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12 Best Restaurants in Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a suburb of Detroit that offers no shortage of excellent dining options. From casual eateries to upscale establishments, this city has something for every palate. In this article, we’ll countdown the 12 best restaurants that Farmington Hills has to offer.
# | Restaurant Name | Specialty | Ambiance/Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Town Tavern | Elevated pub grub | Cozy, laidback dining with seasonal outdoor seating |
2 | Opa! of Farmington Hills | Greek cuisine | Vibrant flavors, rustic dining room, monthly wine dinners |
3 | 839 Wine Bar & Kitchen | Contemporary American | Upscale, modern dining with an extensive wine list |
4 | Public House | Gastropub | Casual, historic setting with creative shared plates |
5 | Sweet Lorraine’s Cafe & Pub | Comfort food | Homemade classics in a country-chic setting |
6 | SIX.ONE.SIX | American bistro | Sophisticated, urban-chic with a seasonally inspired menu |
7 | Walia Ethiopian Cuisine | Ethiopian | Unique flavors with vegetarian options, authentic setting |
8 | Italian Epicure Shoppe | Italian fast casual | Quick, quality Italian dishes with minimal seating |
9 | Rafih’s Grill | Lebanese street food | Casual, family recipes with a focus on grilled meats |
10 | Basement Burger Bar | Burgers | Creative burgers in a laidback, underground setting |
11 | Craft Breww City | Gastropub with craft beer | Tasting room vibe, Michigan craft beers, hearty grill fare |
12 | Big Salad | Healthy salads | Fast casual, fresh and organic ingredients with customization |
Farmington Hills may be best known as a quiet residential area, but foodies are well aware that this Detroit suburb is home to some of the best restaurants in southeast Michigan. With a population of over 80,000 people, Farmington Hills has a vibrant dining scene that serves up everything from creative small plates to traditional American comfort food.
Several restaurants on this list have been serving Farmington Hills for over 30 years, demonstrating their ability to stand the test of time. Yet the city also has hotspots of newer, chef-driven concepts that bring contemporary twists to cuisine. From strip mall mainstays to fine dining destination restaurants, it’s clear that Farmington Hills loves good food.
To compile this list, we conducted extensive research on over 50 restaurants located within Farmington Hills city limits. Reviews, awards, and local recommendations were all taken into consideration as we narrowed down the 12 best options. A variety of cuisines, settings, and price points are represented on this diverse list that showcases the city’s culinary landscape.
No matter what you’re craving, these 12 restaurants offer something special to satisfy your appetite on your next night out in Farmington Hills.
1. Town Tavern
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Name and Location: Town Tavern is located at 31646 W 14 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 in Halstead Shoppes plaza.
History and Significance: Open since 1998, Town Tavern brings classic American pub fare and hospitality to Farmington Hills families. Its friendly neighborhood atmosphere keeps loyal regulars coming back for wings, burgers and live music by local bands. Popular spot before/after nearby Orchard Mall shopping.
What to Expect: Full bar and pub grub menu starring wings, chicken tenders, sliders, wraps and salads. Also weekend brunch omelets, over 20 draft beers and weekly entertainment like karaoke, trivia and local musicians. Casual, family/sports fan friendly.
Visitor Information: Open daily from 11am-2am, serving food until 1am. Get $2 off select appetizers 3-6pm and 10pm-close. Call 248-539-8660 for parties 6+.
For over 35 years, Town Tavern has been a go-to neighborhood eatery serving elevated pub grub and handcrafted cocktails. Located in a small strip mall along Orchard Lake Road, this unassuming tavern dishes out tasty fare like burgers layered with caramelized onions, garlic shrimp linguine, and lemon basil salmon.
While the menu covers all the bases you’d expect at a local tavern, Town Tavern sets itself apart with chef-inspired daily specials and seasonal offerings. Inside the cozy, laidback dining room and bar, you’ll often spot regulars chatting up the friendly waitstaff. Outdoor patio seating is also available seasonally. With reasonable prices that belie the quality of food, Town Tavern is an ideal spot for everything from a weekday dinner to a weekend celebration.
