Jennifer H.

A great find in Dearborn. Delicious pasta and salad. Chocolate mousse cake was fantastic. Restaurant ambience great for a romantic dinner.

valentin p.

Delicious fresh high-quality food and excellent service. I ordered a pasta dish that was perfectly cooked and the tomato basil soup is one of the best I've eaten.

Hymae W.

Based on how empty this place was it was surprisingly good. A little too fancy for my work lunch standards. I had the chicken margarita sandwich which was a little on the expensive side but well worth it

Robyn T.

I, like the other reviewers before me, was extremely satisfied with Bistro 222. I've had this restaurant bookmarked for a while, and so the hubs and I finally went. This is a fabulous little place where the atmosphere is a little more basic, but very classic. They have several little tables for 2, which is a nice feature for date night, and although Michigan Avenue isn't the greatest, it's nice to be able to have the view to watch cars and people stroll by. Hubs ordered the ravioli and I ordered the pasta palomino. I am instantly attracted to anything that describes itself with 'tomato cream sauce', and this dish was no exception. Thick, creamy sauce with penne pasta and oregano and cheese. Does it get any better? And considering I saw the hubs swallowing his ravioli whole, I'm thinking he was just as happy. The one element I wasn't too happy with was no free soda refills. I get it, it's a more upscale place so the soda comes out in bottles, but we are big beverage consumers. We can go through 3 glasses of Diet Coke each, so the cost definitely adds up. I actually feel like a cheapskate even mentioning it, but whatevs. There were about 10 other things on the menu that I wanted to try so I'm sure I"ll be back. Great little place!

Leon S.

Easily my favorite restaurant in / around Dearborn. The food is exceptionally tasty, artistically prepared, and reasonably priced for the high-quality ingredients and T.L.C. that goes into every dish. My all-time favorite appetizer is the Eggplant Caprese -- really the very best eggplant preparation I have ever had. The daily soup is always phenomenal (wild mushroom is my favorite) and the salads are absolutely delicious--especially the young spinach salad or the beet and feta salad (ask for it if you don't see it on the menu *smile*). As far as entrees, I am vegetarian and there are always several options for me--my favorites being the angel hair pasta, eggplant tower, or stuffed gnochi (usually an appetizer, but available as a larger portion as an entree).

Mark O.

I read about this place in the Metro Times so I really wanted to check it out. I had the sauteed perch with caper cream sauce (!!), mashed, crispy potatoes, and asparagus. The fish was really fresh (even though it was December) and the sauce was amazing. The house salad was also different and tasty. My girlfriend had the Bacci (stuffed pasta dumplings with Ital. sausage and spicy sauce). It was good but I wished it had been a mix with some cheese dumplings. Overall the meal was very good. FYI- they only have wine and a limited beer selection. Overall the meal was really good

v g.

So it took us a while to get here, but I bough a livingsocial deal and wanted to check it out. Wow what a fantastic place, totally worth the 30 minute drive!!! Fairly small place with a romantic ambiance and nice music. The service was superb but yet the waiter was not overwhelming at all. Waiter helped us pick out a great wine pairing with the dish. The restaurant was half empty and a bit cold due to it being winter and big windows. The selection was great but left me wanting a bit more, it seemed that there is risotto in every dish... The calamari appetizer was superb and had the perfect amount of heat. I had the seafood risotto (if risotto is in almost every dish must be good) and it was really good. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the risotto was delicious. My date had the tuscani chicken ravioli and loved it. Please spread the word! This place needs to be known and strive! Will be back for more!

Natalia B.

A bit pricey, but good food. The only hang up I had with this place is my carryout was stuck to the container (paper material). Maybe they can change their carryout containers. The portions are large and tasty.

Paul D.

Cleanliness...4 Food...5 Service...5 Price...5 Atmosphere...4 Small place but they do it right...Fresh and Simple...Eggplant tower was to die for...our entrees we spot on...Only down fall was the bathrooms were in a mall commons area and were not that great and the only had beer and wine...Other then that good times!

Dan W.

I was so surprised with how wonderful this restaurant really was. I was in town on business and used Yelp to find some food. My coworkers and I had a really excellent meal, everything was deliciously prepared. The servers went out of their way to be accommodating as I had a picky eater in my group. I really think that this restaurant was a diamond in the rough, I never expected such a good meal.

Dave R.

This is an unassuming storefront restaurant with some attitude. From the start when I walked in, I was made to feel comfortable and not rushed. I was still in my work clothes so I felt a little uncomfortable but no one looked at me sideways and just proceeded to perform the things you would expect in a high class restaurant. This was a place that was recommended to me from a coworker without hesitation and now I see why. I ordered the seafood risotto and it was the best risotto I ever had. The seafood was jumbo shrimp and large scallops with a few asparagus spears to balance things. The bread was hot and delicious. Plenty of parking in back. I was told the chef studied under Wolfgang Puck but whether he did or not, he did everything right.

Karen D.

I'll be honest: I've been running out of places to dine in Dearborn and was desperate for a new spot. When I saw that Bistro 222 had great reviews and was featured in a recent Yelp newsletter, I immediately dragged two friends. Short version: we had one of our best meals in Dearborn, but left perplexed by the cultural identity of the restaurant. Bistro 222 calls itself "Californian American with French and Italian influences" and that results in an oddly eclectic, but ultimately, delicious menu. After ordering a very reasonable bottle of wine, we were treated to a delicious warm roll and pour of homemade pesto on each plate. Appetizers ranged from salads (standard lettuce/spinach as well as scallion ginger noodle) to fried nacho cheese ravioli (served over marinara and with pesto) to a chicken lemon cous cous soup that was out of this world. As a note, we ordered the nacho cheese ravioli, primarily out of morbid curiosity that such a dish even existed and ended up finishing the plate. While not a "must order," it was surprisingly tasty and accompaniments we were skeptical of (marinara?) ended up adding tremendously to the flavor. To dwell for a minute on that soup, there are about 20 restaurants operating in Dearborn right now serving chicken lemon rice/orzo/cous cous soup and every single one of them aspires to be half the soup that this one was. This soup was the first dish I've ever NOT proactively offered to share with my boyfriend. For main courses, my two dining companions both ordered the chicken and shrimp scampi on the waiter's recommendation and loved the dish. I had the perfectly cooked beef medallions served with slightly bland mashed potatoes (that still served as a fantastic vehicle to absorb more of the beef/mushroom sauce). Finally, we had dessert: we ordered the limoncello cake on Yelp recommendations, the bananas foster cheesecake because I like bananas foster, and the imported orange sorbet because I felt we needed a safety pick (I don't care for limoncello or cheesecake). In short: all three were devoured moments after arriving. The limoncello cake was the lightest, airiest cake I've ever had. The cheesecake was just sweet enough and had a great balance of multiple flavors. Finally, our safety sorbet was tangy, refreshing, and the perfect close to the meal. Recognizing this review is more than a bit long, we just had to document what a wonderful meal in a lovely setting we had. The decor borrows from 5-10 countries, the music was random (going from 1940s to 1980s with ease), and the menu included teriyaki, barbecue chicken pizza, and scampi, but yet, all was exactly as it should have been. This wasn't just good food and service at reasonable prices in a convenient location; this chef has thought about his food and diners and every part of the meal seems garnished with TLC.

Robert P.

I am a risotto fan and they do it well here, Had a glass of white wine, a ceasar salad and the risotto for a very satisfying meal. Service was fine.

Linda H.

Perfect, wonderful, dinner! Wine and beer priced great ! We could not of been happier! The perch and the sea food were perfection!!! A A A dinning! Thank you!

S B.

Best food I've had in a restaurant in a long time. I wanted to pick my lamb chops up with my hands to get every morsel. My husband had the trout and it was to die for. Good wine selection. Only two beers, but the Bells option was great. Prices very reasonable. We'll definitely go again.

Selene Shie Hern C.

I love the restaurant, i have been here for few occasions and the foods never disappoint me. Although the calamari taste different compare to few years back because they have changed owner/ chef but the quality still remain superb. The beet salad taste is one of their famous salad. I love her crab cake and salmon. Compare to Adiamo, which is like a food chain restaurant that the pasta taste like it come put from a can. Bristro 222 actually put in effort to cook every single meal to make you feel indulge. Don't forget to go there on Saturday night, they have live jazz.

Scott H.

Nice place in Dearborn Heights. Had the lamb chops, delicious! Nice portions, leaves room for appetizer & dessert. Friendly, attentive staff, nice decor.

Alex B.

The food and maitre d' were outstanding. The service And knowledge of the menu by the wait staff...not horrible but not stellar. Our waiter was training a new waitress. The new waitress in training was far more pleasant and attentive and actually corrected the waiter regarding gluten content in some of the pasta. The food was--truly--outstanding, but the menu is a tad limited for those with dietary restrictions. Regardless, the food makes up for any shortcomings in service or ambiance.

Mark F.

Plenty of availability on a Saturday evening. All the portions are large. Calamari is a great way to start. My wife and I split a warm spinach salad and didn't even finish it all. My wife tried the salmon, and I tried the Monchong. Both were great. Prices were reasonable. No hard spirits, thought they said they are trying to get a permit. Wine selection had good variety. Great place to stop relatively close to DTW airport.

Vickie R.

The food there is amazing. The calamari came highly recommended and our friend did not steer us wrong. Not only was the calamari tender and delicious, it was quite a healthy portion. The only thing about the calamari that I saw that can use a slight improvement is the batter. Although crunchy, it can use a little seasoning. Although, the chef can argue that the more seasonings, the less you're able to taste the freshness of the calamari. True, but if that's the case, why use batter at all? Loved the warm bread with the pesto olive oil dip, a little salty even for me, and I love salty foods. The rack of lamb I had was truly fantastic. It was very well seasoned, and it came out perfectly medium rare. My one complaint is that you have to know the area to know you have to go around the block to park in the back and there's no front door. But aside from that, it really is a wonderful restaurant, and I can't wait to go back there for another romantic date with my crush.

Moe C.

Best Italian in wayne county. You won't regret. Originally from Los Angeles and have been to the best. Exceptional!!

Martha R.

I like Bistro 222. It's solid: has decent service, good food, and is a sorely-needed niche for Dearborn. Dearborn really lacks in quality food at a reasonable price, and Bistro 222 fills that need. It isn't the best food or service that I have ever had - but for Dearborn, it's a MUST. Please, please, please go there. I want this place to be around for a long, long time. Not only that, I can stop in and look at my favorite jeweler's on my way in (Steven Bernard - don't miss this place). The fact that Dearborn charges for parking STILL irritates me, but I guess it is what it is when you're heading "downtown" these days (okay, it's been there a while, but I grew up here and it still seems just so foreign). Overall great place for a date, catching up with a friend, or just eating quality food in Dearborn.

Pete And Lee W.

Delicious food, skillfully prepared. The vegetarian plate with beet gnocchi was superlative - 2 of our party of 4 ate this entree and were moaning (with delight.) The duck entree was excellent. Chocolate raspberry custard dessert was wonderful. Lovely ambience - this place should be much busier. New server was friendly and helpful but could use a little more education about food, wine ...

Nichole H.

All the food was flavorless and did not arrive at the table hot. My husband and I each got something different and neither one of us enjoyed our meal.

Kenny S.

Ordered the rack of lamb and I must say it was absolute phenomenal.. Good service and definitely a repeat restaurant..

Joe B.

I really enjoyed my meal here. The Eggplant tower was great. Service was spot on and the waiter was very attentive. No draft beer, but the Goose Island 312 was a good recommendation. Only disappointment was that there was not enough bread for their pesto dipping oil. It was delicious and I wanted more.

Farid S.

Bad service, good food. Went there for lunch today and had the Shrimp Burger with Fries. The burger patty is made fresh to order with a Lemon Garlic Remoulade and served on a toasted Brioche Bun, seriously delicious! Even the fries are fresh cut and fried in house too. However, be prepared to wait because the service is very slow. You're given some delicious complementary Basil Pesto and fresh Italian bread while you wait though. I was told that all meat there (except for the Amish Chicken and Duck) are Halal (from Restaurant Depot). My friend told the server that he like everything in the goat cheese salad but that he didn't like goat cheese. He then asked the server if he could substitute blue cheese for the goat cheese. The server said we don't have blue cheese and my friend said but you have a Gorgonzola burger? The server said, oh you want the burger now??? Then I said, Gorgonzola is blue cheese. Do the server said, I'll talk yo chef and see if he can do that for you. When the salad came it had blue cheese on it but the dressing was a GOAT CHEESE DRESSING! All and all the atmosphere is really nice and the food is delicious. I'll go back again for the food and I hope the service has improved by then... I just lowered my rating to a one star from a three star because friends of mine went there yesterday and left without getting their food because they ran out of time waiting. I don't care how good the food is, if you can't get it to the table faster than most grandmas do, then you're in the wrong business...

Reggie A.

De-LISH! I cannot believe how empty this place was. On a Thursday night at 8:00pm, we had the entire joint to ourselves. Still, I'm not complaining- we got amazing and quick service. The wine list was most excellent and affordable. First, we ordered an appetizer of nacho cheese ravioli--as an Italian-American, I momentarily balked at this concept but the look of pure joy my husband's longing (non-ethnic) baby blues made me throw caution to the wind and i am SO glad I did. It was amazing. I should be more open-minded about nacho-cheese fusion...but i probably won't :) Anyhow, the risotto was done perfectly and the lemon artichoke chicken dish couldn't have been better. Truly. I rarely go out for Italian but Bistro 222 will have me back again and again. Everyone needs to try it, especially if you're looking for a cute date restaurant.

L S.

Very good, mostly locally sourced food. Chef puts together very interesting combination of flavors. Creative and very well prepared good. Service was excellent.

Shelly M.

Wow, what a great place! So nice to finally get a good upscale restaurant in the area, we are seriously lacking here. The bread with pesto olive oil they bring really wonderful. I ordered the chicken shrimp scampi and it was really great and my husband ordered the pasta mezzogiorno and it was awesome. Our waiter was awesome, we were there with two other couples and wanted to drink a few bottles of wine, he recommend a really inexpensive wine that turned out to be phenomenal for the price so we ended up sharing three bottles!

Joe T.

I had to update the yelp community regarding my recent visit. I previously gave bistro 222 5 stars for a truly superb experience roughly 6 months ago. But this last time was a bit disappointing. We had a reservation on Valentines day. For a day like this, it is a popular venue. 730 reservation. Seated promptly. Why was I disappointed? 1. We were seated in a corner where you can easily get forgotten. Which we did. Hostess did more for us than our waiter. 2. Limited menu. You could tell the items were selected for mass production. Crab cakes, seafood pasta, etc. Didn't taste the same as what we were used to. My seafood gnocchi was underwhelming, small, unappealing presentation and for $25, completely lacked an adequate seafood quantity. 3. Beef menu item changed. Waiter never told us, and we ended up returning the plate to have it adjusted with the right ingredients. From the menu. It was not remade, just modified. Then stuck in the oven where it dried out before returning to our table. So I ended up watching my guest eat her food alone since I finished my meal well before her. I hate that. 4. Understaffed. For V-day there is no excuse not to have enough people on hand to support a full house. The hostess was pleasant and took the beef item off our bill. That was appreciated although not necessary. We wanted to stay for dessert and coffee but figured we didn't want to be further disappointed. I will likely return to Bistro 222 but it will take some good effort on their part to win me over like they did on previous occasions. My advice to Yelper's is to avoid this place on a special holiday where they are busy and have a limited menu. Their regular menu is so much better. I just don't think they are used to regular full house evenings and our experience showed.

