the "special" Caesars salad. We asked many times on the recipe but it's a secret. Moved onto entrees. I had the Angus Beef Stroganoff and my wife had the Angus beef scaloppine piccata. What a fantastic meal as usual. We never had a disappointing dining experience there. Our waitress Katherine made our evening even better. She was excellent. All I can say it was was a special evening. We have already reserved at date and time for our next dining experience. You have to do too.

Perfect date night restaurant. Ambience is excellent, good background music at a low enough volume you can still hold a conversation with your loved one. Food was phenomenal, with great recommendations by the waiter. Servings were ample and we had to take home some delicious leftovers.

The Cook's Shop is under new management. They've been upgraded. The menu is almost the same but prices have jumped up. It's no longer my favorite quaint cozy good eat for less. We started with the escargot. It's no longer served in the traditional silver serving dish with loads of butter and garlic. I liked it just fine but I prefer the way it was. The bread isn't the same crusty white bread they use to have. The salad is served individually now. The dressing is the same Amen! Last but not least the linguine with clams in red sauce is just as good as it has always been for which I was grateful! Time changes things some times for better sometimes for the worse. I'm glad I knew you when.

Fantastic food and even better service. I cannot recommend this place enough. Amazing fresh pasta and seafood and desserts. Staff is always a cut above as well. Always extremely satisfied at The Cook's Shop. Cannot recommend enough.

It was our first time here. This dining place is truly a hidden gem. We were looking for a fine dining place in Windsor for my husband's early birthday celebration. We were glad that we picked, The Cook's Shop. Let me tell you why..... Parking: One of the few restaurants in Downtown Windsor that has a good free parking located at the back of the restaurant. It is well lighted and has a small alley to connect the parking to the entrance. As a customers, this is a plus. . Restaurant: It is located in the building basement. As you enter, you can feel the coziness, aura of the fine dining atmosphere with the jazz music playing inside. A unique place to have an intimate dinner with friends, family or love one. Service: Jarett welcome us in a friendly manner and confirm our reservation. He was also our server. Not only he knows the menu he can describe every little details. As we seated and being served , Jarett constantly checking us. Excellent customer service there. Food: We had a bit of everything, started with complimentary, their homemade baked bread. For Cocktails: I ordered their in house- Margarita, amazing cocktail. For Appetizer: Beef Tenderloin Tip - it was cooked perfectly. The meat was so tender comes with mushrooms and onions with sauce and red wine. That by itself could have been our meal. For Entree: First, we were served with their version of Caesar Salad, generous amount of dressing the volume is just right. My husband ordered Spaghetti Bolognese and for me is the Tuscan Chicken. Both meals were exceeds our expectations. Why? Definitely the quality and taste of the food is a lot better than some Italian restaurants we have been. So appetizing and flavorful. Lastly, we ordered Cheesecake and coffee to finish off the dining experience. Another key highlights is having the opportunity to talk, as we were approached by the owner, Spencer. Not just he is a hands-on person , he constantly checked and asked, us what else do we need. He wants to make sure we were satisfied on everything. He invited us again to come back soon. He truly exceed his customers expectations. This fantastic experience is not possible if you do not make an advance reservation. Highly recommended is to book early. This place is always full. Overall: Highly recommended. We are a happy customers. We definitely going back. Kudos to the owner and the staff.