2. Opa! of Farmington Hills
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Name and Location: Opa! Of Farmington Hills is located at 30385 W 12 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 west of Halstead Road in Orchard 12 plaza.
History and Significance: Open since 2005, Opa! brings Greek island cuisine, entertainment and hospitality to Metro Detroit via family recipes. Their fun, lively taverna captures Greek culture through live music, belly dancing, plate throwing and flaming saganaki cheese. Popular regional chain.
What to Expect: Family-friendly rustic taverna with classic Greek dishes like moussaka, pastitsio, gyro pitas, spinach pie and signature saganaki flambeed tableside. Greek wine, beer, Ouzo cocktails. Nightly music and dancing.
Visitor Information: Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 11am-9pm. Moderate menu prices from $10 to $25. Reservations for parties 6+ at 248-926-6602.
Bringing the vibrant flavors of Greece to Farmington Hills, Opa! serves up authentic Mediterranean specialties in a fun, welcoming setting. Their menu bursts with popular Greek staples like spanakopita, fluffy grape leaves, grilled lamb chops with lemon potatoes, and chicken souvlaki seasoned with oregano and garlic. While dinner entrées like the sampler platter offer a taste of Greece, the restaurant also rolls out an all-you-can eat lunch buffet daily.
Opa! sets itself apart with an impressive selection of Greek wines as well as a monthly Greek wine dinner that pairs a set menu with featured bottles. The rustic dining room filled with whitewashed walls and blue accents makes an ideal backdrop for special occasion dining. Yet the friendly staff and excellent value for money ensure that Opa! offers a top-notch Greek experience for casual meals too.
3.839 Wine Bar & Kitchen
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Name and Location: 839 Wine Bar & Kitchen resides at 32516 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI 48336 east of Power Road.
History and Significance: Opened in 2015 by husband-wife owners, 839 Wine brings approachable elegance to Farmington’s food and wine scene through their cozy wine lounge merging old world tradition with modern custom cuisine. Extensive international wine list.
What to Expect: Rustic industrial space filled with warm lighting and exposed brickwork. Seasonal small plates menu starring fresh seafood, grilled meats, housemade pastas. Sommelier chosen wine pairings including over 40 wines by the glass.
Visitor Information: Dinner Monday-Thursday 4–10pm, Friday & Saturday 4–11pm, Sunday 3–9pm. Happy hour specials weekdays. 248-987-9239 for reservations. $$$ pricing.
For a refined night out with world-class wine and dining, 839 Wine Bar & Kitchen offers a food and drink experience like none other in Farmington Hills. As their name suggests, wine is the main event at this upscale eatery located in a small shopping center off Farmington Road. Boasting a wine list with nearly 200 expertly curated bottles, they specialize in boutique California pinots, Italian barolos and champagnes rarely spotted at other local restaurants.
In the sleek, modern dining room, guests can sample these impeccable wines alongside contemporary American plates like mushroom ravioli with truffle cream, seared scallops in a honey glaze and braised short ribs atop parmesan risotto.
Looking for lighter fare? 839 also offers small plates like ahi tuna tartare and charcuterie boards at their full bar. With extraordinary wine finds and scratch-made cuisine, 839 brings true fine dining polish to Farmington Hills in an experience focused on quality over quantity.
4.Public House
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Name and Location: Public House is located at 32049 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI 48336 in the River Glen shopping plaza west of Orchard Lake Road.
History and Significance: As downtown Farmington’s first gastropub when opened in 2009, Public House brings craft beers and creative takes on comfort cuisine to the heart of the historic village in a relaxed, welcoming setting perfect for gathering and conversation.
What to Expect: 40+ constantly rotating craft beers on draft including sought after limited releases. Elevated pub grub like house smoked meats, artisan pizzas, fish and chips, pretzel bites. Streetside patio seating available.
