I really love this place. The menu was inspiring, the service was first class and the ambiance is warm, modern and refined. I've been dying to make it for happy hour. read more

My wife and I had dinner at Besa last night. The food was incredible. We had the pulled lamb shoulder and beet salad for starters. The lamb shoulder was one of the best bites we have eaten in a long time. The beet salad was very good as well. For entrees, my wife had the scallops. She said that they were exceptional. I had the cacio e Pepe, which was without a doubt one of the best pasta dishes I have had. The only downside of the experience is that we were seared at a table near the bar, and our server was doing double duty as bar tender and waitress. So our service was not the best. She was doing the best she could, it just wasn't an ideal situation. Overall we loved the food so much that we will definitely be back. We will just ask for a table in the main dining area next time. read more

Besa is consistently flavorful and an overall great experience. Every time I go, the staff is beyond amazing. They have wonderful recommendations, and are confident in those recs. They start you off with focaccia. It has an incredible crunch & is still warm when they deliver it to you. You can always tell a good restaurant by the quality of their olive oil, and Besa's olive oil and vinegar dipping sauce is the perfect compliment to the bread. For drinks, I ordered the B sting, which is Smokey and spicy. It's definitely not for everyone, but I love the different flavors you get sipping on it, and I can't get a drink like it anywhere else downtown. The waitress recommended the city lights to my friend, and she said it was the perfect suggestion for a nice sweet refreshing drink. (I didn't try it so I can't confirm) As an appetizer, I got the calamari. It was extremely light, fresh, and had a wonderful tomato sauce with it. I will say, the table next to me got a cheese and fig appetizer and it looked so yummy, I was sad I didn't get that.. (not that the calamari disappointed whatsoever) For my entree, the waitress recommended the lamb chops. They were juicy & had the perfect sear from a well seasoned cast iron skillet. They were accompanied with a vibrant cucumber, pepper, and onion Mediterranean salad and a red pepper yogurt. Eating a bite with all components was a flavor bomb! Although my appetizer, entree, bread, and olive oil plates were okay were licked clean, we somehow found room for dessert. The labneh cheesecake was flavorful & tasty. I will say, the cinnamon in the crust was a bit overpowering for me, I would've preferred a cinnamonless crust to really spotlight the flavor of that cheese part of the cheesecake. My friend got the trilece cake, which I've had before and I know is ridiculously yummy. My favorite dessert they have is the hazelnut frape bar. To my disappointment, they were out of it this time... just forcing me to come back again. If I had to change anything, I would've loved a nice mashed potatoes with my lamb chop as well, but that's just because I know how ridiculous the mash is that comes with the filet. (But I totally respect that the mash would not go with the perfect bite that they've created with their lamb chop meal already, I just love potatoes, don't hate!) read more

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We had reservations here with my sister's family for dinner. The place had an upscale ambiance, yet our server made us feel comfortable. We started out with the calamari which was pretty good. I had the ribeye steak substituting the fries for the whipped potatoes and it was very tasty and had some of my niece's scallops which were also very delicious. We ended our meal with a couple of desserts the raspberry ice cream pie and the dark chocolate fudge torte, both were decadent and very satisfying. read more

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Our server Claire was amazing. We had a ladies night out and the food was impeccable. Everyone in our group enjoyed our meals and we will be back again. read more

This was our first time trying Besa, and we really enjoyed it. The hosting staff and manager were very friendly upon arrival, as are the servers. The ambience is chic and modern. And the food was quite good. We loved the eggplant toast, the seared manouri cheese with figs, and the zucchini fritter. The spinach pie tart was good, but not as exceptional as the other appetizers. I prefer the phyllo of spinach pie, rather than puff pastry. The Gorgonzola and arugula salad was very tasty, though it was a bit difficult to eat the Jurassic sized arugula leaves even after attempting to cut through them with a butter knife. The green tomato gazpacho was also good, it had a peppery bite to it which I liked, but was slightly too cucumber forward for me. The grilled chicken with avgolemono sauce was delicious. I could eat that all the time. And the roasted fingerling potatoes were amazing. I really liked how light everything was, but still bursting with flavor. And the focaccia was great also. Our desserts; the trilece cake and the hazelnut espresso frappe were both really good. The trilece cake was served ice cold, dripping in the milk mixture. It was the best tres leches cake I've ever had. Nice job. And the hazelnut espresso dessert was like a giant ice cream sandwich, which we also enjoyed. Overall, the food was lovely. If pressed, I would say the only things we didn't enjoy were the somewhat uncomfortable banquettes, and the bizarre choice of music; this terrible EDM baloney. "Elevator Techno" is the best I can describe it. I would much rather hear some traditional Greek or pan-Mediterranean music, something that actually suits the food being presented, to add to the mood rather than subtract. But my harsh music review notwithstanding, we would definitely eat here again. read more

