Good: The manicotti is great - and has great portions to go. The breadsticks are excellent and additive. Great place to take kids (although pricey) the food is good and everyone can find something on the menu. Bad: They need a SERIOUS overhaul on decor. The carpets need to be ripped out and burned. They need to brighten the place up and get some of the tacky crap off the walls. The food is a little pricey, but honestly, if you take half home, you'll easily get 2 meals out of it!! Staff isn't super nice....little chip on the shoulder there.
(3)
Dave M.
I'm convinced the hostess is the same lady who was there when I was a kid. Maybe the cooks are the same too, but unfortunately, the place has slipped some over the years. The food no longer looks as appealing. And the atmosphere--the decor hasn't changed a bit, and the clientele is basically the geriatric set, or families with really young kids who scream a lot. Not a good combo. Two things that I really loved here were the lasagna and veal parmesan. The veal parm on my most recent visit was OK, but really, do they have to serve it so scalding hot that I burn my mouth/tongue/lips with every bite? I mean, what's the point of that?! Does a restaurant get extra points for serving the hottest food in town? I think not. The minestrone, which once was wonderful, also seemed a little underwhelming. The salad--lots of iceberg lettuce. Breadsticks? Still good, but way more greasy than I remember. Pizza? Very good. A small selection of lawnmower beer--bud light, bud, miller genuine draft, and a couple "imports"--corona, molson, and moretti. There are so many better places in town.......
(2)
John K.
I HAVE NO CLUE WHY ANYONE WOULD LIKE THIS PIE! I live in Berkley. My family and I are completely and utterly addicted to pizza. My super cool 87 yr old neighbor swears by this place, have heard countless recollections of locals and previous locals expound on the great pizza here. I am calling "BS"!!! Just to be fair we tried it 3 times, The deep dish twice and the thin once. All experiences were HEINOUS....just nasty. I doubt it is real cheese...just greasy goo (& I LIKE grease wheels!) "Would rather have a gas station pizza" was my Wife's comment....she was actually pissed that I gave them a third chance. A LOT of people have really fond memories of this place from the 50-60's when supposedly the pie was pretty wizard.....well, rumour has it that somewhere in the 60-70's the guy who knew how to sling those pies opened his own place (Capri on Greenfield) and took the recipe with him.....go see Ross at Capri and leave Sila's alone. This breaks my heart because I want nothing but GREAT things for Berkley businesses but this place sucks....so does the frumpy staff and interior.....just sucks.
(1)
Bella M.
Come on! This place is just for the greasy pizza and old school Italian dressing salad. It is not a 5 star restaurant, it is what it is. My friends and I are always happy with Silas when we are in the mood, salad, pizza, and breadsticks.
(3)
Stephen H.
Great food, very delicious. Reasonably priced. A Berkley tradition for decades. Classic!
(4)
Amy P.
Well the decor has a lot to be desired, but I could care less as long as the food is decent. For the price you pay I believe the food is good. My dining partner ordered the trio which included lasagna, ravioli, and sphaghetti with meat sauce and added a meatball and had it baked. For the price you pay and the amount of food they give you, it's a great deal. He loved it and had enough left over for 2 more meals. I had the baked mostaccoli with meat sauce and added a meatball as well. The meatballs aren't spectacular, I like a more tender meatball vs. a more firm meatball, and this one was more firm. But I suppose that is different for everybody. The sauce is good and the portions are large. I had enough for leftovers as well. The things that definitely will keep me coming back is their salad that comes with the meal and their delicious breadsticks. They are great and included with all meals. Pair that with their fair prices, it's a great casual dinner. Our waitress was ok, but she wasn't particularly gentle with the plates and there was a couple times we thought we'd end up with food in our laps! That being said, we received everything in a timely manner.
(3)
Paul E.
Sila is an older restaurant in Berkley that has been there for as long as I can remember. They make a good pizza and a phenomenal Antipasto salad. It's definitely not a fancy restaurant. Very old school. They were still using cloth napkins and the very tiny water glasses for pop up until the last year or so. The restaurant itself seems much cleaner since the smoking ban went into effect. I've never had any of the entrees. I go there strictly for pizza or salad.
(4)
Jessica S.
Not a super fancy place but.....Fabulous Italian food!! Never disappointed with any meal I have ordered.
(4)
Ashley H.
Well we returned for the pizza. First we had boneless wings and caesar salads (dressing on the side) as appetizers. Those were good but the pizza was only okay. I'd rather go to Green Lantern for pizza.
(2)
Misty J.
This review is on the service we received this evening. After taking my bridesmaids and mom to our first dress fitting we stopped here because I know the pizza is good. Everything was going okay until the bill came and we were charged for 3 orders of breadsticks that the waitress just brought out to the table! We didn't order them! When something that isn't ordered is brought to the table it is generally assumed that it's just a perk of eating there. Then when I asked about the charge she said that if we had ordered a salad we wouldn't have been charged for them. WHAT! You can't just bring food to someone's table that they didn't order and then make them pay for it. If you had to order salad with your pizza to get the breadsticks she should of waited until we placed our order to bring them out. Instead after she ran my credit card she said "Next time order a salad and you won't be charged for the breadsticks." Don't worry lady. We won't be back.
(1)
Laura J.
Checked out Sila last night for pizza after a day of remodeling our kitchen. It was close and we had a coupon so we took a chance in spite of some of the other comments. We had the square pan pizza, fried chickpeas as an appitizer, and we took home dessert. The square pan pizza was the best pizza I can remember eating in a long time. We usually get thin crust because of the grease factor, and although this wasn't completely grease-free it was grease-yummy. We will be back for the pizza. The chickpeas we got as a novelity item, and they were also grease-yummy. They came with a side of italian dressing which we gleefully poured over them before eating. The service wasn't great. We had to flag down a random server to order and otherwise we got what we needed, but not very friendly. Maybe the service is part of the retro-charm of the place.
(3)
Libby F.
I came here with my pal and her pal who lives nearby in Berkley and likes to patronize local places in her neighborhood. The place is a Mom and Pop sort of place. Old school decor rather than glitzy and showy. It reminded me of Buscemi's, although I haven't been their since high school. We sat at the bar. My friend's regular barmaid wasn't there, but the lady who was was very nice. My friends, like Food L.'s dining partners ordered the trio, which was an awful lot of food. I had a small, four slice pizza which was $5-something. It was alright, but not the best pizza in the world. It filled me up which is what the intention was. The wine choices aren't great, but for $3.75 for a generous pour I will tolerate a cheap Merlot. I loved their garlic bread that came with my friends' meal. Again, they are very generous with the portions. So, come here if you want to fill your belly with satisfying food. Go to Royal Oak if you want glitz and glamor.
(3)
Scott S.
Come on, just looking at the place you know what you are going to get. It sort of feels dirty but isn't obviously so, save for the waitress who carried plates around under her arm and then gave us one, yuk. It is old school, I have been going since I was about 8, so almost 40 years. I don't get how people rave about it, it is food, that's about the highest compliment I can give. The warm breadsticks are in fact good. The soup is clearly not homemade, it tastes canned, way too much sweetness. The salad is fine, anitpasto, but it is iceberg and ham, salami and cheese, all of mediocre deli quality. so tasty but not "good" or fresh. I had ravioli with meat and it was fine. The meat sauce is sweet like candy, it is clearly made of canned sauce and paste, sugar and who knows. So is it edible, sure. Is it good, no, it's canned Ragu. But the actual raviolis were decent, next time I will eat them plain. pizza is pizza, not awful, not good, just kinda there. The bottom line is if someone says that is where you are going, you will eat, you will be full, but you will not walk out saying what a good meal you had, you'll say that you ate dinner. To their credit they got new menus, the old ones were filthy, and new dishes, which is a nice touch. and it's cheap
(2)
Randy G.
I was not very impressed with their Italian food or their decor. I've certainly had better authentic places. You probably wouldn't go here for decor or for the food. I thought the marinara sauce was too salty, which is usually the case when it's not made from scratch. I would try another place. The decor has a nice 70's feel. I don't think they're trying to go for that feel, it's because they haven't done anything to the place since it opened. If you're really really hungry, I could eat there. If I have time to wait at another place, I would.
(2)
Kelly T.
You aren't going to get 5-star dining here, but you will get friendly service, large serving size, and a step back in time to the "old school" type Italian places. The bread here is the best. Their pizza is pretty good and other dishes I've had I have not had complaints. Servings are huge, and while the decor may seem dated and dingy, I think it adds to the ambience. Overall, a solid place to take family and friends for a warm, yummy meal.
(3)
Carrie B.
I had a wave of pleasant nostalgia hit me when we walked into Sila's for our first visit. Old-time decor, old-school waitresses, and now smoke-free. I'll be honest, we went because we had an Entertainment Book coupon and it was close. We lucked out! I think the server was sweet, the menu was pretty large, and the portions were generous. My husband got the gnocchi with meat sauce, which he said was spot-on. I ordered the vegetarian lasagna and was impressed that they seemed to use fresh spinach and veggies, with a nice helping of cheese. The bread and side salads were standard fare and the drinks are huge and reasonably priced. We wouldn't say the food was uber-stand-out, but we thought it was solid and decently priced. We would certainly return!
(3)
kelly w.