Lorraine C.

What a great find! Apparently, this gem has been in Dearborn for 5 years. Located on Michigan ave near Military, one could drive by and never give it another glance. But, one dinner and you will be back. Very nice, cozy setting, you will feel comfortable dressing casual or formal. The food is the star here. Starting with the roll, which is served hot, not just warmed, but hot. It is crusty, with a light, airy interior. It would make a French baker smile. No butter, but an emulsion of olive oil, basil and oregano. Simply mouth watering! I chose the ginger, sesame salad. Generous serving of chopped lettuce, carrots, sesame and ginger dressing which is delectable and a great start yo the main dish. I had the Beci, ravioli stuffed with Italian sausage and a spicy tomato sauce. The ravioli was the lightest pasta I have had outside of Italy. The Italian sausage was ground to a wonderfully, smooth texture. But, the sauce! Spicy, it is and wonderfully so. Keeps the wine flowing! My husband had the special, a salmon with scallops and asparagus over a risotto bed. Wonderful! The risotto had a buttery, nutty flavor. The salmon, grilled to perfection and the scallops meaty and tender. Yum! We will be back, as there are many more dishes to explore!

Chris M.

I read the reviews on Yelp and decided we'd give Bistro 222 a try. We arrived right at 5:00 when they opened last Friday. The greeter asked if we had reservations and we said, no, we didn't know we needed them. She looked over her book and said they were fully booked. She grabbed 2 menus and seated us. There was 1 other table seated at the time. When we left, about 45 minutes later, there were 5 tables seated. Odd. Anyway... The salads to start were wonderful...great balsamic dressing. My wife had the Seafood risotto which she said was fantastic...she thought her scallops were not fully cooked however and mentioned it to the waiter who offered to get some others, but she was fine with the delicious shrimp and rice. I had the Scampi which was fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to return and try some of the other wonderful looking selections on their menu.

Krystal R.

We went last night with some friends and it was delicious. I woke up thinking about the butternut squash ravioli! The calamari was different, but really tasty-it had a nice tomato-y and olive sauce and was so savory. I tried my husband's seafood risotto and the shrimp was cooked perfect. I also tried a bite of the crab cake, and that was good as well. To wrap it up, the tiramisu was the BEST I have ever had. It was so fresh and would pair well with a cup of coffee. This is a small place tucked away but it's a little gem : )

Kyle G.

I hope that I simply dined on an "off night", but I fear I didn't. I came here cause the previous reviews, but was underwhelmed, to say the least. The single roll that was served with my salad was nothing more than a cheap dinner roll you can buy at a grocery store. Bread isn't a huge part of any meal, but this should be noted. The house salad was mixed greens tossed in dressing with a single slice of cucumber and a single grape tomato. For my entree, I ordered the night's special which was linguine with clams. If I order what's on special for the night, I expect a good meal that the venue is looking to highlight for the evening. This dish again felt like I could prepare this at home with cheap, store-bought items. For $28 + tip (I didn't have any drinks besides water), I expect more. Did I eat the meal? Yes. Will I go back? Most likely not.

Excellent. That was the word of the night. It just kept popping up throughout the dinner conversation regarding everything from the wine to our dinner entrees to dessert. Everything was simply excellent. Bistro 222, a local eatery owned by a local chef and restauranteur, provides the Dearborn area a classy, intimate setting for well-made Italian and Mediterranean inspired cuisine. The contemporary establishment features elegant, modern decor and a quiet atmosphere with soft Frank Sinatra tunes playing in the background. The chic and classy, yet casual surroundings call for dressy casual attire, as it is a cozy spot for a romantic date or a nice family dinner. A well-edited menu provides customers plenty of dining options including salads, pastas, pizzas and other entrees featuring chicken, steak or fish paired with potatoes and vegetables. Dinner entrees range between $12-20, while pizzas are priced around $10. The lunch menu also offers a nice selection of sandwiches, including paninis. There are a variety of options for vegetatians beyond salads, and items can be made gluten free. My dining companions for the evening, AKA my parents, both selected the shrimp scampi ravioli, which they described as delicious and light. My young spinach salad topped with candied pecans, slivered slices of juicy granny smith apples and crumbled goat cheese had just the right amount of parmesan vinagrette to keep the greens moist without finding a pool of left-over dressing on my plate after eating. Today's soup - a refreshing and light lemon rice soup with perch and salmon - provided a nice, warm comfort food to begin the delicous meal. We topped dinner off with coffee and dessert. Having tasted both the Govida chocolate mousse and the Tuxedo cake, I recommend saving a little room for an after-dinner treat. The service was attentive and very friendly. We were seated quickly after our arrival, and the hostess politely hung our winter coats in a cloak closet. One of the owners also came around to several tables, including our own, to visit. Overall, we had a marvelous dining experience, and I recommend Bistro 222 to anyone looking for quality casual dining and service in the Detroit area.

Maggie O.

Love it! This is one of our favorite places for date night - small, friendly, with great food and wine. Michael and his staff always do an excellent job and are also always willing to accomodate when we bring the kids along too.

Vania S.

I love this place! The restaurant is super cute. The service is phenomenal. The food is amazing. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with their calamari. I wouldn't be able to find one bad thing about this place even if I tried! Every experience has been perfection.

Lisa T.

Great service-cute space. Creative Italian food with great flavor. The portobello appetizer is Amazing! Risotto is great. A variety of salads. Love it.

Hussam A.

The food at this place was amazing, my wife and i walked in on a friday night about 2 weeks , they were very nice to accommodate us with no reservations. The reason for the 3 stars was the waiter, he barely welcomed us when we sat, waited more than 15 minutes to get bread when he served other tables around us who came after us. It may sound small stuff, but we're out to enjoy a full dining experience and service, service being a part of it. I would give them 5 stars for the food.

Laura M.

Sorry to be the nay-sayer on this one. I really tried to like it more. Went there on Tuesday evening for dinner with hubby, who was leaving the country early Wed. morning. I wanted a romantic, flavor-filled dinner with him on our last evening together for a while. I had done some research on restaurants within easy driving distance and chose this one, although it would be our first visit. We were seated promptly, but our table by the window made for a very stark setting. I couldn't help but notice the commercial-styled blue carpeting with the carpet running up the walls instead of trim-work on the walls. But much worse than that--- management seems to think it best to show the zooming race of humanity outside on Michigan Avenue exactly what is going on inside of the restaurant at all times. The view of cars whizzing by was dizzying. How about at least some low window film to break that up, or even some hokey cafe curtains? Puh-lease. Now for the food. Hmmm. Our overly-bubbly waitress who wanted to share her personal life with us, the total strangers who just happened to enter her orbit 3 minutes ago, arrived promptly and served our wine, then started making some menu suggestions--even though we did not ask. After a bit of discussion amongst ourselves, we opted to share an order of calamari as an appetizer. The calamari arrived and it was quite tasty--refreshingly served over a tomato-based sauce and topped with kalamata olives (maybe not kalamata exactly, but you get the picture). The calamari were the plumpest, juiciest calamari I have found in the D-town area, but that ain't sayin' much, right folks? Am I right? We then ordered our mains, except I chose again from the appetizer menu. Dear hubby opted for the Sauteed Lake Perch with Caper Creamy Garlic Sauce over Crispy and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. I ordered the Lobster Quesadillas. The food was served in good time, but---Meh. Meh for dear hubby's fish because it might have been very good except that by Caper Creamy Garlic Sauce, the chef really meant "Slathered/Buried in Gravy". Not very nice to do that to a piece of good fish. The gravy coupled with the heavy potatoes was just too much. And my lobster quesadillas tasted more like that fake crab/surimi stuff, all shredded to heck, with too much mayo. No flavor burst AT ALL. I only ate one wedge of it and had had enough by then. For what we had to eat, including a lower-end bottle of white wine, the price was okay. But the only reason I might return would be to have the calamari for lunch.

Nigel M.

Given its proximity to the hub of the Ford empire, Dearborn seems to offer remarkably few dining options beyond various formats of greasy grilled meats (perhaps the Fordies are relentlessly carnivorous). Searching for a more heart-friendly option, I happened upon this storefront resto on Michigan Ave. After some trial and error I gained access to the pleasant wine-filled dining room (via a little arcade in the rear) and was seated near the window with a glass of excellent Pinot Noir. Unlike so many small restaurants in the suburbs, the chef feels no need to offer an unrealistic array of dishes, and sticks to a dozen or so well chosen plates, mostly under 20$. An excellent spinach salad with good peppery dressing and real Gorgonzola was followed up by obviously homemade pasta with a light creamy sauce studded with mushrooms and greens and (again) top quality Parmesan. Overall, excellent quality, value and charm with friendly and knowledgeable service

Lauren M.

Based on my first experience, I'd give 3.5 stars if I could. We made reservations for a Friday evening, which we saw was unnecessary when we got there because there were plenty of open tables. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. We ordered the caesar salad for two, which is prepared tableside. Maybe it was because our server had a trainee shadowing him so he had to kind of go slower and explain it to her, but the presentation lacked pizzazz. Felt pretty awkward, actually. I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the salad but my husband seemed to like it. I ordered the seafood risotto and he got the filet mignon. Literally the only reason we came here was because I was really craving risotto and I couldn't find too many places that had it on the menu as an entree. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. The rice was very undercooked and it was a bit soupy and bland. No richness whatsoever. I'm not the type to be fussy so I decided not to send it back but, for the price, I should have said something. My husband's filet, however, was amazing. Maybe I just wasn't in a great "dining" type of mood but it bothered me how long our visit was from beginning to end. It took probably 10-15 minutes before our order was taken and another 10 before we got our salad. We didn't have our entrees until 45 minutes after we were first seated. I expected they would have some great desserts but the tray they brought over looked awful - like dried up stale versions of what may have actually been good desserts. Either way, it wasn't appealing so we passed. We would probably come back because lots of other things on the menu sounded good but I was pretty upset to leave $100 later without even satisfying my risotto craving.

Annette J.

It pains me to do this but I have to drop my rating a bit. I went a few months ago for dinner and it was disappointing. I LOVED the old menu and was excited to visit again for the first time in long while. Sadly some things had changed and it wasn't quite as fantastic as before. First off, the menu has really shrunk. The good news is that there seems to be a more "farm to table" approach to their dishes and so their offerings rotate regularly based on what's in season. The bad news is that this means the menu is much smaller and far more limited. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing but it is when it's a Friday night and they're out of 2 dishes. There isn't quite as much to choose from. Second, the portions are much smaller than I remember them for a larger price point than before. I don't need a huge plate of food but 4 small scallops with a few slices of orange and some veggies doesn't really feel like an entree worth $24. It was delicious but not quite satisfying for the price point. In fact, we were all still so hungry after our meal that a couple hours later we hit the Taco Bell drive thru. A cursory glance at the the menu seems to show a few more options than I remember so that's a good sign. And the food, at least the dishes I sampled, were still quite tasty. So I'm willing to come back and try again but I'm not as excited to return as I had been before.

W. John R.

I have seen some mediocre reviews of this place lately, so I felt like I should visit again and then update my review, which may have been a bit dated. Bistro 222 apparently switched head chefs, and there have been some changes from what I've seen. The menu is smaller, and changes more frequently. Some of our old favorites aren't there, so we've been forced to make new favorites. My biggest qualm - Bistro 222 had the best calamari I've ever had in my life, bar none, and the last couple of times I've been there it's been a bit chewy. We steered clear tonight based on a polite but less than enthusiastic recommendation from our delightful server. The restaurant has made up for any perceived faults in other ways. On my latest visit I tried a pork belly appetizer with a parsnip puree, apple slices, and pickled vegetables. It was simply amazing. The mushroom bisque soup, which I split with my companion, was also delectable. The presentation is definitely up a notch from when I first visited ~3 years ago. For the entree, I veered away from my typical favorite (the lemon caper lake perch, which I had again this past fall and is still amazing) and decided to try the lamb shank. The sauce was great and the phrase "fall off the bone" is not used with any hyperbole in this case. The kale and carrot bed paired well with the dish. My companion's ribeye, ordered medium rare, was seasoned and cooked in a way I couldn't possibly imagine improving upon, and her yukon gold and nutmeg mashed potatoes were a pleasant culinary surprise. As always, this is a pricey meal, fit for special occasions. Desserts looked amazing and we're both creme brulee fanatics, but we already had a doggie bag at our side so we had to pass. I'm thinking about making a special trip here in the next couple of weeks to try the dessert. I'm a curmudgeonly eater who finds fault in almost every restaurant, and I can say that despite the change in chef, Bistro 222 is still worth your attention as the best (in my opinion) fine dining option in Dearborn.

Allison F.

My husband and I visited Bistro 222 on a Friday night. We'd called earlier in the week to make reservations without any complications. We parked in the back and entered through the business plaza door. The restaurant is all the way in the back to the left. The space is small and open. I wish it were a bit more intimate but it seems they're doing the best they can with their space. The server was efficient but not warm or friendly. That's not to say she didn't do a great job. She took care of refills and brought our food in a timely manner. We did think it was weird that it was so close to their opening for the night and they were already out of three menu items. Luckily, they weren't dishes we were interested in ordering! Both Jacob and I ordered the lamb chops, medium rare. They came out absolutely perfect. I ordered mine with mashed potatoes and he got his with risotto. We both preferred my mashed potatoes... they were seriously divine. The lamb was very tasty and it was a great portion for the price. This is a great little restaurant but I was expecting a little more atmosphere or friendliness due to the previous reviews. Regardless, it's a cute place with great food, and it deserves a visit.

Tarek S.

All I can say is Quality Meats!! Organic grass fed ribeye was delicious! The meal was excellent and the staff was pleasant and welcoming.

Mehul S.

Very quiet and tucked away restaurant! I very much like the feel of the place. Food was excellent. Their Eggplant Tower was awesome. This is definitely a place to come back for me!

Scott D.

One word - disappointing. That's how I would describe our Friday night dinner at 222 Bistro in downtown Dearborn. When we came in we were told the food was gourmet and that the pasta was made by hand. I'd say the latter was true, but the former was far from it. Let's talk about the food itself: the soup de jour we chose was a tomato basil, and while it was really good, it wasn't worth the $6 a bowl. Our entrees were lackluster at best. My wife's noodles were indeed hand-made and fresh in her Pasta Carbonara, but it appeared as if it sat under a heat lamp a little longer than planned. The pancetta in it was too salty, the portion too small, and the sauce barely distinguishable. Meanwhile, the Seafood Risotto I was talked into (because it was more expensive than my other choice?), was bland and the seafood portions significantly small for a $26 entrée. The scallops appeared to be one scallop carefully sliced into three pieces, while the salmon consisted of two thumb-size portions. The service was also at fault. The cheery waiter made me feel like I was going to be treated like a king, but quickly I realized he was all talk and salesmanship for a product that could not back up his bold statements. Little things, but perceptible to an ex-waiter such as myself, irked me. He seemed to wait on another table that walked in ten minutes after us much more than ours. He quickly brought out bread for their table and lit a candle for them, while we were pretty much ignored. He never seemed prepared with the pepper grinder, but always mentioned it after bringing our courses. He ended up having to travel all the way back to the kitchen for this when I did ask for it on my risotto. He was spot on when it came to my wine selection and steered me toward a nice Washington state Cabernet that was reminiscent of South American reds I like. The other three tables in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying their meals - two were being waited on by a more concerned waiter. When I told ours that I was jealous at his other table for not having bread, he quickly threw his coworker under the bus (oh, I'm sorry, he must have forgotten). The icing on the cake came when the other waiter brought out a woman's leftovers in the form of an aluminum foil swan - a silly form of impressing customers that has become pretty cliché and cheesy, in my opinion. Our waiter packaged my wife's in the form of an aluminum foil iron. Now mind you, I wouldn't complain as much about this kind of food or service if I was at a Ram's Horn or Denny's, but when you call yourself a bistro, use the word gourmet, claim to have French and Italian food, and charge $20-$30 for an entrée where soups and salads are a la carte, you're ripping your customers off. Maybe those other three tables were impressed, but I think they were misdirected the way a magician plies his tricks.

