Interesting menu and all delicious. Friendly service and atmosphere. Manageable noise level so we could enjoy our friends. We're going back again soon.
My husband James and I had the opportunity to eat and enjoy Alpino. Wow, doesn't get better than this place. Food A+, service A+, ambiance A++ . It was simply sensational. I have a gluten allergy, kitchen 100% accommodated. I also have a glucose issue (fun stuff I know lol), and experienced a sugar low while at the restaurant... when I asked for some orange juice to help, everyone who saw my face and heard my voice stopped what they were doing to help me. That's service with a smile if you are still questioning whether to go to this restaurant or not after my very personal review, in the words of my mother.. just do it already lol. Chef Nick/Chris and all of the staff.. front of the house, bartenders.. thank you for the incredible dining experience. God bless. Love, Kimberly Hopkins Pelak.
We were able to make a last minute reservation here after our dinner plans changed, and we really enjoyed it! Alpino made us very nostalgic for our most recent trip to Lake Como, where we climbed Monte Grona and were able to see Lugano, Switzerland, and some of the similar scenes captured in the photos and décor throughout the restaurant. All of the staff we encountered were professional, attentive, and accommodating. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some great recommendations for us to try throughout our meal, highlighting the gluten free options for me. My boyfriend got the La Vie en Rose for his drink, which he really enjoyed, while I tried the N/A Easy Breezy, which was one of the best mocktails I've had! It wasn't overly sweet juice/syrup and had so much complexity to it. To start, we had the Gurkensalat, which was very fresh and well balanced in flavor. Get the char roe on top; it's so good! The Focaccia Laciada had so many ingredients my boyfriend and I loved from our trip to Italy, so I begged him to try it for me, and he really enjoyed it! We were so surprised to see Taleggio (a semisoft Italian cheese) on any menu here, so it was very exciting! I had the Pesto Risotto, which was prepared perfectly and had amazing flavors. We'd like to try the fondue and steak tagliata next time. For dessert, we shared the Bonet, which I was assured is gluten free because the sbrisolona is made from hazelnuts and almond flour. It was very good, and I was happy to have more gluten free dessert options than sorbet. We look forward to bringing our friends back here to try the fondue and other items on the menu!
I sat by myself at the bar for brunch here on a Sunday. The Alpine themed decor isn't quite my vibe, but the semi-dim and warm lighting created a pretty nice ambiance. I'd seen pictures of the rosti benedict online and so I opted for that plus the penna cotta and a latte. My latte was excellent. My benedict came out looking quite different but perhaps even more enticing than that I'd seen in photos. Everything was cooked to perfection. There was more than generous serving of the smoked salmon. Still, a couple elements of it felt lacking. Most importantly, this was something I was able to devour in all of 5 minutes. Typically a benedict is expected to be split into two proportions. I knew this wouldn't be the case, but with what I was served; I wished for this. I wish there could have perhaps even been just a little less salmon but another poached egg and potato pancake. It was just too quick to devour and ultimately not very filling. It was very good overall, but it felt like it could use just a little punch. Maybe a little bit of tarragon? A thin spread of caramelized onions? A little chevre? Seeing pictures including pickled onions and a topping of arugula salad; I wondered if this would have satisfied a bit more. I found myself jealous seeing the portions for the Vol Au Vent and La Hamrick wishing I opted differently. Next up was the panna cotta. This was phenomenal. The oolong reduction and salted honeycomb were a genius take for this. I'd definitely order this again. All in all, the service and quality of everything was excellent. I plan to return soon. The only gripe I have to take away a star for is that for a $50 tab I walked away feeling I could have eaten about double the food. Revisit: I don't want to divulge my whole revisit out of laziness, but I will say we ordered a lot of food and wine and most of it was excellent. We need to talk about the desserts though. What happened to the panna cotta? It didn't deserve to even stand in the shadow of what I had the first couple times I had it. Like it was miles away from what it was initially. We also tried the herb torte and none of us found it very appealing. I think about a quarter of it got eaten between the three of us.