I would give Sila's 4 stars, but lately the lack of meatballs in my carry-out order is beginning to get to me... It is what it is. If you're expecting 5 star dining, you're not going to find it here. If you couldn't tell that from the looks of the place (its outer appearance doesn't exactly scream "distinguished dining."), then that's a personal problem (in the nicest way possible of course!). I used to come here with my family every Sunday night when I was growing up. I always ordered the same thing: Baked Gnocchi baked well done. When getting carry-out we always get pizza (grease-tastic thin pizza mmm.) and spaghetti (something about their sauce.. is it a spice thing or what? regardless, I do love it. And the meatballs. The sole reason that they lost a star (well not to mention service being a little "eh"). I think the last 3 times I have gotten carry-out they have forgotten my meatballs. Depriving me of my meatballs ONE more time= you may be off my list forever. yeah, I'm serious.
(3)
Allie T.
Silas is known in my family to be a great place to go for quality Italian food. They have good service most of the time and if you can get over the out of date decor you'll have a great time and amazing meal(four star only). Might i sugget the baked speghetti with meat sauce, I can't get enough of that stuff.
(4)
Arianna K.
The food is not fancy. You won't find gourmet Italian here. But the spaghetti and parmesans and lasagnas are excellent. Sauce is good and they are loaded with cheese. The bread sticks are marvelous. Decor needs total updating. It is rather like going back in time. We like Silas. My friend noted as we walked out..STUFFED, that it is not something you would want every day. But if you want some good comfort food, this is the place. UPDATE: They used to offer only round pizza. We ordered the pan pizza this time. It is one of the best pizzas I have had in perhaps forever!
(4)
David D.
This has been a local favorite of my Daughters and mine for about 6 years. she is pretty much a one hit wonder when it come too food. so the whole time her fav has been Chicken only thing you can do bad to chicken is under cook it or over last few times they have way over cooked it to the point where it close to hard. they did take it off the bill but still. I like the Veal and that is still pretty good but we haven't been going there as much. also when we 1st went there the bread sticks were great they changed the recipe and since then they are still good but not great. afraid there are better Italian restaurants close by.
(3)
Rebecca O.
i was here on a Saturday around noon. we sat in the bar section. and our waitress was horrible. that kind of ruined it for me right off the bat. she was rude from the second she took our drink order (two diet cokes -- how hard is THAT?!?!?!?!?!) my friend is a vegetarian ... so we got a cheese pizza and some bread sticks. the food was pretty good. the pizza was -- eh. i've had better. the bread sticks were garlicky and cheesy and they were a pretty good time. but based on the service -- i really don't think i'll be back any time soon!
(3)
vin m.
one of the best most under rated pizzas in the Detroit area. the place is soooo boring and dark but the pizza is absolutely awesome. if you don't like their pizza then you really don't know what's good, I can assure you!
(5)
Dominique K.
Pretty much old-school Italian restaurant. Pretty popular, and I suspect most of the crowd is local. We had pizza, which was pretty decent, and the antipasto salad, which was pretty good (fresh lettuce, plentiful salami and cheese. Service was friendly and fairly attentive. Decor could use a little help (wallpaper coming off of wall in spots in the main dining room). We'd come to meet friends, but it's honestly not my first choice for plain-Jane Italian in the area (we prefer Pasquales over on Woodward in Royal Oak for this sort of thing).
(3)
Helen C.
Excellent cole slaw; great chicken sandwich. Very nice for a large golf league group.
(5)
David G.
What happened to the real Silas? This place had great food back in the day. The server was a 16 year old I think. She just hung out at the hostesses desk most of the time, while I waited for a fork. The veal was not real, just frozen garbage from sysco. The interior is from 1979 they attempted a "remodel" but it still looks old and worn out stay away
(1)
Derek F.
Back to Silas, they redone the place new sign, took out a wall on the inside , kind of cleaned it up, food was still the same,good, service was good, I hope they do more updates, it needs more work and some new menu items. Good safe bet.
(4)
The Critic C.
Sila is not the best or worst anything. Sila is Sila. Greasy, cheesy, nasty, delicious! The interior has not changed since the places inception. It's dingy and dark. The booths are uncomfortable and sunken in. The waitstaff is hit or complete miss.The prices are not great and they are not terrible. Nothing is authentic, but it's mostly delicious. I would rather people didn't know I go to Sila now and then, as it is more of a guilty pleasure of mine than something I tout "You should totally go to Sila, it's the best!". If you want a greazzzy, delicious, artery hardening, preetza or a frozen yummy, made in the microwave lasagna, then get your butt over to Sila. You will be greeted by a rude hostess and passable waitress but your destiny will be fulfilled when you proceed to eat exactly what you came for; mediocre, decadent pseudo Italian noodle stuffs! It's worffff it...
(4)
David P.
This place is such an old-school italian joint that I felt the need to go check above the toilet to see if there was a gun sitting back there waiting for Michael Corleone to use. The food is decent. The staff is friendly. The place is very old school. I could sit at the bar all day and night, it just has a great vibe and feel to it. I don't think it's been updated since the 70s (at the latest), but that's just part of what makes it what it is. It's a local place with a lot of flavor, the kind that disappears all too often these days. Give it a shot.
(3)
Bennett A.
I grew up in the area and visited 4/17/2015 for lunch. Several positives and a few negatives. I'll commit to the negatives first which is of course the reason I'm here today. Really lackluster service, had to ask the waitress to refill the soda's each time instead of her noticing that both glasses were empty and sitting on the edge of the table. Antipasto was good but was brought 10 minutes before she brought the bread(very good and hot). She served the bread as if it was an after-thought and could have been timed correctly even though I inquired why bread and salad were not served together. Since bread is baked to order, would have been correct to bring together with salad. Ordered Large pizza with two toppings, came hot and appealing in presentation. Taste?, ehh....neither the sauce nor the cheese were stand-outs. Bathrooms were clean and new and the one stall had a baby changing station. I find it disappointing when wait-staff is the downfall of a restaurant. It's so easy to turn a nice meal into a negative memory. Scoreboard---8 points for food, good pizza, good antipasto, really good bread and served coke (thumbs up). 3 points for service, 2 waitresses for 5 tables and yet ours complained that they were busy for just two people. (sign in window indicated they were looking for wait staff) Please refill soda glasses without asking, bring foods together that are complimentary _salad-bread(no brainer) Would I go again? probably with a coupon. I don't wish to pay full price if the service given is not up to par. Bill was $24.63 for 2 men, $4 tip.
(2)
Steve P.
My wife and I used to go to this eatery several times a year. The last time we ate there however was about five years ago because we moved from the area. Today, June 8th 2015, we were in the area to deliver some papers and decided to have dinner. We had even called friends to see if they could join us, (thankfully for them they could not make it.) When you walk in the door you are met with what looks like a dark tunnel with some chairs placed in a hallway off to the left for those waiting for takeout. The entire decor is something straight out of the 70s and reminds me of an old timers corner pub. The place was dark and the carpets were absolutely filthy. They are a brown industrial type of carpet that could use to be replaced with something fresh and modern. Short of replacing them, they could try to have them professionally shampooed so at least they looked clean (Hagopians is always having a sale). The walls were painted a drab grey color that looked like it had greasy fingerprints all over it. The ceiling tiles were deplorable and falling apart leaving you with the feeling that any moment they would drop accumulated dirt and grime into your food and the ceiling vents were filthy. The booths were old vinyl, dark brown or purple (it was hard to tell because the lighting was awful) and had tears and splits in them. The seats at the table we were at were shaky and immediately bought to mind the number to Sam Bernstein (just in case the seat broke and I was injured lol) The bar area looked drab and very old school. Kind of like a corner bar room style. Now to the food! We were seated almost immediately howbeit we were at the time two of maybe six people in the entire place. The waitress came to the table in a black slack and blouse uniform that showed every bit of food particle and dirt it touched. She was however attentive but seemed to me that she was almost frightened in the way she was acting. We ordered our beverages and made our dinner order of stuffed manicotti (my wife had tomato sauce and I had the meat sauce). Our salads arrived shortly afterwards (although I don't think a plate full of iceberg lettuce, one cherry tomato, one black olive and, (just as I finished I found the cutest, tiniest adorable green olive) constitutes a true dinner salad. Several minutes later the waitress bought us our dinner plates. Now this is where I was severely disappointed. The stuffed manicotti were tiny little things (five in total) smothered in enough sauce to cover a pan full of spaghetti. The food was luke warm and tasted like it had been re-heated a few times. The manicotti were obviously frozen (and tasted of freezer burn) that seemed to have been dipped into either some hot water for a few moments or microwaved, but they were far, far, far from fresh hand made or hot. The center of the manicotti were cold and the spaghetti they served (if you can call plopping some noodles on a plate and covering it with sauce serving) was overcooked and tasted old. Old like it had been cooked, refrigerated, and reheated again after several days. I will NOT take my money there again, nor will I recommend Sila's to anyone I know and want to keep as a friend.
(1)
Maura S.
My husband and I LOVE this place. We moved to the area a bit over a year ago and we eat here probably once a week. Sometimes twice a week. Their pizza is delicious. Thin crusts, gooey cheese, and zippy pepperoni. Some people may not like the puddles of grease on the pie--so soak it up with your napkin--but for the rest of us, it's heaven. Their fried chickpeas are also great, which we usually get as our app. We tried the chicken tenders for the first time recently and they were SO good. They're different than the usual tenders you see at restaurants; I dig these much more. The breadsticks are my absolute favorite, so salty and buttery, mm! I did try the alfredo once and didn't care for it. But the pizza has my heart, so no hard feelings. Their servers are great too--never an issue with customer service. Thank you, Sila's, you're the best! Though we won't live in this area forever, we have already decided we will always come back.