I have been at The Cook's Shop many times since trying it in May 2012. I thought they were always an excellent Italian restaurant. I went with somebody, and we both got the four-course New Year's meal on the night of Saturday, December 30th, 2023. We both shared everything we ordered, excluding the mussels. I got coffee and bread at the beginning. The coffee was Italian espresso, and was delicious. The bread was toasted with garlic and butter, being very flavorful. For the starters, polpette (meatballs) and Prince Edward Island mussels were served. The meatballs consisted of beef, veal, and pork in a tomato basil sauce. I found the meat to be quite tasty, and the sauce was excellent. The mussels were a Canadian dish served on the Atlantic seaboard. The shellfish was incredibly fresh, and I greatly enjoyed the garlic white wine sauce. Next, we got pasta. The dishes were bucatini carbonara and pesto cavatelli. The carbonara dish had a garlic white sauce with roasted pork cheek (very similar to bacon) and large hallow spaghetti-like noodles. The pesto cavatelli were elongated pasta shells were cooked octopus, kale, and pesto sauce. Both the pastas were incredible. For the main courses, we got salmon and lamb shank. The salmon was glazed in a sun dried tomato and parsley oil sauce served with spinach and carrots. It was cooked perfectly. The lamb shank was slow cooked. It was topped with bordelaise and cremini mushroom sauce. It was served with pearl onions and carrots. This was a humungous lamb chop, and the meat was so tender that it fell off the bone. This was my favorite dish for the night. For dessert, I got a cheesecake topped with glazed apples. That was also good. The food was outstanding over all, and it was fine dining. The service was excellent. Our waitress was very helpful and courteous. The restaurant's interior is very beautiful and fancy. I know this restaurant changed its menu over the years, but my most recent meal here was the best. This restaurant feels very world class. I actually felt like I had a gourmet meal in Europe. For visitors in Windsor (Ontario), you have to try this restaurant.

Food was excellent. Ambiance and service were beyond this earth. I will highly recommend this place if you are looking for a nice romantic dinner

Truly one of the best restaurants I've ever visited. We had a party of 8 and the service, food and drinks were all impeccable. I cannot wait to dine here again.

The Cook shop was a great experience, Jarrett was an amazing server, he was very attentive and explained every dish super well!

Our dinner for 8 was amazing. From Jared, our server, to beautiful and delicious cocktails, to our main course, everything felt special. And that Bread!!!! The whole staff was impressive.

My favorite restaurant for 30 years. Consistently great food and atmosphere. Good fish, appetizers, steaks, pasta carbonara

The Cooks Shop Restaurant Windsor under New Management and still a MUST stop destination Restaurant on your Bucket List! When I knew I was returning to Windsor guess what...Yep first thing called to make a reso at The Cook's Shop (Not just saying that either, the FIRST THING)! This is one of On The Road Eats favorite spots to eat! Finding out one of my Favorite Restaurants in the WORLD was under new management I didn't know what to expect. Sometimes it is good or can go horribly wrong. In this case GOOD! Upon being seated all the Charm and Ambiance is still there and that friendly wait staff ready to serve. Seeing a young man running around, greeting guests etc. I asked who the new owner was, turns out it was him. Spencer chatted with us for a while and then returned to making all of us guests feel welcomed. When asked what you are hungry for, I looked at the menu and said ALL OF IT! Not kidding, Fresh Pasta (dedicated to the Al-Dente Pasta and Sauce) to Steaks and Lamb Chops! This was the first time in a long time, where I didn't know what to get. The entire menu is AWESOME! You start out with an amazing Romaine lettuce salad. When walking in, I saw another table enjoying the salad, and it looked amazing. I was assured that is part of the Dinner "YEAH ME"! You know I love me some Lamb Chops! I went back and forth with our Awesome Waitress on what to get and she kept coming back to the Lamb Chops. I am a sucker for Lamb Chops, and I wanted to try something The Cook's Shop was famous for, so Yep Lamb Chops it is! You have to try the Angus Beef Scaloppine Piccata. Super GOOD! Or the Angus Beef Stroganoff! Yes, Stroganoff like Grandma used to make, just MORE AWESOME! You can't go wrong with the Mixed Grill Spiedino, loaded with beef, sausages and polpette and veggies. A Winner for sure! One. Amazing, Two. Huge Portion, back to One. Amazing. Not Gamy, Not over Seasoned, No Crazy Sauces, just that perfectly cooked Lamb Chop! Did I say it was AMAZING! We had stayed a few extra days and instead of picking another restaurant we called to see if they could fit us in. They were booked solid, but Spencer got on the phone and said come on down and he could get us in. Thank you Spencer another AWESOME night out! The Cook's Shop Restaurant Windsor Canada WOW is all I have to say. Thank you to all at The Cook's Shop and New Ownership (Spencer) for letting a Chef like me experience one of the BEST, RELAXED, FUN and AWESOME FOOD NIGHTS HE CAN REMEMBER and keeping the same Feel and Taste as before~ Chef Greg Reilly