Stopped in for dinner on a Thursday evening and we were sat immediately. The menu is a bit overwhelming, full of mouth-watering descriptions of Alp-inspired dishes, it was hard to choose! We ordered the Charcuterie Board and the Spatzle for appetizers, the Meats that came on the board were incredible - all imported, aged, smoked and cured! And the Spatzle was so savory and delicious, I had never had it before but I could eat that every day, it was comfort food perfected! For dinner we ordered the Rösti, Chestnut Cavatelli, and the Foccaccia Laciada. The Rösti was good, the pancake was a bit salty though so I ended up eating the salmon and the salad on top separate from the pancake. The Chestnut Cavatelli was amazing, would definitely order that again. And the Foccaccia Laciada was equally delectable, the duck was perfectly cooked. We decided to take dessert to go so we ordered the Herb Torte and the Bonet. These desserts were soooooo good. Incredible combination of flavors and textures, very complex and yummy. This place felt like a roadtrip through the Alps, it was magical and every bit worth the experience. I can't wait to go back and try some more of their menu. I also heard that they have a fabulous Sunday Brunch, will definitely have to check that out!
Came here on a Sunday for lunch which to our pleasant surprise their separate brunch menu (which seems to be the only time they do their brunch menu). Although we had already planned out what we wanted on the other menu, there were still some interesting items we got to see on this menu that we wanted to try. The waiter was very friendly and walked through the menu with us along with what we could expect in the variety of items. In particular, we were recommended the Rosti Benedict as one of the star items that was considered to be better than the dinner menu. I also ordered the Alpino burger with a side of potatoes as well as a Panna Cotta for dessert. My personal favorite for this meal definitely had to be the burger (9/10). Although definitely on the pricey side, the burger was everything I could ever want. The meat was perfectly cooked and tender, and the pickled red cabbage was a nice refreshing compliment. Although it looked like it would overpower the burger, the cabbage really helped add a subtle sweetness and acidity that helped cut through the fat that made the burger just that much more enjoyable. The potatoes it came with as well were just amazing as well, with a nice, super crunchy outside but fluffy inside. Honestly worth the 6$ extra to try the potatoes at least once. For the Benedict, although I can definitely see how others may love it, it had a bit too much acidity in what I believe was the dill in the sauce which took away from the flavor. However, the salmon was very pleasant and the egg was perfect. A 7/10 for me. Overall, definitely loved the atmosphere and vibe of this place, and with the quality of food we got here, would definitely want to come back and try some of their normal menu foods again!
This is the third reincarnation I've been to in the space, following St Cece and Lady of the House (RIP house pancakes). The space is now open and bright, with wood and featuring a fireplace. The menu is Swiss inspired fare and upscale cocktails. We went on a cold evening, so fire and comfort- food type items were particularly welcomed. They have a nice cocktail and wine list, the cocktail I ordered was great. Having read the other reviews, we started with the raclette. Served as a small table side presentation, but basically its just really good gooey cheese and fluffy bread. We then split the Rosti (fancy potato pancake topped with smoked salmon, and other fancy bits) and the Gurkensalat (what could be a simple cucumber salad, perfectly prepared), both were fantastic, and I'd recommend. For the main, we had the chestnut gnocchette and a side of the spatzle. The pasta was wonderful, warm and rich with some sweetness. I was a bit disappointed in the spatzle, it was good, but a bit dry. Service was good, friendly and the food came out at a good pace. I think Alpino is a good addition to the Detroit scene, it's bit different than anything else in the area. Alpino is also what it set out to be, and there's no identity crisis here as I've seen occasionally at new restaurants, and it is not trying to hard to be trendy.
My boyfriend and I came for Valentine's, and it was a delightful experience. Alpino has a very warm, comforting, and upscale atmosphere. The lighting is cozy, the decor is both modern and traditional, and there is even an active fireplace. The hosts, bartenders, and servers were all very kind and welcoming. We started with the raclette and the off-the-menu soup. The raclette was poured in front of us onto a fluffy brioche topped with honey and speck. The flavors and textures melded together very nicely, and we were delighted by the quality and taste of the speck. The soup was a big favorite of ours. It was extra creamy, and the crispy duck skin with the sweet zingy beetroot made us smile. For mains, we decided on the ragu, which we've heard a lot about on Yelp, and the wieinershnitzel with spatzel. The ragu was so excellent -- such a perfectly comforting dish. My boyfriend and I are huge pasta fans, and it was one of the top pasta we've had. The wieinershnitzel had such a great thinness and was perfectly coated and fried. The morel mushrooms were also so cool, it was my first time trying them. The spatzel was chewy cheesy goodness. I've never had it before, but it reminded me of what an upscale mac and cheese would taste like. For dessert, we tried the herb torte. I mean, poached pear cream?! Sounded delicious. It was a super interesting dessert, but wasn't really for me. The texture of the candied nuts and citrus and cream felt chalky. My boyfriend really enjoyed it though, it's definitely a refreshing dessert. We'll definitely come again, there are so many menu items that we want to try! Really great spot for an intimate, upscale dining experience.