Visitor Information: Open daily 11am-2am. Kitchen serves full menu until midnight on weeknights, 1am on weekends. Call 248-942-4667 to book events.
Craving elevated pub food with a focus on bringing people together? Public House in downtown Farmington Hills is a laidback eatery slinging gourmet snacks, sandwiches, creative shared plates and 30 beers on draft. Located in a converted historic mansion, this gastropub oozes easygoing charm with its formula of familiar dishes made with upscale flair.
Here, pretzel sticks arrive with pub cheese fondue for dipping while their grilled chicken sandwich comes stacked high with fresh arugula and bacon onion marmalade. Other menu highlights include the spicy General Tso’s cauliflower and scored filet mignon sliders doused in zippy buffalo sauce.
Made for sharing, menu items encourage conversation just as much as Public House’s outdoor patio, welcoming vibe and weekly event lineup. With local craft brews, cozy fireplaces and scratch cooking, Public House brings a quality gastropub experience to downtown Farmington Hills.
5. Sweet Lorraine’s Cafe & Pub
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Name and Location: Sweet Lorraine’s Cafe & Pub resides at 29090 Northwestern Highway in the Green Three Plaza in Southfield, MI 48034.
History and Significance: Since 1999, Sweet Lorraine’s cozy but vibrant retro-chic restaurant brings comforting American classics plus their signature mac & cheese recipes to Southfield and beyond with additional locations now open. Award-winning regional brand.
What to Expect: Homestyle favorites like pot roast, chicken tenders, burgers and wraps share creative menu space with Sweet Lorraine’s 10+ varieties of cheesy baked macaroni dishes from lobster to chicken bacon ranch options. Full bar available.
Visitor Information: Open daily serving brunch, lunch and dinner from 8am-11pm (10pm Sunday). Moderate prices from $10-$25 per entree. Call 248-213-3333 for parties over 8.
For feel-good meals in Farmington Hills, Sweet Lorraine’s Cafe & Pub has been a local institution since opening their doors over 35 years ago. This cozy eatery along Northwestern Highway makes everything in-house, bringing tastes of homemade to each comforting classic.
In their country-chic dining room decorated with checkerboard floors and wooden ceiling beams, Sweet Lorraine’s serves stick-to-your-bones dishes like pot roast simmered in stout beer, chicken pot pie overflowing with vegetables and their signature triple-decker turkey club stacked high on toasted wheatberry bread.
While entrees hit the sweet spot, Sweet Lorraine’s has earned a glowing local reputation for breakfast dishes like fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes, crispy potato pancakes and cinnamon swirl French toast dripping with vanilla custard and fresh berries. With baked goods, soups, breads and more crafted daily from family recipes that span generations, Sweet Lorraine’s remains a tried-and-true local staple.
6. SIX.ONE.SIX
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Name and Location: SIX.ONE.SIX is located at 24402 Halsted Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48335 south of Grand River Avenue.
History and Significance: Since 2018, Executive Chef Dante Toppi spotlights seasonal Midwest ingredients through new American cuisine rooted in Italian technique within this rustically elegant dining room. Award-winning contemporary dining destination amid Metro Detroit suburbs.
What to Expect: Exposed brick walls with white clothed tables. Dishes showcase local producers via Toppi’s refined creativity – past menus included squid ink gnocchi, pork osso buco agnolotti, beef tartare, diver scallops. Impressive wine program and service.
Visitor Information: Dinner Tuesday–Thursday 5–9pm, Friday & Saturday 5–10pm. Closed Sundays & Mondays. Reservations recommended via 248-662-8616. $$$ pricing.
For special occasion dining or an intimate date night, SIX.ONE.SIX offers sophisticated American bistro fare in an urban-chic restaurant located downtown.
Here, Chef Anthony Lombardo prepares each innovative menu item a la minute, prioritizing freshness and precision execution with dishes like sesame crusted tuna, bouillabaisse brimming with Atlantic seafood and a 20 ounce, 45 day dry-aged ribeye.