This is 5 star for basic cheesy Italian. It's not fancy or out of the ordinary. Baked cheese on most dishes. Great pizza. Basic side salad with ranch is good. We come here a few times a year. Groupons are always nice too. Yummy!
(5)
Angela C.
My family and I have been going to Sila's for years. The food, the atmosphere, and the staff haven't changed since the first time we walked through the doors. It is one of those neighborhood places that you can count on....for the good and the bad! Reading the previous reviews, I would have to agree with nearly all of them depending on the day you walk in.... The Food - every meal starts with these wonderful, garlic Parmesan breadsticks. My family loads up on them. They are free and fantastic. We love getting a few extra to bring home as they taste even better when you cut them open and run them through the toaster oven the next day! Depending on your taste and your meal, you would next have a house salad or soup. LOVE the pasta fagioli soup, especially dipping the breadsticks in it...it is a hearty stew-like soup. The salad is...meh. A run of the mill iceberg salad with an onion, a crouton, a tomato...not good, not bad. I always get my dressing on the side, so no real complaints about it! Entrees are big. The pasta is good, but standard. Not the best you will ever have, but not bad either. I personally love the gnocchi with meat sauce and baked cheese. It is definitely not healthy, but I wouldn't expect healthy when I order meat sauce with baked cheese on top! Everybody orders pizza, but it is meh, as well. Not bad, not the best. The secret best food at this place? The sub sandwiches!
(4)
Tim G.
Terrible service!!!! Sila's has obviously changed management, but the bartender tonight was the worst I've had in a long time. She clearly doesn't care about the business or how her customers feel. Stay away until that changes!!!
(1)
John Y.
It felt like the server didn't know what she was doing and services was terrible as well
(1)
Debbie Z.
It says please wait to be seated, but there was no host or hostess, five minutes and counting, we will see how long it takes. Standing near the "wait to be seated" sign for about 10 minutes, I decided to sit down on the bench right next to the sign. Still no one! So, I get up and start taking pictures with my cell phone. All of a sudden someone approaches me - it is the cook! She seats me finally. I tell her that I do reviews for restaurants. She acknowledges this and asks me what I would like to drink. I am just coming from the cemetery because it is Father's Day and that is where my Dad is. So, I tell her Iced Tea would be perfect. She tells me that the wait staff has not shown up for work yet and to be a little patient. Okay, but my patience is a little rattling because the restaurant is open and no one to take orders or serve the food - WTH?????? A few minutes later from across the restaurant I hear a gruff voice WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DRINK??? Oh, a waitress showed up. I yell back Iced Tea. She brings me the iced tea and goes on to tell me that there are 40 people in the back for a birthday party and she is the only waitress. I said something like maybe you should fire them and hire all new staff. She told me a story of how no one wants to work for a boss who is not nice - TMI! My one girl friend finally gets there - thank God!!! So, we look over the menu and decide to order a pizza with onions, mushrooms, and bacon; and an appetizer - Italian Nachos. I ask her what is the difference between Mexican Nachos and Italian Nachos and the gruff waitress said "the seasoning". Now, I've been to other Italian restaurants and ordered Italian Nachos and they usually serve it with Italian Sausage and/or chicken as well as some different type of cheese on top. The waitress looked at me like I was stupid or something for asking the difference - gee whiz!!!! So, the pizza and nachos are served together - instead of bringing the appetizer first she brings them both. I look at the pizza and saw that the waitress got the order wrong, she brought out a pizza with pepperoni, onions, and mushrooms. I told the waitress that we had ordered bacon, onions and mushrooms and she looked at me and said "oh, you want them to make you another pizza"? OMG - please where is the customer service???? The food was meh - nothing great, not horrible! Would never go back to this restaurant for the food just because it was NOT! When you walk into this restaurant it reminds you of the 60's or 70's - where is the Mafia???? No or hardly any updates to the restaurant. Would not recommend this restaurant.
(1)
John S.
My husband and I have been to Sila's for years. They revamped the restaurant and bathrooms and it looks great. However, our visit last night was quite disappointing. I ordered the meat ravioli with meat sauce and topped it off with the baked cheese. Overall it was good. However, I ordered the minestrone soup as my side and it was awful. It was more like a tomato stew with added vegetables. Instead of using noodles it was plopped with chunky potatoes. My husband ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce. He complained it was cold with huge chunks of celery in the sauce. Our breadsticks were very dry, too. I was very disappointed overall. Also, I did complain about the soup, but our server offered no way to make up for it.
(2)
David G.
Veal parm is gross formed forzen sysco garbage. They charge alot for it too. Bread is not good like it used to be. God forbid you make it from scratch or buy good stuff. Place has gone downhill over the years. The new sign out front doesnt change anything. I forgot to mention the bathroom better off going behind the dumpster it smells better. Disgusting nasty filthy old worn out bathroom.
(1)
Carlos T.
OK; let me start by saying when you've eaten as much pizza as I have through the years you pretty much know..... ok pizza, from decent pizza, from great pizza. With me its about three key things 1) fresh ingredients 2) sauce 3) dough....Silas is "Old School" from the season waitresses to the 90's cafeteria seats, its seen better days. The Pizza was just "OK", the dough was a very basic pizza dough, the most disappointing thing on the pizza was the sauce.....really Silas? "you're an Italian restaurant; if anything represents your establishment its your sauce aka "gravy". The cheese bread was again "OK" its basically, a cheese pizza without the sauce. The staff was professional and friendly. Overall the Pizza and Cheese stick gets a 5 out of 10, they really need to work on their sauce.
(2)
Chuck H.
If you're looking for great food, great service and a great atmosphere, well... you won't find it here. There were 6 tables seated and at least that many employees on the floor. I ordered the vegetarian lasagna and Matt had the spaghetti with meat sauce. The menu describes hot breadsticks and salad coming with the meals. Matt asked what dressings were available and the waitress ran through a list of dressings and he chose blue cheese, I upgraded to a Greek salad for $2.00 The breadsticks came to the table barely warm and were cold by the time we could find our waitress to ask for hot breadsticks. She took the basket away and came back with two additional breadsticks that were fairly warm on top of the cold breadsticks she had just taken from our table. My Greek salad was fine, if small, but since it was meant as a side salad to an entree, it was appropriate. The waitress came out with our entrees, not knowing who had what (as a waiter for 11 years, I find the "food auction" of servers asking their own tables what they ordered to be annoying and unprofessional), and then walked away without asking if we needed anything. I turned my lasagna around to find the entire side of it was blackened and the edge of the dish had baked on black cheese. I took a bite of it and the burned taste had worked through the lasagna and made it taste terrible. I pushed it off to the side of the table. Matt's spaghetti sauce was meat in name only. There was a hint of meat but no texture of it. He said it tasted like Raguâ„¢ from a can. After 8 minutes (I checked the time on my phone), the waitress came back and asked what was wrong. Matt was half way done with his spaghetti and I told her my lasagna was burned (and it was visibly, there was no need to ask) and that I didn't want anything else. It had been too long and I didn't feel like eating alone. I was surprised to then get the bill and find that while the lasagna had been removed, my salad was now $5.00 and Matt had been charged for Blue Cheese dressing when she made no mention of it being extra. Her defense was that it was disclosed on the menu. (I didn't see it in the entree description as extra, it must be in the salad section we didn't read because we were ordering entrees, not just salads.) There was another charge on there for just under a buck which I assume must be for the entertainment of swatting away the numerous fruit flies buzzing around the table. We mentioned the fruit flies to the cashier who told us that was normal, she saw fruit flies at Chili's last night, so I guess insects buzzing around your head as you eat is now standard. At least in her opinion, it didn't seem to bother her at all... We are certain though that the charge wasn't for smiles as there wasn't one to be found in the entire restaurant. I see people here mentioning their pizza being good, I can't attest to that but I know that I can get awesome pizza at Green Lantern in Madison Heights without the fruit flies or the sour faces. Where's Gordon Ramsey when you need him??
(1)
Allison K.
Good food, nice portions for the price, good tasting marinara sauce, great minestrone soup. Good choice if you're in the mood for Italian food. Good carryout option!
(5)
Brian K.
This place has a truly vintage feel to it. I swear you could be stepping back into the 1960's or early '70's. Went here for a family birthday party. The food was good. Had a great time. Bathrooms need a remodel. The vintage feel to the rest of the place is endearing but most people want a really clean bathroom. Not just "cleaned". I mean new stalls, vents, porcelain, light fixtures, and tile. Other than that, I was pleased and would go back again.
(3)
Eric R.
We were out-of-towners visiting friends who had a groupon that was about to expire. Despite this being my first time, Silas gave me a nostalgic feeling the moment I walked in. The decor reminded me of sit down pizzerias I went to as a kid in the 80s/early 90s. Classic old paintings on the walls and lots of wood finishing with dim lighting. It looked like the tables and walls were untouched for decades and that's a good thing. We went kind of late in the evening and there were plenty of people still eating. The bread sticks, salads, pizzas, and fettuccine pasta were no frills, brass tacks italian, just like I remember as a kid. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Her partner even checked on us a couple times. My only minor complaint was how quiet the place was. I'm not sure if the sound system was broken, or if they had it off for the bar to hear Saturday football in the adjacent room. Eating in awkward silence is a personal peeve of mine. Please don't take the 3 stars the wrong way. This place was good, and I'll definitely eat here again. No frills with good service and fair prices definitely has its place and I encourage people to support this business.
