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    Besa

    4.3 (314 reviews)
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Besa Photos

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    BESA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Besa

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    Reviews With Photos

    Carrot salad
    Jenna C.

    Exceptional restaurant with 5 star service. We made reservations and were seated at a nice table next to the huge windows letting in lots of natural light. Decor is modern and classy with the white tablecloths. To start, I decided on the Garden of Amalfi cocktail, which was very enjoyable - nice balance of flavors and very refreshing. Complimentary focaccia bread service was offered and absolutely delicious. For food, we tried a bunch of appetizers: the mini gyros were 10/10 as was the pulled lamb shoulder (phenomenal!). While the carrot salad was good, I would skip next time in favor of trying something else. Similarly, for my main, I ordered the crab and saffron risotto but did not really like it. Our waiter noticed and asked me about it, so I was honest and said it was probably my personal taste so no worries but he insisted on taking it off our bill. Like I said before, service was 5 stars - Carter was very attentive without being intrusive, water glasses were never empty, plates switched out between courses, crumbs brushed from table, etc. They do a really good job here!

    Menu
    Kyle H.

    One of the best experiences I've had in a while. I visited Besa as a part of a Date Night and it did not disappoint. It was absolutely beautiful inside. The wait staff and hostesses were very kinds and knowledgeable. I'm a big sparkling water fan and their house offering was exceptional. I don't think I can go back to anything else. The house bread was really good. We wound up ordering the Octopus and Risotto as appetizers and the Rack of lamb for a shared entrée. The waiter told us that they only sold 4 Racks of Lamb per day and we go were able to grab the last one. The Risotto was technically a main entrée but the chef portioned it out into two bowls for us. All these dishes were so flavorful and continued to get better and better with each dish. This was the second time I had octopus and it was amazing. Probably one of my tops seafoods. All in all, this was a great experience.

    Lamb shoulder
    Kai L.

    We visited during happy hour and sat at the bar, and the experience was lovely from the moment we walked in until the very last bite. The service was attentive and our server was both personable and knowledgeable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Everything we ordered was well-seasoned and well prepared. The standout dish was easily the lamb shoulder appetizer, extremely tender and perfectly paired with the creamy hummus. Hands down, the best lamb shoulder I've had to date. The half chicken was also very good, tasting fresh off the grill, and paired nicely with the light, fluffy rice and grilled asparagus. The ambiance deserves a mention as well. The space feels modern and classy with romantic undertones, while still being warm and inviting. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, and I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

    Citrus Cheesecake
    Ranyia T.

    The staff is so fun and talkative. Not just our server but everyone would pass by and ask how we were doing and chat with us. The place is so nice, clean and very modern. I like that the booths are kind of private with the party you are with. For starters we had the pulled lamb shoulder hummus. The lamb was well seasoned and so tender the hummus was great but the combination was amazing. The mini gyros were really good too. They should make them as an entree with a bigger portion. They were so much flavor in the two bites I had since we split them in half. The branzino was good I have had better and the sides that it came with were a little on the small side it was Swiss chard and there was suppose to be romesco in it but I didn't see any and just a few pieces of fingerling potatoes. The ribeye was cooked to perfection and came sliced already the sides were plentiful and flavorful. The lamb chops were very small and not a lot of pieces and didn't really come with any sides. For dessert we split the Citrus Cheesecake and Trilece Cake. The cheesecake was very creamy and light the citrus taste was very pronounced and so fresh there wasn't any kind of artificial taste to it at all. The cake was delicious the cream on top was light and fluffy, cake was soft and moist, the sauce at the bottom gave it that extra touch that made it one of the best things I ate that night.

    Sunil A.

