Think of a clean, sharp, space that is full of life. It is a laboratory of tastes, it brings the old with the new, and it bridges the expanses of what an immigrant brings to this very country: excitement, curiosity, and an originality that is bound to be copied. The dinner itself brings you on a real journey of flavors, and it is one that is never repeated twice. From the first light stop of a variation of bruschetta, that holds creamy textures and the real sweetness only homemade bread can bring, it glides you to a second course. Four to five bite-size appetizers are introduced to your palate in a manner that is akin to meeting new strangers. The variability of seafood, to the freshness of salads with seasonal combinations, to traditional tastes of Northern Italy, and the occasional heartiness of street food. We then move to our next stop, that of the one of the two main courses. Usually, as all stereotypes tend to say, a dish of pasta is served. However, there is a full range that is thoroughly explored. New landscapes of flavors are married, from saffron and blueberry to black garlic and cocoa, and many more. Yes, the traditional side is honored as well, from the chef's own region of Piedmont and its abundances in mountainous recipes and ingredients, alike the winter season that overtakes the North. To even a fully celebrated and homey wild boar ragù Bolognese, spaghetti alla Nerano, or to a pesto Genovese. It lingers on the buds, and it grows with a sense of warmth that provides a blossoming curiosity. read more

The restaurant is very pretty & service was good. We heard good reviews & wanted to try it. We had the first seating & all dishes were explained as to the ingredients. I only loved the gnocchi. The meats were not good & the seafood ceviche was too fishy. My biggest complaint is that not one dish was hot. All lukewarm. I appreciated presentations, but was underwhelmed for the price. Too many other Italian restaurants to go with delicious food..... read more

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The venue looked interesting, but the specially made food for our group's special meal did not taste very good and not worth the price. It was 3 small pasta dishes with no flavor and one of the pasta was too hard and another mushy. There were 2 small desserts on a small plate - of which one was such a hard cookie substance that it wasn't edible. read more

Amazing cooking class. Chef Elisabetta taught our group how to make Gnocchi for a company/team event. The food was fantastic, great atmosphere, and so much fun. Highly recommend. read more

In my book, this is currently the best Italian restaurant in metro Detroit. Everything from the ambiance to the food felt like being back in Italy, and my wife's Italian family agreed. Every single thing we tried was delicious and well-plated, but for me, the star of the show was the purple pasta (cabbage?). So yummy and perfectly salty. The wine list was very good, too, and well-priced for a restaurant setting. I did wish that our servers knew a bit more about wine as I asked some questions they couldn't answer, and the owners were busy, but it was fine -- I'm a bit of a wine nerd and just ended up going with an option I knew instead. Overall, fantastic experience and I can't wait to go back! read more

Cucina Lab Torino - Delicious food and wine! - Wine Tasting Classes Near Me - Troy, Michigan

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We celebrated a birthday here and had such a nice dinner and experience. The staff are all so friendly and helpful. The food was a mix of imaginative and classic. They even had a special mini strawberry cake they made fresh for the birthday. My only critique is that they have two dinner seatings with pretty clear times. When we arrived at our time (on the dot) they were still finishing up the seating before us and while we were sat immediately and asked for drinks we sat for a good 15-20 minutes before they were reset and seating the second service. I can't say enough about how great the staff was but we felt a little awkward and like we were in the wrong for showing up on time. read more

The best hidden secret in suburbia. This family run business is a true gem and special as it looks. Quietly situated in Troy at Crooks and 17 mile in a little plaza, you'll see twinkling lights and a patio around the back. Plenty of parking. The ambience is cool and classy. Comfortable and chill. Elisabetta is the owner and head chef. She and her family have created little Italy in Troy. Robert is always our server. He's great. Elisabetta's daughters are always busy behind the bar making limoncello, plating dishes or rolling pasta. Everyone works hard here, but with a smile. The nightly events are clever here. Wednesday is drinks only I think. I have not been that night. Thursday is Appertivo Night and I have been three times. For $45-50 you get a glass of house red or white wine and several courses of appetizers. They accommodate all diets. We have never had a problem getting delicious vegan food here. They also make homemade limoncello (in chocolate, rosemary, lemon) and vermouth. It's all incredible. They will mix cocktails with these libations too. The wine list is hand crafted and thoughtful. Friday and Saturday is dinner only and is pre-fixe. You need reservations due to the size of the space and special dishes created. I can't say enough good things about this establishment. So lucky to have it minutes away! read more