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The food & drinks were excellent. The staff were really nice and welcoming. I Highly recommend this restaurant. 10/10 read more

Besa - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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We went here for Valentine's Day and the experience seemed sub par for the hype and over all aesthetic. It is BEAUTIFULLY modern and welcoming inside, it gives a more open feeling to what is a corner space of a restaurant. Yes I understand Valentine's Day is a busy day, and can see to feel non stop but a smile and greeting go an extremely far way. The hostesses did a lovely job! They were friendly, and prompt explaining tables were running behind and they would get us seated as soon as possible. They directed us to the bar for a cocktail during our wait. The bar was quick to bring us cocktail/wine menus with waters but then never checked back in on us for drinks. We ended up flagging one down to place our order and then again later on to cash out to go to our table. The downstairs was decorated lovely with heart balloons floating against the ceiling. It made it cute but not over done. Kudos to a simple but elegant decoration for the space. Dinner was unfortunately underwhelming, portion sizes for the appetizers are small. The calamari is plated over the marinara which if not delivered to the table immediately will cause you to get soggy pieces and not crisp. The pulled lamb shoulder was good but again everything shoved onto a small plate toppling over each other. This was good but also very fatty. (Upon bringing these out we had no plates to share these on. Had to wait to eat to ask for plates) I had the Double Cut lamb chops and my boyfriend has the Ribeye steak frittes. These were both lovely taste wise, but I do feel like what you get for what you pay on both of these is mediocre. Two lamb chops with 4 pieces of barley roasted vegetable... Our server was lovely, but most of her time was unfortunately taken up by an unhappy guest through out the experience. We refilled our own waters, stacked plates to be taken, asked for dishware ect. There was quite a confusion at the end of the night with the bill including the deposit. We received our neighboring tables bill, I noticed the amount she told us to pay vs the amount with the deposit were not the same in the slightest. Then noticed it wasn't even our bill to began with shortly before leaving. We were paying cash and this would have had us paying almost an extra $80. We then received the right bill and again, confusion with the deposit and what the total amount actually was. For some reason she was going off the total, and not the balance due at the bottom of the receipt which had the deposit included. If I hadn't been in this industry for the last ten years I can see how many people may have been told totals not including their deposit. (20% gratuity is automatically applied on holidays) Not one person mentioned this, as I do think gratuity is important on holidays because most people do not tip these days. It would be nice to be notified of before you're reviewing your bill after you've paid. read more

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Awesome! In Detroit for a conference. Went for dinner and was blown away. Service was excellent; friendly and efficient. The food though was the star. I had lamb chops cooked to perfection. Of course the pistachio cheesecake for dessert was delicious. read more

Besa - Pistachio cheesecake - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

My coworkers and I went here recently for an after-work happy hour. We had our own table in the basement level. We had a good view of the wine cellar, into which we were invited (we declined). We ordered drinks and a variety of appetizers. The open face spinach pie had a thin crust with a nice leek flavor (note: do not expect a Greek spinach pie). The zucchini fritters were pliant without being soggy and the yogurt sauce balanced them well and was not overly yogurty. They were more substantial than the spinach pie, which was smaller than expected. I did not have drinks so I cannot comment on those but props to the white bread with a perfect crunchy crust. Besa had a classy atmosphere. Our waitstaff was knowledgeable and efficient. They offered one in our party a chance to taste different wines to decide what to order. Note: the stairs to the basement are long and steep. Take care on them or ask for an elevator (I assume one exists). read more