    I have to say, I'm really surprised this spot doesn't get included in more best of Detroit lists, and not even hearing more about it, I went in with very little expectations. I will tell you this, I left nothing but glowing reviews. First of all, what a beautiful restaurant. Visually and aestheticlly and tonally and go ahead an pick another sense because those were also wowed too. Modern style but yet still stunningly elegant, I was absolutely stunned the moment I walked in. Sitting down, you have views of Woodward and the bustle of Saturday night which I have to say was a very nice big city feel that I was missing here. But onto the food and drinks. The cocktails were well made, full of punch. My old fashioned was perfect, boozy right to the point of too much but still could taste the lovely orange. The crown jewels is of course the food. While the menu is not experinmental by any means, every dish was perfectly made. The lambchops were so tender I didn't even need a steak knife to slice them, a butter knife would have sufficed. The pasta (which is usually the least favorite part of any meal unless it's a ragu OMG!!! it was a ragu) was a shareable delight. As far as the service goes it was impeccable. We had a big group and we were left wanting for nothing. They were friendly and attentive and just so knowledgeable about any question we might have had. I am going to start a campaign to get Besa more recognized because it's a crime it's not talked about more.

    Ribeye dinner - split for 2 people, plated separately - delicious!
    Lorie C.

    Elegant but comfortable restaurant. Relaxing atmosphere, not rushed with exceptional service. We came on a Tuesday night. We had reservations but it was not busy. There was 3 of us and we started with cocktails and wine - all good. They provided us complimentary bread with herb and oil for dipping, very good. We ordered 3 different appetizers to share - mini gyros (favorite), pulled lamb (good) and carrot salad (not great). My daughter and I decided to split the rib eye dinner and it was phenomenal. They plated 2 separate dishes for us with the sides which was nice. It was one of the best ribeyes I've tasted. We decided on after dinner drinks instead of dessert as we were just too full. One ordered a latte, another ordered Spanish coffee. I asked for a chocolate martini but they didn't have the ingredients and offered a hazelnut martini. I decided to try that and I now have a new favorite, delicious! First class service from serving correctly, refilling water, clearing dishes including suttle crumb clearing of tablecloth. Delicious, relaxing, pleasant dinner out.

    Half chicken
    Katie K.

    We loved the ambiance and entrees here. The entrees in particular were delicious and presented very well, and we also loved our mocktails that went with them. However, the service was pretty slow- we were there for almost 2 hours and ran out of time for dessert, even though it didn't seem very busy. Additionally, I felt like the appetizers options were all out of left field, but we found some that we liked enough. I would certainly return, but would factor more time into my plans.

    Leslie C.

    Lovely, relaxed atmosphere. Excellent service. Beautiful decor. Glad I finally got to come here. My friend and I ordered almost everything on the happy hour menu. The chicken kebab was very tender and the best thing we had, and the hummus with it was great too. The fries were underwhelming and too salty for us. The short rib arancini was very bland. The sauce didn't help and it looked so good. Such a bummer because the plating was beautiful too. The beef cevapi slider was okay. Not super tender or flavorful. We really enjoyed the butter lettuce salad. If you like truffles, this is the salad for you. I ordered a few mocktails. Golden Hour tasted like a lemonade and wasn't too exciting. I couldn't taste any cardamom. I loved that Ruby Hive drink. The grapefruit and honey combo was delicious. I overheard the man sitting next to me at the bar say that the scallops are the best scallops he's ever had so maybe I should order off the main menu next time.

    Raagini Y.

    We had an exceptional time here. The bread is complimentary with delicious olive oil. Lions mane mushroom kebab has phenomenal flavor. Eggplant toast is good but could be skipped. The cheese appetizer was delicious. For two people we were so full after those 3 apps that we skipped entrees entirely and went to desserts. We got the tres leches which is phenomenal and some pistachio raspberry which was good but not mandatory to get. Ambiance is lovely. It's in such a nice area of Detroit. Our server was also super nice. He actually told us the plates were small but we were pleasantly surprised by the size.

    Drinks were so different and delightful
    Mary O.

    I would give this place 10 stars if I could. Impeccable service, cool vibe, and amazing food and drink.

    Bar
    Ree T.

    Located right downtown, this is a must visit place. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. It is more of an upscale vibe. A glass of wine is $25. The service is impeccable. The food is so good, and portioned exceptionally well.

