12 Best Restaurants in Warren, Michigan
Warren, Michigan is a bustling suburb located just north of Detroit. With a population of over 134,000 residents, Warren has developed into a thriving city with a strong business community and plenty of entertainment and dining options.
From long-standing diners serving classic American fare to trendy bistros dishing up international cuisine, Warren offers a diverse and exciting food scene.
| Restaurant | Cuisine/Style | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pasquale’s | Italian | Fine dining, authentic dishes, outdoor dining |
| Joe Muer Seafood | Seafood | Fresh catches, multiple dining areas |
| Forte | Italian | Special occasions, modern twist on Italian cuisine |
| Antones | American | Retro diner, classic American fare |
| Como’s | Italian | Iconic restaurant, extensive wine and beer menu |
| Samurai Steakhouse | Japanese | Teppanyaki-style cuisine, entertaining chefs |
| Lockwood Modern Bar + Kitchen | Contemporary American | Share plates, handcrafted cocktails |
| La Strada Dolce Vita | Italian | Authentic Italian cuisine, cozy atmosphere |
| Tea Garden | Asian | Health-conscious recipes, serene ambiance |
| Avenue Bistro | Contemporary American | Fine dining, locally sourced ingredients |
| Otus Supply | Gastropub | Craft beverages, live music, elevated bar food |
| Zeke’s Bar-B-Que | Barbecue | Smoked meats, casual atmosphere |
This article explores 12 of the top-rated and most popular restaurants that you can find across Warren. For each restaurant on this list, you’ll learn about the history, ambiance, standout menu items, and what makes them a can’t-miss dining destination in Warren.
Whether you’re a longtime local or just passing through, these restaurants showcase Warren’s tastiest offerings and culinary highlights. From Italian to Vietnamese, burgers to barbecue, there’s something here to satisfy every palate and preference.
1. Pasquale’s
Name and Location: Pasquale’s is an upscale Italian restaurant located at 31555 Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Opened in 1981 by chef Luciano DelSignore, who brought his familial Southern Italian recipes from Abruzzo to Metro Detroit, Pasquale’s has become a Royal Oak institution renowned for its hearty homemade pastas, veal dishes, wines and welcoming service.
What to Expect: The menu features DelSignore family favorites like seafood linguine, chicken piccata, and veal marsala alongside traditional starters, salads, desserts and an award-winning wine list emphasizing Italian varietals. Decor is elegant and traditional. Reservations recommended.
Visitor Information: Pasquale’s serves lunch and dinner daily, closing between meal services. Reservations advised, especially on weekends. Payment options include cash, major credit cards, and gift cards. Separate private event room available.
Pasquale’s is an upscale and critically-acclaimed Italian restaurant that has been serving Warren residents since 1989. Owned by Chef Pasquale Iannucci, who brought his recipes and techniques straight from Italy, this restaurant prides itself on authenticity.
Pasquale’s offers a fine dining atmosphere with white tablecloths, chandeliers, and fresh flowers on every table. During the summer months, they open up their brick patio for al fresco riverfront dining. At Pasquale’s, expect exceptional service and meticulously prepared dishes bursting with flavor.
Standout dishes include their famous Scampi Provencal, with large butterflied shrimp baked under a layer of breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley and white wine. Their tortellini appetizer, stuffed with cheese and bathed in a rich prosciutto and cream sauce, is another specialty.
And no meal at Pasquale’s would be complete without ordering the homemade tiramisu for dessert. With its layers of coffee and liquor-soaked ladyfingers nestled between sweet mascarpone, it’s the perfect ending. Overall, Pasquale’s offers an enchanting taste of Italy in the heart of Warren.
2. Joe Muer Seafood
Name and Location: Joe Muer Seafood is located downtown at 220 West Fourth Street in Royal Oak, Michigan, near the intersection of Fourh and Lafayette.
History and Significance: Founded in 2002 by owner Joe Vicari of Andiamo fame, Joe Muer Seafood builds on the former Minneapolis-based restaurant chain. The award-winning downtown Royal Oak location highlights fresh seafood,prime steaks and creative martinis in a sophisticated setting.