M F.

Went here last night and was absolutely disappointed. The amazing menu was gone. Replaced with a very sparse menu with nothing very interesting. There were no shellfish dishes, risotto nowhere to be found as well as not much in the line of pasta. We looked at the menu and left a few dollars and went to Andiamo whose prices are very similar. I had asked what happened to the menu and apparently new ownership/chef. I hope they can figure things out because there was one table with two people on Saturday evening at 7pm

L C.

I really enjoy dining at Bistro 222. The staff and food are fantastic, and if you have any dietary restrictions they are incredibly accommodating. I had a great experience on New Year's Eve and again this weekend. You will find them on Open Table, if you use the site for reservations/points.

Taylor H.

The prices dose not weight out the meal I order the steak the most expensive one just came with mash potatoes. The steak seemed like it wasn't cook correctly because half threw became cold. My fiancé order the Amish chicken that only came with corn and peas seemed as if it came from the can. I expected better quality of sides for the prices they are selling the food. Atmosphere was peaceful.

Matthew E.

Ate here last night. The crab bisque is great, and the driver scallops and sauce were amazing. Ambience is lacking a little and was a little cold in the restaurant also. Parking kinda hard especially with snow and back entrance not well marked. Don't forget to validate!

Rachel S.

great prices, delicious food. Would definitely go back!

Jeanet K.

At the recommendation of a fellow yelper, I, and 3 other friends tried Bistro 222 for the first time. We had reservations at 5:30pm, 30 minutes after they opened and we were the only people there until about 6pm. They had a nice wine and beer selection, NO liquor which was a bit disappointing to my husband, but he got over it with a nice Riesling. We all had different dishes, all of which were very good. The service was great. I give it a 4 out of 5 b/c the atmosphere was pretty good, but not fabulous. Downtown Dearborn in general is nice, very walkable. I'm sure we'll be back.

Corey M.

Quaint little farm to market, chef owned restaurant. Really great, creative, innovative food. An exceptional wine list, with several great wines by the glass. We will definitely be back. We had our Anniversary dinner here, and it was the perfect place for such an occasion. Bistro 222 is set up to have a few intimate tables. Great place for a date, or dinner with a couple. Parking is behind the restaurant, and the entrance is through a little mall, 222 place or something.

Bo M.

Great small unassuming restaurant. Parking is behind the building. Call ahead for the chef to grill the eggplant tower instead of fried!! Yum!!

Ken Z.

Maybe the key is to go here for dinner. Went for lunch last week. Slooooowwww. We were waiting so long after ordering that we had to ask our waiter to bring some bread to tide us over. Wasn't sure why we had to ask - saw it on another diner's table. Then got the bill and saw that the roll only comes with the salads and my companion ordered a chicken parmesan sandwich (reported as good but a little greasy). His bill = $1 for the extra roll. Now the roll was warm and quite good. Plus the garlic oil accompanying the rolls was excellent. My Sesame Ginger salad with chicken on the other hand was subpar. $12. I didn't memorize the menu, but I don't think it came with everything that was listed on the menu under the item. Odd. Now I can forgive a place for being slow when it is busy. However, there were only 2 other tables seated when we arrived. It picked up a little by the time we left, but 1 1/2 hours for weekday lunch doesn't cut it for the working crowd. Door facing Michigan Ave. is locked - you have to enter from the rear. Should have been a sign...

Bryan G.

The food was wonderful but the service wasn't as great as I expected. Also the wine selection is alright.

katie h.

Four of us dined at Bistro 222 last night and all of us loved our selections. From the calamari and bruschetta appetizers thru the main courses of ravioli, crab cakes, beef medallions and shrimp and chicken scampi and dessert of limoncelo cream cake, everything was perfect and so good we wanted to lick our plates. Can't understand why the place was almost empty. Would give this 5 stars, but the service was a little slow which I don't understand since there were only 6 tables of diners. Worth a try for everybody. I'll go back for sure.

Ian B.

This is one of our regular stops for Friday night out. The food is always amazing, the space intimate, and the staff friendly. The risotto is absolutely fantastic.

Mary S.

A real find. We saw Bistro 222 as we were driving down Michigan Avenue. White tablecloths and people inside on a Monday evening. We were hungry and tired of looking for a restaurant. Park in the back. Walked in, warmly greeted. Was given a nice table. Special that night - Couscous Soup. Hmmmm. We thought we'd try it. If we had known it was going to be this good, we would have ordered two bowls and salads for dinner. It was fabulous. Main entree - fettucini was cooked properly and had wonderful flavor. The sturgeon over a bed of risotto was incredible. The chef really knows how to make pasta correctly. The fish was properly cooked. Don't eat the breadsticks on the table - they will fill you up - you want to eat the entire entree and save room for desert. This was a great meal. Service was good. This is cooked to order, not pre-cooked and microwaved. Will definetly return.

Barbara R.

1st visit even though we live in Dearborn. Others have recommended it so we made the trip. Love this place. Very nice wine list...we opted for a bottle. Ordered the portobello appetizer. Delicious! My husband ordered a Caesar salad, very tasty and fresh. He ordered the chicken and shrimp scampi and I ordered the chicken Marsala ravioli. Both were winners. I wanted to lick my plate the sauce was that good. We had coffee and shared the chocolate mousse cake. So good. Lovely, small local restaurant. We will certainly recommend and return.

Dj M.

Don't buy into the hype. This place was mediocre at best. I wasted my New Year's Eve here. To read people ranting about the creativity is a joke. Creative, yes, if it was 1986. Overpriced drivel. Poor attempts at old dated standards. EVERYTHING from appetizers to dessert a disappointment. One thing, our server, Jesse, was a true professional.

Rebecca C.

I've not been moved to write reviews lately, but the perfect dining experience I just had at Bistro 222 commands my time, attention and advocacy. In an unassuming storefront in "downtown" Dearborn, this little jewel sports white table cloths and 40s-era music while serving up well crafted dishes that will delight your mouth on their way to your tummy. From opener to dessert, each part of the meal was flawless. The (waiter-recommended) calamari appetizer was not delivered with your traditional just-fried treatment, but instead served with a delectable tomato and kalamata olive sauce mixed in with the most tender part of the calamari (no leggy tendrils, for those of you who avoid them). My house salad was even worth accolades, as these humble greens were elevated to praise-worthiness via the most exquisite mint vinaigrette. Our entrees were amazing. My dining partner simply ordered Fettuccine Alfredo, the pasta part of which had the hearty consistency of home-made noodles. Along with just-the-right-consistency Alfredo sauce, there were a variety of delicate vegetables mixed in. It might have been the best Fettuccine Alfredo I've ever sampled. My entree was a special menu item - salmon with a crab meat topping served over a creamy dill risotto. Incredibly rich, but positively delicious and decadent. Portions were ample, as we both couldn't finish and had half the plate to take home. Speaking of decadent - I couldn't help but overhear the table behind me rave about something lemon they had for dessert. The waiter informed me it was limoncello cake and he highly recommended it. I rarely have dessert, but the rest of the meal had been so impeccable that I just had to continue the experience. I was not disappointed. The cake was layered with cream cheese icing and served with a bright green lime sauce. It was the kind of flavor explosion that makes you close your eyes and shake your head slowly...Not a crumb remained. I also have to say that the service was just as fantastic as the food - how often does that happen? Our waiter's name was Jesse, and he could not contain his enthusiasm for serving food he was truly proud of. He checked on us at appropriate intervals throughout the meal, and took genuine pleasure from our obvious satisfaction. He was definitely part of making this evening one of the best dining experiences I've had in the Detroit area for quite some time. I will be back...and I would urge anyone looking for a rare dining treat to look no further than Bistro 222.

Nic S.

I love this place and visit it when i am home on vacation. I have NEVER had one bad meal here. Everything is always fresh and top quality and you can tell the chef takes great care with all of teh food. The service is always top notch. I love the eggplant tower the most. I could keep writing more and more but there are already enough reviews of this place. Easily the best place in all of Dearborn!

TINA F.

Ate here tonight with my dad :) We had a fabulous meal! Our waiter was great....he fully disclosed he was new and got someone else to aid us with a wine selection when he wasn't sure. Dad had the lamb chops and I hate a seafood penne pasta (both specials of the evening). We've been here a few times before and never disappointed.

Tom S.

Great service, great food, great presentation! I come often and it remains among my favorites.

California B.

Love this restaurant, and keep going back. IMHO, their best stuff includes the... -Calamari appetizer -Baci (handmade stuffed pasta) -Eggplant Tower -Bistro salad I also think they are good on value for dollars. Why I don't give it 5 stars: -The one time my wife tried the grill, her lamb was scorched -The Asian salad is forgettable (or I wish it was -- Panera's is better) -No liqueurs or cocktails, just wine or port. If you are thinking about a nice dinner at a local restaurant, please try Bistro 222. I want places like this to prosper in Michigan!

C H.

We had a great dining experience here recently. It was written up in Hour Detroit just last month. Good atmosphere, friendly staff, but most importantly: amazing food. Looking forward to going back and trying something new.

Michael G.

Great food. Chef Michael has been a Dearborn gem since his days at L. A. Express. We're happy he's back with a new resturant. Better make a reservation because the tables are filling fast.

Selene Shie Hern C.

I love the restaurant, i have been here for few occasions and the foods never disappoint me. Although the calamari taste different compare to few years back because they have changed owner/ chef but the quality still remain superb. The beet salad taste is one of their famous salad. I love her crab cake and salmon. Compare to Adiamo, which is like a food chain restaurant that the pasta taste like it come put from a can. Bristro 222 actually put in effort to cook every single meal to make you feel indulge. Don't forget to go there on Saturday night, they have live jazz.

Scott H.

Nice place in Dearborn Heights. Had the lamb chops, delicious! Nice portions, leaves room for appetizer & dessert. Friendly, attentive staff, nice decor.

Lauren M.

Based on my first experience, I'd give 3.5 stars if I could. We made reservations for a Friday evening, which we saw was unnecessary when we got there because there were plenty of open tables. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. We ordered the caesar salad for two, which is prepared tableside. Maybe it was because our server had a trainee shadowing him so he had to kind of go slower and explain it to her, but the presentation lacked pizzazz. Felt pretty awkward, actually. I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the salad but my husband seemed to like it. I ordered the seafood risotto and he got the filet mignon. Literally the only reason we came here was because I was really craving risotto and I couldn't find too many places that had it on the menu as an entree. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. The rice was very undercooked and it was a bit soupy and bland. No richness whatsoever. I'm not the type to be fussy so I decided not to send it back but, for the price, I should have said something. My husband's filet, however, was amazing. Maybe I just wasn't in a great "dining" type of mood but it bothered me how long our visit was from beginning to end. It took probably 10-15 minutes before our order was taken and another 10 before we got our salad. We didn't have our entrees until 45 minutes after we were first seated. I expected they would have some great desserts but the tray they brought over looked awful - like dried up stale versions of what may have actually been good desserts. Either way, it wasn't appealing so we passed. We would probably come back because lots of other things on the menu sounded good but I was pretty upset to leave $100 later without even satisfying my risotto craving.

Barbara R.

1st visit even though we live in Dearborn. Others have recommended it so we made the trip. Love this place. Very nice wine list...we opted for a bottle. Ordered the portobello appetizer. Delicious! My husband ordered a Caesar salad, very tasty and fresh. He ordered the chicken and shrimp scampi and I ordered the chicken Marsala ravioli. Both were winners. I wanted to lick my plate the sauce was that good. We had coffee and shared the chocolate mousse cake. So good. Lovely, small local restaurant. We will certainly recommend and return.

Dj M.

Don't buy into the hype. This place was mediocre at best. I wasted my New Year's Eve here. To read people ranting about the creativity is a joke. Creative, yes, if it was 1986. Overpriced drivel. Poor attempts at old dated standards. EVERYTHING from appetizers to dessert a disappointment. One thing, our server, Jesse, was a true professional.

Annette J.

It pains me to do this but I have to drop my rating a bit. I went a few months ago for dinner and it was disappointing. I LOVED the old menu and was excited to visit again for the first time in long while. Sadly some things had changed and it wasn't quite as fantastic as before. First off, the menu has really shrunk. The good news is that there seems to be a more "farm to table" approach to their dishes and so their offerings rotate regularly based on what's in season. The bad news is that this means the menu is much smaller and far more limited. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing but it is when it's a Friday night and they're out of 2 dishes. There isn't quite as much to choose from. Second, the portions are much smaller than I remember them for a larger price point than before. I don't need a huge plate of food but 4 small scallops with a few slices of orange and some veggies doesn't really feel like an entree worth $24. It was delicious but not quite satisfying for the price point. In fact, we were all still so hungry after our meal that a couple hours later we hit the Taco Bell drive thru. A cursory glance at the the menu seems to show a few more options than I remember so that's a good sign. And the food, at least the dishes I sampled, were still quite tasty. So I'm willing to come back and try again but I'm not as excited to return as I had been before.

W. John R.

I have seen some mediocre reviews of this place lately, so I felt like I should visit again and then update my review, which may have been a bit dated. Bistro 222 apparently switched head chefs, and there have been some changes from what I've seen. The menu is smaller, and changes more frequently. Some of our old favorites aren't there, so we've been forced to make new favorites. My biggest qualm - Bistro 222 had the best calamari I've ever had in my life, bar none, and the last couple of times I've been there it's been a bit chewy. We steered clear tonight based on a polite but less than enthusiastic recommendation from our delightful server. The restaurant has made up for any perceived faults in other ways. On my latest visit I tried a pork belly appetizer with a parsnip puree, apple slices, and pickled vegetables. It was simply amazing. The mushroom bisque soup, which I split with my companion, was also delectable. The presentation is definitely up a notch from when I first visited ~3 years ago. For the entree, I veered away from my typical favorite (the lemon caper lake perch, which I had again this past fall and is still amazing) and decided to try the lamb shank. The sauce was great and the phrase "fall off the bone" is not used with any hyperbole in this case. The kale and carrot bed paired well with the dish. My companion's ribeye, ordered medium rare, was seasoned and cooked in a way I couldn't possibly imagine improving upon, and her yukon gold and nutmeg mashed potatoes were a pleasant culinary surprise. As always, this is a pricey meal, fit for special occasions. Desserts looked amazing and we're both creme brulee fanatics, but we already had a doggie bag at our side so we had to pass. I'm thinking about making a special trip here in the next couple of weeks to try the dessert. I'm a curmudgeonly eater who finds fault in almost every restaurant, and I can say that despite the change in chef, Bistro 222 is still worth your attention as the best (in my opinion) fine dining option in Dearborn.

