Neglected to agree that Cameron is a fine server and made a poor quality meal still a pleasant dining experience.
(2)
Janet T.
I've been to Lelli's three times now and I have been back for the mushroom cognac tenderloin every single time just because it is fantastic!!! The chef consistently cooks it medium rare the way I like it and the flavour and sauce is beyond superb. Lelli's has a great traditional menu option with a 5 course meal. You end up leaving feeling full, happy and satisfied. It has a romantic atmosphere perfect for dates, celebrations and anniversaries! There's a groupon special going on for Lelli's - I would recommend getting it! (only works for the traditional option however)
(4)
Theresa T.
Hard to believe I've been good to lellis over 30 year's. The downtown location will always be the best. It had such character. You could get your car washed while you ate dinner. The place was always busy, but if you were in good with the family they always made room for you. With that being said, the Auburn Hills location has had it's up and downs in my book. When they first opened (year's after the original burned to the ground) I was overjoyed and excited to introduce an icon to my daughter and friends. When the doors opened I think they were totally overwhelmed and unprepared. Easy to forgive because being in the restaurant business I understand once it falls apart during a service there's no turning it around. I actually stopped going to lellis after I had my staff's Christmas dinner here. We had a 7p.m. reservation and our party of 20 weren't sat until 8:45. No excuse. Total greed on the owners part. They so overbooked the place, and arguments and walk outs were embarrassing. Finally after being sat it took over 3 hours for dinner. Most of my staff were totally shit faced. I mean what else can you do when your waiting forever for you 8 course meal. We all had the chateaubriand (?) and almost every order had to be sent back. A disaster. I actually stopped going there after calling and talking with Steve Lelli. He blew it off and offered me a free appetizer for my trouble. That drove me over the edge. But after hearing he left the restaurant to go on his own we started going back. Oh how I missed it. Cameron is the best waiter there. We had the best service and meal.
(5)
Neil Y.
A tried and true Detroit area classic! Neither my wife or I had been here before so this visit was much anticipated and without our brood in tow. While it is easy a family restaurant, Lelli's is best enjoyed with adults. It's an Italian Steakhouse so expect great steaks, seafood and of course the pasta. You can order meals ala carte but for first timers, engage the full experience and get your entree with the six-course meal. You get soup, salad, antipasti, pasta, the entree and dessert. Don't fool yourself though as the meal isn't pure decadence as this isn't The Lark but absolutely well worth ordering. It's a lot of food with even better leftovers. First timers are advised to try the house specialty which is the chateaubriand and is prepared tableside It's classy. I'm not really a tenderloin guy but I encourage my carnivorous friends to definitely go with a meat option as my tenderloin was excellent. Don't spare the zip sauce or even get the mushroom and cognac sauce for a minimal upcharge. The entrees are the center-stage items here but don't discount the quality of the house bolognese sauce. It's very rich and savory. Service is very attentive and your table never sees a water glass or beverage empty for long. Also, plates are cleared in a very timely manner. Some people see this as being rushed, I don't, and rather see this as having a table without clutter. The busboy, waiter and waiter's assistant work as a cooperative team. This, in my opinion, is worth a larger gratuity. After a near flawless experience at Lelli's, with the help of a sweet Groupon, I will never visit Mario's downtown ever again. BTW-Lelli's staff does not hold this over your head like Mario's does, nor do they openly remind you to tip on what would have been the original cost. You should already know that. Lelli's is a bit of a hike from Hamtown, as it sits around the corner from the Pontiac Silverdome, but truly worth the drive. Simply put, Lelli's is a much better experience across the board, than Mario's. It's cleaner, well organized, well paced and downright delicious. It doesn't rely on past glories but rather presses on to give you a worthwhile experience for your money.
(5)
Dale G.
I should have guessed when they were Googled the first thing to come up was a Groupon. The restaurant has valet parking (for an additional ten steps you can park your own car). The wine list is full of Italian and Napa selections for a premium price - Stags Leap "Artemis" for $120? Come on it is a $40 wine retail at best. (Three times markup??) The filet is their specialty and it looked good, but not $50 good. I had the 18 oz.rib eye (boneless) at over $50. (Less than an inch thick, not trimmed, and slathered in butter. Why order a dry aged steak if you are going to ruin it in butter?) The sides are fine, but way too much food for anyone that hasn't starved themselves for three days. Service was okay, but my server tried telling me that "classico" was a region of Italy. Um...no. Bill for two people w/o the Groupon was $240. For that type of money I expect excellence not mediocrity. Save your money.
(2)
Robert W.
Listen, this is a five star restaurant when there isn't a holiday or special day happening. At the end of the day, this is the best meal in town, hands down. We have been going to Lelli's for special occasions for over 18 years, back when they were downtown. The filet, medium rare with extra zip sauce is the best I've had in the country. No question. Topped with the minestrone soup, pasta with meat sauce and antipasto tray, it is an amazing meal. But at the end of the day, if it is a special occasion/holiday, expect them to triple up on reservations and to wait an hour after your planned time. If you have a 730PM reservation, expect to be seated at 830PM. As long as you go in knowing this, frustration won't set in and you can enjoy yourself. Happy dining.
(4)
Megan H.
I love this place. It reminds me of an old 1970s mafia restaurant. My husband and I went here for our anniversary. I bought a groupon, $30 for $60 worth of food. In order to use it you have to order off of the traditional menu. The waiters are very knowledgeable and the food is always excellent. You can cut the filet with a fork. The decor could use a slight updating, although I do like the ombiance. It's to bad that there is not much left in that location in Pontiac. They seemed to be doing really well though. Everything was perfect.
(5)
Steven W.
If you like Ruth's Chris, you will love Lelli's...BUT, you will like it much better than Ruth's Chris and here's why...VALUE! At Ruth's Chris, a steak will run you, let's say $40-$55 depending on the cut. At Lelli's it will cost you the exact same amount, but here's the kicker. For that $40-$55 you also get: Antipasto, salad, soup, pasta, and sorbet or spumoni...and it's all very good! The service is excellent. My Mother-in law and Father-in law have been a regulars there for years and they literally treat them like family. I get the feeling everyone gets treated well though. It's that locally owned environment that keeps them going the extra mile. The atmosphere is also nice. You can wear anything from jeans and a polo shirt, to a suit and cocktail dress. It's nice that the restaurant can successfully pull off a casual evening out and/or a special occasion. Overall a great choice for dinner. I would easily recommend and go back the next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Wadim S.
What an old school tradition experience. Service was tremendous. I love feeling like a 1950's era gangster!! Filet is one of the best in Detroit and zip sauce is amazing!!
(5)
Ronie K.
The food wasn't cooked to order which was medium well after telling the waitress to take it back and cook it for longer she did and brought it back outside was chard but inside was still like a medium All in all the waitress was great and respectful
(3)
Ross N.
Just in town for one night and was recommended by hotel staff to this place. Overpriced and unprofessional! Ordered 8oz fillet mignon medium and received a moving fetus! General manager was kind enough to comp the meal. He was the only decent thing about the place. Staff congregated and clearly made us feel uncomfortable that we were unhappy. Also waited 50 minutes for food. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they just struck out!! Stick to Longhorn!
(1)
Darrell K.
I visited this restaurant in the spring and I left with a full stomach and a great feeling about this place. This was one of 2 locations at one time. The other being on Woodward in Detroit. It burned down in the early 90s. I never had the opportunity to visit that location. The restaurants ambience was good. Kind of romantic but lighting was brighter than some places I visited. We were seated at a table and were quickly acknowledged by the waiter. Actually it ended up being 3. We seriously felt special. This was a 4 course meal. I had an appetizer, salad, soup, entree and desert. The Filet was rememorable. Cooked just right(medium well) with zip sauce. The flavor and the seasoning were excellent. Overall this was one of the best dining experiences. The combination of a great, attentive wait staff and great food made this a great experience. I look forward to visiting again.
(5)
Aaron S.
Great service. Horrible food. 6 courses of canned food. The spaghetti tasted like chef boyardee. I paid too much for cafeteria food. $140
(1)
Jennifer A.
Fantastic service with outstanding food!!! Everything is so fresh and flavorful! I absolutely love the table side Caesar salad! The Shrimp Lelli is very delicious and lemony! Every dish is amazingly good! Very hard to decide on one item for dinner. Oh! And great cocktails!!!
(5)
Jordan P.
This is one of those restaurants that are in the middle of nowhere exciting, and doesn't really look like anything special, but you walk in and eyebrows are raised. Very quiet, okay decor, and amazingly helpful wait staff. Once they've helped you order your food and it comes out of the kitchen you know why this place has stuck around for so long. I got the chicken picatta and it was the best I've had in a long time.
(5)
Christina B.
A classy place. I enjoyed the tenderloin wild mushroom with mashed potatoes. I ordered it medium and it was perfectly cooked. A very delicious lunch.
It has been quite awhile since we've eaten at Lelli's. We had a $60.00 Groupon and ended up here a couple of Friday nights ago. I started off asking for a hard cider and they had none available on tap or in a bottle. The Hubby ordered the Porterhouse and Lobstertail with all the fixings, I ordered a veal. We had the 6 course meal which includes bread, antipasto, minestrone, pasta, main course and then spumoni. The side courses were fine. My husband loved his steak and lobster. My veal was like shoe leather, I do not recommend it. We informed the waiter that it was my birthday, and he stuck a candle in the ice cream. The booth we were seated at was dirty on the top edge. There is a little more attention to detail needed in the bathrooms as well, and the decor should be updated. The service was good, our entrees and one drink apiece the bill came out to over $100.
(3)
Ricky P.
This was amazing. IT was the best food I've eaten in a long time. The filet was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. It was expensive as all hell, but what did I care I wasn't paying for it! Know what I'm sayin'? The service was perfect and everyone was really nice. Great job.
(5)
Jon B.
Shocked this place is only 3.5 stars! Wife and I have been coming here for the past 10 years!!!! Best filet EVER and you get 5 courses!!!! Truly best filet on the state!!
(5)
Barbara P.
Lelli's is one of our favorite restaurants. The service is always stellar; the food is delicious. There is an abundance of food and this is great for a special occasion. It is a very beautiful restaurant and is great for a special occasion. There are a great number of choices on the menu. You can order traditional (many courses) or Ala Carte. Even when you order ala carte you get potato and a vegetable. Our favorite choices are the Chicken Lelli (mine) or the filet (my husband's). But everything here is delicious; you will not be disappointed. Thanks, Lelli's for making us feel so special.
(5)
Randi M.
Husband had been here numerous times for work, I finally got the chance to experience the Filet he has raved about. It is worth the 1 hour drive from home!
(5)
Mike M.
Food is simply amazing here. We have been many times and never once had anything less than perfect. The filet with zip sauce melts in your mouth and always is prepared as ordered. The minestrone is simply the best minestrone I've had. The rolls, salad, and pasta before the meal compliment dinner perfectly. The quality and preparation of food here are unparalleled and consistently perfect. One of the best restaurants in Metro Detroit.
(5)
Tom N.
Amazing experience! Great place for a date! Get the chateaubriand for two! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Dianne Y.
Amazing food but service was horrendous. Slow service and had to ask for water multiple times. Extremely long interval time between meal courses, lasting in a total of 3 hours! Martinis were mediocre.
(3)
Scott B.
Arrived 5 min. Before our reservations and got seated right away. Our reservations were for 5 pm so the valet was not on duty. Our server " Courtney " was very prompt in coming to our table and greeted us with a smile. She offered us drinks and menus. All 5 courses came with a little time in between so we where not rushed in eating. The meal was great I thought that I was going need help walking I was so full. I read a few of the other reviews and I thought this might not be a great place to eat. Let me tell you that they're wrong. Lelli's still has it.... From start to finish our meal was great and we will be back again.
(5)
Pat M.
Would have been five stars had my steak not been somewhat over cooked! There is something to be said for consistency. Lelli's is consistent. The food is the same as it was prepared 40 years ago at the original location on Woodward in the New Center Area. High quality, well prepared, classic with an Italian flare. The service was just how I like it, solid. Somehow Lelli's has figured out how to survive by hanging on to traditional fare in a world that wants fat and gluten free. That is not Lelli's. I will be back!
(4)
Bridgette Z.
I really wanted to like this place but i am sad to say i probably won't be returning :( i have read some great reviews and even had a couple recommendations from friends to try it out so i purchased the groupon. I guess that should be my 1st red flag when a "fine dining" restaurant has to use groupon. My husband and i were sat immediately and a busboy filled our water glasses and brought out fresh bread and butter. I like the bread there. Our server brought us menus and a wine list shortly after. The wine list was big and not terribly overpriced either, many bottles were only $30 - $40. We each got a glass of house wine (cabarnet for me, chianti for him) only $6 each. I decided on the tuna steak. The menu stated a sushi grade piece of tuna with a tomato basil vinegarette. My husband got the veal del. If you order the "lelli's traditional" you get a 6 course meal so that's the route we took. First you get an antipasti plate with 2 cocktail shrimp, some beets, olives, pepperoncini, 2 tiny pieces of cheese, 2 thin slices of salami and another italian meat.. ehhh nothing to write home about. Next we received the house salads which were pretty good but salty dressing already on it. Next was the minestrone soup which was ok but it was cream based rather than tomato or broth based which seemed kind of odd. Next was the pasta course which was overcooked spaghetti with a meat sauce that reminded me of chef boy r dee ravioli. No authenticity or flavor. Next our meals were served. Immediately i knew my tuna was overcooked as soon as it was on the table. I asked for rare to medium rare but it was definitely at medium well. As far as "tomato basil vinegarette" it was a bunch of sliced grape tomatoes and red onion on top of the fish. Although it looked pretty it did not taste pretty. It was tough because it was indeed overcooked and the flavors were just off putting. I sadly sent it back and got the veal del which my husband ordered and we both enjoyed. The "twice baked potatoes" that they serve with all the dinner plates are really just flavorless mashed potatoes that tasted like they were from a box. Lastly we got the spumoni which was pretty standard and good. Overall the staff here is very nice, i loved our busboy and server and i felt very bad that i sent my food back but she was very nice throughout our entire meal. If i ever return i will stick to their veal and steak dishes but i don't see myself coming back. I don't feel the quality of the food is worth anywhere near the prices on the menu. Sidenote before anyone thinks I'm a jerk.. I've worked in many restaurants in the past and I'm not a picky eater i swear! I've only sent food back twice in my entire life besides last night and once was because of hair in my salad at a diner.
(2)
Arnold A.
I'm new to yelp so I'm going through and reviewing all my favorite places. Lellis was one of the first to come to mind. This is a higher end eating experience and you get what you pay for. The service is excellent and the food is awesome. They do everything well. Great place to go to celebrate or take a date.
(5)
Arleen G.
Don't eat here,,they are rude and unprofessional ... The steak always has to be sent back and the attitude of the management is horrible ,,,and I mean horrible ... They don't appreciate the customers , it's a shame that the tradition of the great Detroit location did not carryover ... Everyone misses the original.
(1)
sharlan d.
This is an old-school Italian restaurant, the kind with white tablecloths, waiters in tuxedos and Sinatra playing all the time. We arrived on a Sunday evening, in a week when their Groupon offer was ending and they were mobbed. This is a big, well-established place and I'm not going to say that they should have anticipated the rush. But I could. We didn't have a reservation but were willing to wait at the bar, where we lingered for an hour. There were empty tables in the bar area occasionally, but, again, I'm willing to cut them some slack and acknowledge that, if they were understaffed, it was better to not seat people they couldn't serve promptly. So why is it that, after we were seated, our meal took two and a half hours, with our waiter being largely invisible? And, by the way, what kind of ostensibly well-stocked bar doesn't carry rye? The bartender didn't even seem to know what it is. This is a pricey place. There are meals priced over $60. Yes, they are four-course meals, with an antipasto plate, soup, pasta and a well-aged beef entree, but still. For that kind of money I expect a waiter who knows a little something about wine. We asked him for recommendations and he admitted that he doesn't really know a lot about what's on the wine list. Could we see the sommelier? No, they no longer have a somm. If you're going to save money that way, you better shift some of your budget into better training for the wait staff. Our food was better than good but not sensational. Filet Siciliano - delicious. Medium rare veal chop - tasty but chewy. Anchovy appetizer -right out of the tin. I was shocked to see that there were two tables in the bar area given over to staff activities. While we ate, two employees sat down at one of the tables with a stack of papers and a calculator to conduct business. Maybe that's part of the charm in a mom-and-pop establishment, but it's absolutely beyond the pale in a restaurant with such otherwise high aspirations.
(2)
Kathleen C.
My husband and I went to Lelli's this past Friday evening for dinner. I had the Fettuccini Bolognese and he had their 8 oz. Fillet Mignon. I ordered the Traditional option which came with an antipasto that included a shrimp, a beet slice, some olives, salami and cheese. My option also included their minestrone soup and a side order of Spaghetti Bolognese. My husband ordered the Ala Carte option which included Double Baked Mashed potatoes and Green Beans. He also ordered a House Salad and we ordered some Garlic Toast for the table. They also served some rolls and toast for the table. All I can say is that every bite was absolutely delicious! We shared our meals with one another and the fillet and pasta were to die for! The fillet was PERFECT and cut like butter. My husband said the green beans were the best he ever had. The service, during a busy dinner hour, was great! It was a MUCH better experience than our previous visit there a few years ago. The decor is definitely "old school Italian restaurant"...but that is okay by me. We look forward to returning to Lelli's which has been a mainstay in the Detroit area for years. I am so glad they have returned to their former wonderful reputation!
(5)
Jeff G.
If you're in the mood for a fine dining experience, and some delicious food, good atmosphere and attentive waiters, this is your restaurant. As per my usualI, I ordered their salmon dinner, this is a full three course dinner, first they start you out with a fantastic vinaigrette salad and condiment tray, then comes the minestrone soup, by the time you get your main course you're usually pretty full however the salmon and twice baked potatoes with green beans were so good I couldn't help myself but to eat all of it. My associate had the chicken Cordon Bleu and he said it was the best it ever tried. The waiter was very good and new the menu very well, He served us without giving my associate a second look even though he was wearing shorts, I thought they would ask us to leave but this was not the case, they treated us with the utmost respect. I highly recommend this restaurant, however don't forget your wallet it is a little pricey. PS don't wear shorts you'll feel out of place.
(5)
Susan N.
Lelli's is always a good experience! Thei steaks are presented in the old fashion flair of the table side cut. Food is excellent! The service is outstanding! They make sure you are delighted! Really filling! Stuffed, with take puts for linch or dinner!
(5)
Jennifer L.
I typically do not write reviews but my husband and I had a bad dinning experience at Lellies. We had a groupon as a gift and had arrived at 5pm, got seated at 5:40 which wasn't bad however the service was horrible. Dinner was too long I did not expect to spend 3 hours at a place were the servers did not seem at all attentive or cared about how our experience was. They all seemed like they were running around all the time yet invisible to the customers needs. We saw tables around us not get service after they were seated for 20 min! Our server never checked or asked how we were doing. After finished with our main course, he saw we were done but did not bother to bring is boxes or the bill. I finally got a hold of someone else 30 min later and they didn't even tell our server we had asked for the check. The food was not as great as I had expected a pricey restaurant to be. Our filet, mashed potatoes and green beans were drenched in butter. Needless to say we will not be returning to Lellies because the service was unprofessional.
(1)
Shannon S.
Groupon/Girls Night/Birthday Dinner/Reservations for 7PM We had to wait 20 minutes even though we had a reservation, but not a big deal, as once you are seated, you are eating, pretty much eating continually until you are finished. Everything is timed really well, so if you are starving, just chill, the food will begin to flow~ Dinner consisted of 6 courses (WoW!!) all three of us ladies ordered the Petit Filet. I ordered mine medium rare and it was as gorgeous as the photo that's already posted. Very delicious, and the zip sauce really is, as amazing as everyone says! My two girlfriends did have to send their steaks back because they were cold, but once they returned, all was well. Our server was a man of few words, however, he was very attentive, always at our beck and call. When we needed his attention for the cold steaks, he literally ran from across the room when he saw me signaling. Service was excellent, even as our haunted groupon sat on the table in the empty seat at our four top table. The courses. First they bring you bread, a huge warm roll, with butter, as your drink requests are being gathered and filled, then comes the salad, with an antipasto platter. All items were very good, and the house dressing was very good. Next comes the Minestrone soup, a version I had never had before, it almost seemed like it was a cream base, which was excellent, I don't normally care that much for the brothy minestrone. Next up was the pasta, wonderfully flavored, just enough to keep you wanting more. Your main entree is next up, wonderful cut of meat, that is do delicious, it makes me want to put red meat back on the weekly rotation (almost! ha!) creamy mashed potatoes, with zip sauce mixed in, and crisp green beans. MOUTH WATERING!! The last, but hardly the least is the dessert, I had the spumoni, but they offered a couple of different flavored sorbets as well. Oh and they have a young man who sings while you dine, he came into our dining room and got our attention, and then sang and acapella song to us, it was a nice little extra All in all, Lelli's was a real treat, I would love to go back....hint hint...haha! :-)
(5)
Valerie A.
How could I forget to review Lelli's!! Been here time and time again. I always order the same thing. The 6 course filet meal. Starts with an antipasto tray, salad (my favorite part, I love the dressing), minestrone soup, small plate of spaghetti (sometimes I get it with palomino sauce for an additional cost), then my perfectly cooked delicious and juicy filet with mashed potatoes and green beans. I always get the creamy mushroom sauce to accompany my steak because it makes it even more amazing. At the end you are served with the neopolitan? ice cream which is nothing special but I'll take it anyways. I'm always so stuffed after a visit to Lelli's and I can never finish my entree but that's ok because I look forward to eating my left overs the next day! My only complaint is that they raised the prices by about $8 a person for this 6 course meal last time I went so it can get pricey. Mario's in Detroit is very very similar to Lelli's but not quite as expensive.
(5)
Marybeth S.
While visiting family on the East side of the state from our home in Holland, MI, we looked for a place to celebrate a belated New Year's Eve. We wanted fine dining and we found it and more at Lelli's. For my husband and I it was reminiscent of the "fancy" restaurants we went to for important events with our parents when we were kids, from the semi-circular leather booths, the linens, elegant lighting and the tuxedo clad servers. We were blessed beyond measure to be attended to by Lee, who didn't just wait on us, he cared for us. He explained the differences in the menu options and then shared why the prices in red would give us a more complete, traditional experience. We took his suggestions and are so delighted we did! We both chose the Chateaubriand with all the bells and whistles! We began with Oysters Rockefeller - fantastic, and then began the dining journey guided by the wonderful, Lee. House salad, Antipasto Platter, Creamy Minestrone, an amazing Pasta, followed by the Chateaubriand prepared table side. Each leg of the journey was great & the entree was stellar. All that was needed in the end was sorbet - lemon for my husband and mango for me. We would happily travel 2 1/2 - 3 hours for a dinner of this magnitude for a special celebration. Again, a very special thank you to Lee for his exceptional service.
(5)
Dan N.
Move over Ruth's Chris, if I want a steak in Detroit, I'm coming to Lelli's! I'll be the first to admit, I'm a sucker for the old-school vibe of this place. But based on the reviews, I'm shocked at how much I loved the food. The prices of the steaks seem expensive, but they include an array of courses before dinner--bread, antipasti, salad, soup, pasta....then the steak. I ordered the extra cut filet--it was juicy and cooked perfectly to medium-rare. Honestly, it didn't even need the zip sauce, but who can resist a delicious pot of what appeared to be spiced up melted butter (with balsamic?). Yes, it's a bit expensive, but I really thought dinner's a Lelli's was an EXPERIENCE, and a very memorable night out! PS This probably deserved 4 stars, but Lelli's needs some extra love!!
(5)
Food Critic S.
Experience was very bad! Used to be one of my favorites! Good was cold (soup, pasta, vegetables) zip sauce was butter !! No flavor !! Not sure what changed here but wouldn't be going back for a long time if at all !! Management didn't seem to care about us or the food being cold!!
(1)
Matthew P.
Much like the once powerful and great city of Rome, It appears that now Lelli's too has fallen from grace in a historic plummet. Considering that this establishment during the 80's and 90's was considered one of the true heavy weights of the metro-Detroit dinning scene, it is apparent that poor ownership or management has caused it to crumble from within. After a recent visit to Lelli's, here are a list of the issues that we encountered: 1. Drinks were made wrong (no olives in the martinis and my manhattan was simply bourbon poured over ice? ... No vermouth, bitters, or a cherry for garnish) 2. The soups came out cold 3. Our meals came out cold 4. My wife's meal came out well after everyone else's meal, which they had to take back anyway since they were all cold. 5. Our wine lady spilled the ice bucket and wine everywhere. The fact that the place was a ghost town on a Friday night should be a clear signal. Save your well spent money and dine elsewhere. This place has truly gone to shit.
(1)
Thula K.
Sometimes when you are in a nice restaurant, the food can't overcome bad service. We planned a nice romantic dinner out to Lellis (reservations and all) and were made to wait a full hour before being seated. Why take reservations if you aren't going to seat us on time. After being seated, we had a staff hurriedly drop some bread on our table. Our waitress was nowhere to be found for 15 mins. When she did show up, it was hurried and she proceeded to ask me if I ate shellfish, when my Caucasian husband was the one with the dietary restrictions (ignorant stereotype much?). The food as always was delicious and filling, but not worth the horrible service. Will not be going back, there are plenty of restaurants that aren't understaffed and overbooked.
(2)
Mark O.
Follow-up review I have been going to Lellis for many years and feel its still the best meal around , anyone who wrote those bad reviews go to Ponderosa for your steak .
(5)
Lana L.
I used to work for Lelli's in Auburn Hills and they have a living quarters above the restaurant - they let the large hairy family dog come into the kitchen area after the doors close while the staff was doing the night end cleaning. They would let the dog get some of the dishes that were mistakes but we were scolded if we asked if we could take anything home. THIS PLACE SUCKS AND IS VERY DIRTY
(1)
Andreas F.
Expensive and does not meet expectations. The atmosphere is 1930s and cozy, but the service is mediocre, the food nothing special, the full meal would serve a whole family and it is all totally overpriced.
(2)
Kurt M.
Came to visit on a business trip and spoke to host and confirmed dishes and times, returned as promised and valet stated no service due to slow night, no effort access to talk to management who I spoke to 2 hours prior.
(1)
Marie S.
Husband finally took me somewhere super nice for anniversary. We've looked at the menu before and saw a steak is $50... well shit, I can buy a whole tenderloin for that and cook at home! Upon closer inspection I saw it was a 6 course meal for $50! SO WORTH IT. Only gets 4 stars as we had spinach for a veg side... bleaughghgh. I LOVE spinach, but theirs was icky... probalby creamed spinach, which is so outdated. Might I suggest they start sauteeing it with garlic instead? Otherwise YAY LELLI'S! We might be there every year now! HALLELUJAH
(4)
John P.
I went on my birthday with my g/f and we each had the 5 course meal. We could have split one 5 course meal. The food was amazing and the service was excellent! I cannot wait to go back! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, as we had to wait due to a concert at the Palace.
(4)
Donald L.
Well, everyone gets a second chance, and I was not disappointed either. While we had a early reservation(4:15 on a Saturday) I was very hesitant to come back. I even went so far when making the reservation to have them put a star next to my name and time as to put them on notice. We were quickly whisked to a table, which we had them change and was greeted immediatly by Steve our server. The service was flawless and the Chatuea was excellent.
(5)
Tyler D.
DO NOT FALL FOR THE GROUPON SCAM! This was my second time dining at the famous Lelli's. My first experience was pleasant, but today -- AWFUL! Business is clearly declining so they are using groupon to get people in the door. That's why we came, but boy were we disappointed. Easily, my worst dining experience so far in 2014. Parking -- This restaurant is surrounded by vacant land, yet has cars crammed all around the tiny, disorganized lot any parked which way. Valets -- A pack of weasels that hang out by the front door.. Constantly leaving said doors open for prolonged periods creating gusts of icy wind throughout the restaurant Coat check -- An aggressive young gal wearing a black overcoat and a white, under armor knit cap, hawking her services for tips. Service -- Our waiter was a panicky dude, wearing a gigantic cubic zircon stud earring. The manager was visible, but never checked on our table, although he did walk by busing dishes at one point. Groupon scam ($60 of food for $30) -- The coupon left out critical details: both people must order an entree, neither can order a "light meal." This pissed me off because we wanted to share an entree and some side orders. We ended up getting a couple of pasta dishes. Food -- My spaghetti bolognese was identical to what was served on a smaller plate as an appetizer. My wife's fettuccini alfredo tasted like dishwater. The antipasto plate was bland, the soup was cold, the highlights of the meal were the tossed salad and the bread (which wasn't that great, but everything else was simply so bad!) Ambiance -- Trashy, dirty. Employees wearing all sorts of their own version of "dressed up." A plate dropped and broken... 20 minutes later a glass explodes on the ground. Gusting winds through the front doors. A dying fish floundering around the aquarium. Final bill: approx $70 Estimated return date: when hell freezes over
(1)
Jake W.
The steak was good, Teddy the waiter was good. Everything else was old old old. The pasta sauce was bad too, out of a can.
(1)
Richard F.
This place is a favorite of ours for a business lunch. It is an "old school" kind of place with good, albeit expensive food, good service and nice ambiance. It is quiet enough to have a business conversation. I have been here in summer and winter. The salads are particularly appetizing in the summer and the meat dishes are great all year round. If you do get a steak, make sure that you get the Zip Sauce. It is worth the price of admission. And the quality of the steaks are great too. This is just down the street from the big Sports Venues and I suspect that you might find some of the Sports crowd here at dinner time.
(4)
Terry J.
I am flabbergasted by the bas reviews, especially from those who have only tried Lelli's once. We go to Lelli's on a regular basis. Food has always been outstanding. Perhaps not every meal on the menu, but we have not tried everything. Steak Lelli's, wonderful. Shrimp Lelli's, awesome. The spaghetti side dish is my favorite spaghetti sauce I've had at a restaurant. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, but compared to other steakhouses in the area,mquite a good deal. For the price of a steak alone at Capital Grille, you get antipasto tray, soup, salad, side dishes and dessert at Lelli's. And the service has always been great. I'm shocked by the review that said the waitstaff all wear their own version of dressed up. That statement makes me suspicious of his whole review. Waitstaff always wear tuxedo-type suits. We have never seen them in anything else. We have eaten at at least 3 of the other we'll know steakhouses in the area and came to the conclusion those were not worth our time and money when we have Lelli's as a choice.
(5)
David K.
My Dad & I ate here using a Groupon he got for Christmas. My Dad's been a lunchtime regular here for many years, but has stopped coming as of a couple years ago because of the long drive & his age. The dinner service was nice & tasty, but I would not classify it as "5-star." We both ordered prix-fixe, 6-course dinners per the Groupon fine print, which run about $50-$60 per person. You get a lot of food for this amount, so you're getting a fairly good value based on food volume and quality. My leftovers we're more than enough for another future meal, so you essentially get two meals for the prix-fixe price. My only complaints would be in the details. I got a steak & crabmeat special, but my crabmeat still had some shell in it. In fact, I got a mouthful of crab shell in one bite, which was quite frustrating. My Dad's sole was good, but still had several fish bones scattered inside the meat. When I asked to have my meal boxed, I was handed a Styrofoam container to fill with leftovers myself, verses the staff doing it for me, which was quite surprising for a restaurant of this caliber. Other details that surprised me were things like peeling paint in the bathroom and wear & tear on the booth seating. Normally I would not acknowledge stuff like this, but I believe this restaurant wants to be held to a higher standard. All in all, this was was a nice restaurant with good quality food. They just need to polish some of the details to bring it up to their perceived level of quality and service.
(4)
Amy L.
My husband and I came across Lelli's because a Groupon deal, we enjoyed it and have been back a few more times. When you pull up there is valet service! It is nice especially in the winter. I will admit however, that my husband and I were very put off by one of the young valet's who looked to have had puke all down the front of his coat as we were leaving the restaurant (this was about a year ago, but the sight still sticks with us and we think about it everytime we go there). The meals are traditional and start with an antipasto platter which is interesting. The soup is fantastic! My husband and I have gotten the Chateaubriand and the filet, which are both excellent. There was a lovely singer that was making his way around the restaurant and we both found him very enjoyable. We'll be back again!
(4)
Jill D.
We visited Lelli's because we had heard they were great and we got a great Groupon deal. All meals are served traditional Italian style with a 6 course meal. 5 courses are the same for everyone, and you pick your own entree. Starts with an antipasto platter, which left much to be desired. The food on it was okay, but the presentation was just so-so. Then a salad - mixed greens with chick peas and tomatoes. Then some pretty incredible minestrone soup. We were then served the pasta course - it was boiled white spaghetti with what looked like chili globbed on top. It left much to be desired. I expected fresher noodles and tastier sauce from an Italian restaurant. Entrees were next - see below. And amazing spumoni for dessert. For my entree I chose the petite filet. This was probably one of the best filet's I have ever had. It was so juicy and cooked to perfection! As many other reviewers have pointed out, their zip sauce (mostly butter from what I can tell) is very tasty. Lelli's is trying to be an upscale restaurant, but just doesn't quite make it. The atmosphere is nice, and there was live piano music in the bar on Saturday night. However, the food presentation fell short. Our steaks were served with a flimsy, plastic handled knife and the presentation of our dishes was lacking. Service was decent. Our waitress lacked some personality, but my drinks were never empty and dirty dishes were quickly cleared from the table. They were busy, so I would recommend making a reservation. I probably won't go back to Lelli's without getting some sort of deal. It is a nice place, but I would prefer Capital Grille or Ocean Prime if I'm going out for an upscale dinner.
(3)
DREW M.
This is a great Italian steakhouse. I've been on here on multiple company holiday parties and they always do a pretty good job with a 5 course meal. Only downside is that they gave me the wrong temperature steak once. A lot of the times you can track down a Groupon and eat here for half the price.
(4)
Monte B.
You come here looking for 3 things. Great and cheekily freindly service, a great bottle of wine and a delicious piece of red meet wading in a puddle of zip sauce. And they nail it near every time. I want to give 5 stars but those r reserved for perfection. Lelli's is close, more like 4.5 stars. The martins could be bigger
(4)
Maria A.
Smelly Lelli's. First, if you do decide to dine here do not sit by the kitchen. It stinks like bleach and is very unpleasant while eating. This restaurant is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant and you are better off going somewhere else or staying home. They probably haven't updated anything in years, maybe even a decade or two. The menus are torn and to add to it there are still some older ones floating out there. I knew because there was a price difference between my boyfriend's and mine's menu. There is dust in various areas and it seems to be getting in my eyes. The restaurant just screams filth. My wine glass was dirty and covered in crusted on food and grease. The salad tasted dirty. The food was just "okay" and definitely not worth the money. Also, there are holes in the ceiling and water stains from whatever. Willie Degel would have a field day here. The parking is a horrible mess and you could probably get into an accident in this lot since there is only 1 sign and it is written on with permanent marker. I can't blame the wait staff because none this is their fault but then again they weren't too pleasant to dine with.
(1)
Brian H.
Was in Auburn Hills for work and ate at this restaurant which was just awful... As soon as you walk in the first thing you will notice is the musky stench of dirty old carpet. We got the traditional prix fixe that comes with the steak (salad, pasta, appetizer, soup, and dessert). The salad was overdressed and the lettuce still was not clean. You could still taste some of the dirt from the lettuce! Soup was whatever and the pasta was overcooked as well. Not even close to real "Italian" food. Then the filet mignon came out and it was a bit overcooked. I also ordered the mushroom sauce and here is when things got worst. In my sauce there was a piece of hard transparent plastic, which I presume came from those plastic packages produce comes in or something. I told the waiter about it and he was sorry and told me he would remove the cost of the sauce from the bill and asked me if I wanted another one prepared. I kindly declines. Then the manager shows up and asks if we had an issue with the food which I then proceed to tell him my story about the plastic piece. He then shows it to me (he had it on his hand) and he asks me where it was. I told him I think it was in the mushroom sauce. Then he says that that's weird because the plastic piece was clean. I told him it was clean because I took it out of my freaking mouth!!! He then says well I have no idea where something like this would come from!!! Hello it obviously came from the kitchen if it was inside the stupid sauce!!! Basically accused me of putting that plastic in the food... Unbelievable. He then just asks if I was ok and left. I didn't feel like arguing so I left it at that... But then the more I thought about it the more I think its insane that such crappy place can exist so I decided to share my bad experience here in Yelp. Avoid this place by all means!!! Longhorn is a much better place for decor and food if you are craving for steak in this area.
(1)
Amy N.
Lelli's is my favorite restaurant in Metro-Detroit for a reason. 5 star service, 5 star food. Steak is so good you don't even need the zip sauce. Sausage and pepper appetizer is amazing. Haven't found anywhere that beats either the minestrone soup or the spaghetti. Staff has always been more than attentive and are extremely knowledgable about the different wines and bourbons offered. Truly a classy place.
(5)
Ranna M.
Terrible service...delicious food. I wouldn't go back.
(1)
I Am S.
Upon entering this establishment I wondered "Have I died and gone to heaven?", not because of Sancho's love for excellent food and service, but because of the crypt-like atmosphere. The chairs are old, uncomfortable and actually dirty. Let's see...an expensive Italian steak house...wine? Think Olive Garden. The nano-scale wine and beer list is truly rudimentary and is an affront to Sancho's tastes. Whoever chose this list obviously mentally challenged. The food? Think Olive Garden. Then multiply your bill by a factor of three. Many people have already given you the truth about the food in other reviews like the canned olives, so we don't need to revisit. They get one star for decent, but slow service and another star for having a singer singing in Italian walking around. This place is a dying restaurant, riding on the coattails of it's reputation. The only people Sancho can imagine it satisfies are those with Champagne money and Beer taste. Sancho can think of a dozen other places that offer real Italian food and dining experience, like: Spago Ristorante in Windsor Cafe Cortina in Farmington Bacco in Southfield D'Amato's in Royal Oak etc. "Stick a fork in Lelli's, it's done." ~ Sancho
(2)
Cathy S.
Went Saturday night with a groupon. 5:30 reservation for 2 and we were seated immediately. We each had the med-sized filet; entire meal. Our waitress was wonderful. Told us to sit back and relax that she would do the driving, so to speak. We decided to trust her. It was especially nice not to have to make choices, other than the meat and the way it was cooked. The roll was heavy and tasty, shared between dipping into the salad plate, soup bowl, pasta and zip sauce. The salad was cold and appetizing, brought with extras to make our own antipasto. Then came the minestrone soup which was hot, chopped, and creamy. Wonderful! Although hubby mentioned he would have liked a little noodle in it. The sauce made the pasta side-dish worthy and the steak with the buttery zip sauce was mouth-watering tender, with awesome high-quality flavor, the brown stuff that settles to the bottom of the zip sauce is a must to mix in. Maybe some type of vinegar??? The green beans were snappy, mashed potatoes very buttery and good. My steak was cooked to perfection ordered medium, but hubby's medium turned out to be medium well. Lucky for him we both ordered the 8 oz. with extra zip sauce so he had some of mine to savor after eating his own. Everything came to the table at perfect temperatures. Oh, and the yummy spumoni was a nice way to finish, although we could have had sorbet instead. Service was great, we had 3 glasses of very smooth house Merlot between us, 1 hot and fresh-tasting coffee which was refilled several times, and with the $60 groupon, the bill came to $73. So an hour and a half later (there's a bit of time between courses) we laid out a hundred bucks with the groupon which covered the best complete filet dinner we've ever had! Superb food! The ONLY turnoff...The bathrooms and floors could be kept a little cleaner for this expensive establishment. Noticed a few dirty napkins and garbage on the carpet and paper was lacking in the bathrooms and the floors were very wet with who knows what. Just sayin'...