Yet beyond execution, SIX.ONE.SIX also stakes its reputation on hospitality, creating memorable evenings tailored to each guest. Their contemporary dining room lined with abstract art sets an upscale ambiance for celebratory meals or special gatherings. With a seasonally inspired menu, exceptional service and talent in the kitchen, SIX.ONE.SIX brings elevated dining to the heart of downtown Farmington Hills.
7.Walia Ethiopian Cuisine
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Name and Location: Walia Ethiopian Cuisine resides at 30273 Southfield Rd, Southfield, MI 48076 just north of 13 Mile Road.
History and Significance: Family owned and operated since 1998, Walia introduced Detroiters to authentic Ethiopian flavors through traditional cooking techniques, spices, and customs. Their cozy restaurant offers a true cultural immersion a world away from Metro Detroit.
What to Expect: Immersive Ethiopian experience centered around shared meat, lentil and vegetable dishes atop spongy injera flatbread. Custom platters and multi-course meals. Ethiopian wine, beer and honey wine. Lunch buffet available.
Visitor Information: Tuesday 11am–3pm, Wednesday–Monday 11am–10pm. Closed Tuesdays. Very affordable pricing and vegetarian friendly with most dishes under $15.
For a truly unique culinary experience in Farmington Hills, Walia Ethiopian Cuisine transports diners straight to the flavors of East Africa through vibrantly spiced stews, vegetarian specialties and traditional injera bread.
Since opening in 2016, Walia has brought the rich culinary heritage of Ethiopian cooking to Detroit’s suburbs with authentic techniques and spices carefully sourced from Africa. Vegetarians rejoice at Walia’s extensive meatless options brimming with unique flavors.
Yet carnivores shouldn’t despair, as menu highlights include flavor packed beef and lamb stews called wat that simmer meats and vegetables in complex spice blends called berbere. No utensils needed here—at Walia, diners use torn-off pieces of spongy injera bread to scoop up these incredible dishes. With a warm, contemporary dining room and cuisine you won’t find anywhere else nearby, Walia Ethiopian brings welcome diversity to Farmington’s restaurant landscape.
8. Italian Epicure Shoppe
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Name and Location: Italian Epicure Shoppe is located at 16880 Middlebelt Rd Livonia, MI 48154 just south of 5 Mile Road next to Joe’s Produce Gourmet Market.
History and Significance: Family-run 20+ years, the Shoppe provides imported Italian delicacies to Metro Detroit from owner Giuseppe Scala’s hometown Calabria. Beyond specialty groceries, their busy eatery serves authentic antipasti, pizza, pasta, sandwiches utilizing homemade and imported ingredients.
What to Expect: Cozy trattoria with display cases filled with Italian meats, cheese, dried pastas and more imported specialties. Menu brings Sicily through dishes like eggplant rollatini, sfincione pizza, meatball parm heros. Italian wines/beers. Counter ordering and casual seating.
Visitor Information: Monday–Saturday 9am–7pm. Hot food items available from 11am–6pm for dine-in or carryout. Phone 734-462-4084 for catering inquiries.
Serving quality over quantity, Italian Epicure Shoppe plates fine food fast at their popular Farmington Hills eatery open for breakfast and lunch daily. Here, owners Gabriela and Clemente Catania dish out specialties that honor their Italian heritage and legacy in the food industry through scratch-made pasta, pizza, sandwiches, soups and more.
This fast casual joint with minimal indoor seating lures crowds for menu stars like the Godfather sandwich layered with freshly shaved Italian meats on house-baked focaccia and winter minestrone brimming with vegetables, beans and small pasta shapes.
Yet their pasta bowls mixing Sauteed proteins like meatballs or grilled chicken with penne, spinach gnocchi or rigatoni mac-and-cheese also shine. With fresh, appetizing Italian fare made quickly to takeout or enjoy on-site, Italian Epicure Shoppe makes la dolce vita easily accessible.