Great ambiance. Had a private room on a Tuesday for a party of 12. Carter was a wonderful server and Roger the manager was very attentive. For dinner we had the chef special ravioli with pork belly and black truffle -- Delicious. Also delicious was the chicken breast entree. To drink we had the Beet Mezcal and it was amazing!! We'll be back. read more

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Came here for dinner prior to the Rolling Stones concert. Downtown Detroit looked excellent. It was walkable from Ford Field. We went in early for happy hour. The apps were 30% off and there was beer, wine, and cocktails on the happy hour menu. They were out of Prosecco so one of the drinks was not available but my dining companion and I chose the Mockingbird. It was a tequila drink with some tropical juices. It was excellent for seven dollars. We shared the lamb shoulder appetizer and the seared octopus. Both of them were excellent. I will say that the octopus appetizer had a lot of olives and not a lot of octopus compared to some of the other restaurants in the area. But it was taster. But the lamb shoulder was amazing. Rich and flavorful. A big hit at our table. We we're already quite comfortable sitting at a table along the windows in the bar so we stayed there for our dinner reservation. We had the lamb heart and mushroom Ragu and the sable fish entree. The lamb heart Ragu was incredible. It came on a bed of pasta that had a slightly thicker than spaghetti sized noodle. Possibly a bucatini pasta. The Ragu was very rich and had an ever ever so slight gamy taste -I say that's not like it was in a bad way but it was full flavored. It was really excellent. The chef is a lamb genius. The sable came with uni orzo. Both the fish and orzo had a bright lemony flavor. The fennel was a nice addition. Staff were friendly and service was good despite sitting in the bar. The tables along the window are great for people watching. I would recommend this restaurant. It is a great option downtown. read more

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Love this place!! Came here before our dinner reservation to enjoy happy hour (4-6:30). They offer $7 cocktails and 30% off appetizers. The my dining companion and I both enjoyed was the tequila Mockingbird. OMG it was delicious! We had 2 appetizers - The seared octopus and the polled lamb shoulder. The secret octopus was very light on the octopus, and had a lot of green olives in it. It was good, but I would not order it again. But the pulled lamb shoulder on brown butter hummus... I could eat a bowl after bowl of it. For dinner my companion had the sable, and I had the lamb hearts and mushroom Ragu. Her fish was quite good, and it was served with orzo. The Ragu came on top a plate of bucatini, and was freaking amazing. I think the chef has a way with lamb. It was so so good. read more

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Amazing experience. Our server Claire went above and beyond with the recommendations on top of being extremely kind. The vibe was laid back and the food was some of the best I've had in the city. read more

Dinner after the Tigers game with my girlfriend's. This is my second time being here, but my first review. I enjoyed it the first time, too. I just didn't write a review after that visit. First, before I talk about our meals, I have to mention our server. Her name is Shawn and she was amazing! Her description of whatever we asked about was superb...we couldn't decide what to get! Open face spinach pie-great appetizer, from the crispy crust on the bottom to the thinly sliced lemons on the the top. Bread with olive oil-the bread is crusty on the outside and soft in the middle. Just delicious, but try not to eat it all or you won't have room for your dinner Filet mignon-looked tender enough to cut with a fork. It was served with roasted carrots and a potato cake. It must have been good because both of their plates were empty. Branzino-nice crispy skin, flaky moist fish. The menu describes it with asparagus, but tonight it came with mashed potatoes. I didn't care at all for the potatoes, there was some kind of spice in them that I didn't care for; horseradish? Maybe? I dont know for sure. Luckily, I was able to swap them out for the potato cake that came with the filet. Much better potato choice! read more

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Wow Dorian was phenomenal! Service was top notch! So helpful and informative! Helped us vegetarian and non dairy people navigate through the menu! Double checked our order with the chef to make sure we were still able to enjoy a wonderful dinner! Highly recommend! read more

