La Lanterna

I went here for my birthday and it was absolutely fantastic. It is a very small place but the decor is nice and it makes for a pleasant dining experience. The calamari appetizer was some of the best I've ever had. Their meatballs were very fresh tasting and again, some of the best I've ever had. All of the pizzas that were ordered were very nice and the crust was also very tasty. The pasta noodles are a great texture and the different sauces were also very good. I highly recommend checking out this establishment, you won't regret it!

Love the place, especially on Taco Tuesday ($2.00 soft or hard-beef or chicken tacos)

In a city full of Detroit-Style Pizza, you'd be hardpressed to find a place that serves Italian-Style pizza. La Lanterna delivers. It has a great selection of pizza/pastas that make it one of those must-visit Italian restaurants downtown. . It is also one of the only. The meatballs are vibrant and served with a delicious burrata. La Lanterna clearly has remained consistent in flavor since its reopening about 3 years ago and that makes it a mainstay here in Detroit.

Good wine selections and pasta options. The only reason for the 4 stars is because of their veal Milanese. I ordered it once and will never order it again. Everything was good up until my entree came out. It was on a mountain of fries with two pieces of veal. The veal wasn’t seasoned well and the breading was soggy and too oily. There was no flavor to the meat and it was chewy, even though veal is supposed to be more flavorful and tender. The fries weren’t seasoned either and they did nothing to cut down the oily taste of the veal. Should’ve been paired with some kind of a small salad with arugula to cut out the greasiness of the veal. Stick to their pasta dishes. Why have it on the menu if it’s not going to be as good as most other options on it?

Delicious Italian in a casual atmosphere. Appetizers are bountiful and delectable. The calamari has a wonderfully subtle zing to it and is not overbreaded. The blackened salmon with garlic spinach is A+. Attentive, friendly service. Parking is not great on the street, but there is a pay lot just a short walk down the street.