Ottava Via

I loved my experience at Ottava Via. My sister and I went there for lunch yesterday afternoon after attending a concert at the DSO. The ambiance was warm and charming, not too loud at all. Prices were in line with the quality of the food, which was incredible. We would have liked to tried the entire menu. We decided to get the pizza with smoked salmon and capers, delicious, and the green salad. Portions were generous. The service was good, attentive but not intrusive. We will be back and I would highly recommend Ottava Via.

Don’t miss the bruschetta, it was probably the best I’ve ever had. The portion sizes were a little small as were the drink sizes. We ended up ordering another bruschetta at the end of our meal.
They had a few nice craft beers on tap, Perrin Little Griz is one of my favorites.
All in all, nice atmosphere and a good experience. We will be coming back.

I can’t praise the melted pecorino plate enough. It was delicious as was the rest of the meal. We had two pizzas and they were both tasty. A glass of prosecco topped it all off.

We waited 2 hours for a table after calling ahead. We were seated at a small bistro table at the front of the restaurant elbow to elbow with people who were waiting for their tables. Since we were sitting on stools, I asked the waitress if there was any place to hang my coat… she said no. I had to hold it while I ate. This was the worst dining experience I have ever had. We left a $ 75 gift card for a $ 45 dinner. We will never be back.

I really enjoy every time I come here. The food and service are great. I enjoy the cheese/​olive/​meat plates. My favorite cheese is pecorino. They have a great wine selection. Also the entrees and pizzas have been wonderful so far! Ambience is warm and inviting.

The food was pretty good, however I likely won’t be back (at least not for dinner) and here’s why:
We came for dinner at about 6:00 on a Saturday night. They don’t take reservations, but we called ahead and were seated immediately. The table however, was what I would consider bar seating. It was a tiny high top table with backless stools, providing no place to put our winter coats and purses. The seats were right next to the door and we were not only catching a draft from people coming in and out, but were constantly being bumped by the patrons waiting for tables and people trying to access the bar. While there were some more traditional looking booths as well as large community tables, a handful of parties were seated at the high tops and not offered the option of waiting for a better table. Additionally, the open layout of the restaurant made it extremely loud and just kind of chaotic feeling.
My cocktail was delicious and seemed reasonably priced at $ 10– until I saw how tiny it was. Both my drink and my boyfriend’s wine were about half the size of typical servings. We split a salad (decent for $ 7), calamari (a huge serving for $ 11 but lacking flavor) and a pasta dish ($ 12). The pasta tasted good but was very small. I was also expecting at least a slice of bread, but there was none offered. We left hungry.
A lot of items on the menu looked interesting and the décor was nice. I suppose I would go back if I knew it was going to be less crowded, but I’m sure there are a number of better places to check out first.

Great pizza! Nice atmosphere.
Right across the street from Nemo’s (a great bar).
We had a great pizza! It was fast and fresh and delicious!

Oh, do I love Ottava Via! Wonderful ambiance, great service, and the food is so good. Sadly, they got rid of something off the menu that I loved (honey, truffle and cheese bruschetta) but I won’t hold them to it since there’s a great selection otherwise. I have not sat outside in the summer time unfortunately, but it’s a beautiful set up so I can’t wait until it gets warm again :)

One of the best lunches we’ve had in quite a while. The restaurant has a beautiful and rustic quality, complete with delicious and amazing food. Lindsay was our server… lovely, personable, super intelligent, and spot on. The pecorino app with truffled honey was beyond good and the arrabbiata pasta was superb, with peppers and broccolini. Olive oil cake and tiramisu cheesecake to top it off. Awesome all around!

Three things can make a dining experience a memorable one; 1) the food 2) good service 3) ambiance. Ottava has all three! The food is wonderful, the calamari and pear with cheese small plates are fantastic. The sea bass was perfect, so was the wine (Chloe Pinot Grigio). The service is outstanding!!! We have been there 2x this week and both waitresses were personable, knowledgeable, and made sure we had whatever we needed. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Amazing food, beautifully decorated for Christmas, and great service. Make sure to call on your way there so that you get a table as soon as you get there. Try the truffle butter pasta!
Also, make sure to park on Trumbull if you want free parking!

Wow — top notch all the way. We came here prior to the Stevie Wonder concert on a snowy night. We were charged $ 10 to park but given a $ 10 food voucher to use on our bill. The dining room is warm and inviting with tables which are pretty close together. Once it got crowded we had to raise our voices to talk, but that’s part of the vibe here.
We started off with a bruschetta appetizer that was delicious. The bruschetta was the perfect balance of spicy and sour. My wife had the chopped salad and I went with the Caeser, which had the most amazing deep fried poached egg in the middle. Gooey, fried and delicious!
The short rib was to die for. A great sauce and served on top of a creamy polenta that was perfect. For dessert we had the Nutella panini which was a nice change from the same old Italian restaurant desserts.
Our server was amazing and very attentive.
A perfect meal deserves a perfect rating. We can’t wait to come back.