Besa - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Adrian was an attentive server who read the table's needs well. Beautiful wine selection and great cocktails. Flavorful and eclectic fare, but it definitely comes with a price tag. read more

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This is one of those restaurants you don't believe is in Detroit. It's so posh and gives off serious trendy vibes. Lots of seating and the minimalist decor/ambiance enhances your dining experience. Came here with a girlfriend on a Friday night and Daniel was our server. He single-handedly MADE the experience for us. He was so friendly and interested in us, anything we asked for he got it for us almost immediately. I had a dirty martini which was perfectly chilled. I also had a village salad which made my eyes pop - it was so delicious, just like the salads in Greece! I ordered the Creekstone filet for dinner which was slightly undercooked, but I still enjoyed everything on my plate. Also got the fries for a side with rosemary aioli. The fries were a little too salty but the aioli helped. I asked Daniel for a pinot noir recommendation to accompany my dinner, and his selection seriously impressed me! Loved it so much I now need to buy a bottle of that wine for myself. Both of us enjoyed our fancy dinner at BESA and we both can't wait to come back here because of the basics - great location, beautiful interior, delicious food, incredible service! read more

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I planned a work dinner here in Besa's private room. During planning, they were very accommodating with some requirements we had on our end, especially about timing of food. Having never been there before, I was still a little nervous about the dinner. The night of the dinner, we arrived early to prep and were pleasantly surprised to find they were already set up, waiting for us. Shawn and her team were amazing. As soon as the other guests got there, the appetizers hit the table and Shawn was ready to take our entree orders, being sure to inquire about dietary restrictions individually and discreetly. Service remained attentive throughout, waters being refilled almost instantly. The room we booked was beautiful and sufficiently quiet to have meaningful discussions. The chairs were a little loud but that's the only negative. The food was delicious! I had the chicken, and I never knew chicken breast could be so tender. The bread was also amazing, especially with their special olive oil blend. I cannot say enough how delighted I was with Shawn and her team! Everything went so well, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more

Besa gets a solid 5/5 from me. Their fries, truffle ravioli, and chocolate dessert were all top-notch. Everything was well-prepared and flavorful. The cozy ambiance and attentive service made it a great dining experience. Definitely worth a visit for a delicious meal. read more

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Besa is the first restaurant we visited in 2021 after restaurants reopened. I hope that I never forget the feeling of anticipation that I had as we looked forward to dinner that evening. I realized how much I had taken dining out for granted prior to COVID, and it felt like such a treat that we could finally dine out inside of a restaurant again. Add a special occasion with a birthday to the mix, and it was truly a great reason to celebrate! Cozy and welcoming from the bitter cold from our first step into the restaurant, I loved the elegant but warm atmosphere. We were shown to our table that was appropriately spaced out from the others in a corner of the restaurant. To start the meal, we decided on Calamari. It was tender with a light batter and had a delicious tomato sauce to accompany it. Next up for me was the Chicken Paillard. I wondered if I was nuts for ordering chicken at a nice restaurant rather than something more exotic, but everything about it turned out to be perfect. Tender, not at all dry, and perfectly accompanied by a tangy avgolemono cream sauce, I would order it again in a heartbeat. My partner in crime was disappointed in his order, and actually a bit jealous of how delicious my chicken looked, and even more so when I described how great it tasted. On the side we got fries with a garlic aioli sauce; they were alright, but not a "must-order" The night ended with a scoop of ice cream topped by a candle to celebrate the birthday. And it felt like a celebration of returning to restaurant dining as well. I'm glad that Besa was our first 2021 dining-in experience, and will look forward to my visit there. read more

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Great date night option! Atmosphere is intimate, modern, and sexy. My date and I started off with drinks here - old fashion and one of the signature cocktails "tea mine." Tea mine was surprisingly tasty and recommend trying if you're looking for something unique and a slightly sweeter drink. For appetizer, we had the calamari app. Delicious and served with a yummy aioli. For entrees, we shared the chicken paillard and lamb chops. The flavors were so unique and tasty...we were both scraping the sauces from the plates if that gives you an idea on how delish they were. Great dining experience here! read more