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This was a wonderful experience!! I loved it!! We got the chef's table seating so we could see everything going on and the plating. The staff is amazing! They are incredibly friendly and greet every single person. The chef who owns the restaurant also personally came to talk to my table quite a few times. This is a family business and it really shows because everything they do feels so homey including the food they provided. Every course was delicious and they were very accommodating for dietary restrictions. Overall, I would love to come here again! read more

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Had such a lovely experience at Cucina Lab for Valentine's Day reservations. The appetizers were fantastic along with the fresh bread. The mains - black garlic pasta, the filet mignon and the lobster wellington were absolutely delicious. The desserts were the perfect ending to the meal along with the roses they handed out. read more

The atmosphere was both beautiful and classic. The food was phenomenal--exceptionally fresh, with a delightful variety of flavors from different regions of Italy. The staff was pleasant, polite, and overall fantastic. read more

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Simply the most authentic Italian in Oakland County. (Mic drop) Can't go wrong with takeout.

I really hate to leave a bad review on a local establishment but I have to be honest-- not worth your money nor your time. My husband and I went out for a really special occasion and splurged on La Cucina and Vino Lab. I commend these owners for putting themselves out there. Some food was too salty, some lacked any taste, pasta was overworked, crackers were stale, and gelato was runny. This is not quite what we had in mind. The decor was trendy and tasteful - it's a shame the food wasn't. We even got significantly up charged for a bottle of wine in La Cucina and laughed that they evidently only paid $29 for it and forgot to take their sticker off. Overall, staff and chefs were nice, not a 7, certainly not a 9, course meal as promised. The chefs did stop by and ask how our dinner was - we were honest. If you want to give it a try - maybe it's worth your $XX per plate. In my book, neither the Vino Lab nor La Cucino Lab are worth it. Over priced and meh food. read more

Cucina Lab Torino - Wine Tasting Classes Near Me - Troy, Michigan

Do you like authentic Italian food? Do you like being presented with a perfectly curated meal that is lovingly prepared? If so, Cucina Lab is for you. On Friday and Saturday nights you can reserve a table that will make you feel like you are in Torino. The lab also offers cooking classes on Tuesdays and Wednesday and Thursday are special too. Check out their website for more information. I really enjoyed how the meal was served with lots of small tastes that were very satisfying. Everyone in our party loved everything we were served. We plan to return soon read more

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Wonderful dinner in a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. The drinks were divine and the courses were each a delicate balance of flavors that did not disappoint. We throughly enjoyed our meal and will be back again soon! read more

Cucina Lab Torino - Wine Tasting Classes Near Me - Troy, Michigan

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This was such a cute place!! We went for the first time and sat outside in the greenhouse! It was such a cute setup. Decorated with a lot of attention to detail -had small blankets on each chair so it wasn't too chilly. There was also a heater and speaker so you could play your own music. The staff was so nice and accommodating. Multiple family members were working together and you could tell they really cared for their patrons and wanted to ensure we were enjoying our meal. There were multiple appetizers. Homemade focaccia was AMAZING! Loved the pasta- vegetarians in our group got tomato sauce and my friend said "I could eat this pasta for the rest of my life." Non vegetarians got squid ink pasta- so salty and delicious. Branzino was so tasty. The desserts were delicious. We had espresso, chocolate liquor, and limoncello as well- all so good. And the red wine we had with dinner was great as well. Inside- loved the decorations. Bathrooms were cute and clean. Overall loved it and can't wait to go back!! Would love to sit out in the greenhouse again! read more

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Took my husband here for his birthday dinner. I was able to tell them that he doesn't like shellfish or olives prior to us coming. We sat at the chef's table and really enjoyed watching them prep the food. The food and service were excellent. They even made my hubby a little cake which was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed a limoncello spritz and some homemade rosemary liquor. read more