Our second trip back tonight and brought friends with us. To say the least, none of were disappointed with anything from their excellent service to the even more amazing food. The Escargot and Mussels were our starters followed by our spaghetti dishes, the ladies had the special and us guys the Spaghetti Carbonera.

Great, fresh food! Great ambience and exceptional service, every time! Perfect for any occasion

I'm truly broken posting this. What a waste of a perfect filet mignon . I had one bite only to be disappointed with the taste of burnt Demi glaze" Oct 29, 2022 L9638BUjenniferg (1 review) Chatham-Kent, Canada Celebrated my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary . He chose the restaurant and I was glad. I have been a customer for several years and never had a problem. Tonight, I... Celebrated my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary . He chose the restaurant and I was glad. I have been a customer for over 27years and never had a problem. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was impeccable. The entrée was such a disappointment. I told the server to pack it up, only to throw it away. I had mentioned that the entrée was horrible. I was hoping that she had replaced it while I watched my husband enjoy his crème brûlée. I should have stopped for a bite to cleanse the burnt taste. I don't blame anyone. I should have spoken up sooner. Disappointment all around. Date of visit: October 2022 Date of visit: October 2022 Celebrated my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary . Over 27 years and never had a problem. Tonight, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was impeccable. The entrée was such a disappointment. I told the server to pack it up, only to throw it away. I had mentioned that the entrée was horrible. I was hoping that she had replaced it while I watched my husband enjoy his crème brûlée. I should have stopped for a bite to cleanse the burnt taste. I don't blame anyone. I should have spoken up sooner. Disappointment all around. Date of visit: October 2022 PS I had just left the hospital a few days before my reservation. It was truly painful, to be served this entree and our server not taking actions to resolve the problem. Was supposed to have the entrée removed from the bill; never happened.

The Cook's Shop.. 5 Stars every single time.. This place has set the bar at an all time high... The food.. AMAZING... The staff.. AMAZING.. The Atmosphere.. AMAZING.. Perfect place for a date night or double date night.. Downtown Windsor.. This is the place to be.

It was our first time dining here and it really exceeded all expectations. The food and atmosphere were incredible. The server was very friendly and the service overall was great. Will definitely return.

This is the place you wished they had more than just 5 stars to give. The Cook's Shop is the benchmark of what fine dining and service is all about. This is also without the pretentious and snooty clientele and servers. Very warm and intimate setting in the lower level. In fact, if you don't know where it is, you will miss it. This is one of the many things that's endearing to me however. It's like a private club that only the people in the know, knows about. The food is perfection. From the Caesar salad and bread, to the pastas and steaks... perfection. We had the crepe Suzette and damn it was good. They also offer peach and cherry flambé. Like the crepes, also made right at your table. On top of the food and service, having a conversation with Lino, the owner, just adds to an already magical meal. Please, do yourself a favor and go to the Cook's Shop! You WILL be a regular customer. This place is just that good. But remember, MAKE A RESERVATION! They open at 5:00 pm and the last reservation is taken. UPDATE: The owner of the Cooks Shop, Lino, recently retired, and there has been some changes to the place. Some changes seem minor to most. However, to those who have been dining here for years like my self, they kind of matter to the overall dining experience and some of the reasons we make the trip to Windsor. They removed the meat counter in the front. They also removed the red light bulbs in the niches. And sadly, Lino isn't around to share a story and to make you feel at home. Nothing they can do about the later, except find someone who can interact with the patrons in some way like Lino.