(5)
Aleks S.
To sum up Lelli's in a couple words - Just bad... I really wanted to like this place as my Mom and Dad used to come here often. A few years back we would come for birthdays and it was still just ok to me. Here is my experience: Walked in, my party did not arrive so I sat down and had a Scotch on the rocks at the bar, bar tender was friendly and he even arranged a table for us (place was empty, no prior reservation), no complaints he was great. Service at the table: My party of 5 arrived, they sat down and my brother and I came to the table after we finished our drinks. The table is a square that is converted to a round to accommodate 5. My side was very flimsy and had a downward angle which made me concerned about the food sliding into my lap. They offered to bring a new table but to avoid disrupting everyone around us I grinned and bared it. Our waiter, was just ok, not very attentive, a definite aloof character. The antipasta was bad, shrimp tasted old, martadela was some of the worst I have had, black olives from a can, I didn't dare try the beets and the cheese was probably the safest bet. The bread, thank god for the bread, otherwise I would have left starving!!! Then arrives the pasta side dish, the sauce was a pungent, old cheese tasting gloppy sloppy mess, I regretfully had 2 bites. The minestrone soup looks disgusting but tastes ok, I ate it but did not like it. This pretty much sums up the starters - BAD. Main course: I go to steak houses all of the time. This is not a Cameron's Steakhouse review but that is my favorite and the best in Michigan for me at this time. Considering this My girlfriend and I decided to order the chateaubriand for 2 which is priced at $50 bucks a person. This is to be expected at a HIGH end steakhouse providing tableside service. Well, the dish arrived, looks like a very large portion and hopes are high although they were being jabbed at with the aroma of old fish passing through my nostrils frequently throughout the night. Now the taste test, I cut into the meat and it feels like I am cutting through a sponge, this is a dead giveaway for low quality meat. Since we were here with the family I decided to bite my tongue and taste it, like everything was ok. After my second bite I was ready to spit it out onto my plate, it was a horrible meal. I had no choice but to say something to our waiter, he called a manager, I told him the meat was chewy, he said compared to what? I wanted to say bubblegum, but to be respectful I mentioned, Cameron's steakhouse and he asked if I wanted something else. I really did not but he insisted so I asked for a basic chicken breast. By the time that dish arrived everyone else was finished so I had it boxed up to leave. My girl friend is just to embarrassed to complain so she returned her plate which had 2 bites out of it, my brother and mom painfully finished their filets and my sister-n-law ate half of her salmon which she said was decent. Now for the comedy: So my mom had a Groupon, we told the waiter, he brought the bill, the $60 voucher was not subtracted off the total. He said this would be done when he charges the bill at the register, Fine, we paid in cash, left an 18% tip despite the horrible food and overall experience, (they did not charge for my food) put our coats on and braved the sub zero temperature outside. As I am pulling out I see the Manager sprinting through the front door towards my brother and he was waiving the bill at him. So my brother rolled down his window and told him we had a Groupon. The manager made my brother wait in the parking lot so he could verify this and then after he did we left. Let me say, I have NEVER, I mean never experienced something like this and we will NEVER go back to this establishment. That was obviously due to the lack of communication from the waiter to the manager, still not sure why the manager chased my brother outside, isn't the waiter the one who completes the transaction? Anyways, if I could give negative stars I would. If this is your favorite steakhouse then in my humble opinion you have not been to some of the premier steak houses that charge less for the better quality meat. I really hope they change the quality of meat at Lelli's and the decor inside, this place is going downhill very rapidly, won't be back. The Spumoni tastes like medicine, sorry, I don't like frozen NyQuil following a bad meal.
(1)
Gloria V.
This is my favorite place to eat in Michigan. The minestrone is amazing, the palamino sauce is to die for the chateaubriand for 2 is to die for. There are no words to describe how delicious the chateaubriand is and if I could just drink the zip sauce without looking tacky, I would! It is not an inexpensive place, our bill for 2 is never less than $130, but it is worth every penny. I use any excuse for a special occasion to find a resason to go here. I do miss the old place on Woodward that burned down, it did have so much more personality and charm that this Auburn Hills location just sadly lacks, bring back the checkered table cloths, strolling violinists and cheesy, over the top waiters!
(5)
Cyd T.
Appetizer tray with cocktail sauce is delicious, salad, soup & spaghetti are all great. I always get the petite filet with carrots & mashed also very good. I suggest spumoni for desert-yum!
(5)
Nina C.
Grew up at this place!! The food is always really good for dinner, the lunch Umm not so much!! The service is just ok! If they would just get rid of the old waiters and bring in young guys it would be a lot nicer!! Never had a bad dinner here! Lunch is really really tough! Sometimes it's good NOT great but good! And other times its just GARBAGE! And ladies always bring a little jacket, shawl, or wear long sleeves because its FREEZING in here- no matter what season!!
(4)
Stephen G.
My favorite place for a filet. Great food, great service. Good for a suit and tie event, but casual enough for a jeans and piston game kind of night as well. One knock-I like to valet my car sometimes, but its super annoying when your kind of forced to when its not really necessary.
(5)
Denise Z.
Love lelli's!!!! Best filet in town but also has other GREAT italian dishes! Staff works very hard to please everyone and we enjoy our evening every time. The maitre d Rick is such a class act. We try to go during the week because they get pretty busy on the weekends. This is a Detroit institution. Whenever family comes in from out of town this is the restaurant they want to come back to every time.
(5)
Sue D.
The food was very good. Our server Kevin was very helpful and accomadating. The glass situation was almost funny. They ran out of clean glasses? One bartender hardly working, the other (tall, thin) doing the work of 3. My husband did point this out to the manager hope it will do some good.
(5)
Joshua R.
Inept. I never thought I would write that about Lelli's, but it has really gone downhill in the twelve years we've gone there. Tonight was bad in so many ways. We arrived slightly early for our 8:00 PM reservation. I don't know why we bothered with reservations, since it was clearly no different from just walking in. But that 25 minute wait was only the first of many. Once we were seated, we waited a long time to place our order, waited a long time for our salads, waited for our wine, waited a really long time for our entrees, and waited for our check. Perhaps if our waitress didn't take so many smoke breaks we wouldn't have waited so long. But I buried the lead. The cabernet I ordered smelled like rubbing alcohol, so I sent it back. Oddly, the guy near me who ordered a petite syrah had the exact same problem! Seems shady to me. They replaced our wines, but the bartender poured them in white wine glasses instead of the red wine glasses many others had. I realize most people and restaurants don't distinguish, but if it does, the bartender should know the difference. And then the medium-rare filet arrived, cooked medium-well. I looked for the waitress to get it fixed, but it was literally 10 minutes with my plate sitting at the edge of the table before anyone even asked. It wasn't the waitress. I think she was out smoking. After someone asked, about 7 minutes later my rare steak arrived. I wasn't about to ask for a bit more heat to it. I'm not sure how Texas Roadhouse gets it right every time, but an expensive steakhouse can't. I've never sent back wine and steak before and I didn't expect this to be the restaurant where I would have to do it. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have had to.
(2)
Beth W.
Best Filet I've ever had..it's so tender and delicious! The Minestrone is very good too. Ive been there a few times now, last time was in November when my husband took me out for my Birthday, very good service and awesome meal. If your looking for an awesome steak and a nice dining experience def try Lelli's, even better when they have the splitter menu its such a good value, Ive gone to Fridays and reg chains and spent as much and it can't touch this place.
(5)
Jeff B.
Exceptional. Asked them to whip me up a custom pasta primavera, and it was exceptional. Mutli-course meal. I asked for something custom, not from the menu, and they took care of everything ... with excellence.
(5)
Liz M.
Worst restaurant I've been to in years. Service: I travel for work and eat at restaurants 3-5 nights at week -- and have never had service this bad. Example: server took a full bowl of soup away from someone who was still eating. Example: late joiners to our table were never asked (over the course of more than an hour) if they would like something to drink. Example: server plunked (no other word for it) my appetizer plate down on top of my bread plate, like plate bunk-beds. Example: antipasto plates ordered by table never arrived. Food: Most over-salted salmon I have eaten in my life (unfortunate, as underneath all that salt, the salmon wasn't half-bad). Most over-salted mashed potatoes I have eaten in my life. Bread rolls were good. Decor: Very...lunch at the old-folks' home. I could have gotten past that had the service and food not been bad.
(1)
Suzie C.
My favorite fancy Italian steakhouse in the area. If I was rich I'd eat there every day. The Minestrone soup and Zip sauce is to die for. Filet was oh so tender. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Cindy H.
My waitress Emily was good. I was in town in on business so I opted to sit at a table in the bar and get some work done while I dined. Well the restaurant was unusually warm and I commented on it to the waitress. She mentioned it to the owner/manager?? who was working on the fish tank near me and he said something like "tell her to take off her shirt". Seriously??!! So he checked the thermostat and I here him say its 77 degrees (someone turned off the heat). So he turned up the air. Fine, life is good. There is a fish tank that separates the bar area from the entrance and it was being cleaned at 7:21pm on a Wednesday night. I can him splashing around the tank and discussing the need for an employee to go to the hardware store to buy parts. An employee who was leaving because she had no tables comes over and asks for her check and starts to talk about other stuff all not far from me. She leaves but comes back asking for the schedule because she forgot to update it. I understand the makeshift office is in the bar area but employees should be counseled to discreetly approach the manager/owner and quietly state their request. The random conversation among coworkers was annoying. I am not sure where they should congregate when not busy but not in my hearing please. This is not a fast food restaurant where this is still not really acceptable but since the bill is under $10 who cares. I haven't received my bill but these martini's are small probably 6oz ($13 - out of control for this bit of booze) and the valet parking is $3 which is not much but really I didn't even see where the self park was and when I inquired of the valet, I don't think he understood English. Maybe the dining room has better ambiance but I cannot see coming back to determine if that is the case. I had the petite filet with zip sauce and twice baked mashed potatoes. The food was good but the atmosphere overshadowed it for me. Why didn't I just leave you ask? Well it wasn't the end of the world and I am lazy and I was hungry, lol I am ready to leave so where is my good waitress with my check, why hanging with the other staff by the bar. So, I finally get her attention and ask for my check. The check is for $487.50, are you freaking kidding me!!! If this is mine we have a problem and of course I cannot find Emily. I ask the bartender to find her and I get a check for $60 which is more like it except these teeny, tiny martinis that cost way too much. Okay I need to get out of here, I am getting really annoyed now.
(2)
Beau R.
Lelli's is an upscale steak house in Auburn HIlls, MI. The restaurant is in a location that seems deserted with no other businesses around. The dark and comfortable atmosphere screams "mobster hangout". The menu is stacked with high quality cuts of beef and other Italian specialties. All the beef is USDA Prime. Most of the dinner items are 5 courses. I came in for lunch and was able to get a 3 course meal. I had the Petit Filet, a little side of spaghetti, and mashed potatoes. The Spaghetti was average. It didn't have much meat in the sauce and I couldn't really taste anything but tomato in the sauce. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… The Petit Filet came out with the mashed potatoes on the side. The Filet was very tender and very well seasoned. It was cooked perfectly, hot and still juicy. I kept holding each slice of the steak in my mouth just to absorb the fantastic flavor. Great Steak. The mashed potatoes that came with were bad ass. Made with heavy cream and baked to have a crisp layer of cooked cream on top. Very very good. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… This is a great place to have a romantic date or a nice meal. The prices are high and the area is kinda lame but the food is high quality and you wouldn't leave unhappy.
(4)
Shelly S.
We made a reservation for July 6, 2012, 7:30 p.m. We were very specific about our requests since we were celebrating a special occasion with our adult children. The day before I was called to confirm the reservation and all was good. BTW the requests were.......table in back room, good waiter and good service. Not too much to ask I hoped. When we arrived the table was ready and from then on things went downhill. Waiter was inefficient and waiting on too many tables. Made lots of excuses and finally came and said we had his undivided attention and then left yet again. Drinks took 35 minutes to arrive. Specials were given after we sat with our menus for a long time and were ready to order. Splitter platter was not offered nor was it on the menu. I could go on but I think you get the idea. Dinner was close to $500.00 for 9 people. A 20% tip was recommended on our check. The food was very good but the service was disappointing. I called and spoke to Mike and he listened and again more excuses.....the restaurant was really busy he said, hmmmmm whose problem is that? He was supposed to call me back but he never did. We will take our business elsewhere and suggest you do the same.
(2)
Carol T.
Lelli's Redux... My husband and I returned to Lelli's just this past weekend on a trip to Michigan. We've been here many times before and, as always, this place did not disappoint. Our selection this time was a chateaubriand for two. At $48.75 PER PERSON, this meal was more expensive than the Blu-Ray/DVD player we just purchased BUT the quality and the quantity of food was unmatchable. Served tableside by two wait staff, we each had a large portion of meat cooked exactly to our specifications. The sides with the entree were mashed potatoes, spinach and carrots...all large portions. Don't forget, the Lelli's "experience" is comprised of 6 courses all included in the price of your dinner: antipasto platter for an appetizer, salad, minestrone soup, a pasta side dish, the entree with its sides and spumoni or ices for dessert. Who could eat all this food??? This one meal also gave each of us a complete second dinner and one lunch! Taking all that into consideration, the $48.75 seemed more reasonable. Remember, when you go to these big name steak places, you're just paying for the meat. Everything else is a la carte. We were seated in the bar area this time. It was a nice experience and just a bit quieter than the main dining room. Friday and Saturday nights have a vocalist with piano accompaniment. Don Corleone would approve of this place!
(5)
Arthur D.
The entire dining experience was bad. It saddens me to report this. This is not a one-off experience review but rather it is based on numerous visits over the past year. The Lillis trendline is going from a second rate to a 3rd rate place. Our last visit was Thursday April 3, 2014. Everything was bad. It was not crowded in the restaurant, so being too busy is not an excuse. We started with a drink in the bar. Bartender was slow. He was too busy arguing with the wait staff. Akward. The server was slow to wait on us , had bad follow ups and forgot things. My martini came 1/2 full. He said the glasses were new and larger, but I saw other tables' martinis full-up. We got the wrong salad. We ordered Ceasars, and when they came they were small. To add insult to injury, the price for a Ceasar had increased by over $3.50 -- about a 70% increase. Wow.. In fact all of Lillis food prices have moved north significantly, an estimated +20%. The server told us it is to compensate for a significant increase in their Groupon business. Last and NOT least the qualuty of our dinnners was beyond disappointing. My filet was cold - not even warm. The waiter seemed put out about bringing it back to reheat it. My wife's entree was well over cooked. Our desserts billid as house-made were garbage. The Chocolate cake and Terramiso were of Gordon Food Sevicee quality. One bite and off to the trash. The grand finale was a rude waiter. A discussion with owner -- Mike Lelli -- was a total waste of everyone's time. The good news is after at least a year -- perhaps 6 or mire visits-- we will never return. Others in our circle of friends have sumiluar experiences. We have been regulars at Lellis for at least 35 years. It was suck a special and magical place to us and our friends. So sad that a Detriot institution has effectively died. RIP. We are done with it.
(1)
Pete D.
My wife took me to Lelli's for my birthday and I have to say it was very good. Great steak for a great price. If you get a Groupon coupon you can get a 1/2 deal. I've been back twice each time as good as the last. A lot food, the soup is the best in town. Go see for yourself you won't go wrong.
(5)
John H.
Bad experience! Snooty waiters that treated us like low class spoiled what could have been a great dinner. We were dressed nicely, but not formal and I think this is the reason. The food was excellent but I will never go back. His attitude totally ruined our 2 hr experience and I couldn't even enjoy the great food, that cost over $100.
(2)
Robert P.
How many times have i spent a lot of money at dinner and the restaurant does not even come close to bringing it... Lelli's is not that place...the fillet is amazing and i am not that big into meats...just cut a small piece off and roll it around in the butter zip sauce put it into your mouth and just moan with erotic pleasure. Okokok so the antipasto was nothing to cry over...the minestrone was good...but that just does not shake the fact the fillet is the best I have ever had...yea i said it... Go here for dinner or lunch and you will leave satisfied.
(4)
Anna S.
Lelli's has been the go-to fancy, special-occasion restaurant for my family for probably 13 years. Now that the Detroit location is burned down, only the Auburn Hills location is open. It's in a sort of corporate dead-zone on Opdyke near the Silverdome, but it's worth the drive if you're looking for a great Italian steakhouse. The food is AMAZING, but the service consistently leaves something to be desired. I can't help but get the prime filet mignon five course dinner when I go, and I find all courses amazing. The first course is a simple salad with a house vinigarette dressing, alongside an antipasto tray and freshly baked bread and sweet cream butter. The antipasto tray has pepperoncini, shrimp cocktail, mozzerella cheese, mortadella, beets and salame. The next course is their creamy minestrone with white beans, vegetables and ribbons of sweet basil. Third course is a small portion of spagetti bolognese, where the sauce is thick and meaty. And finally, the filet mignon with whipped potatoes and their to-die-for zip sauce. The prime filet is buttery tender and always cooked perfectly. The zip sauce is absolutely amazing - rich, buttery and a hint of beef jus. I always ask for extra and pour some on the potatoes. You do get a complimentary dish of spumoni or lemon sorbet, but you almost always have to ask for it. Every course comes with the option of freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. They have a fully stocked bar and a reasonably priced wine list. My husband will attest that the dirty martini's there are the best he's ever had. Now the hard part; the lame-ish service. My mother is a smoker, and back when there wasn't a ban on smoking in Michigan restaurants we always sat in the smoking section (which was the bar). Without fail, three things were always present: 1) a manager who sat at a table off to the side, but talked loudly and rudely on the phone and to staff within earshot of other seated guests. 2) a large, flat-screen TV with some sort of sporting event on it (really? I'm paying $39.99 for my 5-course dinner while watching the Lions?). 3) Inappropriately acting drunk guests, such as a golf foursome after a round, or some randy middle-aged second-time-around couple getting "close." In present day, non-smoking Lelli's, these same distractions abound, and I even noticed two large flat-screens in the more formal part of the restaurant, not just the bar (thankfully they weren't on when I dined there this last Friday evening). The service in this type of restaurant is supposed to be a little slower paced, due to the multitude of courses and the amount of food you're trying to consume. But occasionally the service is a little too slow, which was the case the other night with my husband. Lame service aside, I give the food a solid 5-stars and if given an opportunity to splurge for dinner I can't tear myself away from this gem. If you're really into an amazing steak, or want to impress someone when money is no object, I suggest Lelli's Inn, hands down.
(4)
Chris C.
You will not leave going hungry! Service and steaks were incredible. Zip sauce is one step above Ruth's Chris'. The staff treats you with respect and like many other posts, that can make or break a nice meal with friends! Highly recommended!
(4)
Caitlin T.
My two-start rating a a generous one; giving a star only for a well-cooked steak. I will give credit where credit is due. Otherwise the food was forgettable and the customer treatment was downright offensive. We decided on a Saturday afternoon to call in and ask if they had any reservations last-minute. They told us they had openings after 8:30, so we gladly put our name in. We arrived at 8:30 to a very friendly valet, so I started off feeling good. I enjoy when people are smiling and chatty and don't just look at the ground while opening my door. The valet was one of only two people working at Lelli's that night who actually made me feel like a valued customer. We entered into a packed waiting area. There was a line to get to the front of the house to check in for our reservation, though we would find that all of the people ahead of us were only in 3 parties. Despite the fact that it should only take about a minute tops to take a persons name and their time of reservation; it took us until 8:45 to actually give our name for an 8:30 reservation because the maitre'd kept walking away, including him leaving just my boyfriend and I standing directly in front of his stand for about 5 minutes after he checked in the party before us. He told us that they were running about 30 minutes behind on their reservations, though he didn't say if that was 30 minutes from our actual time of reservation, or 30 minutes from when we checked in. Either way, he had underestimated the wait. We had over an hour to sit in an incredibly unpleasant lobby with scores of other miserable patrons. As far as I could tell, they must have booked each table in the restaurant with an 8:30 reservation, because that seemed to be what everyone was waiting for. Please recall: we had called for a reservation that same afternoon. Instead of saying, "We don't have any openings tonight," or "We can take you at 9:30," they OFFERED us an 8:30 spot. Also worth remembering is the price point of this restaurant! With $50 entrees, I was HORRIFIED to be in a restaurant that was run so poorly. The maitre'd finally called our names at 9:45, over an hour from our scheduled reservation, and then had us stand at the front for another few minutes before escorting us to a table that still had someone's bill/tip left behind. No apologies, no "thank you for your understanding," no "we appreciate your patience." Just seated at a a table that was still being set. I mentioned that one of the stars for Lelli's was for the food? That second star comes in here: Cameron. Our server was so polite, friendly, and finally made me feel like someone actually wanted my patronage and understood that without a customer, a business cannot run. So shout out to Cameron for being one of only two people I encountered who made me feel valued (and I guess to be fair our bus boy did a great job too, but obviously they don't interact really). My boyfriend and I both ordered the filet with the extra cut (because honestly, I wanted to have left over steak for lunch the next day). We also ordered a bottle of wine, which was actually somewhat moderately priced. Which is to say that it was a very cheap bottle of wine, but it was nice to have the option to spend less than $30 for a bottle with dinner. The rolls came out fast, thank God, since we'd been planning on eating over an hour earlier and were definitely ready to start eating. The salad was over dressed, to the point where the vinegar burned my lips and the greens were slimy. Not good, didn't even finish it. The antipasti plate left something to be desired as well. The meats were fine, the shrimp was adequate (though the cocktail sauce was bland), but the olives were the kind you get from a can. I like them on my pizza, but that's not really what I want on an olive tray. The minestrone wasn't offensive, but also wasn't good enough for me to finish it. The bolognese on the pasta was delicious, the only thing of the early courses that really seemed worth eating to me. And the steak. I ordered my steak medium and it cam out perfectly cooked. A slight crust on the outside and a warm pink on the inside; really beautiful. Unfortunately, my boyfriend had read that they had a great zip sauce here, so he asked for extra on our steaks. Wow. He liked it (he's not as picky as I am) but I felt that it was incredibly salty. It really dominated the flavor of the meat. The cut wasn't that perfect either, but that's life. The spinach had too much nutmeg, but the potatoes and green beans were good. At the end of the meal, Cameron grabbed the manager to process our Groupon. He asked how it was, and we shared that it was my first time here and that we were very unhappy with the wait. No. Apology. He said that's not how he want it to run, and that it was very busy, but never once said the wait was unacceptable or that he was sorry we'd had to wait. I will not be back, and I would advise others to pass as well. Oh, and dirty bathrooms. Sick.
(2)
Rebecca B.
We went to Lelli's on Valentine's day for the first time and it was very nice. Large semi-circle booths line the room (that we were in) with tables in the middle. The menu is somewhat fixed - you pick a meat and the entree comes with salad, soup, bread, antipasto, pasta and was supposed to come with spumoni but we never got that part. I ordered a pasta that came with salad - it was a 'light' entree. The freshly grate parmesan cheese and grind pepper on everything to your liking. They had a diverse wine list, though we got beer. For the price it was excellent. We also had a strange server - she sorta forgot about us in the middle of taking our order and seemed like she had a cold or something. She engaged us in an awkward conversation towards the end of our meal, and lingered. That said, the food, atmosphere, and experience was so good, it didn't matter. Because I read the Yelp postings before we went, I knew that the service could be spotty - so I was expecting it.
(5)
M D.
Horrible service for business lunch today. Had to beg for a glass of ice tea. Glasses empty. Screwed up order. Overlooked boss's salmon. I just got the feeling nobody wanted to wait on us. And I was one of the first patrons to arrive (11am).Really disappointing. No interest in going back.
(1)
Ernie H.
Haven't been to Lelli's in a couple of years. Our favorite is still the Filet Mignon. It is still the best. The six course meal did the trick. Our waiter, Cameron, made it a very enjoyable evening. He is truly an asset for Lellie's. Also, Lellie's minestrone soup is the best we have ever tasted.
(5)
Alejandro J.
Tried to be old and sophisticated but only made it to old. Some fine examples: the waiter's oversize jacket, the roof coming apart in one end, etc. Vg Virgin Mary was up to a good star. They have a dinner special you order the meat - in our case Filet mignon and the servings come in waves, Bread (VG warm dinner rolls); antipasto tray nice idea but mediocre ingredients - can Olives of the black unsavory kind, bland cheese, and pepperoni were among the delicacies like boiled shrimp, and mortadela. Then salad (it is premixed, but the waiter makes the effort to make it look like is being created in front of you). Minestrone - the broth was not clear, it was more like a liquid pure consistency. After that a plate w spaghetti and Bolognese sauce. Finally comes the Filet, nice piece, but was not charred on the outside (2.5) , and was bathed in a salty beef stock that for all I know was made out of a bouillon cube, accompanied by mashed potatoes Overall a 3 but de-rated to 2.5 because of the high prices. Experience. No Eye Candy, No amb, Expensive $50 a head.
(2)
Mark B.
Hard to give a good review when you have an 8:30pm reservation, get seated at 8:55pm (which was okay) and get your food at 11:15pm. We have been coming to Lelli's 2-3 times a year for the past 10 years and it just continues to get worse and worse. We arrived at 8:20 on Saturday, May 11th for our party of 6 reservation and were seated at 8:55pm. It was very busy because of the expiring Groupon coupons and due to it being Mother's Day weekend. After we were seated we were brought bread and water. No butter for the bread. We asked for butter twice and never got it. The water glasses were apparently too hot. When my wife's glass was poured, it shattered and my son's glass developed a huge crack. We ended up ordering our dinners at about 9:15pm. Our first few courses came out pretty quick and by 10pm we were waiting for our entrees. At about 10:30 our waiter informed us that we were "7 down". I asked what that meant and he told me that our food was probably done but there were 6 orders ahead of us that were ready and had to placed on plates and brought out. At about 10:45pm, a couple who had sat down about an hour after we did received their entrees. I flagged my waiter down and asked him how this was possible. The table of 4 next to us who ordered before we did still had not received their food either so they were interested in knowing also. Our waiter explained to us that the couple's order must have been placed in the "express line" whatever that means. 10:45pm, no food, no waiter. 11pm, no food, no waiter. Finally, at 11:15 our food was brought out. 2 of the people in my party ordered the extra cut filet medium. One of them was well done and the other was rare. We couldn't do anything about it because we didn't see our waiter again until we received our bill about a half hour later. No refills on water, no drink orders. We were not the only one that had a bad experience. All of the tables around us had issues. The couple who was fortunate enough to end up in the "express line" sent one of their steaks back because it was over cooked. 2 of the people in the party of 4 next to us ordered Chicken Lelli but were brought Shrimp Lelli instead. We were seated in line with the hallway where the waiters come out of the kitchen. We saw waiters arguing with each other the whole time we were there. One waiter was telling another waiter that she had several unhappy customers and the male waiter told her "Big deal. Everyone is complaining tonight. So what". The wait staff has become worse over the years. They seem bothered by having to do their jobs. Our bill last night was over $300 and it was the worst dining experience I have ever had. We will never come back. Too many other options out there where the waitstaff and workers go out of their way to make sure you have an enjoyable dining experience.
(1)
Cindy O.
The service was excellent and i enjoyed the 6 courses with the exception of the main course. My fault - being Italian I should have known better than to order eggplant Parmesan. The sauce had an herb in it that made it taste 'funky' and the eggplant was undercooked. Some veges are good undercooked but not eggplant. So between the funky sauce and the undercooked eggplant my meal ended in leaving a a bad taste in my mouth. I go back to this area next week but not sure if it is worth another try.
(3)
Sonja F.
Walked into Lellis tonight by myself for a meal. A nice young lady sat me down. No one came to my table until I started staring at staff shaking my head. I was in a hurry so I ordered right away. $19.95 for a SMALL plate of Ravioli. They spread it all over a large plate to make it look generous. I had to tell the hostess I needed to order. She told me my waiter would be with me soon. He never came. A nice lady named Pat came over to take my order. As she was taking my order my actual waiter rushes up to the table and says Pat will start helping take your order. I received my soup which tasted ok, then waited 25 mins for my Entree to arrive. I finally glared at my waiter, he ran back and brought out my sorry $19 plate of ravioli. I told him they seem understaffed, he threw poor Pat under the bus and said she couldn't handle too many tables at once. What a Jerk. This place has 3 busing tables set up right in the middle of the restaurant for water pitchers, extra silverware, salt and pepper shakers etc...The servers and the manager spent the night Slamming things down on the table right behind my ear. Many times a man who looked like the manager would come up behind me and stand over me surveying the restaurant. Who stands over their customers while they are trying to eat a $19 plate of mediocre ravioli. The only bright spots were the young Hostess and the Valet guy. This place has declined tremendously.
(1)
Rob R.
I have been going to Lelli's when they had there place on Woodward. Back then mother Lelli was still running the place and a gentleman by the name of Ernie was the matre De and the both of them ran a pretty tight ship(both in service and food quality). Since the original place burned down they built the new place on Opdyke, the service has gone down a bit BUT the steak is still MARVELOUS and the complete dinner is still a bargain.
(4)
Ernie M.
Had dinner there last night with three other couples. Not one complaint! The extra cut filet was great. I would like to thank Emily for the excellent service. Great food good service hard to beat.
(4)
T W.
Its a complete course that includes antipastas, salad, soup, fresh baked breead, pasta and finally the steak, finish with spumoni. Spumoni was the best! filet minon had soy sauce flavor which was unexpected. I still prefer Capital Grill's steak but Lelli's dining experience was a wonderful full course. Definitely had to take leftovers home. Still craving the spumoni ice cream.
(4)
Doug C.
Last visit to Lelli's the food was still incredible as always, but the service this time was uncharacteristically horrible. Like waiting close to an hour to get the food... way too long. It's not supposed to be fast food, but there was clearly a problem. We got an apology but that was it. We actually bumped into someone we knew there as well, and about a week later we saw him and he complained about the same thing from that night. I am not reducing my five star rating based on this experience and I am chalking it up to an anomaly - I'll give them a pass this time. I've been going there for too many years with too many amazing experiences to let one strike taint my view, but that can't happen again.
(5)
Denise K.
As another reviewer commented, Lelli's is Old School done right. From the oxblood leather circular banquettes to the cut-glass chandeliers to the tuxedoed staff, the ambience at Lelli's makes one expect to see Frank Sinatra or Vito Corleone at the next table. We were half an hour late for our reservation due to insane traffic, but we called to let them know and were happily greeted at the door. Our server, Stephanie, was simply superb. We told her we were attending a performance beginning at 8pm and needed to keep things moving, and Stephanie honored our request perfectly. Warm, crusty rolls and butter appeared immediately, as did our cocktails. My husband and I both ordered "light" dinners, meaning we each got a salad and side. My husband had the calves' liver with garlic mashed potatoes and I had the veal piccata with spaghetti -- each bite was better than the one before. The calves' liver melted in your mouth, the veal was fork tender and the sauce was pure velvet. I'm obsessed with Lelli's spaghetti sauce and told Stephanie. She rewarded the compliment by giving me an extra large serving -- ambrosia!!!! Each of us had leftovers to take home, and Stephanie even marked the take-out cartons with the contents. Because we live 90 minutes away, we don't get to Lelli's as often as we'd like, but this restaurant is worth the drive and the dollars. Excellent value for the price, and service and atmosphere beyond compare. Be sure to ask for Stephanie ...
(5)
Otis M.
I've been going to Lelli's since before they moved out to Auburn Hills. I think its okay, but not close to the top tier steak joints throughout the area. The food is Americanized Italian, some really like it this way, not me. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid good.
(3)
Justin S.
Chateaubriand for 2 or more. yah its not like the former downtown location or even close to the authenticity you got when walking in off of woodward, but the steak does not lie.
(4)
kevin e.
Ok If this was based on food alone then I would give them 4 1/2 stars The 1/2 being taken away for the shrimp lelli dish that was not impressive But the soup, the lasagna, the filet !!! Wow !!! Fabulous- BUT if this was on service alone they would get one star ! and there is the problem- Understaffed to say the least- Our waiter had like 7 tables - trying his best but no way he could keep up and as a result we waited a lot !!! For a restaurant with $40 dishes this is NOT ok - And even when he got help the others that helped him were rude ! I sure hope the owners read this- While the food rocked I will be not be going back because of how bad the service was!
(3)
Elizabeth W.
Last evening we had tickets for the 8:00 Bob Seger concert so we made 6:00 dinner reservations for four at Lellis. We arrived at 5:55 to a very crowded lobby area and waited 1/2 an hour to be finally seated (and now feeling like party crashers) in a back room where a private wedding vows renewal party was being held. We were given the one empty table near the doorway that had been vacated by party guests. We mentioned twice that we had 8:00 concert tix -- food order taken quickly -- food delivery not so much. Dinner finally arrived an hour later at 7:25. Soup warm, not hot. Small portions for large prices: $38 Veal Marsala was comprised of two very small pieces, pounded paper thin, bulked up with lots of sauce and mushrooms to disguise how small the serving. $26 Meat Ravioli had 1/2 a thimbleful of meat inside. $38 Petit filet was good -- the one bright spot. Result of $170 tab: three of us art still hungry and we're late for the concert. Ladies Room had a long line inside and outside the door because there were only three working stalls -- one of which had a broken door lock necessitating everyone taking turns holding the door for the current occupant. Another stall's floor was soaking wet. The trash can was totally beyond overflowing and one of the legs on the broken stall was being propped up by a wine cork. What a fall from grace for a legendary Detroit-area eatery. Poorly staffed for the size of crowd -- poor planning on management's part. Big clue: when you have that many reservations, it's a Saturday night, and there's a big concert nearby, please plan accordingly and have someone check the restrooms periodically. With regrets (because we have been loyal Lelli's fans since the old location back in the 80s) we must say that we will not be returning in the future.
(1)
Kevin S.
What can I say - it is a institution in the Detroit area. The class is definitely turned up to 11 in this place. Wonderful Italian food - the four course meals with minestrone, pasta, salad, etc. are very generous. The filet mignon is one of the most succulent things I have ever eaten on this planet - hands down. It's a bit pricey (they charge for water), but it's worth it for special occasions. The ambiance is great and the service is pretty decent. I would not recommend it for little kids, however - definitely more appropriate for the older, upscale crowd.
(5)
Rick K.
Amazing dinner as always. Our server Reannon was very knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant. We had a nice conversation, not rushed, treated us like friends not customers. In fact all the waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. We ordered drinks, and were ready to order our food. My friend had the Lelli's famous fillet and I was trying to decide between the eggplant or the veal saltimbocca. Reannon said the veal is a great choice. She asked if I had their veal Cordon Bleu, I have not and decided to order that dish. Reannon was right about everything she described about the dish, from the thickness of the veal, the coating, sauce etc. Anyone I bring there that likes veal, I will suggest this dish. And of course the fillet was great, better than most big name steakhouses. The salad, antipasto,mashed potatoes, green beans were all cooked to perfection. A second server, Emily assisted Reannon, again could not find a better team. We have dined in many places in Europe and Lelli's ranks up there with the best of them. The economy has hit hard on all businesses in the Detroit metro area, yet at Lelli's that does not appear to change the way they have operated when we frequented their original Detroit location. Looking forward to our next visit. Cheers to management and staff of Lelli's.
(5)
Peter S.
Conversations began last week about my search for a "go-to" local steakhouse. When I have guests in from out of town and a nice dinner is in order, I would like to know that I can make one phone call and have my reservation. We have the usual chain steakhouses and they are very good, but when I travel I like to taste the local flavor. Doesn't Detroit have any? A coworker suggested Lelli's in Auburn Hills/Pontiac; I had never been. The next thing I did was make the reservation. My parents and I arrived at 6:45PM on Saturday for dinner. The restaurant was not overly crowded, which I thought was nice. It began to fill up while we ate, not too surprisingly. Lelli's is definitely a restaurant to consider if you are looking for large amounts of food. Each entree comes with the antipasto tray, salad, soup (Minestrone Lelli), spaghetti (w/ meat sauce), and spumoni for dessert. The antipasto tray came with one of each item per person, with the exception of the black olives which none of us touched. The tray had pepperoncini, black olives, thinly sliced pepperoni, what I believe was mortadella, cheese, and shrimp. I try to not season food when I get it. When something is placed in front of me at the restaurant I feel at that time it is truly how the chef intends it to be and adding even salt and/or pepper will detract from the full experience. I should have thrown this practice out the window when the minestrone came. Sure, I ate it all, but I felt it was slightly bland. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not get the spaghetti, but rather the palmina (penne in a creamy tomato sauce). For someone who claims to not get too excited over pasta, this is now the second meal in three months nearly highlighted by the pasta course. The palmina was unique to those who ordered the porterhouse as I had. I would order this as an entree and forgo the rest of the meal; it was that good. My steak was a beautifully cut porterhouse. Big, juicy, and cooked to my specification: life is good. On the steak's merit alone I would go back to Lelli's; plain and simple. It was not the best I have had, but it was very good. I opted against the spumoni and chose the homemade chocolate ice cream instead. I recommend you do the same, it was great. Overall, the meal had high points and low points. Most of them do, in my experience. Unfortunately one big blemish on Lelli's record in my mind was the service. When you go to a semi-fancy dinner out you should be able to expect above average service. I would have even accepted average service... I have said it before and I will continue to say it: customer service is so very important. When a place gets that right, it is truly special. Lelli's got service all wrong. What I had hoped for was a special night out to dinner with my parents. That is absolutely what I had. I am able to separate any complaints I had with the food or the restaurant from the occasion with my family. When all is said and done I would go back to Lelli's, but the circumstances would need to be abnormal. The search for my "go-to" steakhouse continues...
(3)
RD E.
i wish the old lelli's in detroit didn't burn down, but at least we still have auburn hills....best restaurant in SE Mich....hands down
(5)
Atom G.
Lelli's Restaurant of Auburn Hills is the Detroit Steak house. Italian cuisine known for an outstanding filet mignon dinner. This four couse meal will fill you up so drink alot of grappa after the meal.
(5)
John R.
with out a doubt the best filet I've ever had - bar none!
(5)
M D.
Horrible service for business lunch today. Had to beg for a glass of ice tea. Glasses empty. Screwed up order. Overlooked boss's salmon. I just got the feeling nobody wanted to wait on us. And I was one of the first patrons to arrive (11am).Really disappointing. No interest in going back.
(1)
Ernie H.
Haven't been to Lelli's in a couple of years. Our favorite is still the Filet Mignon. It is still the best. The six course meal did the trick. Our waiter, Cameron, made it a very enjoyable evening. He is truly an asset for Lellie's. Also, Lellie's minestrone soup is the best we have ever tasted.
(5)
Alejandro J.
Tried to be old and sophisticated but only made it to old. Some fine examples: the waiter's oversize jacket, the roof coming apart in one end, etc. Vg Virgin Mary was up to a good star. They have a dinner special you order the meat - in our case Filet mignon and the servings come in waves, Bread (VG warm dinner rolls); antipasto tray nice idea but mediocre ingredients - can Olives of the black unsavory kind, bland cheese, and pepperoni were among the delicacies like boiled shrimp, and mortadela. Then salad (it is premixed, but the waiter makes the effort to make it look like is being created in front of you). Minestrone - the broth was not clear, it was more like a liquid pure consistency. After that a plate w spaghetti and Bolognese sauce. Finally comes the Filet, nice piece, but was not charred on the outside (2.5) , and was bathed in a salty beef stock that for all I know was made out of a bouillon cube, accompanied by mashed potatoes Overall a 3 but de-rated to 2.5 because of the high prices. Experience. No Eye Candy, No amb, Expensive $50 a head.