What to Expect: Signature dishes feature captivating presentations of sea bass, salmon, tuna and swordfish alongside premium chops, small plates and classic sides. An oyster bar offers shucked-to-order raw bar selections. Craft cocktail menu complements both menus for a well-rounded upscale evening out.
Visitor Information: Joe Muer serves dinner nightly, employing validated parking and accepting walk-ins subject to availability though reservations strongly recommended, especially on weekends. Attire is business casual.
A Warren institution for over 60 years, Joe Muer Seafood is one of the area’s most venerable destinations for the freshest catches around. Initially founded as a seafood market in 1956, Joe Muer opened up a small restaurant counter which quickly became popular for its affordable fried baskets.
Now in its third generation of family ownership, Joe Muer has expanded into a full service seafood emporium and dining complex. They source fish and shellfish from all over the world and fly it in daily to ensure peak freshness.
Inside, choose from several dining areas ranging from the nautical-themed casual café to The Big Fish Fine Dining restaurant with sweeping waterfront views. Wherever you sit, seafood rules the menu with everything from fish and chips, clam strips and crab cakes to off-the-hook offerings like miso glazed sea bass, sesame seared tuna and lobster mac and cheese.
You really can’t go wrong with any of their selections sourced straight from their in-house market. And be sure to save room for their epic desserts like the mile-high Key lime pie or classic crème brûlée. For great views, food and prices, Joe Muer Seafood hits all the right notes.
3. Forte
Name and Location: Forte is an intimate, critically-acclaimed new American bistro located downtown at 201 West Fourth Street in Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Opened as a passion project by Paul Gros in 2015 to bring inventive seasonal fare reflecting Michigan’s rich agricultural bounty to an upscale but approachable environment in Royal Oak. Earned 2022 Restaurant of the Year from Hour Detroit.
What to Expect: Tasting menus feature local ingredients in refined presentations like leek and fontina flatbread, beet cured salmon and short rib agnolotti. Notable wine list, craft cocktails and house made desserts round out the experience. Knowledgeable, outstanding service.
Visitor Information: Forte serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday evenings, reservations strongly recommended well in advance. Closed Sunday and Monday. Valet parking available behind restaurant off Troy Street for $8.
Widely considered Warren’s premier special occasions restaurant, Forte first opened its doors in 2004 and has been the go-to destination for celebrating ever since. Bathed in a mix of rich red fabric, moody candlelight and the vibrant works of local artists, Forte offers a cozy and romantic backdrop ideal for date nights or marking milestones with your nearest and dearest.
Owned and passionately operated by native Sicilian Chef Biagio Francese, guests can taste Sicily in nearly every bite of his carefully curated and seasonally rotating menus. Expand your horizons and try one of his composed plates, each a seamless blend of Italian traditions with a daring modern twist.
You might find roasted duck served with sweet honey polenta, whole grilled imported branzino with lemon caper butter, or a herb-crusted rack of lamb with white truffle risotto. And be sure to order his grand signature crème brûlée prepared with imported vanilla beans and berries for a lavish ending. With its intimate setting, personalized service and Chef Biagio himself greeting guests tableside, an evening at Forte is one you won’t soon forget.
4. Antones
Name and Location: Antones is a family-friendly Italian restaurant and liquor store located downtown at 517 West Fourth Street in Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Founded by Tony Randazzo in 1978, Antones has grown into a neighborhood establishment blending old-school traditions with contemporary twists across pizza, classic Italian-American entrees, sandwiches and ever-evolving craft beer and wine selection supported by the attached Spirits shop.
What to Expect: Menu ranges from classic pizza and hearty pastas to fried calamari, chicken marsala, veal dishes, salads and homemade sweets. With gluten-free options. Full bar, lengthy beer offerings. Carryout available. Casual counter or table seating.