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I was really surprised to go to a restaurant that not only had bad food, but also bad service. I'm not sure if it was just an off day because I didn't see many bad reviews. The food was very bland, pasta felt overcooked and just not tasty at all. Charcuterie was nothing impressive. Service was very questionable in that they would just drop the food off and run away before we could even ask them what it was we were eating for this Appertivo special. We also felt very rushed as they kept coming to take our plates, and we had not even eaten half of it. We asked two different times for another glass of red wine and had to finally get up and stand in line to get one. All in all a very bad experience and for $150-not at all worth it! read more

When I learned of this new non-chain Italian restaurant opening in Troy, I looked forward to checking it out. Due to Covid-19 in-dining room restrictions we decided to order their "Italian Aperitif to Go!", $25.00 The fresh charcuterie box was filled with delicious meats, cheese, dried fruit, and crackers. There was a wide variety of wines to choose from. We decided to upgrade to a $20 bottle of hearty red wine. Then we headed home to enjoy. The sliced meat was very tasty, and truly the Italian version. A variety of 3 different cheeses. Dried apricots, figs and something we couldn't identify, but was very tasty. Walnuts and crackers competed the box. The portions were perfect for the 2 of us. Loved the red wine they selected for us. I look forward to trying the soup and panini sandwiches from their lunch menu. read more

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Had an awful experience here for "Apertivo night". Saw an influencer on Instagram (Its Raquel) post a video about this place that turned out to be completely inaccurate. Sat down, received our glass of house wine, very acidic and bitter, not good at all. Sat there for 15 minutes until someone finally brings a sad excuse of a cheese board and cold focaccia over. The cheese board was extremely tiny. No crackers, nothing. Just prosciutto and cheese. It was a one person serving and what cheese board has no crackers? The focaccia was cold and the pickled veggies that came with it were inedible and so hard to chew. We let the young lady/host? working know (who was actually very nice) that this was nothing like what was pictured on social media and she offered to make another cheese board. Next, the first serving of pasta comes out, in a tiny sauce container like bowl and gross. It was hard pasta with oil and broccoli. The next pasta was even worse, overly salty spaghetti noodles with undercooked bacon. The final pasta was the worst of all, stinky, fishy, unbreaded calamari that overpowered the pasta. We barely touched any of the pastas. We took one sip of our wine. We basically paid $60 a person for a sad shared cheese board. Whats even more awkward is that the owner came up to us after hearing our complaint about the portions saying they start with small portions and all of her customers know they can ask for more. Maa'm...it's our first time here. She also said they don't want "food waste" and food to not be eaten and thrown out since its from italy...very odd...people don't finish their food all of the time at restaurants. Made us almost feel bad for not finishing the food (she stared down our leftovers). Maybe if the food was good, we would've finished it! It was all awful. I've been to italy! Definitely not true, authentic italian. To add to this, we did not have an "experience". In the video online, she said they would explain each dish, etc. which did not happen. Everything was bad. We all felt really sick and rushed home to the bathroom after. We drove far for this and it was SO disappointing. Definitely nothing portrayed in the video. Nothing had flavor and if it did, it was gross. I wish I didn't spend my money here, it was such a waste, considering not much was eaten. We were starving and ate what we could, but it was so unappetizing, we couldn't finish. Ugh, what a disappointing experience. Definitely would not recommend. 1/10 rating. The 1 is only because the young woman was nice and the crackers were good. Sad. read more

Such an amazing experience. There is nothing that warms my heart like a true family business and this is one of them. The son and daughter were wonderful as part of the waitstaff, the gentleman helping them was also great. The owner, the chef, made sure to come out and say hello, which was wonderful because we had the chance to thank her for an amazing meal. Now, on to the food... the courses were perfectly spaced out... each course was more delicious than the next. Out of 9 of us, every single person liked every course, and we are all major foodies. The pictures don't do the food justice, but truly, everything was perfect. The presentation, the taste, everything. We can't wait to do this again! read more

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Excellent atmosphere, food, and service. The whole staff is so friendly and knowledgable about every little detail. Wine pairing with the tasting menu was perfect! Thanks Gregg! Will be coming back. read more