Ottava Via means «Eighth Street» and that’s where this Italian gem is located — Eighth and Michigan in Corktown.
When our supper club (3 members) walked in at 5:15 on a Wings at-​home game night, the place was still pretty empty and we were seated immediately, at a cozy little corner table that gave us a view of the whole restaurant. And an inviting restaurant it is, with a rustic, old world charm that belies it’s recent provenance.
Rebecca was our server, and greeted us warmly, then took, and fulfilled, our drink orders promptly. This initial encounter set the tone for excellent service the whole meal. Thank you, Rebecca!
Of course, neither charming ambiance nor excellent service can overcome mediocre food, so luckily for us, the food was delicious.
We started with three small plates: meatballs, garlic shrimp, and arancini. All were wonderfully cooked and presented. Of particular note was the garlic shrimp — some of the best I’ve ever had.
Next, we each ordered a pasta dish for our entrée. I got the paperdelle bolognese, which was wonderful, with a meat-​filled, rich sauce and fresh made noodles. Another member got the truffle butter pasta, which she raved about. I can’t remember what our final supper club member had, but he also loved his dish.
There are dozens of good dining choices in Detroit today, and Ottava Via stands right near the top of them.
Writing this review made me so hungry that I have to stop now and go eat.

I am not sure what an Italian restaurant is doing in Corktown — maybe because they have beer and that is enough for the Irish to let them in. At any rate it fits and is excellent with a very unique ambiance. I started with an anti-​pasta cheese plate that was as good as I have had anywhere. One of the cheeses on the plate was a Gorgonzola and it was perfect and the bread that came along was excellent. Also with the plate was a combination of some green and black olives – enough to pass around. The whole plate was only $ 16.
I then had one of the small plates of garlic shrimp for $ 12. 6 – 7 good sized shrimp in a great sauce — almost like an escargot. My wife had the Roasted Beet salad and she and several others raved about it. Several of the group of 10 had the pizza and said it too was exceptional. The food was near a five star
Keeping it at four star was because the wines are overpriced — $ 11 for a cab, but the Chianti was very good at $ 8.
Rebekah was a perfect server.
We’ll be back — — -AND SOON!
,

Impressive space with interesting décor, open kitchen and small plates inspired menu. Came for Dine Drink Detroit, but everyone around us was getting yummy looking good. If pricy, however.
Chose the steak option which came with a red wine, my dinner partner had Manhattan which she enjoyed! My steak was to be cooked medium-​rare but actually was a bit tonight? Realized later that my left index finger actually hurt from digging into the fork too hard… weird. It was good tho but maybe would come back for the pizza or tapas options. Love this area so will probably be back!
Street parking available and limited private lot. Don’t have any visible valuables out as there have been recent break ins in the area

I have been told by my most closest loved ones, that I tend to over exaggerate my feelings of contentment. I’ve been known to squeal in delight and do a little happy dance. As of late this has been pointed out to me, and therefore maybe, I’m seen as an airhead. (let me assure you that I am not).
So on this first trip to Ottava Via, I pulled my cool card and mixed in with the hip and sophisticated. I only took two boxes of the complimentary matchboxes. I told the food server only once that this was our first visit. I did not offer to share our plates with the table next to us and I did not clap one time when this beautiful food arrived to the table. You could have mistaken me for a regular. (oh but I was squealing in the inside).
So obviously by now you know that this is rustic like, small plate Italian. I ordered a seasonal drink that was bourbon, smashed blueberries, thyme and I’m thinking a simple syrup, be warned to stir before sipping. This was sweet and fresh and deceiving. Our plates included Aranici balls, my least fave, and first time ever having them so no idea what to expect. They were just kinda meh, sauce tasted a bit burnt. Charcuterie board that made me so happy. We choose the soprasetta, coppa, pecorino and tallegio. Oh meat and cheese! Served along side was crostini, pickled veg, and apple marmalade to which I happily called it apple pie. The tallegio, coppa and apple pie were beautiful and sweet and warm on my palate, please try this if you like soft cheese. We ordered calamari, I was told I ate two thirds of this alone. Light, crispy, not oily with a spicy marinara (too spicy for me) and an aioli (perfect, kinda like tartar sauce). We ordered grilled shrimp and this came out a bit later, after our bellies were full but we powered through and thankful we did. Eight shrimp come in a serving that were fire grilled and swimming in white wine, butter, garlic, and shallot served alongside grilled bread and half grilled lemon. OMG, this will be a staple every visit. Bread was warm, sprinkled with herbs. Shrimp was plump, juicy, salty, so good.
Next visits menu is already planned including melted pecorino cheese and sweet peppers and sausage.
On our visit the was a Tigers game so we paid $ 10 to park in OV lot to which we got a $ 10 food voucher for that evening. That prevents just anyone from parking there.
Outside seating still available with a wood burning fire and strung Edison lights.
Overall, not one issue, not one disappointment.