Nestled in the basement of a building from 1908, the restaurant feels like you time traveled to the renaissance era accompanied by dim lighting and Antique decor. Baroque music playing in the background loud enough to enjoy, but soft enough to be able to have a conversation without shouting at your company. We had reservations but didn't really need it because it was really in the evening. We ordered 4 main dishes, all of which came with communal salad and garlic bread. I had the mixed grill spiedino plate, all the meats tasted great but nothing really stood out. It came with a side of tomato based spaghetti. The rainbow trout that night was extremely fishy tasting. I wouldn't have been able to finish another bite of it if I had more. The New York steak was average in size, done just as requested; medium rare. Not chewy at all. The angus beef scaloppine piccata was nice and saucy with lots of mushrooms on top of the meat that was thinly sliced. Could have used a bit more salt in the flavouring but we didn't add any to keep it healthy. All in all, service was pretty quick we had second helpings of the bread but didn't get refills to all of our waters as there was only 1 server for our half of the restaurant. Prices are reasonable.

If you're a long time customer like me, it's decent but not the same. I tried all four dishes and while good. Not the mind blowing experience when Lino ran things. Smaller portions and close to double the price. Not worth the trip from USA anymore. My all time favorite place. Bye Bye.

What a wonderful experience this place was. The food was excellent, and the staff was friendly. A very quite and romantic atmosphere for my wife and I to share an anniversary dinner .

We enjoyed an incredible evening/dinner here tonight. We have family visiting from Spain and we all had a wonderful dinner. Special thanks to Alec, our waitress; she was a joy. I don' recall a woman working so hard to perfection when serving a table of six. There was a definite language barrier with some of our guests, but Alec handled everything beautifully. The flavors of everything, from appetizers to entrees, was incredible. I find lately that restaurants are scaling back on salt and other flavors, but not here; everything had incredible flavor. Our table shared the lasagna and spahgetti carbonara; both were incredible. Along with a fabulous Cabernet from Canada; such a surprise...we all loved it. The appitizers as well were wonderful. This was my first time here and it won't be my last. We live about 45 minutes away in Metro Detroit. The drive was nothing compared to the quality and service received tonight. Thank you, The Cook's Shop!

This place is a hidden gem in Windsor. It's a warm, cozy, and dark italian restaurant tucked in a basement in a relatively abandoned area of Ouellette avenue. Reservations are necessary to dine here. I enjoyed the appetizers that came with the entree- unlimited warm garlic bread and whole leaf Caesar salad. Had rainbow trout which came with some spaghetti. The trout was quite good and the bones were even removed which was a nice surprise. The spaghetti that it came with was mediocre. For about 18$ CAD, the fish was a good deal. The other dish I tried was the Angus steak scaloppini piccata at about 21$. The steak was missing some flavor in my opinion; however, it seems to be a very popular dish here. For dessert, I tried the tiramisu which was delicious and light. Overall, a nice meal for a good price. I was also surprised to see coffee for 50 cents and cappuccino for 75 cents. The waiter was friendly and noticed the other friendly waiters / waitresses as well.

Somehow never been to this Windsor stalwart. It's located down a few steps off of Ouellette (parking on Pelissier). The décor is old school wine cellar. Tables only, no booths or banquettes. Goldilocks-sized menu - neither too big nor too small. Heavier on Italian specialities than I would have thought. It indicates that the spiedini ($16) can only be ordered as an appetizer but then there was some sort of weirdness with my order, then the first part of it arrived with items that I cannot eat, so I only ended up with part of my order. They were okay about accommodating my allergies, but not great. For example, instead of the Caesar salad that everyone else received, I got just lettuce. No option was offered to me in place of the garlic bread. The menu could be clearer as to what accompanies the dishes. All of the pasta mains are $21 and come with bread and salad. I think that the non-pasta mains come with a side of pasta, but can't be sure. Non-pasta mains start at $21. The rest of my group enjoyed their meals. Large portions. Reasonable wine prices by the glass, bottle, 1/4 litre or 1/2 litre. Limited selection, though. They would do well to consider a higher quality house wine. Service was good. Mackenzie did her best to make everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. Good pacing - not rushed, not slow.