Visitor Information: Antones serves lunch and dinner daily, closing between meal services. Walk-ins generally accommodated, but reservations advised for groups. Phone takeout also available through website.
Craving that Coney dog or burger joint experience, just like back in the old days? Then Antones is your ticket to nostalgia. This retro-style diner first fired up its grills back in the late 1960s as one of Warren’s original fast food destinations. Today, this beloved institution is still dishing out comforting classics in a setting full of throwback charm.
At Antones, you can enjoy affordable burgers, coneys, melts, wings and other all-American fare under the glow of neon signs, vintage advertisements and checkerboard floors. But more than their menu, Antones keeps patrons coming back for its welcoming and low-key spirit.
Get there early on Sunday mornings to join the locals grabbing a booth for bottomless coffee and extended reading sessions. Come lunchtime on weekdays, you’ll spot the Warren business crowd zipping in for a quick bite. And late nights always bring a diverse mix of diners all soaking up Antones’s enduring appeal. Why not stop in and become the next loyal fan?
5. Como’s
Name and Location: Como’s is an Italian restaurant and pizzeria located at 22812 Woodward Avenue in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Family owned since 1961, Como’s has fed generations in an iconic corner building near the Royal Oak Farmers Market utilizing secret recipes perfected by the four Como brothers from Sicily translated into enduring customer favorites like the Detroit-style square deep dish pizzas, housemade pastas, salads, oven-baked subs and more.
What to Expect: Signature deep dish and round pizzas rule alongside classic Italian entrees, subs, salads and sides served in a casual setting suited for takeout and delivery. Full bar, draft beer selection. Gluten-free and vegan options. Counter seating plus tables to accommodate groups.
Visitor Information: Como’s open daily for lunch and dinner. Carryout options include online ordering for front door pickup. Cash only for counter payments, ATM onsite. Reservations accepted for parties of 8 or more.
Heralded as one of Warren and Detroit’s most iconic and enduringly popular restaurants, Como’s first fired up their ovens in 1961 and has perfected the art of pizza, pasta and more ever since. This lively and sprawling restaurant serves up homestyle Italian cuisine that can satisfy every age and appetite with something for everyone and portions large enough to share.
From heaping plates of pasta to char-grilled steaks, seafood, soups, focaccia bread and those famous square deep dish pizzas, trying a little bit of everything is definitely recommended. Como’s also boasts one of the area’s largest wine, cocktail and beer menus. Plan to come with a group so you can sample a range of dishes alongside live music and entertainment including strolling accordion players, singers and tarot card readers.
And save room for desserts like tiramisu and spumoni ice cream to end your meal on a festive note. For iconic tastes served among old world ambiance, Como’s remains a celebrated destination for food, fun and memories that last. Come see why the party never stops at this Warren staple.
6. Samurai Steakhouse
Name and Location: Samurai Steakhouse is a Japanese hibachi grill and sushi restaurant located downtown at 504 S Washington Ave in Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Founded in 2008, Samurai Steakhouse modernized the classic teppanyaki tableside cooking tradition with contemporary takes on steak, seafood and sushi classics complemented by engaging chefs and elegant atmosphere complete with a sake lounge and karaoke rooms.
What to Expect: Hibachi tables accommodate groups to watch athletic chefs flip and catch food on hot grills while pairing options like tenderloin, shrimp, lobster with fried rice and vegetables. The sushi bar and Asian fusion entrees offer additional choices.
Visitor Information: Samurai serves lunch and dinner daily, closing between services. Reservations recommended for hibachi. Main dining room and lounge accept walk ins. Valet parking available. Karaoke suites can be reserved.
Experience a dazzling dining performance alongside tender cuts of meat at Samurai Steakhouse, Warren’s premier destination for teppanyaki-style cuisine. This popular Japanese steak and seafood restaurant opened its doors in 2007 and has wowed patrons ever since with its highly choreographed cooking shows starring specialized chefs.