    Tim T.

    Excellent cuisine and atmosphere - their chicken breast entree, with fragrant rice, mushroom, asparagus, and avgolemono sauce was amazing. Also their bread with olive oil was excellent as well. The Filette sparkling water I ordered was also great, but $9 for a bottle. Service was exceptional, very prompt, attentive and accommodating. There are upstairs and downstairs dining areas too - highly recommended if you are looking for a nice fine dining place in downtown Detroit!

    Crab risotto

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    Besa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Besa

    Is this place kids friendly? Do they have a kids menu?

    Not kid friendly. Very adult vibe. No kids menu.

    Is there parking or valet?

    They validate for two hours in the One Detroit Center parking garage on Congress. I don't think they have valet.

    Is there coat check?

    Yes there is coat check available upon request if not offered upfront

    View All 5 Questions

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    7 Greens Detroit Salad

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    3.5(151 reviews)
    0.3 mi•Downtown Detroit
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    It's always a challenge getting a few people to agree on what to do for lunch so when my neighbor…read morein the cube farm suggested getting a salad today, the "lunch bunch" walked to 7 Greens today. We arrived smack in the middle of the lunch rush with a queue out to the door but it did move quickly. The menu board has some suggestions for their pre-designed salads, bowls, burritos and smoothies. Or you can "build your own" on the fly and like Subway and Chipotle (but way better!), they add the ingredients as it goes down the line. I decided to stick with the "Kare Bear" - Romaine base with BBQ chicken, hard-boiled egg, bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and red onion with their ranch sauce. It sounds like a Cobb Salad to me. I watched the young lady assemble the ingredients and toss it together then pour it into a cardboard bowl. $15.25 plus tax. Remember to grab a fork if you don't already have one at your desk. It was a bit too busy to eat in today and it was a bit too warm to sit outside. So we brought it back to the office where I demolished this huge and delicious salad. It's not cheap but it is fresh and it feels healthy. I would absolutely choose 7 Greens again for lunch. [Review 482 of 2025 - 386 in Michigan - 24044 overall]

    7 Greens has an impeccably clean, simple interior, with excellent salads and even better service…read more The only downside is their hours!

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    7 Greens Detroit Salad

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    7 Greens Detroit Salad - Somehow, extra carrots. But still delicious. 7 Greens Detroit Salad

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    Leila - Fattoush

    Leila

    4.3(382 reviews)
    0.3 mi•Downtown Detroit

    Gorgeous ambiance. Amazing vibe…read moreGood service I would cry if you don't get the tomato kibbeh. You simply must. Vegetarian and fabulous The bread is quite good. Regarding entrees I still need to eat my way thru more of the menu...

    Our server, Daci, was super knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some great suggestions. It was…read morea perfect night, and they had the windows that faced the street up so we could enjoy the spectacular weather. Shout out to Brie, too, who kept our water glasses full! Let's start with the adult libations: I loved this and want to remember it so I could have it again: $19 La Sacre [Juicy, Floral, Crisp] Botanical gin, hibiscus, peach, strawberry Oh yeah, the food was great, too!! We had: $13 Tabbouleh Parsley, mint, cracked wheat, tomato $24 Chicken Wings Eight wings, za'atar, lemon, toum, black pepper These wings were outstanding!! I'd go back for these again!! $14 Baba Ghanouj Eggplant puree (ours also included pomegranate seeds and some kind of sauce over top) There was a perfect amount of smoke to this. It's a large portion so be prepared to share! The pita that came with our meal was piping hot and so yummy and stayed tender even as it cooled. We also had a seasonal cauliflower with za'atar and other ingredients. Sadly the menu isn't updated online to refresh my memory on all ingredients. While I liked this, I really loved the wings and the baba ganouj. Our meal was perfectly paced, and we had plenty of time to drop our leftovers in the car on our way to Little Caesar's. I'd love to come back as it was overall a great experience!