The former Lady of the House location, but Alpino has completely transformed it, made it its own and I am absolutely here for it. Do I miss the Ryan Gosling Face bench in the all-pink bathroom? Maybe a little BUT in all seriousness, Alpino is one to try! We came for Sunday brunch because who doesn't love a cozy brunch?! There was no wait, but we made a rezzie on their website anyways. We had the: * RÖSTI BENEDICT (SWISS POTATO PANCAKE + SMOKED SALMON + POACHED EGG + HORSERADISH BÉARNAISE) - a MUST get. This thing was wildly delicious and recommended by our server. My only gripe is that there was only 1 egg! Given the size of the potato pancake, I wanted two but maybe I'm just being greedy, ha. But the potato pancake was perfectly crispy and just a glorious vessel - move over English Muffins!! * LA HAMRICK (SALUMI COTTO + TRUFFLE HAM + ARUGULA + PICKLED SHALLOT + DIJONNAISE + FOCACCIA) - tasty AF focaccia sandwich - pretty classic Italian to me but just really nicely made & seasoned! *CHICORY SALAD (BITTER GREEN + GOLDEN APPLE + COMTÉ, PECAN, JUNIPER MAPLE VINAIGRETTE) - So so lovey. Love me a good salad and this one was fantastic! *VOL AU VENT (PASTRY DOUGH + SCALLOPED POTATOES + CARAMELIZED ONION +SPECK + EMMENTALER & GRUYÈRE + DIJONNAISE + ARUGULA SALAD) - I took this one home to try because I was pretty full It was AMAZING and so buttery and flaky. I mean who doesn't love carb wrapped in carb! *COLAZIONE PLATE (FRESHLY BAKED SEASONAL COOKIES + BISCUITS) - we had some biscotti, a beautiful apple coffee cake and these three almond/pecan cookies that I could NOT get enough of. *STONE PINE LATTE (COFFEE HAUS ESPRESSO BLEND + HOUSE PINE SYRUP + MILK) - really subtle & delicious! I loved the meal above so, so much that I've already made reservations to try their dinner offerings and bringing some friends with me! FYIs: *I don't have any food allergies or restrictions but I appreciate when a restaurant has clear food indicators so as the planner/a host, I know what places can easily accommodate: V | VEGETARIAN VA | VEGETARIAN AVAILABLE VE | VEGAN VEA | VEGAN AVAILABLE GF | GLUTEN FREE GFA | GLUTEN FREE AVAILABLE *Parking is a dedicated free lot right outside the restaurant - which makes it easy! *They have an awesome Stein program - buy a stein and get a free pour & get a discount when you bring your Stein back! *If you're a Corktown resident, they have a resident discount!
Such a great restaurant and experience! All the staff were friendly, everyone helped everyone. If you were here when it was St CeCe's or Lady of the House; the interior is SO much brighter yet still warm and welcoming. I loved the real fireplace that was kept burning all evening. Our guide for the evening was Gabriel and she was great! She made fabulous recommendations, allowed us time to eat and enjoy our conversation without rushing us. The food - wow! Everything was top notch, full of flavor and just delicious! Kudos to the chef! The fondu was excellent! Very flavorful cheese fondue served with apples, roasted potatoes, and sourdough bread. We also shared a charcuterie board which was excellent! At the table we also experienced the smoked salmon rosti the chestnut gnochetti, and the chicory salad. Everything was better than anticipated! I could eat the chestnut gnochetti every day for the rest of my life! It was so unique and perfectly cooked with tons of flavor. The rosti was excellent, cooked to perfection. The chicory salad was fresh and the juniper dressing was also a unique and delicious touch. Zero complaints! I highly recommend making a reservation; they are very busy!