Guests sit together around large griddle hotplates while expert chefs slice, dice, juggle and ignite food with acrobatic precision, all while entertaining you with jokes and other amusing spectacles. From flash-fried rice and vegetables to sizzling shrimp, chicken and steak entrees, every bite tastes better thanks to the talents of your personal chef.
Kids and adults alike will delight in the non-stop excitement. Don’t forget to order the fried ice cream for a smoky, sweet finish. For 50+ years, Samurai Steakhouse has perfected the art of culinary performance so your meal becomes as memorable as the dazzling show itself. Come see a new kind of dinner and a show only Samurai can deliver.
7. Lockwood Modern Bar + Kitchen
Name and Location: Lockwood Modern Bar + Kitchen is a contemporary gastropub located at 22828 Woodward Ave in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Opened 2018 in a restored historic bank building near the Royal Oak Farmers Market, Lockwood celebrates spirits and seasonal ingredients in creative small plates and craft libations drawing inspiration from local Michigan producers and global cuisines in a stylish, airy setting.
What to Expect: Ever-evolving menus tempt with items like Korean fried cauliflower, duck confit poutine, cranberry moscow mule cocktail in a vivid, lounge-like interior mixing sleek booths, glowing bar, and an airy patio. Gluten-free and vegan options regularly featured.
Visitor Information: Lockwood serves dinner daily, weekend brunches, with happy hour weekdays. No reservations except large groups; first come, first served. Street parking available, lot behind building accesses rear patio door.
Discover a fresh take on contemporary American cuisine at Lockwood Kitchen + Cocktails, a sleek and stylish addition to Warren’s ever-evolving food landscape. Here, skilled Executive Chef Marc Degalan infuses his French training into craveable share plates, handcrafted cocktails and curated wines. Immerse yourself in Lockwood’s hip and casual ambiance filled with warm lighting, abstract artworks and lounge beats.
At the center is their open-air kitchen, so you can watch the culinary magic happen bite by bite. Begin your evening with small plates like succulent braised short ribs on creamy mascarpone polenta, tempura fried avocado drizzled with pomegranate teriyaki or crispy pork belly slider with pickled carrots and radish sprouts.
Share an artisan pizza or premium steak for your main course. And cap your night off with the crowd-pleasing filo nutella dessert served with salted caramel gelato. At Lockwood Bar + Kitchen, the flavors and fun go into the late hours, so get ready for a highly memorable night out.
8. La Strada Dolce Vita
Name and Location: La Strada Dolce Vita is an authentic Roman-style pizzeria located at 116 W. Fourth St in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Opened in 2017 by native Roman chef Luciano DelSignore of Bacco Ristorante to bring pizza from his hometown to Michigan, La Strada handcrafts oblong pies with extended fermentation in a Mugnaini wood-fired oven to achieve an unrivaled crispy, chewy crust in a modern trattoria environment.
What to Expect: Crisp yet airy Roman-style crusts made daily form the foundation for creative pizza combinations alongside fresh salads, Italian wines and beers. Gluten free crust available. Counter seating treats guests to exhibition-style prep integrating kitchen and dining rooms
Visitor Information: La Strada serves dinner nightly. Takeout available, but pizzas optimally consumed hot from brick oven. Reservations recommended especially weekends. Street parking, paid city lot behind restaurant off Troy St.
For an authentic taste of Italy without leaving Michigan, longtime restauranteurs Mickey and Mary Reda invite you into their charming trattoria, La Strada Dolce Vita Ristorante. Their bistro first opened its doors in 2004 with a mission to transport diners straight to Italy through cuisine, culture and impeccable hospitality.
Upon entering, admire the cozy dining room decked in romantic Tuscan décor with exposed brick walls, imported tile floors and flattering candlelit tables. Mary Reda’s recipes highlight generations-old family traditions passed down from her mother and aunts in Sicily. Handmade pastas, creamy risottos and tender osso buco veal shank arrive fresh from her kitchen each night.