(2)
Mark B.
Hard to give a good review when you have an 8:30pm reservation, get seated at 8:55pm (which was okay) and get your food at 11:15pm. We have been coming to Lelli's 2-3 times a year for the past 10 years and it just continues to get worse and worse. We arrived at 8:20 on Saturday, May 11th for our party of 6 reservation and were seated at 8:55pm. It was very busy because of the expiring Groupon coupons and due to it being Mother's Day weekend. After we were seated we were brought bread and water. No butter for the bread. We asked for butter twice and never got it. The water glasses were apparently too hot. When my wife's glass was poured, it shattered and my son's glass developed a huge crack. We ended up ordering our dinners at about 9:15pm. Our first few courses came out pretty quick and by 10pm we were waiting for our entrees. At about 10:30 our waiter informed us that we were "7 down". I asked what that meant and he told me that our food was probably done but there were 6 orders ahead of us that were ready and had to placed on plates and brought out. At about 10:45pm, a couple who had sat down about an hour after we did received their entrees. I flagged my waiter down and asked him how this was possible. The table of 4 next to us who ordered before we did still had not received their food either so they were interested in knowing also. Our waiter explained to us that the couple's order must have been placed in the "express line" whatever that means. 10:45pm, no food, no waiter. 11pm, no food, no waiter. Finally, at 11:15 our food was brought out. 2 of the people in my party ordered the extra cut filet medium. One of them was well done and the other was rare. We couldn't do anything about it because we didn't see our waiter again until we received our bill about a half hour later. No refills on water, no drink orders. We were not the only one that had a bad experience. All of the tables around us had issues. The couple who was fortunate enough to end up in the "express line" sent one of their steaks back because it was over cooked. 2 of the people in the party of 4 next to us ordered Chicken Lelli but were brought Shrimp Lelli instead. We were seated in line with the hallway where the waiters come out of the kitchen. We saw waiters arguing with each other the whole time we were there. One waiter was telling another waiter that she had several unhappy customers and the male waiter told her "Big deal. Everyone is complaining tonight. So what". The wait staff has become worse over the years. They seem bothered by having to do their jobs. Our bill last night was over $300 and it was the worst dining experience I have ever had. We will never come back. Too many other options out there where the waitstaff and workers go out of their way to make sure you have an enjoyable dining experience.
(1)
Cindy O.
The service was excellent and i enjoyed the 6 courses with the exception of the main course. My fault - being Italian I should have known better than to order eggplant Parmesan. The sauce had an herb in it that made it taste 'funky' and the eggplant was undercooked. Some veges are good undercooked but not eggplant. So between the funky sauce and the undercooked eggplant my meal ended in leaving a a bad taste in my mouth. I go back to this area next week but not sure if it is worth another try.
(3)
Sonja F.
Walked into Lellis tonight by myself for a meal. A nice young lady sat me down. No one came to my table until I started staring at staff shaking my head. I was in a hurry so I ordered right away. $19.95 for a SMALL plate of Ravioli. They spread it all over a large plate to make it look generous. I had to tell the hostess I needed to order. She told me my waiter would be with me soon. He never came. A nice lady named Pat came over to take my order. As she was taking my order my actual waiter rushes up to the table and says Pat will start helping take your order. I received my soup which tasted ok, then waited 25 mins for my Entree to arrive. I finally glared at my waiter, he ran back and brought out my sorry $19 plate of ravioli. I told him they seem understaffed, he threw poor Pat under the bus and said she couldn't handle too many tables at once. What a Jerk. This place has 3 busing tables set up right in the middle of the restaurant for water pitchers, extra silverware, salt and pepper shakers etc...The servers and the manager spent the night Slamming things down on the table right behind my ear. Many times a man who looked like the manager would come up behind me and stand over me surveying the restaurant. Who stands over their customers while they are trying to eat a $19 plate of mediocre ravioli. The only bright spots were the young Hostess and the Valet guy. This place has declined tremendously.
(1)
Rob R.
I have been going to Lelli's when they had there place on Woodward. Back then mother Lelli was still running the place and a gentleman by the name of Ernie was the matre De and the both of them ran a pretty tight ship(both in service and food quality). Since the original place burned down they built the new place on Opdyke, the service has gone down a bit BUT the steak is still MARVELOUS and the complete dinner is still a bargain.
(4)
Ernie M.
Had dinner there last night with three other couples. Not one complaint! The extra cut filet was great. I would like to thank Emily for the excellent service. Great food good service hard to beat.
(4)
T W.
Its a complete course that includes antipastas, salad, soup, fresh baked breead, pasta and finally the steak, finish with spumoni. Spumoni was the best! filet minon had soy sauce flavor which was unexpected. I still prefer Capital Grill's steak but Lelli's dining experience was a wonderful full course. Definitely had to take leftovers home. Still craving the spumoni ice cream.
(4)
Doug C.
Last visit to Lelli's the food was still incredible as always, but the service this time was uncharacteristically horrible. Like waiting close to an hour to get the food... way too long. It's not supposed to be fast food, but there was clearly a problem. We got an apology but that was it. We actually bumped into someone we knew there as well, and about a week later we saw him and he complained about the same thing from that night. I am not reducing my five star rating based on this experience and I am chalking it up to an anomaly - I'll give them a pass this time. I've been going there for too many years with too many amazing experiences to let one strike taint my view, but that can't happen again.
(5)
Denise K.
As another reviewer commented, Lelli's is Old School done right. From the oxblood leather circular banquettes to the cut-glass chandeliers to the tuxedoed staff, the ambience at Lelli's makes one expect to see Frank Sinatra or Vito Corleone at the next table. We were half an hour late for our reservation due to insane traffic, but we called to let them know and were happily greeted at the door. Our server, Stephanie, was simply superb. We told her we were attending a performance beginning at 8pm and needed to keep things moving, and Stephanie honored our request perfectly. Warm, crusty rolls and butter appeared immediately, as did our cocktails. My husband and I both ordered "light" dinners, meaning we each got a salad and side. My husband had the calves' liver with garlic mashed potatoes and I had the veal piccata with spaghetti -- each bite was better than the one before. The calves' liver melted in your mouth, the veal was fork tender and the sauce was pure velvet. I'm obsessed with Lelli's spaghetti sauce and told Stephanie. She rewarded the compliment by giving me an extra large serving -- ambrosia!!!! Each of us had leftovers to take home, and Stephanie even marked the take-out cartons with the contents. Because we live 90 minutes away, we don't get to Lelli's as often as we'd like, but this restaurant is worth the drive and the dollars. Excellent value for the price, and service and atmosphere beyond compare. Be sure to ask for Stephanie ...
(5)
Otis M.
I've been going to Lelli's since before they moved out to Auburn Hills. I think its okay, but not close to the top tier steak joints throughout the area. The food is Americanized Italian, some really like it this way, not me. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid good.
(3)
Justin S.
Chateaubriand for 2 or more. yah its not like the former downtown location or even close to the authenticity you got when walking in off of woodward, but the steak does not lie.
(4)
kevin e.
Ok If this was based on food alone then I would give them 4 1/2 stars The 1/2 being taken away for the shrimp lelli dish that was not impressive But the soup, the lasagna, the filet !!! Wow !!! Fabulous- BUT if this was on service alone they would get one star ! and there is the problem- Understaffed to say the least- Our waiter had like 7 tables - trying his best but no way he could keep up and as a result we waited a lot !!! For a restaurant with $40 dishes this is NOT ok - And even when he got help the others that helped him were rude ! I sure hope the owners read this- While the food rocked I will be not be going back because of how bad the service was!
(3)
Elizabeth W.
Last evening we had tickets for the 8:00 Bob Seger concert so we made 6:00 dinner reservations for four at Lellis. We arrived at 5:55 to a very crowded lobby area and waited 1/2 an hour to be finally seated (and now feeling like party crashers) in a back room where a private wedding vows renewal party was being held. We were given the one empty table near the doorway that had been vacated by party guests. We mentioned twice that we had 8:00 concert tix -- food order taken quickly -- food delivery not so much. Dinner finally arrived an hour later at 7:25. Soup warm, not hot. Small portions for large prices: $38 Veal Marsala was comprised of two very small pieces, pounded paper thin, bulked up with lots of sauce and mushrooms to disguise how small the serving. $26 Meat Ravioli had 1/2 a thimbleful of meat inside. $38 Petit filet was good -- the one bright spot. Result of $170 tab: three of us art still hungry and we're late for the concert. Ladies Room had a long line inside and outside the door because there were only three working stalls -- one of which had a broken door lock necessitating everyone taking turns holding the door for the current occupant. Another stall's floor was soaking wet. The trash can was totally beyond overflowing and one of the legs on the broken stall was being propped up by a wine cork. What a fall from grace for a legendary Detroit-area eatery. Poorly staffed for the size of crowd -- poor planning on management's part. Big clue: when you have that many reservations, it's a Saturday night, and there's a big concert nearby, please plan accordingly and have someone check the restrooms periodically. With regrets (because we have been loyal Lelli's fans since the old location back in the 80s) we must say that we will not be returning in the future.
(1)
Kevin S.
What can I say - it is a institution in the Detroit area. The class is definitely turned up to 11 in this place. Wonderful Italian food - the four course meals with minestrone, pasta, salad, etc. are very generous. The filet mignon is one of the most succulent things I have ever eaten on this planet - hands down. It's a bit pricey (they charge for water), but it's worth it for special occasions. The ambiance is great and the service is pretty decent. I would not recommend it for little kids, however - definitely more appropriate for the older, upscale crowd.
(5)
Rick K.
Amazing dinner as always. Our server Reannon was very knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant. We had a nice conversation, not rushed, treated us like friends not customers. In fact all the waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. We ordered drinks, and were ready to order our food. My friend had the Lelli's famous fillet and I was trying to decide between the eggplant or the veal saltimbocca. Reannon said the veal is a great choice. She asked if I had their veal Cordon Bleu, I have not and decided to order that dish. Reannon was right about everything she described about the dish, from the thickness of the veal, the coating, sauce etc. Anyone I bring there that likes veal, I will suggest this dish. And of course the fillet was great, better than most big name steakhouses. The salad, antipasto,mashed potatoes, green beans were all cooked to perfection. A second server, Emily assisted Reannon, again could not find a better team. We have dined in many places in Europe and Lelli's ranks up there with the best of them. The economy has hit hard on all businesses in the Detroit metro area, yet at Lelli's that does not appear to change the way they have operated when we frequented their original Detroit location. Looking forward to our next visit. Cheers to management and staff of Lelli's.
(5)
Peter S.
Conversations began last week about my search for a "go-to" local steakhouse. When I have guests in from out of town and a nice dinner is in order, I would like to know that I can make one phone call and have my reservation. We have the usual chain steakhouses and they are very good, but when I travel I like to taste the local flavor. Doesn't Detroit have any? A coworker suggested Lelli's in Auburn Hills/Pontiac; I had never been. The next thing I did was make the reservation. My parents and I arrived at 6:45PM on Saturday for dinner. The restaurant was not overly crowded, which I thought was nice. It began to fill up while we ate, not too surprisingly. Lelli's is definitely a restaurant to consider if you are looking for large amounts of food. Each entree comes with the antipasto tray, salad, soup (Minestrone Lelli), spaghetti (w/ meat sauce), and spumoni for dessert. The antipasto tray came with one of each item per person, with the exception of the black olives which none of us touched. The tray had pepperoncini, black olives, thinly sliced pepperoni, what I believe was mortadella, cheese, and shrimp. I try to not season food when I get it. When something is placed in front of me at the restaurant I feel at that time it is truly how the chef intends it to be and adding even salt and/or pepper will detract from the full experience. I should have thrown this practice out the window when the minestrone came. Sure, I ate it all, but I felt it was slightly bland. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not get the spaghetti, but rather the palmina (penne in a creamy tomato sauce). For someone who claims to not get too excited over pasta, this is now the second meal in three months nearly highlighted by the pasta course. The palmina was unique to those who ordered the porterhouse as I had. I would order this as an entree and forgo the rest of the meal; it was that good. My steak was a beautifully cut porterhouse. Big, juicy, and cooked to my specification: life is good. On the steak's merit alone I would go back to Lelli's; plain and simple. It was not the best I have had, but it was very good. I opted against the spumoni and chose the homemade chocolate ice cream instead. I recommend you do the same, it was great. Overall, the meal had high points and low points. Most of them do, in my experience. Unfortunately one big blemish on Lelli's record in my mind was the service. When you go to a semi-fancy dinner out you should be able to expect above average service. I would have even accepted average service... I have said it before and I will continue to say it: customer service is so very important. When a place gets that right, it is truly special. Lelli's got service all wrong. What I had hoped for was a special night out to dinner with my parents. That is absolutely what I had. I am able to separate any complaints I had with the food or the restaurant from the occasion with my family. When all is said and done I would go back to Lelli's, but the circumstances would need to be abnormal. The search for my "go-to" steakhouse continues...
(3)
RD E.
i wish the old lelli's in detroit didn't burn down, but at least we still have auburn hills....best restaurant in SE Mich....hands down
(5)
Atom G.
Lelli's Restaurant of Auburn Hills is the Detroit Steak house. Italian cuisine known for an outstanding filet mignon dinner. This four couse meal will fill you up so drink alot of grappa after the meal.
(5)
John R.
with out a doubt the best filet I've ever had - bar none!
(5)
Theresa T.
Hard to believe I've been good to lellis over 30 year's. The downtown location will always be the best. It had such character. You could get your car washed while you ate dinner. The place was always busy, but if you were in good with the family they always made room for you. With that being said, the Auburn Hills location has had it's up and downs in my book. When they first opened (year's after the original burned to the ground) I was overjoyed and excited to introduce an icon to my daughter and friends. When the doors opened I think they were totally overwhelmed and unprepared. Easy to forgive because being in the restaurant business I understand once it falls apart during a service there's no turning it around. I actually stopped going to lellis after I had my staff's Christmas dinner here. We had a 7p.m. reservation and our party of 20 weren't sat until 8:45. No excuse. Total greed on the owners part. They so overbooked the place, and arguments and walk outs were embarrassing. Finally after being sat it took over 3 hours for dinner. Most of my staff were totally shit faced. I mean what else can you do when your waiting forever for you 8 course meal. We all had the chateaubriand (?) and almost every order had to be sent back. A disaster. I actually stopped going there after calling and talking with Steve Lelli. He blew it off and offered me a free appetizer for my trouble. That drove me over the edge. But after hearing he left the restaurant to go on his own we started going back. Oh how I missed it. Cameron is the best waiter there. We had the best service and meal.
(5)
Neil Y.
A tried and true Detroit area classic! Neither my wife or I had been here before so this visit was much anticipated and without our brood in tow. While it is easy a family restaurant, Lelli's is best enjoyed with adults. It's an Italian Steakhouse so expect great steaks, seafood and of course the pasta. You can order meals ala carte but for first timers, engage the full experience and get your entree with the six-course meal. You get soup, salad, antipasti, pasta, the entree and dessert. Don't fool yourself though as the meal isn't pure decadence as this isn't The Lark but absolutely well worth ordering. It's a lot of food with even better leftovers. First timers are advised to try the house specialty which is the chateaubriand and is prepared tableside It's classy. I'm not really a tenderloin guy but I encourage my carnivorous friends to definitely go with a meat option as my tenderloin was excellent. Don't spare the zip sauce or even get the mushroom and cognac sauce for a minimal upcharge. The entrees are the center-stage items here but don't discount the quality of the house bolognese sauce. It's very rich and savory. Service is very attentive and your table never sees a water glass or beverage empty for long. Also, plates are cleared in a very timely manner. Some people see this as being rushed, I don't, and rather see this as having a table without clutter. The busboy, waiter and waiter's assistant work as a cooperative team. This, in my opinion, is worth a larger gratuity. After a near flawless experience at Lelli's, with the help of a sweet Groupon, I will never visit Mario's downtown ever again. BTW-Lelli's staff does not hold this over your head like Mario's does, nor do they openly remind you to tip on what would have been the original cost. You should already know that. Lelli's is a bit of a hike from Hamtown, as it sits around the corner from the Pontiac Silverdome, but truly worth the drive. Simply put, Lelli's is a much better experience across the board, than Mario's. It's cleaner, well organized, well paced and downright delicious. It doesn't rely on past glories but rather presses on to give you a worthwhile experience for your money.
(5)
Kimberly N.
Surprised it was still as good as I recall. The Groupon was worrying me, yet was the only reason I went there anyway. Here's the thing, Lellis is one of the most expensive restaurants in the area. $50 for. 6oz filet for example. Shrimp and lobster tail $83. So a $60 Groupon toward dining which you pay $32 for doesn't do much damage. It helps, saving is saving, but it's not a good deal or anything . *** the prices on the lellis online menu aren't updated. Everything is around $5 more! Says $45 for filet online, it's 50 there. So you're still paying for this meal. But it was wonderful. Antipasto tray is fun though nothing really good. But great salad and soup. Love having a pasta course. I got lobster tail broiled and shrimp lelli and it was incredible. Boyfriend got filet, and it was perfect. So food was as good as I remenber, really good. The star is taken away because the online menu isn't updated which was a surprise that everything was more money and because we ordered a decent btl of wine maybe an $80 btl but we poured our own 70% of time which is a huge pet peeve of mine
(4)
Shá B.
Neglected to agree that Cameron is a fine server and made a poor quality meal still a pleasant dining experience.
(2)
Janet T.
I've been to Lelli's three times now and I have been back for the mushroom cognac tenderloin every single time just because it is fantastic!!! The chef consistently cooks it medium rare the way I like it and the flavour and sauce is beyond superb. Lelli's has a great traditional menu option with a 5 course meal. You end up leaving feeling full, happy and satisfied. It has a romantic atmosphere perfect for dates, celebrations and anniversaries! There's a groupon special going on for Lelli's - I would recommend getting it! (only works for the traditional option however)
(4)
Dale G.
I should have guessed when they were Googled the first thing to come up was a Groupon. The restaurant has valet parking (for an additional ten steps you can park your own car). The wine list is full of Italian and Napa selections for a premium price - Stags Leap "Artemis" for $120? Come on it is a $40 wine retail at best. (Three times markup??) The filet is their specialty and it looked good, but not $50 good. I had the 18 oz.rib eye (boneless) at over $50. (Less than an inch thick, not trimmed, and slathered in butter. Why order a dry aged steak if you are going to ruin it in butter?) The sides are fine, but way too much food for anyone that hasn't starved themselves for three days. Service was okay, but my server tried telling me that "classico" was a region of Italy. Um...no. Bill for two people w/o the Groupon was $240. For that type of money I expect excellence not mediocrity. Save your money.
(2)
Robert W.
Listen, this is a five star restaurant when there isn't a holiday or special day happening. At the end of the day, this is the best meal in town, hands down. We have been going to Lelli's for special occasions for over 18 years, back when they were downtown. The filet, medium rare with extra zip sauce is the best I've had in the country. No question. Topped with the minestrone soup, pasta with meat sauce and antipasto tray, it is an amazing meal. But at the end of the day, if it is a special occasion/holiday, expect them to triple up on reservations and to wait an hour after your planned time. If you have a 730PM reservation, expect to be seated at 830PM. As long as you go in knowing this, frustration won't set in and you can enjoy yourself. Happy dining.
(4)
Megan H.
I love this place. It reminds me of an old 1970s mafia restaurant. My husband and I went here for our anniversary. I bought a groupon, $30 for $60 worth of food. In order to use it you have to order off of the traditional menu. The waiters are very knowledgeable and the food is always excellent. You can cut the filet with a fork. The decor could use a slight updating, although I do like the ombiance. It's to bad that there is not much left in that location in Pontiac. They seemed to be doing really well though. Everything was perfect.
(5)
Steven W.
If you like Ruth's Chris, you will love Lelli's...BUT, you will like it much better than Ruth's Chris and here's why...VALUE! At Ruth's Chris, a steak will run you, let's say $40-$55 depending on the cut. At Lelli's it will cost you the exact same amount, but here's the kicker. For that $40-$55 you also get: Antipasto, salad, soup, pasta, and sorbet or spumoni...and it's all very good! The service is excellent. My Mother-in law and Father-in law have been a regulars there for years and they literally treat them like family. I get the feeling everyone gets treated well though. It's that locally owned environment that keeps them going the extra mile. The atmosphere is also nice. You can wear anything from jeans and a polo shirt, to a suit and cocktail dress. It's nice that the restaurant can successfully pull off a casual evening out and/or a special occasion. Overall a great choice for dinner. I would easily recommend and go back the next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Wadim S.
What an old school tradition experience. Service was tremendous. I love feeling like a 1950's era gangster!! Filet is one of the best in Detroit and zip sauce is amazing!!
(5)
Ronie K.
The food wasn't cooked to order which was medium well after telling the waitress to take it back and cook it for longer she did and brought it back outside was chard but inside was still like a medium All in all the waitress was great and respectful
(3)
Ross N.
Just in town for one night and was recommended by hotel staff to this place. Overpriced and unprofessional! Ordered 8oz fillet mignon medium and received a moving fetus! General manager was kind enough to comp the meal. He was the only decent thing about the place. Staff congregated and clearly made us feel uncomfortable that we were unhappy. Also waited 50 minutes for food. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they just struck out!! Stick to Longhorn!
(1)
Darrell K.
I visited this restaurant in the spring and I left with a full stomach and a great feeling about this place. This was one of 2 locations at one time. The other being on Woodward in Detroit. It burned down in the early 90s. I never had the opportunity to visit that location. The restaurants ambience was good. Kind of romantic but lighting was brighter than some places I visited. We were seated at a table and were quickly acknowledged by the waiter. Actually it ended up being 3. We seriously felt special. This was a 4 course meal. I had an appetizer, salad, soup, entree and desert. The Filet was rememorable. Cooked just right(medium well) with zip sauce. The flavor and the seasoning were excellent. Overall this was one of the best dining experiences. The combination of a great, attentive wait staff and great food made this a great experience. I look forward to visiting again.
(5)
Aaron S.
Great service. Horrible food. 6 courses of canned food. The spaghetti tasted like chef boyardee. I paid too much for cafeteria food. $140
(1)
Jennifer A.
Fantastic service with outstanding food!!! Everything is so fresh and flavorful! I absolutely love the table side Caesar salad! The Shrimp Lelli is very delicious and lemony! Every dish is amazingly good! Very hard to decide on one item for dinner. Oh! And great cocktails!!!
It has been quite awhile since we've eaten at Lelli's. We had a $60.00 Groupon and ended up here a couple of Friday nights ago. I started off asking for a hard cider and they had none available on tap or in a bottle. The Hubby ordered the Porterhouse and Lobstertail with all the fixings, I ordered a veal. We had the 6 course meal which includes bread, antipasto, minestrone, pasta, main course and then spumoni. The side courses were fine. My husband loved his steak and lobster. My veal was like shoe leather, I do not recommend it. We informed the waiter that it was my birthday, and he stuck a candle in the ice cream. The booth we were seated at was dirty on the top edge. There is a little more attention to detail needed in the bathrooms as well, and the decor should be updated. The service was good, our entrees and one drink apiece the bill came out to over $100.
(3)
Ricky P.
This was amazing. IT was the best food I've eaten in a long time. The filet was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. It was expensive as all hell, but what did I care I wasn't paying for it! Know what I'm sayin'? The service was perfect and everyone was really nice. Great job.
(5)
Jon B.
Shocked this place is only 3.5 stars! Wife and I have been coming here for the past 10 years!!!! Best filet EVER and you get 5 courses!!!! Truly best filet on the state!!
(5)
Jordan P.
This is one of those restaurants that are in the middle of nowhere exciting, and doesn't really look like anything special, but you walk in and eyebrows are raised. Very quiet, okay decor, and amazingly helpful wait staff. Once they've helped you order your food and it comes out of the kitchen you know why this place has stuck around for so long. I got the chicken picatta and it was the best I've had in a long time.
(5)
Christina B.
A classy place. I enjoyed the tenderloin wild mushroom with mashed potatoes. I ordered it medium and it was perfectly cooked. A very delicious lunch.
(5)
Randi M.
Husband had been here numerous times for work, I finally got the chance to experience the Filet he has raved about. It is worth the 1 hour drive from home!
(5)
Barbara P.
Lelli's is one of our favorite restaurants. The service is always stellar; the food is delicious. There is an abundance of food and this is great for a special occasion. It is a very beautiful restaurant and is great for a special occasion. There are a great number of choices on the menu. You can order traditional (many courses) or Ala Carte. Even when you order ala carte you get potato and a vegetable. Our favorite choices are the Chicken Lelli (mine) or the filet (my husband's). But everything here is delicious; you will not be disappointed. Thanks, Lelli's for making us feel so special.
(5)
Tom N.
Amazing experience! Great place for a date! Get the chateaubriand for two! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Mike M.
Food is simply amazing here. We have been many times and never once had anything less than perfect. The filet with zip sauce melts in your mouth and always is prepared as ordered. The minestrone is simply the best minestrone I've had. The rolls, salad, and pasta before the meal compliment dinner perfectly. The quality and preparation of food here are unparalleled and consistently perfect. One of the best restaurants in Metro Detroit.
(5)
Dianne Y.
Amazing food but service was horrendous. Slow service and had to ask for water multiple times. Extremely long interval time between meal courses, lasting in a total of 3 hours! Martinis were mediocre.
(3)
Scott B.
Arrived 5 min. Before our reservations and got seated right away. Our reservations were for 5 pm so the valet was not on duty. Our server " Courtney " was very prompt in coming to our table and greeted us with a smile. She offered us drinks and menus. All 5 courses came with a little time in between so we where not rushed in eating. The meal was great I thought that I was going need help walking I was so full. I read a few of the other reviews and I thought this might not be a great place to eat. Let me tell you that they're wrong. Lelli's still has it.... From start to finish our meal was great and we will be back again.
(5)
Bridgette Z.
I really wanted to like this place but i am sad to say i probably won't be returning :( i have read some great reviews and even had a couple recommendations from friends to try it out so i purchased the groupon. I guess that should be my 1st red flag when a "fine dining" restaurant has to use groupon. My husband and i were sat immediately and a busboy filled our water glasses and brought out fresh bread and butter. I like the bread there. Our server brought us menus and a wine list shortly after. The wine list was big and not terribly overpriced either, many bottles were only $30 - $40. We each got a glass of house wine (cabarnet for me, chianti for him) only $6 each. I decided on the tuna steak. The menu stated a sushi grade piece of tuna with a tomato basil vinegarette. My husband got the veal del. If you order the "lelli's traditional" you get a 6 course meal so that's the route we took. First you get an antipasti plate with 2 cocktail shrimp, some beets, olives, pepperoncini, 2 tiny pieces of cheese, 2 thin slices of salami and another italian meat.. ehhh nothing to write home about. Next we received the house salads which were pretty good but salty dressing already on it. Next was the minestrone soup which was ok but it was cream based rather than tomato or broth based which seemed kind of odd. Next was the pasta course which was overcooked spaghetti with a meat sauce that reminded me of chef boy r dee ravioli. No authenticity or flavor. Next our meals were served. Immediately i knew my tuna was overcooked as soon as it was on the table. I asked for rare to medium rare but it was definitely at medium well. As far as "tomato basil vinegarette" it was a bunch of sliced grape tomatoes and red onion on top of the fish. Although it looked pretty it did not taste pretty. It was tough because it was indeed overcooked and the flavors were just off putting. I sadly sent it back and got the veal del which my husband ordered and we both enjoyed. The "twice baked potatoes" that they serve with all the dinner plates are really just flavorless mashed potatoes that tasted like they were from a box. Lastly we got the spumoni which was pretty standard and good. Overall the staff here is very nice, i loved our busboy and server and i felt very bad that i sent my food back but she was very nice throughout our entire meal. If i ever return i will stick to their veal and steak dishes but i don't see myself coming back. I don't feel the quality of the food is worth anywhere near the prices on the menu. Sidenote before anyone thinks I'm a jerk.. I've worked in many restaurants in the past and I'm not a picky eater i swear! I've only sent food back twice in my entire life besides last night and once was because of hair in my salad at a diner.
(2)
Arnold A.
I'm new to yelp so I'm going through and reviewing all my favorite places. Lellis was one of the first to come to mind. This is a higher end eating experience and you get what you pay for. The service is excellent and the food is awesome. They do everything well. Great place to go to celebrate or take a date.
(5)
Arleen G.
Don't eat here,,they are rude and unprofessional ... The steak always has to be sent back and the attitude of the management is horrible ,,,and I mean horrible ... They don't appreciate the customers , it's a shame that the tradition of the great Detroit location did not carryover ... Everyone misses the original.
(1)
sharlan d.
This is an old-school Italian restaurant, the kind with white tablecloths, waiters in tuxedos and Sinatra playing all the time. We arrived on a Sunday evening, in a week when their Groupon offer was ending and they were mobbed. This is a big, well-established place and I'm not going to say that they should have anticipated the rush. But I could. We didn't have a reservation but were willing to wait at the bar, where we lingered for an hour. There were empty tables in the bar area occasionally, but, again, I'm willing to cut them some slack and acknowledge that, if they were understaffed, it was better to not seat people they couldn't serve promptly. So why is it that, after we were seated, our meal took two and a half hours, with our waiter being largely invisible? And, by the way, what kind of ostensibly well-stocked bar doesn't carry rye? The bartender didn't even seem to know what it is. This is a pricey place. There are meals priced over $60. Yes, they are four-course meals, with an antipasto plate, soup, pasta and a well-aged beef entree, but still. For that kind of money I expect a waiter who knows a little something about wine. We asked him for recommendations and he admitted that he doesn't really know a lot about what's on the wine list. Could we see the sommelier? No, they no longer have a somm. If you're going to save money that way, you better shift some of your budget into better training for the wait staff. Our food was better than good but not sensational. Filet Siciliano - delicious. Medium rare veal chop - tasty but chewy. Anchovy appetizer -right out of the tin. I was shocked to see that there were two tables in the bar area given over to staff activities. While we ate, two employees sat down at one of the tables with a stack of papers and a calculator to conduct business. Maybe that's part of the charm in a mom-and-pop establishment, but it's absolutely beyond the pale in a restaurant with such otherwise high aspirations.
(2)
Kathleen C.
My husband and I went to Lelli's this past Friday evening for dinner. I had the Fettuccini Bolognese and he had their 8 oz. Fillet Mignon. I ordered the Traditional option which came with an antipasto that included a shrimp, a beet slice, some olives, salami and cheese. My option also included their minestrone soup and a side order of Spaghetti Bolognese. My husband ordered the Ala Carte option which included Double Baked Mashed potatoes and Green Beans. He also ordered a House Salad and we ordered some Garlic Toast for the table. They also served some rolls and toast for the table. All I can say is that every bite was absolutely delicious! We shared our meals with one another and the fillet and pasta were to die for! The fillet was PERFECT and cut like butter. My husband said the green beans were the best he ever had. The service, during a busy dinner hour, was great! It was a MUCH better experience than our previous visit there a few years ago. The decor is definitely "old school Italian restaurant"...but that is okay by me. We look forward to returning to Lelli's which has been a mainstay in the Detroit area for years. I am so glad they have returned to their former wonderful reputation!
(5)
Jeff G.
If you're in the mood for a fine dining experience, and some delicious food, good atmosphere and attentive waiters, this is your restaurant. As per my usualI, I ordered their salmon dinner, this is a full three course dinner, first they start you out with a fantastic vinaigrette salad and condiment tray, then comes the minestrone soup, by the time you get your main course you're usually pretty full however the salmon and twice baked potatoes with green beans were so good I couldn't help myself but to eat all of it. My associate had the chicken Cordon Bleu and he said it was the best it ever tried. The waiter was very good and new the menu very well, He served us without giving my associate a second look even though he was wearing shorts, I thought they would ask us to leave but this was not the case, they treated us with the utmost respect. I highly recommend this restaurant, however don't forget your wallet it is a little pricey. PS don't wear shorts you'll feel out of place.
(5)
Susan N.
Lelli's is always a good experience! Thei steaks are presented in the old fashion flair of the table side cut. Food is excellent! The service is outstanding! They make sure you are delighted! Really filling! Stuffed, with take puts for linch or dinner!
(5)
Jennifer L.
I typically do not write reviews but my husband and I had a bad dinning experience at Lellies. We had a groupon as a gift and had arrived at 5pm, got seated at 5:40 which wasn't bad however the service was horrible. Dinner was too long I did not expect to spend 3 hours at a place were the servers did not seem at all attentive or cared about how our experience was. They all seemed like they were running around all the time yet invisible to the customers needs. We saw tables around us not get service after they were seated for 20 min! Our server never checked or asked how we were doing. After finished with our main course, he saw we were done but did not bother to bring is boxes or the bill. I finally got a hold of someone else 30 min later and they didn't even tell our server we had asked for the check. The food was not as great as I had expected a pricey restaurant to be. Our filet, mashed potatoes and green beans were drenched in butter. Needless to say we will not be returning to Lellies because the service was unprofessional.
(1)
Pat M.
Would have been five stars had my steak not been somewhat over cooked! There is something to be said for consistency. Lelli's is consistent. The food is the same as it was prepared 40 years ago at the original location on Woodward in the New Center Area. High quality, well prepared, classic with an Italian flare. The service was just how I like it, solid. Somehow Lelli's has figured out how to survive by hanging on to traditional fare in a world that wants fat and gluten free. That is not Lelli's. I will be back!
(4)
Shannon S.
Groupon/Girls Night/Birthday Dinner/Reservations for 7PM We had to wait 20 minutes even though we had a reservation, but not a big deal, as once you are seated, you are eating, pretty much eating continually until you are finished. Everything is timed really well, so if you are starving, just chill, the food will begin to flow~ Dinner consisted of 6 courses (WoW!!) all three of us ladies ordered the Petit Filet. I ordered mine medium rare and it was as gorgeous as the photo that's already posted. Very delicious, and the zip sauce really is, as amazing as everyone says! My two girlfriends did have to send their steaks back because they were cold, but once they returned, all was well. Our server was a man of few words, however, he was very attentive, always at our beck and call. When we needed his attention for the cold steaks, he literally ran from across the room when he saw me signaling. Service was excellent, even as our haunted groupon sat on the table in the empty seat at our four top table. The courses. First they bring you bread, a huge warm roll, with butter, as your drink requests are being gathered and filled, then comes the salad, with an antipasto platter. All items were very good, and the house dressing was very good. Next comes the Minestrone soup, a version I had never had before, it almost seemed like it was a cream base, which was excellent, I don't normally care that much for the brothy minestrone. Next up was the pasta, wonderfully flavored, just enough to keep you wanting more. Your main entree is next up, wonderful cut of meat, that is do delicious, it makes me want to put red meat back on the weekly rotation (almost! ha!) creamy mashed potatoes, with zip sauce mixed in, and crisp green beans. MOUTH WATERING!! The last, but hardly the least is the dessert, I had the spumoni, but they offered a couple of different flavored sorbets as well. Oh and they have a young man who sings while you dine, he came into our dining room and got our attention, and then sang and acapella song to us, it was a nice little extra All in all, Lelli's was a real treat, I would love to go back....hint hint...haha! :-)
(5)
Valerie A.
How could I forget to review Lelli's!! Been here time and time again. I always order the same thing. The 6 course filet meal. Starts with an antipasto tray, salad (my favorite part, I love the dressing), minestrone soup, small plate of spaghetti (sometimes I get it with palomino sauce for an additional cost), then my perfectly cooked delicious and juicy filet with mashed potatoes and green beans. I always get the creamy mushroom sauce to accompany my steak because it makes it even more amazing. At the end you are served with the neopolitan? ice cream which is nothing special but I'll take it anyways. I'm always so stuffed after a visit to Lelli's and I can never finish my entree but that's ok because I look forward to eating my left overs the next day! My only complaint is that they raised the prices by about $8 a person for this 6 course meal last time I went so it can get pricey. Mario's in Detroit is very very similar to Lelli's but not quite as expensive.
(5)
Marybeth S.
While visiting family on the East side of the state from our home in Holland, MI, we looked for a place to celebrate a belated New Year's Eve. We wanted fine dining and we found it and more at Lelli's. For my husband and I it was reminiscent of the "fancy" restaurants we went to for important events with our parents when we were kids, from the semi-circular leather booths, the linens, elegant lighting and the tuxedo clad servers. We were blessed beyond measure to be attended to by Lee, who didn't just wait on us, he cared for us. He explained the differences in the menu options and then shared why the prices in red would give us a more complete, traditional experience. We took his suggestions and are so delighted we did! We both chose the Chateaubriand with all the bells and whistles! We began with Oysters Rockefeller - fantastic, and then began the dining journey guided by the wonderful, Lee. House salad, Antipasto Platter, Creamy Minestrone, an amazing Pasta, followed by the Chateaubriand prepared table side. Each leg of the journey was great & the entree was stellar. All that was needed in the end was sorbet - lemon for my husband and mango for me. We would happily travel 2 1/2 - 3 hours for a dinner of this magnitude for a special celebration. Again, a very special thank you to Lee for his exceptional service.
(5)
Dan N.
Move over Ruth's Chris, if I want a steak in Detroit, I'm coming to Lelli's! I'll be the first to admit, I'm a sucker for the old-school vibe of this place. But based on the reviews, I'm shocked at how much I loved the food. The prices of the steaks seem expensive, but they include an array of courses before dinner--bread, antipasti, salad, soup, pasta....then the steak. I ordered the extra cut filet--it was juicy and cooked perfectly to medium-rare. Honestly, it didn't even need the zip sauce, but who can resist a delicious pot of what appeared to be spiced up melted butter (with balsamic?). Yes, it's a bit expensive, but I really thought dinner's a Lelli's was an EXPERIENCE, and a very memorable night out! PS This probably deserved 4 stars, but Lelli's needs some extra love!!
(5)
Food Critic S.
Experience was very bad! Used to be one of my favorites! Good was cold (soup, pasta, vegetables) zip sauce was butter !! No flavor !! Not sure what changed here but wouldn't be going back for a long time if at all !! Management didn't seem to care about us or the food being cold!!
(1)
Matthew P.
Much like the once powerful and great city of Rome, It appears that now Lelli's too has fallen from grace in a historic plummet. Considering that this establishment during the 80's and 90's was considered one of the true heavy weights of the metro-Detroit dinning scene, it is apparent that poor ownership or management has caused it to crumble from within. After a recent visit to Lelli's, here are a list of the issues that we encountered: 1. Drinks were made wrong (no olives in the martinis and my manhattan was simply bourbon poured over ice? ... No vermouth, bitters, or a cherry for garnish) 2. The soups came out cold 3. Our meals came out cold 4. My wife's meal came out well after everyone else's meal, which they had to take back anyway since they were all cold. 5. Our wine lady spilled the ice bucket and wine everywhere. The fact that the place was a ghost town on a Friday night should be a clear signal. Save your well spent money and dine elsewhere. This place has truly gone to shit.
(1)
Thula K.