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    Michigan & Trumbull

    Michigan & Trumbull

    4.7(355 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    •$$

    Service was great! We were asked if we'd been there before. As first timers, they gave us a great…read morerundown of the menu (including drinks). Ambiance- small, intimate environment. Felt homie which we loved. Small parking lot as well. We arrived about 20 mins after opening. This place can get busy /packed fast but is worth the wait! Food: we ordered the Packard pepperoni pizza- it was delicious, with a great balance between sweet (from the hot honey) to savory. The dough, sauce, and toppings were well balanced, fresh, portioned.

    First time trying Detroit style pizza! We didn't really know what to expect but my husband found…read morethis place. Parking is extremely limited they maybe have 5 spots available excluding pickup but there is parking of street parking around so don't worry. Seating is also extremely limited, we ended up sitting outside on one of their outside benches but the weather wasn't too bad. They also serve you plates and water if you sit outside. It took about 20-30min wait for our pizza. We got the packard pepperoni to share. It sure does pack a punch of heat/spice with the chilies. The honey balance it out well though so don't be too scared. The bread/dough was very fluffy and the cheese crust was crunchy and delicious! Definitely very bread heavy in general but I think this place does it well. Overall decent pizza but I think I prefer a thin slice over Detroit style.

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    Michigan & Trumbull - Bar

    Bar

    Michigan & Trumbull - Half Packard Pepperoni Pizza and half meat lovers

    Half Packard Pepperoni Pizza and half meat lovers

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    Mad Nice - The Gem Salad. Sneaky Good!

    Mad Nice

    4.3(575 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Midtown, Cass Corridor
    •$$$

    We were nicely greeted and sat at the bar. We checked out…read morethe cocktail menu and knew that this was the right voice for dinner. We ordered the Last Sunrise in Tuscany and the 59 Barrera and Son. Both were absolutely delicious. We watched the bartender make the Last Sunrise in Tuscany and we had to ask about it. They make this with a house made syrup which isn't too far fetched for this restaurant. They try to make everything from scratch and it really shows in their offering. We were so hungry we had to order a couple things to share. But before we ordered we asked the bartenders (absolutely amazing) about what to order. Now when I say they gave the most elaborate explanation I could almost taste these dishes she was explaining them so well. She knows food and she knows good food. So we went with her recommendations based on what we were going for. We ordered the Duck, the Ravioli and the Rigatoni. When I'm telling you everything was perfect, it was PEFECT! The cook on everything, the favors that danced in my mouth. The filling of it all. I cannot wait to come back to try the rest of this menu. As dinner was winding down, I asked Kennedy to choose my last cocktail. She presented me with the most delightful white sangria and I was wowed by the flavor and lightness of it all. We then ordered a few lattes to go and we were talking about that dinner and restaurant for the rest of the week. Shea and Kennedy were absolutely amazing!

    The server Alex we had was wonderful. She was very professional, polite, and patient. The small…read morebites were okay. The peach crumb cake was mid as was the cinnamon roll. The bacon scone was absolutely outstanding, however you have to ask for butter for this, which is a must, but that was the only thing for a $325 brunch bill for 4 people. The entrees were cold when we received them, and one took so long to get that it was actually comped by the restaurant. The steak and egg benny was okay. The egg was overcooked and only jammy and not runny, and the croissant which had the steak on it was super oily and gross. There is a reason why a biscuit or english muffin is used in this dish, so whoever decided a croissant was a good idea is not smart, or eating the current weekend chef's food. The potato frites super greasy and oily as well as cold. Draining them on a paper towel would have been clutch. We had other entrees that no one finished because of the quality and taste of the food. It would have been helpful if the kitchen staff put the food under a salamander or heat light. If they have one of these, it certainly wasn't working that day in proper order. This is not a place I would ever go to brunch again. Maybe I would try dinner have one of their cheaper dinners as the $34 benny was overpriced and underperforming. I am giving this place three stars rather than one because the service was great unlike the food.

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    Bar and tables

    Mad Nice - Apple crostata. Nicely plated and tastes amazing

    Apple crostata. Nicely plated and tastes amazing

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    Besa - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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