Farid S.

Bad service, good food. Went there for lunch today and had the Shrimp Burger with Fries. The burger patty is made fresh to order with a Lemon Garlic Remoulade and served on a toasted Brioche Bun, seriously delicious! Even the fries are fresh cut and fried in house too. However, be prepared to wait because the service is very slow. You're given some delicious complementary Basil Pesto and fresh Italian bread while you wait though. I was told that all meat there (except for the Amish Chicken and Duck) are Halal (from Restaurant Depot). My friend told the server that he like everything in the goat cheese salad but that he didn't like goat cheese. He then asked the server if he could substitute blue cheese for the goat cheese. The server said we don't have blue cheese and my friend said but you have a Gorgonzola burger? The server said, oh you want the burger now??? Then I said, Gorgonzola is blue cheese. Do the server said, I'll talk yo chef and see if he can do that for you. When the salad came it had blue cheese on it but the dressing was a GOAT CHEESE DRESSING! All and all the atmosphere is really nice and the food is delicious. I'll go back again for the food and I hope the service has improved by then... I just lowered my rating to a one star from a three star because friends of mine went there yesterday and left without getting their food because they ran out of time waiting. I don't care how good the food is, if you can't get it to the table faster than most grandmas do, then you're in the wrong business...

Alex B.

The food and maitre d' were outstanding. The service And knowledge of the menu by the wait staff...not horrible but not stellar. Our waiter was training a new waitress. The new waitress in training was far more pleasant and attentive and actually corrected the waiter regarding gluten content in some of the pasta. The food was--truly--outstanding, but the menu is a tad limited for those with dietary restrictions. Regardless, the food makes up for any shortcomings in service or ambiance.

Mark F.

Plenty of availability on a Saturday evening. All the portions are large. Calamari is a great way to start. My wife and I split a warm spinach salad and didn't even finish it all. My wife tried the salmon, and I tried the Monchong. Both were great. Prices were reasonable. No hard spirits, thought they said they are trying to get a permit. Wine selection had good variety. Great place to stop relatively close to DTW airport.

Scott D.

One word - disappointing. That's how I would describe our Friday night dinner at 222 Bistro in downtown Dearborn. When we came in we were told the food was gourmet and that the pasta was made by hand. I'd say the latter was true, but the former was far from it. Let's talk about the food itself: the soup de jour we chose was a tomato basil, and while it was really good, it wasn't worth the $6 a bowl. Our entrees were lackluster at best. My wife's noodles were indeed hand-made and fresh in her Pasta Carbonara, but it appeared as if it sat under a heat lamp a little longer than planned. The pancetta in it was too salty, the portion too small, and the sauce barely distinguishable. Meanwhile, the Seafood Risotto I was talked into (because it was more expensive than my other choice?), was bland and the seafood portions significantly small for a $26 entrée. The scallops appeared to be one scallop carefully sliced into three pieces, while the salmon consisted of two thumb-size portions. The service was also at fault. The cheery waiter made me feel like I was going to be treated like a king, but quickly I realized he was all talk and salesmanship for a product that could not back up his bold statements. Little things, but perceptible to an ex-waiter such as myself, irked me. He seemed to wait on another table that walked in ten minutes after us much more than ours. He quickly brought out bread for their table and lit a candle for them, while we were pretty much ignored. He never seemed prepared with the pepper grinder, but always mentioned it after bringing our courses. He ended up having to travel all the way back to the kitchen for this when I did ask for it on my risotto. He was spot on when it came to my wine selection and steered me toward a nice Washington state Cabernet that was reminiscent of South American reds I like. The other three tables in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying their meals - two were being waited on by a more concerned waiter. When I told ours that I was jealous at his other table for not having bread, he quickly threw his coworker under the bus (oh, I'm sorry, he must have forgotten). The icing on the cake came when the other waiter brought out a woman's leftovers in the form of an aluminum foil swan - a silly form of impressing customers that has become pretty cliché and cheesy, in my opinion. Our waiter packaged my wife's in the form of an aluminum foil iron. Now mind you, I wouldn't complain as much about this kind of food or service if I was at a Ram's Horn or Denny's, but when you call yourself a bistro, use the word gourmet, claim to have French and Italian food, and charge $20-$30 for an entrée where soups and salads are a la carte, you're ripping your customers off. Maybe those other three tables were impressed, but I think they were misdirected the way a magician plies his tricks.

Allison F.

My husband and I visited Bistro 222 on a Friday night. We'd called earlier in the week to make reservations without any complications. We parked in the back and entered through the business plaza door. The restaurant is all the way in the back to the left. The space is small and open. I wish it were a bit more intimate but it seems they're doing the best they can with their space. The server was efficient but not warm or friendly. That's not to say she didn't do a great job. She took care of refills and brought our food in a timely manner. We did think it was weird that it was so close to their opening for the night and they were already out of three menu items. Luckily, they weren't dishes we were interested in ordering! Both Jacob and I ordered the lamb chops, medium rare. They came out absolutely perfect. I ordered mine with mashed potatoes and he got his with risotto. We both preferred my mashed potatoes... they were seriously divine. The lamb was very tasty and it was a great portion for the price. This is a great little restaurant but I was expecting a little more atmosphere or friendliness due to the previous reviews. Regardless, it's a cute place with great food, and it deserves a visit.

M F.

Went here last night and was absolutely disappointed. The amazing menu was gone. Replaced with a very sparse menu with nothing very interesting. There were no shellfish dishes, risotto nowhere to be found as well as not much in the line of pasta. We looked at the menu and left a few dollars and went to Andiamo whose prices are very similar. I had asked what happened to the menu and apparently new ownership/chef. I hope they can figure things out because there was one table with two people on Saturday evening at 7pm

Tarek S.

All I can say is Quality Meats!! Organic grass fed ribeye was delicious! The meal was excellent and the staff was pleasant and welcoming.

Mehul S.

Very quiet and tucked away restaurant! I very much like the feel of the place. Food was excellent. Their Eggplant Tower was awesome. This is definitely a place to come back for me!

L C.

I really enjoy dining at Bistro 222. The staff and food are fantastic, and if you have any dietary restrictions they are incredibly accommodating. I had a great experience on New Year's Eve and again this weekend. You will find them on Open Table, if you use the site for reservations/points.

Taylor H.

The prices dose not weight out the meal I order the steak the most expensive one just came with mash potatoes. The steak seemed like it wasn't cook correctly because half threw became cold. My fiancé order the Amish chicken that only came with corn and peas seemed as if it came from the can. I expected better quality of sides for the prices they are selling the food. Atmosphere was peaceful.

Matthew E.

Ate here last night. The crab bisque is great, and the driver scallops and sauce were amazing. Ambience is lacking a little and was a little cold in the restaurant also. Parking kinda hard especially with snow and back entrance not well marked. Don't forget to validate!

Rachel S.

great prices, delicious food. Would definitely go back!

Ken Z.

Maybe the key is to go here for dinner. Went for lunch last week. Slooooowwww. We were waiting so long after ordering that we had to ask our waiter to bring some bread to tide us over. Wasn't sure why we had to ask - saw it on another diner's table. Then got the bill and saw that the roll only comes with the salads and my companion ordered a chicken parmesan sandwich (reported as good but a little greasy). His bill = $1 for the extra roll. Now the roll was warm and quite good. Plus the garlic oil accompanying the rolls was excellent. My Sesame Ginger salad with chicken on the other hand was subpar. $12. I didn't memorize the menu, but I don't think it came with everything that was listed on the menu under the item. Odd. Now I can forgive a place for being slow when it is busy. However, there were only 2 other tables seated when we arrived. It picked up a little by the time we left, but 1 1/2 hours for weekday lunch doesn't cut it for the working crowd. Door facing Michigan Ave. is locked - you have to enter from the rear. Should have been a sign...

Bryan G.

The food was wonderful but the service wasn't as great as I expected. Also the wine selection is alright.

katie h.

Four of us dined at Bistro 222 last night and all of us loved our selections. From the calamari and bruschetta appetizers thru the main courses of ravioli, crab cakes, beef medallions and shrimp and chicken scampi and dessert of limoncelo cream cake, everything was perfect and so good we wanted to lick our plates. Can't understand why the place was almost empty. Would give this 5 stars, but the service was a little slow which I don't understand since there were only 6 tables of diners. Worth a try for everybody. I'll go back for sure.

Ian B.

This is one of our regular stops for Friday night out. The food is always amazing, the space intimate, and the staff friendly. The risotto is absolutely fantastic.

Vickie R.

The food there is amazing. The calamari came highly recommended and our friend did not steer us wrong. Not only was the calamari tender and delicious, it was quite a healthy portion. The only thing about the calamari that I saw that can use a slight improvement is the batter. Although crunchy, it can use a little seasoning. Although, the chef can argue that the more seasonings, the less you're able to taste the freshness of the calamari. True, but if that's the case, why use batter at all? Loved the warm bread with the pesto olive oil dip, a little salty even for me, and I love salty foods. The rack of lamb I had was truly fantastic. It was very well seasoned, and it came out perfectly medium rare. My one complaint is that you have to know the area to know you have to go around the block to park in the back and there's no front door. But aside from that, it really is a wonderful restaurant, and I can't wait to go back there for another romantic date with my crush.

Moe C.

Best Italian in wayne county. You won't regret. Originally from Los Angeles and have been to the best. Exceptional!!

Martha R.

I like Bistro 222. It's solid: has decent service, good food, and is a sorely-needed niche for Dearborn. Dearborn really lacks in quality food at a reasonable price, and Bistro 222 fills that need. It isn't the best food or service that I have ever had - but for Dearborn, it's a MUST. Please, please, please go there. I want this place to be around for a long, long time. Not only that, I can stop in and look at my favorite jeweler's on my way in (Steven Bernard - don't miss this place). The fact that Dearborn charges for parking STILL irritates me, but I guess it is what it is when you're heading "downtown" these days (okay, it's been there a while, but I grew up here and it still seems just so foreign). Overall great place for a date, catching up with a friend, or just eating quality food in Dearborn.

Pete And Lee W.

Delicious food, skillfully prepared. The vegetarian plate with beet gnocchi was superlative - 2 of our party of 4 ate this entree and were moaning (with delight.) The duck entree was excellent. Chocolate raspberry custard dessert was wonderful. Lovely ambience - this place should be much busier. New server was friendly and helpful but could use a little more education about food, wine ...

Nichole H.

All the food was flavorless and did not arrive at the table hot. My husband and I each got something different and neither one of us enjoyed our meal.

Kenny S.

Ordered the rack of lamb and I must say it was absolute phenomenal.. Good service and definitely a repeat restaurant..

Joe B.

I really enjoyed my meal here. The Eggplant tower was great. Service was spot on and the waiter was very attentive. No draft beer, but the Goose Island 312 was a good recommendation. Only disappointment was that there was not enough bread for their pesto dipping oil. It was delicious and I wanted more.

Reggie A.

De-LISH! I cannot believe how empty this place was. On a Thursday night at 8:00pm, we had the entire joint to ourselves. Still, I'm not complaining- we got amazing and quick service. The wine list was most excellent and affordable. First, we ordered an appetizer of nacho cheese ravioli--as an Italian-American, I momentarily balked at this concept but the look of pure joy my husband's longing (non-ethnic) baby blues made me throw caution to the wind and i am SO glad I did. It was amazing. I should be more open-minded about nacho-cheese fusion...but i probably won't :) Anyhow, the risotto was done perfectly and the lemon artichoke chicken dish couldn't have been better. Truly. I rarely go out for Italian but Bistro 222 will have me back again and again. Everyone needs to try it, especially if you're looking for a cute date restaurant.

L S.

Very good, mostly locally sourced food. Chef puts together very interesting combination of flavors. Creative and very well prepared good. Service was excellent.

Shelly M.

Wow, what a great place! So nice to finally get a good upscale restaurant in the area, we are seriously lacking here. The bread with pesto olive oil they bring really wonderful. I ordered the chicken shrimp scampi and it was really great and my husband ordered the pasta mezzogiorno and it was awesome. Our waiter was awesome, we were there with two other couples and wanted to drink a few bottles of wine, he recommend a really inexpensive wine that turned out to be phenomenal for the price so we ended up sharing three bottles!

Joe T.

I had to update the yelp community regarding my recent visit. I previously gave bistro 222 5 stars for a truly superb experience roughly 6 months ago. But this last time was a bit disappointing. We had a reservation on Valentines day. For a day like this, it is a popular venue. 730 reservation. Seated promptly. Why was I disappointed? 1. We were seated in a corner where you can easily get forgotten. Which we did. Hostess did more for us than our waiter. 2. Limited menu. You could tell the items were selected for mass production. Crab cakes, seafood pasta, etc. Didn't taste the same as what we were used to. My seafood gnocchi was underwhelming, small, unappealing presentation and for $25, completely lacked an adequate seafood quantity. 3. Beef menu item changed. Waiter never told us, and we ended up returning the plate to have it adjusted with the right ingredients. From the menu. It was not remade, just modified. Then stuck in the oven where it dried out before returning to our table. So I ended up watching my guest eat her food alone since I finished my meal well before her. I hate that. 4. Understaffed. For V-day there is no excuse not to have enough people on hand to support a full house. The hostess was pleasant and took the beef item off our bill. That was appreciated although not necessary. We wanted to stay for dessert and coffee but figured we didn't want to be further disappointed. I will likely return to Bistro 222 but it will take some good effort on their part to win me over like they did on previous occasions. My advice to Yelper's is to avoid this place on a special holiday where they are busy and have a limited menu. Their regular menu is so much better. I just don't think they are used to regular full house evenings and our experience showed.

Lorraine C.

What a great find! Apparently, this gem has been in Dearborn for 5 years. Located on Michigan ave near Military, one could drive by and never give it another glance. But, one dinner and you will be back. Very nice, cozy setting, you will feel comfortable dressing casual or formal. The food is the star here. Starting with the roll, which is served hot, not just warmed, but hot. It is crusty, with a light, airy interior. It would make a French baker smile. No butter, but an emulsion of olive oil, basil and oregano. Simply mouth watering! I chose the ginger, sesame salad. Generous serving of chopped lettuce, carrots, sesame and ginger dressing which is delectable and a great start yo the main dish. I had the Beci, ravioli stuffed with Italian sausage and a spicy tomato sauce. The ravioli was the lightest pasta I have had outside of Italy. The Italian sausage was ground to a wonderfully, smooth texture. But, the sauce! Spicy, it is and wonderfully so. Keeps the wine flowing! My husband had the special, a salmon with scallops and asparagus over a risotto bed. Wonderful! The risotto had a buttery, nutty flavor. The salmon, grilled to perfection and the scallops meaty and tender. Yum! We will be back, as there are many more dishes to explore!

Chris M.