Not the Cook Shop I know. Having been a steady patron of this place for well over 20+ years. There was a time when I need not attend as often for various reason. Imagine the shock when I arrived and just about everything that was on the menu was gone. And when asked, the server said "we don't have that". So items that were the building blocks of the place can't be made anymore? But I guess new people -- new money.. If you're happy with what it's become? Enjoy! I'm out.. not going back.

I am actually going to call this the "Best Italian Restaurant Ever". Bold claim sure, but I had begun to hate Italian food, only because so many do it so poorly. Coming back from a business trip to Detroit, I stopped in with a business associate. We were looking for a meal before the drive back to the GTA, and I noticed that Kris U had reviewed Cook's. If you can't trust the Yelp Area Manager... It was about 20 minutes before the opening time of 5PM, but Lino the owner welcomed and entertained us with gracious conversation until the kitchen was ready. He spent a lot of time throughout the meal explaining why his Black Angus Beef is not available at many Eastern Canadian restaurants, and why his lamb is authentic spring lamb and why it is important. We felt like we were guests in his home. But about the food: we started with the New Zealand Green Mussels in Maranara that was impossibly fresh. Actually, everything is so impossibly fresh, I was tasting balances in ingredients I have not experienced at 3 times the price in Toronto or Chicago or Vegas. The dozen mussels for $8 were perfect. Lino explained that the dishes shown on the menu don't indicate any sides, but in the true Italian tradition, fresh garlic bread, salad and pasta were included and abundant. We used two orders of garlic bread to sop up every drop of the marinara on the mussels. The salad was a basic whole leaf romaine with a few FRESH croutons (not the stone pellets other joints serve) and a dressing that is incredible. The salad bowls arrived chilled to freezing, further indicating the attention to detail and passion Lino has for his food. I had the Angus Scallopini Picatta at a mere $18, with 3 large butterlike portions of perfectly cooked beef, and about a pound of fresh chopped mushrooms in the perfect sauce. Clearly this is not over seasoned, or using anything other than the minimum amount of fresh seasonings. I hoovered down every morsel, then dumped my side of al dente spaghetti in tomato sauce onto the plate so I could soak up every last bit of gravy. My associate ordered the Lamb Chops, 5 healthy sized chops on a steel skewer. I sampled a piece and was amazed that I could cut it with a fork I have never had lamb this tender-anywhere-ever! In preparation for the drive back to the GTA, I ordered a cappuccino to build up a bit of caffeine. I was shocked to find out that the fresh pressed cappuccino is 75 CENTS, and a pot of normal fresh brewed coffee is 50 CENTS!!!! Pricewise, Cook's is embarrassingly inexpensive. I have spent up to $50 for a veal scallopini in other places and it was not half as good as Cook's. I would have paid triple what the final bill came to and felt I had received good value. I have to editorialize: I read the reviews of the few that gave less than 3 stars, and clearly recognize that you experienced an anomaly. Get over it, because in the greater scheme of things, you are simply painting over a masterpiece with a dirty brush. Annoyed that they are only open a strict 5 hours per night? If you don't know that a true Italian meal takes nearly two hours, go back to powdered and frozen joints that slam you through in 45 minutes, but don't bother to complain about Cooks. Sorry, but you simply don't get it. Rant over... As for me, I will not be likely to ever eat an another Italian restaurant this side of Naples ever again, except for Cook's. They spoiled me forever. Bad Italian is the worst, and Cook's makes everyone else look bad...Sorry, Giuseppe...