Mickey’s wine cellar boasts over 800 imported labels to perfectly complement your meal’s flavors. And for dessert, their trademark panna cotta with mixed berry compote and homemade cinnamon doughnuts drizzled in chocolate complete your Italian escape. At La Strada Dolce Vita, arrive as customers but leave as family after an evening filled with phenomenal food, laughter and memories. As the Italians say – “Mangia!” – so come eat, live and love the dolce vita.
9 .Tea Garden
Name and Location: Tea Garden is a contemporary Taiwanese tea house located at 516 South Washington Avenue in downtown Royal Oak.
History and Significance: Established in 2018 by a mother-son team seeking to fuse traditional Asian tea culture with modern customization tailored to Western palates. Bubble tea, nitro tea taps, tea cocktails and small bites invite guests to discover new tea perspectives in a minimalist, plant-filled environment.
What to Expect: Signature teas layer fruit, cream or milk combinations with black, green or herbal Ceylon tea bases. Customize sweetness, ice and toppings. Bubble waffles, nibbles like potstickers and pineapple cake round out the menu. Chic, airy interior and patio seating options.
Visitor Information: Tea Garden serves lunch and dinner daily, closing between services. Walk-ins welcome but reservations advised for groups. Validated parking. Carry out available from online orders. Tea packages and merchandise for sale.
Discover a peaceful oasis in the heart of Warren at Tea Garden restaurant, bringing the rich flavors of Asia to local diners for over 25 years now. As you step inside the Zen-inspired interior, complete with tranquil koi ponds and bamboo accents, all your senses will feel instantly soothed.
Owned and operated by Vietnamese American husband-wife duo Dan and Linda Tran, Tea Garden takes great pride in elevating the cuisine of their homeland with health-conscious recipes and fresh, seasonal ingredients. Peruse their extensive menu for the perfect meal, whether it’s fragrant pho noodle soup, crisp Imperial rolls, or wok-seared Hunan beef tenderloin glazed in a spicy orange sauce.
Tea Garden also offers an entire vegetarian menu along with gluten-free, nut-free and vegan options, so all diets feel accommodated. And don’t overlook their bubble tea menu – a sweet way to end your meal on a refreshing note. For flavors that nourish your body and soul, visit Tea Garden Warren to discover why they have been a trusted destination for outstanding Asian fare since 1998.
10. Avenue Bistro
Name and Location: Avenue Bistro is a contemporary French and Belgian-inspired farm-to-table restaurant located at 316 South Main Street in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Opened in 2016 by French chef Wally Kalman to bring authentic rustic cuisine inspired by his personal training under Michelin star chefs to an elegantly modern setting centerpiecing the Royal Oak Farmers Market vendor community supporting local agriculture and purveyors.
What to Expect: Weekly changing farm fresh menus tempt with expertly prepared favorites like escargot, steak frites, moules frites, hand cut tartares, vegetarian dishes, Belgian beers and creative house cocktails. Gluten free and vegan options. Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch. Reservations essential.
Visitor Information: Valet parking available. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Separate prix fixe Chef’s Room available for groups up to 14 with advance booking. Gratuity and beverage not included in dinner prices.
For fine dining with neighboring flair, Avenue Bistro has earned a glowing reputation as Warren’s secluded culinary gem. Tucked away on a quaint side street just east of Van Dyke, this cozy cottage-turned-restaurant immediately radiates warmth with its fireplace lounge, rich wood accents and intimate lighting.
Talented Executive Chef Anthony Russo puts his exacting French training on full display through Avenue’s ever-evolving selection of contemporary American plates made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Hand cut steaks, fresh seafood and vegan entrees all make regular menu appearances.
And their dessert case overflows with towering cakes, fruit tarts, crème brûlée and other sweet confections baked in-house daily. Equally impressive is their wine program, boasting over 150 labels from around the globe. So come discover for yourself why Avenue Bistro, even after 15 successful years, still remains Warren’s best kept dining secret.
11. Otus Supply
Name and Location: Otus Supply is an upscale farm-to-table restaurant and event venue located just outside downtown Royal Oak at 345 East Nine Mile Road.