9. Rafih’s Grill
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Name and Location: Rafih’s Grill is located at 26711 Woodward Ave, Huntington Woods, MI 48070 just south of 11 Mile Road.
History and Significance: Lebanese immigrant Rafi Antone opened his namesake Middle Eastern restaurant in 1988 bringing cuisine influenced by Turkish, Greek and Arabic cooking traditions to Metro Detroit through family recipes. His welcoming establishment continues family hospitality decades later.
What to Expect: Cozy room filled with Mediterranean decor. Signature freshly baked pita bread with traditional mezze starters baba ghanoush, hummus, tabbouleh. Rice bowls, kebabs, falafel, grape leaves stuffed with rice, lamb and spices. Baklava pastries.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday–Saturday 11am–10pm. Closed Sundays & Mondays. Very affordable pricing with lunch combos and most entrees under $15. 248-544-4060.
Specializing in Lebanese street food and family recipes, Rafih’s Grill brings unexpected and tantalizing Middle Eastern flavor to Farmington Hills through hot-off-the-grill meat skewers, shawarma wraps, and scratch-made hummus in their casual order-at-the-counter eatery. Owner Rafi Sharro grew up in Lebanon watching his mother and aunts cook before moving to Michigan and opening Rafih’s Grill to shares his culinary heritage back in 2002.
Today, the restaurant offers familiar Middle Eastern staples like falafel, baba ghanoush and garlic tomato kibbeh rolls that deliver big, bold flavor for reasonable prices.
Yet for best results, opt for Rafih’s proteins hot off their charcoal grill like the chicken shish taouk marinated in traditional Lebanese spices or their smoked shawarma loaded into a warm pita. With welcoming service and time-honored cooking that emphasizes quality over quick service, Rafih’s brings Beirut’s vibrant food culture direct to Farmington Hills.
10. Basement Burger Bar
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Name and Location: Basement Burger Bar resides at 42705 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI 48375 south of Thirteen Mile Road in Bottega Plaza.
History and Significance: Opened 2021 by seasoned Novi restaurateurs, Basement Burger Bar breaks the mold in Novi’s crowded burger scene with inventive chef-driven variations, craft beers and underground speakeasy vibe as localized gastropub alternative to national chains.
What to Expect: Dark, intimate space with prohibition era decor. Creative burgers like Hawaiian teriyaki, jalapeno popper or fried green tomato styles. Truffle parm/bacon fries, tuna tartare nachos. 40+ craft beers including Michigan drafts. House barrel-aged cocktails on tap.
Visitor Information: Monday–Thursday 11:30am–12am, Friday & Saturday 11:30am–1am, Sunday 12pm–10pm. Kitchen closes 11pm weekdays, midnight weekends. Call 248-396-3772.
Sometimes nothing satisfies a craving quite like a well-crafted burger stacked high in all its glory. At Basement Burger Bar in downtown Farmington Hills, thick beef patties sizzle on the flattop while diners customize their bun with a creative array of toppings and cheeses.
Beneath street level in the basement—as their name suggests—this laidback eatery slings classic cheeseburgers alongside unexpected varieties like their Greek-inspired Zeus Burger crowned with feta, tzatziki, onions and peppers. Can’t choose one topping? Build your own custom burger instead.
Beyond beef, Basement Burger Bar also offers chicken sandwiches, wings, salads and slider options as well as local craft beers on tap and a selection of spiked shakes. With upbeat music, quirky décor and indulgent comfort food, Basement Burger Bar brings a hip, contemporary vibe and craveable bar food to downtown’s restaurant scene.
11. Craft Breww City
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Name and Location: Craft Breww City resides at 30005 W 12 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 at northwest corner of Orchard Lake Road in Orchard Mall.
History and Significance: Opened 2021 as experiential extension of Mr. Brews Taphouse craft beer stores, Craft Breww City provides a spacious sit-down craft beer destination plus eclectic bar menu items, entertainment space and retail shop conveniently under one roof.