I read the reviews on Yelp and decided we'd give Bistro 222 a try. We arrived right at 5:00 when they opened last Friday. The greeter asked if we had reservations and we said, no, we didn't know we needed them. She looked over her book and said they were fully booked. She grabbed 2 menus and seated us. There was 1 other table seated at the time. When we left, about 45 minutes later, there were 5 tables seated. Odd. Anyway... The salads to start were wonderful...great balsamic dressing. My wife had the Seafood risotto which she said was fantastic...she thought her scallops were not fully cooked however and mentioned it to the waiter who offered to get some others, but she was fine with the delicious shrimp and rice. I had the Scampi which was fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to return and try some of the other wonderful looking selections on their menu.

Krystal R.

We went last night with some friends and it was delicious. I woke up thinking about the butternut squash ravioli! The calamari was different, but really tasty-it had a nice tomato-y and olive sauce and was so savory. I tried my husband's seafood risotto and the shrimp was cooked perfect. I also tried a bite of the crab cake, and that was good as well. To wrap it up, the tiramisu was the BEST I have ever had. It was so fresh and would pair well with a cup of coffee. This is a small place tucked away but it's a little gem : )

Kyle G.

I hope that I simply dined on an "off night", but I fear I didn't. I came here cause the previous reviews, but was underwhelmed, to say the least. The single roll that was served with my salad was nothing more than a cheap dinner roll you can buy at a grocery store. Bread isn't a huge part of any meal, but this should be noted. The house salad was mixed greens tossed in dressing with a single slice of cucumber and a single grape tomato. For my entree, I ordered the night's special which was linguine with clams. If I order what's on special for the night, I expect a good meal that the venue is looking to highlight for the evening. This dish again felt like I could prepare this at home with cheap, store-bought items. For $28 + tip (I didn't have any drinks besides water), I expect more. Did I eat the meal? Yes. Will I go back? Most likely not.

Karen D.

I'll be honest: I've been running out of places to dine in Dearborn and was desperate for a new spot. When I saw that Bistro 222 had great reviews and was featured in a recent Yelp newsletter, I immediately dragged two friends. Short version: we had one of our best meals in Dearborn, but left perplexed by the cultural identity of the restaurant. Bistro 222 calls itself "Californian American with French and Italian influences" and that results in an oddly eclectic, but ultimately, delicious menu. After ordering a very reasonable bottle of wine, we were treated to a delicious warm roll and pour of homemade pesto on each plate. Appetizers ranged from salads (standard lettuce/spinach as well as scallion ginger noodle) to fried nacho cheese ravioli (served over marinara and with pesto) to a chicken lemon cous cous soup that was out of this world. As a note, we ordered the nacho cheese ravioli, primarily out of morbid curiosity that such a dish even existed and ended up finishing the plate. While not a "must order," it was surprisingly tasty and accompaniments we were skeptical of (marinara?) ended up adding tremendously to the flavor. To dwell for a minute on that soup, there are about 20 restaurants operating in Dearborn right now serving chicken lemon rice/orzo/cous cous soup and every single one of them aspires to be half the soup that this one was. This soup was the first dish I've ever NOT proactively offered to share with my boyfriend. For main courses, my two dining companions both ordered the chicken and shrimp scampi on the waiter's recommendation and loved the dish. I had the perfectly cooked beef medallions served with slightly bland mashed potatoes (that still served as a fantastic vehicle to absorb more of the beef/mushroom sauce). Finally, we had dessert: we ordered the limoncello cake on Yelp recommendations, the bananas foster cheesecake because I like bananas foster, and the imported orange sorbet because I felt we needed a safety pick (I don't care for limoncello or cheesecake). In short: all three were devoured moments after arriving. The limoncello cake was the lightest, airiest cake I've ever had. The cheesecake was just sweet enough and had a great balance of multiple flavors. Finally, our safety sorbet was tangy, refreshing, and the perfect close to the meal. Recognizing this review is more than a bit long, we just had to document what a wonderful meal in a lovely setting we had. The decor borrows from 5-10 countries, the music was random (going from 1940s to 1980s with ease), and the menu included teriyaki, barbecue chicken pizza, and scampi, but yet, all was exactly as it should have been. This wasn't just good food and service at reasonable prices in a convenient location; this chef has thought about his food and diners and every part of the meal seems garnished with TLC.

Robert P.

I am a risotto fan and they do it well here, Had a glass of white wine, a ceasar salad and the risotto for a very satisfying meal. Service was fine.

valentin p.

Delicious fresh high-quality food and excellent service. I ordered a pasta dish that was perfectly cooked and the tomato basil soup is one of the best I've eaten.

Hymae W.

Based on how empty this place was it was surprisingly good. A little too fancy for my work lunch standards. I had the chicken margarita sandwich which was a little on the expensive side but well worth it

Rebecca C.

I've not been moved to write reviews lately, but the perfect dining experience I just had at Bistro 222 commands my time, attention and advocacy. In an unassuming storefront in "downtown" Dearborn, this little jewel sports white table cloths and 40s-era music while serving up well crafted dishes that will delight your mouth on their way to your tummy. From opener to dessert, each part of the meal was flawless. The (waiter-recommended) calamari appetizer was not delivered with your traditional just-fried treatment, but instead served with a delectable tomato and kalamata olive sauce mixed in with the most tender part of the calamari (no leggy tendrils, for those of you who avoid them). My house salad was even worth accolades, as these humble greens were elevated to praise-worthiness via the most exquisite mint vinaigrette. Our entrees were amazing. My dining partner simply ordered Fettuccine Alfredo, the pasta part of which had the hearty consistency of home-made noodles. Along with just-the-right-consistency Alfredo sauce, there were a variety of delicate vegetables mixed in. It might have been the best Fettuccine Alfredo I've ever sampled. My entree was a special menu item - salmon with a crab meat topping served over a creamy dill risotto. Incredibly rich, but positively delicious and decadent. Portions were ample, as we both couldn't finish and had half the plate to take home. Speaking of decadent - I couldn't help but overhear the table behind me rave about something lemon they had for dessert. The waiter informed me it was limoncello cake and he highly recommended it. I rarely have dessert, but the rest of the meal had been so impeccable that I just had to continue the experience. I was not disappointed. The cake was layered with cream cheese icing and served with a bright green lime sauce. It was the kind of flavor explosion that makes you close your eyes and shake your head slowly...Not a crumb remained. I also have to say that the service was just as fantastic as the food - how often does that happen? Our waiter's name was Jesse, and he could not contain his enthusiasm for serving food he was truly proud of. He checked on us at appropriate intervals throughout the meal, and took genuine pleasure from our obvious satisfaction. He was definitely part of making this evening one of the best dining experiences I've had in the Detroit area for quite some time. I will be back...and I would urge anyone looking for a rare dining treat to look no further than Bistro 222.

Jennifer H.

A great find in Dearborn. Delicious pasta and salad. Chocolate mousse cake was fantastic. Restaurant ambience great for a romantic dinner.

Linda H.

Perfect, wonderful, dinner! Wine and beer priced great ! We could not of been happier! The perch and the sea food were perfection!!! A A A dinning! Thank you!

S B.

Best food I've had in a restaurant in a long time. I wanted to pick my lamb chops up with my hands to get every morsel. My husband had the trout and it was to die for. Good wine selection. Only two beers, but the Bells option was great. Prices very reasonable. We'll definitely go again.

Robyn T.

I, like the other reviewers before me, was extremely satisfied with Bistro 222. I've had this restaurant bookmarked for a while, and so the hubs and I finally went. This is a fabulous little place where the atmosphere is a little more basic, but very classic. They have several little tables for 2, which is a nice feature for date night, and although Michigan Avenue isn't the greatest, it's nice to be able to have the view to watch cars and people stroll by. Hubs ordered the ravioli and I ordered the pasta palomino. I am instantly attracted to anything that describes itself with 'tomato cream sauce', and this dish was no exception. Thick, creamy sauce with penne pasta and oregano and cheese. Does it get any better? And considering I saw the hubs swallowing his ravioli whole, I'm thinking he was just as happy. The one element I wasn't too happy with was no free soda refills. I get it, it's a more upscale place so the soda comes out in bottles, but we are big beverage consumers. We can go through 3 glasses of Diet Coke each, so the cost definitely adds up. I actually feel like a cheapskate even mentioning it, but whatevs. There were about 10 other things on the menu that I wanted to try so I'm sure I"ll be back. Great little place!

Dave R.

This is an unassuming storefront restaurant with some attitude. From the start when I walked in, I was made to feel comfortable and not rushed. I was still in my work clothes so I felt a little uncomfortable but no one looked at me sideways and just proceeded to perform the things you would expect in a high class restaurant. This was a place that was recommended to me from a coworker without hesitation and now I see why. I ordered the seafood risotto and it was the best risotto I ever had. The seafood was jumbo shrimp and large scallops with a few asparagus spears to balance things. The bread was hot and delicious. Plenty of parking in back. I was told the chef studied under Wolfgang Puck but whether he did or not, he did everything right.

Leon S.

Easily my favorite restaurant in / around Dearborn. The food is exceptionally tasty, artistically prepared, and reasonably priced for the high-quality ingredients and T.L.C. that goes into every dish. My all-time favorite appetizer is the Eggplant Caprese -- really the very best eggplant preparation I have ever had. The daily soup is always phenomenal (wild mushroom is my favorite) and the salads are absolutely delicious--especially the young spinach salad or the beet and feta salad (ask for it if you don't see it on the menu *smile*). As far as entrees, I am vegetarian and there are always several options for me--my favorites being the angel hair pasta, eggplant tower, or stuffed gnochi (usually an appetizer, but available as a larger portion as an entree).

Mark O.

I read about this place in the Metro Times so I really wanted to check it out. I had the sauteed perch with caper cream sauce (!!), mashed, crispy potatoes, and asparagus. The fish was really fresh (even though it was December) and the sauce was amazing. The house salad was also different and tasty. My girlfriend had the Bacci (stuffed pasta dumplings with Ital. sausage and spicy sauce). It was good but I wished it had been a mix with some cheese dumplings. Overall the meal was very good. FYI- they only have wine and a limited beer selection. Overall the meal was really good

v g.

So it took us a while to get here, but I bough a livingsocial deal and wanted to check it out. Wow what a fantastic place, totally worth the 30 minute drive!!! Fairly small place with a romantic ambiance and nice music. The service was superb but yet the waiter was not overwhelming at all. Waiter helped us pick out a great wine pairing with the dish. The restaurant was half empty and a bit cold due to it being winter and big windows. The selection was great but left me wanting a bit more, it seemed that there is risotto in every dish... The calamari appetizer was superb and had the perfect amount of heat. I had the seafood risotto (if risotto is in almost every dish must be good) and it was really good. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the risotto was delicious. My date had the tuscani chicken ravioli and loved it. Please spread the word! This place needs to be known and strive! Will be back for more!

Natalia B.

A bit pricey, but good food. The only hang up I had with this place is my carryout was stuck to the container (paper material). Maybe they can change their carryout containers. The portions are large and tasty.

Paul D.

Cleanliness...4 Food...5 Service...5 Price...5 Atmosphere...4 Small place but they do it right...Fresh and Simple...Eggplant tower was to die for...our entrees we spot on...Only down fall was the bathrooms were in a mall commons area and were not that great and the only had beer and wine...Other then that good times!

Dan W.

I was so surprised with how wonderful this restaurant really was. I was in town on business and used Yelp to find some food. My coworkers and I had a really excellent meal, everything was deliciously prepared. The servers went out of their way to be accommodating as I had a picky eater in my group. I really think that this restaurant was a diamond in the rough, I never expected such a good meal.

Jeanet K.

At the recommendation of a fellow yelper, I, and 3 other friends tried Bistro 222 for the first time. We had reservations at 5:30pm, 30 minutes after they opened and we were the only people there until about 6pm. They had a nice wine and beer selection, NO liquor which was a bit disappointing to my husband, but he got over it with a nice Riesling. We all had different dishes, all of which were very good. The service was great. I give it a 4 out of 5 b/c the atmosphere was pretty good, but not fabulous. Downtown Dearborn in general is nice, very walkable. I'm sure we'll be back.

Corey M.

Quaint little farm to market, chef owned restaurant. Really great, creative, innovative food. An exceptional wine list, with several great wines by the glass. We will definitely be back. We had our Anniversary dinner here, and it was the perfect place for such an occasion. Bistro 222 is set up to have a few intimate tables. Great place for a date, or dinner with a couple. Parking is behind the restaurant, and the entrance is through a little mall, 222 place or something.

Bo M.

Great small unassuming restaurant. Parking is behind the building. Call ahead for the chef to grill the eggplant tower instead of fried!! Yum!!

California B.

Love this restaurant, and keep going back. IMHO, their best stuff includes the... -Calamari appetizer -Baci (handmade stuffed pasta) -Eggplant Tower -Bistro salad I also think they are good on value for dollars. Why I don't give it 5 stars: -The one time my wife tried the grill, her lamb was scorched -The Asian salad is forgettable (or I wish it was -- Panera's is better) -No liqueurs or cocktails, just wine or port. If you are thinking about a nice dinner at a local restaurant, please try Bistro 222. I want places like this to prosper in Michigan!

C H.

We had a great dining experience here recently. It was written up in Hour Detroit just last month. Good atmosphere, friendly staff, but most importantly: amazing food. Looking forward to going back and trying something new.

Michael G.

Great food. Chef Michael has been a Dearborn gem since his days at L. A. Express. We're happy he's back with a new resturant. Better make a reservation because the tables are filling fast.

Mary S.

A real find. We saw Bistro 222 as we were driving down Michigan Avenue. White tablecloths and people inside on a Monday evening. We were hungry and tired of looking for a restaurant. Park in the back. Walked in, warmly greeted. Was given a nice table. Special that night - Couscous Soup. Hmmmm. We thought we'd try it. If we had known it was going to be this good, we would have ordered two bowls and salads for dinner. It was fabulous. Main entree - fettucini was cooked properly and had wonderful flavor. The sturgeon over a bed of risotto was incredible. The chef really knows how to make pasta correctly. The fish was properly cooked. Don't eat the breadsticks on the table - they will fill you up - you want to eat the entire entree and save room for desert. This was a great meal. Service was good. This is cooked to order, not pre-cooked and microwaved. Will definetly return.

Nic S.

I love this place and visit it when i am home on vacation. I have NEVER had one bad meal here. Everything is always fresh and top quality and you can tell the chef takes great care with all of teh food. The service is always top notch. I love the eggplant tower the most. I could keep writing more and more but there are already enough reviews of this place. Easily the best place in all of Dearborn!

TINA F.

Ate here tonight with my dad :) We had a fabulous meal! Our waiter was great....he fully disclosed he was new and got someone else to aid us with a wine selection when he wasn't sure. Dad had the lamb chops and I hate a seafood penne pasta (both specials of the evening). We've been here a few times before and never disappointed.

Tom S.

Great service, great food, great presentation! I come often and it remains among my favorites.