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We love the experience at Vino Lab next door for wine and small plates so we had high hopes for Cucina Lab. Unfortunately, the experience was underwhelming and we will not be back. We ordered a bottle of a wine and a cocktail and it took over 40 minutes to receive them. Our food was coming out before the drinks came and there was no explanation given. Then the drink came out wrong and when asked, we were told they did not have the type of liquor that was ordered. So instead of communicating, they chose another type. Strange. Food was okay and nothing spectacular. For the price, there are many better options around. Then, when the bill came, the deposit amount was not deducted from the bill. Again it was not communicated to us and when we asked, we were told it would be refunded. That is confusing since the reservation email says that the deposit would come off the bill. Three days later and the refund is not on our credit card which then makes me have to call them. She apologized and sent the refund through but I had to call which makes me think it would not have happened as the server said it would. She told me to call back in a week if I do not see the refund on my credit card account. Too much inconvenience for a subpar experience. Overall, it was a disappointing experience and we will not be back. Like I said, there are many nearby restaurants that offer better service and a much better product. read more

Excellent food. Great time. Come hungry. The menu changes weekly from my understanding. Everything we had was delicious. Can't wait to come back. Staff was amazing read more

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Hidden gem this place. No menu. you get sitting and they start bringing the food. It was so much fun not knowing what would be coming. The menu I'm told changes weekly so every time you go the food will be unknown. They asked at the time of reservation if we had any food allergies or restrictions and the waiter made mention of this at the time of service. The women who run the restaurant came over to chat and were lovely. The ambiance / decor/ and music were such a relaxing vibe that puts the food at the center. Had a really great experience. Can't wait to go back read more

Visiting Troy for work. After a team event, a local couple invited us to join them for the Thursday evening Aperitivo. Wow! Gracious service and tremendous small plates: charcuterie, two kinds of focaccia, three kinds of pasta, and two desserts, plus a glass of wine. Every bite was of the highest quality, nicely presented but not fussy. If I lived here, I'd be a regular; I'll be back on future visits. Bravo! read more

Amazing dinner last night. Five course fixed menu offered a delicious surprise with each plate. Excellent service (thanks Matilde!) and Greg, the sommelier, was very knowledgeable and friendly. The owner stopped by the table to say hello and was very gracious. Will definitely recommend to friends and will for sure be back for the next menu surprise. read more

When you walk in the aroma is wonderful. Excellent chef. Flavorful food. Give it a try

Hidden gem in Troy. Authentic Italian, food was excellent and service was fantastic. Get here for a night out with your significant other, spouse, friends, family etc.... read more

This is such a wonderful restaurant run by the nicest Italian family. When they called to confirm my reservation, i told them i didnt want to know what was on the tasting menu, i just wanted to be surprised. They also accommodated my husbands preference for no seafood. We arrived right at 6 and the restaurant is small but very cozy and smells so good when you walk in. We were given a small bowl of bread but some butter or olive oil would have been nice to dip it in :) we ordered a bottle of wine and waited for the meal to start. The wine menu is almost all italian wines so i had to google them to see what they were. All of the plates were sooo delicious. I really savored every bite. Such unique flavor profiles and combinations. The chef really takes pride in her work and knowing what you think. For the main plate, i was served ahi tuna so they made a pork tenderloin dish for my husband who didn't want seafood. It was very good until he realized it wasn't cooked through and completely raw in the middle. It was off putting for him and he was not able to finish eating it. The plate sizes are very small so we both still felt hungry when we left. For $75 a person, we hoped for a bit more food :) but other than that, it was a really nice fun date night and I'd definitely return to try another tasting menu. read more

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Where do I start!? Do you like a clean and beautiful atmosphere? The best Italian food outside of Italy? Staff that makes you feel like family? Fresh food shopped for daily? Well, you found your place. It's tucked away, but still requires reservations. I've had dinner countless times, birthday parties, and recently my baby shower. From reception, to staff, to food, to events - I know I don't have to do anything to trust it's going to be an A+ experience. Even my babyshower and birthday guests made reservations before leaving my events! They even have cooking classes & appetizers/drinks on set nights (listed on their website). This restaurant was recommended by a friend and I can't say I've been to a better all-around restaurant in NYC, LA, Chicago, etc. If you're lucky enough to get a dinner reservation - you won't regret it! read more