(3)
Bobby Z.
Weird remodel...food is the same. The old dick behind me who reeked of cigars was sitting by himself complaining to the 17 year old waitress that they stopped serving wine in a half carafe (though he kept pronouncing it careiff like a 5 year old)...apparently he prefers a delicate potion that consists of a 60/40 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot...such a refined palette! The coup de grace is the anchovies, onion, mushroom pizza he ordered...this old bastard is some kind of nightmare...and he is as much a part of the sila tapestry as the 70s murals, pushy grandma waitresses and greezy food! Yes, this is my review...
(4)
Ray B.
Big thanks to these folks for hosting the RO men's swim team after the league meet; the backroom was just the right size and they actually seemed to appreciate our business. Food was decent.
(4)
M H Z.
Old restaurant, old decor and even older waitresses. But the draw is the FOOD wc is hearty, well made and uncomplicatedly and consistently GOOD. regular faves are the pizzas, the ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs. always a stop when were in michigan.
(4)
Christopher R.
The service is very good. Always pleasant to us when we go in. The food just isn't too good. It seems every Italian dish is the same - some variation of pasta and meat covered in sauce with a cheese that is oily and greasy.
(2)
Jon G.
If you are searching for a nice, family-owned eye-talian eatery that reminds you of the one down the road from where you grew up, keep searching. Sila was a disaster from the onset. When my girlfriend and I arrived, we waited for no less than 10 minutes before any hostess coming to seat us. We almost left before they finally walked us to our seat in their half-empty place. (Busy was no excuse on this night). The menu was good, the bread was good, but the salad and entrees were bad. Both of our salads were completely drenched in strong Italian dressing that wasn't really good. Then my entree, chicken lasagna, was sloppily covered in cheese. There must have been a pound of cheese on the plate - which could be cool - but I ordered chicken and spinach lasagna with the reasonable expectation that it would be healthy. It was bad looking, bad for me and bad tasting. Maybe their pizza or marinara based pastas as good, I don't know. But I don't think I will go back and try. While our waitress was very outgoing and nice, the hostess was bad and she was seen a few times yelling at bus boys. It was very off-putting.
(1)
D B.
DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great food.......Pizza ala donna Filipo was FAB! Greek Salad was fresh and wonderful!!! Service was EXCELLENT!!!! All around great experience!!!
(5)
Lauren H.
This family restaurant is delicious. I love the food here, I'm a sucker for anything Italian. My favorite is the deep dish pizza or the chicken parm. If I wouldn't weigh 500 lbs I would eat their bread every day! Breadsticks included with every meal, my favorite part of the meal pretty much! I live a block away so I get take out often. The take out menu is generous sized portions and affordable. They have recently done a few minor renovations on the inside. The staff cares about the customers. There is one girl that works here that doesn't seem to have gotten the memo that dealing with the public is not her calling. She is unpleasant and mixes up orders.
(4)
Zachary S.
UPDATE: bought a Groupon here after my first time here. I can tell the Groupon has effected this restaurant in 2 ways: 1. They are having difficulty with more customers and the service has slipped. 2. The portions are much smaller. Went from a solid 4* to a weak 3*. I came here for Valentine's Day with my girlfriend and son. The food is old school Italian, nothing fancy and just the way I like. The bread before our meal was very good. Our waitress wasn't the best. She was wasn't friendly at all and I would not give her second chance. The atmosphere was okay. They definitely need to turn up the music a little bit and maybe add some TVs to the bar area. With this place being a 30 second drive from my house, I will come back if I crave Italian, but I will want another waitress.
(3)
Britt M.
My family and I have been several times and enjoyed their food but hated their service. We were so excited the last time we went and saw they had a sign out that they were hiring. Our teenaged son applied and got a call to come in for an interview. The very next day he went in for his interview, the manager got a look at his skin tone and he was told they were no longer in need of any help and turned and walked away. No interview, no questions, just a look. But wait, why would you call someone in for an interview if you don't need help any longer? Needless to say we haven't been back and of course when we pass this place there is still a help wanted sign out front. SHADY!!
(1)
Steven S.
My wife and I (now in our late 30s) used to go to Sila's quite frequently in our 20s and always loved it. The food was great, the ambiance was nice and old fashioned, and the staff was good. We've been 3 times in the past couple years (the latest a few days ago) and haven't been satisfied at all. The last time we went was the nail in the coffin... we won't be going back. My wife got the chicken parmesan and thought it was just okay. I got the same thing I've always gotten there year after year... the meat lasagna. Right away I could tell that there was a small hint of freezer burn. I generally don't send things back, so I figured I could still finish it. I was two thirds of the way through and had a bite that made me decide I was done. I don't know what was wrong with it (maybe just more intense freezer burn) but it was gross. I left the rest of the food on the table (something I never do). It's very disappointing to see this happen to a restaurant you really used to like... probably why we kept giving it chances over and over again.
(2)
Erin B.
Great food and fast friendly service. I love the barbecue chicken in a spinach wrap! The sauce and meatballs are declicous too!!
(5)
Chris H.
What a disappointment. I long for a cheap local Italian restaurant. This ain't it. The service is lousy, the food is hit or miss, the wine selection might as well be Boones Farm or Night Train. The prices are good, so they've got that goin for them. I'll go back cause it's right around the corner and Ive got a short memory. Someone should really put a review up on Yelp to remind me what a disappointment this place is.
(1)
Jenifer T.
The food is always good, the atmosphere is a little old but we will say it's "homey" like the pizza bar joint your parents used to take you to- wait this IS that place. Sila is a stand by in the area for years and it hold it's own against the "other" Berkley pizza joint, however if the carryout staff can't get it together I fear this place might die out. I have carried out maybe 5 times only to have the orders completely LOST TWICE? The dine in service is good though so I guess it's a take your chances if you want a good piece of pizza or a slice of gooey oooey lasagna kinda experience.
(3)
Cristin G.
I came to Sila for the first time on my birthday this past weekend, we were at the zoo and needed a place to go. My first impressions weren't that great to be honest, the decor is dark and outdated and the staff were not outwardly friendly. The womens bathroom is in desperate need of upgrading and I almost felt even more filthy after visiting it. We ordered a medium size antipasto salad and whoa it was huge! That thing fed the 5 people at the table and we each had seconds of it. I ordered a small cheese pizza which was amazing, my father in law had the minestrone soup (he said it was just ok), and my husband and daughter shared the ribs. The food more then made up for the decor and my waitress, who was very moody to start, turned out to be amazing. This feels like a very good family restaurant that people have been coming to for generations and I understand why. With a few upgrades this restaurant could be the talk of the town. We will be back.
(4)
Sarah P.
Ignore the dated decor and the elderly, they get to eat too. Sila's has the best breadsticks and amazing Veggie pizza. There is every veg possible and it doesn't make it watery. Fantastic! See my picture under pics. I wish the place could be overhauled in decor and it would be the "place" to be!
(4)
Bridget D.
We are new to Berkely. Just moved here from Chicago -- thus, our pizza standards are very high. Having tried a few pizza places around the area, we've been somewhat disappointed by what seemed to be mostly chain/lackluster pizza options. Then we tried Sila. Salvation! Sila's pizza has what we've been missing. Great layers of Italian flavor, perfect sauce/cheese/crust ratio, great toppings. We got the garlic loaf, which is exactly what it sounds like. But, very good and a great side. This will definitely be our new go-to pizza spot in the area and I kind of love the old school vibe. This isn't a manufactured authenticity, Sila is what it is. So glad its nearby!
(4)
Amanda P.
Whenever I think of this restaurant I envision Robert Irvine showing up for a Restaurant Impossible makeover, because that's what it's in need of. They would get yelled at for having a dirty old restaurant with mediocre food and an unenthusiastic waitstaff. I am a bit scared to think what he would say to the kitchen staff. The place was probably great when it opened. I don't know it's history, but it seems very old to me. I don't recommend anything that I have tried there ( chicken parm was awful, salads aren't great, everything seemed to reek of 'we are cutting corners somehow') but I haven't tried the pizza and I do believe that many people love Sila's pizza. S maybe give the pizza a try, but please don't come here expecting ambience or terrific foods. Also, no offense to the elderly but the median age was probably 65 ( we lowered it quite a bit when we walked in) You are way much better off driving to the nearest Olive Garden
(1)
Russ H.
Sila's has been a go-to place for my family since I was a kid. I'm 45 now. If you ever wondered what an Italian restaurant was like in the 70's, here is your answer. And that is meant in a good AND bad way. They have a solid menu and decent food. The pizza is pretty good. Classic round pizza. Many of the staff have been here for a long time and the place really does have that 'friendly neighborhood dive' sort of vibe. In all I will be going year for more years to come, and I love it. But I also don't kid myself as to how good it actually is. The perfect place to come for pizza and pitchers of beer with your softball team.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Elizabeth M.
