My family and I dined here last month. Sadly, we had a very poor experience. We had reservations, but the hostess refused to seat us until the entire party arrived. However, she seated others who had individuals missing from their party, who arrived after us, some without reservations. Additionally, the hostess insisted we wait outside in the cold and didn't greet us. I picked this restaurant for my mom's birthday celebration, but no one wished her despite this being on the reservation. The food was a hit or miss, some of the pastas were delicious but mine was cold and had bland flavor. Definitely overpriced, other restaurants in the area are far better. The bright light during our evening was our server who was excellent, he took great care of us and took time to explain the menu plus wines.

Why a 2 rating? 4 of us had a wonderful meal only to have evening experience diminished when the bill came and there was $10 charge for use of a credit card!!! They claim their costs went up. Didn’t see any extra charges for gas, water or electric charges that also went up, as well as many other costs. When asked why, the owner was totally obnoxious and said “ this is America, I can do anything I want!” Why would a business do something to intentionally PO their customers? No longer a customer.

This is one of the most delicious and legit Italian restaurants around. Outstanding coffee, lattes, etc. The olive oil will make you question what you've been buying your whole life. The dinner menu is extensive, and I've loved everything I've eaten. The atmosphere transports you to another place. It's gorgeous. This place should have lines out the door at all hours based on how wonderful it is. If you have the chance to visit, just do it. It's outstanding.

By far my worst if not one of my worst experiences in Birmingham in my life. Me and my girlfriend made a reservation two days prior and when we pull up, not only do we have to wait for 10 minutes but when our seats were ready they put us in a spot where they were literally trying to hide us or have us out of the way. The table wasn’t even set up before we got there and there was other open tables and they told us to give them second so they can set up the spot. Also, notice in the picture that I took there’s no chairs at the table and this was after we had left and drove by so this is obvious that they didn’t want us eating there because they only set up that table for us, and no one else and it must’ve been because we looked too young or something but we’re both in our 20s and more than ready to get some drinks and a meal. They then walk us over there around the corner and next to us is extra tables and It was like a little back corner storage area that they had us sitting in. by the way, we weren’t even inside of the restaurant fence/gate that’s outside we were like almost in front of another building in the complete open for anyone to just easily come up to us and it didn’t feel like a restaurant at all. It literally didn’t look like we were sitting at the restaurant. Me and my girlfriend were completely discriminated against and treated completely inappropriately. We asked if there was any different spot we could move to, and as there was other open spots they told us there was nothing they can do. So you’re telling me the best you can do for a two days in advance reservation is not even give the couple a legitimate spot in the restaurant. When we ended up leaving and I call the restaurant after and when the guy answers he says there’s no way that happened. I completely explained to him everything and he was just in denial the whole time and he really had the audacity to say to me “ you come to the restaurant for the food, not the table” but no one goes to a restaurant to be damn near kicked on the curb and around the corner for your meal and on top of that it took about 10 minutes for us to get someone’s attention once we’re at the table because the server never came up to us because we were so tucked around the corner. his only other thing he could say to me was how him and his family were European and they don’t treat people like that which is just a completely invalid and potentially a racist statement. When I kept asking him questions and trying to get to the bottom of what happened, he eventually stopped answering me and told me the police are around the corner and he hung up the phone. I don’t know why he was trying to threaten me with law-enforcement when they were the ones who actually committed an illegal act. Business owners like this are what drive more and more people away from Birmingham besides the actual residents where half are disrespectful and arrogant anyways?