What to Expect: Industrial modern taproom with long communal tables, cozy lounge spaces, billiards, shuffleboard, giant Scrabble, 60″ TVs. Ever evolving 40 tap lineup plus packaged beers to go. Bar bite menu has poutine, chicken sandwiches and more.
Visitor Information: Monday–Saturday 11am–midnight, Sunday 12pm–10pm. All ages welcome. Phone 248-380-7192 regarding private events or brewery tours.
For gastropub grub paired with Michigan’s finest craft brews, Craft Breww City offers a tasting room meets eatery in downtown Farmington Hills where the state’s emerging breweries shine.
With 32 tap lines that rotate frequently to prioritize small batch, experimental and hyperlocal beer, Craft Breww City remains dedicated to their mission of supporting Michigan’s brewing community. Yet they also dish out hearty grill fare like stacked sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, and shareable starters to soak up all that craft beer goodness.
Their downtown location retains its Prohibition-era storied history with vintage décor and exposed brick walls that pay homage to its former life as a flower shop basement. On warm summer nights, crowds clamor for a spot on their street-side patio.
For fabulous Michigan beer, elevated pub grub and welcoming servers who can talk tasting notes all night long, Craft Breww City brings together two cherished state traditions.
12. Big Salad
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Name and Location: Big Salad resides at 30901 Beck Rd, Novi, MI 48377 just south of 13 Mile Road in Beck North Plaza.
History and Significance: Since 2018, Big Salad brings healthy, sustainable scratch-made grab ‘n go items, custom salads/bowls and more to Novi’s busy workforce through this order-at-the-counter concept cafe. Earth friendly and ingredient focused establishment.
What to Expect: Order assembly line salads/grain bowls utilizing fresh veggies, proteins like salmon or free-range chicken and signature dressings. Soups, smoothies, juices. Economical ready-to-eat meals ideal for office workers or travelers. Eco-minded mission.
Visitor Information: Monday–Friday 10:30am–7pm, Saturday 11am–3pm. Under $15 per entree. Phone 248-662-3647 for catering including free delivery.
For clean-eating lunch crowds in downtown Farmington Hills, fast casual eatery Big Salad builds hearty, diet-friendly bowls brimming with bold flavors and organic greens sourced from local growers. Their template is simple: start with a base like organic quinoa or falafel atop mixed baby greens then pile on fresh veggie toppings ranging from roasted brussels sprouts to curried cauliflower.
Next, add extras like avocado, uncured bacon or free-range egg before selecting one of their six house-made dressings. The locally owned eatery also offers seasonal soups, freshly baked cookie bites and gluten-free, vegan and FODMAP-friendly options.
Order at the counter then grab a seat along their sunny windows, or take your nutritious, crave-worthy salad to go. With quality organic ingredients and limitless customization combinations, Big Salad makes healthy eating delicious.
Conclusion
From longstanding institutions to exciting new concepts, Farmington Hills offers no shortage of excellent dining destinations to satisfy your cravings. With incredible variety showcasing cuisine from around the globe to classic American comfort fare, these 12 restaurants encapsulate what is so special about eating out in Farmington Hills.
Opa! and Rafih’s Grill allow diners to travel without leaving Detroit’s suburbs, while Public House, Sweet Lorraine’s and Town Tavern dish out creative twists on regional favorites. For celebratory meals look no further than SIX.ONE.SIX’s impeccable service and epicurean menu. And concept-driven spots like 839 Wine Bar, Basement Burger Bar and Big Salad lure loyal regulars with niche themes executed skillfully.
No matter your mood or budget, Farmington Hills brims with coveted tables where the food and hospitality never disappoint. Dining out in this humble Detroit suburb promises to satisfy any palate with excellence. So next time hunger calls, put these 12 restaurants at the top of your list to experience the vibrant culinary and service culture that sets the Farmington Hills restaurant scene apart.