Good: The manicotti is great - and has great portions to go. The breadsticks are excellent and additive. Great place to take kids (although pricey) the food is good and everyone can find something on the menu. Bad: They need a SERIOUS overhaul on decor. The carpets need to be ripped out and burned. They need to brighten the place up and get some of the tacky crap off the walls. The food is a little pricey, but honestly, if you take half home, you'll easily get 2 meals out of it!! Staff isn't super nice....little chip on the shoulder there.
(3)Dave M.
I'm convinced the hostess is the same lady who was there when I was a kid. Maybe the cooks are the same too, but unfortunately, the place has slipped some over the years. The food no longer looks as appealing. And the atmosphere--the decor hasn't changed a bit, and the clientele is basically the geriatric set, or families with really young kids who scream a lot. Not a good combo. Two things that I really loved here were the lasagna and veal parmesan. The veal parm on my most recent visit was OK, but really, do they have to serve it so scalding hot that I burn my mouth/tongue/lips with every bite? I mean, what's the point of that?! Does a restaurant get extra points for serving the hottest food in town? I think not. The minestrone, which once was wonderful, also seemed a little underwhelming. The salad--lots of iceberg lettuce. Breadsticks? Still good, but way more greasy than I remember. Pizza? Very good. A small selection of lawnmower beer--bud light, bud, miller genuine draft, and a couple "imports"--corona, molson, and moretti. There are so many better places in town.......
(2)John K.
I HAVE NO CLUE WHY ANYONE WOULD LIKE THIS PIE! I live in Berkley. My family and I are completely and utterly addicted to pizza. My super cool 87 yr old neighbor swears by this place, have heard countless recollections of locals and previous locals expound on the great pizza here. I am calling "BS"!!! Just to be fair we tried it 3 times, The deep dish twice and the thin once. All experiences were HEINOUS....just nasty. I doubt it is real cheese...just greasy goo (& I LIKE grease wheels!) "Would rather have a gas station pizza" was my Wife's comment....she was actually pissed that I gave them a third chance. A LOT of people have really fond memories of this place from the 50-60's when supposedly the pie was pretty wizard.....well, rumour has it that somewhere in the 60-70's the guy who knew how to sling those pies opened his own place (Capri on Greenfield) and took the recipe with him.....go see Ross at Capri and leave Sila's alone. This breaks my heart because I want nothing but GREAT things for Berkley businesses but this place sucks....so does the frumpy staff and interior.....just sucks.
(1)Bella M.
Come on! This place is just for the greasy pizza and old school Italian dressing salad. It is not a 5 star restaurant, it is what it is. My friends and I are always happy with Silas when we are in the mood, salad, pizza, and breadsticks.
(3)Stephen H.
Great food, very delicious. Reasonably priced. A Berkley tradition for decades. Classic!
(4)Amy P.
Well the decor has a lot to be desired, but I could care less as long as the food is decent. For the price you pay I believe the food is good. My dining partner ordered the trio which included lasagna, ravioli, and sphaghetti with meat sauce and added a meatball and had it baked. For the price you pay and the amount of food they give you, it's a great deal. He loved it and had enough left over for 2 more meals. I had the baked mostaccoli with meat sauce and added a meatball as well. The meatballs aren't spectacular, I like a more tender meatball vs. a more firm meatball, and this one was more firm. But I suppose that is different for everybody. The sauce is good and the portions are large. I had enough for leftovers as well. The things that definitely will keep me coming back is their salad that comes with the meal and their delicious breadsticks. They are great and included with all meals. Pair that with their fair prices, it's a great casual dinner. Our waitress was ok, but she wasn't particularly gentle with the plates and there was a couple times we thought we'd end up with food in our laps! That being said, we received everything in a timely manner.
(3)Paul E.
Sila is an older restaurant in Berkley that has been there for as long as I can remember. They make a good pizza and a phenomenal Antipasto salad. It's definitely not a fancy restaurant. Very old school. They were still using cloth napkins and the very tiny water glasses for pop up until the last year or so. The restaurant itself seems much cleaner since the smoking ban went into effect. I've never had any of the entrees. I go there strictly for pizza or salad.
(4)Jessica S.
Not a super fancy place but.....Fabulous Italian food!! Never disappointed with any meal I have ordered.
(4)Ashley H.
Well we returned for the pizza. First we had boneless wings and caesar salads (dressing on the side) as appetizers. Those were good but the pizza was only okay. I'd rather go to Green Lantern for pizza.
(2)Misty J.
This review is on the service we received this evening. After taking my bridesmaids and mom to our first dress fitting we stopped here because I know the pizza is good. Everything was going okay until the bill came and we were charged for 3 orders of breadsticks that the waitress just brought out to the table! We didn't order them! When something that isn't ordered is brought to the table it is generally assumed that it's just a perk of eating there. Then when I asked about the charge she said that if we had ordered a salad we wouldn't have been charged for them. WHAT! You can't just bring food to someone's table that they didn't order and then make them pay for it. If you had to order salad with your pizza to get the breadsticks she should of waited until we placed our order to bring them out. Instead after she ran my credit card she said "Next time order a salad and you won't be charged for the breadsticks." Don't worry lady. We won't be back.
(1)Laura J.
Checked out Sila last night for pizza after a day of remodeling our kitchen. It was close and we had a coupon so we took a chance in spite of some of the other comments. We had the square pan pizza, fried chickpeas as an appitizer, and we took home dessert. The square pan pizza was the best pizza I can remember eating in a long time. We usually get thin crust because of the grease factor, and although this wasn't completely grease-free it was grease-yummy. We will be back for the pizza. The chickpeas we got as a novelity item, and they were also grease-yummy. They came with a side of italian dressing which we gleefully poured over them before eating. The service wasn't great. We had to flag down a random server to order and otherwise we got what we needed, but not very friendly. Maybe the service is part of the retro-charm of the place.
(3)Libby F.
I came here with my pal and her pal who lives nearby in Berkley and likes to patronize local places in her neighborhood. The place is a Mom and Pop sort of place. Old school decor rather than glitzy and showy. It reminded me of Buscemi's, although I haven't been their since high school. We sat at the bar. My friend's regular barmaid wasn't there, but the lady who was was very nice. My friends, like Food L.'s dining partners ordered the trio, which was an awful lot of food. I had a small, four slice pizza which was $5-something. It was alright, but not the best pizza in the world. It filled me up which is what the intention was. The wine choices aren't great, but for $3.75 for a generous pour I will tolerate a cheap Merlot. I loved their garlic bread that came with my friends' meal. Again, they are very generous with the portions. So, come here if you want to fill your belly with satisfying food. Go to Royal Oak if you want glitz and glamor.
(3)Scott S.
Come on, just looking at the place you know what you are going to get. It sort of feels dirty but isn't obviously so, save for the waitress who carried plates around under her arm and then gave us one, yuk. It is old school, I have been going since I was about 8, so almost 40 years. I don't get how people rave about it, it is food, that's about the highest compliment I can give. The warm breadsticks are in fact good. The soup is clearly not homemade, it tastes canned, way too much sweetness. The salad is fine, anitpasto, but it is iceberg and ham, salami and cheese, all of mediocre deli quality. so tasty but not "good" or fresh. I had ravioli with meat and it was fine. The meat sauce is sweet like candy, it is clearly made of canned sauce and paste, sugar and who knows. So is it edible, sure. Is it good, no, it's canned Ragu. But the actual raviolis were decent, next time I will eat them plain. pizza is pizza, not awful, not good, just kinda there. The bottom line is if someone says that is where you are going, you will eat, you will be full, but you will not walk out saying what a good meal you had, you'll say that you ate dinner. To their credit they got new menus, the old ones were filthy, and new dishes, which is a nice touch. and it's cheap
(2)Randy G.
I was not very impressed with their Italian food or their decor. I've certainly had better authentic places. You probably wouldn't go here for decor or for the food. I thought the marinara sauce was too salty, which is usually the case when it's not made from scratch. I would try another place. The decor has a nice 70's feel. I don't think they're trying to go for that feel, it's because they haven't done anything to the place since it opened. If you're really really hungry, I could eat there. If I have time to wait at another place, I would.
(2)Kelly T.
You aren't going to get 5-star dining here, but you will get friendly service, large serving size, and a step back in time to the "old school" type Italian places. The bread here is the best. Their pizza is pretty good and other dishes I've had I have not had complaints. Servings are huge, and while the decor may seem dated and dingy, I think it adds to the ambience. Overall, a solid place to take family and friends for a warm, yummy meal.
(3)Carrie B.
I had a wave of pleasant nostalgia hit me when we walked into Sila's for our first visit. Old-time decor, old-school waitresses, and now smoke-free. I'll be honest, we went because we had an Entertainment Book coupon and it was close. We lucked out! I think the server was sweet, the menu was pretty large, and the portions were generous. My husband got the gnocchi with meat sauce, which he said was spot-on. I ordered the vegetarian lasagna and was impressed that they seemed to use fresh spinach and veggies, with a nice helping of cheese. The bread and side salads were standard fare and the drinks are huge and reasonably priced. We wouldn't say the food was uber-stand-out, but we thought it was solid and decently priced. We would certainly return!
(3)kelly w.