My visit to La Strada left me with negative feelings and a strong desire to share my experience. Despite having made a reservation in advance, the evening turned out to be quite a letdown. Upon arriving at the restaurant, I was surprised to find that there was no option for outdoor seating when I made the reservation. Despite it being a warm summer night, the inside of the restaurant was uncomfortably cold. Eager to enjoy the pleasant weather, I politely asked our waiter if it would be possible to move to the patio. He agreed to check with the hostess and returned with the news that there were no open spots on the patio but we could wait 15-20 minutes if nobody showed up for their reservation and move outside. Strangely, the patio was visibly empty at that time, which was a puzzling and disappointing start to our dining experience. The oddities continued when we ordered cocktails. We requested a margarita and a spicy margarita, but to our surprise, they were served in different glasses and were nothing like margaritas at all. This inconsistency left us scratching our heads. We patiently waited for 20 minutes as advised by our waiter to see if an outdoor spot would become available. However, when we asked our waiter for the bill and to move outside, he relayed our request to the hostess, who reacted with a negative attitude and a blatant lack of customer service. She refused to accommodate our request to move outside, even though the patio remained empty throughout our visit. This experience left a bitter taste in our mouths. We decided to order food despite the frustrating situation. Unfortunately, the food arrived slowly and failed to impress. It was bland and uninteresting, which was disappointing for a restaurant that touts itself as highly as it does. What puzzled me the most was that throughout our entire visit, the patio remained empty, and no other patrons were seated there. This raised concerns about the hostess's attitude and her willingness to accommodate customers' requests. It seems that this issue has been highlighted in other reviews as well, and I can't help but wonder if she is somehow connected to the owner. In summary, my experience at La Strada in Birmingham, MI, was marred by a cold interior, strange cocktails, a disappointing lack of outdoor seating, and subpar food. It's unfortunate that such issues overshadowed what could have been a pleasant dining experience. It's my hope that the management at La Strada addresses these concerns and takes steps to ensure a more enjoyable experience for future customers. My friend and I decided to have dessert and cocktails across the street at 220 and while there for the next 3 hours the patio was not seated once and they closed up at nightfall with not one patron having sat there.

The food here is mediocre at best. Hostess was terrible and sounded like a train operator. In regards to the food if you want something more authentic, I would recommend Boca DePippo, or Olive Garden for that matter.

Wonderful experience. My husband, daughter and I went today to celebrate a promotion. The staff was beyond friendly. The chef came to our table a few times to tell us about the dishes. Multiple people would stop over and interact with our daughter. The food was amazing. I had gnocchi, my husband had short rib, and our daughter had pizza. We were all impressed.

Beautiful atmosphere, creative and delicious specials, an extensive wine list, and impeccable service. The swordfish was cooked perfectly. My carbonara was creamy, but very over seasoned. Get the crème brûlée! It’s everything!

Had a few issues with our experience here. My wife's pasta was the saltiest dish I've ever tried (she ordered the carbonara), and while I typically prefer a more-strongly salted dish than other people, it was too much for even my tastes. The salad was a bit underwhelming, and the highlight of the night was the caprese appetizer. At +$30 for a pasta dish, I was expecting better flavor. Lastly, while some people enjoy a more detached/stoic waiting staff, my wife and I found it detracted from the experience as well.

Really disappointed with the service, specially the hostess, super rude and overbearing. Food was good, but not worth $100pp. We ended up going for drinks to 220 across the street, service there is day and night! we definitely will be back at 220!

Ate here for a private event with a fixed menu. Excellent food across the board from the cheese and cured meats, appetizers, mains, and desserts. Highlights were the stracciatella cheese, short rib meatballs, and the filet mignon which was prepared perfectly to temperature.

Wohoo.. 5/5 for ambiance! I’ve been there for coffee only . I liked it. Seems to be a pretty fancy italian place and it was so elegant!

OWNER IS CRAZY!!! AND ABUSIVE!! I went there last night, and the owner literally screamed at everyone and kicked one of his employees in her stomach!!!!! I wanted to get up and help her because she was crying, I was horrified to see this!! Other customers got up to fight him. I literally could not believe what was happening!! DO NOT GO THERE!! It was a disgusting thing to see. SHAME ON HIM, HE NEEDS TO BE IN JAIL!!! I hope everyone contacts the police!!! NO MAN HAS ANY RIGHT TO HURT A FEMALE!!! UGHH DISGUSTING!!! OMG I LITERALLY HATE THAT I HAVE TO GIVE THIS PLACE A STAR!! IT DERSERVES TO BE SHUT DOWN!!!

very nice owner and servers! amazing food and great atmosphere!!! the lasagna is sooo good and salad!!! andrew was so sweet definitely coming back here :)

2021 Review (5/5 Stars) Absolute excellence! The staff is 100/100, the food is 100/100. The chef and staff accommodated our specific taste and knocked it out of the park for a perfect home run. Thank you for your excellent service! 2019 Review (4/5 Stars) Came for the espresso and tea, great place for meetings. Atmosphere is enjoyable.

Wow - this restaurant in Birmingham, MI is outstanding! It compares favorably with many very good restaurants in Little Italy in New York. Great wine list, food, and service from a highly photogenic wait staff. Even in a period where restaurant staffing is a challenge, they carefully explained what to anticipate and worked skillfully to satisfy their customers. Owned by Albanian immigrants, La Strada includes some excellent wine selections not offered at most Italian restaurants. Dining there was definitely a treat.