History and Significance: Launched in 2018 through complete renovation of a 1939 bus garage into a modern loft-like space with soaring ceilings and exposed beams envisioned as a community hub supporting local growers and integrating dining with music, art and social good mission.
What to Expect: Globally inspired seasonal menus from award-winning Executive Chef Jared Gadbaw feature ingredients from Michigan farms and producers transformed through diverse cooking techniques into refined shareable plates and entrees spanning wide culinary influences. Full bar program.
Visitor Information: Otus Supply serves dinner nightly, weekend brunch. Event bookings available. Valet parking onsite, metered street options. Closed Monday and Tuesdays. Casual dress though restaurant floor skews upscale. Reservations strongly recommended.
Late nights call for good music, craft beverages and elevated bar food, all of which Otus Supply delivers in spades. This premier gastropub first opened in downtown Ferndale to much fanfare before expanding to Warren in 2020. Step inside and you’ll discover a vintage warehouse setting pulsating with energy.
With live DJs and bands playing most nights, it makes a perfect venue for letting loose on the dance floor after feasting from their scratch menu. Nosh on gourmet starters like the fan favorite fried brussel sprouts tossed in maple miso or giant pretzels served with beer cheese fondue dip.
Heartier plates range from their signature rotisserie chicken and 44 Farms smoked brisket tacos to cast iron skillet mac and cheese or mole rubbed cauliflower steaks for any vegetarians in your group. And their namesake craft cocktails and Michigan craft beer list will quench any thirst. For a memorable night of drinking, dining and dancing in Warren, Otus Supply consistently brings the vibrant atmosphere and tasty bites.
12. Zeke’s Bar-B-Que
Name and Location: Zeke’s Bar-B-Que is a quick, casual Texas-style barbecue eatery located at 24368 Woodward Ave in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan.
History and Significance: Opened 2011 by owner Zeke Hutchins to bring authentic slow-smoked brisket, housemade sausage and classic sides inspired by the legendary barbecue joints of Central Texas to Metro Detroit in a refreshingly simplified counter service environment.
What to Expect: Smoked meats like brisket, pulled pork, turkey, sausage and ribs star accompanied by regular and jalapeno mac and cheese, potato salad, baked beans and housemade desserts. Limited seating, mostly takeaway focus. Beer available.
Visitor Information: Zeke’s serves lunch and dinner daily. Order and pay at counter, meals packaged to go. Call ahead takeout available. No reservations. Street parking. Cash preferred, cards accepted.
No visit to Warren is complete without a pilgrimage to Zeke’s, southeast Michigan’s highest smoked and slow cooked barbecue around. Owner Dave Zuke opened the first Zeke’s as a roadside stand in 1978, attracting hungry crowds seeking his melt-off-the-bone ribs and pulled pork. Now a bonafide franchise with several locations, Zeke’s laid-back charm and finger-licking flavors remain unchanged.
Walk inside and you’ll notice walls covered in irreverent signs, license plates and kitschy memorabilia everywhere, setting the tone for meals best enjoyed with Wet-Naps close by. Although specialty sandwiches and burgers tempt, go straight for Zeke’s smoked meat plates served by the pound with classic sides like baked beans, coleslaw and cheesy potatoes.
And don’t dare leave before tasting their acclaimed apple cobbler, banana pudding or sweet potato pie for dessert. Packed nightly with excited locals ready to devour the eponymous owner’s secret family recipes, Zeke’s Bar-B-Que packs legendary flavors as big as its legacy itself.
Conclusion
From white tablecloth establishments to retro diners to Asian infusion bistros, Warren offers dynamic dining opportunities to satisfy every taste and budget. The 12 restaurants on this list represent long-standing pillars within Warren’s food community along with some relative newcomers already making their mark.
Wherever your cravings lead, these eclectic eateries showcase local flavors done right while emphasizing hospitality at its finest. Warren’s culinary scene continues gaining acclaim across metro Detroit and beyond. So next time hunger hits, discover why Warren serves up some of Michigan’s most mouthwatering and memorable meals around.