I would give Sila's 4 stars, but lately the lack of meatballs in my carry-out order is beginning to get to me... It is what it is. If you're expecting 5 star dining, you're not going to find it here. If you couldn't tell that from the looks of the place (its outer appearance doesn't exactly scream "distinguished dining."), then that's a personal problem (in the nicest way possible of course!). I used to come here with my family every Sunday night when I was growing up. I always ordered the same thing: Baked Gnocchi baked well done. When getting carry-out we always get pizza (grease-tastic thin pizza mmm.) and spaghetti (something about their sauce.. is it a spice thing or what? regardless, I do love it. And the meatballs. The sole reason that they lost a star (well not to mention service being a little "eh"). I think the last 3 times I have gotten carry-out they have forgotten my meatballs. Depriving me of my meatballs ONE more time= you may be off my list forever. yeah, I'm serious.
(3)Allie T.
Silas is known in my family to be a great place to go for quality Italian food. They have good service most of the time and if you can get over the out of date decor you'll have a great time and amazing meal(four star only). Might i sugget the baked speghetti with meat sauce, I can't get enough of that stuff.
(4)Arianna K.
The food is not fancy. You won't find gourmet Italian here. But the spaghetti and parmesans and lasagnas are excellent. Sauce is good and they are loaded with cheese. The bread sticks are marvelous. Decor needs total updating. It is rather like going back in time. We like Silas. My friend noted as we walked out..STUFFED, that it is not something you would want every day. But if you want some good comfort food, this is the place. UPDATE: They used to offer only round pizza. We ordered the pan pizza this time. It is one of the best pizzas I have had in perhaps forever!
(4)David D.
This has been a local favorite of my Daughters and mine for about 6 years. she is pretty much a one hit wonder when it come too food. so the whole time her fav has been Chicken only thing you can do bad to chicken is under cook it or over last few times they have way over cooked it to the point where it close to hard. they did take it off the bill but still. I like the Veal and that is still pretty good but we haven't been going there as much. also when we 1st went there the bread sticks were great they changed the recipe and since then they are still good but not great. afraid there are better Italian restaurants close by.
(3)Rebecca O.
i was here on a Saturday around noon. we sat in the bar section. and our waitress was horrible. that kind of ruined it for me right off the bat. she was rude from the second she took our drink order (two diet cokes -- how hard is THAT?!?!?!?!?!) my friend is a vegetarian ... so we got a cheese pizza and some bread sticks. the food was pretty good. the pizza was -- eh. i've had better. the bread sticks were garlicky and cheesy and they were a pretty good time. but based on the service -- i really don't think i'll be back any time soon!
(3)vin m.
one of the best most under rated pizzas in the Detroit area. the place is soooo boring and dark but the pizza is absolutely awesome. if you don't like their pizza then you really don't know what's good, I can assure you!
(5)Dominique K.
Pretty much old-school Italian restaurant. Pretty popular, and I suspect most of the crowd is local. We had pizza, which was pretty decent, and the antipasto salad, which was pretty good (fresh lettuce, plentiful salami and cheese. Service was friendly and fairly attentive. Decor could use a little help (wallpaper coming off of wall in spots in the main dining room). We'd come to meet friends, but it's honestly not my first choice for plain-Jane Italian in the area (we prefer Pasquales over on Woodward in Royal Oak for this sort of thing).
(3)Helen C.
Excellent cole slaw; great chicken sandwich. Very nice for a large golf league group.
(5)David G.
What happened to the real Silas? This place had great food back in the day. The server was a 16 year old I think. She just hung out at the hostesses desk most of the time, while I waited for a fork. The veal was not real, just frozen garbage from sysco. The interior is from 1979 they attempted a "remodel" but it still looks old and worn out stay away
(1)Derek F.
Back to Silas, they redone the place new sign, took out a wall on the inside , kind of cleaned it up, food was still the same,good, service was good, I hope they do more updates, it needs more work and some new menu items. Good safe bet.
(4)The Critic C.
Sila is not the best or worst anything. Sila is Sila. Greasy, cheesy, nasty, delicious! The interior has not changed since the places inception. It's dingy and dark. The booths are uncomfortable and sunken in. The waitstaff is hit or complete miss.The prices are not great and they are not terrible. Nothing is authentic, but it's mostly delicious. I would rather people didn't know I go to Sila now and then, as it is more of a guilty pleasure of mine than something I tout "You should totally go to Sila, it's the best!". If you want a greazzzy, delicious, artery hardening, preetza or a frozen yummy, made in the microwave lasagna, then get your butt over to Sila. You will be greeted by a rude hostess and passable waitress but your destiny will be fulfilled when you proceed to eat exactly what you came for; mediocre, decadent pseudo Italian noodle stuffs! It's worffff it...
(4)David P.
This place is such an old-school italian joint that I felt the need to go check above the toilet to see if there was a gun sitting back there waiting for Michael Corleone to use. The food is decent. The staff is friendly. The place is very old school. I could sit at the bar all day and night, it just has a great vibe and feel to it. I don't think it's been updated since the 70s (at the latest), but that's just part of what makes it what it is. It's a local place with a lot of flavor, the kind that disappears all too often these days. Give it a shot.
(3)Bennett A.
I grew up in the area and visited 4/17/2015 for lunch. Several positives and a few negatives. I'll commit to the negatives first which is of course the reason I'm here today. Really lackluster service, had to ask the waitress to refill the soda's each time instead of her noticing that both glasses were empty and sitting on the edge of the table. Antipasto was good but was brought 10 minutes before she brought the bread(very good and hot). She served the bread as if it was an after-thought and could have been timed correctly even though I inquired why bread and salad were not served together. Since bread is baked to order, would have been correct to bring together with salad. Ordered Large pizza with two toppings, came hot and appealing in presentation. Taste?, ehh....neither the sauce nor the cheese were stand-outs. Bathrooms were clean and new and the one stall had a baby changing station. I find it disappointing when wait-staff is the downfall of a restaurant. It's so easy to turn a nice meal into a negative memory. Scoreboard---8 points for food, good pizza, good antipasto, really good bread and served coke (thumbs up). 3 points for service, 2 waitresses for 5 tables and yet ours complained that they were busy for just two people. (sign in window indicated they were looking for wait staff) Please refill soda glasses without asking, bring foods together that are complimentary _salad-bread(no brainer) Would I go again? probably with a coupon. I don't wish to pay full price if the service given is not up to par. Bill was $24.63 for 2 men, $4 tip.
(2)Steve P.
My wife and I used to go to this eatery several times a year. The last time we ate there however was about five years ago because we moved from the area. Today, June 8th 2015, we were in the area to deliver some papers and decided to have dinner. We had even called friends to see if they could join us, (thankfully for them they could not make it.) When you walk in the door you are met with what looks like a dark tunnel with some chairs placed in a hallway off to the left for those waiting for takeout. The entire decor is something straight out of the 70s and reminds me of an old timers corner pub. The place was dark and the carpets were absolutely filthy. They are a brown industrial type of carpet that could use to be replaced with something fresh and modern. Short of replacing them, they could try to have them professionally shampooed so at least they looked clean (Hagopians is always having a sale). The walls were painted a drab grey color that looked like it had greasy fingerprints all over it. The ceiling tiles were deplorable and falling apart leaving you with the feeling that any moment they would drop accumulated dirt and grime into your food and the ceiling vents were filthy. The booths were old vinyl, dark brown or purple (it was hard to tell because the lighting was awful) and had tears and splits in them. The seats at the table we were at were shaky and immediately bought to mind the number to Sam Bernstein (just in case the seat broke and I was injured lol) The bar area looked drab and very old school. Kind of like a corner bar room style. Now to the food! We were seated almost immediately howbeit we were at the time two of maybe six people in the entire place. The waitress came to the table in a black slack and blouse uniform that showed every bit of food particle and dirt it touched. She was however attentive but seemed to me that she was almost frightened in the way she was acting. We ordered our beverages and made our dinner order of stuffed manicotti (my wife had tomato sauce and I had the meat sauce). Our salads arrived shortly afterwards (although I don't think a plate full of iceberg lettuce, one cherry tomato, one black olive and, (just as I finished I found the cutest, tiniest adorable green olive) constitutes a true dinner salad. Several minutes later the waitress bought us our dinner plates. Now this is where I was severely disappointed. The stuffed manicotti were tiny little things (five in total) smothered in enough sauce to cover a pan full of spaghetti. The food was luke warm and tasted like it had been re-heated a few times. The manicotti were obviously frozen (and tasted of freezer burn) that seemed to have been dipped into either some hot water for a few moments or microwaved, but they were far, far, far from fresh hand made or hot. The center of the manicotti were cold and the spaghetti they served (if you can call plopping some noodles on a plate and covering it with sauce serving) was overcooked and tasted old. Old like it had been cooked, refrigerated, and reheated again after several days. I will NOT take my money there again, nor will I recommend Sila's to anyone I know and want to keep as a friend.
(1)Maura S.
My husband and I LOVE this place. We moved to the area a bit over a year ago and we eat here probably once a week. Sometimes twice a week. Their pizza is delicious. Thin crusts, gooey cheese, and zippy pepperoni. Some people may not like the puddles of grease on the pie--so soak it up with your napkin--but for the rest of us, it's heaven. Their fried chickpeas are also great, which we usually get as our app. We tried the chicken tenders for the first time recently and they were SO good. They're different than the usual tenders you see at restaurants; I dig these much more. The breadsticks are my absolute favorite, so salty and buttery, mm! I did try the alfredo once and didn't care for it. But the pizza has my heart, so no hard feelings. Their servers are great too--never an issue with customer service. Thank you, Sila's, you're the best! Though we won't live in this area forever, we have already decided we will always come back.
(5)M. K.