This is one of my favorite restaurants! Food is authentic Italian, waitstaff very attentive and a great wine list🍷 After hearing my daughter talk highly of La Strada I have returned many times and have enjoyed each visit!

Top notch place. $72 for two glasses of wine and a VERY nice bowl of pasta bolognese with truffles. I showed up around 6:20p on a Tuesday and had the whole place to myself until some trickles started coming in. NO military discount.

Giving one star is way too much. I asked the waiter to bring me a bottle of wine , because I wanted to buy it. The waiter instead charged me for each glass $12 a glass, I ended up paying $70 for a $40 bottle of wine, I was scammed. The food portions were so small that me and my family ended up going to a McDonalds afterwards. The bill was $500 for 4 people. If I could leave negative stars I would, rating this restaurant one star is being way too kind.

Looking for a really great italian experience? Look no further. With La Strada's newest chef from Roma, Italy, Giuseppe, this restaurant easily ranks at the pinnacle of Birmingham restaurants with tasty veil, pasta, chicken, and other italian favorites. Server was also excellent, very personable, and attentive.

I attempted to dine at La Strada with my senior-aged parents on Saturday, November 12th 2022. I arrived first and was seated directly underneath one of the speakers playing very loud internet radio. In fact, the only content playing was advertisements, interrupted by a jarring jingle. I asked three different individuals, including the waiter to turn off the radio, given my father wears hearing aides and that kind of noise would make it difficult for a conversation. The staff started moving about the restaurant, seeming to attempt to adjust the radio, but the ads and jingles continued for several minutes while I waited for my parents to arrive. Eventually, the gentleman I assume is the owner explained he would not do anything about the radio, and only offered to move us to the front of the restaurant, claiming it was only going to louder inside the restaurant as it became busier. I explained that I didn't want to hear radio advertisements, and I mean this literally, for gas station fried chicken during our meal, and that I would have to call my parents to see how they'd want to proceed. Fortunately I walked out before my parents arrived and saved myself the embarrassment of choosing to eat at La Strada. The absolute disregard for my simple request was shocking, and I challenge the owner to dispute any details in this account. In the end, all I can say is that I'm grateful that Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse down the street was able to seat a table for three without a reservation last night.

The food was amazing in all aspects - presentation, flavor and texture - with excellent Italian wine options. The chef personally visited the table and concocted special Italian deserts that were out of this world. The risotto with eggplant, ricotta reduction, etc. was simply delightful. A great culinary experience.

Horrible service and worse food over a maddening 2.5 hour ordeal. We made reservations for 8 people at 830pm, yet we were made to wait 40 minutes passed our reservation time only to be seated at two separate tables that split our party. That was only the beginning of our frustration. The waitstaff seldom came by our table, which would be an ongoing problem. When appetizers were finally placed, the calamari came out fishy and rubbery, and the focaccia was cold and incredibly oily. At 930, we heard a bartender mention the kitchen was closing soon, but it wouldn’t be for another 15 minutes that our waiter took our orders, even after we specifically hunted him down. I chose the safest dish I could: spaghetti bolognese with ricotta (a $30 meal with a $7 add-on). It would be 45 minutes before my wife’s salad would arrive (simple Cesar), and even then, we had to hunt down the staff to get it delivered. This whole time my water glass was empty and we had to go directly to the bartender to get any drink service for additional wine. At one point, while standing up to speak with the other half of our party, our half-full drinks were mistakenly taken away by staff. It wouldn’t be until 11pm - 2.5 hours after our reservation time and 1.25 hours after our order was placed - that my food finally arrived. However, the 4 men were served first, while the 4 women were all left waiting another 10 minutes for their meal. My bolognese was without the ricotta, which the staff quickly remedied, however, I was now presented a bolognese with a haphazardly placed ice-cream-scoop mound of ricotta that was nearly frozen and the pasta was now lukewarm. The pasta was over-cooked, the sauce was extremely salty, and the meat was flavorless. The waitstaff tried to explain they were short on waiters, which I would normally sympathize with, however, the restaurant was no more than 50% capacity at its peak and the excuse doesn’t explain the food quality. I am astounded that a place like this can survive in Birmingham. The atmosphere was middle of the road at best, the staff was a nightmare, and the food was fast-casual quality that only competed with the likes of Chili’s and Applebees. Terrible.