Sometimes when you are in a nice restaurant, the food can't overcome bad service. We planned a nice romantic dinner out to Lellis (reservations and all) and were made to wait a full hour before being seated. Why take reservations if you aren't going to seat us on time. After being seated, we had a staff hurriedly drop some bread on our table. Our waitress was nowhere to be found for 15 mins. When she did show up, it was hurried and she proceeded to ask me if I ate shellfish, when my Caucasian husband was the one with the dietary restrictions (ignorant stereotype much?). The food as always was delicious and filling, but not worth the horrible service. Will not be going back, there are plenty of restaurants that aren't understaffed and overbooked.
(2)
Mark O.
Follow-up review I have been going to Lellis for many years and feel its still the best meal around , anyone who wrote those bad reviews go to Ponderosa for your steak .
(5)
Lana L.
I used to work for Lelli's in Auburn Hills and they have a living quarters above the restaurant - they let the large hairy family dog come into the kitchen area after the doors close while the staff was doing the night end cleaning. They would let the dog get some of the dishes that were mistakes but we were scolded if we asked if we could take anything home. THIS PLACE SUCKS AND IS VERY DIRTY
(1)
Andreas F.
Expensive and does not meet expectations. The atmosphere is 1930s and cozy, but the service is mediocre, the food nothing special, the full meal would serve a whole family and it is all totally overpriced.
(2)
Kurt M.
Came to visit on a business trip and spoke to host and confirmed dishes and times, returned as promised and valet stated no service due to slow night, no effort access to talk to management who I spoke to 2 hours prior.
(1)
Marie S.
Husband finally took me somewhere super nice for anniversary. We've looked at the menu before and saw a steak is $50... well shit, I can buy a whole tenderloin for that and cook at home! Upon closer inspection I saw it was a 6 course meal for $50! SO WORTH IT. Only gets 4 stars as we had spinach for a veg side... bleaughghgh. I LOVE spinach, but theirs was icky... probalby creamed spinach, which is so outdated. Might I suggest they start sauteeing it with garlic instead? Otherwise YAY LELLI'S! We might be there every year now! HALLELUJAH
(4)
Tyler D.
DO NOT FALL FOR THE GROUPON SCAM! This was my second time dining at the famous Lelli's. My first experience was pleasant, but today -- AWFUL! Business is clearly declining so they are using groupon to get people in the door. That's why we came, but boy were we disappointed. Easily, my worst dining experience so far in 2014. Parking -- This restaurant is surrounded by vacant land, yet has cars crammed all around the tiny, disorganized lot any parked which way. Valets -- A pack of weasels that hang out by the front door.. Constantly leaving said doors open for prolonged periods creating gusts of icy wind throughout the restaurant Coat check -- An aggressive young gal wearing a black overcoat and a white, under armor knit cap, hawking her services for tips. Service -- Our waiter was a panicky dude, wearing a gigantic cubic zircon stud earring. The manager was visible, but never checked on our table, although he did walk by busing dishes at one point. Groupon scam ($60 of food for $30) -- The coupon left out critical details: both people must order an entree, neither can order a "light meal." This pissed me off because we wanted to share an entree and some side orders. We ended up getting a couple of pasta dishes. Food -- My spaghetti bolognese was identical to what was served on a smaller plate as an appetizer. My wife's fettuccini alfredo tasted like dishwater. The antipasto plate was bland, the soup was cold, the highlights of the meal were the tossed salad and the bread (which wasn't that great, but everything else was simply so bad!) Ambiance -- Trashy, dirty. Employees wearing all sorts of their own version of "dressed up." A plate dropped and broken... 20 minutes later a glass explodes on the ground. Gusting winds through the front doors. A dying fish floundering around the aquarium. Final bill: approx $70 Estimated return date: when hell freezes over
(1)
Richard F.
This place is a favorite of ours for a business lunch. It is an "old school" kind of place with good, albeit expensive food, good service and nice ambiance. It is quiet enough to have a business conversation. I have been here in summer and winter. The salads are particularly appetizing in the summer and the meat dishes are great all year round. If you do get a steak, make sure that you get the Zip Sauce. It is worth the price of admission. And the quality of the steaks are great too. This is just down the street from the big Sports Venues and I suspect that you might find some of the Sports crowd here at dinner time.
(4)
Jake W.
The steak was good, Teddy the waiter was good. Everything else was old old old. The pasta sauce was bad too, out of a can.
(1)
John P.
I went on my birthday with my g/f and we each had the 5 course meal. We could have split one 5 course meal. The food was amazing and the service was excellent! I cannot wait to go back! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, as we had to wait due to a concert at the Palace.
(4)
Donald L.
Well, everyone gets a second chance, and I was not disappointed either. While we had a early reservation(4:15 on a Saturday) I was very hesitant to come back. I even went so far when making the reservation to have them put a star next to my name and time as to put them on notice. We were quickly whisked to a table, which we had them change and was greeted immediatly by Steve our server. The service was flawless and the Chatuea was excellent.
(5)
Terry J.
I am flabbergasted by the bas reviews, especially from those who have only tried Lelli's once. We go to Lelli's on a regular basis. Food has always been outstanding. Perhaps not every meal on the menu, but we have not tried everything. Steak Lelli's, wonderful. Shrimp Lelli's, awesome. The spaghetti side dish is my favorite spaghetti sauce I've had at a restaurant. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, but compared to other steakhouses in the area,mquite a good deal. For the price of a steak alone at Capital Grille, you get antipasto tray, soup, salad, side dishes and dessert at Lelli's. And the service has always been great. I'm shocked by the review that said the waitstaff all wear their own version of dressed up. That statement makes me suspicious of his whole review. Waitstaff always wear tuxedo-type suits. We have never seen them in anything else. We have eaten at at least 3 of the other we'll know steakhouses in the area and came to the conclusion those were not worth our time and money when we have Lelli's as a choice.
(5)
David K.
My Dad & I ate here using a Groupon he got for Christmas. My Dad's been a lunchtime regular here for many years, but has stopped coming as of a couple years ago because of the long drive & his age. The dinner service was nice & tasty, but I would not classify it as "5-star." We both ordered prix-fixe, 6-course dinners per the Groupon fine print, which run about $50-$60 per person. You get a lot of food for this amount, so you're getting a fairly good value based on food volume and quality. My leftovers we're more than enough for another future meal, so you essentially get two meals for the prix-fixe price. My only complaints would be in the details. I got a steak & crabmeat special, but my crabmeat still had some shell in it. In fact, I got a mouthful of crab shell in one bite, which was quite frustrating. My Dad's sole was good, but still had several fish bones scattered inside the meat. When I asked to have my meal boxed, I was handed a Styrofoam container to fill with leftovers myself, verses the staff doing it for me, which was quite surprising for a restaurant of this caliber. Other details that surprised me were things like peeling paint in the bathroom and wear & tear on the booth seating. Normally I would not acknowledge stuff like this, but I believe this restaurant wants to be held to a higher standard. All in all, this was was a nice restaurant with good quality food. They just need to polish some of the details to bring it up to their perceived level of quality and service.
(4)
Amy L.
My husband and I came across Lelli's because a Groupon deal, we enjoyed it and have been back a few more times. When you pull up there is valet service! It is nice especially in the winter. I will admit however, that my husband and I were very put off by one of the young valet's who looked to have had puke all down the front of his coat as we were leaving the restaurant (this was about a year ago, but the sight still sticks with us and we think about it everytime we go there). The meals are traditional and start with an antipasto platter which is interesting. The soup is fantastic! My husband and I have gotten the Chateaubriand and the filet, which are both excellent. There was a lovely singer that was making his way around the restaurant and we both found him very enjoyable. We'll be back again!
(4)
Jill D.
We visited Lelli's because we had heard they were great and we got a great Groupon deal. All meals are served traditional Italian style with a 6 course meal. 5 courses are the same for everyone, and you pick your own entree. Starts with an antipasto platter, which left much to be desired. The food on it was okay, but the presentation was just so-so. Then a salad - mixed greens with chick peas and tomatoes. Then some pretty incredible minestrone soup. We were then served the pasta course - it was boiled white spaghetti with what looked like chili globbed on top. It left much to be desired. I expected fresher noodles and tastier sauce from an Italian restaurant. Entrees were next - see below. And amazing spumoni for dessert. For my entree I chose the petite filet. This was probably one of the best filet's I have ever had. It was so juicy and cooked to perfection! As many other reviewers have pointed out, their zip sauce (mostly butter from what I can tell) is very tasty. Lelli's is trying to be an upscale restaurant, but just doesn't quite make it. The atmosphere is nice, and there was live piano music in the bar on Saturday night. However, the food presentation fell short. Our steaks were served with a flimsy, plastic handled knife and the presentation of our dishes was lacking. Service was decent. Our waitress lacked some personality, but my drinks were never empty and dirty dishes were quickly cleared from the table. They were busy, so I would recommend making a reservation. I probably won't go back to Lelli's without getting some sort of deal. It is a nice place, but I would prefer Capital Grille or Ocean Prime if I'm going out for an upscale dinner.
(3)
DREW M.
This is a great Italian steakhouse. I've been on here on multiple company holiday parties and they always do a pretty good job with a 5 course meal. Only downside is that they gave me the wrong temperature steak once. A lot of the times you can track down a Groupon and eat here for half the price.
(4)
Monte B.
You come here looking for 3 things. Great and cheekily freindly service, a great bottle of wine and a delicious piece of red meet wading in a puddle of zip sauce. And they nail it near every time. I want to give 5 stars but those r reserved for perfection. Lelli's is close, more like 4.5 stars. The martins could be bigger
(4)
Maria A.
Smelly Lelli's. First, if you do decide to dine here do not sit by the kitchen. It stinks like bleach and is very unpleasant while eating. This restaurant is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant and you are better off going somewhere else or staying home. They probably haven't updated anything in years, maybe even a decade or two. The menus are torn and to add to it there are still some older ones floating out there. I knew because there was a price difference between my boyfriend's and mine's menu. There is dust in various areas and it seems to be getting in my eyes. The restaurant just screams filth. My wine glass was dirty and covered in crusted on food and grease. The salad tasted dirty. The food was just "okay" and definitely not worth the money. Also, there are holes in the ceiling and water stains from whatever. Willie Degel would have a field day here. The parking is a horrible mess and you could probably get into an accident in this lot since there is only 1 sign and it is written on with permanent marker. I can't blame the wait staff because none this is their fault but then again they weren't too pleasant to dine with.
(1)
Brian H.
Was in Auburn Hills for work and ate at this restaurant which was just awful... As soon as you walk in the first thing you will notice is the musky stench of dirty old carpet. We got the traditional prix fixe that comes with the steak (salad, pasta, appetizer, soup, and dessert). The salad was overdressed and the lettuce still was not clean. You could still taste some of the dirt from the lettuce! Soup was whatever and the pasta was overcooked as well. Not even close to real "Italian" food. Then the filet mignon came out and it was a bit overcooked. I also ordered the mushroom sauce and here is when things got worst. In my sauce there was a piece of hard transparent plastic, which I presume came from those plastic packages produce comes in or something. I told the waiter about it and he was sorry and told me he would remove the cost of the sauce from the bill and asked me if I wanted another one prepared. I kindly declines. Then the manager shows up and asks if we had an issue with the food which I then proceed to tell him my story about the plastic piece. He then shows it to me (he had it on his hand) and he asks me where it was. I told him I think it was in the mushroom sauce. Then he says that that's weird because the plastic piece was clean. I told him it was clean because I took it out of my freaking mouth!!! He then says well I have no idea where something like this would come from!!! Hello it obviously came from the kitchen if it was inside the stupid sauce!!! Basically accused me of putting that plastic in the food... Unbelievable. He then just asks if I was ok and left. I didn't feel like arguing so I left it at that... But then the more I thought about it the more I think its insane that such crappy place can exist so I decided to share my bad experience here in Yelp. Avoid this place by all means!!! Longhorn is a much better place for decor and food if you are craving for steak in this area.
(1)
Amy N.
Lelli's is my favorite restaurant in Metro-Detroit for a reason. 5 star service, 5 star food. Steak is so good you don't even need the zip sauce. Sausage and pepper appetizer is amazing. Haven't found anywhere that beats either the minestrone soup or the spaghetti. Staff has always been more than attentive and are extremely knowledgable about the different wines and bourbons offered. Truly a classy place.
(5)
Ranna M.
Terrible service...delicious food. I wouldn't go back.
(1)
I Am S.
Upon entering this establishment I wondered "Have I died and gone to heaven?", not because of Sancho's love for excellent food and service, but because of the crypt-like atmosphere. The chairs are old, uncomfortable and actually dirty. Let's see...an expensive Italian steak house...wine? Think Olive Garden. The nano-scale wine and beer list is truly rudimentary and is an affront to Sancho's tastes. Whoever chose this list obviously mentally challenged. The food? Think Olive Garden. Then multiply your bill by a factor of three. Many people have already given you the truth about the food in other reviews like the canned olives, so we don't need to revisit. They get one star for decent, but slow service and another star for having a singer singing in Italian walking around. This place is a dying restaurant, riding on the coattails of it's reputation. The only people Sancho can imagine it satisfies are those with Champagne money and Beer taste. Sancho can think of a dozen other places that offer real Italian food and dining experience, like: Spago Ristorante in Windsor Cafe Cortina in Farmington Bacco in Southfield D'Amato's in Royal Oak etc. "Stick a fork in Lelli's, it's done." ~ Sancho
(2)
Cathy S.
Went Saturday night with a groupon. 5:30 reservation for 2 and we were seated immediately. We each had the med-sized filet; entire meal. Our waitress was wonderful. Told us to sit back and relax that she would do the driving, so to speak. We decided to trust her. It was especially nice not to have to make choices, other than the meat and the way it was cooked. The roll was heavy and tasty, shared between dipping into the salad plate, soup bowl, pasta and zip sauce. The salad was cold and appetizing, brought with extras to make our own antipasto. Then came the minestrone soup which was hot, chopped, and creamy. Wonderful! Although hubby mentioned he would have liked a little noodle in it. The sauce made the pasta side-dish worthy and the steak with the buttery zip sauce was mouth-watering tender, with awesome high-quality flavor, the brown stuff that settles to the bottom of the zip sauce is a must to mix in. Maybe some type of vinegar??? The green beans were snappy, mashed potatoes very buttery and good. My steak was cooked to perfection ordered medium, but hubby's medium turned out to be medium well. Lucky for him we both ordered the 8 oz. with extra zip sauce so he had some of mine to savor after eating his own. Everything came to the table at perfect temperatures. Oh, and the yummy spumoni was a nice way to finish, although we could have had sorbet instead. Service was great, we had 3 glasses of very smooth house Merlot between us, 1 hot and fresh-tasting coffee which was refilled several times, and with the $60 groupon, the bill came to $73. So an hour and a half later (there's a bit of time between courses) we laid out a hundred bucks with the groupon which covered the best complete filet dinner we've ever had! Superb food! The ONLY turnoff...The bathrooms and floors could be kept a little cleaner for this expensive establishment. Noticed a few dirty napkins and garbage on the carpet and paper was lacking in the bathrooms and the floors were very wet with who knows what. Just sayin'...
(5)
Aleks S.
To sum up Lelli's in a couple words - Just bad... I really wanted to like this place as my Mom and Dad used to come here often. A few years back we would come for birthdays and it was still just ok to me. Here is my experience: Walked in, my party did not arrive so I sat down and had a Scotch on the rocks at the bar, bar tender was friendly and he even arranged a table for us (place was empty, no prior reservation), no complaints he was great. Service at the table: My party of 5 arrived, they sat down and my brother and I came to the table after we finished our drinks. The table is a square that is converted to a round to accommodate 5. My side was very flimsy and had a downward angle which made me concerned about the food sliding into my lap. They offered to bring a new table but to avoid disrupting everyone around us I grinned and bared it. Our waiter, was just ok, not very attentive, a definite aloof character. The antipasta was bad, shrimp tasted old, martadela was some of the worst I have had, black olives from a can, I didn't dare try the beets and the cheese was probably the safest bet. The bread, thank god for the bread, otherwise I would have left starving!!! Then arrives the pasta side dish, the sauce was a pungent, old cheese tasting gloppy sloppy mess, I regretfully had 2 bites. The minestrone soup looks disgusting but tastes ok, I ate it but did not like it. This pretty much sums up the starters - BAD. Main course: I go to steak houses all of the time. This is not a Cameron's Steakhouse review but that is my favorite and the best in Michigan for me at this time. Considering this My girlfriend and I decided to order the chateaubriand for 2 which is priced at $50 bucks a person. This is to be expected at a HIGH end steakhouse providing tableside service. Well, the dish arrived, looks like a very large portion and hopes are high although they were being jabbed at with the aroma of old fish passing through my nostrils frequently throughout the night. Now the taste test, I cut into the meat and it feels like I am cutting through a sponge, this is a dead giveaway for low quality meat. Since we were here with the family I decided to bite my tongue and taste it, like everything was ok. After my second bite I was ready to spit it out onto my plate, it was a horrible meal. I had no choice but to say something to our waiter, he called a manager, I told him the meat was chewy, he said compared to what? I wanted to say bubblegum, but to be respectful I mentioned, Cameron's steakhouse and he asked if I wanted something else. I really did not but he insisted so I asked for a basic chicken breast. By the time that dish arrived everyone else was finished so I had it boxed up to leave. My girl friend is just to embarrassed to complain so she returned her plate which had 2 bites out of it, my brother and mom painfully finished their filets and my sister-n-law ate half of her salmon which she said was decent. Now for the comedy: So my mom had a Groupon, we told the waiter, he brought the bill, the $60 voucher was not subtracted off the total. He said this would be done when he charges the bill at the register, Fine, we paid in cash, left an 18% tip despite the horrible food and overall experience, (they did not charge for my food) put our coats on and braved the sub zero temperature outside. As I am pulling out I see the Manager sprinting through the front door towards my brother and he was waiving the bill at him. So my brother rolled down his window and told him we had a Groupon. The manager made my brother wait in the parking lot so he could verify this and then after he did we left. Let me say, I have NEVER, I mean never experienced something like this and we will NEVER go back to this establishment. That was obviously due to the lack of communication from the waiter to the manager, still not sure why the manager chased my brother outside, isn't the waiter the one who completes the transaction? Anyways, if I could give negative stars I would. If this is your favorite steakhouse then in my humble opinion you have not been to some of the premier steak houses that charge less for the better quality meat. I really hope they change the quality of meat at Lelli's and the decor inside, this place is going downhill very rapidly, won't be back. The Spumoni tastes like medicine, sorry, I don't like frozen NyQuil following a bad meal.
(1)
Gloria V.
This is my favorite place to eat in Michigan. The minestrone is amazing, the palamino sauce is to die for the chateaubriand for 2 is to die for. There are no words to describe how delicious the chateaubriand is and if I could just drink the zip sauce without looking tacky, I would! It is not an inexpensive place, our bill for 2 is never less than $130, but it is worth every penny. I use any excuse for a special occasion to find a resason to go here. I do miss the old place on Woodward that burned down, it did have so much more personality and charm that this Auburn Hills location just sadly lacks, bring back the checkered table cloths, strolling violinists and cheesy, over the top waiters!
(5)
Cyd T.
Appetizer tray with cocktail sauce is delicious, salad, soup & spaghetti are all great. I always get the petite filet with carrots & mashed also very good. I suggest spumoni for desert-yum!
(5)
Nina C.
Grew up at this place!! The food is always really good for dinner, the lunch Umm not so much!! The service is just ok! If they would just get rid of the old waiters and bring in young guys it would be a lot nicer!! Never had a bad dinner here! Lunch is really really tough! Sometimes it's good NOT great but good! And other times its just GARBAGE! And ladies always bring a little jacket, shawl, or wear long sleeves because its FREEZING in here- no matter what season!!
(4)
Stephen G.
My favorite place for a filet. Great food, great service. Good for a suit and tie event, but casual enough for a jeans and piston game kind of night as well. One knock-I like to valet my car sometimes, but its super annoying when your kind of forced to when its not really necessary.
(5)
Denise Z.
Love lelli's!!!! Best filet in town but also has other GREAT italian dishes! Staff works very hard to please everyone and we enjoy our evening every time. The maitre d Rick is such a class act. We try to go during the week because they get pretty busy on the weekends. This is a Detroit institution. Whenever family comes in from out of town this is the restaurant they want to come back to every time.
(5)
Sue D.
The food was very good. Our server Kevin was very helpful and accomadating. The glass situation was almost funny. They ran out of clean glasses? One bartender hardly working, the other (tall, thin) doing the work of 3. My husband did point this out to the manager hope it will do some good.
(5)
Joshua R.
Inept. I never thought I would write that about Lelli's, but it has really gone downhill in the twelve years we've gone there. Tonight was bad in so many ways. We arrived slightly early for our 8:00 PM reservation. I don't know why we bothered with reservations, since it was clearly no different from just walking in. But that 25 minute wait was only the first of many. Once we were seated, we waited a long time to place our order, waited a long time for our salads, waited for our wine, waited a really long time for our entrees, and waited for our check. Perhaps if our waitress didn't take so many smoke breaks we wouldn't have waited so long. But I buried the lead. The cabernet I ordered smelled like rubbing alcohol, so I sent it back. Oddly, the guy near me who ordered a petite syrah had the exact same problem! Seems shady to me. They replaced our wines, but the bartender poured them in white wine glasses instead of the red wine glasses many others had. I realize most people and restaurants don't distinguish, but if it does, the bartender should know the difference. And then the medium-rare filet arrived, cooked medium-well. I looked for the waitress to get it fixed, but it was literally 10 minutes with my plate sitting at the edge of the table before anyone even asked. It wasn't the waitress. I think she was out smoking. After someone asked, about 7 minutes later my rare steak arrived. I wasn't about to ask for a bit more heat to it. I'm not sure how Texas Roadhouse gets it right every time, but an expensive steakhouse can't. I've never sent back wine and steak before and I didn't expect this to be the restaurant where I would have to do it. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have had to.
(2)
Beth W.
Best Filet I've ever had..it's so tender and delicious! The Minestrone is very good too. Ive been there a few times now, last time was in November when my husband took me out for my Birthday, very good service and awesome meal. If your looking for an awesome steak and a nice dining experience def try Lelli's, even better when they have the splitter menu its such a good value, Ive gone to Fridays and reg chains and spent as much and it can't touch this place.
(5)
Jeff B.
Exceptional. Asked them to whip me up a custom pasta primavera, and it was exceptional. Mutli-course meal. I asked for something custom, not from the menu, and they took care of everything ... with excellence.
(5)
Liz M.
Worst restaurant I've been to in years. Service: I travel for work and eat at restaurants 3-5 nights at week -- and have never had service this bad. Example: server took a full bowl of soup away from someone who was still eating. Example: late joiners to our table were never asked (over the course of more than an hour) if they would like something to drink. Example: server plunked (no other word for it) my appetizer plate down on top of my bread plate, like plate bunk-beds. Example: antipasto plates ordered by table never arrived. Food: Most over-salted salmon I have eaten in my life (unfortunate, as underneath all that salt, the salmon wasn't half-bad). Most over-salted mashed potatoes I have eaten in my life. Bread rolls were good. Decor: Very...lunch at the old-folks' home. I could have gotten past that had the service and food not been bad.
(1)
Suzie C.
My favorite fancy Italian steakhouse in the area. If I was rich I'd eat there every day. The Minestrone soup and Zip sauce is to die for. Filet was oh so tender. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Cindy H.
My waitress Emily was good. I was in town in on business so I opted to sit at a table in the bar and get some work done while I dined. Well the restaurant was unusually warm and I commented on it to the waitress. She mentioned it to the owner/manager?? who was working on the fish tank near me and he said something like "tell her to take off her shirt". Seriously??!! So he checked the thermostat and I here him say its 77 degrees (someone turned off the heat). So he turned up the air. Fine, life is good. There is a fish tank that separates the bar area from the entrance and it was being cleaned at 7:21pm on a Wednesday night. I can him splashing around the tank and discussing the need for an employee to go to the hardware store to buy parts. An employee who was leaving because she had no tables comes over and asks for her check and starts to talk about other stuff all not far from me. She leaves but comes back asking for the schedule because she forgot to update it. I understand the makeshift office is in the bar area but employees should be counseled to discreetly approach the manager/owner and quietly state their request. The random conversation among coworkers was annoying. I am not sure where they should congregate when not busy but not in my hearing please. This is not a fast food restaurant where this is still not really acceptable but since the bill is under $10 who cares. I haven't received my bill but these martini's are small probably 6oz ($13 - out of control for this bit of booze) and the valet parking is $3 which is not much but really I didn't even see where the self park was and when I inquired of the valet, I don't think he understood English. Maybe the dining room has better ambiance but I cannot see coming back to determine if that is the case. I had the petite filet with zip sauce and twice baked mashed potatoes. The food was good but the atmosphere overshadowed it for me. Why didn't I just leave you ask? Well it wasn't the end of the world and I am lazy and I was hungry, lol I am ready to leave so where is my good waitress with my check, why hanging with the other staff by the bar. So, I finally get her attention and ask for my check. The check is for $487.50, are you freaking kidding me!!! If this is mine we have a problem and of course I cannot find Emily. I ask the bartender to find her and I get a check for $60 which is more like it except these teeny, tiny martinis that cost way too much. Okay I need to get out of here, I am getting really annoyed now.
(2)
Beau R.
Lelli's is an upscale steak house in Auburn HIlls, MI. The restaurant is in a location that seems deserted with no other businesses around. The dark and comfortable atmosphere screams "mobster hangout". The menu is stacked with high quality cuts of beef and other Italian specialties. All the beef is USDA Prime. Most of the dinner items are 5 courses. I came in for lunch and was able to get a 3 course meal. I had the Petit Filet, a little side of spaghetti, and mashed potatoes. The Spaghetti was average. It didn't have much meat in the sauce and I couldn't really taste anything but tomato in the sauce. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… The Petit Filet came out with the mashed potatoes on the side. The Filet was very tender and very well seasoned. It was cooked perfectly, hot and still juicy. I kept holding each slice of the steak in my mouth just to absorb the fantastic flavor. Great Steak. The mashed potatoes that came with were bad ass. Made with heavy cream and baked to have a crisp layer of cooked cream on top. Very very good. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… This is a great place to have a romantic date or a nice meal. The prices are high and the area is kinda lame but the food is high quality and you wouldn't leave unhappy.
(4)
Shelly S.
We made a reservation for July 6, 2012, 7:30 p.m. We were very specific about our requests since we were celebrating a special occasion with our adult children. The day before I was called to confirm the reservation and all was good. BTW the requests were.......table in back room, good waiter and good service. Not too much to ask I hoped. When we arrived the table was ready and from then on things went downhill. Waiter was inefficient and waiting on too many tables. Made lots of excuses and finally came and said we had his undivided attention and then left yet again. Drinks took 35 minutes to arrive. Specials were given after we sat with our menus for a long time and were ready to order. Splitter platter was not offered nor was it on the menu. I could go on but I think you get the idea. Dinner was close to $500.00 for 9 people. A 20% tip was recommended on our check. The food was very good but the service was disappointing. I called and spoke to Mike and he listened and again more excuses.....the restaurant was really busy he said, hmmmmm whose problem is that? He was supposed to call me back but he never did. We will take our business elsewhere and suggest you do the same.
(2)
Carol T.
Lelli's Redux... My husband and I returned to Lelli's just this past weekend on a trip to Michigan. We've been here many times before and, as always, this place did not disappoint. Our selection this time was a chateaubriand for two. At $48.75 PER PERSON, this meal was more expensive than the Blu-Ray/DVD player we just purchased BUT the quality and the quantity of food was unmatchable. Served tableside by two wait staff, we each had a large portion of meat cooked exactly to our specifications. The sides with the entree were mashed potatoes, spinach and carrots...all large portions. Don't forget, the Lelli's "experience" is comprised of 6 courses all included in the price of your dinner: antipasto platter for an appetizer, salad, minestrone soup, a pasta side dish, the entree with its sides and spumoni or ices for dessert. Who could eat all this food??? This one meal also gave each of us a complete second dinner and one lunch! Taking all that into consideration, the $48.75 seemed more reasonable. Remember, when you go to these big name steak places, you're just paying for the meat. Everything else is a la carte. We were seated in the bar area this time. It was a nice experience and just a bit quieter than the main dining room. Friday and Saturday nights have a vocalist with piano accompaniment. Don Corleone would approve of this place!
(5)
Arthur D.
The entire dining experience was bad. It saddens me to report this. This is not a one-off experience review but rather it is based on numerous visits over the past year. The Lillis trendline is going from a second rate to a 3rd rate place. Our last visit was Thursday April 3, 2014. Everything was bad. It was not crowded in the restaurant, so being too busy is not an excuse. We started with a drink in the bar. Bartender was slow. He was too busy arguing with the wait staff. Akward. The server was slow to wait on us , had bad follow ups and forgot things. My martini came 1/2 full. He said the glasses were new and larger, but I saw other tables' martinis full-up. We got the wrong salad. We ordered Ceasars, and when they came they were small. To add insult to injury, the price for a Ceasar had increased by over $3.50 -- about a 70% increase. Wow.. In fact all of Lillis food prices have moved north significantly, an estimated +20%. The server told us it is to compensate for a significant increase in their Groupon business. Last and NOT least the qualuty of our dinnners was beyond disappointing. My filet was cold - not even warm. The waiter seemed put out about bringing it back to reheat it. My wife's entree was well over cooked. Our desserts billid as house-made were garbage. The Chocolate cake and Terramiso were of Gordon Food Sevicee quality. One bite and off to the trash. The grand finale was a rude waiter. A discussion with owner -- Mike Lelli -- was a total waste of everyone's time. The good news is after at least a year -- perhaps 6 or mire visits-- we will never return. Others in our circle of friends have sumiluar experiences. We have been regulars at Lellis for at least 35 years. It was suck a special and magical place to us and our friends. So sad that a Detriot institution has effectively died. RIP. We are done with it.
(1)
Pete D.
My wife took me to Lelli's for my birthday and I have to say it was very good. Great steak for a great price. If you get a Groupon coupon you can get a 1/2 deal. I've been back twice each time as good as the last. A lot food, the soup is the best in town. Go see for yourself you won't go wrong.
(5)
John H.
Bad experience! Snooty waiters that treated us like low class spoiled what could have been a great dinner. We were dressed nicely, but not formal and I think this is the reason. The food was excellent but I will never go back. His attitude totally ruined our 2 hr experience and I couldn't even enjoy the great food, that cost over $100.
(2)
Robert P.
How many times have i spent a lot of money at dinner and the restaurant does not even come close to bringing it... Lelli's is not that place...the fillet is amazing and i am not that big into meats...just cut a small piece off and roll it around in the butter zip sauce put it into your mouth and just moan with erotic pleasure. Okokok so the antipasto was nothing to cry over...the minestrone was good...but that just does not shake the fact the fillet is the best I have ever had...yea i said it... Go here for dinner or lunch and you will leave satisfied.
(4)
Anna S.
Lelli's has been the go-to fancy, special-occasion restaurant for my family for probably 13 years. Now that the Detroit location is burned down, only the Auburn Hills location is open. It's in a sort of corporate dead-zone on Opdyke near the Silverdome, but it's worth the drive if you're looking for a great Italian steakhouse. The food is AMAZING, but the service consistently leaves something to be desired. I can't help but get the prime filet mignon five course dinner when I go, and I find all courses amazing. The first course is a simple salad with a house vinigarette dressing, alongside an antipasto tray and freshly baked bread and sweet cream butter. The antipasto tray has pepperoncini, shrimp cocktail, mozzerella cheese, mortadella, beets and salame. The next course is their creamy minestrone with white beans, vegetables and ribbons of sweet basil. Third course is a small portion of spagetti bolognese, where the sauce is thick and meaty. And finally, the filet mignon with whipped potatoes and their to-die-for zip sauce. The prime filet is buttery tender and always cooked perfectly. The zip sauce is absolutely amazing - rich, buttery and a hint of beef jus. I always ask for extra and pour some on the potatoes. You do get a complimentary dish of spumoni or lemon sorbet, but you almost always have to ask for it. Every course comes with the option of freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. They have a fully stocked bar and a reasonably priced wine list. My husband will attest that the dirty martini's there are the best he's ever had. Now the hard part; the lame-ish service. My mother is a smoker, and back when there wasn't a ban on smoking in Michigan restaurants we always sat in the smoking section (which was the bar). Without fail, three things were always present: 1) a manager who sat at a table off to the side, but talked loudly and rudely on the phone and to staff within earshot of other seated guests. 2) a large, flat-screen TV with some sort of sporting event on it (really? I'm paying $39.99 for my 5-course dinner while watching the Lions?). 3) Inappropriately acting drunk guests, such as a golf foursome after a round, or some randy middle-aged second-time-around couple getting "close." In present day, non-smoking Lelli's, these same distractions abound, and I even noticed two large flat-screens in the more formal part of the restaurant, not just the bar (thankfully they weren't on when I dined there this last Friday evening). The service in this type of restaurant is supposed to be a little slower paced, due to the multitude of courses and the amount of food you're trying to consume. But occasionally the service is a little too slow, which was the case the other night with my husband. Lame service aside, I give the food a solid 5-stars and if given an opportunity to splurge for dinner I can't tear myself away from this gem. If you're really into an amazing steak, or want to impress someone when money is no object, I suggest Lelli's Inn, hands down.
(4)
Chris C.
You will not leave going hungry! Service and steaks were incredible. Zip sauce is one step above Ruth's Chris'. The staff treats you with respect and like many other posts, that can make or break a nice meal with friends! Highly recommended!
(4)
Caitlin T.
My two-start rating a a generous one; giving a star only for a well-cooked steak. I will give credit where credit is due. Otherwise the food was forgettable and the customer treatment was downright offensive. We decided on a Saturday afternoon to call in and ask if they had any reservations last-minute. They told us they had openings after 8:30, so we gladly put our name in. We arrived at 8:30 to a very friendly valet, so I started off feeling good. I enjoy when people are smiling and chatty and don't just look at the ground while opening my door. The valet was one of only two people working at Lelli's that night who actually made me feel like a valued customer. We entered into a packed waiting area. There was a line to get to the front of the house to check in for our reservation, though we would find that all of the people ahead of us were only in 3 parties. Despite the fact that it should only take about a minute tops to take a persons name and their time of reservation; it took us until 8:45 to actually give our name for an 8:30 reservation because the maitre'd kept walking away, including him leaving just my boyfriend and I standing directly in front of his stand for about 5 minutes after he checked in the party before us. He told us that they were running about 30 minutes behind on their reservations, though he didn't say if that was 30 minutes from our actual time of reservation, or 30 minutes from when we checked in. Either way, he had underestimated the wait. We had over an hour to sit in an incredibly unpleasant lobby with scores of other miserable patrons. As far as I could tell, they must have booked each table in the restaurant with an 8:30 reservation, because that seemed to be what everyone was waiting for. Please recall: we had called for a reservation that same afternoon. Instead of saying, "We don't have any openings tonight," or "We can take you at 9:30," they OFFERED us an 8:30 spot. Also worth remembering is the price point of this restaurant! With $50 entrees, I was HORRIFIED to be in a restaurant that was run so poorly. The maitre'd finally called our names at 9:45, over an hour from our scheduled reservation, and then had us stand at the front for another few minutes before escorting us to a table that still had someone's bill/tip left behind. No apologies, no "thank you for your understanding," no "we appreciate your patience." Just seated at a a table that was still being set. I mentioned that one of the stars for Lelli's was for the food? That second star comes in here: Cameron. Our server was so polite, friendly, and finally made me feel like someone actually wanted my patronage and understood that without a customer, a business cannot run. So shout out to Cameron for being one of only two people I encountered who made me feel valued (and I guess to be fair our bus boy did a great job too, but obviously they don't interact really). My boyfriend and I both ordered the filet with the extra cut (because honestly, I wanted to have left over steak for lunch the next day). We also ordered a bottle of wine, which was actually somewhat moderately priced. Which is to say that it was a very cheap bottle of wine, but it was nice to have the option to spend less than $30 for a bottle with dinner. The rolls came out fast, thank God, since we'd been planning on eating over an hour earlier and were definitely ready to start eating. The salad was over dressed, to the point where the vinegar burned my lips and the greens were slimy. Not good, didn't even finish it. The antipasti plate left something to be desired as well. The meats were fine, the shrimp was adequate (though the cocktail sauce was bland), but the olives were the kind you get from a can. I like them on my pizza, but that's not really what I want on an olive tray. The minestrone wasn't offensive, but also wasn't good enough for me to finish it. The bolognese on the pasta was delicious, the only thing of the early courses that really seemed worth eating to me. And the steak. I ordered my steak medium and it cam out perfectly cooked. A slight crust on the outside and a warm pink on the inside; really beautiful. Unfortunately, my boyfriend had read that they had a great zip sauce here, so he asked for extra on our steaks. Wow. He liked it (he's not as picky as I am) but I felt that it was incredibly salty. It really dominated the flavor of the meat. The cut wasn't that perfect either, but that's life. The spinach had too much nutmeg, but the potatoes and green beans were good. At the end of the meal, Cameron grabbed the manager to process our Groupon. He asked how it was, and we shared that it was my first time here and that we were very unhappy with the wait. No. Apology. He said that's not how he want it to run, and that it was very busy, but never once said the wait was unacceptable or that he was sorry we'd had to wait. I will not be back, and I would advise others to pass as well. Oh, and dirty bathrooms. Sick.
(2)
Rebecca B.
We went to Lelli's on Valentine's day for the first time and it was very nice. Large semi-circle booths line the room (that we were in) with tables in the middle. The menu is somewhat fixed - you pick a meat and the entree comes with salad, soup, bread, antipasto, pasta and was supposed to come with spumoni but we never got that part. I ordered a pasta that came with salad - it was a 'light' entree. The freshly grate parmesan cheese and grind pepper on everything to your liking. They had a diverse wine list, though we got beer. For the price it was excellent. We also had a strange server - she sorta forgot about us in the middle of taking our order and seemed like she had a cold or something. She engaged us in an awkward conversation towards the end of our meal, and lingered. That said, the food, atmosphere, and experience was so good, it didn't matter. Because I read the Yelp postings before we went, I knew that the service could be spotty - so I was expecting it.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Shá B.
Neglected to agree that Cameron is a fine server and made a poor quality meal still a pleasant dining experience.
(2)Janet T.
I've been to Lelli's three times now and I have been back for the mushroom cognac tenderloin every single time just because it is fantastic!!! The chef consistently cooks it medium rare the way I like it and the flavour and sauce is beyond superb. Lelli's has a great traditional menu option with a 5 course meal. You end up leaving feeling full, happy and satisfied. It has a romantic atmosphere perfect for dates, celebrations and anniversaries! There's a groupon special going on for Lelli's - I would recommend getting it! (only works for the traditional option however)
(4)Theresa T.
Hard to believe I've been good to lellis over 30 year's. The downtown location will always be the best. It had such character. You could get your car washed while you ate dinner. The place was always busy, but if you were in good with the family they always made room for you. With that being said, the Auburn Hills location has had it's up and downs in my book. When they first opened (year's after the original burned to the ground) I was overjoyed and excited to introduce an icon to my daughter and friends. When the doors opened I think they were totally overwhelmed and unprepared. Easy to forgive because being in the restaurant business I understand once it falls apart during a service there's no turning it around. I actually stopped going to lellis after I had my staff's Christmas dinner here. We had a 7p.m. reservation and our party of 20 weren't sat until 8:45. No excuse. Total greed on the owners part. They so overbooked the place, and arguments and walk outs were embarrassing. Finally after being sat it took over 3 hours for dinner. Most of my staff were totally shit faced. I mean what else can you do when your waiting forever for you 8 course meal. We all had the chateaubriand (?) and almost every order had to be sent back. A disaster. I actually stopped going there after calling and talking with Steve Lelli. He blew it off and offered me a free appetizer for my trouble. That drove me over the edge. But after hearing he left the restaurant to go on his own we started going back. Oh how I missed it. Cameron is the best waiter there. We had the best service and meal.