Definitely a place I would never go back to. We were hoping for a small Italian restaurant that maybe needed a makeover but would be amazing Italian food. We experienced nothing but disappointment. The décor was clearly outdated and very bland and old. The service was awful! And the one thing they could've done right they failed at...the food. I wanted something simple just pasta with a tomato sauce because I am limited with my menu choices because I'm lactose intolerant. My husband ordered the lasagna and the moment they asked to basically supersize it, that should've been our warning to just leave. His dinner was covered in grease and mine was just so "eh". Nothing stood out here, not one good thing to say.
(1)Christina G.
This is 5 star for basic cheesy Italian. It's not fancy or out of the ordinary. Baked cheese on most dishes. Great pizza. Basic side salad with ranch is good. We come here a few times a year. Groupons are always nice too. Yummy!
(5)Angela C.
My family and I have been going to Sila's for years. The food, the atmosphere, and the staff haven't changed since the first time we walked through the doors. It is one of those neighborhood places that you can count on....for the good and the bad! Reading the previous reviews, I would have to agree with nearly all of them depending on the day you walk in.... The Food - every meal starts with these wonderful, garlic Parmesan breadsticks. My family loads up on them. They are free and fantastic. We love getting a few extra to bring home as they taste even better when you cut them open and run them through the toaster oven the next day! Depending on your taste and your meal, you would next have a house salad or soup. LOVE the pasta fagioli soup, especially dipping the breadsticks in it...it is a hearty stew-like soup. The salad is...meh. A run of the mill iceberg salad with an onion, a crouton, a tomato...not good, not bad. I always get my dressing on the side, so no real complaints about it! Entrees are big. The pasta is good, but standard. Not the best you will ever have, but not bad either. I personally love the gnocchi with meat sauce and baked cheese. It is definitely not healthy, but I wouldn't expect healthy when I order meat sauce with baked cheese on top! Everybody orders pizza, but it is meh, as well. Not bad, not the best. The secret best food at this place? The sub sandwiches!
(4)Tim G.
Terrible service!!!! Sila's has obviously changed management, but the bartender tonight was the worst I've had in a long time. She clearly doesn't care about the business or how her customers feel. Stay away until that changes!!!
(1)John Y.
It felt like the server didn't know what she was doing and services was terrible as well
(1)Debbie Z.
It says please wait to be seated, but there was no host or hostess, five minutes and counting, we will see how long it takes. Standing near the "wait to be seated" sign for about 10 minutes, I decided to sit down on the bench right next to the sign. Still no one! So, I get up and start taking pictures with my cell phone. All of a sudden someone approaches me - it is the cook! She seats me finally. I tell her that I do reviews for restaurants. She acknowledges this and asks me what I would like to drink. I am just coming from the cemetery because it is Father's Day and that is where my Dad is. So, I tell her Iced Tea would be perfect. She tells me that the wait staff has not shown up for work yet and to be a little patient. Okay, but my patience is a little rattling because the restaurant is open and no one to take orders or serve the food - WTH?????? A few minutes later from across the restaurant I hear a gruff voice WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DRINK??? Oh, a waitress showed up. I yell back Iced Tea. She brings me the iced tea and goes on to tell me that there are 40 people in the back for a birthday party and she is the only waitress. I said something like maybe you should fire them and hire all new staff. She told me a story of how no one wants to work for a boss who is not nice - TMI! My one girl friend finally gets there - thank God!!! So, we look over the menu and decide to order a pizza with onions, mushrooms, and bacon; and an appetizer - Italian Nachos. I ask her what is the difference between Mexican Nachos and Italian Nachos and the gruff waitress said "the seasoning". Now, I've been to other Italian restaurants and ordered Italian Nachos and they usually serve it with Italian Sausage and/or chicken as well as some different type of cheese on top. The waitress looked at me like I was stupid or something for asking the difference - gee whiz!!!! So, the pizza and nachos are served together - instead of bringing the appetizer first she brings them both. I look at the pizza and saw that the waitress got the order wrong, she brought out a pizza with pepperoni, onions, and mushrooms. I told the waitress that we had ordered bacon, onions and mushrooms and she looked at me and said "oh, you want them to make you another pizza"? OMG - please where is the customer service???? The food was meh - nothing great, not horrible! Would never go back to this restaurant for the food just because it was NOT! When you walk into this restaurant it reminds you of the 60's or 70's - where is the Mafia???? No or hardly any updates to the restaurant. Would not recommend this restaurant.
(1)John S.
My husband and I have been to Sila's for years. They revamped the restaurant and bathrooms and it looks great. However, our visit last night was quite disappointing. I ordered the meat ravioli with meat sauce and topped it off with the baked cheese. Overall it was good. However, I ordered the minestrone soup as my side and it was awful. It was more like a tomato stew with added vegetables. Instead of using noodles it was plopped with chunky potatoes. My husband ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce. He complained it was cold with huge chunks of celery in the sauce. Our breadsticks were very dry, too. I was very disappointed overall. Also, I did complain about the soup, but our server offered no way to make up for it.
(2)David G.
Veal parm is gross formed forzen sysco garbage. They charge alot for it too. Bread is not good like it used to be. God forbid you make it from scratch or buy good stuff. Place has gone downhill over the years. The new sign out front doesnt change anything. I forgot to mention the bathroom better off going behind the dumpster it smells better. Disgusting nasty filthy old worn out bathroom.
(1)Carlos T.
OK; let me start by saying when you've eaten as much pizza as I have through the years you pretty much know..... ok pizza, from decent pizza, from great pizza. With me its about three key things 1) fresh ingredients 2) sauce 3) dough....Silas is "Old School" from the season waitresses to the 90's cafeteria seats, its seen better days. The Pizza was just "OK", the dough was a very basic pizza dough, the most disappointing thing on the pizza was the sauce.....really Silas? "you're an Italian restaurant; if anything represents your establishment its your sauce aka "gravy". The cheese bread was again "OK" its basically, a cheese pizza without the sauce. The staff was professional and friendly. Overall the Pizza and Cheese stick gets a 5 out of 10, they really need to work on their sauce.
(2)Chuck H.
If you're looking for great food, great service and a great atmosphere, well... you won't find it here. There were 6 tables seated and at least that many employees on the floor. I ordered the vegetarian lasagna and Matt had the spaghetti with meat sauce. The menu describes hot breadsticks and salad coming with the meals. Matt asked what dressings were available and the waitress ran through a list of dressings and he chose blue cheese, I upgraded to a Greek salad for $2.00 The breadsticks came to the table barely warm and were cold by the time we could find our waitress to ask for hot breadsticks. She took the basket away and came back with two additional breadsticks that were fairly warm on top of the cold breadsticks she had just taken from our table. My Greek salad was fine, if small, but since it was meant as a side salad to an entree, it was appropriate. The waitress came out with our entrees, not knowing who had what (as a waiter for 11 years, I find the "food auction" of servers asking their own tables what they ordered to be annoying and unprofessional), and then walked away without asking if we needed anything. I turned my lasagna around to find the entire side of it was blackened and the edge of the dish had baked on black cheese. I took a bite of it and the burned taste had worked through the lasagna and made it taste terrible. I pushed it off to the side of the table. Matt's spaghetti sauce was meat in name only. There was a hint of meat but no texture of it. He said it tasted like Raguâ„¢ from a can. After 8 minutes (I checked the time on my phone), the waitress came back and asked what was wrong. Matt was half way done with his spaghetti and I told her my lasagna was burned (and it was visibly, there was no need to ask) and that I didn't want anything else. It had been too long and I didn't feel like eating alone. I was surprised to then get the bill and find that while the lasagna had been removed, my salad was now $5.00 and Matt had been charged for Blue Cheese dressing when she made no mention of it being extra. Her defense was that it was disclosed on the menu. (I didn't see it in the entree description as extra, it must be in the salad section we didn't read because we were ordering entrees, not just salads.) There was another charge on there for just under a buck which I assume must be for the entertainment of swatting away the numerous fruit flies buzzing around the table. We mentioned the fruit flies to the cashier who told us that was normal, she saw fruit flies at Chili's last night, so I guess insects buzzing around your head as you eat is now standard. At least in her opinion, it didn't seem to bother her at all... We are certain though that the charge wasn't for smiles as there wasn't one to be found in the entire restaurant. I see people here mentioning their pizza being good, I can't attest to that but I know that I can get awesome pizza at Green Lantern in Madison Heights without the fruit flies or the sour faces. Where's Gordon Ramsey when you need him??
(1)Allison K.
Good food, nice portions for the price, good tasting marinara sauce, great minestrone soup. Good choice if you're in the mood for Italian food. Good carryout option!
(5)Brian K.
This place has a truly vintage feel to it. I swear you could be stepping back into the 1960's or early '70's. Went here for a family birthday party. The food was good. Had a great time. Bathrooms need a remodel. The vintage feel to the rest of the place is endearing but most people want a really clean bathroom. Not just "cleaned". I mean new stalls, vents, porcelain, light fixtures, and tile. Other than that, I was pleased and would go back again.
(3)Eric R.