The restaurant is small plates concept, so order a few plates to share and enjoy! Then order a large plate for yourself! For our small plates we got the bruschetta, pizza, green beans, (and tiramisu cheesecake for dessert!)
We each got a pasta for our large plate! Restaurant is good for crowds, couples, kids; indoor and outdoor seating! Beautiful patio. Free parking. Great staff! Orders were accommodated without any issue! Waters were always refilled. Great service! Great Italian food! *be warned my fellow Midwesterners they don’t carry ranch since that isn’t a real Italian condiment: p but other than that I recommend! Will definitely be back!

I will be back and it must be soon!
I dined here on a Thursday evening with colleagues for a dinner meeting and I must say we were all satisfied with our dining experience. They offer «call ahead» seating which was convenient for our situation to ensure we got a table.
They have a lot behind the restaurant and street parking is available all along the side streets and Michigan Ave. 8^th street is where I would recommend trying to park first if you don’t come across anything on Michigan.
I was greeted immediately upon arrival and shown to my table. Our server was pleasant, easy on the eyes ;) and attentive. I have seen better wine lists, but they still provided a decent selection. They also have a menu for cocktails.
They offer a lot of small plates and the menu isn’t huge, but it doesn’t need to be when they have all great options. There are so many different things I will need to come back and try, but everything I had I would recommend. The garlic shrimp was a table favorite as well as the chopped salad. The chopped salad reminds me of a version of an antipasto. I’m a sucker for a good house Italian and their dressing did not disappoint. The arancini is also a great dish to pass. Who doesn’t love fried cheese!
Although many of the pasta dishes sounded delish as well as the hot plates, I opted for the margarita pizza. Their pizza is thin crust with 6 slices in a pie. The crust, although not flavored, was still very tasty. The pizza wasn’t greasy and was full of flavor.
This place is great for a date night, a family dinner, dinner and drinks with friends, or even for a dinner with colleagues or clients.
Prices are reasonable, as long as you have the mindset that you probably won’t be walking out with a $ 15 tab p/​p. My bill for myself was $ 27 which included a glass of wine.

I am going to be 100% fair to Ottava Via, and fully disclose that the night I visited Ottava Via coincided with two major concerts, so the restaurant was packed to the brim. While my review does reflect annoyance at the slow, confused service, I vow to visit again, and update my review accordingly.
I know this sounds silly, but I was very excited to realize that Ottava Via had their own parking lot. I can parallel park like a boss, but I really appreciate the idea of having free parking available right out back. The next thing I was excited about was bocci courts. But on my way to the bocci courts, I had to pass by the fireplace, outside on the patio, which is also pretty exciting.
As I mentioned above, I visited Ottava Via the same night as two pretty major concerts downtown (one of which being the Rolling Stones), which meant the restaurant was PACKED. Thankfully, we arrived before the concert-​goers, and were able to secure a table for my friend’s goodbye party. We played bocci, we enjoyed the signature cocktails (albeit overpriced ones), we enjoyed several appetizers, and had a generally good time. My one major annoyance was because our server seemed to be having difficulty managing the chaos of the evening, and as it result, drink orders were forgotten, some were never delivered, some orders were attributed to the wrong bill, etc. All of that being said, I 100% would like to attribute these issues to the raucous Rolling Stones fans that had taken over the bar. When Ottava Via ran out of tables for these revelers, they stood in groups, everywhere. The chaos was astounding. Had the relatively minor issues with service not occurred, I certainly would have been more impressed. I assure you, when I get a chance to visit again, I promise to update my review if I find that Ottava Via is well above a 3-​star rating.

Not quite sure what the hype is /​was about Ottava Via. Here is my play by play:
Came here for a late dinner on a Monday. Patio was full so my husband and I had dinner inside. The décor is okay, slightly effortless with a touch of urban influence. They have a nice bar with yellow accent lights. All tables are already set with water glasses, flatware in fabric napkins & menus, which makes the place look nice.
Menu is small but has great options of building your own charcuterie plate or just getting a plate of meats or cheeses. Good small plates selection. They offer salads, sandwiches (lunch only), pasta, dinner meals, and pizza. I also need to say their service is great (really liked our server) and fast.
We split the arancini small plate — it was good. Three smaller sized arancini with a perfect crispy cheesy crust. The arancini was on top of a marinara, parmesan & basil bed.
My dinner was a margherita pizza and my husband opted for the ragout alla Bolognese. Pizza was good, but nothing special. Of course they used fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes for the pizza but it was topped with extra shredded cheese — seemed like shredded medium-​consistency mozzarella. My husband wasn’t a fan of his pasta dish — pappardelle noodles with a pork & veal Bolognese sauce. The best thing about his dish was it was topped with cold & creamy ricotta cheese.
I was disappointed that this place didn’t live up to my expectations — I may come back to sit on the patio and share some small plates with friends, but I wouldn’t prefer to visit again.

Finaly a nother place where you eat and enjoy Pizza. I mean Pizza with a taste and crunch like in Italy.
Not the «Pizza Pizza» artificial shewing gum thing.
Nice place the smell of the wood alone is worth 4 stars.
Next time I will eat in and enjoy it even more.