Excellent. That was the word of the night. It just kept popping up throughout the dinner conversation regarding everything from the wine to our dinner entrees to dessert. Everything was simply excellent. Bistro 222, a local eatery owned by a local chef and restauranteur, provides the Dearborn area a classy, intimate setting for well-made Italian and Mediterranean inspired cuisine. The contemporary establishment features elegant, modern decor and a quiet atmosphere with soft Frank Sinatra tunes playing in the background. The chic and classy, yet casual surroundings call for dressy casual attire, as it is a cozy spot for a romantic date or a nice family dinner. A well-edited menu provides customers plenty of dining options including salads, pastas, pizzas and other entrees featuring chicken, steak or fish paired with potatoes and vegetables. Dinner entrees range between $12-20, while pizzas are priced around $10. The lunch menu also offers a nice selection of sandwiches, including paninis. There are a variety of options for vegetatians beyond salads, and items can be made gluten free. My dining companions for the evening, AKA my parents, both selected the shrimp scampi ravioli, which they described as delicious and light. My young spinach salad topped with candied pecans, slivered slices of juicy granny smith apples and crumbled goat cheese had just the right amount of parmesan vinagrette to keep the greens moist without finding a pool of left-over dressing on my plate after eating. Today's soup - a refreshing and light lemon rice soup with perch and salmon - provided a nice, warm comfort food to begin the delicous meal. We topped dinner off with coffee and dessert. Having tasted both the Govida chocolate mousse and the Tuxedo cake, I recommend saving a little room for an after-dinner treat. The service was attentive and very friendly. We were seated quickly after our arrival, and the hostess politely hung our winter coats in a cloak closet. One of the owners also came around to several tables, including our own, to visit. Overall, we had a marvelous dining experience, and I recommend Bistro 222 to anyone looking for quality casual dining and service in the Detroit area.

Maggie O.

Love it! This is one of our favorite places for date night - small, friendly, with great food and wine. Michael and his staff always do an excellent job and are also always willing to accomodate when we bring the kids along too.

Vania S.

I love this place! The restaurant is super cute. The service is phenomenal. The food is amazing. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with their calamari. I wouldn't be able to find one bad thing about this place even if I tried! Every experience has been perfection.

Lisa T.

Great service-cute space. Creative Italian food with great flavor. The portobello appetizer is Amazing! Risotto is great. A variety of salads. Love it.

Hussam A.

The food at this place was amazing, my wife and i walked in on a friday night about 2 weeks , they were very nice to accommodate us with no reservations. The reason for the 3 stars was the waiter, he barely welcomed us when we sat, waited more than 15 minutes to get bread when he served other tables around us who came after us. It may sound small stuff, but we're out to enjoy a full dining experience and service, service being a part of it. I would give them 5 stars for the food.

Laura M.

Sorry to be the nay-sayer on this one. I really tried to like it more. Went there on Tuesday evening for dinner with hubby, who was leaving the country early Wed. morning. I wanted a romantic, flavor-filled dinner with him on our last evening together for a while. I had done some research on restaurants within easy driving distance and chose this one, although it would be our first visit. We were seated promptly, but our table by the window made for a very stark setting. I couldn't help but notice the commercial-styled blue carpeting with the carpet running up the walls instead of trim-work on the walls. But much worse than that--- management seems to think it best to show the zooming race of humanity outside on Michigan Avenue exactly what is going on inside of the restaurant at all times. The view of cars whizzing by was dizzying. How about at least some low window film to break that up, or even some hokey cafe curtains? Puh-lease. Now for the food. Hmmm. Our overly-bubbly waitress who wanted to share her personal life with us, the total strangers who just happened to enter her orbit 3 minutes ago, arrived promptly and served our wine, then started making some menu suggestions--even though we did not ask. After a bit of discussion amongst ourselves, we opted to share an order of calamari as an appetizer. The calamari arrived and it was quite tasty--refreshingly served over a tomato-based sauce and topped with kalamata olives (maybe not kalamata exactly, but you get the picture). The calamari were the plumpest, juiciest calamari I have found in the D-town area, but that ain't sayin' much, right folks? Am I right? We then ordered our mains, except I chose again from the appetizer menu. Dear hubby opted for the Sauteed Lake Perch with Caper Creamy Garlic Sauce over Crispy and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. I ordered the Lobster Quesadillas. The food was served in good time, but---Meh. Meh for dear hubby's fish because it might have been very good except that by Caper Creamy Garlic Sauce, the chef really meant "Slathered/Buried in Gravy". Not very nice to do that to a piece of good fish. The gravy coupled with the heavy potatoes was just too much. And my lobster quesadillas tasted more like that fake crab/surimi stuff, all shredded to heck, with too much mayo. No flavor burst AT ALL. I only ate one wedge of it and had had enough by then. For what we had to eat, including a lower-end bottle of white wine, the price was okay. But the only reason I might return would be to have the calamari for lunch.

Nigel M.

Given its proximity to the hub of the Ford empire, Dearborn seems to offer remarkably few dining options beyond various formats of greasy grilled meats (perhaps the Fordies are relentlessly carnivorous). Searching for a more heart-friendly option, I happened upon this storefront resto on Michigan Ave. After some trial and error I gained access to the pleasant wine-filled dining room (via a little arcade in the rear) and was seated near the window with a glass of excellent Pinot Noir. Unlike so many small restaurants in the suburbs, the chef feels no need to offer an unrealistic array of dishes, and sticks to a dozen or so well chosen plates, mostly under 20$. An excellent spinach salad with good peppery dressing and real Gorgonzola was followed up by obviously homemade pasta with a light creamy sauce studded with mushrooms and greens and (again) top quality Parmesan. Overall, excellent quality, value and charm with friendly and knowledgeable service

Selene Shie Hern C.

I love the restaurant, i have been here for few occasions and the foods never disappoint me. Although the calamari taste different compare to few years back because they have changed owner/ chef but the quality still remain superb. The beet salad taste is one of their famous salad. I love her crab cake and salmon. Compare to Adiamo, which is like a food chain restaurant that the pasta taste like it come put from a can. Bristro 222 actually put in effort to cook every single meal to make you feel indulge. Don't forget to go there on Saturday night, they have live jazz.

Scott H.

Nice place in Dearborn Heights. Had the lamb chops, delicious! Nice portions, leaves room for appetizer & dessert. Friendly, attentive staff, nice decor.

Lauren M.

Based on my first experience, I'd give 3.5 stars if I could. We made reservations for a Friday evening, which we saw was unnecessary when we got there because there were plenty of open tables. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. We ordered the caesar salad for two, which is prepared tableside. Maybe it was because our server had a trainee shadowing him so he had to kind of go slower and explain it to her, but the presentation lacked pizzazz. Felt pretty awkward, actually. I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the salad but my husband seemed to like it. I ordered the seafood risotto and he got the filet mignon. Literally the only reason we came here was because I was really craving risotto and I couldn't find too many places that had it on the menu as an entree. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. The rice was very undercooked and it was a bit soupy and bland. No richness whatsoever. I'm not the type to be fussy so I decided not to send it back but, for the price, I should have said something. My husband's filet, however, was amazing. Maybe I just wasn't in a great "dining" type of mood but it bothered me how long our visit was from beginning to end. It took probably 10-15 minutes before our order was taken and another 10 before we got our salad. We didn't have our entrees until 45 minutes after we were first seated. I expected they would have some great desserts but the tray they brought over looked awful - like dried up stale versions of what may have actually been good desserts. Either way, it wasn't appealing so we passed. We would probably come back because lots of other things on the menu sounded good but I was pretty upset to leave $100 later without even satisfying my risotto craving.

Annette J.

It pains me to do this but I have to drop my rating a bit. I went a few months ago for dinner and it was disappointing. I LOVED the old menu and was excited to visit again for the first time in long while. Sadly some things had changed and it wasn't quite as fantastic as before. First off, the menu has really shrunk. The good news is that there seems to be a more "farm to table" approach to their dishes and so their offerings rotate regularly based on what's in season. The bad news is that this means the menu is much smaller and far more limited. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing but it is when it's a Friday night and they're out of 2 dishes. There isn't quite as much to choose from. Second, the portions are much smaller than I remember them for a larger price point than before. I don't need a huge plate of food but 4 small scallops with a few slices of orange and some veggies doesn't really feel like an entree worth $24. It was delicious but not quite satisfying for the price point. In fact, we were all still so hungry after our meal that a couple hours later we hit the Taco Bell drive thru. A cursory glance at the the menu seems to show a few more options than I remember so that's a good sign. And the food, at least the dishes I sampled, were still quite tasty. So I'm willing to come back and try again but I'm not as excited to return as I had been before.

W. John R.

I have seen some mediocre reviews of this place lately, so I felt like I should visit again and then update my review, which may have been a bit dated. Bistro 222 apparently switched head chefs, and there have been some changes from what I've seen. The menu is smaller, and changes more frequently. Some of our old favorites aren't there, so we've been forced to make new favorites. My biggest qualm - Bistro 222 had the best calamari I've ever had in my life, bar none, and the last couple of times I've been there it's been a bit chewy. We steered clear tonight based on a polite but less than enthusiastic recommendation from our delightful server. The restaurant has made up for any perceived faults in other ways. On my latest visit I tried a pork belly appetizer with a parsnip puree, apple slices, and pickled vegetables. It was simply amazing. The mushroom bisque soup, which I split with my companion, was also delectable. The presentation is definitely up a notch from when I first visited ~3 years ago. For the entree, I veered away from my typical favorite (the lemon caper lake perch, which I had again this past fall and is still amazing) and decided to try the lamb shank. The sauce was great and the phrase "fall off the bone" is not used with any hyperbole in this case. The kale and carrot bed paired well with the dish. My companion's ribeye, ordered medium rare, was seasoned and cooked in a way I couldn't possibly imagine improving upon, and her yukon gold and nutmeg mashed potatoes were a pleasant culinary surprise. As always, this is a pricey meal, fit for special occasions. Desserts looked amazing and we're both creme brulee fanatics, but we already had a doggie bag at our side so we had to pass. I'm thinking about making a special trip here in the next couple of weeks to try the dessert. I'm a curmudgeonly eater who finds fault in almost every restaurant, and I can say that despite the change in chef, Bistro 222 is still worth your attention as the best (in my opinion) fine dining option in Dearborn.

Farid S.

Bad service, good food. Went there for lunch today and had the Shrimp Burger with Fries. The burger patty is made fresh to order with a Lemon Garlic Remoulade and served on a toasted Brioche Bun, seriously delicious! Even the fries are fresh cut and fried in house too. However, be prepared to wait because the service is very slow. You're given some delicious complementary Basil Pesto and fresh Italian bread while you wait though. I was told that all meat there (except for the Amish Chicken and Duck) are Halal (from Restaurant Depot). My friend told the server that he like everything in the goat cheese salad but that he didn't like goat cheese. He then asked the server if he could substitute blue cheese for the goat cheese. The server said we don't have blue cheese and my friend said but you have a Gorgonzola burger? The server said, oh you want the burger now??? Then I said, Gorgonzola is blue cheese. Do the server said, I'll talk yo chef and see if he can do that for you. When the salad came it had blue cheese on it but the dressing was a GOAT CHEESE DRESSING! All and all the atmosphere is really nice and the food is delicious. I'll go back again for the food and I hope the service has improved by then... I just lowered my rating to a one star from a three star because friends of mine went there yesterday and left without getting their food because they ran out of time waiting. I don't care how good the food is, if you can't get it to the table faster than most grandmas do, then you're in the wrong business...

Alex B.

The food and maitre d' were outstanding. The service And knowledge of the menu by the wait staff...not horrible but not stellar. Our waiter was training a new waitress. The new waitress in training was far more pleasant and attentive and actually corrected the waiter regarding gluten content in some of the pasta. The food was--truly--outstanding, but the menu is a tad limited for those with dietary restrictions. Regardless, the food makes up for any shortcomings in service or ambiance.

Mark F.

Plenty of availability on a Saturday evening. All the portions are large. Calamari is a great way to start. My wife and I split a warm spinach salad and didn't even finish it all. My wife tried the salmon, and I tried the Monchong. Both were great. Prices were reasonable. No hard spirits, thought they said they are trying to get a permit. Wine selection had good variety. Great place to stop relatively close to DTW airport.

Scott D.

One word - disappointing. That's how I would describe our Friday night dinner at 222 Bistro in downtown Dearborn. When we came in we were told the food was gourmet and that the pasta was made by hand. I'd say the latter was true, but the former was far from it. Let's talk about the food itself: the soup de jour we chose was a tomato basil, and while it was really good, it wasn't worth the $6 a bowl. Our entrees were lackluster at best. My wife's noodles were indeed hand-made and fresh in her Pasta Carbonara, but it appeared as if it sat under a heat lamp a little longer than planned. The pancetta in it was too salty, the portion too small, and the sauce barely distinguishable. Meanwhile, the Seafood Risotto I was talked into (because it was more expensive than my other choice?), was bland and the seafood portions significantly small for a $26 entrée. The scallops appeared to be one scallop carefully sliced into three pieces, while the salmon consisted of two thumb-size portions. The service was also at fault. The cheery waiter made me feel like I was going to be treated like a king, but quickly I realized he was all talk and salesmanship for a product that could not back up his bold statements. Little things, but perceptible to an ex-waiter such as myself, irked me. He seemed to wait on another table that walked in ten minutes after us much more than ours. He quickly brought out bread for their table and lit a candle for them, while we were pretty much ignored. He never seemed prepared with the pepper grinder, but always mentioned it after bringing our courses. He ended up having to travel all the way back to the kitchen for this when I did ask for it on my risotto. He was spot on when it came to my wine selection and steered me toward a nice Washington state Cabernet that was reminiscent of South American reds I like. The other three tables in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying their meals - two were being waited on by a more concerned waiter. When I told ours that I was jealous at his other table for not having bread, he quickly threw his coworker under the bus (oh, I'm sorry, he must have forgotten). The icing on the cake came when the other waiter brought out a woman's leftovers in the form of an aluminum foil swan - a silly form of impressing customers that has become pretty cliché and cheesy, in my opinion. Our waiter packaged my wife's in the form of an aluminum foil iron. Now mind you, I wouldn't complain as much about this kind of food or service if I was at a Ram's Horn or Denny's, but when you call yourself a bistro, use the word gourmet, claim to have French and Italian food, and charge $20-$30 for an entrée where soups and salads are a la carte, you're ripping your customers off. Maybe those other three tables were impressed, but I think they were misdirected the way a magician plies his tricks.

Allison F.

My husband and I visited Bistro 222 on a Friday night. We'd called earlier in the week to make reservations without any complications. We parked in the back and entered through the business plaza door. The restaurant is all the way in the back to the left. The space is small and open. I wish it were a bit more intimate but it seems they're doing the best they can with their space. The server was efficient but not warm or friendly. That's not to say she didn't do a great job. She took care of refills and brought our food in a timely manner. We did think it was weird that it was so close to their opening for the night and they were already out of three menu items. Luckily, they weren't dishes we were interested in ordering! Both Jacob and I ordered the lamb chops, medium rare. They came out absolutely perfect. I ordered mine with mashed potatoes and he got his with risotto. We both preferred my mashed potatoes... they were seriously divine. The lamb was very tasty and it was a great portion for the price. This is a great little restaurant but I was expecting a little more atmosphere or friendliness due to the previous reviews. Regardless, it's a cute place with great food, and it deserves a visit.

Tarek S.

All I can say is Quality Meats!! Organic grass fed ribeye was delicious! The meal was excellent and the staff was pleasant and welcoming.

Mehul S.

Very quiet and tucked away restaurant! I very much like the feel of the place. Food was excellent. Their Eggplant Tower was awesome. This is definitely a place to come back for me!

M F.