(5)Neil Y.
A tried and true Detroit area classic! Neither my wife or I had been here before so this visit was much anticipated and without our brood in tow. While it is easy a family restaurant, Lelli's is best enjoyed with adults. It's an Italian Steakhouse so expect great steaks, seafood and of course the pasta. You can order meals ala carte but for first timers, engage the full experience and get your entree with the six-course meal. You get soup, salad, antipasti, pasta, the entree and dessert. Don't fool yourself though as the meal isn't pure decadence as this isn't The Lark but absolutely well worth ordering. It's a lot of food with even better leftovers. First timers are advised to try the house specialty which is the chateaubriand and is prepared tableside It's classy. I'm not really a tenderloin guy but I encourage my carnivorous friends to definitely go with a meat option as my tenderloin was excellent. Don't spare the zip sauce or even get the mushroom and cognac sauce for a minimal upcharge. The entrees are the center-stage items here but don't discount the quality of the house bolognese sauce. It's very rich and savory. Service is very attentive and your table never sees a water glass or beverage empty for long. Also, plates are cleared in a very timely manner. Some people see this as being rushed, I don't, and rather see this as having a table without clutter. The busboy, waiter and waiter's assistant work as a cooperative team. This, in my opinion, is worth a larger gratuity. After a near flawless experience at Lelli's, with the help of a sweet Groupon, I will never visit Mario's downtown ever again. BTW-Lelli's staff does not hold this over your head like Mario's does, nor do they openly remind you to tip on what would have been the original cost. You should already know that. Lelli's is a bit of a hike from Hamtown, as it sits around the corner from the Pontiac Silverdome, but truly worth the drive. Simply put, Lelli's is a much better experience across the board, than Mario's. It's cleaner, well organized, well paced and downright delicious. It doesn't rely on past glories but rather presses on to give you a worthwhile experience for your money.
(5)Dale G.
I should have guessed when they were Googled the first thing to come up was a Groupon. The restaurant has valet parking (for an additional ten steps you can park your own car). The wine list is full of Italian and Napa selections for a premium price - Stags Leap "Artemis" for $120? Come on it is a $40 wine retail at best. (Three times markup??) The filet is their specialty and it looked good, but not $50 good. I had the 18 oz.rib eye (boneless) at over $50. (Less than an inch thick, not trimmed, and slathered in butter. Why order a dry aged steak if you are going to ruin it in butter?) The sides are fine, but way too much food for anyone that hasn't starved themselves for three days. Service was okay, but my server tried telling me that "classico" was a region of Italy. Um...no. Bill for two people w/o the Groupon was $240. For that type of money I expect excellence not mediocrity. Save your money.
(2)Robert W.
Listen, this is a five star restaurant when there isn't a holiday or special day happening. At the end of the day, this is the best meal in town, hands down. We have been going to Lelli's for special occasions for over 18 years, back when they were downtown. The filet, medium rare with extra zip sauce is the best I've had in the country. No question. Topped with the minestrone soup, pasta with meat sauce and antipasto tray, it is an amazing meal. But at the end of the day, if it is a special occasion/holiday, expect them to triple up on reservations and to wait an hour after your planned time. If you have a 730PM reservation, expect to be seated at 830PM. As long as you go in knowing this, frustration won't set in and you can enjoy yourself. Happy dining.
(4)Megan H.
I love this place. It reminds me of an old 1970s mafia restaurant. My husband and I went here for our anniversary. I bought a groupon, $30 for $60 worth of food. In order to use it you have to order off of the traditional menu. The waiters are very knowledgeable and the food is always excellent. You can cut the filet with a fork. The decor could use a slight updating, although I do like the ombiance. It's to bad that there is not much left in that location in Pontiac. They seemed to be doing really well though. Everything was perfect.
(5)Steven W.
If you like Ruth's Chris, you will love Lelli's...BUT, you will like it much better than Ruth's Chris and here's why...VALUE! At Ruth's Chris, a steak will run you, let's say $40-$55 depending on the cut. At Lelli's it will cost you the exact same amount, but here's the kicker. For that $40-$55 you also get: Antipasto, salad, soup, pasta, and sorbet or spumoni...and it's all very good! The service is excellent. My Mother-in law and Father-in law have been a regulars there for years and they literally treat them like family. I get the feeling everyone gets treated well though. It's that locally owned environment that keeps them going the extra mile. The atmosphere is also nice. You can wear anything from jeans and a polo shirt, to a suit and cocktail dress. It's nice that the restaurant can successfully pull off a casual evening out and/or a special occasion. Overall a great choice for dinner. I would easily recommend and go back the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Wadim S.
What an old school tradition experience. Service was tremendous. I love feeling like a 1950's era gangster!! Filet is one of the best in Detroit and zip sauce is amazing!!
(5)Ronie K.
The food wasn't cooked to order which was medium well after telling the waitress to take it back and cook it for longer she did and brought it back outside was chard but inside was still like a medium All in all the waitress was great and respectful
(3)Ross N.
Just in town for one night and was recommended by hotel staff to this place. Overpriced and unprofessional! Ordered 8oz fillet mignon medium and received a moving fetus! General manager was kind enough to comp the meal. He was the only decent thing about the place. Staff congregated and clearly made us feel uncomfortable that we were unhappy. Also waited 50 minutes for food. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they just struck out!! Stick to Longhorn!
(1)Darrell K.
I visited this restaurant in the spring and I left with a full stomach and a great feeling about this place. This was one of 2 locations at one time. The other being on Woodward in Detroit. It burned down in the early 90s. I never had the opportunity to visit that location. The restaurants ambience was good. Kind of romantic but lighting was brighter than some places I visited. We were seated at a table and were quickly acknowledged by the waiter. Actually it ended up being 3. We seriously felt special. This was a 4 course meal. I had an appetizer, salad, soup, entree and desert. The Filet was rememorable. Cooked just right(medium well) with zip sauce. The flavor and the seasoning were excellent. Overall this was one of the best dining experiences. The combination of a great, attentive wait staff and great food made this a great experience. I look forward to visiting again.
(5)Aaron S.
Great service. Horrible food. 6 courses of canned food. The spaghetti tasted like chef boyardee. I paid too much for cafeteria food. $140
(1)Jennifer A.
Fantastic service with outstanding food!!! Everything is so fresh and flavorful! I absolutely love the table side Caesar salad! The Shrimp Lelli is very delicious and lemony! Every dish is amazingly good! Very hard to decide on one item for dinner. Oh! And great cocktails!!!
(5)Jordan P.
This is one of those restaurants that are in the middle of nowhere exciting, and doesn't really look like anything special, but you walk in and eyebrows are raised. Very quiet, okay decor, and amazingly helpful wait staff. Once they've helped you order your food and it comes out of the kitchen you know why this place has stuck around for so long. I got the chicken picatta and it was the best I've had in a long time.
(5)Christina B.
A classy place. I enjoyed the tenderloin wild mushroom with mashed potatoes. I ordered it medium and it was perfectly cooked. A very delicious lunch.
(5)Raffi E.
Well, I should have known that since there was a Groupon involved, that it was likely due to a suffering or slow business. I've always wanted to try this place, so the misses and I gave it a shot. First off, the ambience is nice, but I look at is as being "cheaply high class". For a place that requires their waiters to wear tuxedos and bow ties, the menus shouldn't be torn apart like ours was. I know that I came for the food, but when you charge 54 dollars for a filet, you should have a nice menu and pleasant wait staff to go with it. Service was mediocre at best. Our waiter looked like he was miserable and didn't want to work there. He never checked on us to see how everything was and only once at the very end of the night did I get a refill on my water. The only time he showed up at the table was when he dropped a plate off and then offered parmesan or cracked pepper each time...that's as far as his service went. The place was nowhere near busy too, which is another reason why I'm knocking on the wait staff. I'm not looking to be harassed every second by the waiter, but seriously, act like you represent something special in this restaurant....it effects the experience. Anyway, we tried an appetizer sampler consisting of the shrimp Lelli, tenderloin tips, and escargot. It was just average. The sauces surrounding the appetizers were really what was most enjoyable about them. Also, the antipasto tray looked insulting for being in a restaurant like this. I've had much better house salad and minestrone soup elsewhere as well. Okay, so the filet mignon...it was delicious. I asked for medium and it was a perfect medium. Granted, it took well over an hour for dinner to arrive, but it did and it tasted great. Melted in my mouth. The potatoes were also delicious. That was pretty much the only good thing in the restaurant. Needless to say, I'm sure I won't be coming back. This place has a lot of work that needs to be done from the staff to the courses prior to the entrée.
(2)Marianna Z.
It has been quite awhile since we've eaten at Lelli's. We had a $60.00 Groupon and ended up here a couple of Friday nights ago. I started off asking for a hard cider and they had none available on tap or in a bottle. The Hubby ordered the Porterhouse and Lobstertail with all the fixings, I ordered a veal. We had the 6 course meal which includes bread, antipasto, minestrone, pasta, main course and then spumoni. The side courses were fine. My husband loved his steak and lobster. My veal was like shoe leather, I do not recommend it. We informed the waiter that it was my birthday, and he stuck a candle in the ice cream. The booth we were seated at was dirty on the top edge. There is a little more attention to detail needed in the bathrooms as well, and the decor should be updated. The service was good, our entrees and one drink apiece the bill came out to over $100.
(3)Ricky P.
This was amazing. IT was the best food I've eaten in a long time. The filet was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. It was expensive as all hell, but what did I care I wasn't paying for it! Know what I'm sayin'? The service was perfect and everyone was really nice. Great job.
(5)Jon B.
Shocked this place is only 3.5 stars! Wife and I have been coming here for the past 10 years!!!! Best filet EVER and you get 5 courses!!!! Truly best filet on the state!!
(5)Barbara P.
Lelli's is one of our favorite restaurants. The service is always stellar; the food is delicious. There is an abundance of food and this is great for a special occasion. It is a very beautiful restaurant and is great for a special occasion. There are a great number of choices on the menu. You can order traditional (many courses) or Ala Carte. Even when you order ala carte you get potato and a vegetable. Our favorite choices are the Chicken Lelli (mine) or the filet (my husband's). But everything here is delicious; you will not be disappointed. Thanks, Lelli's for making us feel so special.
(5)Randi M.
Husband had been here numerous times for work, I finally got the chance to experience the Filet he has raved about. It is worth the 1 hour drive from home!
(5)Mike M.
Food is simply amazing here. We have been many times and never once had anything less than perfect. The filet with zip sauce melts in your mouth and always is prepared as ordered. The minestrone is simply the best minestrone I've had. The rolls, salad, and pasta before the meal compliment dinner perfectly. The quality and preparation of food here are unparalleled and consistently perfect. One of the best restaurants in Metro Detroit.
(5)Tom N.
Amazing experience! Great place for a date! Get the chateaubriand for two! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Dianne Y.
Amazing food but service was horrendous. Slow service and had to ask for water multiple times. Extremely long interval time between meal courses, lasting in a total of 3 hours! Martinis were mediocre.
(3)Scott B.
Arrived 5 min. Before our reservations and got seated right away. Our reservations were for 5 pm so the valet was not on duty. Our server " Courtney " was very prompt in coming to our table and greeted us with a smile. She offered us drinks and menus. All 5 courses came with a little time in between so we where not rushed in eating. The meal was great I thought that I was going need help walking I was so full. I read a few of the other reviews and I thought this might not be a great place to eat. Let me tell you that they're wrong. Lelli's still has it.... From start to finish our meal was great and we will be back again.
(5)Pat M.
Would have been five stars had my steak not been somewhat over cooked! There is something to be said for consistency. Lelli's is consistent. The food is the same as it was prepared 40 years ago at the original location on Woodward in the New Center Area. High quality, well prepared, classic with an Italian flare. The service was just how I like it, solid. Somehow Lelli's has figured out how to survive by hanging on to traditional fare in a world that wants fat and gluten free. That is not Lelli's. I will be back!
(4)Bridgette Z.
I really wanted to like this place but i am sad to say i probably won't be returning :( i have read some great reviews and even had a couple recommendations from friends to try it out so i purchased the groupon. I guess that should be my 1st red flag when a "fine dining" restaurant has to use groupon. My husband and i were sat immediately and a busboy filled our water glasses and brought out fresh bread and butter. I like the bread there. Our server brought us menus and a wine list shortly after. The wine list was big and not terribly overpriced either, many bottles were only $30 - $40. We each got a glass of house wine (cabarnet for me, chianti for him) only $6 each. I decided on the tuna steak. The menu stated a sushi grade piece of tuna with a tomato basil vinegarette. My husband got the veal del. If you order the "lelli's traditional" you get a 6 course meal so that's the route we took. First you get an antipasti plate with 2 cocktail shrimp, some beets, olives, pepperoncini, 2 tiny pieces of cheese, 2 thin slices of salami and another italian meat.. ehhh nothing to write home about. Next we received the house salads which were pretty good but salty dressing already on it. Next was the minestrone soup which was ok but it was cream based rather than tomato or broth based which seemed kind of odd. Next was the pasta course which was overcooked spaghetti with a meat sauce that reminded me of chef boy r dee ravioli. No authenticity or flavor. Next our meals were served. Immediately i knew my tuna was overcooked as soon as it was on the table. I asked for rare to medium rare but it was definitely at medium well. As far as "tomato basil vinegarette" it was a bunch of sliced grape tomatoes and red onion on top of the fish. Although it looked pretty it did not taste pretty. It was tough because it was indeed overcooked and the flavors were just off putting. I sadly sent it back and got the veal del which my husband ordered and we both enjoyed. The "twice baked potatoes" that they serve with all the dinner plates are really just flavorless mashed potatoes that tasted like they were from a box. Lastly we got the spumoni which was pretty standard and good. Overall the staff here is very nice, i loved our busboy and server and i felt very bad that i sent my food back but she was very nice throughout our entire meal. If i ever return i will stick to their veal and steak dishes but i don't see myself coming back. I don't feel the quality of the food is worth anywhere near the prices on the menu. Sidenote before anyone thinks I'm a jerk.. I've worked in many restaurants in the past and I'm not a picky eater i swear! I've only sent food back twice in my entire life besides last night and once was because of hair in my salad at a diner.
(2)Arnold A.
I'm new to yelp so I'm going through and reviewing all my favorite places. Lellis was one of the first to come to mind. This is a higher end eating experience and you get what you pay for. The service is excellent and the food is awesome. They do everything well. Great place to go to celebrate or take a date.
(5)Arleen G.
Don't eat here,,they are rude and unprofessional ... The steak always has to be sent back and the attitude of the management is horrible ,,,and I mean horrible ... They don't appreciate the customers , it's a shame that the tradition of the great Detroit location did not carryover ... Everyone misses the original.
(1)sharlan d.
This is an old-school Italian restaurant, the kind with white tablecloths, waiters in tuxedos and Sinatra playing all the time. We arrived on a Sunday evening, in a week when their Groupon offer was ending and they were mobbed. This is a big, well-established place and I'm not going to say that they should have anticipated the rush. But I could. We didn't have a reservation but were willing to wait at the bar, where we lingered for an hour. There were empty tables in the bar area occasionally, but, again, I'm willing to cut them some slack and acknowledge that, if they were understaffed, it was better to not seat people they couldn't serve promptly. So why is it that, after we were seated, our meal took two and a half hours, with our waiter being largely invisible? And, by the way, what kind of ostensibly well-stocked bar doesn't carry rye? The bartender didn't even seem to know what it is. This is a pricey place. There are meals priced over $60. Yes, they are four-course meals, with an antipasto plate, soup, pasta and a well-aged beef entree, but still. For that kind of money I expect a waiter who knows a little something about wine. We asked him for recommendations and he admitted that he doesn't really know a lot about what's on the wine list. Could we see the sommelier? No, they no longer have a somm. If you're going to save money that way, you better shift some of your budget into better training for the wait staff. Our food was better than good but not sensational. Filet Siciliano - delicious. Medium rare veal chop - tasty but chewy. Anchovy appetizer -right out of the tin. I was shocked to see that there were two tables in the bar area given over to staff activities. While we ate, two employees sat down at one of the tables with a stack of papers and a calculator to conduct business. Maybe that's part of the charm in a mom-and-pop establishment, but it's absolutely beyond the pale in a restaurant with such otherwise high aspirations.
(2)Kathleen C.
My husband and I went to Lelli's this past Friday evening for dinner. I had the Fettuccini Bolognese and he had their 8 oz. Fillet Mignon. I ordered the Traditional option which came with an antipasto that included a shrimp, a beet slice, some olives, salami and cheese. My option also included their minestrone soup and a side order of Spaghetti Bolognese. My husband ordered the Ala Carte option which included Double Baked Mashed potatoes and Green Beans. He also ordered a House Salad and we ordered some Garlic Toast for the table. They also served some rolls and toast for the table. All I can say is that every bite was absolutely delicious! We shared our meals with one another and the fillet and pasta were to die for! The fillet was PERFECT and cut like butter. My husband said the green beans were the best he ever had. The service, during a busy dinner hour, was great! It was a MUCH better experience than our previous visit there a few years ago. The decor is definitely "old school Italian restaurant"...but that is okay by me. We look forward to returning to Lelli's which has been a mainstay in the Detroit area for years. I am so glad they have returned to their former wonderful reputation!
(5)Jeff G.
If you're in the mood for a fine dining experience, and some delicious food, good atmosphere and attentive waiters, this is your restaurant. As per my usualI, I ordered their salmon dinner, this is a full three course dinner, first they start you out with a fantastic vinaigrette salad and condiment tray, then comes the minestrone soup, by the time you get your main course you're usually pretty full however the salmon and twice baked potatoes with green beans were so good I couldn't help myself but to eat all of it. My associate had the chicken Cordon Bleu and he said it was the best it ever tried. The waiter was very good and new the menu very well, He served us without giving my associate a second look even though he was wearing shorts, I thought they would ask us to leave but this was not the case, they treated us with the utmost respect. I highly recommend this restaurant, however don't forget your wallet it is a little pricey. PS don't wear shorts you'll feel out of place.
(5)Susan N.
Lelli's is always a good experience! Thei steaks are presented in the old fashion flair of the table side cut. Food is excellent! The service is outstanding! They make sure you are delighted! Really filling! Stuffed, with take puts for linch or dinner!
(5)Jennifer L.
I typically do not write reviews but my husband and I had a bad dinning experience at Lellies. We had a groupon as a gift and had arrived at 5pm, got seated at 5:40 which wasn't bad however the service was horrible. Dinner was too long I did not expect to spend 3 hours at a place were the servers did not seem at all attentive or cared about how our experience was. They all seemed like they were running around all the time yet invisible to the customers needs. We saw tables around us not get service after they were seated for 20 min! Our server never checked or asked how we were doing. After finished with our main course, he saw we were done but did not bother to bring is boxes or the bill. I finally got a hold of someone else 30 min later and they didn't even tell our server we had asked for the check. The food was not as great as I had expected a pricey restaurant to be. Our filet, mashed potatoes and green beans were drenched in butter. Needless to say we will not be returning to Lellies because the service was unprofessional.
(1)Shannon S.
Groupon/Girls Night/Birthday Dinner/Reservations for 7PM We had to wait 20 minutes even though we had a reservation, but not a big deal, as once you are seated, you are eating, pretty much eating continually until you are finished. Everything is timed really well, so if you are starving, just chill, the food will begin to flow~ Dinner consisted of 6 courses (WoW!!) all three of us ladies ordered the Petit Filet. I ordered mine medium rare and it was as gorgeous as the photo that's already posted. Very delicious, and the zip sauce really is, as amazing as everyone says! My two girlfriends did have to send their steaks back because they were cold, but once they returned, all was well. Our server was a man of few words, however, he was very attentive, always at our beck and call. When we needed his attention for the cold steaks, he literally ran from across the room when he saw me signaling. Service was excellent, even as our haunted groupon sat on the table in the empty seat at our four top table. The courses. First they bring you bread, a huge warm roll, with butter, as your drink requests are being gathered and filled, then comes the salad, with an antipasto platter. All items were very good, and the house dressing was very good. Next comes the Minestrone soup, a version I had never had before, it almost seemed like it was a cream base, which was excellent, I don't normally care that much for the brothy minestrone. Next up was the pasta, wonderfully flavored, just enough to keep you wanting more. Your main entree is next up, wonderful cut of meat, that is do delicious, it makes me want to put red meat back on the weekly rotation (almost! ha!) creamy mashed potatoes, with zip sauce mixed in, and crisp green beans. MOUTH WATERING!! The last, but hardly the least is the dessert, I had the spumoni, but they offered a couple of different flavored sorbets as well. Oh and they have a young man who sings while you dine, he came into our dining room and got our attention, and then sang and acapella song to us, it was a nice little extra All in all, Lelli's was a real treat, I would love to go back....hint hint...haha! :-)
(5)Valerie A.
How could I forget to review Lelli's!! Been here time and time again. I always order the same thing. The 6 course filet meal. Starts with an antipasto tray, salad (my favorite part, I love the dressing), minestrone soup, small plate of spaghetti (sometimes I get it with palomino sauce for an additional cost), then my perfectly cooked delicious and juicy filet with mashed potatoes and green beans. I always get the creamy mushroom sauce to accompany my steak because it makes it even more amazing. At the end you are served with the neopolitan? ice cream which is nothing special but I'll take it anyways. I'm always so stuffed after a visit to Lelli's and I can never finish my entree but that's ok because I look forward to eating my left overs the next day! My only complaint is that they raised the prices by about $8 a person for this 6 course meal last time I went so it can get pricey. Mario's in Detroit is very very similar to Lelli's but not quite as expensive.
(5)Marybeth S.
While visiting family on the East side of the state from our home in Holland, MI, we looked for a place to celebrate a belated New Year's Eve. We wanted fine dining and we found it and more at Lelli's. For my husband and I it was reminiscent of the "fancy" restaurants we went to for important events with our parents when we were kids, from the semi-circular leather booths, the linens, elegant lighting and the tuxedo clad servers. We were blessed beyond measure to be attended to by Lee, who didn't just wait on us, he cared for us. He explained the differences in the menu options and then shared why the prices in red would give us a more complete, traditional experience. We took his suggestions and are so delighted we did! We both chose the Chateaubriand with all the bells and whistles! We began with Oysters Rockefeller - fantastic, and then began the dining journey guided by the wonderful, Lee. House salad, Antipasto Platter, Creamy Minestrone, an amazing Pasta, followed by the Chateaubriand prepared table side. Each leg of the journey was great & the entree was stellar. All that was needed in the end was sorbet - lemon for my husband and mango for me. We would happily travel 2 1/2 - 3 hours for a dinner of this magnitude for a special celebration. Again, a very special thank you to Lee for his exceptional service.
(5)Dan N.
Move over Ruth's Chris, if I want a steak in Detroit, I'm coming to Lelli's! I'll be the first to admit, I'm a sucker for the old-school vibe of this place. But based on the reviews, I'm shocked at how much I loved the food. The prices of the steaks seem expensive, but they include an array of courses before dinner--bread, antipasti, salad, soup, pasta....then the steak. I ordered the extra cut filet--it was juicy and cooked perfectly to medium-rare. Honestly, it didn't even need the zip sauce, but who can resist a delicious pot of what appeared to be spiced up melted butter (with balsamic?). Yes, it's a bit expensive, but I really thought dinner's a Lelli's was an EXPERIENCE, and a very memorable night out! PS This probably deserved 4 stars, but Lelli's needs some extra love!!
(5)Food Critic S.
Experience was very bad! Used to be one of my favorites! Good was cold (soup, pasta, vegetables) zip sauce was butter !! No flavor !! Not sure what changed here but wouldn't be going back for a long time if at all !! Management didn't seem to care about us or the food being cold!!
(1)Matthew P.
Much like the once powerful and great city of Rome, It appears that now Lelli's too has fallen from grace in a historic plummet. Considering that this establishment during the 80's and 90's was considered one of the true heavy weights of the metro-Detroit dinning scene, it is apparent that poor ownership or management has caused it to crumble from within. After a recent visit to Lelli's, here are a list of the issues that we encountered: 1. Drinks were made wrong (no olives in the martinis and my manhattan was simply bourbon poured over ice? ... No vermouth, bitters, or a cherry for garnish) 2. The soups came out cold 3. Our meals came out cold 4. My wife's meal came out well after everyone else's meal, which they had to take back anyway since they were all cold. 5. Our wine lady spilled the ice bucket and wine everywhere. The fact that the place was a ghost town on a Friday night should be a clear signal. Save your well spent money and dine elsewhere. This place has truly gone to shit.
(1)Thula K.
Sometimes when you are in a nice restaurant, the food can't overcome bad service. We planned a nice romantic dinner out to Lellis (reservations and all) and were made to wait a full hour before being seated. Why take reservations if you aren't going to seat us on time. After being seated, we had a staff hurriedly drop some bread on our table. Our waitress was nowhere to be found for 15 mins. When she did show up, it was hurried and she proceeded to ask me if I ate shellfish, when my Caucasian husband was the one with the dietary restrictions (ignorant stereotype much?). The food as always was delicious and filling, but not worth the horrible service. Will not be going back, there are plenty of restaurants that aren't understaffed and overbooked.
(2)Mark O.
Follow-up review I have been going to Lellis for many years and feel its still the best meal around , anyone who wrote those bad reviews go to Ponderosa for your steak .
(5)Lana L.
I used to work for Lelli's in Auburn Hills and they have a living quarters above the restaurant - they let the large hairy family dog come into the kitchen area after the doors close while the staff was doing the night end cleaning. They would let the dog get some of the dishes that were mistakes but we were scolded if we asked if we could take anything home. THIS PLACE SUCKS AND IS VERY DIRTY
(1)Andreas F.
Expensive and does not meet expectations. The atmosphere is 1930s and cozy, but the service is mediocre, the food nothing special, the full meal would serve a whole family and it is all totally overpriced.
(2)Kurt M.
Came to visit on a business trip and spoke to host and confirmed dishes and times, returned as promised and valet stated no service due to slow night, no effort access to talk to management who I spoke to 2 hours prior.
(1)Marie S.
Husband finally took me somewhere super nice for anniversary. We've looked at the menu before and saw a steak is $50... well shit, I can buy a whole tenderloin for that and cook at home! Upon closer inspection I saw it was a 6 course meal for $50! SO WORTH IT. Only gets 4 stars as we had spinach for a veg side... bleaughghgh. I LOVE spinach, but theirs was icky... probalby creamed spinach, which is so outdated. Might I suggest they start sauteeing it with garlic instead? Otherwise YAY LELLI'S! We might be there every year now! HALLELUJAH
(4)John P.
I went on my birthday with my g/f and we each had the 5 course meal. We could have split one 5 course meal. The food was amazing and the service was excellent! I cannot wait to go back! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, as we had to wait due to a concert at the Palace.
(4)Donald L.
Well, everyone gets a second chance, and I was not disappointed either. While we had a early reservation(4:15 on a Saturday) I was very hesitant to come back. I even went so far when making the reservation to have them put a star next to my name and time as to put them on notice. We were quickly whisked to a table, which we had them change and was greeted immediatly by Steve our server. The service was flawless and the Chatuea was excellent.
(5)Tyler D.
DO NOT FALL FOR THE GROUPON SCAM! This was my second time dining at the famous Lelli's. My first experience was pleasant, but today -- AWFUL! Business is clearly declining so they are using groupon to get people in the door. That's why we came, but boy were we disappointed. Easily, my worst dining experience so far in 2014. Parking -- This restaurant is surrounded by vacant land, yet has cars crammed all around the tiny, disorganized lot any parked which way. Valets -- A pack of weasels that hang out by the front door.. Constantly leaving said doors open for prolonged periods creating gusts of icy wind throughout the restaurant Coat check -- An aggressive young gal wearing a black overcoat and a white, under armor knit cap, hawking her services for tips. Service -- Our waiter was a panicky dude, wearing a gigantic cubic zircon stud earring. The manager was visible, but never checked on our table, although he did walk by busing dishes at one point. Groupon scam ($60 of food for $30) -- The coupon left out critical details: both people must order an entree, neither can order a "light meal." This pissed me off because we wanted to share an entree and some side orders. We ended up getting a couple of pasta dishes. Food -- My spaghetti bolognese was identical to what was served on a smaller plate as an appetizer. My wife's fettuccini alfredo tasted like dishwater. The antipasto plate was bland, the soup was cold, the highlights of the meal were the tossed salad and the bread (which wasn't that great, but everything else was simply so bad!) Ambiance -- Trashy, dirty. Employees wearing all sorts of their own version of "dressed up." A plate dropped and broken... 20 minutes later a glass explodes on the ground. Gusting winds through the front doors. A dying fish floundering around the aquarium. Final bill: approx $70 Estimated return date: when hell freezes over
(1)Jake W.
The steak was good, Teddy the waiter was good. Everything else was old old old. The pasta sauce was bad too, out of a can.
(1)Richard F.
This place is a favorite of ours for a business lunch. It is an "old school" kind of place with good, albeit expensive food, good service and nice ambiance. It is quiet enough to have a business conversation. I have been here in summer and winter. The salads are particularly appetizing in the summer and the meat dishes are great all year round. If you do get a steak, make sure that you get the Zip Sauce. It is worth the price of admission. And the quality of the steaks are great too. This is just down the street from the big Sports Venues and I suspect that you might find some of the Sports crowd here at dinner time.
(4)Terry J.
I am flabbergasted by the bas reviews, especially from those who have only tried Lelli's once. We go to Lelli's on a regular basis. Food has always been outstanding. Perhaps not every meal on the menu, but we have not tried everything. Steak Lelli's, wonderful. Shrimp Lelli's, awesome. The spaghetti side dish is my favorite spaghetti sauce I've had at a restaurant. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, but compared to other steakhouses in the area,mquite a good deal. For the price of a steak alone at Capital Grille, you get antipasto tray, soup, salad, side dishes and dessert at Lelli's. And the service has always been great. I'm shocked by the review that said the waitstaff all wear their own version of dressed up. That statement makes me suspicious of his whole review. Waitstaff always wear tuxedo-type suits. We have never seen them in anything else. We have eaten at at least 3 of the other we'll know steakhouses in the area and came to the conclusion those were not worth our time and money when we have Lelli's as a choice.
(5)David K.
My Dad & I ate here using a Groupon he got for Christmas. My Dad's been a lunchtime regular here for many years, but has stopped coming as of a couple years ago because of the long drive & his age. The dinner service was nice & tasty, but I would not classify it as "5-star." We both ordered prix-fixe, 6-course dinners per the Groupon fine print, which run about $50-$60 per person. You get a lot of food for this amount, so you're getting a fairly good value based on food volume and quality. My leftovers we're more than enough for another future meal, so you essentially get two meals for the prix-fixe price. My only complaints would be in the details. I got a steak & crabmeat special, but my crabmeat still had some shell in it. In fact, I got a mouthful of crab shell in one bite, which was quite frustrating. My Dad's sole was good, but still had several fish bones scattered inside the meat. When I asked to have my meal boxed, I was handed a Styrofoam container to fill with leftovers myself, verses the staff doing it for me, which was quite surprising for a restaurant of this caliber. Other details that surprised me were things like peeling paint in the bathroom and wear & tear on the booth seating. Normally I would not acknowledge stuff like this, but I believe this restaurant wants to be held to a higher standard. All in all, this was was a nice restaurant with good quality food. They just need to polish some of the details to bring it up to their perceived level of quality and service.
(4)Amy L.
My husband and I came across Lelli's because a Groupon deal, we enjoyed it and have been back a few more times. When you pull up there is valet service! It is nice especially in the winter. I will admit however, that my husband and I were very put off by one of the young valet's who looked to have had puke all down the front of his coat as we were leaving the restaurant (this was about a year ago, but the sight still sticks with us and we think about it everytime we go there). The meals are traditional and start with an antipasto platter which is interesting. The soup is fantastic! My husband and I have gotten the Chateaubriand and the filet, which are both excellent. There was a lovely singer that was making his way around the restaurant and we both found him very enjoyable. We'll be back again!
(4)Jill D.
We visited Lelli's because we had heard they were great and we got a great Groupon deal. All meals are served traditional Italian style with a 6 course meal. 5 courses are the same for everyone, and you pick your own entree. Starts with an antipasto platter, which left much to be desired. The food on it was okay, but the presentation was just so-so. Then a salad - mixed greens with chick peas and tomatoes. Then some pretty incredible minestrone soup. We were then served the pasta course - it was boiled white spaghetti with what looked like chili globbed on top. It left much to be desired. I expected fresher noodles and tastier sauce from an Italian restaurant. Entrees were next - see below. And amazing spumoni for dessert. For my entree I chose the petite filet. This was probably one of the best filet's I have ever had. It was so juicy and cooked to perfection! As many other reviewers have pointed out, their zip sauce (mostly butter from what I can tell) is very tasty. Lelli's is trying to be an upscale restaurant, but just doesn't quite make it. The atmosphere is nice, and there was live piano music in the bar on Saturday night. However, the food presentation fell short. Our steaks were served with a flimsy, plastic handled knife and the presentation of our dishes was lacking. Service was decent. Our waitress lacked some personality, but my drinks were never empty and dirty dishes were quickly cleared from the table. They were busy, so I would recommend making a reservation. I probably won't go back to Lelli's without getting some sort of deal. It is a nice place, but I would prefer Capital Grille or Ocean Prime if I'm going out for an upscale dinner.
(3)DREW M.
This is a great Italian steakhouse. I've been on here on multiple company holiday parties and they always do a pretty good job with a 5 course meal. Only downside is that they gave me the wrong temperature steak once. A lot of the times you can track down a Groupon and eat here for half the price.
(4)Monte B.
You come here looking for 3 things. Great and cheekily freindly service, a great bottle of wine and a delicious piece of red meet wading in a puddle of zip sauce. And they nail it near every time. I want to give 5 stars but those r reserved for perfection. Lelli's is close, more like 4.5 stars. The martins could be bigger
(4)Maria A.
Smelly Lelli's. First, if you do decide to dine here do not sit by the kitchen. It stinks like bleach and is very unpleasant while eating. This restaurant is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant and you are better off going somewhere else or staying home. They probably haven't updated anything in years, maybe even a decade or two. The menus are torn and to add to it there are still some older ones floating out there. I knew because there was a price difference between my boyfriend's and mine's menu. There is dust in various areas and it seems to be getting in my eyes. The restaurant just screams filth. My wine glass was dirty and covered in crusted on food and grease. The salad tasted dirty. The food was just "okay" and definitely not worth the money. Also, there are holes in the ceiling and water stains from whatever. Willie Degel would have a field day here. The parking is a horrible mess and you could probably get into an accident in this lot since there is only 1 sign and it is written on with permanent marker. I can't blame the wait staff because none this is their fault but then again they weren't too pleasant to dine with.
(1)Brian H.
Was in Auburn Hills for work and ate at this restaurant which was just awful... As soon as you walk in the first thing you will notice is the musky stench of dirty old carpet. We got the traditional prix fixe that comes with the steak (salad, pasta, appetizer, soup, and dessert). The salad was overdressed and the lettuce still was not clean. You could still taste some of the dirt from the lettuce! Soup was whatever and the pasta was overcooked as well. Not even close to real "Italian" food. Then the filet mignon came out and it was a bit overcooked. I also ordered the mushroom sauce and here is when things got worst. In my sauce there was a piece of hard transparent plastic, which I presume came from those plastic packages produce comes in or something. I told the waiter about it and he was sorry and told me he would remove the cost of the sauce from the bill and asked me if I wanted another one prepared. I kindly declines. Then the manager shows up and asks if we had an issue with the food which I then proceed to tell him my story about the plastic piece. He then shows it to me (he had it on his hand) and he asks me where it was. I told him I think it was in the mushroom sauce. Then he says that that's weird because the plastic piece was clean. I told him it was clean because I took it out of my freaking mouth!!! He then says well I have no idea where something like this would come from!!! Hello it obviously came from the kitchen if it was inside the stupid sauce!!! Basically accused me of putting that plastic in the food... Unbelievable. He then just asks if I was ok and left. I didn't feel like arguing so I left it at that... But then the more I thought about it the more I think its insane that such crappy place can exist so I decided to share my bad experience here in Yelp. Avoid this place by all means!!! Longhorn is a much better place for decor and food if you are craving for steak in this area.
(1)Amy N.
Lelli's is my favorite restaurant in Metro-Detroit for a reason. 5 star service, 5 star food. Steak is so good you don't even need the zip sauce. Sausage and pepper appetizer is amazing. Haven't found anywhere that beats either the minestrone soup or the spaghetti. Staff has always been more than attentive and are extremely knowledgable about the different wines and bourbons offered. Truly a classy place.
(5)Ranna M.
Terrible service...delicious food. I wouldn't go back.
(1)I Am S.
Upon entering this establishment I wondered "Have I died and gone to heaven?", not because of Sancho's love for excellent food and service, but because of the crypt-like atmosphere. The chairs are old, uncomfortable and actually dirty. Let's see...an expensive Italian steak house...wine? Think Olive Garden. The nano-scale wine and beer list is truly rudimentary and is an affront to Sancho's tastes. Whoever chose this list obviously mentally challenged. The food? Think Olive Garden. Then multiply your bill by a factor of three. Many people have already given you the truth about the food in other reviews like the canned olives, so we don't need to revisit. They get one star for decent, but slow service and another star for having a singer singing in Italian walking around. This place is a dying restaurant, riding on the coattails of it's reputation. The only people Sancho can imagine it satisfies are those with Champagne money and Beer taste. Sancho can think of a dozen other places that offer real Italian food and dining experience, like: Spago Ristorante in Windsor Cafe Cortina in Farmington Bacco in Southfield D'Amato's in Royal Oak etc. "Stick a fork in Lelli's, it's done." ~ Sancho
(2)Cathy S.
Went Saturday night with a groupon. 5:30 reservation for 2 and we were seated immediately. We each had the med-sized filet; entire meal. Our waitress was wonderful. Told us to sit back and relax that she would do the driving, so to speak. We decided to trust her. It was especially nice not to have to make choices, other than the meat and the way it was cooked. The roll was heavy and tasty, shared between dipping into the salad plate, soup bowl, pasta and zip sauce. The salad was cold and appetizing, brought with extras to make our own antipasto. Then came the minestrone soup which was hot, chopped, and creamy. Wonderful! Although hubby mentioned he would have liked a little noodle in it. The sauce made the pasta side-dish worthy and the steak with the buttery zip sauce was mouth-watering tender, with awesome high-quality flavor, the brown stuff that settles to the bottom of the zip sauce is a must to mix in. Maybe some type of vinegar??? The green beans were snappy, mashed potatoes very buttery and good. My steak was cooked to perfection ordered medium, but hubby's medium turned out to be medium well. Lucky for him we both ordered the 8 oz. with extra zip sauce so he had some of mine to savor after eating his own. Everything came to the table at perfect temperatures. Oh, and the yummy spumoni was a nice way to finish, although we could have had sorbet instead. Service was great, we had 3 glasses of very smooth house Merlot between us, 1 hot and fresh-tasting coffee which was refilled several times, and with the $60 groupon, the bill came to $73. So an hour and a half later (there's a bit of time between courses) we laid out a hundred bucks with the groupon which covered the best complete filet dinner we've ever had! Superb food! The ONLY turnoff...The bathrooms and floors could be kept a little cleaner for this expensive establishment. Noticed a few dirty napkins and garbage on the carpet and paper was lacking in the bathrooms and the floors were very wet with who knows what. Just sayin'...