We were out-of-towners visiting friends who had a groupon that was about to expire. Despite this being my first time, Silas gave me a nostalgic feeling the moment I walked in. The decor reminded me of sit down pizzerias I went to as a kid in the 80s/early 90s. Classic old paintings on the walls and lots of wood finishing with dim lighting. It looked like the tables and walls were untouched for decades and that's a good thing. We went kind of late in the evening and there were plenty of people still eating. The bread sticks, salads, pizzas, and fettuccine pasta were no frills, brass tacks italian, just like I remember as a kid. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Her partner even checked on us a couple times. My only minor complaint was how quiet the place was. I'm not sure if the sound system was broken, or if they had it off for the bar to hear Saturday football in the adjacent room. Eating in awkward silence is a personal peeve of mine. Please don't take the 3 stars the wrong way. This place was good, and I'll definitely eat here again. No frills with good service and fair prices definitely has its place and I encourage people to support this business.
(3)Bobby Z.
Weird remodel...food is the same. The old dick behind me who reeked of cigars was sitting by himself complaining to the 17 year old waitress that they stopped serving wine in a half carafe (though he kept pronouncing it careiff like a 5 year old)...apparently he prefers a delicate potion that consists of a 60/40 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot...such a refined palette! The coup de grace is the anchovies, onion, mushroom pizza he ordered...this old bastard is some kind of nightmare...and he is as much a part of the sila tapestry as the 70s murals, pushy grandma waitresses and greezy food! Yes, this is my review...
(4)Ray B.
Big thanks to these folks for hosting the RO men's swim team after the league meet; the backroom was just the right size and they actually seemed to appreciate our business. Food was decent.
(4)M H Z.
Old restaurant, old decor and even older waitresses. But the draw is the FOOD wc is hearty, well made and uncomplicatedly and consistently GOOD. regular faves are the pizzas, the ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs. always a stop when were in michigan.
(4)Christopher R.
The service is very good. Always pleasant to us when we go in. The food just isn't too good. It seems every Italian dish is the same - some variation of pasta and meat covered in sauce with a cheese that is oily and greasy.
(2)Jon G.
If you are searching for a nice, family-owned eye-talian eatery that reminds you of the one down the road from where you grew up, keep searching. Sila was a disaster from the onset. When my girlfriend and I arrived, we waited for no less than 10 minutes before any hostess coming to seat us. We almost left before they finally walked us to our seat in their half-empty place. (Busy was no excuse on this night). The menu was good, the bread was good, but the salad and entrees were bad. Both of our salads were completely drenched in strong Italian dressing that wasn't really good. Then my entree, chicken lasagna, was sloppily covered in cheese. There must have been a pound of cheese on the plate - which could be cool - but I ordered chicken and spinach lasagna with the reasonable expectation that it would be healthy. It was bad looking, bad for me and bad tasting. Maybe their pizza or marinara based pastas as good, I don't know. But I don't think I will go back and try. While our waitress was very outgoing and nice, the hostess was bad and she was seen a few times yelling at bus boys. It was very off-putting.
(1)D B.
DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great food.......Pizza ala donna Filipo was FAB! Greek Salad was fresh and wonderful!!! Service was EXCELLENT!!!! All around great experience!!!
(5)Lauren H.
This family restaurant is delicious. I love the food here, I'm a sucker for anything Italian. My favorite is the deep dish pizza or the chicken parm. If I wouldn't weigh 500 lbs I would eat their bread every day! Breadsticks included with every meal, my favorite part of the meal pretty much! I live a block away so I get take out often. The take out menu is generous sized portions and affordable. They have recently done a few minor renovations on the inside. The staff cares about the customers. There is one girl that works here that doesn't seem to have gotten the memo that dealing with the public is not her calling. She is unpleasant and mixes up orders.
(4)Zachary S.
UPDATE: bought a Groupon here after my first time here. I can tell the Groupon has effected this restaurant in 2 ways: 1. They are having difficulty with more customers and the service has slipped. 2. The portions are much smaller. Went from a solid 4* to a weak 3*. I came here for Valentine's Day with my girlfriend and son. The food is old school Italian, nothing fancy and just the way I like. The bread before our meal was very good. Our waitress wasn't the best. She was wasn't friendly at all and I would not give her second chance. The atmosphere was okay. They definitely need to turn up the music a little bit and maybe add some TVs to the bar area. With this place being a 30 second drive from my house, I will come back if I crave Italian, but I will want another waitress.
(3)Britt M.
My family and I have been several times and enjoyed their food but hated their service. We were so excited the last time we went and saw they had a sign out that they were hiring. Our teenaged son applied and got a call to come in for an interview. The very next day he went in for his interview, the manager got a look at his skin tone and he was told they were no longer in need of any help and turned and walked away. No interview, no questions, just a look. But wait, why would you call someone in for an interview if you don't need help any longer? Needless to say we haven't been back and of course when we pass this place there is still a help wanted sign out front. SHADY!!
(1)Steven S.
My wife and I (now in our late 30s) used to go to Sila's quite frequently in our 20s and always loved it. The food was great, the ambiance was nice and old fashioned, and the staff was good. We've been 3 times in the past couple years (the latest a few days ago) and haven't been satisfied at all. The last time we went was the nail in the coffin... we won't be going back. My wife got the chicken parmesan and thought it was just okay. I got the same thing I've always gotten there year after year... the meat lasagna. Right away I could tell that there was a small hint of freezer burn. I generally don't send things back, so I figured I could still finish it. I was two thirds of the way through and had a bite that made me decide I was done. I don't know what was wrong with it (maybe just more intense freezer burn) but it was gross. I left the rest of the food on the table (something I never do). It's very disappointing to see this happen to a restaurant you really used to like... probably why we kept giving it chances over and over again.
(2)Erin B.
Great food and fast friendly service. I love the barbecue chicken in a spinach wrap! The sauce and meatballs are declicous too!!
(5)Chris H.
What a disappointment. I long for a cheap local Italian restaurant. This ain't it. The service is lousy, the food is hit or miss, the wine selection might as well be Boones Farm or Night Train. The prices are good, so they've got that goin for them. I'll go back cause it's right around the corner and Ive got a short memory. Someone should really put a review up on Yelp to remind me what a disappointment this place is.
(1)Jenifer T.
The food is always good, the atmosphere is a little old but we will say it's "homey" like the pizza bar joint your parents used to take you to- wait this IS that place. Sila is a stand by in the area for years and it hold it's own against the "other" Berkley pizza joint, however if the carryout staff can't get it together I fear this place might die out. I have carried out maybe 5 times only to have the orders completely LOST TWICE? The dine in service is good though so I guess it's a take your chances if you want a good piece of pizza or a slice of gooey oooey lasagna kinda experience.
(3)Cristin G.
I came to Sila for the first time on my birthday this past weekend, we were at the zoo and needed a place to go. My first impressions weren't that great to be honest, the decor is dark and outdated and the staff were not outwardly friendly. The womens bathroom is in desperate need of upgrading and I almost felt even more filthy after visiting it. We ordered a medium size antipasto salad and whoa it was huge! That thing fed the 5 people at the table and we each had seconds of it. I ordered a small cheese pizza which was amazing, my father in law had the minestrone soup (he said it was just ok), and my husband and daughter shared the ribs. The food more then made up for the decor and my waitress, who was very moody to start, turned out to be amazing. This feels like a very good family restaurant that people have been coming to for generations and I understand why. With a few upgrades this restaurant could be the talk of the town. We will be back.
(4)Sarah P.
Ignore the dated decor and the elderly, they get to eat too. Sila's has the best breadsticks and amazing Veggie pizza. There is every veg possible and it doesn't make it watery. Fantastic! See my picture under pics. I wish the place could be overhauled in decor and it would be the "place" to be!
(4)Bridget D.
We are new to Berkely. Just moved here from Chicago -- thus, our pizza standards are very high. Having tried a few pizza places around the area, we've been somewhat disappointed by what seemed to be mostly chain/lackluster pizza options. Then we tried Sila. Salvation! Sila's pizza has what we've been missing. Great layers of Italian flavor, perfect sauce/cheese/crust ratio, great toppings. We got the garlic loaf, which is exactly what it sounds like. But, very good and a great side. This will definitely be our new go-to pizza spot in the area and I kind of love the old school vibe. This isn't a manufactured authenticity, Sila is what it is. So glad its nearby!
(4)Amanda P.
Whenever I think of this restaurant I envision Robert Irvine showing up for a Restaurant Impossible makeover, because that's what it's in need of. They would get yelled at for having a dirty old restaurant with mediocre food and an unenthusiastic waitstaff. I am a bit scared to think what he would say to the kitchen staff. The place was probably great when it opened. I don't know it's history, but it seems very old to me. I don't recommend anything that I have tried there ( chicken parm was awful, salads aren't great, everything seemed to reek of 'we are cutting corners somehow') but I haven't tried the pizza and I do believe that many people love Sila's pizza. S maybe give the pizza a try, but please don't come here expecting ambience or terrific foods. Also, no offense to the elderly but the median age was probably 65 ( we lowered it quite a bit when we walked in) You are way much better off driving to the nearest Olive Garden
(1)Russ H.
Sila's has been a go-to place for my family since I was a kid. I'm 45 now. If you ever wondered what an Italian restaurant was like in the 70's, here is your answer. And that is meant in a good AND bad way. They have a solid menu and decent food. The pizza is pretty good. Classic round pizza. Many of the staff have been here for a long time and the place really does have that 'friendly neighborhood dive' sort of vibe. In all I will be going year for more years to come, and I love it. But I also don't kid myself as to how good it actually is. The perfect place to come for pizza and pitchers of beer with your softball team.
(3)