Went here last night and was absolutely disappointed. The amazing menu was gone. Replaced with a very sparse menu with nothing very interesting. There were no shellfish dishes, risotto nowhere to be found as well as not much in the line of pasta. We looked at the menu and left a few dollars and went to Andiamo whose prices are very similar. I had asked what happened to the menu and apparently new ownership/chef. I hope they can figure things out because there was one table with two people on Saturday evening at 7pm

L C.

I really enjoy dining at Bistro 222. The staff and food are fantastic, and if you have any dietary restrictions they are incredibly accommodating. I had a great experience on New Year's Eve and again this weekend. You will find them on Open Table, if you use the site for reservations/points.

Taylor H.

The prices dose not weight out the meal I order the steak the most expensive one just came with mash potatoes. The steak seemed like it wasn't cook correctly because half threw became cold. My fiancé order the Amish chicken that only came with corn and peas seemed as if it came from the can. I expected better quality of sides for the prices they are selling the food. Atmosphere was peaceful.

Matthew E.

Ate here last night. The crab bisque is great, and the driver scallops and sauce were amazing. Ambience is lacking a little and was a little cold in the restaurant also. Parking kinda hard especially with snow and back entrance not well marked. Don't forget to validate!

Rachel S.

great prices, delicious food. Would definitely go back!

Vickie R.

The food there is amazing. The calamari came highly recommended and our friend did not steer us wrong. Not only was the calamari tender and delicious, it was quite a healthy portion. The only thing about the calamari that I saw that can use a slight improvement is the batter. Although crunchy, it can use a little seasoning. Although, the chef can argue that the more seasonings, the less you're able to taste the freshness of the calamari. True, but if that's the case, why use batter at all? Loved the warm bread with the pesto olive oil dip, a little salty even for me, and I love salty foods. The rack of lamb I had was truly fantastic. It was very well seasoned, and it came out perfectly medium rare. My one complaint is that you have to know the area to know you have to go around the block to park in the back and there's no front door. But aside from that, it really is a wonderful restaurant, and I can't wait to go back there for another romantic date with my crush.

Moe C.

Best Italian in wayne county. You won't regret. Originally from Los Angeles and have been to the best. Exceptional!!

Martha R.

I like Bistro 222. It's solid: has decent service, good food, and is a sorely-needed niche for Dearborn. Dearborn really lacks in quality food at a reasonable price, and Bistro 222 fills that need. It isn't the best food or service that I have ever had - but for Dearborn, it's a MUST. Please, please, please go there. I want this place to be around for a long, long time. Not only that, I can stop in and look at my favorite jeweler's on my way in (Steven Bernard - don't miss this place). The fact that Dearborn charges for parking STILL irritates me, but I guess it is what it is when you're heading "downtown" these days (okay, it's been there a while, but I grew up here and it still seems just so foreign). Overall great place for a date, catching up with a friend, or just eating quality food in Dearborn.

Pete And Lee W.

Delicious food, skillfully prepared. The vegetarian plate with beet gnocchi was superlative - 2 of our party of 4 ate this entree and were moaning (with delight.) The duck entree was excellent. Chocolate raspberry custard dessert was wonderful. Lovely ambience - this place should be much busier. New server was friendly and helpful but could use a little more education about food, wine ...

Nichole H.

All the food was flavorless and did not arrive at the table hot. My husband and I each got something different and neither one of us enjoyed our meal.

Kenny S.

Ordered the rack of lamb and I must say it was absolute phenomenal.. Good service and definitely a repeat restaurant..

Joe B.

I really enjoyed my meal here. The Eggplant tower was great. Service was spot on and the waiter was very attentive. No draft beer, but the Goose Island 312 was a good recommendation. Only disappointment was that there was not enough bread for their pesto dipping oil. It was delicious and I wanted more.

Reggie A.

De-LISH! I cannot believe how empty this place was. On a Thursday night at 8:00pm, we had the entire joint to ourselves. Still, I'm not complaining- we got amazing and quick service. The wine list was most excellent and affordable. First, we ordered an appetizer of nacho cheese ravioli--as an Italian-American, I momentarily balked at this concept but the look of pure joy my husband's longing (non-ethnic) baby blues made me throw caution to the wind and i am SO glad I did. It was amazing. I should be more open-minded about nacho-cheese fusion...but i probably won't :) Anyhow, the risotto was done perfectly and the lemon artichoke chicken dish couldn't have been better. Truly. I rarely go out for Italian but Bistro 222 will have me back again and again. Everyone needs to try it, especially if you're looking for a cute date restaurant.

L S.

Very good, mostly locally sourced food. Chef puts together very interesting combination of flavors. Creative and very well prepared good. Service was excellent.

Shelly M.

Wow, what a great place! So nice to finally get a good upscale restaurant in the area, we are seriously lacking here. The bread with pesto olive oil they bring really wonderful. I ordered the chicken shrimp scampi and it was really great and my husband ordered the pasta mezzogiorno and it was awesome. Our waiter was awesome, we were there with two other couples and wanted to drink a few bottles of wine, he recommend a really inexpensive wine that turned out to be phenomenal for the price so we ended up sharing three bottles!

TINA F.

Ate here tonight with my dad :) We had a fabulous meal! Our waiter was great....he fully disclosed he was new and got someone else to aid us with a wine selection when he wasn't sure. Dad had the lamb chops and I hate a seafood penne pasta (both specials of the evening). We've been here a few times before and never disappointed.

Tom S.

Great service, great food, great presentation! I come often and it remains among my favorites.

California B.

Love this restaurant, and keep going back. IMHO, their best stuff includes the... -Calamari appetizer -Baci (handmade stuffed pasta) -Eggplant Tower -Bistro salad I also think they are good on value for dollars. Why I don't give it 5 stars: -The one time my wife tried the grill, her lamb was scorched -The Asian salad is forgettable (or I wish it was -- Panera's is better) -No liqueurs or cocktails, just wine or port. If you are thinking about a nice dinner at a local restaurant, please try Bistro 222. I want places like this to prosper in Michigan!

C H.

We had a great dining experience here recently. It was written up in Hour Detroit just last month. Good atmosphere, friendly staff, but most importantly: amazing food. Looking forward to going back and trying something new.

Joe T.

I had to update the yelp community regarding my recent visit. I previously gave bistro 222 5 stars for a truly superb experience roughly 6 months ago. But this last time was a bit disappointing. We had a reservation on Valentines day. For a day like this, it is a popular venue. 730 reservation. Seated promptly. Why was I disappointed? 1. We were seated in a corner where you can easily get forgotten. Which we did. Hostess did more for us than our waiter. 2. Limited menu. You could tell the items were selected for mass production. Crab cakes, seafood pasta, etc. Didn't taste the same as what we were used to. My seafood gnocchi was underwhelming, small, unappealing presentation and for $25, completely lacked an adequate seafood quantity. 3. Beef menu item changed. Waiter never told us, and we ended up returning the plate to have it adjusted with the right ingredients. From the menu. It was not remade, just modified. Then stuck in the oven where it dried out before returning to our table. So I ended up watching my guest eat her food alone since I finished my meal well before her. I hate that. 4. Understaffed. For V-day there is no excuse not to have enough people on hand to support a full house. The hostess was pleasant and took the beef item off our bill. That was appreciated although not necessary. We wanted to stay for dessert and coffee but figured we didn't want to be further disappointed. I will likely return to Bistro 222 but it will take some good effort on their part to win me over like they did on previous occasions. My advice to Yelper's is to avoid this place on a special holiday where they are busy and have a limited menu. Their regular menu is so much better. I just don't think they are used to regular full house evenings and our experience showed.

Lorraine C.

What a great find! Apparently, this gem has been in Dearborn for 5 years. Located on Michigan ave near Military, one could drive by and never give it another glance. But, one dinner and you will be back. Very nice, cozy setting, you will feel comfortable dressing casual or formal. The food is the star here. Starting with the roll, which is served hot, not just warmed, but hot. It is crusty, with a light, airy interior. It would make a French baker smile. No butter, but an emulsion of olive oil, basil and oregano. Simply mouth watering! I chose the ginger, sesame salad. Generous serving of chopped lettuce, carrots, sesame and ginger dressing which is delectable and a great start yo the main dish. I had the Beci, ravioli stuffed with Italian sausage and a spicy tomato sauce. The ravioli was the lightest pasta I have had outside of Italy. The Italian sausage was ground to a wonderfully, smooth texture. But, the sauce! Spicy, it is and wonderfully so. Keeps the wine flowing! My husband had the special, a salmon with scallops and asparagus over a risotto bed. Wonderful! The risotto had a buttery, nutty flavor. The salmon, grilled to perfection and the scallops meaty and tender. Yum! We will be back, as there are many more dishes to explore!

Chris M.

I read the reviews on Yelp and decided we'd give Bistro 222 a try. We arrived right at 5:00 when they opened last Friday. The greeter asked if we had reservations and we said, no, we didn't know we needed them. She looked over her book and said they were fully booked. She grabbed 2 menus and seated us. There was 1 other table seated at the time. When we left, about 45 minutes later, there were 5 tables seated. Odd. Anyway... The salads to start were wonderful...great balsamic dressing. My wife had the Seafood risotto which she said was fantastic...she thought her scallops were not fully cooked however and mentioned it to the waiter who offered to get some others, but she was fine with the delicious shrimp and rice. I had the Scampi which was fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to return and try some of the other wonderful looking selections on their menu.

Krystal R.

We went last night with some friends and it was delicious. I woke up thinking about the butternut squash ravioli! The calamari was different, but really tasty-it had a nice tomato-y and olive sauce and was so savory. I tried my husband's seafood risotto and the shrimp was cooked perfect. I also tried a bite of the crab cake, and that was good as well. To wrap it up, the tiramisu was the BEST I have ever had. It was so fresh and would pair well with a cup of coffee. This is a small place tucked away but it's a little gem : )

Kyle G.

I hope that I simply dined on an "off night", but I fear I didn't. I came here cause the previous reviews, but was underwhelmed, to say the least. The single roll that was served with my salad was nothing more than a cheap dinner roll you can buy at a grocery store. Bread isn't a huge part of any meal, but this should be noted. The house salad was mixed greens tossed in dressing with a single slice of cucumber and a single grape tomato. For my entree, I ordered the night's special which was linguine with clams. If I order what's on special for the night, I expect a good meal that the venue is looking to highlight for the evening. This dish again felt like I could prepare this at home with cheap, store-bought items. For $28 + tip (I didn't have any drinks besides water), I expect more. Did I eat the meal? Yes. Will I go back? Most likely not.

Barbara R.

1st visit even though we live in Dearborn. Others have recommended it so we made the trip. Love this place. Very nice wine list...we opted for a bottle. Ordered the portobello appetizer. Delicious! My husband ordered a Caesar salad, very tasty and fresh. He ordered the chicken and shrimp scampi and I ordered the chicken Marsala ravioli. Both were winners. I wanted to lick my plate the sauce was that good. We had coffee and shared the chocolate mousse cake. So good. Lovely, small local restaurant. We will certainly recommend and return.

Dj M.

Don't buy into the hype. This place was mediocre at best. I wasted my New Year's Eve here. To read people ranting about the creativity is a joke. Creative, yes, if it was 1986. Overpriced drivel. Poor attempts at old dated standards. EVERYTHING from appetizers to dessert a disappointment. One thing, our server, Jesse, was a true professional.

Karen D.

I'll be honest: I've been running out of places to dine in Dearborn and was desperate for a new spot. When I saw that Bistro 222 had great reviews and was featured in a recent Yelp newsletter, I immediately dragged two friends. Short version: we had one of our best meals in Dearborn, but left perplexed by the cultural identity of the restaurant. Bistro 222 calls itself "Californian American with French and Italian influences" and that results in an oddly eclectic, but ultimately, delicious menu. After ordering a very reasonable bottle of wine, we were treated to a delicious warm roll and pour of homemade pesto on each plate. Appetizers ranged from salads (standard lettuce/spinach as well as scallion ginger noodle) to fried nacho cheese ravioli (served over marinara and with pesto) to a chicken lemon cous cous soup that was out of this world. As a note, we ordered the nacho cheese ravioli, primarily out of morbid curiosity that such a dish even existed and ended up finishing the plate. While not a "must order," it was surprisingly tasty and accompaniments we were skeptical of (marinara?) ended up adding tremendously to the flavor. To dwell for a minute on that soup, there are about 20 restaurants operating in Dearborn right now serving chicken lemon rice/orzo/cous cous soup and every single one of them aspires to be half the soup that this one was. This soup was the first dish I've ever NOT proactively offered to share with my boyfriend. For main courses, my two dining companions both ordered the chicken and shrimp scampi on the waiter's recommendation and loved the dish. I had the perfectly cooked beef medallions served with slightly bland mashed potatoes (that still served as a fantastic vehicle to absorb more of the beef/mushroom sauce). Finally, we had dessert: we ordered the limoncello cake on Yelp recommendations, the bananas foster cheesecake because I like bananas foster, and the imported orange sorbet because I felt we needed a safety pick (I don't care for limoncello or cheesecake). In short: all three were devoured moments after arriving. The limoncello cake was the lightest, airiest cake I've ever had. The cheesecake was just sweet enough and had a great balance of multiple flavors. Finally, our safety sorbet was tangy, refreshing, and the perfect close to the meal. Recognizing this review is more than a bit long, we just had to document what a wonderful meal in a lovely setting we had. The decor borrows from 5-10 countries, the music was random (going from 1940s to 1980s with ease), and the menu included teriyaki, barbecue chicken pizza, and scampi, but yet, all was exactly as it should have been. This wasn't just good food and service at reasonable prices in a convenient location; this chef has thought about his food and diners and every part of the meal seems garnished with TLC.

Robert P.

I am a risotto fan and they do it well here, Had a glass of white wine, a ceasar salad and the risotto for a very satisfying meal. Service was fine.

valentin p.

Delicious fresh high-quality food and excellent service. I ordered a pasta dish that was perfectly cooked and the tomato basil soup is one of the best I've eaten.

Hymae W.

Based on how empty this place was it was surprisingly good. A little too fancy for my work lunch standards. I had the chicken margarita sandwich which was a little on the expensive side but well worth it

Rebecca C.

I've not been moved to write reviews lately, but the perfect dining experience I just had at Bistro 222 commands my time, attention and advocacy. In an unassuming storefront in "downtown" Dearborn, this little jewel sports white table cloths and 40s-era music while serving up well crafted dishes that will delight your mouth on their way to your tummy. From opener to dessert, each part of the meal was flawless. The (waiter-recommended) calamari appetizer was not delivered with your traditional just-fried treatment, but instead served with a delectable tomato and kalamata olive sauce mixed in with the most tender part of the calamari (no leggy tendrils, for those of you who avoid them). My house salad was even worth accolades, as these humble greens were elevated to praise-worthiness via the most exquisite mint vinaigrette. Our entrees were amazing. My dining partner simply ordered Fettuccine Alfredo, the pasta part of which had the hearty consistency of home-made noodles. Along with just-the-right-consistency Alfredo sauce, there were a variety of delicate vegetables mixed in. It might have been the best Fettuccine Alfredo I've ever sampled. My entree was a special menu item - salmon with a crab meat topping served over a creamy dill risotto. Incredibly rich, but positively delicious and decadent. Portions were ample, as we both couldn't finish and had half the plate to take home. Speaking of decadent - I couldn't help but overhear the table behind me rave about something lemon they had for dessert. The waiter informed me it was limoncello cake and he highly recommended it. I rarely have dessert, but the rest of the meal had been so impeccable that I just had to continue the experience. I was not disappointed. The cake was layered with cream cheese icing and served with a bright green lime sauce. It was the kind of flavor explosion that makes you close your eyes and shake your head slowly...Not a crumb remained. I also have to say that the service was just as fantastic as the food - how often does that happen? Our waiter's name was Jesse, and he could not contain his enthusiasm for serving food he was truly proud of. He checked on us at appropriate intervals throughout the meal, and took genuine pleasure from our obvious satisfaction. He was definitely part of making this evening one of the best dining experiences I've had in the Detroit area for quite some time. I will be back...and I would urge anyone looking for a rare dining treat to look no further than Bistro 222.