(5)Aleks S.
To sum up Lelli's in a couple words - Just bad... I really wanted to like this place as my Mom and Dad used to come here often. A few years back we would come for birthdays and it was still just ok to me. Here is my experience: Walked in, my party did not arrive so I sat down and had a Scotch on the rocks at the bar, bar tender was friendly and he even arranged a table for us (place was empty, no prior reservation), no complaints he was great. Service at the table: My party of 5 arrived, they sat down and my brother and I came to the table after we finished our drinks. The table is a square that is converted to a round to accommodate 5. My side was very flimsy and had a downward angle which made me concerned about the food sliding into my lap. They offered to bring a new table but to avoid disrupting everyone around us I grinned and bared it. Our waiter, was just ok, not very attentive, a definite aloof character. The antipasta was bad, shrimp tasted old, martadela was some of the worst I have had, black olives from a can, I didn't dare try the beets and the cheese was probably the safest bet. The bread, thank god for the bread, otherwise I would have left starving!!! Then arrives the pasta side dish, the sauce was a pungent, old cheese tasting gloppy sloppy mess, I regretfully had 2 bites. The minestrone soup looks disgusting but tastes ok, I ate it but did not like it. This pretty much sums up the starters - BAD. Main course: I go to steak houses all of the time. This is not a Cameron's Steakhouse review but that is my favorite and the best in Michigan for me at this time. Considering this My girlfriend and I decided to order the chateaubriand for 2 which is priced at $50 bucks a person. This is to be expected at a HIGH end steakhouse providing tableside service. Well, the dish arrived, looks like a very large portion and hopes are high although they were being jabbed at with the aroma of old fish passing through my nostrils frequently throughout the night. Now the taste test, I cut into the meat and it feels like I am cutting through a sponge, this is a dead giveaway for low quality meat. Since we were here with the family I decided to bite my tongue and taste it, like everything was ok. After my second bite I was ready to spit it out onto my plate, it was a horrible meal. I had no choice but to say something to our waiter, he called a manager, I told him the meat was chewy, he said compared to what? I wanted to say bubblegum, but to be respectful I mentioned, Cameron's steakhouse and he asked if I wanted something else. I really did not but he insisted so I asked for a basic chicken breast. By the time that dish arrived everyone else was finished so I had it boxed up to leave. My girl friend is just to embarrassed to complain so she returned her plate which had 2 bites out of it, my brother and mom painfully finished their filets and my sister-n-law ate half of her salmon which she said was decent. Now for the comedy: So my mom had a Groupon, we told the waiter, he brought the bill, the $60 voucher was not subtracted off the total. He said this would be done when he charges the bill at the register, Fine, we paid in cash, left an 18% tip despite the horrible food and overall experience, (they did not charge for my food) put our coats on and braved the sub zero temperature outside. As I am pulling out I see the Manager sprinting through the front door towards my brother and he was waiving the bill at him. So my brother rolled down his window and told him we had a Groupon. The manager made my brother wait in the parking lot so he could verify this and then after he did we left. Let me say, I have NEVER, I mean never experienced something like this and we will NEVER go back to this establishment. That was obviously due to the lack of communication from the waiter to the manager, still not sure why the manager chased my brother outside, isn't the waiter the one who completes the transaction? Anyways, if I could give negative stars I would. If this is your favorite steakhouse then in my humble opinion you have not been to some of the premier steak houses that charge less for the better quality meat. I really hope they change the quality of meat at Lelli's and the decor inside, this place is going downhill very rapidly, won't be back. The Spumoni tastes like medicine, sorry, I don't like frozen NyQuil following a bad meal.
(1)Gloria V.
This is my favorite place to eat in Michigan. The minestrone is amazing, the palamino sauce is to die for the chateaubriand for 2 is to die for. There are no words to describe how delicious the chateaubriand is and if I could just drink the zip sauce without looking tacky, I would! It is not an inexpensive place, our bill for 2 is never less than $130, but it is worth every penny. I use any excuse for a special occasion to find a resason to go here. I do miss the old place on Woodward that burned down, it did have so much more personality and charm that this Auburn Hills location just sadly lacks, bring back the checkered table cloths, strolling violinists and cheesy, over the top waiters!
(5)Cyd T.
Appetizer tray with cocktail sauce is delicious, salad, soup & spaghetti are all great. I always get the petite filet with carrots & mashed also very good. I suggest spumoni for desert-yum!
(5)Nina C.
Grew up at this place!! The food is always really good for dinner, the lunch Umm not so much!! The service is just ok! If they would just get rid of the old waiters and bring in young guys it would be a lot nicer!! Never had a bad dinner here! Lunch is really really tough! Sometimes it's good NOT great but good! And other times its just GARBAGE! And ladies always bring a little jacket, shawl, or wear long sleeves because its FREEZING in here- no matter what season!!
(4)Stephen G.
My favorite place for a filet. Great food, great service. Good for a suit and tie event, but casual enough for a jeans and piston game kind of night as well. One knock-I like to valet my car sometimes, but its super annoying when your kind of forced to when its not really necessary.
(5)Denise Z.
Love lelli's!!!! Best filet in town but also has other GREAT italian dishes! Staff works very hard to please everyone and we enjoy our evening every time. The maitre d Rick is such a class act. We try to go during the week because they get pretty busy on the weekends. This is a Detroit institution. Whenever family comes in from out of town this is the restaurant they want to come back to every time.
(5)Sue D.
The food was very good. Our server Kevin was very helpful and accomadating. The glass situation was almost funny. They ran out of clean glasses? One bartender hardly working, the other (tall, thin) doing the work of 3. My husband did point this out to the manager hope it will do some good.
(5)Joshua R.
Inept. I never thought I would write that about Lelli's, but it has really gone downhill in the twelve years we've gone there. Tonight was bad in so many ways. We arrived slightly early for our 8:00 PM reservation. I don't know why we bothered with reservations, since it was clearly no different from just walking in. But that 25 minute wait was only the first of many. Once we were seated, we waited a long time to place our order, waited a long time for our salads, waited for our wine, waited a really long time for our entrees, and waited for our check. Perhaps if our waitress didn't take so many smoke breaks we wouldn't have waited so long. But I buried the lead. The cabernet I ordered smelled like rubbing alcohol, so I sent it back. Oddly, the guy near me who ordered a petite syrah had the exact same problem! Seems shady to me. They replaced our wines, but the bartender poured them in white wine glasses instead of the red wine glasses many others had. I realize most people and restaurants don't distinguish, but if it does, the bartender should know the difference. And then the medium-rare filet arrived, cooked medium-well. I looked for the waitress to get it fixed, but it was literally 10 minutes with my plate sitting at the edge of the table before anyone even asked. It wasn't the waitress. I think she was out smoking. After someone asked, about 7 minutes later my rare steak arrived. I wasn't about to ask for a bit more heat to it. I'm not sure how Texas Roadhouse gets it right every time, but an expensive steakhouse can't. I've never sent back wine and steak before and I didn't expect this to be the restaurant where I would have to do it. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have had to.
(2)Beth W.
Best Filet I've ever had..it's so tender and delicious! The Minestrone is very good too. Ive been there a few times now, last time was in November when my husband took me out for my Birthday, very good service and awesome meal. If your looking for an awesome steak and a nice dining experience def try Lelli's, even better when they have the splitter menu its such a good value, Ive gone to Fridays and reg chains and spent as much and it can't touch this place.
(5)Jeff B.
Exceptional. Asked them to whip me up a custom pasta primavera, and it was exceptional. Mutli-course meal. I asked for something custom, not from the menu, and they took care of everything ... with excellence.
(5)Liz M.
Worst restaurant I've been to in years. Service: I travel for work and eat at restaurants 3-5 nights at week -- and have never had service this bad. Example: server took a full bowl of soup away from someone who was still eating. Example: late joiners to our table were never asked (over the course of more than an hour) if they would like something to drink. Example: server plunked (no other word for it) my appetizer plate down on top of my bread plate, like plate bunk-beds. Example: antipasto plates ordered by table never arrived. Food: Most over-salted salmon I have eaten in my life (unfortunate, as underneath all that salt, the salmon wasn't half-bad). Most over-salted mashed potatoes I have eaten in my life. Bread rolls were good. Decor: Very...lunch at the old-folks' home. I could have gotten past that had the service and food not been bad.
(1)Suzie C.
My favorite fancy Italian steakhouse in the area. If I was rich I'd eat there every day. The Minestrone soup and Zip sauce is to die for. Filet was oh so tender. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Cindy H.
My waitress Emily was good. I was in town in on business so I opted to sit at a table in the bar and get some work done while I dined. Well the restaurant was unusually warm and I commented on it to the waitress. She mentioned it to the owner/manager?? who was working on the fish tank near me and he said something like "tell her to take off her shirt". Seriously??!! So he checked the thermostat and I here him say its 77 degrees (someone turned off the heat). So he turned up the air. Fine, life is good. There is a fish tank that separates the bar area from the entrance and it was being cleaned at 7:21pm on a Wednesday night. I can him splashing around the tank and discussing the need for an employee to go to the hardware store to buy parts. An employee who was leaving because she had no tables comes over and asks for her check and starts to talk about other stuff all not far from me. She leaves but comes back asking for the schedule because she forgot to update it. I understand the makeshift office is in the bar area but employees should be counseled to discreetly approach the manager/owner and quietly state their request. The random conversation among coworkers was annoying. I am not sure where they should congregate when not busy but not in my hearing please. This is not a fast food restaurant where this is still not really acceptable but since the bill is under $10 who cares. I haven't received my bill but these martini's are small probably 6oz ($13 - out of control for this bit of booze) and the valet parking is $3 which is not much but really I didn't even see where the self park was and when I inquired of the valet, I don't think he understood English. Maybe the dining room has better ambiance but I cannot see coming back to determine if that is the case. I had the petite filet with zip sauce and twice baked mashed potatoes. The food was good but the atmosphere overshadowed it for me. Why didn't I just leave you ask? Well it wasn't the end of the world and I am lazy and I was hungry, lol I am ready to leave so where is my good waitress with my check, why hanging with the other staff by the bar. So, I finally get her attention and ask for my check. The check is for $487.50, are you freaking kidding me!!! If this is mine we have a problem and of course I cannot find Emily. I ask the bartender to find her and I get a check for $60 which is more like it except these teeny, tiny martinis that cost way too much. Okay I need to get out of here, I am getting really annoyed now.
(2)Beau R.
Lelli's is an upscale steak house in Auburn HIlls, MI. The restaurant is in a location that seems deserted with no other businesses around. The dark and comfortable atmosphere screams "mobster hangout". The menu is stacked with high quality cuts of beef and other Italian specialties. All the beef is USDA Prime. Most of the dinner items are 5 courses. I came in for lunch and was able to get a 3 course meal. I had the Petit Filet, a little side of spaghetti, and mashed potatoes. The Spaghetti was average. It didn't have much meat in the sauce and I couldn't really taste anything but tomato in the sauce. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… The Petit Filet came out with the mashed potatoes on the side. The Filet was very tender and very well seasoned. It was cooked perfectly, hot and still juicy. I kept holding each slice of the steak in my mouth just to absorb the fantastic flavor. Great Steak. The mashed potatoes that came with were bad ass. Made with heavy cream and baked to have a crisp layer of cooked cream on top. Very very good. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… This is a great place to have a romantic date or a nice meal. The prices are high and the area is kinda lame but the food is high quality and you wouldn't leave unhappy.
(4)Shelly S.
We made a reservation for July 6, 2012, 7:30 p.m. We were very specific about our requests since we were celebrating a special occasion with our adult children. The day before I was called to confirm the reservation and all was good. BTW the requests were.......table in back room, good waiter and good service. Not too much to ask I hoped. When we arrived the table was ready and from then on things went downhill. Waiter was inefficient and waiting on too many tables. Made lots of excuses and finally came and said we had his undivided attention and then left yet again. Drinks took 35 minutes to arrive. Specials were given after we sat with our menus for a long time and were ready to order. Splitter platter was not offered nor was it on the menu. I could go on but I think you get the idea. Dinner was close to $500.00 for 9 people. A 20% tip was recommended on our check. The food was very good but the service was disappointing. I called and spoke to Mike and he listened and again more excuses.....the restaurant was really busy he said, hmmmmm whose problem is that? He was supposed to call me back but he never did. We will take our business elsewhere and suggest you do the same.
(2)Carol T.
Lelli's Redux... My husband and I returned to Lelli's just this past weekend on a trip to Michigan. We've been here many times before and, as always, this place did not disappoint. Our selection this time was a chateaubriand for two. At $48.75 PER PERSON, this meal was more expensive than the Blu-Ray/DVD player we just purchased BUT the quality and the quantity of food was unmatchable. Served tableside by two wait staff, we each had a large portion of meat cooked exactly to our specifications. The sides with the entree were mashed potatoes, spinach and carrots...all large portions. Don't forget, the Lelli's "experience" is comprised of 6 courses all included in the price of your dinner: antipasto platter for an appetizer, salad, minestrone soup, a pasta side dish, the entree with its sides and spumoni or ices for dessert. Who could eat all this food??? This one meal also gave each of us a complete second dinner and one lunch! Taking all that into consideration, the $48.75 seemed more reasonable. Remember, when you go to these big name steak places, you're just paying for the meat. Everything else is a la carte. We were seated in the bar area this time. It was a nice experience and just a bit quieter than the main dining room. Friday and Saturday nights have a vocalist with piano accompaniment. Don Corleone would approve of this place!
(5)Arthur D.
The entire dining experience was bad. It saddens me to report this. This is not a one-off experience review but rather it is based on numerous visits over the past year. The Lillis trendline is going from a second rate to a 3rd rate place. Our last visit was Thursday April 3, 2014. Everything was bad. It was not crowded in the restaurant, so being too busy is not an excuse. We started with a drink in the bar. Bartender was slow. He was too busy arguing with the wait staff. Akward. The server was slow to wait on us , had bad follow ups and forgot things. My martini came 1/2 full. He said the glasses were new and larger, but I saw other tables' martinis full-up. We got the wrong salad. We ordered Ceasars, and when they came they were small. To add insult to injury, the price for a Ceasar had increased by over $3.50 -- about a 70% increase. Wow.. In fact all of Lillis food prices have moved north significantly, an estimated +20%. The server told us it is to compensate for a significant increase in their Groupon business. Last and NOT least the qualuty of our dinnners was beyond disappointing. My filet was cold - not even warm. The waiter seemed put out about bringing it back to reheat it. My wife's entree was well over cooked. Our desserts billid as house-made were garbage. The Chocolate cake and Terramiso were of Gordon Food Sevicee quality. One bite and off to the trash. The grand finale was a rude waiter. A discussion with owner -- Mike Lelli -- was a total waste of everyone's time. The good news is after at least a year -- perhaps 6 or mire visits-- we will never return. Others in our circle of friends have sumiluar experiences. We have been regulars at Lellis for at least 35 years. It was suck a special and magical place to us and our friends. So sad that a Detriot institution has effectively died. RIP. We are done with it.
(1)Pete D.
My wife took me to Lelli's for my birthday and I have to say it was very good. Great steak for a great price. If you get a Groupon coupon you can get a 1/2 deal. I've been back twice each time as good as the last. A lot food, the soup is the best in town. Go see for yourself you won't go wrong.
(5)John H.
Bad experience! Snooty waiters that treated us like low class spoiled what could have been a great dinner. We were dressed nicely, but not formal and I think this is the reason. The food was excellent but I will never go back. His attitude totally ruined our 2 hr experience and I couldn't even enjoy the great food, that cost over $100.
(2)Robert P.
How many times have i spent a lot of money at dinner and the restaurant does not even come close to bringing it... Lelli's is not that place...the fillet is amazing and i am not that big into meats...just cut a small piece off and roll it around in the butter zip sauce put it into your mouth and just moan with erotic pleasure. Okokok so the antipasto was nothing to cry over...the minestrone was good...but that just does not shake the fact the fillet is the best I have ever had...yea i said it... Go here for dinner or lunch and you will leave satisfied.
(4)Anna S.
Lelli's has been the go-to fancy, special-occasion restaurant for my family for probably 13 years. Now that the Detroit location is burned down, only the Auburn Hills location is open. It's in a sort of corporate dead-zone on Opdyke near the Silverdome, but it's worth the drive if you're looking for a great Italian steakhouse. The food is AMAZING, but the service consistently leaves something to be desired. I can't help but get the prime filet mignon five course dinner when I go, and I find all courses amazing. The first course is a simple salad with a house vinigarette dressing, alongside an antipasto tray and freshly baked bread and sweet cream butter. The antipasto tray has pepperoncini, shrimp cocktail, mozzerella cheese, mortadella, beets and salame. The next course is their creamy minestrone with white beans, vegetables and ribbons of sweet basil. Third course is a small portion of spagetti bolognese, where the sauce is thick and meaty. And finally, the filet mignon with whipped potatoes and their to-die-for zip sauce. The prime filet is buttery tender and always cooked perfectly. The zip sauce is absolutely amazing - rich, buttery and a hint of beef jus. I always ask for extra and pour some on the potatoes. You do get a complimentary dish of spumoni or lemon sorbet, but you almost always have to ask for it. Every course comes with the option of freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. They have a fully stocked bar and a reasonably priced wine list. My husband will attest that the dirty martini's there are the best he's ever had. Now the hard part; the lame-ish service. My mother is a smoker, and back when there wasn't a ban on smoking in Michigan restaurants we always sat in the smoking section (which was the bar). Without fail, three things were always present: 1) a manager who sat at a table off to the side, but talked loudly and rudely on the phone and to staff within earshot of other seated guests. 2) a large, flat-screen TV with some sort of sporting event on it (really? I'm paying $39.99 for my 5-course dinner while watching the Lions?). 3) Inappropriately acting drunk guests, such as a golf foursome after a round, or some randy middle-aged second-time-around couple getting "close." In present day, non-smoking Lelli's, these same distractions abound, and I even noticed two large flat-screens in the more formal part of the restaurant, not just the bar (thankfully they weren't on when I dined there this last Friday evening). The service in this type of restaurant is supposed to be a little slower paced, due to the multitude of courses and the amount of food you're trying to consume. But occasionally the service is a little too slow, which was the case the other night with my husband. Lame service aside, I give the food a solid 5-stars and if given an opportunity to splurge for dinner I can't tear myself away from this gem. If you're really into an amazing steak, or want to impress someone when money is no object, I suggest Lelli's Inn, hands down.
(4)Chris C.
You will not leave going hungry! Service and steaks were incredible. Zip sauce is one step above Ruth's Chris'. The staff treats you with respect and like many other posts, that can make or break a nice meal with friends! Highly recommended!
(4)Caitlin T.
My two-start rating a a generous one; giving a star only for a well-cooked steak. I will give credit where credit is due. Otherwise the food was forgettable and the customer treatment was downright offensive. We decided on a Saturday afternoon to call in and ask if they had any reservations last-minute. They told us they had openings after 8:30, so we gladly put our name in. We arrived at 8:30 to a very friendly valet, so I started off feeling good. I enjoy when people are smiling and chatty and don't just look at the ground while opening my door. The valet was one of only two people working at Lelli's that night who actually made me feel like a valued customer. We entered into a packed waiting area. There was a line to get to the front of the house to check in for our reservation, though we would find that all of the people ahead of us were only in 3 parties. Despite the fact that it should only take about a minute tops to take a persons name and their time of reservation; it took us until 8:45 to actually give our name for an 8:30 reservation because the maitre'd kept walking away, including him leaving just my boyfriend and I standing directly in front of his stand for about 5 minutes after he checked in the party before us. He told us that they were running about 30 minutes behind on their reservations, though he didn't say if that was 30 minutes from our actual time of reservation, or 30 minutes from when we checked in. Either way, he had underestimated the wait. We had over an hour to sit in an incredibly unpleasant lobby with scores of other miserable patrons. As far as I could tell, they must have booked each table in the restaurant with an 8:30 reservation, because that seemed to be what everyone was waiting for. Please recall: we had called for a reservation that same afternoon. Instead of saying, "We don't have any openings tonight," or "We can take you at 9:30," they OFFERED us an 8:30 spot. Also worth remembering is the price point of this restaurant! With $50 entrees, I was HORRIFIED to be in a restaurant that was run so poorly. The maitre'd finally called our names at 9:45, over an hour from our scheduled reservation, and then had us stand at the front for another few minutes before escorting us to a table that still had someone's bill/tip left behind. No apologies, no "thank you for your understanding," no "we appreciate your patience." Just seated at a a table that was still being set. I mentioned that one of the stars for Lelli's was for the food? That second star comes in here: Cameron. Our server was so polite, friendly, and finally made me feel like someone actually wanted my patronage and understood that without a customer, a business cannot run. So shout out to Cameron for being one of only two people I encountered who made me feel valued (and I guess to be fair our bus boy did a great job too, but obviously they don't interact really). My boyfriend and I both ordered the filet with the extra cut (because honestly, I wanted to have left over steak for lunch the next day). We also ordered a bottle of wine, which was actually somewhat moderately priced. Which is to say that it was a very cheap bottle of wine, but it was nice to have the option to spend less than $30 for a bottle with dinner. The rolls came out fast, thank God, since we'd been planning on eating over an hour earlier and were definitely ready to start eating. The salad was over dressed, to the point where the vinegar burned my lips and the greens were slimy. Not good, didn't even finish it. The antipasti plate left something to be desired as well. The meats were fine, the shrimp was adequate (though the cocktail sauce was bland), but the olives were the kind you get from a can. I like them on my pizza, but that's not really what I want on an olive tray. The minestrone wasn't offensive, but also wasn't good enough for me to finish it. The bolognese on the pasta was delicious, the only thing of the early courses that really seemed worth eating to me. And the steak. I ordered my steak medium and it cam out perfectly cooked. A slight crust on the outside and a warm pink on the inside; really beautiful. Unfortunately, my boyfriend had read that they had a great zip sauce here, so he asked for extra on our steaks. Wow. He liked it (he's not as picky as I am) but I felt that it was incredibly salty. It really dominated the flavor of the meat. The cut wasn't that perfect either, but that's life. The spinach had too much nutmeg, but the potatoes and green beans were good. At the end of the meal, Cameron grabbed the manager to process our Groupon. He asked how it was, and we shared that it was my first time here and that we were very unhappy with the wait. No. Apology. He said that's not how he want it to run, and that it was very busy, but never once said the wait was unacceptable or that he was sorry we'd had to wait. I will not be back, and I would advise others to pass as well. Oh, and dirty bathrooms. Sick.
(2)Rebecca B.
We went to Lelli's on Valentine's day for the first time and it was very nice. Large semi-circle booths line the room (that we were in) with tables in the middle. The menu is somewhat fixed - you pick a meat and the entree comes with salad, soup, bread, antipasto, pasta and was supposed to come with spumoni but we never got that part. I ordered a pasta that came with salad - it was a 'light' entree. The freshly grate parmesan cheese and grind pepper on everything to your liking. They had a diverse wine list, though we got beer. For the price it was excellent. We also had a strange server - she sorta forgot about us in the middle of taking our order and seemed like she had a cold or something. She engaged us in an awkward conversation towards the end of our meal, and lingered. That said, the food, atmosphere, and experience was so good, it didn't matter. Because I read the Yelp postings before we went, I knew that the service could be spotty - so I was expecting it.
(5)M D.
Horrible service for business lunch today. Had to beg for a glass of ice tea. Glasses empty. Screwed up order. Overlooked boss's salmon. I just got the feeling nobody wanted to wait on us. And I was one of the first patrons to arrive (11am).Really disappointing. No interest in going back.
(1)Ernie H.
Haven't been to Lelli's in a couple of years. Our favorite is still the Filet Mignon. It is still the best. The six course meal did the trick. Our waiter, Cameron, made it a very enjoyable evening. He is truly an asset for Lellie's. Also, Lellie's minestrone soup is the best we have ever tasted.
(5)Alejandro J.
Tried to be old and sophisticated but only made it to old. Some fine examples: the waiter's oversize jacket, the roof coming apart in one end, etc. Vg Virgin Mary was up to a good star. They have a dinner special you order the meat - in our case Filet mignon and the servings come in waves, Bread (VG warm dinner rolls); antipasto tray nice idea but mediocre ingredients - can Olives of the black unsavory kind, bland cheese, and pepperoni were among the delicacies like boiled shrimp, and mortadela. Then salad (it is premixed, but the waiter makes the effort to make it look like is being created in front of you). Minestrone - the broth was not clear, it was more like a liquid pure consistency. After that a plate w spaghetti and Bolognese sauce. Finally comes the Filet, nice piece, but was not charred on the outside (2.5) , and was bathed in a salty beef stock that for all I know was made out of a bouillon cube, accompanied by mashed potatoes Overall a 3 but de-rated to 2.5 because of the high prices. Experience. No Eye Candy, No amb, Expensive $50 a head.
(2)Mark B.
Hard to give a good review when you have an 8:30pm reservation, get seated at 8:55pm (which was okay) and get your food at 11:15pm. We have been coming to Lelli's 2-3 times a year for the past 10 years and it just continues to get worse and worse. We arrived at 8:20 on Saturday, May 11th for our party of 6 reservation and were seated at 8:55pm. It was very busy because of the expiring Groupon coupons and due to it being Mother's Day weekend. After we were seated we were brought bread and water. No butter for the bread. We asked for butter twice and never got it. The water glasses were apparently too hot. When my wife's glass was poured, it shattered and my son's glass developed a huge crack. We ended up ordering our dinners at about 9:15pm. Our first few courses came out pretty quick and by 10pm we were waiting for our entrees. At about 10:30 our waiter informed us that we were "7 down". I asked what that meant and he told me that our food was probably done but there were 6 orders ahead of us that were ready and had to placed on plates and brought out. At about 10:45pm, a couple who had sat down about an hour after we did received their entrees. I flagged my waiter down and asked him how this was possible. The table of 4 next to us who ordered before we did still had not received their food either so they were interested in knowing also. Our waiter explained to us that the couple's order must have been placed in the "express line" whatever that means. 10:45pm, no food, no waiter. 11pm, no food, no waiter. Finally, at 11:15 our food was brought out. 2 of the people in my party ordered the extra cut filet medium. One of them was well done and the other was rare. We couldn't do anything about it because we didn't see our waiter again until we received our bill about a half hour later. No refills on water, no drink orders. We were not the only one that had a bad experience. All of the tables around us had issues. The couple who was fortunate enough to end up in the "express line" sent one of their steaks back because it was over cooked. 2 of the people in the party of 4 next to us ordered Chicken Lelli but were brought Shrimp Lelli instead. We were seated in line with the hallway where the waiters come out of the kitchen. We saw waiters arguing with each other the whole time we were there. One waiter was telling another waiter that she had several unhappy customers and the male waiter told her "Big deal. Everyone is complaining tonight. So what". The wait staff has become worse over the years. They seem bothered by having to do their jobs. Our bill last night was over $300 and it was the worst dining experience I have ever had. We will never come back. Too many other options out there where the waitstaff and workers go out of their way to make sure you have an enjoyable dining experience.
(1)Cindy O.
The service was excellent and i enjoyed the 6 courses with the exception of the main course. My fault - being Italian I should have known better than to order eggplant Parmesan. The sauce had an herb in it that made it taste 'funky' and the eggplant was undercooked. Some veges are good undercooked but not eggplant. So between the funky sauce and the undercooked eggplant my meal ended in leaving a a bad taste in my mouth. I go back to this area next week but not sure if it is worth another try.
(3)Sonja F.
Walked into Lellis tonight by myself for a meal. A nice young lady sat me down. No one came to my table until I started staring at staff shaking my head. I was in a hurry so I ordered right away. $19.95 for a SMALL plate of Ravioli. They spread it all over a large plate to make it look generous. I had to tell the hostess I needed to order. She told me my waiter would be with me soon. He never came. A nice lady named Pat came over to take my order. As she was taking my order my actual waiter rushes up to the table and says Pat will start helping take your order. I received my soup which tasted ok, then waited 25 mins for my Entree to arrive. I finally glared at my waiter, he ran back and brought out my sorry $19 plate of ravioli. I told him they seem understaffed, he threw poor Pat under the bus and said she couldn't handle too many tables at once. What a Jerk. This place has 3 busing tables set up right in the middle of the restaurant for water pitchers, extra silverware, salt and pepper shakers etc...The servers and the manager spent the night Slamming things down on the table right behind my ear. Many times a man who looked like the manager would come up behind me and stand over me surveying the restaurant. Who stands over their customers while they are trying to eat a $19 plate of mediocre ravioli. The only bright spots were the young Hostess and the Valet guy. This place has declined tremendously.
(1)Rob R.
I have been going to Lelli's when they had there place on Woodward. Back then mother Lelli was still running the place and a gentleman by the name of Ernie was the matre De and the both of them ran a pretty tight ship(both in service and food quality). Since the original place burned down they built the new place on Opdyke, the service has gone down a bit BUT the steak is still MARVELOUS and the complete dinner is still a bargain.
(4)Ernie M.
Had dinner there last night with three other couples. Not one complaint! The extra cut filet was great. I would like to thank Emily for the excellent service. Great food good service hard to beat.
(4)T W.
Its a complete course that includes antipastas, salad, soup, fresh baked breead, pasta and finally the steak, finish with spumoni. Spumoni was the best! filet minon had soy sauce flavor which was unexpected. I still prefer Capital Grill's steak but Lelli's dining experience was a wonderful full course. Definitely had to take leftovers home. Still craving the spumoni ice cream.
(4)Doug C.
Last visit to Lelli's the food was still incredible as always, but the service this time was uncharacteristically horrible. Like waiting close to an hour to get the food... way too long. It's not supposed to be fast food, but there was clearly a problem. We got an apology but that was it. We actually bumped into someone we knew there as well, and about a week later we saw him and he complained about the same thing from that night. I am not reducing my five star rating based on this experience and I am chalking it up to an anomaly - I'll give them a pass this time. I've been going there for too many years with too many amazing experiences to let one strike taint my view, but that can't happen again.
(5)Denise K.
As another reviewer commented, Lelli's is Old School done right. From the oxblood leather circular banquettes to the cut-glass chandeliers to the tuxedoed staff, the ambience at Lelli's makes one expect to see Frank Sinatra or Vito Corleone at the next table. We were half an hour late for our reservation due to insane traffic, but we called to let them know and were happily greeted at the door. Our server, Stephanie, was simply superb. We told her we were attending a performance beginning at 8pm and needed to keep things moving, and Stephanie honored our request perfectly. Warm, crusty rolls and butter appeared immediately, as did our cocktails. My husband and I both ordered "light" dinners, meaning we each got a salad and side. My husband had the calves' liver with garlic mashed potatoes and I had the veal piccata with spaghetti -- each bite was better than the one before. The calves' liver melted in your mouth, the veal was fork tender and the sauce was pure velvet. I'm obsessed with Lelli's spaghetti sauce and told Stephanie. She rewarded the compliment by giving me an extra large serving -- ambrosia!!!! Each of us had leftovers to take home, and Stephanie even marked the take-out cartons with the contents. Because we live 90 minutes away, we don't get to Lelli's as often as we'd like, but this restaurant is worth the drive and the dollars. Excellent value for the price, and service and atmosphere beyond compare. Be sure to ask for Stephanie ...
(5)Otis M.
I've been going to Lelli's since before they moved out to Auburn Hills. I think its okay, but not close to the top tier steak joints throughout the area. The food is Americanized Italian, some really like it this way, not me. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid good.
(3)Justin S.
Chateaubriand for 2 or more. yah its not like the former downtown location or even close to the authenticity you got when walking in off of woodward, but the steak does not lie.
(4)kevin e.
Ok If this was based on food alone then I would give them 4 1/2 stars The 1/2 being taken away for the shrimp lelli dish that was not impressive But the soup, the lasagna, the filet !!! Wow !!! Fabulous- BUT if this was on service alone they would get one star ! and there is the problem- Understaffed to say the least- Our waiter had like 7 tables - trying his best but no way he could keep up and as a result we waited a lot !!! For a restaurant with $40 dishes this is NOT ok - And even when he got help the others that helped him were rude ! I sure hope the owners read this- While the food rocked I will be not be going back because of how bad the service was!
(3)Elizabeth W.
Last evening we had tickets for the 8:00 Bob Seger concert so we made 6:00 dinner reservations for four at Lellis. We arrived at 5:55 to a very crowded lobby area and waited 1/2 an hour to be finally seated (and now feeling like party crashers) in a back room where a private wedding vows renewal party was being held. We were given the one empty table near the doorway that had been vacated by party guests. We mentioned twice that we had 8:00 concert tix -- food order taken quickly -- food delivery not so much. Dinner finally arrived an hour later at 7:25. Soup warm, not hot. Small portions for large prices: $38 Veal Marsala was comprised of two very small pieces, pounded paper thin, bulked up with lots of sauce and mushrooms to disguise how small the serving. $26 Meat Ravioli had 1/2 a thimbleful of meat inside. $38 Petit filet was good -- the one bright spot. Result of $170 tab: three of us art still hungry and we're late for the concert. Ladies Room had a long line inside and outside the door because there were only three working stalls -- one of which had a broken door lock necessitating everyone taking turns holding the door for the current occupant. Another stall's floor was soaking wet. The trash can was totally beyond overflowing and one of the legs on the broken stall was being propped up by a wine cork. What a fall from grace for a legendary Detroit-area eatery. Poorly staffed for the size of crowd -- poor planning on management's part. Big clue: when you have that many reservations, it's a Saturday night, and there's a big concert nearby, please plan accordingly and have someone check the restrooms periodically. With regrets (because we have been loyal Lelli's fans since the old location back in the 80s) we must say that we will not be returning in the future.
(1)Kevin S.
What can I say - it is a institution in the Detroit area. The class is definitely turned up to 11 in this place. Wonderful Italian food - the four course meals with minestrone, pasta, salad, etc. are very generous. The filet mignon is one of the most succulent things I have ever eaten on this planet - hands down. It's a bit pricey (they charge for water), but it's worth it for special occasions. The ambiance is great and the service is pretty decent. I would not recommend it for little kids, however - definitely more appropriate for the older, upscale crowd.
(5)Rick K.
Amazing dinner as always. Our server Reannon was very knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant. We had a nice conversation, not rushed, treated us like friends not customers. In fact all the waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. We ordered drinks, and were ready to order our food. My friend had the Lelli's famous fillet and I was trying to decide between the eggplant or the veal saltimbocca. Reannon said the veal is a great choice. She asked if I had their veal Cordon Bleu, I have not and decided to order that dish. Reannon was right about everything she described about the dish, from the thickness of the veal, the coating, sauce etc. Anyone I bring there that likes veal, I will suggest this dish. And of course the fillet was great, better than most big name steakhouses. The salad, antipasto,mashed potatoes, green beans were all cooked to perfection. A second server, Emily assisted Reannon, again could not find a better team. We have dined in many places in Europe and Lelli's ranks up there with the best of them. The economy has hit hard on all businesses in the Detroit metro area, yet at Lelli's that does not appear to change the way they have operated when we frequented their original Detroit location. Looking forward to our next visit. Cheers to management and staff of Lelli's.
(5)Peter S.
Conversations began last week about my search for a "go-to" local steakhouse. When I have guests in from out of town and a nice dinner is in order, I would like to know that I can make one phone call and have my reservation. We have the usual chain steakhouses and they are very good, but when I travel I like to taste the local flavor. Doesn't Detroit have any? A coworker suggested Lelli's in Auburn Hills/Pontiac; I had never been. The next thing I did was make the reservation. My parents and I arrived at 6:45PM on Saturday for dinner. The restaurant was not overly crowded, which I thought was nice. It began to fill up while we ate, not too surprisingly. Lelli's is definitely a restaurant to consider if you are looking for large amounts of food. Each entree comes with the antipasto tray, salad, soup (Minestrone Lelli), spaghetti (w/ meat sauce), and spumoni for dessert. The antipasto tray came with one of each item per person, with the exception of the black olives which none of us touched. The tray had pepperoncini, black olives, thinly sliced pepperoni, what I believe was mortadella, cheese, and shrimp. I try to not season food when I get it. When something is placed in front of me at the restaurant I feel at that time it is truly how the chef intends it to be and adding even salt and/or pepper will detract from the full experience. I should have thrown this practice out the window when the minestrone came. Sure, I ate it all, but I felt it was slightly bland. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not get the spaghetti, but rather the palmina (penne in a creamy tomato sauce). For someone who claims to not get too excited over pasta, this is now the second meal in three months nearly highlighted by the pasta course. The palmina was unique to those who ordered the porterhouse as I had. I would order this as an entree and forgo the rest of the meal; it was that good. My steak was a beautifully cut porterhouse. Big, juicy, and cooked to my specification: life is good. On the steak's merit alone I would go back to Lelli's; plain and simple. It was not the best I have had, but it was very good. I opted against the spumoni and chose the homemade chocolate ice cream instead. I recommend you do the same, it was great. Overall, the meal had high points and low points. Most of them do, in my experience. Unfortunately one big blemish on Lelli's record in my mind was the service. When you go to a semi-fancy dinner out you should be able to expect above average service. I would have even accepted average service... I have said it before and I will continue to say it: customer service is so very important. When a place gets that right, it is truly special. Lelli's got service all wrong. What I had hoped for was a special night out to dinner with my parents. That is absolutely what I had. I am able to separate any complaints I had with the food or the restaurant from the occasion with my family. When all is said and done I would go back to Lelli's, but the circumstances would need to be abnormal. The search for my "go-to" steakhouse continues...
(3)RD E.
i wish the old lelli's in detroit didn't burn down, but at least we still have auburn hills....best restaurant in SE Mich....hands down
(5)Atom G.
Lelli's Restaurant of Auburn Hills is the Detroit Steak house. Italian cuisine known for an outstanding filet mignon dinner. This four couse meal will fill you up so drink alot of grappa after the meal.
(5)John R.
with out a doubt the best filet I've ever had - bar none!
(5)M D.
Horrible service for business lunch today. Had to beg for a glass of ice tea. Glasses empty. Screwed up order. Overlooked boss's salmon. I just got the feeling nobody wanted to wait on us. And I was one of the first patrons to arrive (11am).Really disappointing. No interest in going back.
(1)Ernie H.
Haven't been to Lelli's in a couple of years. Our favorite is still the Filet Mignon. It is still the best. The six course meal did the trick. Our waiter, Cameron, made it a very enjoyable evening. He is truly an asset for Lellie's. Also, Lellie's minestrone soup is the best we have ever tasted.
(5)Alejandro J.
Tried to be old and sophisticated but only made it to old. Some fine examples: the waiter's oversize jacket, the roof coming apart in one end, etc. Vg Virgin Mary was up to a good star. They have a dinner special you order the meat - in our case Filet mignon and the servings come in waves, Bread (VG warm dinner rolls); antipasto tray nice idea but mediocre ingredients - can Olives of the black unsavory kind, bland cheese, and pepperoni were among the delicacies like boiled shrimp, and mortadela. Then salad (it is premixed, but the waiter makes the effort to make it look like is being created in front of you). Minestrone - the broth was not clear, it was more like a liquid pure consistency. After that a plate w spaghetti and Bolognese sauce. Finally comes the Filet, nice piece, but was not charred on the outside (2.5) , and was bathed in a salty beef stock that for all I know was made out of a bouillon cube, accompanied by mashed potatoes Overall a 3 but de-rated to 2.5 because of the high prices. Experience. No Eye Candy, No amb, Expensive $50 a head.