This is my favorite restaurant in Windsor. I went there several months ago with my husband and a friend visiting us and we were such amateurs we didn't know about the reservation rule. The heavens shined down upon us and thankfully someone didn't show up for their reservation so we quickly pounced at the opportunity to eat here. It was excellent that time so when my parents were going to be in town, I immediately knew we had to take them here. We were greeted warmly at the door and our waiter was attentive and funny. The salad dressing alone is worth coming for and this is from a girl who cringes at the site of leafy green veggies. The garlic bread was so good my mom tried to hide it from the rest of the table although she will deny this if asked. I had (once again) the Atlantic cod spiedino with a side of spaghetti. So delicious and flavorful. The fish was flaky and well seasoned. My husband had the spaghetti matriciana and its claim to fame is that it has bacon in it. Our waiter also proclaimed it as his favorite dish. My dad had the lasagna which was a decent size and yet he finished it all! My parents couldn't stop talking about how excellent the food and restaurant was. The only downfall was the desert. It just wasn't as good as the rest of the meal. I don't think they're homemade but honestly it cannot dim my love form the restaurant. Cannot wait to return.

The Cook Shop has been a favourite of mine for more than 20 years. The New owner Spenser, is bringing in some New delightful dishes, the bread is devilishly good with a crispy crust and soft buttery inside. Tonight I had the Tuscany chicken it's definitely a win in my books the sauce was Devine, the vegetable medley was freshmy cooked to perfection and the potatoes like the bread, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My husband completely enjoyed the minestrone soup, I had to try it and yummy is all I can say, it was clear the broth was homemade. Service was excellent event under these difficulty circumstances and Spencer was present making sure his guests were happy. All in all some great changes. I would definitely recommend to anyone from Windsor to give it a try. Visitors to the city, book a few weeks ahead to ensure you get a chance to try it. You won't be disappointed

We've been to the Cook's Shop several times in the past, but it was long before 9/11 made crossing the border into Canada a big deal. We were glad to see that it was as charming as we remember. It is in the basement of a building where their sister restaurant used to be. (Our server said there was a fire a couple years ago & they chose not to reopen, as the same pasta is available downstairs.) Because it's a basement, it is rather dark, but that adds to the ambiance. The smell of garlic wafts through the whole restaurant -- something that, when we visited Italy, we noticed was lacking. Pasta appetizers are prepared tableside. (Had I known this, I might've ordered one of those instead of my entree!) The entrees come with a large Caesar salad -- full leaves of romaine lettuce, croutons and dressing served family style in a stainless steel bowl. This is not mentioned anywhere on the menu, and when we asked the server about salad, she said we'd ruined the surprise. Freshly baked bread is served along with the salad. The entrees are very generous and tasty as well. I had the angus beef scallopine piccata, which was quite nice. Others ordered the steak Diane, the spring chicken and the shrimp and escargot. They all enjoyed their meals as well. However, if you do not like mushrooms, be sure to mention it, as everything comes with a more than generous portion. As others mentioned, the entrees are served along with a small bowl of spaghetti with marinara sauce, although you can opt for vegetables instead. Interestingly, other than the salad, no other vegetables are served with the entrees. Speaking of our server (whose name, I believe, was Carrie), she was charming. She was professional but very friendly and of good humor. My only real complaint are that the beverages are small the iced tea was actually sweet tea, and it came in a glass akin to a wine glass) and there didn't appear to be refills -- although the water was refilled frequently. If you're looking for a little trip with a bit of the excitement of going to another country for dinner, the Cook's Shop is a great choice. Be sure to make a reservation, though; we called several weeks in advance and the 7:00 time was already filled, so we opted for 8:00. (The other choice was 5:00.)

Cute decor, delicious food, bad service. Reservations were at 6, we were seated 15mins early but no one greeted us until exactly 6pm even though it wasn't that busy. Waiter was blunt, not very friendly and our desserts took 45mins to bring out. Would come back here for the food and ambience, but wished the service made this an even better experience for us. Loved the complimentary garlic bread and salad, spaghetti was surprisingly delicious and didn't just taste like plain tomato sauce. Would come back to try again in the future.