Jennifer H.

A great find in Dearborn. Delicious pasta and salad. Chocolate mousse cake was fantastic. Restaurant ambience great for a romantic dinner.

Linda H.

Perfect, wonderful, dinner! Wine and beer priced great ! We could not of been happier! The perch and the sea food were perfection!!! A A A dinning! Thank you!

S B.

Best food I've had in a restaurant in a long time. I wanted to pick my lamb chops up with my hands to get every morsel. My husband had the trout and it was to die for. Good wine selection. Only two beers, but the Bells option was great. Prices very reasonable. We'll definitely go again.

Robyn T.

I, like the other reviewers before me, was extremely satisfied with Bistro 222. I've had this restaurant bookmarked for a while, and so the hubs and I finally went. This is a fabulous little place where the atmosphere is a little more basic, but very classic. They have several little tables for 2, which is a nice feature for date night, and although Michigan Avenue isn't the greatest, it's nice to be able to have the view to watch cars and people stroll by. Hubs ordered the ravioli and I ordered the pasta palomino. I am instantly attracted to anything that describes itself with 'tomato cream sauce', and this dish was no exception. Thick, creamy sauce with penne pasta and oregano and cheese. Does it get any better? And considering I saw the hubs swallowing his ravioli whole, I'm thinking he was just as happy. The one element I wasn't too happy with was no free soda refills. I get it, it's a more upscale place so the soda comes out in bottles, but we are big beverage consumers. We can go through 3 glasses of Diet Coke each, so the cost definitely adds up. I actually feel like a cheapskate even mentioning it, but whatevs. There were about 10 other things on the menu that I wanted to try so I'm sure I"ll be back. Great little place!

Dave R.

This is an unassuming storefront restaurant with some attitude. From the start when I walked in, I was made to feel comfortable and not rushed. I was still in my work clothes so I felt a little uncomfortable but no one looked at me sideways and just proceeded to perform the things you would expect in a high class restaurant. This was a place that was recommended to me from a coworker without hesitation and now I see why. I ordered the seafood risotto and it was the best risotto I ever had. The seafood was jumbo shrimp and large scallops with a few asparagus spears to balance things. The bread was hot and delicious. Plenty of parking in back. I was told the chef studied under Wolfgang Puck but whether he did or not, he did everything right.

Leon S.

Easily my favorite restaurant in / around Dearborn. The food is exceptionally tasty, artistically prepared, and reasonably priced for the high-quality ingredients and T.L.C. that goes into every dish. My all-time favorite appetizer is the Eggplant Caprese -- really the very best eggplant preparation I have ever had. The daily soup is always phenomenal (wild mushroom is my favorite) and the salads are absolutely delicious--especially the young spinach salad or the beet and feta salad (ask for it if you don't see it on the menu *smile*). As far as entrees, I am vegetarian and there are always several options for me--my favorites being the angel hair pasta, eggplant tower, or stuffed gnochi (usually an appetizer, but available as a larger portion as an entree).

Mark O.

I read about this place in the Metro Times so I really wanted to check it out. I had the sauteed perch with caper cream sauce (!!), mashed, crispy potatoes, and asparagus. The fish was really fresh (even though it was December) and the sauce was amazing. The house salad was also different and tasty. My girlfriend had the Bacci (stuffed pasta dumplings with Ital. sausage and spicy sauce). It was good but I wished it had been a mix with some cheese dumplings. Overall the meal was very good. FYI- they only have wine and a limited beer selection. Overall the meal was really good

v g.

So it took us a while to get here, but I bough a livingsocial deal and wanted to check it out. Wow what a fantastic place, totally worth the 30 minute drive!!! Fairly small place with a romantic ambiance and nice music. The service was superb but yet the waiter was not overwhelming at all. Waiter helped us pick out a great wine pairing with the dish. The restaurant was half empty and a bit cold due to it being winter and big windows. The selection was great but left me wanting a bit more, it seemed that there is risotto in every dish... The calamari appetizer was superb and had the perfect amount of heat. I had the seafood risotto (if risotto is in almost every dish must be good) and it was really good. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the risotto was delicious. My date had the tuscani chicken ravioli and loved it. Please spread the word! This place needs to be known and strive! Will be back for more!

Natalia B.

A bit pricey, but good food. The only hang up I had with this place is my carryout was stuck to the container (paper material). Maybe they can change their carryout containers. The portions are large and tasty.

Paul D.

Cleanliness...4 Food...5 Service...5 Price...5 Atmosphere...4 Small place but they do it right...Fresh and Simple...Eggplant tower was to die for...our entrees we spot on...Only down fall was the bathrooms were in a mall commons area and were not that great and the only had beer and wine...Other then that good times!

Dan W.

I was so surprised with how wonderful this restaurant really was. I was in town on business and used Yelp to find some food. My coworkers and I had a really excellent meal, everything was deliciously prepared. The servers went out of their way to be accommodating as I had a picky eater in my group. I really think that this restaurant was a diamond in the rough, I never expected such a good meal.

Jeanet K.

At the recommendation of a fellow yelper, I, and 3 other friends tried Bistro 222 for the first time. We had reservations at 5:30pm, 30 minutes after they opened and we were the only people there until about 6pm. They had a nice wine and beer selection, NO liquor which was a bit disappointing to my husband, but he got over it with a nice Riesling. We all had different dishes, all of which were very good. The service was great. I give it a 4 out of 5 b/c the atmosphere was pretty good, but not fabulous. Downtown Dearborn in general is nice, very walkable. I'm sure we'll be back.

Corey M.

Quaint little farm to market, chef owned restaurant. Really great, creative, innovative food. An exceptional wine list, with several great wines by the glass. We will definitely be back. We had our Anniversary dinner here, and it was the perfect place for such an occasion. Bistro 222 is set up to have a few intimate tables. Great place for a date, or dinner with a couple. Parking is behind the restaurant, and the entrance is through a little mall, 222 place or something.

Bo M.

Great small unassuming restaurant. Parking is behind the building. Call ahead for the chef to grill the eggplant tower instead of fried!! Yum!!

Ken Z.

Maybe the key is to go here for dinner. Went for lunch last week. Slooooowwww. We were waiting so long after ordering that we had to ask our waiter to bring some bread to tide us over. Wasn't sure why we had to ask - saw it on another diner's table. Then got the bill and saw that the roll only comes with the salads and my companion ordered a chicken parmesan sandwich (reported as good but a little greasy). His bill = $1 for the extra roll. Now the roll was warm and quite good. Plus the garlic oil accompanying the rolls was excellent. My Sesame Ginger salad with chicken on the other hand was subpar. $12. I didn't memorize the menu, but I don't think it came with everything that was listed on the menu under the item. Odd. Now I can forgive a place for being slow when it is busy. However, there were only 2 other tables seated when we arrived. It picked up a little by the time we left, but 1 1/2 hours for weekday lunch doesn't cut it for the working crowd. Door facing Michigan Ave. is locked - you have to enter from the rear. Should have been a sign...

Bryan G.

The food was wonderful but the service wasn't as great as I expected. Also the wine selection is alright.

katie h.

Four of us dined at Bistro 222 last night and all of us loved our selections. From the calamari and bruschetta appetizers thru the main courses of ravioli, crab cakes, beef medallions and shrimp and chicken scampi and dessert of limoncelo cream cake, everything was perfect and so good we wanted to lick our plates. Can't understand why the place was almost empty. Would give this 5 stars, but the service was a little slow which I don't understand since there were only 6 tables of diners. Worth a try for everybody. I'll go back for sure.

Ian B.

This is one of our regular stops for Friday night out. The food is always amazing, the space intimate, and the staff friendly. The risotto is absolutely fantastic.

Mary S.

A real find. We saw Bistro 222 as we were driving down Michigan Avenue. White tablecloths and people inside on a Monday evening. We were hungry and tired of looking for a restaurant. Park in the back. Walked in, warmly greeted. Was given a nice table. Special that night - Couscous Soup. Hmmmm. We thought we'd try it. If we had known it was going to be this good, we would have ordered two bowls and salads for dinner. It was fabulous. Main entree - fettucini was cooked properly and had wonderful flavor. The sturgeon over a bed of risotto was incredible. The chef really knows how to make pasta correctly. The fish was properly cooked. Don't eat the breadsticks on the table - they will fill you up - you want to eat the entire entree and save room for desert. This was a great meal. Service was good. This is cooked to order, not pre-cooked and microwaved. Will definetly return.

Nic S.

I love this place and visit it when i am home on vacation. I have NEVER had one bad meal here. Everything is always fresh and top quality and you can tell the chef takes great care with all of teh food. The service is always top notch. I love the eggplant tower the most. I could keep writing more and more but there are already enough reviews of this place. Easily the best place in all of Dearborn!

Michael G.

Great food. Chef Michael has been a Dearborn gem since his days at L. A. Express. We're happy he's back with a new resturant. Better make a reservation because the tables are filling fast.

Excellent. That was the word of the night. It just kept popping up throughout the dinner conversation regarding everything from the wine to our dinner entrees to dessert. Everything was simply excellent. Bistro 222, a local eatery owned by a local chef and restauranteur, provides the Dearborn area a classy, intimate setting for well-made Italian and Mediterranean inspired cuisine. The contemporary establishment features elegant, modern decor and a quiet atmosphere with soft Frank Sinatra tunes playing in the background. The chic and classy, yet casual surroundings call for dressy casual attire, as it is a cozy spot for a romantic date or a nice family dinner. A well-edited menu provides customers plenty of dining options including salads, pastas, pizzas and other entrees featuring chicken, steak or fish paired with potatoes and vegetables. Dinner entrees range between $12-20, while pizzas are priced around $10. The lunch menu also offers a nice selection of sandwiches, including paninis. There are a variety of options for vegetatians beyond salads, and items can be made gluten free. My dining companions for the evening, AKA my parents, both selected the shrimp scampi ravioli, which they described as delicious and light. My young spinach salad topped with candied pecans, slivered slices of juicy granny smith apples and crumbled goat cheese had just the right amount of parmesan vinagrette to keep the greens moist without finding a pool of left-over dressing on my plate after eating. Today's soup - a refreshing and light lemon rice soup with perch and salmon - provided a nice, warm comfort food to begin the delicous meal. We topped dinner off with coffee and dessert. Having tasted both the Govida chocolate mousse and the Tuxedo cake, I recommend saving a little room for an after-dinner treat. The service was attentive and very friendly. We were seated quickly after our arrival, and the hostess politely hung our winter coats in a cloak closet. One of the owners also came around to several tables, including our own, to visit. Overall, we had a marvelous dining experience, and I recommend Bistro 222 to anyone looking for quality casual dining and service in the Detroit area.

Maggie O.

Love it! This is one of our favorite places for date night - small, friendly, with great food and wine. Michael and his staff always do an excellent job and are also always willing to accomodate when we bring the kids along too.

Vania S.

I love this place! The restaurant is super cute. The service is phenomenal. The food is amazing. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with their calamari. I wouldn't be able to find one bad thing about this place even if I tried! Every experience has been perfection.

Lisa T.

Great service-cute space. Creative Italian food with great flavor. The portobello appetizer is Amazing! Risotto is great. A variety of salads. Love it.

Hussam A.

The food at this place was amazing, my wife and i walked in on a friday night about 2 weeks , they were very nice to accommodate us with no reservations. The reason for the 3 stars was the waiter, he barely welcomed us when we sat, waited more than 15 minutes to get bread when he served other tables around us who came after us. It may sound small stuff, but we're out to enjoy a full dining experience and service, service being a part of it. I would give them 5 stars for the food.

Laura M.

Sorry to be the nay-sayer on this one. I really tried to like it more. Went there on Tuesday evening for dinner with hubby, who was leaving the country early Wed. morning. I wanted a romantic, flavor-filled dinner with him on our last evening together for a while. I had done some research on restaurants within easy driving distance and chose this one, although it would be our first visit. We were seated promptly, but our table by the window made for a very stark setting. I couldn't help but notice the commercial-styled blue carpeting with the carpet running up the walls instead of trim-work on the walls. But much worse than that--- management seems to think it best to show the zooming race of humanity outside on Michigan Avenue exactly what is going on inside of the restaurant at all times. The view of cars whizzing by was dizzying. How about at least some low window film to break that up, or even some hokey cafe curtains? Puh-lease. Now for the food. Hmmm. Our overly-bubbly waitress who wanted to share her personal life with us, the total strangers who just happened to enter her orbit 3 minutes ago, arrived promptly and served our wine, then started making some menu suggestions--even though we did not ask. After a bit of discussion amongst ourselves, we opted to share an order of calamari as an appetizer. The calamari arrived and it was quite tasty--refreshingly served over a tomato-based sauce and topped with kalamata olives (maybe not kalamata exactly, but you get the picture). The calamari were the plumpest, juiciest calamari I have found in the D-town area, but that ain't sayin' much, right folks? Am I right? We then ordered our mains, except I chose again from the appetizer menu. Dear hubby opted for the Sauteed Lake Perch with Caper Creamy Garlic Sauce over Crispy and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. I ordered the Lobster Quesadillas. The food was served in good time, but---Meh. Meh for dear hubby's fish because it might have been very good except that by Caper Creamy Garlic Sauce, the chef really meant "Slathered/Buried in Gravy". Not very nice to do that to a piece of good fish. The gravy coupled with the heavy potatoes was just too much. And my lobster quesadillas tasted more like that fake crab/surimi stuff, all shredded to heck, with too much mayo. No flavor burst AT ALL. I only ate one wedge of it and had had enough by then. For what we had to eat, including a lower-end bottle of white wine, the price was okay. But the only reason I might return would be to have the calamari for lunch.

Nigel M.

Given its proximity to the hub of the Ford empire, Dearborn seems to offer remarkably few dining options beyond various formats of greasy grilled meats (perhaps the Fordies are relentlessly carnivorous). Searching for a more heart-friendly option, I happened upon this storefront resto on Michigan Ave. After some trial and error I gained access to the pleasant wine-filled dining room (via a little arcade in the rear) and was seated near the window with a glass of excellent Pinot Noir. Unlike so many small restaurants in the suburbs, the chef feels no need to offer an unrealistic array of dishes, and sticks to a dozen or so well chosen plates, mostly under 20$. An excellent spinach salad with good peppery dressing and real Gorgonzola was followed up by obviously homemade pasta with a light creamy sauce studded with mushrooms and greens and (again) top quality Parmesan. Overall, excellent quality, value and charm with friendly and knowledgeable service