Absolutely delicious! The service was warm and inviting. The chef's daughter and chef spoke with us extensively like we were in their home. Each of our dishes were prepared to perfection. The smaller plates to the large plates and wine pairings were phenomenal . The homemade limoncello transported me back to Capri and the gluten free chocolate birthday cake for my friend was the best! Don't walk please run!!!! read more

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4 of us went a few weeks ago and sat at the chefs table. The owner/chef was incredibly friendly and it was cool to see it was a family business where her daughter also was working there. I really wanted the dinner to be amazing based on the environment but there was a lot left to be desired. It was cool to see how careful they set each plate up but unfortunately had discrepancies. Some had a big cracker with the cod and others had a very little piece. When we got to desert two of our friends were missing a fruit piece and they were explaining it and looking directly at their plates where it was missing, it was just shocking. Also they served risotto with strawberry sauce and it was just weird. I like when things are unique and not your average dish but this didn't work well together. Lastly they fried up thin slices of beef with cheese and prosciutto but 3 of our meals had raw beef. The chef was not cooking them long enough at all. The owner did apologize and took 10% off but the bill was still very high for our experience. I just didn't think the dishes were worth what they are charging. I think the 4 of us left with paying $500 (including tip) with 10% off. We don't mind paying that at some places but it clearly wasn't worth it here. They did greet us with a cake for our birthday but even the cake tasted more like bread. It was very nice for them to surprise us but couldn't believe how the cake tasted. Maybe they had an off night but don't think we'll be back any time soon. read more

Used them for our company holiday party and spent thousands for cold lasagna and bite size, tasteless finger food. Prior to the event, I asked several times if our staff would be full from the food selected, and she assured me they would. Our staff ended up going out after the party because they were starving. When I reached out afterwards to tell her of our disappointment, I never received a response. Nice lady but will never use them again. :( read more

This is my third time here and I have loved it every time. Kind staff and great food and drinks. Such a great experience! Thank you for bringing such an amazing experience to Troy! read more

My husband, family, friends and business associates have been coming here for years and have NEVER been disappointed with the unique, delicious and amazing food that Elizabetta's family and staff provide. Not only does Cucina Lab Torino serve up amazing fresh REAL Italian food, they also are conscientious of customer's dietary restrictions and preferences. They also have an incredible wine selection and the customers are always welcome to watch Elizabetta and her incredible staff cook your meal, in front of your eyes. It doesn't get any fresher than that! Elizabetta's family and friends will take you in like family and give you an experience to remember. If you want, you can sit on their couch, relax and have a drink. Check out the pictures on their website! You will feel like you've been invited into the owner's home. We have been to Italy many times and this is the ONLY place in our area that truly makes you feel like you are back there. So authentic!! You will not be disappointed! read more

I'm so mad at myself that it took me so long to try Cucina. Made reservations which was a pretty easy process. Sat down right away, I love the decor and the atmosphere, you can have a conversation and not have to yell at each other. Drinks right away and the the food came slightly after. I loved the pace of the food for the testing menu. The food....it was perfect in every way. The ingredients are top notch. The taste is superb. The amount of food is enough to make you feel satisfied and full, without feeling stuffed. I will be back and will dream of the food until I do. Well done! read more

Amazing service, food, and everything in between! We have never been more satisfied after a meal. The staff are amazing. Detailing and ensuring each person being served are taken care of and know the history behind each meal. I would recommend this to anyone. Stop by and enjoy freshly cooked meals from the heart! read more

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What a treat to experience! Delicious food and excellent service given by this family run restaurant. We got to try so many different dishes and definitely felt taken care of. I highly recommend. read more

We love this restaurant! The food is 5-star and the family feel (because it is family) makes you fell incredibly welcome. I've had serval dinners here, it's a chef's menu (they will adjust your meal, if needed), and everything is beyond delectable! I recently took a cooking class, it was intimate, knowledgeable, fun and yummy! They have some grocery items that will make your home cooked Italian meals delicious. I consider myself a Detroit area foodie and this restaurant is one of my few top places! Enjoy! read more

Wow! What an amazing little secret this restaurant is. It is tucked away in a plaza. But, if you make a reservation, you will be treated to an evening of courses to savor. It is more than a dinner. It is an event! read more

Cucina Lab Torino - Wine Tasting Classes Near Me - Troy, Michigan

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