The most romantic restaurant in Windsor. Wonderful home-style Italian menu, whether fowl, fish, steak, and especially wonderful pasta. Don't wait. Just go! My favorite place in the Rose City.

The restaurant is tucked into a garden on the basement level. It is low lite, and the dining areas are small, which contributes to a romantic feeling. A good place to go on a date, especially if you do not want your date to see your face clearly. I came with a group and we made a reservation so despite being busy, we had no wait. The service was excellent. The pasta is fresh, I'm not sure if they make it in house, but definitely taste not-from-the box. They bring a huge salad to start and the Cesar dressing that comes with is house made, with their own twist (much better than the regular you will find elsewhere). The garlic bread was buttery and toasty, you can easily fill up on just bread and salad. I split the Steak Diane with a friend. Since we did not want left overs, this was a good idea as the portions are huge. The steak also came with a side of pasta. Even sharing we left uncomfortably full. The steak is thin and is cooked to the chef's preference (do not expect it to be cooked to order) with a mushroom sauce. Great place to eat if you are in the Windsor area.

The food was phenomenal and the service was just as good. Staff were super friendly and helpful.

Went to the Cook Shop one time wasn't too impressed. It look like a nice romantic little place but the tables were too close together and it seemed like they tried to cram a bunch of people in the small area. I couldn't even hear my date talk from across the table. The food wasn't bad, but because of the environment.. I probably won't return.

What a great little space serving fabulous Italian cuisine. The proprietor, Lino, is a delightful personality making us feel more than welcome in his establishment. The food was excellent. The table shared a delicious Cesar salad and garlic bread. We were a table of three. I had the gnocchi based on other yelp recommendations, it didn't disappoint me. One of our party enjoyed the lamb while the other had pasta in oil and garlic. The wine list is modest and reasonably priced. We had a bottle of Amarone cesari for $69.00. Given it is a $40.00usd bottle, one can't complain. Reservations are recommended. We will make a habit of returning to this fine restaurant for very good Italian food in Windsor

A gem of a restaurant with real Italian charm, and food that is to die for. I have been lucky enough to travel and enjoy restaurants all over the world, but having The Cook's Shop available 15 min from my house has spoiled me. The entire menu is great (tried most of it), and the new bread and garlic butter are amazing. My favourite entree is the lamb.... always amazing. Make reservations well in advance, particularly on weekends. Go and check it out and you will see why it has been a pillar of fine Italian food in Windsor for 40 years.

May be the best restaurant in Windsor. Partner wanted Italian and locals suggested any place on Erie st. I found the reviews on yelp helpful and Spot on. Great place. One of our party was underdressed but he wasn't made uncomfortable by other patrons upscale dress. The food was amazing. Did take the advice of other reviews to making reservations. We did make jokes we should be bringing our wives here and not our co-workers. An absolute treat to be able to dine in such a gem of Windsor.

Had a great meal with friends in this lovely little spot. Our server Mackenzie was a true delight and was very helpful with helping us decide what to order. The lamb was so tender and the bread brought to the table was some of the best we've ever had. It was a nice surprise to get biscotti served with our capaccino. What a treat!! We will definitely be back.

Always great food and a good atmosphere. One of my wife's favorite places and it's right across the river from Detroit. Don't blink because you may miss it. Make sure you try the mushroom appetizer! I could eat a whole plate of these just by themselves.

Great food! If you're vegetarian, like myself, easiest to get mushrooms or pasta. Best to make a reservation, as they can be busy. The house salad is also good.

We visited one evening in July based on a friend's recommendation. The ambiance was really cool in the first floor of an old house. We were able to get a romantic table in the corner and our server was very attentive. At first I was confused by the menu but our waiter quickly explained how things worked and I ordered the lamb chops. While very tasty, they were a little rare for my preference. Our salad and bread were good (not great but acceptable). Both the tables surrounding us were repeat visitors who were very big fans of this restaurant. A very good choice for a nice romantic dinner in Windsor.