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We had an AMAZING experience! Daniel was our server and he was absolutely phenomenal. It's so hard to find good service, ambiance, drinks, and food all in one place. We definitely found that here. We also got fries, calamari, and pulled lamb shoulder as an appetizer and it was all delicious. We even ran out of condiments for the fries and... without even asking they brought us more. Daniel went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and happy. I also cannot forget the delicious trilece cake for dessert. AMAZING! We cannot wait to go back and try basically one of everything off of the menu, but we'll NEED to ask for Daniel!!! read more

Besa - Filet and lamb ragu - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Located off woodward on the corner next to a coney and like Grand Trunk. Parking is street or paid lots. Very walkable. Went here for my birthday and to have drinks with friends. This is pricy but the food is yummy. Perfect for a date or friends vibe or family dinner. The service is always outstanding and you will be taken care of. read more

Father in law flew in from California and we really wanted to show him a great time. Wife and I have been here several times and it's always been amazing. Impeccable service by our server Alex. He was attentive, considerate and when our 9 year old got her meal and it had something she didn't want on it, she was too afraid to say anything other than "it has cheese on top". Alex saw the look on her face, took her plate and reassured her that he was going to fix it. 5 minutes later, he brought out a new dish with no cheese and she lit up with joy. So amazing. It's these little things that keep us coming back here and keep us recommending BESA to everyone. In short, the service is second to none from the door to the table. The menu is simple yet exquisite. The ambiance depends on the time of night. Once you get past 7pm on a Friday or Saturday night, it can be a little loud, but still very manageable to have a conversation without yelling "HUH?!?" across the table. Parking is a breeze too. 3rd party valet is available for $15 on the other side of the street in front of Townhouse or you can park in the enclosed One Detroit Garage right behind it for a couple of dollars less (that's where valet parks the cars anyways TBH). Attire is business casual but it's always best to dress to impress! read more

Good Service, Food and Ambience. Quaint and window views of views and Woodward Avenue.

This restaurant has been on my list of places to try since they opened! I am so glad I went. The food is great and the service is even better! Warm olive, fried calamari and octopus appetizers were presented well and were very good. My spicy shrimp dish was seasoned like nothing I ever had before. My wife's fish was cooked to perfection. My wife had a tiny chip on the rim of her water glass which even she did not see until she drank. She cut her lip ever so slightly on it and reported it to the waiter so they would not reuse the glass again. Waiter apologized profusely and gave us 1 of each of all 4 of their desserts for free! I was not expecting that at all! We sampled each one and they were all great! Waiter was personable and friendly! Next time I am in Detroit I will go back. I cant wait to try the other menu items. Thanks Besa for a great experience. read more

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Good service. Great food. And homey service. 10 out of 10. Delicious food and great happy hour.

If Wayfair had an upscale bar, Besas would be it! It was super chic and very well decorated. We came in for Happy Hour after a business meeting in downtown Detroit and it's a place I would come back to visit. Unfortunately, we did not enjoy any entrees but I can only imagine how great they are considering how delicious the appetizers were. We had the roasted eggplant toast, which blew me away. I didn't know what to expect and it was just deliciousness. The arugula and melon salad were both amazing as well. I could go for Besas right now if it wasn't so far from me. My party also ordered the olives and calamari, both of which they very much enjoyed. I had some cocktails from their drink menu which were just okay. Overall it was a great experience and our bartender was awesome. Next time I'm in Detroit I'll absolutely stop by and recommend this place to anyone I know visiting the city. I have to mention they had really great house music playing but it was obnoxiousness loud. read more

Amazing service and delicious appetizers! I'm a pescetarian so sometimes I struggle finding a happy hour that works for me. This one is it. I loved Besa and will return. Service was awesome, ambiance was cool-chill. My Summers Day drink was similar to an old fashioned and especially delicious at half the price! I was torn between two restaurants I wanted to try but I wish I would have stayed for dinner. Fries were banging but definitely a sharable size at $12. Anywas we had such a good time! read more