(2)Mark B.
Hard to give a good review when you have an 8:30pm reservation, get seated at 8:55pm (which was okay) and get your food at 11:15pm. We have been coming to Lelli's 2-3 times a year for the past 10 years and it just continues to get worse and worse. We arrived at 8:20 on Saturday, May 11th for our party of 6 reservation and were seated at 8:55pm. It was very busy because of the expiring Groupon coupons and due to it being Mother's Day weekend. After we were seated we were brought bread and water. No butter for the bread. We asked for butter twice and never got it. The water glasses were apparently too hot. When my wife's glass was poured, it shattered and my son's glass developed a huge crack. We ended up ordering our dinners at about 9:15pm. Our first few courses came out pretty quick and by 10pm we were waiting for our entrees. At about 10:30 our waiter informed us that we were "7 down". I asked what that meant and he told me that our food was probably done but there were 6 orders ahead of us that were ready and had to placed on plates and brought out. At about 10:45pm, a couple who had sat down about an hour after we did received their entrees. I flagged my waiter down and asked him how this was possible. The table of 4 next to us who ordered before we did still had not received their food either so they were interested in knowing also. Our waiter explained to us that the couple's order must have been placed in the "express line" whatever that means. 10:45pm, no food, no waiter. 11pm, no food, no waiter. Finally, at 11:15 our food was brought out. 2 of the people in my party ordered the extra cut filet medium. One of them was well done and the other was rare. We couldn't do anything about it because we didn't see our waiter again until we received our bill about a half hour later. No refills on water, no drink orders. We were not the only one that had a bad experience. All of the tables around us had issues. The couple who was fortunate enough to end up in the "express line" sent one of their steaks back because it was over cooked. 2 of the people in the party of 4 next to us ordered Chicken Lelli but were brought Shrimp Lelli instead. We were seated in line with the hallway where the waiters come out of the kitchen. We saw waiters arguing with each other the whole time we were there. One waiter was telling another waiter that she had several unhappy customers and the male waiter told her "Big deal. Everyone is complaining tonight. So what". The wait staff has become worse over the years. They seem bothered by having to do their jobs. Our bill last night was over $300 and it was the worst dining experience I have ever had. We will never come back. Too many other options out there where the waitstaff and workers go out of their way to make sure you have an enjoyable dining experience.
(1)Cindy O.
The service was excellent and i enjoyed the 6 courses with the exception of the main course. My fault - being Italian I should have known better than to order eggplant Parmesan. The sauce had an herb in it that made it taste 'funky' and the eggplant was undercooked. Some veges are good undercooked but not eggplant. So between the funky sauce and the undercooked eggplant my meal ended in leaving a a bad taste in my mouth. I go back to this area next week but not sure if it is worth another try.
(3)Sonja F.
Walked into Lellis tonight by myself for a meal. A nice young lady sat me down. No one came to my table until I started staring at staff shaking my head. I was in a hurry so I ordered right away. $19.95 for a SMALL plate of Ravioli. They spread it all over a large plate to make it look generous. I had to tell the hostess I needed to order. She told me my waiter would be with me soon. He never came. A nice lady named Pat came over to take my order. As she was taking my order my actual waiter rushes up to the table and says Pat will start helping take your order. I received my soup which tasted ok, then waited 25 mins for my Entree to arrive. I finally glared at my waiter, he ran back and brought out my sorry $19 plate of ravioli. I told him they seem understaffed, he threw poor Pat under the bus and said she couldn't handle too many tables at once. What a Jerk. This place has 3 busing tables set up right in the middle of the restaurant for water pitchers, extra silverware, salt and pepper shakers etc...The servers and the manager spent the night Slamming things down on the table right behind my ear. Many times a man who looked like the manager would come up behind me and stand over me surveying the restaurant. Who stands over their customers while they are trying to eat a $19 plate of mediocre ravioli. The only bright spots were the young Hostess and the Valet guy. This place has declined tremendously.
(1)Rob R.
I have been going to Lelli's when they had there place on Woodward. Back then mother Lelli was still running the place and a gentleman by the name of Ernie was the matre De and the both of them ran a pretty tight ship(both in service and food quality). Since the original place burned down they built the new place on Opdyke, the service has gone down a bit BUT the steak is still MARVELOUS and the complete dinner is still a bargain.
(4)Ernie M.
Had dinner there last night with three other couples. Not one complaint! The extra cut filet was great. I would like to thank Emily for the excellent service. Great food good service hard to beat.
(4)T W.
Its a complete course that includes antipastas, salad, soup, fresh baked breead, pasta and finally the steak, finish with spumoni. Spumoni was the best! filet minon had soy sauce flavor which was unexpected. I still prefer Capital Grill's steak but Lelli's dining experience was a wonderful full course. Definitely had to take leftovers home. Still craving the spumoni ice cream.
(4)Doug C.
Last visit to Lelli's the food was still incredible as always, but the service this time was uncharacteristically horrible. Like waiting close to an hour to get the food... way too long. It's not supposed to be fast food, but there was clearly a problem. We got an apology but that was it. We actually bumped into someone we knew there as well, and about a week later we saw him and he complained about the same thing from that night. I am not reducing my five star rating based on this experience and I am chalking it up to an anomaly - I'll give them a pass this time. I've been going there for too many years with too many amazing experiences to let one strike taint my view, but that can't happen again.
(5)Denise K.
As another reviewer commented, Lelli's is Old School done right. From the oxblood leather circular banquettes to the cut-glass chandeliers to the tuxedoed staff, the ambience at Lelli's makes one expect to see Frank Sinatra or Vito Corleone at the next table. We were half an hour late for our reservation due to insane traffic, but we called to let them know and were happily greeted at the door. Our server, Stephanie, was simply superb. We told her we were attending a performance beginning at 8pm and needed to keep things moving, and Stephanie honored our request perfectly. Warm, crusty rolls and butter appeared immediately, as did our cocktails. My husband and I both ordered "light" dinners, meaning we each got a salad and side. My husband had the calves' liver with garlic mashed potatoes and I had the veal piccata with spaghetti -- each bite was better than the one before. The calves' liver melted in your mouth, the veal was fork tender and the sauce was pure velvet. I'm obsessed with Lelli's spaghetti sauce and told Stephanie. She rewarded the compliment by giving me an extra large serving -- ambrosia!!!! Each of us had leftovers to take home, and Stephanie even marked the take-out cartons with the contents. Because we live 90 minutes away, we don't get to Lelli's as often as we'd like, but this restaurant is worth the drive and the dollars. Excellent value for the price, and service and atmosphere beyond compare. Be sure to ask for Stephanie ...
(5)Otis M.
I've been going to Lelli's since before they moved out to Auburn Hills. I think its okay, but not close to the top tier steak joints throughout the area. The food is Americanized Italian, some really like it this way, not me. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid good.
(3)Justin S.
Chateaubriand for 2 or more. yah its not like the former downtown location or even close to the authenticity you got when walking in off of woodward, but the steak does not lie.
(4)kevin e.
Ok If this was based on food alone then I would give them 4 1/2 stars The 1/2 being taken away for the shrimp lelli dish that was not impressive But the soup, the lasagna, the filet !!! Wow !!! Fabulous- BUT if this was on service alone they would get one star ! and there is the problem- Understaffed to say the least- Our waiter had like 7 tables - trying his best but no way he could keep up and as a result we waited a lot !!! For a restaurant with $40 dishes this is NOT ok - And even when he got help the others that helped him were rude ! I sure hope the owners read this- While the food rocked I will be not be going back because of how bad the service was!
(3)Elizabeth W.
Last evening we had tickets for the 8:00 Bob Seger concert so we made 6:00 dinner reservations for four at Lellis. We arrived at 5:55 to a very crowded lobby area and waited 1/2 an hour to be finally seated (and now feeling like party crashers) in a back room where a private wedding vows renewal party was being held. We were given the one empty table near the doorway that had been vacated by party guests. We mentioned twice that we had 8:00 concert tix -- food order taken quickly -- food delivery not so much. Dinner finally arrived an hour later at 7:25. Soup warm, not hot. Small portions for large prices: $38 Veal Marsala was comprised of two very small pieces, pounded paper thin, bulked up with lots of sauce and mushrooms to disguise how small the serving. $26 Meat Ravioli had 1/2 a thimbleful of meat inside. $38 Petit filet was good -- the one bright spot. Result of $170 tab: three of us art still hungry and we're late for the concert. Ladies Room had a long line inside and outside the door because there were only three working stalls -- one of which had a broken door lock necessitating everyone taking turns holding the door for the current occupant. Another stall's floor was soaking wet. The trash can was totally beyond overflowing and one of the legs on the broken stall was being propped up by a wine cork. What a fall from grace for a legendary Detroit-area eatery. Poorly staffed for the size of crowd -- poor planning on management's part. Big clue: when you have that many reservations, it's a Saturday night, and there's a big concert nearby, please plan accordingly and have someone check the restrooms periodically. With regrets (because we have been loyal Lelli's fans since the old location back in the 80s) we must say that we will not be returning in the future.
(1)Kevin S.
What can I say - it is a institution in the Detroit area. The class is definitely turned up to 11 in this place. Wonderful Italian food - the four course meals with minestrone, pasta, salad, etc. are very generous. The filet mignon is one of the most succulent things I have ever eaten on this planet - hands down. It's a bit pricey (they charge for water), but it's worth it for special occasions. The ambiance is great and the service is pretty decent. I would not recommend it for little kids, however - definitely more appropriate for the older, upscale crowd.
(5)Rick K.
Amazing dinner as always. Our server Reannon was very knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant. We had a nice conversation, not rushed, treated us like friends not customers. In fact all the waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. We ordered drinks, and were ready to order our food. My friend had the Lelli's famous fillet and I was trying to decide between the eggplant or the veal saltimbocca. Reannon said the veal is a great choice. She asked if I had their veal Cordon Bleu, I have not and decided to order that dish. Reannon was right about everything she described about the dish, from the thickness of the veal, the coating, sauce etc. Anyone I bring there that likes veal, I will suggest this dish. And of course the fillet was great, better than most big name steakhouses. The salad, antipasto,mashed potatoes, green beans were all cooked to perfection. A second server, Emily assisted Reannon, again could not find a better team. We have dined in many places in Europe and Lelli's ranks up there with the best of them. The economy has hit hard on all businesses in the Detroit metro area, yet at Lelli's that does not appear to change the way they have operated when we frequented their original Detroit location. Looking forward to our next visit. Cheers to management and staff of Lelli's.
(5)Peter S.
Conversations began last week about my search for a "go-to" local steakhouse. When I have guests in from out of town and a nice dinner is in order, I would like to know that I can make one phone call and have my reservation. We have the usual chain steakhouses and they are very good, but when I travel I like to taste the local flavor. Doesn't Detroit have any? A coworker suggested Lelli's in Auburn Hills/Pontiac; I had never been. The next thing I did was make the reservation. My parents and I arrived at 6:45PM on Saturday for dinner. The restaurant was not overly crowded, which I thought was nice. It began to fill up while we ate, not too surprisingly. Lelli's is definitely a restaurant to consider if you are looking for large amounts of food. Each entree comes with the antipasto tray, salad, soup (Minestrone Lelli), spaghetti (w/ meat sauce), and spumoni for dessert. The antipasto tray came with one of each item per person, with the exception of the black olives which none of us touched. The tray had pepperoncini, black olives, thinly sliced pepperoni, what I believe was mortadella, cheese, and shrimp. I try to not season food when I get it. When something is placed in front of me at the restaurant I feel at that time it is truly how the chef intends it to be and adding even salt and/or pepper will detract from the full experience. I should have thrown this practice out the window when the minestrone came. Sure, I ate it all, but I felt it was slightly bland. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not get the spaghetti, but rather the palmina (penne in a creamy tomato sauce). For someone who claims to not get too excited over pasta, this is now the second meal in three months nearly highlighted by the pasta course. The palmina was unique to those who ordered the porterhouse as I had. I would order this as an entree and forgo the rest of the meal; it was that good. My steak was a beautifully cut porterhouse. Big, juicy, and cooked to my specification: life is good. On the steak's merit alone I would go back to Lelli's; plain and simple. It was not the best I have had, but it was very good. I opted against the spumoni and chose the homemade chocolate ice cream instead. I recommend you do the same, it was great. Overall, the meal had high points and low points. Most of them do, in my experience. Unfortunately one big blemish on Lelli's record in my mind was the service. When you go to a semi-fancy dinner out you should be able to expect above average service. I would have even accepted average service... I have said it before and I will continue to say it: customer service is so very important. When a place gets that right, it is truly special. Lelli's got service all wrong. What I had hoped for was a special night out to dinner with my parents. That is absolutely what I had. I am able to separate any complaints I had with the food or the restaurant from the occasion with my family. When all is said and done I would go back to Lelli's, but the circumstances would need to be abnormal. The search for my "go-to" steakhouse continues...
(3)RD E.
i wish the old lelli's in detroit didn't burn down, but at least we still have auburn hills....best restaurant in SE Mich....hands down
(5)Atom G.
Lelli's Restaurant of Auburn Hills is the Detroit Steak house. Italian cuisine known for an outstanding filet mignon dinner. This four couse meal will fill you up so drink alot of grappa after the meal.
(5)John R.
with out a doubt the best filet I've ever had - bar none!
(5)Theresa T.
Hard to believe I've been good to lellis over 30 year's. The downtown location will always be the best. It had such character. You could get your car washed while you ate dinner. The place was always busy, but if you were in good with the family they always made room for you. With that being said, the Auburn Hills location has had it's up and downs in my book. When they first opened (year's after the original burned to the ground) I was overjoyed and excited to introduce an icon to my daughter and friends. When the doors opened I think they were totally overwhelmed and unprepared. Easy to forgive because being in the restaurant business I understand once it falls apart during a service there's no turning it around. I actually stopped going to lellis after I had my staff's Christmas dinner here. We had a 7p.m. reservation and our party of 20 weren't sat until 8:45. No excuse. Total greed on the owners part. They so overbooked the place, and arguments and walk outs were embarrassing. Finally after being sat it took over 3 hours for dinner. Most of my staff were totally shit faced. I mean what else can you do when your waiting forever for you 8 course meal. We all had the chateaubriand (?) and almost every order had to be sent back. A disaster. I actually stopped going there after calling and talking with Steve Lelli. He blew it off and offered me a free appetizer for my trouble. That drove me over the edge. But after hearing he left the restaurant to go on his own we started going back. Oh how I missed it. Cameron is the best waiter there. We had the best service and meal.
(5)Neil Y.
A tried and true Detroit area classic! Neither my wife or I had been here before so this visit was much anticipated and without our brood in tow. While it is easy a family restaurant, Lelli's is best enjoyed with adults. It's an Italian Steakhouse so expect great steaks, seafood and of course the pasta. You can order meals ala carte but for first timers, engage the full experience and get your entree with the six-course meal. You get soup, salad, antipasti, pasta, the entree and dessert. Don't fool yourself though as the meal isn't pure decadence as this isn't The Lark but absolutely well worth ordering. It's a lot of food with even better leftovers. First timers are advised to try the house specialty which is the chateaubriand and is prepared tableside It's classy. I'm not really a tenderloin guy but I encourage my carnivorous friends to definitely go with a meat option as my tenderloin was excellent. Don't spare the zip sauce or even get the mushroom and cognac sauce for a minimal upcharge. The entrees are the center-stage items here but don't discount the quality of the house bolognese sauce. It's very rich and savory. Service is very attentive and your table never sees a water glass or beverage empty for long. Also, plates are cleared in a very timely manner. Some people see this as being rushed, I don't, and rather see this as having a table without clutter. The busboy, waiter and waiter's assistant work as a cooperative team. This, in my opinion, is worth a larger gratuity. After a near flawless experience at Lelli's, with the help of a sweet Groupon, I will never visit Mario's downtown ever again. BTW-Lelli's staff does not hold this over your head like Mario's does, nor do they openly remind you to tip on what would have been the original cost. You should already know that. Lelli's is a bit of a hike from Hamtown, as it sits around the corner from the Pontiac Silverdome, but truly worth the drive. Simply put, Lelli's is a much better experience across the board, than Mario's. It's cleaner, well organized, well paced and downright delicious. It doesn't rely on past glories but rather presses on to give you a worthwhile experience for your money.
(5)Kimberly N.
Surprised it was still as good as I recall. The Groupon was worrying me, yet was the only reason I went there anyway. Here's the thing, Lellis is one of the most expensive restaurants in the area. $50 for. 6oz filet for example. Shrimp and lobster tail $83. So a $60 Groupon toward dining which you pay $32 for doesn't do much damage. It helps, saving is saving, but it's not a good deal or anything . *** the prices on the lellis online menu aren't updated. Everything is around $5 more! Says $45 for filet online, it's 50 there. So you're still paying for this meal. But it was wonderful. Antipasto tray is fun though nothing really good. But great salad and soup. Love having a pasta course. I got lobster tail broiled and shrimp lelli and it was incredible. Boyfriend got filet, and it was perfect. So food was as good as I remenber, really good. The star is taken away because the online menu isn't updated which was a surprise that everything was more money and because we ordered a decent btl of wine maybe an $80 btl but we poured our own 70% of time which is a huge pet peeve of mine
(4)Shá B.
Neglected to agree that Cameron is a fine server and made a poor quality meal still a pleasant dining experience.
(2)Janet T.
I've been to Lelli's three times now and I have been back for the mushroom cognac tenderloin every single time just because it is fantastic!!! The chef consistently cooks it medium rare the way I like it and the flavour and sauce is beyond superb. Lelli's has a great traditional menu option with a 5 course meal. You end up leaving feeling full, happy and satisfied. It has a romantic atmosphere perfect for dates, celebrations and anniversaries! There's a groupon special going on for Lelli's - I would recommend getting it! (only works for the traditional option however)
(4)Dale G.
I should have guessed when they were Googled the first thing to come up was a Groupon. The restaurant has valet parking (for an additional ten steps you can park your own car). The wine list is full of Italian and Napa selections for a premium price - Stags Leap "Artemis" for $120? Come on it is a $40 wine retail at best. (Three times markup??) The filet is their specialty and it looked good, but not $50 good. I had the 18 oz.rib eye (boneless) at over $50. (Less than an inch thick, not trimmed, and slathered in butter. Why order a dry aged steak if you are going to ruin it in butter?) The sides are fine, but way too much food for anyone that hasn't starved themselves for three days. Service was okay, but my server tried telling me that "classico" was a region of Italy. Um...no. Bill for two people w/o the Groupon was $240. For that type of money I expect excellence not mediocrity. Save your money.
(2)Robert W.
Listen, this is a five star restaurant when there isn't a holiday or special day happening. At the end of the day, this is the best meal in town, hands down. We have been going to Lelli's for special occasions for over 18 years, back when they were downtown. The filet, medium rare with extra zip sauce is the best I've had in the country. No question. Topped with the minestrone soup, pasta with meat sauce and antipasto tray, it is an amazing meal. But at the end of the day, if it is a special occasion/holiday, expect them to triple up on reservations and to wait an hour after your planned time. If you have a 730PM reservation, expect to be seated at 830PM. As long as you go in knowing this, frustration won't set in and you can enjoy yourself. Happy dining.
(4)Megan H.
I love this place. It reminds me of an old 1970s mafia restaurant. My husband and I went here for our anniversary. I bought a groupon, $30 for $60 worth of food. In order to use it you have to order off of the traditional menu. The waiters are very knowledgeable and the food is always excellent. You can cut the filet with a fork. The decor could use a slight updating, although I do like the ombiance. It's to bad that there is not much left in that location in Pontiac. They seemed to be doing really well though. Everything was perfect.
(5)Steven W.
If you like Ruth's Chris, you will love Lelli's...BUT, you will like it much better than Ruth's Chris and here's why...VALUE! At Ruth's Chris, a steak will run you, let's say $40-$55 depending on the cut. At Lelli's it will cost you the exact same amount, but here's the kicker. For that $40-$55 you also get: Antipasto, salad, soup, pasta, and sorbet or spumoni...and it's all very good! The service is excellent. My Mother-in law and Father-in law have been a regulars there for years and they literally treat them like family. I get the feeling everyone gets treated well though. It's that locally owned environment that keeps them going the extra mile. The atmosphere is also nice. You can wear anything from jeans and a polo shirt, to a suit and cocktail dress. It's nice that the restaurant can successfully pull off a casual evening out and/or a special occasion. Overall a great choice for dinner. I would easily recommend and go back the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Wadim S.
What an old school tradition experience. Service was tremendous. I love feeling like a 1950's era gangster!! Filet is one of the best in Detroit and zip sauce is amazing!!
(5)Ronie K.
The food wasn't cooked to order which was medium well after telling the waitress to take it back and cook it for longer she did and brought it back outside was chard but inside was still like a medium All in all the waitress was great and respectful
(3)Ross N.
Just in town for one night and was recommended by hotel staff to this place. Overpriced and unprofessional! Ordered 8oz fillet mignon medium and received a moving fetus! General manager was kind enough to comp the meal. He was the only decent thing about the place. Staff congregated and clearly made us feel uncomfortable that we were unhappy. Also waited 50 minutes for food. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they just struck out!! Stick to Longhorn!
(1)Darrell K.
I visited this restaurant in the spring and I left with a full stomach and a great feeling about this place. This was one of 2 locations at one time. The other being on Woodward in Detroit. It burned down in the early 90s. I never had the opportunity to visit that location. The restaurants ambience was good. Kind of romantic but lighting was brighter than some places I visited. We were seated at a table and were quickly acknowledged by the waiter. Actually it ended up being 3. We seriously felt special. This was a 4 course meal. I had an appetizer, salad, soup, entree and desert. The Filet was rememorable. Cooked just right(medium well) with zip sauce. The flavor and the seasoning were excellent. Overall this was one of the best dining experiences. The combination of a great, attentive wait staff and great food made this a great experience. I look forward to visiting again.
(5)Aaron S.
Great service. Horrible food. 6 courses of canned food. The spaghetti tasted like chef boyardee. I paid too much for cafeteria food. $140
(1)Jennifer A.
Fantastic service with outstanding food!!! Everything is so fresh and flavorful! I absolutely love the table side Caesar salad! The Shrimp Lelli is very delicious and lemony! Every dish is amazingly good! Very hard to decide on one item for dinner. Oh! And great cocktails!!!
(5)Raffi E.
Well, I should have known that since there was a Groupon involved, that it was likely due to a suffering or slow business. I've always wanted to try this place, so the misses and I gave it a shot. First off, the ambience is nice, but I look at is as being "cheaply high class". For a place that requires their waiters to wear tuxedos and bow ties, the menus shouldn't be torn apart like ours was. I know that I came for the food, but when you charge 54 dollars for a filet, you should have a nice menu and pleasant wait staff to go with it. Service was mediocre at best. Our waiter looked like he was miserable and didn't want to work there. He never checked on us to see how everything was and only once at the very end of the night did I get a refill on my water. The only time he showed up at the table was when he dropped a plate off and then offered parmesan or cracked pepper each time...that's as far as his service went. The place was nowhere near busy too, which is another reason why I'm knocking on the wait staff. I'm not looking to be harassed every second by the waiter, but seriously, act like you represent something special in this restaurant....it effects the experience. Anyway, we tried an appetizer sampler consisting of the shrimp Lelli, tenderloin tips, and escargot. It was just average. The sauces surrounding the appetizers were really what was most enjoyable about them. Also, the antipasto tray looked insulting for being in a restaurant like this. I've had much better house salad and minestrone soup elsewhere as well. Okay, so the filet mignon...it was delicious. I asked for medium and it was a perfect medium. Granted, it took well over an hour for dinner to arrive, but it did and it tasted great. Melted in my mouth. The potatoes were also delicious. That was pretty much the only good thing in the restaurant. Needless to say, I'm sure I won't be coming back. This place has a lot of work that needs to be done from the staff to the courses prior to the entrée.
(2)Marianna Z.
It has been quite awhile since we've eaten at Lelli's. We had a $60.00 Groupon and ended up here a couple of Friday nights ago. I started off asking for a hard cider and they had none available on tap or in a bottle. The Hubby ordered the Porterhouse and Lobstertail with all the fixings, I ordered a veal. We had the 6 course meal which includes bread, antipasto, minestrone, pasta, main course and then spumoni. The side courses were fine. My husband loved his steak and lobster. My veal was like shoe leather, I do not recommend it. We informed the waiter that it was my birthday, and he stuck a candle in the ice cream. The booth we were seated at was dirty on the top edge. There is a little more attention to detail needed in the bathrooms as well, and the decor should be updated. The service was good, our entrees and one drink apiece the bill came out to over $100.
(3)Ricky P.
This was amazing. IT was the best food I've eaten in a long time. The filet was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. It was expensive as all hell, but what did I care I wasn't paying for it! Know what I'm sayin'? The service was perfect and everyone was really nice. Great job.
(5)Jon B.
Shocked this place is only 3.5 stars! Wife and I have been coming here for the past 10 years!!!! Best filet EVER and you get 5 courses!!!! Truly best filet on the state!!
(5)Jordan P.
This is one of those restaurants that are in the middle of nowhere exciting, and doesn't really look like anything special, but you walk in and eyebrows are raised. Very quiet, okay decor, and amazingly helpful wait staff. Once they've helped you order your food and it comes out of the kitchen you know why this place has stuck around for so long. I got the chicken picatta and it was the best I've had in a long time.
(5)Christina B.
A classy place. I enjoyed the tenderloin wild mushroom with mashed potatoes. I ordered it medium and it was perfectly cooked. A very delicious lunch.
(5)Randi M.
Husband had been here numerous times for work, I finally got the chance to experience the Filet he has raved about. It is worth the 1 hour drive from home!
(5)Barbara P.
Lelli's is one of our favorite restaurants. The service is always stellar; the food is delicious. There is an abundance of food and this is great for a special occasion. It is a very beautiful restaurant and is great for a special occasion. There are a great number of choices on the menu. You can order traditional (many courses) or Ala Carte. Even when you order ala carte you get potato and a vegetable. Our favorite choices are the Chicken Lelli (mine) or the filet (my husband's). But everything here is delicious; you will not be disappointed. Thanks, Lelli's for making us feel so special.
(5)Tom N.
Amazing experience! Great place for a date! Get the chateaubriand for two! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Mike M.
Food is simply amazing here. We have been many times and never once had anything less than perfect. The filet with zip sauce melts in your mouth and always is prepared as ordered. The minestrone is simply the best minestrone I've had. The rolls, salad, and pasta before the meal compliment dinner perfectly. The quality and preparation of food here are unparalleled and consistently perfect. One of the best restaurants in Metro Detroit.
(5)Dianne Y.
Amazing food but service was horrendous. Slow service and had to ask for water multiple times. Extremely long interval time between meal courses, lasting in a total of 3 hours! Martinis were mediocre.
(3)Scott B.
Arrived 5 min. Before our reservations and got seated right away. Our reservations were for 5 pm so the valet was not on duty. Our server " Courtney " was very prompt in coming to our table and greeted us with a smile. She offered us drinks and menus. All 5 courses came with a little time in between so we where not rushed in eating. The meal was great I thought that I was going need help walking I was so full. I read a few of the other reviews and I thought this might not be a great place to eat. Let me tell you that they're wrong. Lelli's still has it.... From start to finish our meal was great and we will be back again.
(5)Bridgette Z.
I really wanted to like this place but i am sad to say i probably won't be returning :( i have read some great reviews and even had a couple recommendations from friends to try it out so i purchased the groupon. I guess that should be my 1st red flag when a "fine dining" restaurant has to use groupon. My husband and i were sat immediately and a busboy filled our water glasses and brought out fresh bread and butter. I like the bread there. Our server brought us menus and a wine list shortly after. The wine list was big and not terribly overpriced either, many bottles were only $30 - $40. We each got a glass of house wine (cabarnet for me, chianti for him) only $6 each. I decided on the tuna steak. The menu stated a sushi grade piece of tuna with a tomato basil vinegarette. My husband got the veal del. If you order the "lelli's traditional" you get a 6 course meal so that's the route we took. First you get an antipasti plate with 2 cocktail shrimp, some beets, olives, pepperoncini, 2 tiny pieces of cheese, 2 thin slices of salami and another italian meat.. ehhh nothing to write home about. Next we received the house salads which were pretty good but salty dressing already on it. Next was the minestrone soup which was ok but it was cream based rather than tomato or broth based which seemed kind of odd. Next was the pasta course which was overcooked spaghetti with a meat sauce that reminded me of chef boy r dee ravioli. No authenticity or flavor. Next our meals were served. Immediately i knew my tuna was overcooked as soon as it was on the table. I asked for rare to medium rare but it was definitely at medium well. As far as "tomato basil vinegarette" it was a bunch of sliced grape tomatoes and red onion on top of the fish. Although it looked pretty it did not taste pretty. It was tough because it was indeed overcooked and the flavors were just off putting. I sadly sent it back and got the veal del which my husband ordered and we both enjoyed. The "twice baked potatoes" that they serve with all the dinner plates are really just flavorless mashed potatoes that tasted like they were from a box. Lastly we got the spumoni which was pretty standard and good. Overall the staff here is very nice, i loved our busboy and server and i felt very bad that i sent my food back but she was very nice throughout our entire meal. If i ever return i will stick to their veal and steak dishes but i don't see myself coming back. I don't feel the quality of the food is worth anywhere near the prices on the menu. Sidenote before anyone thinks I'm a jerk.. I've worked in many restaurants in the past and I'm not a picky eater i swear! I've only sent food back twice in my entire life besides last night and once was because of hair in my salad at a diner.
(2)Arnold A.
I'm new to yelp so I'm going through and reviewing all my favorite places. Lellis was one of the first to come to mind. This is a higher end eating experience and you get what you pay for. The service is excellent and the food is awesome. They do everything well. Great place to go to celebrate or take a date.
(5)Arleen G.
Don't eat here,,they are rude and unprofessional ... The steak always has to be sent back and the attitude of the management is horrible ,,,and I mean horrible ... They don't appreciate the customers , it's a shame that the tradition of the great Detroit location did not carryover ... Everyone misses the original.
(1)sharlan d.
This is an old-school Italian restaurant, the kind with white tablecloths, waiters in tuxedos and Sinatra playing all the time. We arrived on a Sunday evening, in a week when their Groupon offer was ending and they were mobbed. This is a big, well-established place and I'm not going to say that they should have anticipated the rush. But I could. We didn't have a reservation but were willing to wait at the bar, where we lingered for an hour. There were empty tables in the bar area occasionally, but, again, I'm willing to cut them some slack and acknowledge that, if they were understaffed, it was better to not seat people they couldn't serve promptly. So why is it that, after we were seated, our meal took two and a half hours, with our waiter being largely invisible? And, by the way, what kind of ostensibly well-stocked bar doesn't carry rye? The bartender didn't even seem to know what it is. This is a pricey place. There are meals priced over $60. Yes, they are four-course meals, with an antipasto plate, soup, pasta and a well-aged beef entree, but still. For that kind of money I expect a waiter who knows a little something about wine. We asked him for recommendations and he admitted that he doesn't really know a lot about what's on the wine list. Could we see the sommelier? No, they no longer have a somm. If you're going to save money that way, you better shift some of your budget into better training for the wait staff. Our food was better than good but not sensational. Filet Siciliano - delicious. Medium rare veal chop - tasty but chewy. Anchovy appetizer -right out of the tin. I was shocked to see that there were two tables in the bar area given over to staff activities. While we ate, two employees sat down at one of the tables with a stack of papers and a calculator to conduct business. Maybe that's part of the charm in a mom-and-pop establishment, but it's absolutely beyond the pale in a restaurant with such otherwise high aspirations.
(2)Kathleen C.
My husband and I went to Lelli's this past Friday evening for dinner. I had the Fettuccini Bolognese and he had their 8 oz. Fillet Mignon. I ordered the Traditional option which came with an antipasto that included a shrimp, a beet slice, some olives, salami and cheese. My option also included their minestrone soup and a side order of Spaghetti Bolognese. My husband ordered the Ala Carte option which included Double Baked Mashed potatoes and Green Beans. He also ordered a House Salad and we ordered some Garlic Toast for the table. They also served some rolls and toast for the table. All I can say is that every bite was absolutely delicious! We shared our meals with one another and the fillet and pasta were to die for! The fillet was PERFECT and cut like butter. My husband said the green beans were the best he ever had. The service, during a busy dinner hour, was great! It was a MUCH better experience than our previous visit there a few years ago. The decor is definitely "old school Italian restaurant"...but that is okay by me. We look forward to returning to Lelli's which has been a mainstay in the Detroit area for years. I am so glad they have returned to their former wonderful reputation!
(5)Jeff G.
If you're in the mood for a fine dining experience, and some delicious food, good atmosphere and attentive waiters, this is your restaurant. As per my usualI, I ordered their salmon dinner, this is a full three course dinner, first they start you out with a fantastic vinaigrette salad and condiment tray, then comes the minestrone soup, by the time you get your main course you're usually pretty full however the salmon and twice baked potatoes with green beans were so good I couldn't help myself but to eat all of it. My associate had the chicken Cordon Bleu and he said it was the best it ever tried. The waiter was very good and new the menu very well, He served us without giving my associate a second look even though he was wearing shorts, I thought they would ask us to leave but this was not the case, they treated us with the utmost respect. I highly recommend this restaurant, however don't forget your wallet it is a little pricey. PS don't wear shorts you'll feel out of place.
(5)Susan N.
Lelli's is always a good experience! Thei steaks are presented in the old fashion flair of the table side cut. Food is excellent! The service is outstanding! They make sure you are delighted! Really filling! Stuffed, with take puts for linch or dinner!
(5)Jennifer L.
I typically do not write reviews but my husband and I had a bad dinning experience at Lellies. We had a groupon as a gift and had arrived at 5pm, got seated at 5:40 which wasn't bad however the service was horrible. Dinner was too long I did not expect to spend 3 hours at a place were the servers did not seem at all attentive or cared about how our experience was. They all seemed like they were running around all the time yet invisible to the customers needs. We saw tables around us not get service after they were seated for 20 min! Our server never checked or asked how we were doing. After finished with our main course, he saw we were done but did not bother to bring is boxes or the bill. I finally got a hold of someone else 30 min later and they didn't even tell our server we had asked for the check. The food was not as great as I had expected a pricey restaurant to be. Our filet, mashed potatoes and green beans were drenched in butter. Needless to say we will not be returning to Lellies because the service was unprofessional.
(1)Pat M.
Would have been five stars had my steak not been somewhat over cooked! There is something to be said for consistency. Lelli's is consistent. The food is the same as it was prepared 40 years ago at the original location on Woodward in the New Center Area. High quality, well prepared, classic with an Italian flare. The service was just how I like it, solid. Somehow Lelli's has figured out how to survive by hanging on to traditional fare in a world that wants fat and gluten free. That is not Lelli's. I will be back!
(4)Shannon S.
Groupon/Girls Night/Birthday Dinner/Reservations for 7PM We had to wait 20 minutes even though we had a reservation, but not a big deal, as once you are seated, you are eating, pretty much eating continually until you are finished. Everything is timed really well, so if you are starving, just chill, the food will begin to flow~ Dinner consisted of 6 courses (WoW!!) all three of us ladies ordered the Petit Filet. I ordered mine medium rare and it was as gorgeous as the photo that's already posted. Very delicious, and the zip sauce really is, as amazing as everyone says! My two girlfriends did have to send their steaks back because they were cold, but once they returned, all was well. Our server was a man of few words, however, he was very attentive, always at our beck and call. When we needed his attention for the cold steaks, he literally ran from across the room when he saw me signaling. Service was excellent, even as our haunted groupon sat on the table in the empty seat at our four top table. The courses. First they bring you bread, a huge warm roll, with butter, as your drink requests are being gathered and filled, then comes the salad, with an antipasto platter. All items were very good, and the house dressing was very good. Next comes the Minestrone soup, a version I had never had before, it almost seemed like it was a cream base, which was excellent, I don't normally care that much for the brothy minestrone. Next up was the pasta, wonderfully flavored, just enough to keep you wanting more. Your main entree is next up, wonderful cut of meat, that is do delicious, it makes me want to put red meat back on the weekly rotation (almost! ha!) creamy mashed potatoes, with zip sauce mixed in, and crisp green beans. MOUTH WATERING!! The last, but hardly the least is the dessert, I had the spumoni, but they offered a couple of different flavored sorbets as well. Oh and they have a young man who sings while you dine, he came into our dining room and got our attention, and then sang and acapella song to us, it was a nice little extra All in all, Lelli's was a real treat, I would love to go back....hint hint...haha! :-)
(5)Valerie A.
How could I forget to review Lelli's!! Been here time and time again. I always order the same thing. The 6 course filet meal. Starts with an antipasto tray, salad (my favorite part, I love the dressing), minestrone soup, small plate of spaghetti (sometimes I get it with palomino sauce for an additional cost), then my perfectly cooked delicious and juicy filet with mashed potatoes and green beans. I always get the creamy mushroom sauce to accompany my steak because it makes it even more amazing. At the end you are served with the neopolitan? ice cream which is nothing special but I'll take it anyways. I'm always so stuffed after a visit to Lelli's and I can never finish my entree but that's ok because I look forward to eating my left overs the next day! My only complaint is that they raised the prices by about $8 a person for this 6 course meal last time I went so it can get pricey. Mario's in Detroit is very very similar to Lelli's but not quite as expensive.
(5)Marybeth S.
While visiting family on the East side of the state from our home in Holland, MI, we looked for a place to celebrate a belated New Year's Eve. We wanted fine dining and we found it and more at Lelli's. For my husband and I it was reminiscent of the "fancy" restaurants we went to for important events with our parents when we were kids, from the semi-circular leather booths, the linens, elegant lighting and the tuxedo clad servers. We were blessed beyond measure to be attended to by Lee, who didn't just wait on us, he cared for us. He explained the differences in the menu options and then shared why the prices in red would give us a more complete, traditional experience. We took his suggestions and are so delighted we did! We both chose the Chateaubriand with all the bells and whistles! We began with Oysters Rockefeller - fantastic, and then began the dining journey guided by the wonderful, Lee. House salad, Antipasto Platter, Creamy Minestrone, an amazing Pasta, followed by the Chateaubriand prepared table side. Each leg of the journey was great & the entree was stellar. All that was needed in the end was sorbet - lemon for my husband and mango for me. We would happily travel 2 1/2 - 3 hours for a dinner of this magnitude for a special celebration. Again, a very special thank you to Lee for his exceptional service.
(5)Dan N.
Move over Ruth's Chris, if I want a steak in Detroit, I'm coming to Lelli's! I'll be the first to admit, I'm a sucker for the old-school vibe of this place. But based on the reviews, I'm shocked at how much I loved the food. The prices of the steaks seem expensive, but they include an array of courses before dinner--bread, antipasti, salad, soup, pasta....then the steak. I ordered the extra cut filet--it was juicy and cooked perfectly to medium-rare. Honestly, it didn't even need the zip sauce, but who can resist a delicious pot of what appeared to be spiced up melted butter (with balsamic?). Yes, it's a bit expensive, but I really thought dinner's a Lelli's was an EXPERIENCE, and a very memorable night out! PS This probably deserved 4 stars, but Lelli's needs some extra love!!