Besa - Cheese! - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Made reservations here for my birthday for a girls night almost a month in advance. I don't remember the last time I had such a terrible service. We had to wait almost 3 hours to get our dinner, over an hour to get our drinks ( both alcoholic and mocktails). Soup and salad took almost 2 hours and they forgot all of our sides for dinner...I am not a picky eater but the quality of the food was 2/10 ( scallops were chewy and undercooked, two of the 4 girls were also pregnant so that's extra terrible). The only thing they had to say ( both waitress and manager that finally came by ) was that they had to accommodate a large party downstairs which we weren't given a heads up about. Had we known the service would be so terrible we would have definitely left and went somewhere else. My friends were sweet enough to mention again that it was my birthday ( although it was stated in reservations as well) and they brought a dessert finally but forgot the birthday candle at this point we just had to pray and hope all of us don't end up sick from the food. The two starts are for desserts both of which were okay. Otherwise So disappointed, none of us will be back for sure. read more

Absolutely fabulous! We loved this place. All the food was fantastic. We loved the desert and the knowledgeable staff. The ambiance was great. read more

Besa - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Can't believe it took me this long to try this place! The ambiance was fabulous - and gorgeously decorated for the holidays. I found it hard to choose what to order, and I am somewhat limited in what I can eat being a lactose-avoiding pescatarian. No problem here! They were very attentive to our various dietary restrictions. They started us with a fresh-baked focaccia with olive oil that had both za'atr and lemon juice. Fantastic combo! Being a big mushroom lover, I ordered the lions mane skewer, which came with some grilled vegetables. The mushroom pieces were very large and sumptuous, and absolutely delicious. I even got avowed mushroom-hater in our group to agree it was great. We also ordered their fries - a very large portion that came with 2 dipping sauces. Three of us ordered the sable fish with uni orzo, which was great. Portions were more than adequate. Two shared the lamb chops and both reported that they were outstanding! I can't wait to go back! read more

Service was great! I sat at the bar. Meal was meh - manouri cheese and roasted eggplant bruschetta was not what I was hoping for. NA beverage was syrupy sweet. I bet other options on the menu would have been better choices. read more

This place is perfect for date night. Dim lighting, great service, and the food was amazing. The sides are sharable and the entrees, if you're into that. I would definitely recommend checking this place out, especially if you want to try new things but also don't want ti step out of your comfort zone to much. read more

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Delightful evening with family. Ada took exceptional care of our table, beginning with the menu description, then with the timing of our meal delivery. The wine was continually topped off and the bread was warm and fabulous. We had a variety of dinners at our table and everyone raved about their choice, claiming to have the best dish. The GF options were good too. We were seated at a nice table for 6 looking right out the big window. Of course judging the parallel parking of others and enjoying the city lights. We will return. Thank you for a wonderful experience. read more

This place has decided they are here to brag. They scream it from the roof tops, we know what we are doing, and they are right. My appetizer was delicious. The atmosphere is sleek and inviting. My entree was delicious. The wine paired with the meal, which was suggested by our server, was on point. Get this Detroit if you don't finish the bottle There, they pressurize it and let you take it home. I dined here on the fly and fine myself lucky for the experience. Oh, and if you like Olga spinach pies, they have taken them to another level. I recommend this place. read more

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Bread, ribeye, and tres leche dessert were amazing. Zucchini fritter, truffle ravioli were decent. Service was very good. It's a fun place for a celebration night! Definitely need to come back to try more things. read more

Besa - Steak and truffle ravioli - New American Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Happy Anniversary to us! Celebrated with Besa on a recent night week. It was lively but not too loud. We were seated at a romantic booth with a view outside. Drinks and the pulled lamb shoulder appetizer started our meal off. My husband had the King Mackerel and I had the Sable fish. Both were delicious but the sable was both our favorites. It had almost a creamy texture to the fish. Lovely. The surprise star was the melon salad with chilis. Served chilled, the sweet melon with a surprisingly big punch from the tiny chili was amazing. We had a wonderful bottle of Zacharias wine that paired well with the fish. A sweet finish to the evening with dessert. Hogh read more

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Great place for a date night. Dishes were delicious with a history where it came from. Overall, it was a wonderful meal and experience.