(5)Food Critic S.
Experience was very bad! Used to be one of my favorites! Good was cold (soup, pasta, vegetables) zip sauce was butter !! No flavor !! Not sure what changed here but wouldn't be going back for a long time if at all !! Management didn't seem to care about us or the food being cold!!
(1)Matthew P.
Much like the once powerful and great city of Rome, It appears that now Lelli's too has fallen from grace in a historic plummet. Considering that this establishment during the 80's and 90's was considered one of the true heavy weights of the metro-Detroit dinning scene, it is apparent that poor ownership or management has caused it to crumble from within. After a recent visit to Lelli's, here are a list of the issues that we encountered: 1. Drinks were made wrong (no olives in the martinis and my manhattan was simply bourbon poured over ice? ... No vermouth, bitters, or a cherry for garnish) 2. The soups came out cold 3. Our meals came out cold 4. My wife's meal came out well after everyone else's meal, which they had to take back anyway since they were all cold. 5. Our wine lady spilled the ice bucket and wine everywhere. The fact that the place was a ghost town on a Friday night should be a clear signal. Save your well spent money and dine elsewhere. This place has truly gone to shit.
(1)Thula K.
Sometimes when you are in a nice restaurant, the food can't overcome bad service. We planned a nice romantic dinner out to Lellis (reservations and all) and were made to wait a full hour before being seated. Why take reservations if you aren't going to seat us on time. After being seated, we had a staff hurriedly drop some bread on our table. Our waitress was nowhere to be found for 15 mins. When she did show up, it was hurried and she proceeded to ask me if I ate shellfish, when my Caucasian husband was the one with the dietary restrictions (ignorant stereotype much?). The food as always was delicious and filling, but not worth the horrible service. Will not be going back, there are plenty of restaurants that aren't understaffed and overbooked.
(2)Mark O.
Follow-up review I have been going to Lellis for many years and feel its still the best meal around , anyone who wrote those bad reviews go to Ponderosa for your steak .
(5)Lana L.
I used to work for Lelli's in Auburn Hills and they have a living quarters above the restaurant - they let the large hairy family dog come into the kitchen area after the doors close while the staff was doing the night end cleaning. They would let the dog get some of the dishes that were mistakes but we were scolded if we asked if we could take anything home. THIS PLACE SUCKS AND IS VERY DIRTY
(1)Andreas F.
Expensive and does not meet expectations. The atmosphere is 1930s and cozy, but the service is mediocre, the food nothing special, the full meal would serve a whole family and it is all totally overpriced.
(2)Kurt M.
Came to visit on a business trip and spoke to host and confirmed dishes and times, returned as promised and valet stated no service due to slow night, no effort access to talk to management who I spoke to 2 hours prior.
(1)Marie S.
Husband finally took me somewhere super nice for anniversary. We've looked at the menu before and saw a steak is $50... well shit, I can buy a whole tenderloin for that and cook at home! Upon closer inspection I saw it was a 6 course meal for $50! SO WORTH IT. Only gets 4 stars as we had spinach for a veg side... bleaughghgh. I LOVE spinach, but theirs was icky... probalby creamed spinach, which is so outdated. Might I suggest they start sauteeing it with garlic instead? Otherwise YAY LELLI'S! We might be there every year now! HALLELUJAH
(4)Tyler D.
DO NOT FALL FOR THE GROUPON SCAM! This was my second time dining at the famous Lelli's. My first experience was pleasant, but today -- AWFUL! Business is clearly declining so they are using groupon to get people in the door. That's why we came, but boy were we disappointed. Easily, my worst dining experience so far in 2014. Parking -- This restaurant is surrounded by vacant land, yet has cars crammed all around the tiny, disorganized lot any parked which way. Valets -- A pack of weasels that hang out by the front door.. Constantly leaving said doors open for prolonged periods creating gusts of icy wind throughout the restaurant Coat check -- An aggressive young gal wearing a black overcoat and a white, under armor knit cap, hawking her services for tips. Service -- Our waiter was a panicky dude, wearing a gigantic cubic zircon stud earring. The manager was visible, but never checked on our table, although he did walk by busing dishes at one point. Groupon scam ($60 of food for $30) -- The coupon left out critical details: both people must order an entree, neither can order a "light meal." This pissed me off because we wanted to share an entree and some side orders. We ended up getting a couple of pasta dishes. Food -- My spaghetti bolognese was identical to what was served on a smaller plate as an appetizer. My wife's fettuccini alfredo tasted like dishwater. The antipasto plate was bland, the soup was cold, the highlights of the meal were the tossed salad and the bread (which wasn't that great, but everything else was simply so bad!) Ambiance -- Trashy, dirty. Employees wearing all sorts of their own version of "dressed up." A plate dropped and broken... 20 minutes later a glass explodes on the ground. Gusting winds through the front doors. A dying fish floundering around the aquarium. Final bill: approx $70 Estimated return date: when hell freezes over
(1)Richard F.
This place is a favorite of ours for a business lunch. It is an "old school" kind of place with good, albeit expensive food, good service and nice ambiance. It is quiet enough to have a business conversation. I have been here in summer and winter. The salads are particularly appetizing in the summer and the meat dishes are great all year round. If you do get a steak, make sure that you get the Zip Sauce. It is worth the price of admission. And the quality of the steaks are great too. This is just down the street from the big Sports Venues and I suspect that you might find some of the Sports crowd here at dinner time.
(4)Jake W.
The steak was good, Teddy the waiter was good. Everything else was old old old. The pasta sauce was bad too, out of a can.
(1)John P.
I went on my birthday with my g/f and we each had the 5 course meal. We could have split one 5 course meal. The food was amazing and the service was excellent! I cannot wait to go back! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, as we had to wait due to a concert at the Palace.
(4)Donald L.
Well, everyone gets a second chance, and I was not disappointed either. While we had a early reservation(4:15 on a Saturday) I was very hesitant to come back. I even went so far when making the reservation to have them put a star next to my name and time as to put them on notice. We were quickly whisked to a table, which we had them change and was greeted immediatly by Steve our server. The service was flawless and the Chatuea was excellent.
(5)Terry J.
I am flabbergasted by the bas reviews, especially from those who have only tried Lelli's once. We go to Lelli's on a regular basis. Food has always been outstanding. Perhaps not every meal on the menu, but we have not tried everything. Steak Lelli's, wonderful. Shrimp Lelli's, awesome. The spaghetti side dish is my favorite spaghetti sauce I've had at a restaurant. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, but compared to other steakhouses in the area,mquite a good deal. For the price of a steak alone at Capital Grille, you get antipasto tray, soup, salad, side dishes and dessert at Lelli's. And the service has always been great. I'm shocked by the review that said the waitstaff all wear their own version of dressed up. That statement makes me suspicious of his whole review. Waitstaff always wear tuxedo-type suits. We have never seen them in anything else. We have eaten at at least 3 of the other we'll know steakhouses in the area and came to the conclusion those were not worth our time and money when we have Lelli's as a choice.
(5)David K.
My Dad & I ate here using a Groupon he got for Christmas. My Dad's been a lunchtime regular here for many years, but has stopped coming as of a couple years ago because of the long drive & his age. The dinner service was nice & tasty, but I would not classify it as "5-star." We both ordered prix-fixe, 6-course dinners per the Groupon fine print, which run about $50-$60 per person. You get a lot of food for this amount, so you're getting a fairly good value based on food volume and quality. My leftovers we're more than enough for another future meal, so you essentially get two meals for the prix-fixe price. My only complaints would be in the details. I got a steak & crabmeat special, but my crabmeat still had some shell in it. In fact, I got a mouthful of crab shell in one bite, which was quite frustrating. My Dad's sole was good, but still had several fish bones scattered inside the meat. When I asked to have my meal boxed, I was handed a Styrofoam container to fill with leftovers myself, verses the staff doing it for me, which was quite surprising for a restaurant of this caliber. Other details that surprised me were things like peeling paint in the bathroom and wear & tear on the booth seating. Normally I would not acknowledge stuff like this, but I believe this restaurant wants to be held to a higher standard. All in all, this was was a nice restaurant with good quality food. They just need to polish some of the details to bring it up to their perceived level of quality and service.
(4)Amy L.
My husband and I came across Lelli's because a Groupon deal, we enjoyed it and have been back a few more times. When you pull up there is valet service! It is nice especially in the winter. I will admit however, that my husband and I were very put off by one of the young valet's who looked to have had puke all down the front of his coat as we were leaving the restaurant (this was about a year ago, but the sight still sticks with us and we think about it everytime we go there). The meals are traditional and start with an antipasto platter which is interesting. The soup is fantastic! My husband and I have gotten the Chateaubriand and the filet, which are both excellent. There was a lovely singer that was making his way around the restaurant and we both found him very enjoyable. We'll be back again!
(4)Jill D.
We visited Lelli's because we had heard they were great and we got a great Groupon deal. All meals are served traditional Italian style with a 6 course meal. 5 courses are the same for everyone, and you pick your own entree. Starts with an antipasto platter, which left much to be desired. The food on it was okay, but the presentation was just so-so. Then a salad - mixed greens with chick peas and tomatoes. Then some pretty incredible minestrone soup. We were then served the pasta course - it was boiled white spaghetti with what looked like chili globbed on top. It left much to be desired. I expected fresher noodles and tastier sauce from an Italian restaurant. Entrees were next - see below. And amazing spumoni for dessert. For my entree I chose the petite filet. This was probably one of the best filet's I have ever had. It was so juicy and cooked to perfection! As many other reviewers have pointed out, their zip sauce (mostly butter from what I can tell) is very tasty. Lelli's is trying to be an upscale restaurant, but just doesn't quite make it. The atmosphere is nice, and there was live piano music in the bar on Saturday night. However, the food presentation fell short. Our steaks were served with a flimsy, plastic handled knife and the presentation of our dishes was lacking. Service was decent. Our waitress lacked some personality, but my drinks were never empty and dirty dishes were quickly cleared from the table. They were busy, so I would recommend making a reservation. I probably won't go back to Lelli's without getting some sort of deal. It is a nice place, but I would prefer Capital Grille or Ocean Prime if I'm going out for an upscale dinner.
(3)DREW M.
This is a great Italian steakhouse. I've been on here on multiple company holiday parties and they always do a pretty good job with a 5 course meal. Only downside is that they gave me the wrong temperature steak once. A lot of the times you can track down a Groupon and eat here for half the price.
(4)Monte B.
You come here looking for 3 things. Great and cheekily freindly service, a great bottle of wine and a delicious piece of red meet wading in a puddle of zip sauce. And they nail it near every time. I want to give 5 stars but those r reserved for perfection. Lelli's is close, more like 4.5 stars. The martins could be bigger
(4)Maria A.
Smelly Lelli's. First, if you do decide to dine here do not sit by the kitchen. It stinks like bleach and is very unpleasant while eating. This restaurant is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant and you are better off going somewhere else or staying home. They probably haven't updated anything in years, maybe even a decade or two. The menus are torn and to add to it there are still some older ones floating out there. I knew because there was a price difference between my boyfriend's and mine's menu. There is dust in various areas and it seems to be getting in my eyes. The restaurant just screams filth. My wine glass was dirty and covered in crusted on food and grease. The salad tasted dirty. The food was just "okay" and definitely not worth the money. Also, there are holes in the ceiling and water stains from whatever. Willie Degel would have a field day here. The parking is a horrible mess and you could probably get into an accident in this lot since there is only 1 sign and it is written on with permanent marker. I can't blame the wait staff because none this is their fault but then again they weren't too pleasant to dine with.
(1)Brian H.
Was in Auburn Hills for work and ate at this restaurant which was just awful... As soon as you walk in the first thing you will notice is the musky stench of dirty old carpet. We got the traditional prix fixe that comes with the steak (salad, pasta, appetizer, soup, and dessert). The salad was overdressed and the lettuce still was not clean. You could still taste some of the dirt from the lettuce! Soup was whatever and the pasta was overcooked as well. Not even close to real "Italian" food. Then the filet mignon came out and it was a bit overcooked. I also ordered the mushroom sauce and here is when things got worst. In my sauce there was a piece of hard transparent plastic, which I presume came from those plastic packages produce comes in or something. I told the waiter about it and he was sorry and told me he would remove the cost of the sauce from the bill and asked me if I wanted another one prepared. I kindly declines. Then the manager shows up and asks if we had an issue with the food which I then proceed to tell him my story about the plastic piece. He then shows it to me (he had it on his hand) and he asks me where it was. I told him I think it was in the mushroom sauce. Then he says that that's weird because the plastic piece was clean. I told him it was clean because I took it out of my freaking mouth!!! He then says well I have no idea where something like this would come from!!! Hello it obviously came from the kitchen if it was inside the stupid sauce!!! Basically accused me of putting that plastic in the food... Unbelievable. He then just asks if I was ok and left. I didn't feel like arguing so I left it at that... But then the more I thought about it the more I think its insane that such crappy place can exist so I decided to share my bad experience here in Yelp. Avoid this place by all means!!! Longhorn is a much better place for decor and food if you are craving for steak in this area.
(1)Amy N.
Lelli's is my favorite restaurant in Metro-Detroit for a reason. 5 star service, 5 star food. Steak is so good you don't even need the zip sauce. Sausage and pepper appetizer is amazing. Haven't found anywhere that beats either the minestrone soup or the spaghetti. Staff has always been more than attentive and are extremely knowledgable about the different wines and bourbons offered. Truly a classy place.
(5)Ranna M.
Terrible service...delicious food. I wouldn't go back.
(1)I Am S.
Upon entering this establishment I wondered "Have I died and gone to heaven?", not because of Sancho's love for excellent food and service, but because of the crypt-like atmosphere. The chairs are old, uncomfortable and actually dirty. Let's see...an expensive Italian steak house...wine? Think Olive Garden. The nano-scale wine and beer list is truly rudimentary and is an affront to Sancho's tastes. Whoever chose this list obviously mentally challenged. The food? Think Olive Garden. Then multiply your bill by a factor of three. Many people have already given you the truth about the food in other reviews like the canned olives, so we don't need to revisit. They get one star for decent, but slow service and another star for having a singer singing in Italian walking around. This place is a dying restaurant, riding on the coattails of it's reputation. The only people Sancho can imagine it satisfies are those with Champagne money and Beer taste. Sancho can think of a dozen other places that offer real Italian food and dining experience, like: Spago Ristorante in Windsor Cafe Cortina in Farmington Bacco in Southfield D'Amato's in Royal Oak etc. "Stick a fork in Lelli's, it's done." ~ Sancho
(2)Cathy S.
Went Saturday night with a groupon. 5:30 reservation for 2 and we were seated immediately. We each had the med-sized filet; entire meal. Our waitress was wonderful. Told us to sit back and relax that she would do the driving, so to speak. We decided to trust her. It was especially nice not to have to make choices, other than the meat and the way it was cooked. The roll was heavy and tasty, shared between dipping into the salad plate, soup bowl, pasta and zip sauce. The salad was cold and appetizing, brought with extras to make our own antipasto. Then came the minestrone soup which was hot, chopped, and creamy. Wonderful! Although hubby mentioned he would have liked a little noodle in it. The sauce made the pasta side-dish worthy and the steak with the buttery zip sauce was mouth-watering tender, with awesome high-quality flavor, the brown stuff that settles to the bottom of the zip sauce is a must to mix in. Maybe some type of vinegar??? The green beans were snappy, mashed potatoes very buttery and good. My steak was cooked to perfection ordered medium, but hubby's medium turned out to be medium well. Lucky for him we both ordered the 8 oz. with extra zip sauce so he had some of mine to savor after eating his own. Everything came to the table at perfect temperatures. Oh, and the yummy spumoni was a nice way to finish, although we could have had sorbet instead. Service was great, we had 3 glasses of very smooth house Merlot between us, 1 hot and fresh-tasting coffee which was refilled several times, and with the $60 groupon, the bill came to $73. So an hour and a half later (there's a bit of time between courses) we laid out a hundred bucks with the groupon which covered the best complete filet dinner we've ever had! Superb food! The ONLY turnoff...The bathrooms and floors could be kept a little cleaner for this expensive establishment. Noticed a few dirty napkins and garbage on the carpet and paper was lacking in the bathrooms and the floors were very wet with who knows what. Just sayin'...
(5)Aleks S.
To sum up Lelli's in a couple words - Just bad... I really wanted to like this place as my Mom and Dad used to come here often. A few years back we would come for birthdays and it was still just ok to me. Here is my experience: Walked in, my party did not arrive so I sat down and had a Scotch on the rocks at the bar, bar tender was friendly and he even arranged a table for us (place was empty, no prior reservation), no complaints he was great. Service at the table: My party of 5 arrived, they sat down and my brother and I came to the table after we finished our drinks. The table is a square that is converted to a round to accommodate 5. My side was very flimsy and had a downward angle which made me concerned about the food sliding into my lap. They offered to bring a new table but to avoid disrupting everyone around us I grinned and bared it. Our waiter, was just ok, not very attentive, a definite aloof character. The antipasta was bad, shrimp tasted old, martadela was some of the worst I have had, black olives from a can, I didn't dare try the beets and the cheese was probably the safest bet. The bread, thank god for the bread, otherwise I would have left starving!!! Then arrives the pasta side dish, the sauce was a pungent, old cheese tasting gloppy sloppy mess, I regretfully had 2 bites. The minestrone soup looks disgusting but tastes ok, I ate it but did not like it. This pretty much sums up the starters - BAD. Main course: I go to steak houses all of the time. This is not a Cameron's Steakhouse review but that is my favorite and the best in Michigan for me at this time. Considering this My girlfriend and I decided to order the chateaubriand for 2 which is priced at $50 bucks a person. This is to be expected at a HIGH end steakhouse providing tableside service. Well, the dish arrived, looks like a very large portion and hopes are high although they were being jabbed at with the aroma of old fish passing through my nostrils frequently throughout the night. Now the taste test, I cut into the meat and it feels like I am cutting through a sponge, this is a dead giveaway for low quality meat. Since we were here with the family I decided to bite my tongue and taste it, like everything was ok. After my second bite I was ready to spit it out onto my plate, it was a horrible meal. I had no choice but to say something to our waiter, he called a manager, I told him the meat was chewy, he said compared to what? I wanted to say bubblegum, but to be respectful I mentioned, Cameron's steakhouse and he asked if I wanted something else. I really did not but he insisted so I asked for a basic chicken breast. By the time that dish arrived everyone else was finished so I had it boxed up to leave. My girl friend is just to embarrassed to complain so she returned her plate which had 2 bites out of it, my brother and mom painfully finished their filets and my sister-n-law ate half of her salmon which she said was decent. Now for the comedy: So my mom had a Groupon, we told the waiter, he brought the bill, the $60 voucher was not subtracted off the total. He said this would be done when he charges the bill at the register, Fine, we paid in cash, left an 18% tip despite the horrible food and overall experience, (they did not charge for my food) put our coats on and braved the sub zero temperature outside. As I am pulling out I see the Manager sprinting through the front door towards my brother and he was waiving the bill at him. So my brother rolled down his window and told him we had a Groupon. The manager made my brother wait in the parking lot so he could verify this and then after he did we left. Let me say, I have NEVER, I mean never experienced something like this and we will NEVER go back to this establishment. That was obviously due to the lack of communication from the waiter to the manager, still not sure why the manager chased my brother outside, isn't the waiter the one who completes the transaction? Anyways, if I could give negative stars I would. If this is your favorite steakhouse then in my humble opinion you have not been to some of the premier steak houses that charge less for the better quality meat. I really hope they change the quality of meat at Lelli's and the decor inside, this place is going downhill very rapidly, won't be back. The Spumoni tastes like medicine, sorry, I don't like frozen NyQuil following a bad meal.
(1)Gloria V.
This is my favorite place to eat in Michigan. The minestrone is amazing, the palamino sauce is to die for the chateaubriand for 2 is to die for. There are no words to describe how delicious the chateaubriand is and if I could just drink the zip sauce without looking tacky, I would! It is not an inexpensive place, our bill for 2 is never less than $130, but it is worth every penny. I use any excuse for a special occasion to find a resason to go here. I do miss the old place on Woodward that burned down, it did have so much more personality and charm that this Auburn Hills location just sadly lacks, bring back the checkered table cloths, strolling violinists and cheesy, over the top waiters!
(5)Cyd T.
Appetizer tray with cocktail sauce is delicious, salad, soup & spaghetti are all great. I always get the petite filet with carrots & mashed also very good. I suggest spumoni for desert-yum!
(5)Nina C.
Grew up at this place!! The food is always really good for dinner, the lunch Umm not so much!! The service is just ok! If they would just get rid of the old waiters and bring in young guys it would be a lot nicer!! Never had a bad dinner here! Lunch is really really tough! Sometimes it's good NOT great but good! And other times its just GARBAGE! And ladies always bring a little jacket, shawl, or wear long sleeves because its FREEZING in here- no matter what season!!
(4)Stephen G.
My favorite place for a filet. Great food, great service. Good for a suit and tie event, but casual enough for a jeans and piston game kind of night as well. One knock-I like to valet my car sometimes, but its super annoying when your kind of forced to when its not really necessary.
(5)Denise Z.
Love lelli's!!!! Best filet in town but also has other GREAT italian dishes! Staff works very hard to please everyone and we enjoy our evening every time. The maitre d Rick is such a class act. We try to go during the week because they get pretty busy on the weekends. This is a Detroit institution. Whenever family comes in from out of town this is the restaurant they want to come back to every time.
(5)Sue D.
The food was very good. Our server Kevin was very helpful and accomadating. The glass situation was almost funny. They ran out of clean glasses? One bartender hardly working, the other (tall, thin) doing the work of 3. My husband did point this out to the manager hope it will do some good.
(5)Joshua R.
Inept. I never thought I would write that about Lelli's, but it has really gone downhill in the twelve years we've gone there. Tonight was bad in so many ways. We arrived slightly early for our 8:00 PM reservation. I don't know why we bothered with reservations, since it was clearly no different from just walking in. But that 25 minute wait was only the first of many. Once we were seated, we waited a long time to place our order, waited a long time for our salads, waited for our wine, waited a really long time for our entrees, and waited for our check. Perhaps if our waitress didn't take so many smoke breaks we wouldn't have waited so long. But I buried the lead. The cabernet I ordered smelled like rubbing alcohol, so I sent it back. Oddly, the guy near me who ordered a petite syrah had the exact same problem! Seems shady to me. They replaced our wines, but the bartender poured them in white wine glasses instead of the red wine glasses many others had. I realize most people and restaurants don't distinguish, but if it does, the bartender should know the difference. And then the medium-rare filet arrived, cooked medium-well. I looked for the waitress to get it fixed, but it was literally 10 minutes with my plate sitting at the edge of the table before anyone even asked. It wasn't the waitress. I think she was out smoking. After someone asked, about 7 minutes later my rare steak arrived. I wasn't about to ask for a bit more heat to it. I'm not sure how Texas Roadhouse gets it right every time, but an expensive steakhouse can't. I've never sent back wine and steak before and I didn't expect this to be the restaurant where I would have to do it. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have had to.
(2)Beth W.
Best Filet I've ever had..it's so tender and delicious! The Minestrone is very good too. Ive been there a few times now, last time was in November when my husband took me out for my Birthday, very good service and awesome meal. If your looking for an awesome steak and a nice dining experience def try Lelli's, even better when they have the splitter menu its such a good value, Ive gone to Fridays and reg chains and spent as much and it can't touch this place.
(5)Jeff B.
Exceptional. Asked them to whip me up a custom pasta primavera, and it was exceptional. Mutli-course meal. I asked for something custom, not from the menu, and they took care of everything ... with excellence.
(5)Liz M.
Worst restaurant I've been to in years. Service: I travel for work and eat at restaurants 3-5 nights at week -- and have never had service this bad. Example: server took a full bowl of soup away from someone who was still eating. Example: late joiners to our table were never asked (over the course of more than an hour) if they would like something to drink. Example: server plunked (no other word for it) my appetizer plate down on top of my bread plate, like plate bunk-beds. Example: antipasto plates ordered by table never arrived. Food: Most over-salted salmon I have eaten in my life (unfortunate, as underneath all that salt, the salmon wasn't half-bad). Most over-salted mashed potatoes I have eaten in my life. Bread rolls were good. Decor: Very...lunch at the old-folks' home. I could have gotten past that had the service and food not been bad.
(1)Suzie C.
My favorite fancy Italian steakhouse in the area. If I was rich I'd eat there every day. The Minestrone soup and Zip sauce is to die for. Filet was oh so tender. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Cindy H.
My waitress Emily was good. I was in town in on business so I opted to sit at a table in the bar and get some work done while I dined. Well the restaurant was unusually warm and I commented on it to the waitress. She mentioned it to the owner/manager?? who was working on the fish tank near me and he said something like "tell her to take off her shirt". Seriously??!! So he checked the thermostat and I here him say its 77 degrees (someone turned off the heat). So he turned up the air. Fine, life is good. There is a fish tank that separates the bar area from the entrance and it was being cleaned at 7:21pm on a Wednesday night. I can him splashing around the tank and discussing the need for an employee to go to the hardware store to buy parts. An employee who was leaving because she had no tables comes over and asks for her check and starts to talk about other stuff all not far from me. She leaves but comes back asking for the schedule because she forgot to update it. I understand the makeshift office is in the bar area but employees should be counseled to discreetly approach the manager/owner and quietly state their request. The random conversation among coworkers was annoying. I am not sure where they should congregate when not busy but not in my hearing please. This is not a fast food restaurant where this is still not really acceptable but since the bill is under $10 who cares. I haven't received my bill but these martini's are small probably 6oz ($13 - out of control for this bit of booze) and the valet parking is $3 which is not much but really I didn't even see where the self park was and when I inquired of the valet, I don't think he understood English. Maybe the dining room has better ambiance but I cannot see coming back to determine if that is the case. I had the petite filet with zip sauce and twice baked mashed potatoes. The food was good but the atmosphere overshadowed it for me. Why didn't I just leave you ask? Well it wasn't the end of the world and I am lazy and I was hungry, lol I am ready to leave so where is my good waitress with my check, why hanging with the other staff by the bar. So, I finally get her attention and ask for my check. The check is for $487.50, are you freaking kidding me!!! If this is mine we have a problem and of course I cannot find Emily. I ask the bartender to find her and I get a check for $60 which is more like it except these teeny, tiny martinis that cost way too much. Okay I need to get out of here, I am getting really annoyed now.
(2)Beau R.
Lelli's is an upscale steak house in Auburn HIlls, MI. The restaurant is in a location that seems deserted with no other businesses around. The dark and comfortable atmosphere screams "mobster hangout". The menu is stacked with high quality cuts of beef and other Italian specialties. All the beef is USDA Prime. Most of the dinner items are 5 courses. I came in for lunch and was able to get a 3 course meal. I had the Petit Filet, a little side of spaghetti, and mashed potatoes. The Spaghetti was average. It didn't have much meat in the sauce and I couldn't really taste anything but tomato in the sauce. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… The Petit Filet came out with the mashed potatoes on the side. The Filet was very tender and very well seasoned. It was cooked perfectly, hot and still juicy. I kept holding each slice of the steak in my mouth just to absorb the fantastic flavor. Great Steak. The mashed potatoes that came with were bad ass. Made with heavy cream and baked to have a crisp layer of cooked cream on top. Very very good. yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… yelp.com/biz_photos/dZ3F… This is a great place to have a romantic date or a nice meal. The prices are high and the area is kinda lame but the food is high quality and you wouldn't leave unhappy.
(4)Shelly S.
We made a reservation for July 6, 2012, 7:30 p.m. We were very specific about our requests since we were celebrating a special occasion with our adult children. The day before I was called to confirm the reservation and all was good. BTW the requests were.......table in back room, good waiter and good service. Not too much to ask I hoped. When we arrived the table was ready and from then on things went downhill. Waiter was inefficient and waiting on too many tables. Made lots of excuses and finally came and said we had his undivided attention and then left yet again. Drinks took 35 minutes to arrive. Specials were given after we sat with our menus for a long time and were ready to order. Splitter platter was not offered nor was it on the menu. I could go on but I think you get the idea. Dinner was close to $500.00 for 9 people. A 20% tip was recommended on our check. The food was very good but the service was disappointing. I called and spoke to Mike and he listened and again more excuses.....the restaurant was really busy he said, hmmmmm whose problem is that? He was supposed to call me back but he never did. We will take our business elsewhere and suggest you do the same.
(2)Carol T.
Lelli's Redux... My husband and I returned to Lelli's just this past weekend on a trip to Michigan. We've been here many times before and, as always, this place did not disappoint. Our selection this time was a chateaubriand for two. At $48.75 PER PERSON, this meal was more expensive than the Blu-Ray/DVD player we just purchased BUT the quality and the quantity of food was unmatchable. Served tableside by two wait staff, we each had a large portion of meat cooked exactly to our specifications. The sides with the entree were mashed potatoes, spinach and carrots...all large portions. Don't forget, the Lelli's "experience" is comprised of 6 courses all included in the price of your dinner: antipasto platter for an appetizer, salad, minestrone soup, a pasta side dish, the entree with its sides and spumoni or ices for dessert. Who could eat all this food??? This one meal also gave each of us a complete second dinner and one lunch! Taking all that into consideration, the $48.75 seemed more reasonable. Remember, when you go to these big name steak places, you're just paying for the meat. Everything else is a la carte. We were seated in the bar area this time. It was a nice experience and just a bit quieter than the main dining room. Friday and Saturday nights have a vocalist with piano accompaniment. Don Corleone would approve of this place!
(5)Arthur D.
The entire dining experience was bad. It saddens me to report this. This is not a one-off experience review but rather it is based on numerous visits over the past year. The Lillis trendline is going from a second rate to a 3rd rate place. Our last visit was Thursday April 3, 2014. Everything was bad. It was not crowded in the restaurant, so being too busy is not an excuse. We started with a drink in the bar. Bartender was slow. He was too busy arguing with the wait staff. Akward. The server was slow to wait on us , had bad follow ups and forgot things. My martini came 1/2 full. He said the glasses were new and larger, but I saw other tables' martinis full-up. We got the wrong salad. We ordered Ceasars, and when they came they were small. To add insult to injury, the price for a Ceasar had increased by over $3.50 -- about a 70% increase. Wow.. In fact all of Lillis food prices have moved north significantly, an estimated +20%. The server told us it is to compensate for a significant increase in their Groupon business. Last and NOT least the qualuty of our dinnners was beyond disappointing. My filet was cold - not even warm. The waiter seemed put out about bringing it back to reheat it. My wife's entree was well over cooked. Our desserts billid as house-made were garbage. The Chocolate cake and Terramiso were of Gordon Food Sevicee quality. One bite and off to the trash. The grand finale was a rude waiter. A discussion with owner -- Mike Lelli -- was a total waste of everyone's time. The good news is after at least a year -- perhaps 6 or mire visits-- we will never return. Others in our circle of friends have sumiluar experiences. We have been regulars at Lellis for at least 35 years. It was suck a special and magical place to us and our friends. So sad that a Detriot institution has effectively died. RIP. We are done with it.
(1)Pete D.
My wife took me to Lelli's for my birthday and I have to say it was very good. Great steak for a great price. If you get a Groupon coupon you can get a 1/2 deal. I've been back twice each time as good as the last. A lot food, the soup is the best in town. Go see for yourself you won't go wrong.
(5)John H.
Bad experience! Snooty waiters that treated us like low class spoiled what could have been a great dinner. We were dressed nicely, but not formal and I think this is the reason. The food was excellent but I will never go back. His attitude totally ruined our 2 hr experience and I couldn't even enjoy the great food, that cost over $100.
(2)Robert P.
How many times have i spent a lot of money at dinner and the restaurant does not even come close to bringing it... Lelli's is not that place...the fillet is amazing and i am not that big into meats...just cut a small piece off and roll it around in the butter zip sauce put it into your mouth and just moan with erotic pleasure. Okokok so the antipasto was nothing to cry over...the minestrone was good...but that just does not shake the fact the fillet is the best I have ever had...yea i said it... Go here for dinner or lunch and you will leave satisfied.
(4)Anna S.
Lelli's has been the go-to fancy, special-occasion restaurant for my family for probably 13 years. Now that the Detroit location is burned down, only the Auburn Hills location is open. It's in a sort of corporate dead-zone on Opdyke near the Silverdome, but it's worth the drive if you're looking for a great Italian steakhouse. The food is AMAZING, but the service consistently leaves something to be desired. I can't help but get the prime filet mignon five course dinner when I go, and I find all courses amazing. The first course is a simple salad with a house vinigarette dressing, alongside an antipasto tray and freshly baked bread and sweet cream butter. The antipasto tray has pepperoncini, shrimp cocktail, mozzerella cheese, mortadella, beets and salame. The next course is their creamy minestrone with white beans, vegetables and ribbons of sweet basil. Third course is a small portion of spagetti bolognese, where the sauce is thick and meaty. And finally, the filet mignon with whipped potatoes and their to-die-for zip sauce. The prime filet is buttery tender and always cooked perfectly. The zip sauce is absolutely amazing - rich, buttery and a hint of beef jus. I always ask for extra and pour some on the potatoes. You do get a complimentary dish of spumoni or lemon sorbet, but you almost always have to ask for it. Every course comes with the option of freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. They have a fully stocked bar and a reasonably priced wine list. My husband will attest that the dirty martini's there are the best he's ever had. Now the hard part; the lame-ish service. My mother is a smoker, and back when there wasn't a ban on smoking in Michigan restaurants we always sat in the smoking section (which was the bar). Without fail, three things were always present: 1) a manager who sat at a table off to the side, but talked loudly and rudely on the phone and to staff within earshot of other seated guests. 2) a large, flat-screen TV with some sort of sporting event on it (really? I'm paying $39.99 for my 5-course dinner while watching the Lions?). 3) Inappropriately acting drunk guests, such as a golf foursome after a round, or some randy middle-aged second-time-around couple getting "close." In present day, non-smoking Lelli's, these same distractions abound, and I even noticed two large flat-screens in the more formal part of the restaurant, not just the bar (thankfully they weren't on when I dined there this last Friday evening). The service in this type of restaurant is supposed to be a little slower paced, due to the multitude of courses and the amount of food you're trying to consume. But occasionally the service is a little too slow, which was the case the other night with my husband. Lame service aside, I give the food a solid 5-stars and if given an opportunity to splurge for dinner I can't tear myself away from this gem. If you're really into an amazing steak, or want to impress someone when money is no object, I suggest Lelli's Inn, hands down.
(4)Chris C.
You will not leave going hungry! Service and steaks were incredible. Zip sauce is one step above Ruth's Chris'. The staff treats you with respect and like many other posts, that can make or break a nice meal with friends! Highly recommended!
(4)Caitlin T.
My two-start rating a a generous one; giving a star only for a well-cooked steak. I will give credit where credit is due. Otherwise the food was forgettable and the customer treatment was downright offensive. We decided on a Saturday afternoon to call in and ask if they had any reservations last-minute. They told us they had openings after 8:30, so we gladly put our name in. We arrived at 8:30 to a very friendly valet, so I started off feeling good. I enjoy when people are smiling and chatty and don't just look at the ground while opening my door. The valet was one of only two people working at Lelli's that night who actually made me feel like a valued customer. We entered into a packed waiting area. There was a line to get to the front of the house to check in for our reservation, though we would find that all of the people ahead of us were only in 3 parties. Despite the fact that it should only take about a minute tops to take a persons name and their time of reservation; it took us until 8:45 to actually give our name for an 8:30 reservation because the maitre'd kept walking away, including him leaving just my boyfriend and I standing directly in front of his stand for about 5 minutes after he checked in the party before us. He told us that they were running about 30 minutes behind on their reservations, though he didn't say if that was 30 minutes from our actual time of reservation, or 30 minutes from when we checked in. Either way, he had underestimated the wait. We had over an hour to sit in an incredibly unpleasant lobby with scores of other miserable patrons. As far as I could tell, they must have booked each table in the restaurant with an 8:30 reservation, because that seemed to be what everyone was waiting for. Please recall: we had called for a reservation that same afternoon. Instead of saying, "We don't have any openings tonight," or "We can take you at 9:30," they OFFERED us an 8:30 spot. Also worth remembering is the price point of this restaurant! With $50 entrees, I was HORRIFIED to be in a restaurant that was run so poorly. The maitre'd finally called our names at 9:45, over an hour from our scheduled reservation, and then had us stand at the front for another few minutes before escorting us to a table that still had someone's bill/tip left behind. No apologies, no "thank you for your understanding," no "we appreciate your patience." Just seated at a a table that was still being set. I mentioned that one of the stars for Lelli's was for the food? That second star comes in here: Cameron. Our server was so polite, friendly, and finally made me feel like someone actually wanted my patronage and understood that without a customer, a business cannot run. So shout out to Cameron for being one of only two people I encountered who made me feel valued (and I guess to be fair our bus boy did a great job too, but obviously they don't interact really). My boyfriend and I both ordered the filet with the extra cut (because honestly, I wanted to have left over steak for lunch the next day). We also ordered a bottle of wine, which was actually somewhat moderately priced. Which is to say that it was a very cheap bottle of wine, but it was nice to have the option to spend less than $30 for a bottle with dinner. The rolls came out fast, thank God, since we'd been planning on eating over an hour earlier and were definitely ready to start eating. The salad was over dressed, to the point where the vinegar burned my lips and the greens were slimy. Not good, didn't even finish it. The antipasti plate left something to be desired as well. The meats were fine, the shrimp was adequate (though the cocktail sauce was bland), but the olives were the kind you get from a can. I like them on my pizza, but that's not really what I want on an olive tray. The minestrone wasn't offensive, but also wasn't good enough for me to finish it. The bolognese on the pasta was delicious, the only thing of the early courses that really seemed worth eating to me. And the steak. I ordered my steak medium and it cam out perfectly cooked. A slight crust on the outside and a warm pink on the inside; really beautiful. Unfortunately, my boyfriend had read that they had a great zip sauce here, so he asked for extra on our steaks. Wow. He liked it (he's not as picky as I am) but I felt that it was incredibly salty. It really dominated the flavor of the meat. The cut wasn't that perfect either, but that's life. The spinach had too much nutmeg, but the potatoes and green beans were good. At the end of the meal, Cameron grabbed the manager to process our Groupon. He asked how it was, and we shared that it was my first time here and that we were very unhappy with the wait. No. Apology. He said that's not how he want it to run, and that it was very busy, but never once said the wait was unacceptable or that he was sorry we'd had to wait. I will not be back, and I would advise others to pass as well. Oh, and dirty bathrooms. Sick.
(2)Rebecca B.
We went to Lelli's on Valentine's day for the first time and it was very nice. Large semi-circle booths line the room (that we were in) with tables in the middle. The menu is somewhat fixed - you pick a meat and the entree comes with salad, soup, bread, antipasto, pasta and was supposed to come with spumoni but we never got that part. I ordered a pasta that came with salad - it was a 'light' entree. The freshly grate parmesan cheese and grind pepper on everything to your liking. They had a diverse wine list, though we got beer. For the price it was excellent. We also had a strange server - she sorta forgot about us in the middle of taking our order and seemed like she had a cold or something. She engaged us in an awkward conversation towards the end of our meal, and lingered. That said, the food, atmosphere, and experience was so good, it didn't matter. Because I read the Yelp postings before we went, I knew that the service could be spotty - so I was expecting it.
(5)